The Nets Need James Harden Back!; Mavs Get Crucial Win In Playoff Race! 5.4.21
It’s another day of NBA basketball and we have 7 games on the schedule tonight.
Phoenix Suns vs Cleveland Cavaliers (134-118 | OT)
Phoenix Suns
This game went to overtime. How? Anyway, Phoenix gets the win convincingly in OT after 4 quarters of not being able to shake the Cavs. I’m sure it’s nothing, just weird, that’s all.
31-6-5 for Booker, 22 for Bridges, and 15 for Ayton. Oh yeah, Chris Paul. 23 points and 16 assists with 0 turnovers. That’s his 44th career-game with 10+ assists and 0 turnovers. Since 1985, only Muggsy Bogues (46) has more. Paul has by far the most 10+ assists/0 turnover games of any active player, with Rajon Rondo with 13 being the next closest. Phoenix gets the #1 seed.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Good effort, back to tanking.
(Career-high 32 for Isaac Okoro on 10/16 shooting. He was 9/9 from the free throw line, looks like I was right about another player).
Charlotte Hornets vs Detroit Pistons (102-99)
Charlotte Hornets
6 guys in double figures but the guard play really did the Hornets a big-time favor. 23-7-6 for Lamelo, 18 for Rozier, and 15 for Wanamaker off the bench. With the win the Hornets currently sit at 8th in the East, two game behind the Boston Celtics.
Ouch
Killian Hayes had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, but me missed 1/2 and the Pistons lost. It spoiled a career-high 35 points from Hamidou Diallo and 20 from Sekou Doumbouya off the bench. Ouch.
Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks (118-124)
Comeback James
The Nets really need James Harden back and the 2nd half really proved this. The first half was one where if not for 31 combined points from KD and Kyrie, it would have been a blowout. The Bucks were getting what they wanted with ease but Brooklyn remained in striking distance. The 3rd quarter was pure brilliance from KD and Kyrie. The Nets scored 36 points in the 3rd. KD and Kyrie had 30 of those points, shooting a combined 10/16 from the field. The Bucks shot 30% from the field in the 3rd and the Nets took the lead. But this was a bad sign.
As soon as KD and Kyrie got some rest, it was over. You didn’t have James Harden, the ultimate facilitator, to run the offense. Instead you had Mike James, who, let’s be honest, is a downgrade. Brooklyn shot just 40% from the field in the 4th while the Bucks got back to business, shooting 52% and getting another key win. James Harden is very important to this team, bridging the gap. While you might think of all 3 of these guys are scorer, Nets James Harden is a passer and Brooklyn misses him. Badly.
38 for Kyrie, 32 for KD and 3 others in double figures. The Nets have lost their last 3 games and they are now 1.5 games away from the #1 seeded 76ers. The Bucks are now 1.5 games behind the Nets and have the season series advantage. The Nets might lost out on both the #1 and #2 seeds. Just a thought. Also 10 misses free throws, really?
Milwaukee Bucks
There we go. The Bucks played well again, but again, I don’t mean to excuse this or anything, but the Nets aren’t at full strength. Not to discredit this or anything, it’s just true. But nonetheless that 4th quarter on both ends was great, taking advantage of no KD and Kyrie on the floor was great. The Bucks have been playing really well and they’ve shown they can beat the 2/3 Nets. But can they beat the fully healthy Nets? I would really like to find out.
36 points and 12 rebounds for Giannis who took 12 3’s. Let me repeat that, 12 3’s. He took 30 shots overall as it wasn’t a very good game for him, I would have to give the Nets props on this one. 23-8-10 for Holiday and 23 for Middleton. The bench was solid but I cannot wrap by head around Giannis shooting 12 3’s. Jesus that’s a lot for a guy who just runs and dunks. Anyway the Bucks have gotten two solid wins against the Nets and are now only 1.5 games behind the reeling Nets. It’s not impossible that they get the #2 seed, but it’s good to see them playing well. Now just do this in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat (127-113)
Dallas Mavericks
This game didn’t start off so well for Dallas. The Heat hit 8 3’s in the first quarter and scored 39 points. After that it was all Dallas. The Mavs outscored them 33-15 in the 2nd, with Dallas shooting 55% from the field and Miami shooting 18%. Luka had 19 at the half. It was easy sailing from there as Dallas opened up a lead as much as 26. Good win for them.
36 for Tim Hardaway Jr, 23-12-8 for Luka, 19 for Brunson, and 17 for Richardson. 22 3-pointers. Now that’s help. Not to this degree, but something along these lines is what’s needed for success in the playoffs. Dallas is currently tied with the Lakers and they are the 5th seed, one game ahead of the 7th seeded Blazers.
Asterioid
You know how an asteroid is bright for a moment and then it fades? Yeah, that was this game. Without Jimmy Butler they hit 8 3’s and scored 39 points in the first quarter. That was the high point of the game. The defense was absolutely terrible as they just couldn’t keep up. Miami is 6th, one game behind the 5th seed Hawks and only a 0.5 a game ahead of the 7th seeded Celtics.
Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans (103-108)
What Happened?
I feel kind of bad using the asteroid reference twice, but I mean it works. The Warriors hit 7 3’s in the first, Curry had 17 in the first quarter alone and things were going well. Then for the rest of the game things fell off. 41% shooting in the 2nd, 33% shooting in the 3rd, 41% shooting in the 4th. Now New Orleans didn’t take advantage of this until the 4th but the Warriors fell asleep on offense for 75% of the game. Curry went from 24 points in the first half to 5/18 shooting in the 2nd half.
The Warriors shot 53 3’s and make 38% of them. They had 18 turnovers and 17 fouls. This was ugly, to say the least.
Good Job?
This game shouldn’t have been close. The Warriors couldn’t score at all in the 2nd half and the Pelicans locked down Curry. They finally got going offensively themselves in the 4th with 33 points on 52% shooting. They took advantage of Warriors mistakes, 18/22 from the line and 19 points off turnovers. Finally somebody else is making mistakes.
After shooting 3/18 in the Marvel game, Lonzo hit 8 3’s and had 33 points. 23 for Zion, and 3 others in double figures. The season might be over, but hey, good win.
Sacramento Kings vs OKC Thunder (103-99)
Balance
7 guys in double figures and winning without Fox, Barnes, and Haliburton. Good job Sacramento!
OKC Thunder
You suck.
Toronto Raptors vs LA Clippers
Close
The Raptors played a really good game. They were solid offensively and able to keep pace with LA for most of the game. 27 combined from VanVleet and Siakam paced the Raptors to a lead as big as 7 in the first half. Things were getting out of hand a bit in the 4th when Toronto trailed by 4 and LA had all of the momentum. But the Raptors went on a 10-0 run to get back into the game, but they couldn’t sustain that. A pair of 3’s from PG and Reggie Jackson ended the game as the Raptors fell just short.
24 for Siakam, 27 for VanVleet and a couple others in double figures. The shooting was poor from 3 but in the 4th the Raps shot just 33% from the field. They held Kawhi in check, mainly because they didn’t give him shots. It was a solid effort but it kind of sums up the season, just short. Toronto is 3.5 games behind the 10th seeded Wizards, who are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Season over, in my opinion.
Almost Choke
This felt like a classic Clippers loss. Short-handed team against a healthy Clippers team. Proceed to not pull away and things get dicey late. Give Reggie Jackson 17 shots when Kawhi gets 6. But LA won. I find it amazing how many shots Reggie Jackson gets. Kawhi shouldn’t be getting 6 shots, but it sounds worse when he gets 17. The good news is Patrick Beverley is back from that broken hand, so he can start for the playoffs.
Morris had 22 on 8/11 shooting, 22 for PG and 18 for Jackson. Need more than 6 minutes for Terrance Mann and if DeMarcus Cousins can get 14 minutes, Luke Kennard should be playing the whole game. Ty Lou needs better rotations, both Mann and Kennard are good, both valuable pieces. LA now moves back into 3rd with the win, a 0.5 ahead of the Nuggets as that race continues to be back and forth.
Rundown for LA:
Give Kawhi the ball
Give less minutes to Cousins once Ibaka comes back
Give more minutes to Mann and Kennard
I have the sneaking feeling LA is going to screw this up like last year. At least this year I didn’t pick them to win the title, can’t afford to be embarrassed like last year.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 7 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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