Dame And CJ Duel With Harden! 12.26.20
It’s a busy day of NBA action as we have 10 games on the schedule tonight. James Harden makes his debut with Houston and Trae Young and Ja Morant duel from Memphis.
Atlanta Hawks vs Memphis Grizzlies
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hawks offense looked so good against the Bulls, and they’re facing another poor defense in Memphis. This Hawks roster features All-Star Trae Young and a lot of young talent. They will we without Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari, but Rajon Rondo is available for his Hawks debut. This Grizzlies team isn’t the same without Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant will have to play another very good game to make this close. Morant doesn’t have many play-makers around him, making this a very lop-sided matchup. I do think that the matchup of Young and Morant is the best thing coming from these two teams playing. I think the Hawks will win this one easily.
Thoughts On The Atlanta Hawks
This Hawks team looked good once again. Trae Young did a nice job in the 2nd half, as he did a great job scoring and setting up his teammates. John Collins and De’Andre Hunter were also great for the starters, and Hunter had 10 his 15 points in the 2nd half. Kevin Huerter and Nathan Knight were also excellent off the bench. The Hawks are now 2-0 on the season, and they haven’t even added Clint Capela, Rajon Rondo, Kris Dunn, or Onyeka Okungwu to their rotation. Good start for this young Hawks team.
Trae Young had 36 points and 9 assists on 10/24 shooting.
Kevin Huerter had 21 points on 8/12 shooting off the bench.
De’Andre Hunter had 15 points and 11 rebounds on 5/11 shooting.
This Hawks team had a balanced scoring attack, with 5 guys in double figures, with two guys off the bench going into double-digits. Bogdan Bogdanovic didn’t play well and John Collins was pretty quiet. But as I said, the Hawks played well without Dunn, Rondo, Gallinari, Capela, or Okungwu playing. When those guys start to get healthy, this team will become deeper. Good start for the Hawks as they head home to face Detroit on Monday.
Thoughts On The Memphis Grizzlies
This Grizzlies team relies so heavily on Ja Morant, that it becomes their downfall. Morant is obviously very talented, but not having Jaren Jackson Jr. makes so much off the offensive burden fall on him. When Morant wasn’t on the floor, the Grizzlies struggled with their offense. Their bench unit isn’t the same as last year as Brandon Clarke and Jonas Valanciunas didn’t play well against Atlanta. And 0-2 start for this Memphis team, and it will only get tougher without their 2nd best player on the floor.
Ja Morant had 28 points and 7 assists on 10/21 shooting.
Kyle Anderson had 20 points and 14 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
Dillon Brooks had 19 points on 8/23 shooting.
This Grizzlies team hasn’t looked good to start this season. Outside of Ja Morant, he doesn’t have a lot of help. Kyle Anderson was the closest thing to it with a double-double, but Dillon Brooks was inefficient. Jonas Valanciunas was very quiet. Their bench scored just 22 points and couldn’t stop Atlanta’s bench. Atlanta shot 43% from the field and 36% from 3. But Memphis shot below 40% from the field. Without Jaren Jackson Jr, this Grizzlies team is struggling mightily.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Cavs destroyed the Hornets in their opening game, as Collin Sexton and Darius Garland looked very good. Rookie Isaac Okoro and Andre Drummond were solid as well. This Cavs team looked solid, and they look to continue that against the young Pistons. The Cavs get an added boost with Kevin Love making his season debut. Detroit played well against the Timberwolves, but couldn’t close the game late. Josh Jackson was the surprise of their first game, but nobody played great. Killian Hayes was the only rookie to play for the Pistons, and D-Rose, Griffin, and Mason Plumlee were alright while Jerami Grant struggled. This game is likely going to be close, but I think Cleveland will be coming out with the win.
Thoughts On The Cleveland Cavaliers
Well this game was hectic. Cleveland trailed by 5 entering the 4th, as they tried to comeback and win. Andre Drummond hit two free throws with 1:08 left. Darius Garland missed late, and the game headed to OT. But Cleveland started off the OT badly as they trailed 112-103 with 2:15 left. But Cleveland scored 9 straight points, as Sexton scored with 7.6 seconds left to tie the game. They got the stop as well, and we went to a 2nd OT. And in the 2nd OT, the Cavs started off much better. They started the OT period on a 10-0 run, and they never gave the lead back. The Cavs improve to 2-0 on the season.
Collin Sexton had 32 points on 15/23 shooting.
Andre Drummond had 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7/21 shooting.
Cedi Osman had 22 points on 7/12 shooting off the bench.
This Cavs team showed great fight in this game. They were able to comeback in the 4th and force overtime, and then they trailed by 9. But Collin Sexton and company brought them back into the game. And then they dominated the 2nd OT. Sexton, Garland, Drummond, and Osman all scored 20 or better. Kevin Love was ok in his debut, and rookie Isaac Okoro was held scoreless, but still played 42 minutes. The Cavs start their season off 2-0, and they host Philly on Sunday.
Thoughts On The Detroit Pistons
This was a game that Detroit should have won. They led by 5 entering the 4th, but the Cavs forced OT. And in the first OT, the Pistons got off to a great start. They led 112-103 with just 2 minutes left. They should have won the game. But then they allowed the Cavs to get back in the game, tying it up with 7.6 seconds left. And the game went into a 2nd OT, and the Pistons fell apart. They almost immediately trailed by 10 in the 2nd OT, and the Pistons never recovered as they fell to 1-1 on the year.
Jerami Grant had 28 points and 10 rebounds on 9/14 shooting.
Blake Griffin had 26 points and 6 rebounds on 9/21 shooting, 8/16 3-PT.
Delon Wright had 19 points and 6 rebounds on 5/9 shooting.
The Pistons should be disappointed after a loss like like. Blake Griffin and Jerami Grant were playing so well, and they led by 9 in the first OT period. But they gave up that lead, and they couldn’t get things right in the 2nd OT. Derrick Rose struggled shooting off the bench, and rookie Killian Hayes shot just 1/7 from the field. The Pistons definitely needed to get this win, but instead they are 1-1.
Orlando Magic vs Washington Wizards
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Magic surprised everybody and won their first game against the Miami Heat. Fournier and Aaron Gordon were great, as were Vucevic and Terrence Ross. But I still don’t like this Magic roster and think that they should be rebuilding. The Wizards blew a 4th quarter lead, even with their duo of Westbrook and Beal playing great. I think that the Wizards have the only two superstars in this game, and that’s why they should be winning.
Thoughts On The Orlando Magic
The Magic again finish strong in the 4th and walk away with a win. Orlando had 3 guys score over 20 points, including Terrence Ross off the bench. The Magic’s offense was once again good as they shot 51% from the field. This Magic team isn’t the most talented team in the world, but they’ve started their season off with two good wins, and they might be a team to keep an eye on going forward.
Terrence Ross had 25 points on 9/14 shooting off the bench.
Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 17 rebounds on 8/20 shooting.
Markelle Fultz had 21 points and 7 assists on 7/13 shooting.
This Magic team has been playing well. Terrence Ross is one of the best bench scorers in the league, and he led Orlando in scoring. Vucevic has a big double-double and Markelle Fultz was excellent as he ran the offense well and was efficient. Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier were also decent. The Magic are 2-0 to start the year, and they might be a team to keep an eye on (or this could all be fluke).
Thoughts On The Washington Wizards
The Wizards again looked good for most of the game, but their defense failed them in the 4th as Orlando scored 38 points in the final quarter. Westbrook had another inefficient triple-double, and Bradley Beal was again a scoring machine. Thomas Bryant was a solid scorer as well, but Davis Bertans went 2/10 from deep. The Wizards need some better late game defense and execution, as they could very easily be 2-0, but instead they are 0-2.
Bradley Beal had 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 14/24 shooting.
Thomas Bryant had 19 points and 5 rebounds on 8/11 shooting.
Russell Westbrook had 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists on 6/19 shooting.
Russell Westbrook needs to be much more efficient than 6/19 for Washington to be successful. Beal and Bryant were good, but Bertans was not. Deni Avdija was good in his limited action, but his defense makes him a liability. This Wizards team isn’t incredibly deep, and if their superstars can’t take over late in games and power Washington to wins, it’ll be tough for them to win. Washington plays Orlando tomorrow, a chance for revenge.
OKC Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Thunder were supposed to play on Wednesday, but their game got cancelled because Houston didn’t have any players due to Covid. So here’s there debut. The Thunder are rebuilding and really only have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Al Horford. Don’t expect much from this team. The Hornets looked poor on defense against Cleveland, but their offense was fine. Terry Rozier, Devonte Graham, and Gordon Hayward were all great. Lamelo Ball was held scoreless as he looks for more opportunities. I think the Hornets will be winning this game.
Thoughts On The OKC Thunder
This game was one that OKC should have lost, but they came out with the win. OKC led by 5 entering the 4th, and they had the Hornets dead in the water. With 2:13 left in the 4th, OKC led 102-89. The game was over. But Charlotte scored 6 straight points, cutting the lead to 7. George Hill went 1/2 from the line, and Graham hit a 3 in response. Then Shai went 1/2 from the line, and Miles Bridges cut the lead to 3 with 24.9 seconds left. Shai again went 1/2 from the line, and OKC led by 4. Bridges hit another 3, and then another to tie the game at 107 with 10.3 seconds left. OKC gave it to Shai at the end of the game, a wise decision. Shai hit a long pull-up two, and the Thunder survived 109-107.
Shai had 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists on 8/20 shooting.
George Hill had 21 points on 8/9 shooting, 4/4 3-PT.
Luguentz Dort had 15 points and 5 rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
The Thunder definitely should have lost this game. Nearly blew a 13 point lead in 2 minutes, which would have been just delightful. Shai and George Hill along with Lu Dort were excellent in the back-court for this young OKC team. I don’t see OKC as contenders, but a win is a win. OKC is at home vs Utah on Monday.
Thoughts On The Charlotte Hornets
This one slipped right by Charlotte’s hands. They trailed by 13 with 2:13 left, but Miles Bridges and company hit some shots and took advantage of missed OKC free throws to tie the game late. But they couldn’t stop Shai on the final possession, putting an end to any comeback attempts. Another tough loss for this Hornets team, as they fall to 0-2 on the year.
Terry Rozier had 19 points on 5/15 shooting.
PJ Washington had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7/15 shooting.
Miles Bridges had 14 points and 6 rebounds on 5/8 shooting, 4/4 3-PT off the bench.
The Hornets had 7 guys in double figures, including Lamelo Ball who had all his points in the first half. The Hornets rallied back in this game, but it just wasn’t enough. Rozier, Hayward, and Graham were nowhere near as efficient as they were against Cleveland. A few positives were Bridges and Ball were great off the bench, and they hope that that can continue. Charlotte welcomes Brooklyn on Sunday.
Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The 76ers played ok in their first game, but came back in the 4th against Washington and won their first game. Embiid and Simmons were good, and Shake Milton was excellent off the bench. Seth Curry was decent, as was Furkan Korkmaz. The 76ers need more from Danny Green and Tobias Harris in order to be successful, but they are the more talented team in this game. But the Knicks aren’t the usual Knicks. RJ Barrett was excellent to start their season, as was Alec Burks off the bench. Julius Randle was ok, and he needs to play better, especially with rookie Obi Toppin not playing. But this Knicks team is overmatched by Philly, and Philadelphia should be winning this game.
Thoughts On The Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers were engaged in a tough game with New York in the first half, as they could never really shake them, even with Joel Embiid scoring 20 points in the first half. But Philly outscored New York by 12 in the 3rd quarter, and cruised to the win. They had a really nice, balanced scoring attack, as they now sit at 2-0.
Joel Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds on 10/20 shooting.
Seth Curry had 17 points on 6/8 shooting, 3/4 3-PT.
Tobias Harris had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 7/14 shooting.
This 76ers team is looking good. Embiid was effective and efficient, as was Seth Curry, who is looking like a steal for Philly in that starting unit. Tobias Harris got back on track, and Ben Simmons did everything on both ends, including shutting down RJ Barrett all night long. The 76ers bench was also solid with Shake Milton and Dwight Howard both playing well. This 76ers team is 2-0, and they travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavs on Sunday.
Thoughts On The New York Knicks
The Knicks played very well in the first half. Julius Randle was 8/9 from the field and had 18 points, and was the biggest reason for their success in the first half. But in the 2nd half they just ran out of steam. RJ Barrett shot 2/15 from the field and struggled mightily. Elfrid Payton was 0/6 from the field as the Knicks backcourt was atrocious. The Knicks again fell apart in the 3rd quarter, the reason for both their losses this season. New York is now 0-2.
Julius Randle had 25 points and 7 rebounds on 11/15 shooting.
Alec Burks had 22 points and 5 rebounds on 6/13 shooting off the bench.
This Knicks team is solid, but at time they just fall apart. RJ Barrett has to be better for this team to succeed, as they missed his scoring. The Knicks might have to put Alec Burks in the starting lineup because Payton cannot do anything scoring the ball. Obi Toppin is going to be out for a week or so with injury, so things aren’t looking up for New York. They host Giannis and the Bucks on Sunday.
Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pacers gave everybody a reminder that they are still very good. Domantas Sabonis is an All-Star, and Victor Oladipo looked very good. Brogdon was solid, and even with TJ Warren scoring 5 points the Pacers won against New York. The Pacers roster is very good, and they outmatch the Bulls. The Bulls defense was terrible against the Hawks, and they still have a long ways to go. They do have Lavine, Coby White, Markkanen, Williams, and Wendell Carter Jr. But this defense is not a good one, and Indiana should take advantage. I think Indiana will be getting their 2nd win of the year.
Thoughts On The Indiana Pacers
The Pacers offense continues to look very good. After the first quarter, it was all Pacers. They outscored Chicago by 11 in the 2nd and 18 in the 3rd, en route to a dominant win. Warren, Sabonis, and Oladipo were all great as this Pacers team is looking better and better in the East. The Pacers bench still needs some work, but as of right now, their offense is amongst the best in the league.
TJ Warren had 23 points and 6 rebounds on 10/16 shooting.
Victor Oladipo had 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8/12 shooting.
Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists on 8/11 shooting.
Warren got back to his bubble form as he was very efficient, as was Oladipo who was 5/5 from deep. Sabonis had a triple-double, also very efficient. Brogdon added 18 points and we was 8/14 from the field. Indiana shot 56% from the field, as they were getting anything they wanted on offense. Indiana starts off strong at 2-0, as welcome Boston on Sunday.
Thoughts On The Chicago Bulls
This Bulls defense is comparable to the Cowboys defense, absolutely terrible. The Pacers had 3 guys score 20+, and they shot 56% from the field. And the Bulls offense shot just 37% from the field, as they just haven’t been able to put their young talent to good use. This Bulls team has been blown out twice, by teams that were better than them, but I haven’t been impressed by anything that I’ve seen.
Zach Lavine had 17 points on 6/13 shooting.
Lauri Markkanen had 16 points and 9 rebounds on 6/14 shooting.
Coby White had 12 points on 4/10 shooting.
This Bulls team just hasn’t looked good at all so far. Their defense and offense has look sub-par so far, and even though they have played better teams, they should’ve remained somewhat competitive. I liked what the Bulls had going this offseason, but this defense is downright bad. We’ll see if they can pick things up as the season progresses.
Toronto Raptors vs San Antonio Spurs
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Raptors didn’t look good in their first game with a new roster. Not having Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol definitely impacted them as they lost to the upstart Pelicans. Lowry and Siakam were good, but Fred VanVleet struggled. They need their “Big 3” to be clicking on all cylinders to win games and try and stay afloat in the East. The Spurs dropped 131 points on Memphis, and they looked very good. DeRozan and Aldridge are two veterans who can score. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White looked good, as did Keldon Johnson. Lonnie Walker is another guy who can add a spark off the bench. This Spurs roster is interesting, but a well-coached one and one that can remain competitive. I’m giving the Spurs the slight edge on this one.
Thoughts On The Toronto Raptors
The Raptors haven’t looked the same this season. The Raptors 2nd quarter was terrible, as they got outscored by 9 and they could never come back in this game. They led 114-113, but they were held to just one point in the final 30 seconds as they fell to San Antonio. Lowry and Siakam didn’t have the best shooting nights, but VanVleet had his best game of the year so far. Toronto falls to 0-2.
Fred VanVleet had 27 points and 9 assists on 10/20 shooting.
Chris Boucher had 22 points and 10 rebounds on 9/13 shooting.
Pascal Siakam had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists on 6/16 shooting.
Toronto hasn’t looked very good this season, as they miss Ibaka and Gasol defensively. Their depth isn’t that good. Siakam and Lowry shot a combined 12/31, which can’t happen if they want to win. The Raptors need their big 3 of Siakam, Lowry, and VanVleet to play better, mainly just being more efficient. Other than Chris Boucher, the Raptors bench was very quiet. Toronto is 0-2 on the year, and they face Philly on the road next on Tuesday.
Thoughts On The San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs continue to prove me wrong, as they again played well. This game was very close in every quarter except for the 2nd quarter, where San Antonio allowed just 19 points. San Antonio trailed with 30 seconds left in the 4th, but they allowed just one point the rest of the way and hit their free throws down the stretch, and they improved to 2-0 on the season.
DeMar DeRozan had 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists on 10/17 shooting.
Patty Mills had 21 points on 8/9 shooting, 5/6 3-PT off the bench.
The Spurs had 6 guys in double figures, as they again had a balanced scoring attack. DeRozan and Mills both had 20+ points, and they just controlled the pace of this game. The Spurs shot 47% from the field, and they made 14 3-pointers. They held Siakam and Lowry down to poor shooting nights, and they had great late-game execution to close out the win. The Spurs are now 2-0 on the year, and they face New Orleans on the road on Sunday.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Timberwolves made a come-from-behind win against the Pistons, and they looked pretty good. KAT was excellent, as was D-LO off the bench (should be starting in this game), and Anthony Edwards was also good off the bench. Malik Beasley also played well. This T-Wolves team is solid, but they are playing a very good Jazz team. A Jazz team that just beat the brakes off of Portland, as their offense was clicking. With Mitchell, Conley, Gobert, Bogdanovic, and Jordan Clarkson, this Jazz team can be very good on offense. The Jazz do have the edge in terms of talent, but the Timberwolves have a deeper roster. I think that Utah will win this game, but it will be close.
Thoughts On The Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves continue to impress, beating a very solid Jazz team. KAT and D-LO combined for 41 points in their first full game together. Malik Beasley, Culver, and Anthony Edwards were also all great on the offensive side of the ball. The T-Wolves were able to hold their lead, and hit their free throws late in the game and improve to 2-0 on the year.
D’Angelo Russell had 25 points and 6 assists on 9/21 shooting.
Anthony Edwards had 18 points on 8/12 shooting off the bench.
Malik Beasley had 18 points and 6 rebounds on 7/17 shooting.
This T-Wolves team is looking really deep and balanced. KAT and D-LO were solid, and D-LO looked good in his first start. Malik Beasley is a nice 3rd option for the starting unit. Anthony Edwards has been looking very good off the bench, and he was efficient. Might think of putting him in the starting lineup, but not opposed to him playing 25+ minutes off the bench each night. Jarrett Culver didn’t play well last season, but if he plays like he did tonight vs Utah, the T-Wolves will be dangerous. Excellent start to the season for the T-Wolves.
Thoughts On The Utah Jazz
The Jazz looked like a different team against Minnesota. Their offense went from scalding hot to Minnesota cold. Bogdanovic and Mitchell shot horribly from the field, and Utah could never get anything going on offense. The Jazz have been wildly inconsistent so far in their two games, as they are now 1-1 on the year.
Jordan Clarkson had 23 points on 8/17 shooting off the bench.
Donovan Mitchell had 21 points and 5 assists on 6/23 shooting.
Mike Conley had 20 points and 6 rebounds on 6/13 shooting.
The Jazz’s offense looked so good against Portland, but poor against Minnesota. Donovan Mitchell and Bojan struggled, which doesn’t happen often. The Jazz’s bench was pretty good, as Clarkson was good off the bench. Rudy Gobert was again solid, but this Jazz team did look a lot different. Lets see if they can bounce back against a very good Lakers team.
Phoenix Suns vs Sacramento Kings
Pre-Game Thoughts: It wasn’t pretty, but Phoenix beat Dallas to start the season. Devin Booker played well, and CP-3 ended the game strong. Ayton dealt with foul trouble, but was good when he played. I expect this Big 3 to be much better in this game. The Kings got lucky to end their game vs the Nuggets, but they did play well as they outplayed the Nuggets for most of that game. They have Fox, Hield, Bagley, Barnes as well as rookie Tyrese Haliburton coming off the bench. These teams are equally talented, but I think that Phoenix will win because of their Big 3.
Thoughts On The Phoenix Suns
The Suns should have won this game. They had their chances down the stretch of this game, but they couldn’t capitalize. With 2:06 left, Phoenix trailed 99-97. They force a miss, but then allow Richuan Holmes to put it back up and in plus the foul. Now Phoenix trailed by 5. With 1:08 left, CP-3 was at the line, a chance to cut the lead to 1. But he went 1/2 and Phoenix trailed by 2. And then Phoenix couldn’t do anything as Buddy Hield hit some late free throws to ice the game.
Devin Booker had 26 points on 10/21 shooting.
Chris Paul had 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists on 8/19 shooting.
Jae Crowder had 17 points and 8 rebounds on 7/13 shooting.
Deandre Ayton can’t be taking 5 shots. Phoenix has to get him more involved as he has been a non-factor so far. CP-3, Booker, and Crowder were good, but Ayton was quiet. Had they had his points, they would have won. Phoenix shot 25% from 3, and they need some more shots. Their bench needs more scoring than 20 points from 7 guys. A game Phoenix should have won.
Thoughts On The Sacramento Kings
Well, the Kings are 2-0. Didn’t think I would be saying that… ever. The Kings had a very balanced scoring attack with everybody in their starting lineup scoring in double figures. Their bench was solid, and they were able to capitalize on Phoenix’s late game errors. Now Denver has beat two good teams in Denver and Phoenix, an impressive way to start their season.
De’Aaron Fox had 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 7/14 shooting.
Buddy Hield had 14 points on 4/14 shooting.
Marvin Bagley had 13 points and 11 rebounds on 5/10 shooting.
This Kings team has looked decent so far. Their talent on offense has been good through both games, as they have been getting good production from everybody. Their bench was good, and they have that x-factor in Tyrese Haliburton. I doubt that the Kings can consistently keep this up throughout the season, but it’s a good start to the season.
Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Rockets have been plagued by Covid, and they’ve been having their whole James Harden situation. But James Harden will be playing his first game of the season, with no help as Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall all being out due to Covid. Christian Wood is the only decent teammate that Harden has. Portland lost badly against Utah to start the year, but they should be getting a win vs Houston. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum don’t play that bad often, and the rest of the Blazers will play much better. If this isn’t a Portland win, something is wrong.
Thoughts On The Houston Rockets
Houston should have won this, even though they had 4 players that you could name. Harden and Wood were amazing, but they couldn’t score consistently enough down the stretch. Houston shot 60% from the field in the first half, and led by 10 as they were dominating Portland with Harden and Wood. But the Blazers and CJ McCollum dominated the 3rd and the 4th was close. With 2:56 left, Houston trailed by 6. But they fought back and tied it up at 113 with 38.9 seconds left. Jusuf Nurkic missed 2 free throws, but Houston got lucky as Dame missed at the end of regulation, and we were headed to OT. Again, Houston fell behind as they trailed by 5 with 2:03 left. But James Harden hit a step-back 3 with 15.3 seconds left to give Houston a 126-125 lead. But Houston just couldn’t stop Dame and CJ. Dame drove it and kicked it out to a open CJ, who drilled the 3 to give Portland the 128-126 lead with 6.9 seconds left. Harden turned it over, and Houston lost 128-126 in OT, their first loss of the year.
James Harden had 44 points and 17 assists on 12/22 shooting.
Christian Wood had 31 points and 13 rebounds on 14/22 shooting.
Harden and Wood are honestly a lethal duo. Say what you want about Harden off the court, the dude is a killer on the court. He was getting anything he wanted against the Blazers talented wings, and he got a huge help from Wood. Wood is quick on the perimeter and a explosive athlete. Expect big things from Wood this year. But Harden seems set on leaving, and with the roster on his side, I wouldn’t really blame him. They will be getting Gordon, Cousins, and Wall back soon from the Covid-list, but I don’t see them as contenders. They might be a playoff team, but certainly not contenders.
Thoughts On The Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers had their hands full with Harden and Wood. In the first half, Portland couldn’t stop statues as they trailed by as much as 14. But Damian Lillard kept them in it, and they trailed by 10 entering the 2nd half. Then CJ McCollum went berserk, and Portland trailed by just one entering the 4th. Portland took the lead, but surrendered it. Nurkic missed 2 free throws, but they dodged the bullet and had the ball in Dame’s hand to win the game. He got a decent look but missed, and we were headed to overtime. In OT, Portland took a 5-point lead, but Houston fought back. Dame scored with 30.8 seconds left to give Portland the lead, but Harden hit a 3 with 15.3 seconds left and Portland trailed by one. But CJ and Dame weren’t done. Dame collapsed the defense and would a open CJ McCollum, and he drilled the dagger 3 for the lead. Robert Covington stole the errant Harden pass, and Portland survived.
CJ McCollum had 44 points and 8 assists on 17/30 shooting, 9/16 3-PT (career high).
Damian Lillard had 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists on 11/28 shooting.
The duo of Dame and CJ combined for 76 points, and 14 3-pointers. They were going absolutely nuts. Derrick Jones Jr. and Robert Covington did an excellent job in the 2nd half slowing Harden down. They managed to keep Harden at bay for most of the 2nd half, but he still hit tough shots. If you’re Portland, you did a good job defensively, and Harden just hit tough shots. Portland’s lineup is one that I like, and their bench was better with Anfernee Simons leading the charge. I like this Portland roster a lot as they get their first win of the year.
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