These Injuries Have To Stop!; Eastern Conference Playoff Race Heats Up! 4.21.21
It’s a Wednesday night of NBA basketball and we have a very busy night with 12 games on the schedule tonight.
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Failed Trade
This team has been in a downward spiral since the Vucevic trade. Safe to say it hasn’t been working out.
Winning
This doesn’t happen often for the Cavs, but they controlled this game. They held the Bulls to just 12 points in the first quarter and cruised for a win. 55 combined points for Garland and Sexton as they have been playing great lately. This doesn’t change anything, but it’s good to see them winning.
OKC Thunder vs Indiana Pacers
A For Effort
At least you tried.
Finally
Even with no Sabonis and Turner the Pacers scrapped out a much needed win. 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists for Malcolm Brogdon who was great in this game. 28-5-6 with 4 steals for Caris Levert and 23 points and 12 rebounds for Oshae Brissett. He got signed by Indiana and with their frontcourt being depleted he played well.
The Pacers just haven’t been healthy. They need Sabonis back and we don’t know how long Turner is going to be out but he might miss most of these last few games, which is a crushing blow. Indiana will have to do a lot more winning to try and make the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers
Close
The Suns almost went to OT after Joel Embiid’s absolute prayer nearly went in. But they won as they get another win against a great Eastern Conference team. The Suns doubled Embiid but it really didn’t seem to matter. So they would have to score a lot and score they did. It was close for a while but when Embiid hurt his knee and was out, Chris Paul gave the Suns a lead. Devin Booker hit a couple shots late, including a tough fadeaway that sealed the game (but Embiid almost forced it to OT even after all that).
28 points and 8 assists for CP-3 who was on fire from 3 (5/8). He was great, as a scorer for once this season. Booker had 19 but Mikal Bridges had some sweet revenge. He was drafted by Philly in 2018 but they traded him away for Zhaire Smith who has played 13 games in the league. 18 for Bridges on the night. Cam Johnson was in double-figures off the bench as well as the Suns continue this brutal end of April schedule. They have a lot of tough battles, but they’ve already won two. Next up is Boston tomorrow.
Imagine
With no Simmons, Curry, or Harris, the 76ers were literally millimeters away from forcing OT with an Embiid full court shot. The 76ers gave it their all, but Phoenix hit some big shots late to hang on and win this one. 38 points for Embiid who was constantly getting doubled. The 76ers shot 52% from 3, finally getting outside shots to fall. But their going to have to be fully healthy to contend with the best teams in the league like Phoenix.
Golden State Warriors vs Washington Wizards
Curry Ice Cold
Curry’s streak was bound to end at some point, and it did tonight against Washington. Even with that, the Warriors should have won this game. The Warriors started off slow, trailing by 18 after the first quarter. But guys like Jordan Poole and Kelly Oubre got them back into the game, slowing chipping away at the lead. Golden State led by 11 in the 4th but Bradley Beal was a problem. Washington got the lead and with a chance to tie with under 10 seconds left after a steal, Andrew Wiggins missed a layup and Golden State lost.
Curry was 7/25 from the field and 2/14 from 3. He’s human, good to know. The bench helped the Warriors a lot, 24 from Oubre and 22 from Poole. The Warriors defense was poor and without a Curry eruption they couldn’t win, a crushing loss for a team that is right now fighting for every win.
6 In A Row
Season high 6th win in a row for Washington. They’ve been rolling. They led by 18 early, trailed by 11 in the 4th but got great late game moments from Beal who helped the Wizards get another win. The Wizards were able to hold Curry in check, the first time somebody’s been able to do that in a month. But of course there is always bad news, Deni Avdija hurt his right ankle at the end of the half, sustaining a hairline fracture. That’s not the worst case scenario, but they’ll check for any ligament damage in the near future. Unfortunately Washington loses a key role player for the last stretch of their playoff push.
Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors
Injuries
God I with this team was healthy. The Nets opened up a double-digit lead in the first quarter but watched as that lead disappear. A poor 3rd quarter let to them trailing by 15 in the 4th. They did cut it to 5 with 3:01 left, but it was futile.
28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists for Irving and 21 from Bruce Brown led the way for the Nets. I just wish this team was healthy or at least somewhat healthy. Instead they only have one superstar on the floor, at that just isn’t that fun.
Winning
The Raptors have won their last 4 games as they have been playing better. They fell behind by 13 early but chipped away at the lead and a big 3rd quarter on both ends helped them build a double-digit lead they wouldn’t lose as they eventually won. On the downside, Chris Boucher hurt his leg and left the game in the 4th. No word on how serious the injury is yet.
27-9-6 for Siakam who was great. 25 for Anunoby and 17 from VanVleet led the way as the Raptors have been winning more and getting more consistent. Now they just need to stay healthy and try and ride this wave to the playoffs.
Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks
Injuries Suck
The Hawks have already been hit hard with injuries this season to key players, but now this one takes the cake for the worst one. Trae Young came down awkwardly on his left ankle near the end of the 3rd, leaving the game. The Hawks did manage to keep things competitive, a late Bogdanovic 3 forced OT. But Atlanta was crushed in OT as they hope their superstar PG is fine.
8 In A Row
The Knicks offense has been rolling. They had a tough time disposing of the Hawks, letting a Trae Young-less team force OT. But New York took care of business in OT, getting win #8 in a row.
40-11-6 for Julius Randle who has been great during this win-streak. He is undoubtfully the MIP this season. 20 for D-Rose and Quickley as the two of them pack a punch off the bench. The Knicks get a much needed win as they now take back the 4th seed, 0.5 games ahead of the Hawks. Watch out for the Knicks.
Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets
It’s The Rockets
No more really has to be said.
Taking A Trip To The Lottery
#1 pick inbound
Detroit Pistons vs Dallas Mavericks
Good, But Not Good Enough
The Pistons shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3, and they got 50 combined points from Grant and Cory Joseph. If the Pistons can’t win when they’re playing like that, that’s kind of an L.
Help Is On The Way
The key for this team continues to be how can the role guys help Luka. They helped him greatly in this game and look at the results. Luka himself had 30-10-9, just an average day at the job for the young phenom. 20 from Brunson, 15 from Hardaway, and 19 from KP really helped out the cause. If the Mavs do this more often, then might be able to steal that 6th seed from Portland (please don’t).
Miami Heat vs San Antonio Spurs
2nd Half
The Heat got Bam and Jimmy back, a good sign if they want to stay alive in the East. The first half was a close affair, neither team able to get a big lead. That changed in the 2nd half. The Heat outscored the Spurs by 7 in the 3rd and 15 more in the 4th to build a 22-point lead at one point. The Eastern Conference has some red-hot teams and Miami is going to have to try and keep up.
23-8-5 with 3 steals for Bam. There we go, finally being aggressive when Jimmy is playing. 22 for Herro off the bench as the Heat need this type of production going forwards.
Tanking
There’s always that one decent team that sucks in the 2nd portion of the year. That team is the Spurs in the West.
Memphis Grizzlies vs LA Clippers
Choke
What happened? Everything was going well. The Grizzlies controlled the first half, like you should against a team missing both it’s superstars. Memphis led by 18 at one point and then they just collapsed in the 2nd half. The Grizzlies went from scoring 60 in the first half to just 20 in the 3rd, where they were outscored by 14. The 4th was more of the same. Bad shots and LA capitalized with some 3’s, running away with things late. The Grizzlies need every game if they want to make the play-in in the crowded West. Losing to a team missing both of their dynamic wings is a big L.
You’ll Take It
Without Kawhi and PG, you will certainly take this result. The 2nd half was a blowout, excellent defense and hitting shots. 28 from Luke Kennard to lead the way as he was on fire (6/7 from 3). 25 from Morris, 19 from Terrence Mann, and 18 from Zubac. The Clippers remain the hottest team in the league and they’ve been doing it in unique ways without their stars on the floor.
Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers
Lucky
Lucky.
Pain
Losing another game at the buzzer. This was a game Portland played well in, solid defense, good bench play. It was all you could ask for and you still lost. Those fouls late in the game were total BS by the way, the first one where they challenged it wasn’t a foul and the second one there wasn’t any contact either. Another loss for Portland as Dallas is slowly creeping up on them, as Portland desperately does not want to fall into the play-in.
Minnesota T-Wolves vs Sacramento Kings
Choke
This game was almost the same as the last one. High-scoring throughout, no defense. The T-Wolves started to pull away, their defense getting stops. It should have been a second consecutive win against the Kings with them up. It was 113-102 Minnesota with 6:29 left. Not to be undone, the T-Wolves choked. The Kings went on a 14-2 run, led by 3’s from Haliburton and Hield to take a lead with 3:26 left. The T-Wolves kind of just shut down. The two teams went back and forth but the T-Wolves led by 4 with under a minute to go. But the Kings got some free throws, a stop, and then the T-Wolves did something incredibly stupid.
They just left Buddy Hield wide open and he drilled the game-winning 3 with under 10 seconds to go. Towns got a good look on his drive but he just missed and the Kings won. Good job Minnesota.
For Once It’s Not You
Usually it’s the Kings who screw things up, but it wasn’t them for once. They went on a 14-2 late in the game to get back into things and Buddy Hield hit the game-winner. Finally it’s the Kings who’s on the right side of one of these close games.
30-5-7 for Fox who continues to be great, but this time he got help. 29-6-5 including 7 3’s for Buddy Hield who was excellent. 22-6-7 for Barnes and 16 for Haliburton as well. They don’t have a center with Richuan Holmes being out, but Damion Jones got the big stop late and the Kings got a win. Finally this team uses their talent for good and not just settling for eternal mediocrity.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 12 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
Follow My Instagram To Never Miss A Post: @hoopnotions
Check Out My Patreon For Extra Content!
