Wizards Stuns Nets Late; Philly Mounts Comeback! 1.31.21
It’s another day of NBA action, as we have 6 games of NBA basketball on this Sunday.
LA Clippers vs New York Knicks
LA Clippers
This was a tough win for the Clippers, as the Knicks really didn’t back down. In the first half, the Clippers defense was poor, allowing the Knicks to score 65 points, as Randle and Barrett combined for 29 points. But LA was making their 3s, and they scored 66 points of their own. In the 3rd, the LA defense were able to get some stops, and they led by 10 entering the 4th. However, the game wasn’t out of reach for the Knicks, as they came back and cut the lead to just two at one point. But Kawhi Leonard did Kawhi Leonard things late, and the Clippers pulled away for the win.
Kawhi had 28 points on 8/15 shooting, 11/11 FT.
Reggie Jackson had 18 points and 5 rebounds on 6/12 shooting.
Paul George had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7/16 shooting.
The defense from the Clippers once again wasn’t great, but their offense, mainly their 3-point shooting, came through in the end. Kawhi Leonard was very good, especially when getting to the free throw line. Reggie Jackson was good, and was a good filler for Paul George, who was relatively quiet night. Patrick Patterson was 5/5 from the field, as he played good minutes for the starting lineup. The LA bench was solid, but the defense still remains a problem. LA takes on the Brooklyn Nets next.
New York Knicks
This was a tough loss for the Knicks, but not one that you hang your head over. Losing to a great team isn’t bad, especially when you give them a tough fight like the Knicks did. In the first half I think the Knicks took the Clippers by surprise. Randle and Barrett combined for 29 points in the first half, as the Knicks were able to produce a 65-point first half, only trailing by one at halftime. After halftime however, things were a different story. The Knicks offense started to slow down, and LA took advantage, as the Knicks trailed by 10 entering the 4th. But again, the Knicks didn’t fade away. They kept fighting, and cut the lead to two. But the Clippers have the great equalizer in Kawhi Leonard, as the Clippers hit some shots and pulled away late. The Knicks fall to 9-12 on the year.
Julius Randle had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/18 shooting.
Immanuel Quickley had 25 points on 9/16 shooting off the bench.
RJ Barrett had 23 points on 9/14 shooting.
There isn’t any argument anymore, Quickley should be starting. He has been such a good scorer, and he’s much more of a threat than Elfrid Payton. I really don’t know how you can’t be starting Quickley, especially with the Knicks offense that struggles more often than not. Barrett and Randle have been getting most of the scoring done, and I think with Quickley starting, the Knicks can become better offensively. Again, no real shame in losing, you played one of the best teams in basketball very tough, and never let them push you around. The Knicks travel to Chicago tomorrow to take on the Knicks.
Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets
Utah Jazz
The Jazz’s win streak has come to an end, and it’s not even the way that you would anticipate it happening. The Jazz were shooting well from 3 throughout this game, but the Nuggets were beating them at their own game. Conley and Mitchell were bad, as Mitchell seemed out of touch after missing the past few games. Nikola Jokic was dominant against any and everybody the Jazz threw at him, as this game wasn’t very close. The Nuggets scored 79 points in the first half, and led by 25. The lead went up to 30 in the 3rd, and even though the Jazz cut it to 8 at one point, the Nuggets pulled away in the 4th. Utah’s 11-game win streak has ended, and they are now 15-5 on the year.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 29 points on 8/13 shooting, 5/10 3-PT.
The Jazz had 7 guys in double figures, but Bogdanovic was their only reliable scorer. Mitchell was very bad in his return, shooting just 3/12 from the floor. Mike Conley was 2/10. Clarkson was 4/13. Gobert was absolutely demolished by Jokic. The Jazz defense was getting torched, as Denver shot 15/17 from 3 in the first half, which is 88%. I expected the Jazz’s offense to falter and for them to lose, but they shot 43% from 3 and scored 117 points. But allowing Denver to shoot 50%+ from the field and 60%+ from 3, that’s not going to win you games. The Jazz’s massive win streak has been snapped, and they take on the Pistons to start February.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets won this game on the back of Nikola Jokic, and their sheer offensive firepower, as they were just torching the Jazz. Jokic and company came out guns blazing. The Nuggets were 8/8 from 3 in the first quarter, and Nikola Jokic was 9/11 for 22 points in that first quarter. The 2nd quarter was more of the same, with Denver scoring 36 more points, 79 points in total for the half. Jokic had 33 points, the 3rd most points in a half in Nuggets history. The Nuggets were 15/17 from 3, shooting 88% from deep. And while Denver did slow down in the 2nd half a bit, Jokic proved to be too much and a run in the 4th put the Jazz away. Denver snaps the Utah win streak, as they are now 12-8 on the year.
Nikola Jokic had 47 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 17/26 shooting.
Will Barton had 18 points and 6 assists on 5/6 3-PT.
Jamal Murray had 16 points and 5 assists on 7/16 shooting.
Wow, Nikola Jokic. Just, wow. He was dominating the Jazz all night long. They put Favors and Bogdanovic on him early, and he scored 22 points in the first quarter. He scored the rest of his points against Rudy Gobert, as he absolutely demolished the 2x DPOY. Will Barton was solid, as were MPJ and Campazzo off the bench. Jamal Murray continues to struggle, as he just makes it harder for himself by taking tougher shots. Like just play in the flow, don’t need to do all these step-backs. Murray seems to have lost that urgency from the playoffs, as he has seemed to be playing care-free and easy, which might explain his pedestrian start. The Nuggets will need Bubble Murray back, as just Jokic won’t get them back to the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets take on the Pistons next tomorrow.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers played like normal without Joel Embiid, and that normal wasn’t good. They fell behind big, and they were dead in the water. But somehow, someway, they cameback for the win. The first half was a struggle for stretches of time, because Curry and Green couldn’t make 3’s, so the floor lost all it’s spacing. The 76ers trailed by 9, allowing the Pacers to shot 57% from the field. And things didn’t get better, with Philly trailing by 18 in the 3rd. The game was over, until the 76ers started to really lock down on defense. They played more zone defense, and Furkan Korkmaz got red hot, giving Philly the lead with 2:30 left. Philly got some stops and made all their free throws, as they hung on to win, improving to 15-6 on the year.
Tobias Harris had 27 points and 8 rebounds on 10/19 shooting.
Ben Simmons had 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals on 9/12 shooting.
Furkan Korkmaz had 17 points on 6/12 shooting off the bench.
What a comeback. The 76ers were playing poorly on both ends for most of this game, but they just turned on a switch in the 4th, outscoring the Pacers by 22. Ben Simmons was aggressive, and he was very good in that swarming 4th quarter zone. Tobias Harris was the reliable scorer, and Furkan Korkmaz hit some big shots late and gave Philly the lead. It’s Philadelphia’s first win without Joel Embiid, as they get a much needed win without their MVP candidate. Philly takes on the Hornets next.
Indiana Pacers
Yeah….., let’s not talk about it. The Pacers had this game in the bag, and then all of a sudden they didn’t. Without Joel Embiid, the Pacers were dominating this game. Their defense was solid on the 76ers, really not allowing anybody other than Tobias Harris to get going. Brogdon had 19 points in the first half, and the Pacers led by 9 after shooting 57% from the field. They extended their lead to as many as 18 in the 3rd, and they looked like they were going to win. Then the 76ers started to creep back into the game, cutting the lead to 10 halfway through the 4th. Then the Pacers offense stalled thanks to a swarming 76ers zone, and Furkan Korkmaz put the Pacers away late. Indiana falls to 11-9 on the year.
Malcolm Brogdon had 25 points and 5 rebounds on 10/21 shooting.
Domantas Sabonis had 21 points and 8 rebounds on 8/17 shooting.
Aaron Holiday had 17 points on 7/11 shooting off the bench.
This is the type of game you just have to win. Up 18 late in the 3rd, it’s just one that you have to win, especially with the other team missing their best player. Brogdon and Sabonis were great throughout this game, but the Pacers could only produce 15 points in the 4th. And it’s a shame, because there were stretches of time where the Pacers were absolutely dominating things. Aaron Holiday was excellent off the bench, and the Pacers looked so good. But that 4th quarter was horrendous, and they lost a game they should have won. Indiana takes on the Memphis Grizzlies next.
Toronto Raptors vs Orlando Magic
Toronto Raptors
I’ll keep this short. The Raptors held the Magic to just 15 points in the first quarter, and then they just cruised to a win, never letting Orlando back into the game. Siakam was excellent with 30 points and 10 rebounds, but VanVleet and Lowry combined for 21 points, as the Raptors can’t get all 3 of their Big 3 going on the same night. The Raptors bench was solid, as was their defense. After 3 straight losses, the Raptors needed this win badly to improve to 8-12 on the year. Toronto takes on the Magic again on Tuesday.
Orlando Magic
Get an offense.
Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards
Brooklyn Nets
How? It’s the Wizards, and you still lost. How? The Nets came out of this game guns blazing. Joe Harris was on fire, and the Nets scored 38 points in the first quarter. It seemed like things were going to be a replica of the OKC game on Friday. That wasn’t the case. Mo Wagner was energetic off the bench, and Russell Westbrook had the big first half, and the lead was only 6 for the Nets at the half. The Wizards weren’t shooting the ball great, and even with 21 points from KD, the game was close. And things remained close in the 3rd, setting up one of the wildest 4th quarters in recent memory. Things were going back and forth, but it seemed like Brooklyn would pull away, leading by 9 with 4:54 left. But Washington responded, cutting the lead to one with 2:41 left. The Nets took the lead with 31.1 seconds left, and they just needed to hold on. And it looked like they had done just that, leading by 5 with 12.3 seconds left. But the Nets channeled their inner Chicago Bulls. Bradley Beal hit a 3, and then Joe Harris threw the ball away, just for Russell Westbrook to hit a 3 with 4.3 seconds left, giving the Wizards the lead. With 2.9 seconds left, the Nets had one last chance. The Wizards denied KD, so Irving found a open, slashing TLC. Cabarrot got right to the rim, and missed a layup, and the Nets lost. Brooklyn is now 13-9 on the year.
KD had 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 11/19 shooting.
Joe Harris had 30 points and 5 assists on 11/17 shooting, 8/13 3-PT.
Kyrie Irving had 26 points and 8 assists on 10/20 shooting.
The Nets led by 18 in this game, and they lost. KD had things going on automatic. Joe Harris was killer, as he spaced the floor very well. Irving got going in the 4th. Jeff Green had 23 points off the bench, and Landry Shamet was solid as well. And you still lost. On that Joe Harris in-bounds play, you can blame Joe Harris, but you can also blame KD for going away from the ball. You can also blame Steve Nash for not calling a timeout, as Joe Harris was inbounding it from a bad place. And the Nets still could have won if TLC didn’t blow the layup late. You can’t lose a game like this after the type of performances, and blow a lead to the lowly Wizards. The defense was bad, but this is still a game you have to win. The Nets take on the Clippers next.
Washington Wizards
On the other side of things, what a win for the Nets. They have been hit hard by injuries, and somehow overcame the Nets offensive firepower and lead late, miraculously winning this game. The Wizards starting game off slow, trailing by as many as 18 in the first quarter, and Scott Brooks using 3 timeouts. Things looked really bad. But then Mo Wagner gave the team some life, and Russell Westbrook got back to what he does best, attack. The Wizards willed themselves back into the game, trailing by 6 at halftime and playing with a lot of energy. Mo Wegner had another good 3rd quarter, and the Wizards remained in the game. The 4th quarter was back and forth, but things looked like they were slipping away for the Wizards. They trailed by 9, but they didn’t give up. They kept fighting, cutting the lead to just two with 1:58 left. But the Wizards couldn’t score, and they trailed by 5 with 12.6 seconds left. Then some wizardry happened. Bradley Beal hit a deep 3, and then Joe Harris threw the ball away. Russell Westbrook got it, and drilled a 3, giving the Wizards the lead. But things weren’t over. With 2.9 seconds left, the Wizards didn’t let KD get the ball. They instead found a wide-open cutting TLC, but he missed the layup, and the Wizards hung on for the amazing, comeback win, improving to 4-12 on the year.
Russell Westbrook had 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on 16/28 shooting.
Bradley Beal had 37 points and 6 rebounds on 13/23 shooting.
Mo Wagner had 17 points and 5 rebounds 7/8 off the bench.
The Wizards somehow won this game. But before we get to things, round of applause for Mo Wagner. He wasn’t getting much playing time before this game, but he gave the Wizards so much energy in the 2nd and 3rd quarter, and was a big reason for this win. And now onto Russell Westbrook. Westbrook had been awful to start this season, not shooting well and turning the ball over. But after getting multiple technicals against the Hawks and Rockets, he has been incredible. Say what you want about him, he’s fun to watch when he’s like this. Hitting jumpers, attacking, and playing with swagger. Bradley Beal was solid as well, but this is what the duo should have looked like from Day 1. If they can score like this, it becomes a lot more reasonable in my mind that the Wizards can be decent. Maybe #freebradleybeal has come to and end if Westbrook continue to play like this. Washington takes on the Blazers next.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs offense finally got some scoring, and it looked like they would win. But a very poor 2nd half was their demise, as it’s another loss for the Cavs. In the first half, the Cavs offense looked good against a poor Minnesota defense. Sexton and Drummond combined for 28 points in the first half, as the Cavs scored 61 points on 60% shooting. Nothing could stop them, except themselves. The Cavs usually sturdy defense allowed 33 points in the 3rd, and they lost their lead entering the 4th. And in the 4th, the Cavs offense struggled and they fell behind by 11. They cut the lead to 3 late, but it was to little too late, as the Cavs fall to 9-11 on the year.
Andre Drummond had 25 points and 22 rebounds on 9/18 shooting.
Darius Garland had 17 points and 5 assists on 6/14 shooting.
Collin Sexton had 16 points on 8/16 shooting.
The Cavs offense has been the death of them this season. And it’s not like it was bad throughout this game. They were getting whatever they wanted in the first half. But in the 2nd half they kind of just stepped back into reality. Drummond was good with another 20-20 game, Sexton and Garland were solid. Rookie Isaac Okoro played perhaps his best game. The bench was solid, but it’s one of those games that you just have to win, and the Cavs couldn’t execute down the stretch. The Cavs offense has to score if they want to win, and they couldn’t do that in the 2nd half of this game. The Cavs take on the T-Wolves again tomorrow.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves didn’t look very good in the first half of this game, but a strong 2nd half fueled them to an upset win against the Cavs. The T-Wolves defense played like it usually does, bad. They allowed a very bad Cavs offense to score 61 points in the first half. Malik Beasley was keeping the T-Wolves in the game, as he was the only guy who could get anything going. But things started to change in the 2nd half. The T-Wolves offense got going, scoring 33 points in the 3rd and taking the lead entering the 4th. The 4th is where the T-Wolves opened up a double-digit lead, and they held on to squeak out a win, improving to 5-14 on the year.
Anthony Edwards had 23 points and 5 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Malik Beasley had 23 points on 9/17 shooting, 5/11 3-PT.
D’Angelo Russell had 19 points and 5 assists on 7/18 shooting.
Anthony Edwards has been figuring things out as of late. He’s been more aggressive in getting to the rim, and taking smarter shots. We all knew the explosive athleticism was something special, but now he’s been using what he’s been learning to work. Malik Beasley kept the T-Wolves afloat in the first half, and had another solid game. Russell was solid as well, and the T-Wolves bench was surprisingly good. I’m very surprised the T-Wolves won this game, even with Andre Drummond destroying them down low. Good win for the T-Wolves, as if they can keep this type of production up when Towns come back, they can be decent. The T-Wolves take on the Cavs again tomorrow.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 6 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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