Big Performances Around The NBA!; What Are The Warriors Doing? 4.9.21
It’s another day of NBA hoops and we have a busy night with 9 games on the schedule.
Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic
Healthy
The Pacers got their two best players back and it helped them a lot. Sure the game was a lot closer than it should have been considering you were playing the Magic, but a win is a win. Sabonis was only 3/12 from the field but still had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists. Brogdon only had 11 but 20 from Aaron Holiday led the Pacers in scoring off the bench. Maybe now that they’re healthy the Pacers can get things together.
Rebuilding
Rebuilding
Minnesota T-Wolves vs Boston Celtics
Choke
The T-Wolves were dominating this game. They had full control and then they lost it, got it back, and then lost it again. The T-Wolves again caught the Celtics starting slow and jumped out to a lead. The T-Wolves led by as many as 17 in the 3rd and with 7:04 left they led by 15. Then Jayson Tatum went off with 17 points in the 3rd and he helped the Celtics trail by just 5 entering the 4th. The Celtics run continued as they just dominated, getting stops and scores at will. With 3:26 left the T-Wolves trailed by 11 and the game was over. Or not. A 15-4 led by D’Angelo Russell forced OT. Russell banked in the tying 3 with 8.6 seconds left and now Minnesota had some life. Just for them to allow 21 points in OT and lose. All of that for nothing.
30-12-7 for Towns as he was dominating whoever Boston threw at him. Edwards had a very efficient 24-5-5 as he has been getting better shots and becoming a better passer. 26 from D-Lo off the bench as he has been solid since coming back from that knee injury. But the T-Wolves defense was awful. Jayson Tatum really only got 50 because he was wide open so many times. The defense will have to improve in their rebuild for them to go anywhere.
Good, But I’m Not Impressed
Coming back from down 17 in the 2nd is impressive, don’t get me wrong. But that first half was awful and even then this game went to OT when Boston was up double-digits with 3:26 left in the 4th. Still wanting more, but a win is a win. Jayson Tatum was the only guy who had things going in the 1st half and he carried that over into the 3rd with 17 more points. He was excellent, getting to the rim and taking smart shots for once. The Celtics cut the lead to 5 entering the 4th and then they just controlled things, getting stops and stretching the lead to double digits with 3:26 left.
But that wasn’t good enough for Boston, they really had to give their fans heart troubles. The T-Wolves hit some 3’s, including a D’Angelo Russell bank 3 with 8.6 seconds left and just like that we headed to OT. But in OT it was more offense. Everybody got involved as Boston scored 21 points in OT to get the win, scoring 145 points in the process.
Jayson Tatum had a career-high 53 points and 10 rebounds on 16/25 shooting, 6/10 3-PT, 15/16 from the line. You have no idea how happy I am. Tatum usually never gets to the line and he got there 16 times. Now that’s being aggressive. He put the 3-PT shooting on top of his driving ability for once and look at the results.
Brown had an efficient 26 points and Marcus Smart added 24. Kemba even had 17 as the Big 3 was pretty good for once. The Celtics hit 19 3-pointers as their offense was so good. They didn’t even have Evan Fournier.
Tatum becomes the youngest Celtics player with 50 in a game and the first Celtic since Larry Bard in 1989 to have a 50/10 game.
Memphis Grizzlies vs New York Knicks
Choke
The Grizzlies were playing so well. Their shooting in the first half was on point and the only reason it wasn’t a complete blowout was that the Knicks bench was very good. The Grizzlies led by 13 with 6:10 to go in the 4th. What could go wrong? Everything apparently. Julius Randle and company got some stops and trimmed the lead. 3 RJ Barrett free throws with 37 seconds left tied the game. The Grizzlies led by two with 14.6 seconds left, just to let RJ Barrett drive right down the rim to score and force OT.
OT was a high scoring affair but the Grizzlies fell behind and they couldn’t keep up, blowing the game.
Ja Morant had 26 points and 6 assists, Dillon Brooks had 23 points and 5 assists, Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 14 rebounds, Anderson had 15-6-5 and Desmond Bane had 16. You held Julius Randle scoreless in the first half. And you lose. That’s a bit of a yikes.
Hail The Bench
I’m going over the whole game but the reason this game was in striking distance was the Knick bench. When your All-Star scores zero points in the first half, that’s usually a bad thing. But the Knicks kept holding on for dear life and their run late gave them a chance in OT. RJ Barrett scored 5 in the final minute to force OT and then the Knicks were great. Scoring on almost every possession, they couldn’t be stopped and they got the come from behind win.
RJ Barrett had 20 points and Randle had 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. That’s all cool, but give thanks to the bench. 19 for D-Rose, 19 for Burks (9 in OT), and 20 IQ. Those 3 alone scored 58 points and the bench unit in whole scored 72 points. They were great and the main reason the Knicks won this game.
Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks
Zach Lavine Is Not Enough?
Zach Lavine had a first half for the ages. 13/19 shooting, 7/9 from 3 with 39 points, the 3rd most points in a first half in the last 25 years. He scored 25 straight points in the 2nd quarter. He had a career-high 50 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Vucevic added 25 points. Loss.
The Bulls scored just 42 points in the 2nd half and got outscored by 25. Other than Lavine and Vucevic’s 75 combined points, there wasn’t much scoring. Meanwhile the Hawks had 3 guys over 20 points and they ran by the Bulls for the win. So much for the performance Zach
Take That Lavine
While Lavine and Vucevic were trying to carry the Bulls, the Hawks just dominated the 2nd half. The 3-PT shot was again not falling but Trae Young had 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. Capela had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Gallinari had 20 off the bench. The Hawks outscored the Bulls by 25 in the 2nd half after getting dominated by Lavine in the first half. Not a bad win at all.
Philadelphia 76ers vs New Orleans Pelicans
Ugly
This was a terrible game for the 76ers. Scoring 94 points against the Pelicans who are a bottom 5 defense? Really. Both these teams are bad at shooting but New Orleans only made 4 3-pointers. And you lost. The game was close except for the 3rd where the 76ers scored just 18 points.
Embiid was an awful 5/16 from the floor and had just 14 points. Is this your MVP? Harris had 23 and Simmons had an awesome 10-9-6-5 game. Those 5 being 5 steals. The bench was again lackluster as this team’s offense is so inconsistent outside of Embiid and Harris.
Zion Show
This was a Zion domination and nobody else did too much. 37 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists for the stud as he was amazing. A career high in rebounds and assists on the night. Ingram was 5/21. The only help he got was 22 points and 16 rebounds combined from Hayes and Hernangomez off the bench. This kid is amazing and he was the only reason the Pelicans won this game while only hitting 4 3’s.
Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks
Taking Care of Business
The Bucks missed all 5 of their starters, this was to be expected.
Milwaukee Bucks
Resting day.
San Antonio Spurs vs Denver Nuggets
Close But No Cigar
The Spurs missed 3 layups in like 5 seconds and lost. That’s tough.
Too Close For Comfort
The Nuggets won this one by the skin of their teeth.
Washington Wizards vs Golden State Warriors
Hail To The Warriors Late Game Execution
A thank you would go a long way.
Free Steph
The Warriors are so bad. Look at this late game execution:
Up by 3 with 19.5 seconds left
Westbrook 3, miss
Allow offensive rebound to Beal
Wiggins fouls him – 4-PT play
Down 1 with 6.1 seconds left, Damion Lee has a layup attempt at the rim. Instead passes straight to Beal
Down 3, Curry miss, lose
I have a lot of problems with this. First of all, why not foul when up 3. It’s much safer and prevents stuff like that happening. Secondly, why is Damion Lee getting the ball late. It’s Curry or bust in that situation. Why would Lee even pass it if he even got the ball, he had a layup. The Warriors need every win they can get and they just threw one away.
Houston Rockets vs LA Clippers
Houston Rockets
10 pts in the 2nd quarter. Nice. Cade Cunningham here we come.
LA Clippers
No PG, no Rondo, no Ibaka, no Pat Bev for 3-4 weeks, win by 17. 31-5-8 for Kawhi and 26 for Reggie Jackson. 17 for Batum off the bench and Mann added 16. Solid win for LA.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 9 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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