Are We Sure Steph Curry Is Human?; Luka Magic Stuns Memphis At The Buzzer! 4.14.21
It’s a very busy Wednesday night of NBA basketball as we have 12 games on the schedule tonight.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Minnesota T-Wolves
No Giannis, No Problem
The Bucks got a easy win against the short-handed T-Wolves, as this one was never close. The Bucks hit 19 3’s and had 6 players in double figures led by Middleton who had 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Bucks have won their last two games after losing 3 straight. Still awaiting the return of the 2x reigning MVP.
Towns
The impact of not having Towns has shown in these last two games. Now against the Nets and Bucks, Minnesota would have lost regardless if Towns was there or not. But their offense becomes a lot worse considering Towns is a top-5 center in the league. Edwards had a solid 24 points and Hernangomez added 18. But D-Lo struggled and no Malik Beasley didn’t help them out. The T-Wolves are still rebuilding, in case that wasn’t obvious.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets
Winning
The Cavs were without Sexton in this game but they got back Jarrett Allen after he missed 8 games. Allen had 15 points in his return, Garland had 17 points and 7 assists, and Love had 17 and 11 rebounds. But 25 from Taurean Prince off the bench was huge as the Cavs led for most of the way. But it doesn’t do much for the Cavs in the long run. As long as they keep developing guys, it’s fine.
Slippin‘
The Hornets got Rozier back but their offense was still missing 3 key pieces. They have lose their last 3 and they are back down to 0.500.
Brooklyn Nets vs Philadelphia 76ers
Very Good Effort
This should feel like a win for the Nets. No KD, Harden, Aldridge or Griffin and Kyrie didn’t play all that much in the 4th. The Nets stayed in it but fell behind by 22 in the 4th. But they didn’t give up. A 10-0 run cut the lead to 12 with 5:00 left. With 2:14 left the Nets reserves had been on a 21-2 run and cut the lead to just 3 with 2:14 to go. All without Irving. They tried to get stops but they kept fouling and Philly hit their free throws and Brooklyn eventually fell. But to go on a 21-2 run without any of your Big 3 on the floor and only lose by 6 to Philly is an impressive feat.
When Irving was on the floor, he was amazing. 37 points and 9 assists in just 33 minutes. 17 for Shamet, 15 for Jeff Green, 14 for Bruce Brown. I like what Steve Nash did. The reserves are going on a run? Give them a chance to finish the game, reward them for their hard work. Sure you could have put Irving in but it was the reserves game. Sure you lost, but I love what Steve Nash did. It’s a good way to build confidence. Anyway, would this team get healthy? If they lost by 6 like this, they would technically dominate with KD and Harden.
A Little Disappointing
Winning is cool, but I mean, really? Allowing the Brooklyn bench to go on a 21-2 run in the 4th when Harris, Simmons, and Embiid are all on the floor. Winning by 6 against a team that didn’t have Kyrie for the final 8:39 of the game? That’s a little disappointing if you ask me. Philly played well overall but I’m not exactly sure they can compete with the full strength Nets.
Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds but he was incredibly inefficient, just 13/29 from the field. Harris had an efficient 26 points and Ben Simmons was aggressive with 17 points and 9 assists. Shake Milton had 15 off the bench but I wouldn’t be impressed with this effort. At all.
San Antonio Spurs vs Toronto Raptors
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have lost 6 out of their last 8 games and they are now back at 0.500 after being 6 games above 0.500 in March.
Weird
This team is so weird. No Lowry, VanVleet, or Trent. Your 3 best guards are out and you still won. That is so weird, especially because the Raptors struggle to win, period.
LA Clippers vs Detroit Pistons
Reggie Jackson
No PG, no Kawhi, don’t tell Reggie Jackson. Jackson hit the dagger mid-range jumper with 2.3 seconds left to give LA the win. Jackson led the way with 29 points and 6 rebounds. 18 points and 13 rebounds for Zubac and 17 for Kennard. Good win for LA as they have won 7 in a row.
The Rondo effect is in full form. Overall LA has won 13 of their last 15 games, 7-0 with Rondo. They have outscored opponents by 71 points when he’s on the floor. I gave this trade an A+ for a reason.
The One Time..
The Pistons aren’t your most talented team, but today they arguably had the better team. Or at least it was comparable. Yet they still lose. Yikes.
Orlando Magic vs Chicago Bulls
Take That Vucevic
The Magic dominated this game against their former All-Star Vucevic. The Magic shot 44% from 3 and led for most of the way with a big 1st and 3rd quarter. 19 points and 12 rebounds for Wendell Carter in his revenge game, 15 for MCW and Gary Harris, and 22 for James Ennis. Vucevic and Lavine were both excellent but other than that there was only 16 from Theis. The Magic defense was solid as they got a good win.
Embarrassing
God this team sucks now.
New York Knicks vs New Orleans Pelicans
Solid Offense
The Pelicans aren’t very good on defense, so the Knicks offense was good. Julius Randle had 32-8-5 on the night as he was a force. Even with RJ Barrett shooting 2/10 from the field, the bench picked up the slack. 21 for Burks and 11 for D-Rose. The Knicks made 17 3’s on 52% shooting. The Knicks couldn’t stop the Pelicans wings but they held the Pels to just 17 in the 4th. If the offense is there for the Knicks, they can be dangerous.
Help Them
Zion had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10/19 shooting. BI had 28 points and 7 assists on 9/22 shooting. Other than that their just wasn’t much scoring. Eric Bledsoe continues to just do cardio as he has been absolutely horrible this year. I expected him to be better with Lonzo out, but he’s still bad. If the Pelicans can’t support their wing talents, they are not going far.
Indiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets
It’s The Rockets
What more has to be said?
Misery
Is it too late to ask for James Harden back?
Golden State Warriors vs OKC Thunder
Oh My GOD
What just happened? The Warriors just exploded on offense. 36 points in the first, 39 in the 2nd, 50 in the 3rd. 147 points overall. Steph Curry had 42 points on 11/16 3-PT through 3 quarters. He had 25 points on 8/8 shooting in the 3rd quarter alone. Steve Kerr wouldn’t let him out in the 4th to try and break Klay Thompson’s record for 3’s in a game (14). The Warriors dominated, obviously, but wow that was an absolute demolition.
(Fun Fact of the night: Curry is the first player in NBA history to have multiple streaks of 10-three games in his career. He’s hit 10+ threes in back-to-back games tonight and in 2016. The only other player to do this even once was James Harden in 2019).
Curry has also hit 29 3’s in the last 3 games, the most 3’s ever in a 3-game span. More and more records for the greatest shooter on the planet.
Yikes
I think about sums it up.
Dallas Mavericks vs Memphis Grizzlies
WTF WTF WTF
Luka Doncic is insane. Like, wow. He was 1/6 in the first half with just 4 points. He had 25 in the 2nd half on 9/14 shooting. His game-winner was incredible. Dallas trailed by 2 with 2.2 seconds left and they sent a 90% FT shooter in Grayson Allen to the line. Should be game-over. But he somehow misses both and now Dallas has 1.6 seconds to tie or win. They find Doncic on the left wing, he trips, and as he’s falling down, off of one leg, with one hand, he hits a 3. WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF?
This game was huge in the standings as Dallas gets some more breathing room from the 8th place Grizzlies. Friendly reminder, he’s only 22.
Feel The Wrath Of Luka
Memphis played so well. Their defense (Dillon Brooks’) defense on Doncic was amazing. In the first half it was working. In the 2nd half, a 22-year old superstar just didn’t care. Luka was making all sorts of ridiculous shots and this one has to hurt. If you want anybody shooting FT’s to end the game, you want Grayson Allen. Allen is a 90.6% FT shooter, automatic. But he missed both and Doncic did the rest. Big loss for Memphis in the standings as they are now 2.5 games back to the 7th seeded Mavs.
Miami Heat vs Denver Nuggets
Offense For Sale?
Anybody? Please?
No Murray, No Problem
Denver was going to need to adapt after a devastating injury to Murray that seemingly blew up their title hopes. But Denver looked good in this game. A big 2nd quarter where they held the Heat to 18 points gave them a lead they never gave up. MPJ is going to have be that 2nd scorer and he was in this game, 25 points and 10 rebounds on 71% shooting. Going to need more of that from him. 17-10-11 triple-double for Jokic, nothing out of ordinary for the MVP. 16 for Gordon and 17 for JaMychal Green off the bench. The Nuggets need guys to step up. Guys did in this game and look at the results. It is going to be incredibly tough for Denver to play the way they did with Murray, but it’s possible if they do this consistently.
Washington Wizards vs Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
Washington is 21-33 and has a chance to make the playoffs. Welcome to the Eastern Conference, ladies and gentlemen.
Defense For Sale?
Please? No? Another wasted draft pick it is then (foreshadowing).
What Are Your Thoughts From The 12 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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