Clippers Lose By 50, Wild Warriors vs Bulls Finish! 12.27.20
It’s another day of NBA action as we have 10 games on the schedule. Luka Doncic and the Mavs face off with the Clippers in a rematch of their 2020 playoff series, and Jayson Tatum and Boston face Domantas Sabonis and Indiana.
Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers
Pre-Game Thoughts: This is another likely loss for Dallas. Luka Doncic can only do so much, as this roster desperately need Porzingis to return. They will need a lot more Richardson, Brunson, and Hardaway if they want to win this game. The Clippers have been playing mad to start this season, and they’ve beaten two good teams. Paul George looks sharp, and their new addition fit very nicely. Kawhi Leonard took a nasty shot from Serge Ibaka that required stitches, and he is out. Marcus Morris is again out, and he hasn’t played a game yet. The Clippers are a lot more talented than this Mavs team, and they should be getting win #3.
Thoughts On The Dallas Mavericks
Ummmmmm. Well, Dallas reverted back to their old ways. This was a compete domination, as they handed the Clippers a 50-point loss. The Mavs held LA to just 27 points in the first half, and this game was over after 5 minutes. This was Dallas’s first win of the year, as Doncic, Hardaway, and Josh Richardson all played really well. Dallas shot 49% from the field as they dominated this game from all aspects.
Luka Doncic had 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Josh Richardson had 21 points on 8/13 shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18 points and 5 rebounds on 7/14 shooting.
This was an absolute demolition by Luka and the Mavs, as they were by far the better team on both ends. A very impressive first win, as maybe now they can start to get things going. Dallas heads home to play the Hornets next.
Thoughts On The LA Clippers
I’m really hoping this was a fluke. Even with Kawhi and Marcus Morris not playing, 51 points is a lot. The Clippers just didn’t look ready to play. They got handed their worst loss in franchise history, and scored 27 points in the first half. Not a great showing. I still view the Clippers as very good, but I’m hoping they’re not this bad when Kawhi misses a game. Embarrassing performance by LA.
Paul George had 15 points on 4/13 shooting.
Serge Ibaka had 13 points and 9 rebounds on 6/11 shooting.
The Clippers will have to gather themselves after this beating. They can’t guard Luka Doncic, and they kept giving Dallas open shots. An unacceptable performance by LA. I really hope that they are able to win without Kawhi, because Kawhi takes games off often. Not impressed by this Clippers performance.
San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Spurs are a surprising 2-0 as their balanced offense has been giving teams the fits. With DeRozan at the helm and a solid supporting cast around him, this Spurs team us fundamentally solid. The Pelicans are very talented with Ingram and Williamson at the helm of their young talent. Eric Bledsoe needs to shoot better for this offense to work, as do Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick. This Pelicans team is good when they are clicking, but they have a tough matchup with the Spurs. I think this game will be close, but I’m giving the edge to the Spurs.
Thoughts On The San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs came up just short in this one. The first quarter was low scoring, but for the rest of the game both offenses were fine. The Spurs shot 40% from the field in the first half, and they were playing excellent defense and yet they still trailed. They had a bad 3rd quarter and found themselves down by 8 entering the 4th. With 52 seconds left, the Spurs trailed by 5. They cut the lead to 3 and Steven Adams missed both free throws and the Spurs had a chance to tie the game. But DeRozan had his 3 blocked by Bledsoe, and the Spurs lost, their first of the year.
Rudy Gay had 22 points and 6 rebounds on 9/20 shooting off the bench.
Lonnie Walker had 16 points on 6/14 shooting.
Keldon Johnson had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5/10 shooting.
DeRozan and Aldridge struggled in this game, shooting a combined 5/19. That can’t happen, and even with them struggling this game was close. This is a game where I feel like the Spurs lose more often than win because they don’t have superstars. And when they trail by 8 entering the 4th with no real star to give the ball to, they struggle to comeback. But the Spurs are still 2-1 and have started this year off very well. We’ll see if they can bounce back against the Lakers on Wednesday.
Thoughts On The New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans beat a very respectable Spurs team, as they played a very good game all-around. Their offense struggled in the first half, but they were able to stay in the game. They had an excellent 3rd quarter and pushed their lead to 8 entering the 4th. An Eric Bledsoe block sealed the win for the Pels. New Orleans shot 38% from the field and 21% from 3, but they made 21 free throws. It was ugly, but a win is a win.
Brandon Ingram had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9/23 shooting.
Zion Williamson had 18 points and 11 rebounds with 5 steals on 7/22 shooting.
Lonzo Ball had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals on 7/14 shooting.
Zion and Lonzo forced 10 steals, a very impressive showing. Ingram wasn’t the most efficient on offense, but he still had 28 points. I like this win for for the Pelicans because it showed they can win even when their offense isn’t blazing. The Pelicans rebounded nicely from an ugly Miami Heat loss on Christmas, as they sit at 2-1 to start the year.
Orlando Magic vs Washington Wizards
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Magic beat Washington yesterday, and they look to do the same. Terrence off the bench is lethal, and a starting lineup with Fultz, Fournier, Vucevic, and Aaron Gordon has been doing damage this season. The Magic are a surprising 2-0 to start this season as they look to get this double-header sweep vs Washington. Washington has played 2 bad 4th quarters, which caused them to lose. Russell Westbrook has been very inefficient in 2 games, and Bradley Beal has been doing most of the things on offense. Davis Bertans, Avdija, and Thomas Bryant need to provide solid help with Rui Hachimura being out for a while. They will need to do that especially tonight with Westbrook out. With Westbrook being out, I think that the Magic will win this game.
Thoughts On The Orlando Magic
The Magic have won every game in the same way. They led by 2 at halftime because of 58% shooting from the field and 19 points off the bench from Terrence Ross. But then the Magic scored just 15 points in the 3rd and now trailed by 17 entering the 4th. The game should have been over. Instead Orlando scored 43 points in the 4th and outscored Washington by 24. Another come from behind victory for Orlando, as they are now 3-0 on the year.
Terrence Ross had 26 points on 7/15 shooting off the bench.
Markelle Fultz had 26 points on 11/21 shooting.
Evan Fournier had 19 points on 4/10 shooting.
This Magic team has been playing very well to start the season. Terrence Ross is one of the best bench scorers in the league, and might be a dark horse 6th Man of the year candidate. Markelle Fultz, Fournier, and Vucevic were also solid to start this season. Rookie Cole Anthony had 12 points, and he will only be getting more consistent. This Magic team is off to a very good start, but can they sustain this throughout the entire year?
Thoughts On The Washington Wizards
Again, really? The Wizards have had 3 wins in their hands to start this season, and yet they sit at 0-3. In the last two games both against the Magic, they have blown 4th quarter leads. This time they allowed 43 points in the 4th and scored just 19 points. For a team with two superstars, that is unacceptable. This Wizards team has to learn how to close games, otherwise they won’t be successful this season. Disappointing way to start the season for Washington.
Bradley Beal had 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10/29 shooting.
Raul Neto had 22 points and 5 assists on 10/17 shooting.
Thomas Bryant had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8/15 shooting.
The Wizards with and without Westbrook have struggled this year. Bradley Beal has to play a lot better when Westbrook isn’t there, as missing 19 shots won’t help the Wizards. Raul Neto has been playing really well, much more efficient than Westbrook. Deni Avdija is getting better, but this Wizards bench needs to be better, especially Davis Bertans. Not a great start to season for Washington.
Brooklyn Nets vs Charlotte Hornets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Nets have been the best team in basketball to start this season, their offense being so lethal. KD and Kyrie are back at full strength, and they have been great through two games. With Levert, Harris, Dinwiddie, Allen, Prince, Jordan, Shamet, and Jeff Green as support, the Nets are so much more talented than the Hornets. The Hornets nearly came back against OKC, but they came up short. Their roster is weirdly constructed, with Rozier, Hayward, Graham, and Lamelo Ball off the bench. This should be a big win for the Nets.
Thoughts On The Brooklyn Nets
The Nets shouldn’t have lost this game. Brooklyn got outscored by 7 in the 3rd quarter, and they trailed by 5 entering the 4th. With 6:47 left in the 4th, the Nets trailed by 13. Then they started to rally. With 2:44 left, the lead was just 3. With 20 seconds left, Brooklyn had the ball down by two and two superstars to go to. They went to Durant, and he missed a 10-footer, and the Nets lost. KD definitely wanted that back as he had been playing well all night long. Brooklyn’s first loss of the year, and they definitely should have won this game.
KD had 29 points on 9/15 shooting.
Kyrie Irving had 25 points and 6 assists on 10/17 shooting.
Joe Harris had 13 points on 5/12 shooting.
The Nets should have won their game. Their duo was excellent and 3 other guys were in double figures. Spencer Dinwiddie did leave early with an injury, but Brooklyn should have won. The one positive from this is they got a good shot with their best player, and KD just missed. The Nets are now 2-1 on the year, as they look to rebound against the Grizzlies.
Thoughts On The Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets were on the other side of things tonight. They nearly came back from a 13-point deficit against OKC, but they fell just short. This time they led by 13 with 6:47 left, and they nearly blew it as KD missed in the closing seconds. But the Hornets played well throughout this game. They had an excellent 3rd quarter as they scored 34 points. It’s Charlotte’s first win for the year, and it’s not a bad team to get it against.
Gordon Hayward had 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 12/20 shooting.
Terry Rozier had 19 points and 5 assists on 7/14 shooting.
PJ Washington had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6/16 shooting.
The Hornets played very well and dethroned a title contender. Gordon Hayward looked very, very good as he did an excellent job scoring and passing. Rozier, Graham, and PJ Washington were also solid. I still don’t get why they’re not using Lamelo Ball more, as they selected him 3rd overall. If they’re only going to play him 20 minutes per game, they could have just traded down to get someone like a Tyrese Haliburton or Isaac Okoro. But nonetheless, the Hornets are 1-2 on the year as they face Dallas next.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The 76ers and their new roster have looked very good so far. Joel Embiid has been playing very well, but he is out dealing with a back injury. Ben Simmons has been running this offense well, and his defense has been superb. Tobias Harris and Seth Curry have been excellent role players as well. This 76ers team is very good, and they will only be getting better. The Cavs are a surprising 2-0, but they aren’t as talented as Philly. Collin Sexton will be a defense attack point, as will Darius Garland. Andre Drummond isn’t the best defender in the world, and Isaac Okoro will have to guard Tobias Harris. This should be win #3 for the Philadelphia.
Thoughts On The Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers struggled mightily without Embiid. They fell behind by 14 points at halftime, and just never recovered. They shot just 42% from the field, and couldn’t stop Andre Drummond down low on the other end. Embiid’s injury isn’t too serious and he should be returning to action soon, but not a good way for Philly to play without Embiid.
Tobias Harris had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5/10 shooting.
Ben Simmons had 15 points and 6 rebounds on 5/8 shooting.
This wasn’t a good showing for Philly without their best player. Nobody stepped up, although I expected Simmons to in a big way. Simmons always plays better without Embiid because he has more space to drive, but he didn’t a lot. Seth Curry and Danny Green struggled, shooting a combined 3/9 from the field. The 76ers bench was quiet as well as Philly gets handed their first loss of the year.
Thoughts On The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are 3-0. Imagine saying that a few weeks ago. This Cavs offense has been one of the best in the league so far, and they have looked very good on both ends. Sexton and Garland have looked very good in the back-court thus far, and even without rookie Isaac Okoro in the lineup, the Cavs played very good defense. Like the Magic who are also 3-0, lets see if they can continue this throughout the season.
Andre Drummond had 24 points and 14 rebounds on 11/18 shooting.
Collin Sexton had 22 points on 8/15 shooting.
Cedi Osman had 14 points on 5/8 shooting off the bench.
The Cavs have looked very impressive so far. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are finally looking like a good young back-court, and they have been getting solid contributions from others like Okoro and Cedi Osman. Andre Drummond had a field day with Embiid on the floor, and played his best game of the year by far. Again, lets see if this Cavs team can keep this up and be a potential playoff team. The one bad thing from this game is that Kevin Love left in the 2nd quarter with a calf injury, the same reason he missed the opener.
Milwaukee Bucks vs New York Knicks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bucks and their big 3 of Giannis, Holiday, and Middleton have been very productive to start the season. And now they play the Knicks. The Bucks have the obvious mis-match, as they are better in almost every single aspect. The Knicks are decent, but their back-court is terrible other than RJ Barrett. They won’t have Obi Toppin, and they are obviously at a disadvantage. This should be an easy win for Milwaukee.
Thoughts On The Milwaukee Bucks
Yeah, the Bucks didn’t come to play. Their defense was atrocious as they trailed by 14 at halftime, and they never got back into the game. Giannis and Middleton combined for 49 points, but Holiday shot 4/10. The Bucks bench was terrible outside of 17 points from Bobby Portis, who was playing his former team. The Bucks shouldn’t be losing to teams like New York, even though it is the start of the year. Milwaukee falls to 1-2 on the year.
Giannis had 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/15 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 22 points and 5 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Bobby Portis had 17 points and 7 rebounds on 7/12 shooting off the bench.
I know that it’s the start of the year, but the Bucks shouldn’t be losing games like these. Especially losing by 20. The Bucks defense has to be a lot better, especially against the 3 as New York made 16 3-pointers. The Bucks now continue their road trip as they have two road games against the Heat, both of which will be tough games.
Thoughts On The New York Knicks
Well, the Knicks did a complete 180 from their loss against Philly yesterday. In that game, their defense struggled and their offense was terrible at times, especially with their back-court struggling. But Elfrid Payton and RJ Barrett played much better alongside Julius Randle. The Knicks shot 54% from the field and 59% from 3, as they made 16 3-pointers. An impressive win for New York, their first of the year.
Julius Randle had 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists on 8/17 shooting.
Elfrid Payton had 27 points and 7 assists on 12/16 shooting.
Alec Burks had 18 points and 5 assists on 5/7 shooting, 4/5 3-PT off the bench.
This Knicks team has been playing well, and they got rewarded with their first win. Tom Thibodeau has this Knicks team playing hard on both ends, and they are rapidly improving. Elfrid Payton turned into Ray Allen, as he looked much better from the floor than last evening against the 76ers. RJ Barrett and Alec Burks have been solid to start the year, and the Knicks picked up their first win of the year in impressive fashion.
Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls
Pre-Game Thoughts: Oh god. The Warriors have been blown out by two good teams thus far, and it’s clear that they aren’t contending. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre have been playing awful, as it’s been Curry and Wiseman trying to carry this team. Draymond Green is again out, but the Warriors finally get to play somebody on their level. The Bulls defense is amongst the worst in the league, as they have been crushed by Atlanta and Indiana. The Bulls have talent, and I think that they are better than Golden State. This game will be close, and I think Chicago will win.
Thoughts On The Golden State Warriors
This was a crazy game. The Warriors shot 40% from the field in the first half, and they led by 4. But after a bad 3rd quarter where Chicago scored 41 points, Golden State trailed by 4. And then things got wild in the 4th. The Warriors kept trying to get back in the game, but Chicago held their lead. With with 3:58 left, the Bulls led by 9, and the game seemed out of reach. But a Curry 3 with 2 minutes left made it a two-point game. The last minute of this game, is where things got crazy. Otto Porter hit a 3 off of an offensive rebound to give the Bulls a 126-121 lead with 54 seconds left, but Curry scored in 8 seconds to put it back at a 3-point lead. And he got fouled, and Chicago’s challenge failed, so Curry made it a two-point game with 46 seconds left. Lavine missed, and the Warriors had a chance to tie or take the lead. Wiggins missed a layup, missed the tip-in, missed the tip-in again, and Kevon Looney got the tip-in to tie the game with 16.9 seconds left. Chicago went to Zach Lavine and he scored a pull-up jumper with 5.0 seconds left. And the Warriors had one last chance to win the game. But they went to Damion Lee instead of the two-time MVP. Lee inbounded and got the handoff right back and drilled the game-winning 3. The Warriors survived to win their first game of the year.
Steph Curry had 36 points and 6 assists on 11/25 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins had 19 points and 9 rebounds on 6/15 shooting.
Eric Paschall had 15 points on 4/8 shooting off the bench.
This was a crazy win for the Warriors. They trailed by 9 late, but were still able to comeback and win. Curry had 36 points with 5 3’s, and he got decent help. Wiggins finally got out that slump to score 19, and Paschall scored 15 off the bench. Damion Lee, the hero, scored 12 off the bench as well. James Wiseman played his worst game as a pro, and Kelly Oubre seems to have forgotten what a basketball is. Very important win for Golden State, as now maybe they can start to get on the right track.
Thoughts On The Chicago Bulls
The Bulls finally had themselves a close game, and they blew it. They shot 50% from the field in the first half, and they still trailed by 4. But then they erupted for 41 points in the 3rd and took a lead heading into the 4th. They held their lead for almost the entire quarter, and led by 9 with 3:58 left. The game should have been over and Chicago should have been getting their first win. But no. The Warriors got back into the game almost immediately, and things went down in the final minute. Otto Porter hit a 3, just for Curry to return the favor with an and-one with 46 seconds left to cut the lead to two. The Bulls missed, and Andrew Wiggins missed 3 point-blank shots at the rim, but the Bulls couldn’t get the rebound and Kevon Looney scored to tie the game with 16.9 seconds left. But Zach Lavine hit a tough shot, and all the Bulls needed was one stop. They didn’t let Curry get the ball, which was a great thing. But then Damion Lee his a 3 from the top of the key and Chicago lost their 3rd game of the year.
Zach Lavine had 33 points and 7 rebounds on 11/23 shooting.
Lauri Markkanen had 23 points and 7 rebounds on 7/13 shooting.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 22 points and 13 rebounds on 8/9 shooting.
When 4 guys have 20+ points, you can’t really lose. But that’s what the Bulls did. They had one of their best nights from 4 guys, and they couldn’t win. Their late-game execution was terrible, as they blew a 9 point lead in the final 4 minutes. That whole Andrew Wiggins sequence was bad, as they allowed 4 attempts from point-blank range, and the Warriors eventually hit. Another painful for loss for Chicago, even more painful than their other two blowout losses. And this one hurts even more because they genuinely played well. Chicago is still winless as they face another winless team, Washington next.
Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers
Pre-Game Thoughts: Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum can only do so much as Boston was dominated by Brooklyn. They now face another great offense in Indiana. The Celtics have the more star-power, but Indiana is the more balanced team. Boston will need big nights from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to win this game. The Pacers have been great this year. With Turner, Sabonis, Oladipo, Brogdon, and Warren, the Pacers have one of the best offenses in the league. Victor Oladipo won’t be playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, but this Pacers team is still very lethal. I think that Indiana will win this game because of their depth and high-powered offense.
Thoughts On The Boston Celtics
Tough loss for Boston. Boston led by 6 at halftime as they shot 61% from the field. Things were looking good until they were outscored by 11 in the 3rd quarter, and then had to try and play catch-up in the 4th. And they tied the game with 4 minutes left. After Myles Turner scored with 2:17 left to put Indiana up by two, nobody scored until 24.9 seconds left when Domantas Sabonis went 1/2 from the line to put Indiana up by two. But Jayson Tatum hit two free throws, and the Indiana turned it over, which led to a Marcus Smart lay-in with 11.8 seconds left, giving Boston the lead. In the final seconds, Indiana went to their All-Star. Sabonis drove down the lane for the and-one score. He missed the free throw, but Tatum couldn’t hit another game winner and Boston lost narrowly.
Jayson Tatum had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/21 shooting.
Jaylen Brown had 18 points on 8/13 shooting.
Payton Pritchard had 13 points on 5/5 shooting, 3/3 3-PT off the bench.
The Celtics definitely could have won this game. But their defense late couldn’t stop Sabonis and the Pacers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were once again good, although I would have liked for Jaylen Brown to shoot more than 13 times. The Celtics shot 51% from the field and they got some help from the others. Payton Pritchard had a career-high 13 points as he continues to get better. But Indiana also shot better than 50% from the field, and Boston had 18 turnovers. Boston has lost two in a row and they are now 1-2 on the year.
Thoughts On The Indiana Pacers
The Pacers continue to impress me with how they have been playing. They played pretty well in the first half as they shot 46% from the field, but they trailed by 6. But they put things in the 3rd quarter and outscored Boston by 11, taking a 5-point lead in the 4th. They held the lead in the 4th throughout, but things got interesting late. Domantas Sabonis went 1/2 from the line with 25 seconds left, and Indiana led by 3. But Jayson Tatum drew a foul and went 2/2 from the line cutting the lead to one. Then Boston got a steal and Marcus Smart scored, giving Boston a lead with 11.8 seconds left. And when in doubt, Indiana went to their All-Star. They had a great play, and Sabonis got an easy lane to the rim for the and-one. He did miss the free throw, but Indiana had great defense late and Jayson Tatum missed a 3, and Indiana survived to win 108-107.
Malcolm Brogdon had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/20 shooting.
Domantas Sabonis had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8/18 shooting.
TJ Warren had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 8/14 shooting.
This Pacers team is looking very dangerous. Domantas Sabonis is thriving in this new system, as he had another double-double. Malcolm Brogdon had a season-high 25 points, and TJ Warren shot 57% from the field en route to 17 points. The Pacers looked good, and they didn’t have 15 or so points from Victor Oladipo. The Pacers defense was good as they forced 18 Boston turnovers, which was the key to this game. Indiana is now 3-0 on the year as they might be dark horse contenders in the East.
Phoenix Suns vs Sacramento Kings
Pre-Game Thoughts: Phoenix lost last night to the Kings, and they definitely could have won that game. They need more than 5 shots from Deandre Ayton. Ayton needs to try and stay out of foul trouble and be much more aggressive. The Suns have CP-3, Booker, and Jae Crowder around Ayton, and if he plays well they are very good. The Kings used their balanced scoring behind De’Aaron Fox to power through Phoenix last night. They’ll need good performances from Barnes, Bagley, and Hield in order to win. Tyrese Haliburton is the x-factor off the bench, a guy who can give you a quick spark off the bench. I think that Phoenix will win this game, but it will be close.
Thoughts On The Phoenix Suns
The Suns got revenge on the Kings for last night’s loss. The Suns looked a lot better on both ends. Phoenix shot 48% from the field and 50% from 3 in the first half, and they led by 3. They had an excellent 2nd half where they outscored the Kings by a total of 13 points, holding them to 47 points. Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges led the way on offense, and CP-3 had 12 assists. Ayton got more involved on offense, but they still need to get him the ball more. Cam Johnson had 21 points off the bench as well. Good all-around win for the Suns, as they are now 2-1 on the year.
Mikal Bridges had 22 points and 7 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Cameron Johnson had 21 points on 7/9 shooting, 3/4 3-PT off the bench.
Devin Booker had 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8/19 shooting.
The Suns have looked good to start this season, as their offense looked a lot better than it did last night vs the Kings. Mikal Bridges has been having a great start to the year, and Cam Johnson showed his potential off the bench. CP-3 might be scoring, but he did have 12 assists. Deandre Ayton had 11 points an 15 rebounds, and I would like to see more from him in the offense. But the Suns split this series with the Kings, and they move on to face New Orleans next.
Thoughts On The Sacramento Kings
The Kings couldn’t get a 2nd win vs the Suns. They started off this game well with 33 points in the first quarter while shooting 63% from the field, but they lost control after that. They never scored more than 25 points in a quarter and they couldn’t stop the Suns. Fox and Hield shot a combined 10/28 from the field. Rookie Tyrese Haliburton had his best game as a pro with 15 points off the bench, one of the few bright spots for Sacramento. The Kings suffer their first loss of the year, as they are now 2-1.
Buddy Hield had 17 points on 6/16 shooting.
Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points and 6 assists on 5/7 shooting, 3/4 3-PT off the bench.
De’Aaron Fox had 12 points on 4/12 shooting.
The Kings offense, which was good in their first two games, couldn’t get going for a 3rd game in a row. Hield and Fox struggled to create their own offense, and Tyrese Haliburton was their only really good player on the floor. The Kings defense still has a ways to go as they can’t win shootouts every game. Coach Luke Walton might want to consider putting rookie Haliburton in the starting lineup for some extra length and defense. Sacramento welcomes Denver for a rematch on Tuesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Lakers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The T-Wolves have looked really good to start the season, with D-LO, KAT, Malik Beasley, and #1 overall pick Anthony Edwards all looking very impressive. The T-Wolves are a wildcard team in the West, and a team that could be making a playoff push. But they will be without KAT tonight, who is dealing with a wrist injury. The Lakers are more talented team, and they looked really good against Dallas. Even with AD not playing due to injury, this Lakers team is very talented with Lebron, Schroder, and Harrell. I expect a win for the Lakers.
Thoughts On The Minnesota Timberwolves
Without KAT, the Timberwolves were dominated by Kyle Kuzma and the Lakers. The T-Wolves offense sputtered to start the game, as they missed all of their 3’s in the first quarter. The Lakers shot 71% from the field in the first quarter and scored 40 points en route to a dominating win. The T-Wolves definitely need Towns on the floor as they don’t have a great backup. Nobody played well for the T-Wolves at all, and this was an embarrassing first loss.
I’m not even going to put up stats because the “best player”, was Anthony Edwards going 6/21 from the floor. Towns has a dislocated wrist, and his timeline in unknown as of right now, but he doesn’t need surgery which is a good thing. But he could be out for a few weeks, and Minnesota needs to play better in order to try and stay afloat in the West.
Thoughts On The LA Lakers
Who needs AD when you have Kyle Kuzma? The Lakers jumped on Minnesota as they shot 71% from the field in the first quarter as Kyle Kuzma had 14 points, starting in place of AD. This game was never close as the Lakers cruised to their 2nd straight win of the year. Lebron, Kuzma, Gasol, and Schroder all played really well. LA improves to 2-1 on the year.
Kyle Kuzma had 20 points on 8/12 shooting.
Lebron James had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6/13 shooting.
Marc Gasol showed us what he can do as he nearly had a triple-double. His passing is so valuable as it gives LA another play-maker on the floor. Kyle Kuzma has looked very good to start this season, as he looks a lot more comfortable off the bench. If the Lakers play like this without AD, who is prone to injuries, they can give him some sweet time in recovery. AD’s calf injury isn’t thought to be serious, but they will give him all the time he needs. The Lakers welcome Portland to town on Monday.
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