Are The Jazz Still The Favorites?; Gary Trent Wins It At The Buzzer! 4.5.21

It’s a Monday night of NBA hoops and we have 7 games on the schedule today.

Washington Wizards vs Toronto Raptors

Washington Wizards

The Wizards had this game in the bag as they had control for 3 quarters without Bradley Beal. They led by 19 midway through the 3rd. Then the 4th quarter happened. The Raptors defense shut down the Wizards and the Raptors led by 6 at one points in the 4th. But Washington fought back and a Russell Westbrook 3 with 41.1 seconds left gave them a 1-point lead. Raul Neto missed with 5.5 seconds left and Gary Trent dribbled up the court, where he drilled the game-winning 3. That’s got to hurt.

The Wizards played pretty well but they couldn’t hold on. Triple-double with Westbrook, 17 for Bertans and Garrison Matthews. Again, not having Beal really hurts this team. Wizards shooting was terrible (better than Toronto’s) as they just can’t seem to figure things out.

Gary Trent The Savior

This game was dead in the water for the Raptors. They trailed by 19 midway through the 4th. But in the 4th they came alive and two big jumpers from Gary Trent, including the buzzer beater, won them the game. The Raptors defense finally shut down the Wizards, allowing just 15 points in the 4th. No VanVleet and Lowry meant the shooting was terrible (21% from 3), but the Raptors just found a way to win.

Siakam led the way with 22, Bembry had 15-7-5, Trent had 16, and Baynes and Flynn combined for 26 off the bench. Much needed for the Raptors as they try and get themselves back into the playoff race.

New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets

Choke + Fouls

The Knicks had this game. Their offense was flowing and they had a commanding lead. Then they watched that lead disappear in the 3rd and committed a lot of fouls in the 4th. The Knicks led by 10 at halftime as they were shooting very well from 3. But then as hard as the Knicks had worked to get the lead, the Nets, without James Harden and just Kyrie mind you, erased that lead and now the Knicks trailed. The 4th was foul after foul and both teams just trying to gain ground. The Knicks fouled Jeff Green on an offensive rebound with 3.7 seconds left and he hit two free throws. Randle missed and the Knicks lost. Pain.

Who Needs James Harden Anyway?

The Nets had James Harden for 4 minutes in this game before he left (why play him anyway). But it didn’t seem to matter. Well it did as first as the Nets defense was awful in that first half and the Knicks built a double-digit lead thanks to their 3-PT shooting. But in the 2nd half the Nets defense was a lot better and a big 3rd quarter got them into the game. The Nets might have had some calls go their way, including a Jeff Green foul with 3.7 seconds left. But hey, who’s complaining? Randle missed at the buzzer and the Nets won.

Kyrie had 40 points and 7 assists, Green had 23, and Harris added 16. Also Alize Johnson had 16 off the bench. I just wish this Nets team was healthy so we could see them at full full firepower.

Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks

Mitchell Is Bad

Losing to a Mavs team missing their 2nd leading scorer and best interior presence. Nice. The Jazz trailed for almost this entire game as the Mavs just never gave up the lead. Donovan Mitchell was 6/23 from the field as he was awful. The Jazz shot just 27% from 3 compared to 47% from 3 for the Mavs. I’ll say it again, I don’t believe in the Jazz,

Impressive

The defense has continued to be solid for the Mavs lately as they have been able to rely on that, especially tonight without Porzingis. They led for almost this entire game and never let the Jazz get going from 3. They shut down Mitchell as well for an all-around great night. Luka had 31-9-8, Dorian Finney-Smith had 23, Brunson had 20, Richardson had 17, Hardaway had 16, it was really balanced scoring. The Mavs made 23 3’s and shot 47% from 3. They won the game and they only shot 6 free throws. Nice.

Sacramento Kings vs Minnesota T-Wolves

Sacramento Kings

Getting outscored by 10 in the 4th quarter to lose, nice. I thought I could believe in this team, then I remembered it was the Kings.

Welcome Back D-Lo

D’Angelo Russell came off the bench in his return from knee surgery and led the way scoring wise for Minnesota with 25 points, including 13 in the 4th. Towns had 23 and Edwards added 19 points. With no Malik Beasley for the rest of April (hamstring), to stay alive the T-Wolves need D-Lo to comeback healthy and play like Nets All-Star D-lo. While the T-Wolves likely won’t make the playoffs, they can at the very least remain competitive.

Detroit Pistons vs OKC Thunder

Detroit Pistons

After getting absolutely destroyed by the Knicks, the Pistons gave it back to OKC.

OKC Thunder

Yikes

Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs

Something Rare Happened

Winning

San Antonio Spurs

This team desperately needs offense.

Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets

Don’t Really Know How This Was Close

The Suns defense didn’t come to play but they got the win in the end. Not too much to talk about, it’s the Rockets at the end of the day. Booker had 36, Ayton had 27 (15 in the 3rd), and Bridges had 20. Good game, not that many takeaways.