Knicks Continue To Roll; Pritchard Wins It For Boston! 1.6.21
It’s another day of Wednesday hoops, and we have a busy day today with 11 games on the schedule.
Game Of The Day Prediction: Heat vs Celtics or Pacers vs Rockets
Washington Wizards vs Philadelphia 76ers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Wizards had a rough start to the season, but they have won two in a row as they have started to get things going. The 76ers roster features lots of talent, with Westbrook and Beal starting the year well. They’ll need production from guys like Davis Bertans off the bench and Rui Hachimura. If Washington can play some defense, they can win this game. But they face one of the hottest teams in the league in Philadelphia. The 76ers have gotten off to a fast start, sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record. Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid have been excellent offensively, as have new additions Seth Curry and Danny Green. Ben Simmons is doing everything else, rebounding, passing, and being one of the best defenders in the NBA. This 76ers team has looked very good, and they have the advantage against the Wizards. One thing that does worry me about them is their bench, but their defense has been excellent to start the season. I think Philly will win this game.
Washington Wizards
This game started very poorly for the Wizards. The Wizards defense was horrendous, as Philly shot 67% from the field in the first half. The Wizards allowed 82 points. The only reason they stayed within striking distance in this game, was because of 32 first half points from Bradley Beal. But in the 2nd half, things started to go the Wizards way. The Wizards scored 39 points in the 3rd, and trailed by 10 entering the 4th. And in the 4th, the Wizards have Philadelphia their best shot. They were going back and forth, and they were in a tied game with 4 minutes left. But then Joel Embiid scored 8 straight points including a dagger 3, and Philly hung on to win. Washington is now 2-6 on the year.
Bradley Beal had a career-high 60 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 20/35 shooting.
Russell Westbrook had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Davis Bertans had 17 points on 6/15 shooting off the bench.
This Wizards defense is so bad. The fact that this game was close was only due to Bradley Beal going crazy. Russell Westbrook and Davis Bertans were the only other guys providing scoring help. Hachimura only had 8 points, and Avdija had just 1 point. They need more scoring, because obviously their defense can’t keep them in games. Washington is now 2-6 on the year, and they face the Boston Celtics next.
Philadelphia 76ers
This game went from very good to very bad for the 76ers, but they came up with the win. The 76ers offense was beyond hot, led by Seth Curry. They shot 67% from the field and 80% from 3, scoring 82 points in the first half. But because they couldn’t stop Bradley Beal, the game wasn’t over. Leading by 10 in the 4th, the game got interesting late. It was going back and forth, and the game was tied with 4 minutes left. But Joel Embiid dominated late, and he fueled the 76ers late to a win, as they are now 7-1 on the year.
Joel Embiid had 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 11/20 shooting.
Seth Curry had 28 points and 5 rebounds on 11/14 shooting, 6/7 3-PT.
Tobias Harris had 19 points and 7 rebounds on 8/16 shooting.
This 76ers team is good, although I’m not impressed with their 2nd half. Their first half was excellent, as they were unbeatable. And in the 2nd half, they went to Embiid when the going got tough. Joel Embiid is a monster, and he has gotten off to an excellent start this season. Seth Curry has been the perfect addition, as he has been red hot. Harris and Simmons along with Danny Green were all solid. Shake Milton had 19 points off the bench. The 76ers are the hottest team in the league, but they still haven’t played a great team. The 76ers take on the Brooklyn Nets, a chance to show us their strength.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Cavs have gotten out to a strong start this season, but they were blown out by the Magic last time out because they were missing a lot of their best players, and the same is true about this game. Dante Exum and Kevin Love will remain out for multiple weeks, both having calf injuries. Darius Garland is out with a shoulder injury, but rookie Isaac Okoro is back. But the Cavs are still very thin, and they’re facing a hot Orlando Magic team. The Magic have started the year hot, as they are 5-2 on the year. Their offense has been their strong-suit, led by Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross off the bench. Evan Fournier is out, but this Magic team has been playing well, and have the advantage against the very short-handed Cavaliers. This should be another win for the Cavs.
Cleveland Cavaliers
This game was very similar to the played on Monday. The Cavs got off to a good start, as they led by 8 after the first quarter, holding Orlando to just 15 points. But then things went downhill. The Cavs scored just 22 points in the 2nd quarter, and allowed 36 points. Just like that, the Cavs were down. And the 3rd was more of the same as Cleveland was outscored by 13. Now down by 19, the Cavs didn’t trim the lead nearly enough, and they lost their 2nd straight game.
Collin Sexton had 21 points on 8/20 shooting.
Andre Drummond had 19 points and 15 rebounds on 9/16 shooting.
Isaac Okoro had 10 points on 4/5 shooting.
The Cavs have lost 4 of their last 5 games, two of those losses coming against the Magic. This Cavs team is very thin right now, as they are missing a lot of key players. Isaac Okoro was solid in his return to the lineup, but Garland is out for a week, and Love and Exum are out for the foreseeable future. This Cavs offense has to find a way to score, otherwise they will start to plummet in the standings. The Cavs play the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow.
Orlando Magic
This game was weird for Orlando, but they won. The Magic shot 32% from the field in the first quarter, and trailed by 8. But their offense came back to life, as they dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The Magic cruised to another win, but they have some bad news looming. Markelle Fultz took an awkward fall, and was writhing in pain, holding his knee. It turned out to be a torn ACL and Fultz is done for the year, a huge blow for the Magic.
Terrence Ross had 20 points on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
Dwayne Bacon had 19 points on 8/14 shooting.
Nikola Vucevic had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7/18 shooting.
The Magic are hoping for the best with the Fultz injury, as he has been very good this season. Evan Fournier was again out today, as they hope to get him back and healthy. Losing Markelle Fultz for the year is such a big blow, as they have to rely more on rookie Cole Anthony. This Magic team was playing so well, and Fultz was a big reason for that. Big loss for the Magic.
Houston Rockets vs Indiana Pacers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Rockets are coming off of a tough loss against the Dallas Mavericks, and now face a very good Indiana Pacers team. The Rockets roster has some good players, but they aren’t very good. James Harden is.. James Harden. Christian Wood has been excellent to start this season, but he is out for today’s game. They will need some scoring from guys like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins to win. But they face a very good Indiana Pacers team. The Pacers mounted a wild comeback vs the Pelicans last-time out. Domantas Sabonis has been playing at a very high level, as have Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo, who looks healthy at last. Along with Myles Turner and a decent bench, this Pacers team is tough to beat. I think that the Pacers are the better team, and they will win this game.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets again tried their best in this game, but their roster just isn’t deep enough. They were without Christian Wood, and they came up short in this game. The Rockets were engaged in a tough battle, trailing by 6 at halftime. Both teams were playing good on offense, but defense would be the key in the 2nd half. The Rockets continued to fight in the 3rd, and were able to cut the lead to 3 entering the 4th. But the Rockets comeback attempts were just short down the stretch. With 3:32 left, the Rockets tied the game with some John Wall free throws. But the Rockets were held scoreless in the final two minutes of this game, and Houston loses their 2nd close game in a row.
John Wall had 28 points and 6 rebounds on 12/20 shooting.
Eric Gordon had 20 points on 7/15 shooting off the bench.
James Harden had 15 points and 12 assists on 5/14 shooting.
When James Harden has the same amount of points as David Nwaba, things aren’t going right. Harden has struggled as of late, and it hurt them. John Wall was good, as was Eric Gordon. DeMarcus Cousins hasn’t been great this season either. James Harden hasn’t played well in the last two games, as they need him to score, especially with Christian Wood not playing. Houston is 2-4 on the year, and they take on the Orlando Magic next.
Indiana Pacers
I tried telling you guys, this Indiana team is very good. This Pacers offense is so good, and it proved to be too much for Houston. Their offense was humming in the first half, led by Malcolm Brogdon as they led by 6, shooting 51% from the field. Indiana led by 3 entering the 4th, and they played excellent down the stretch of this game. With 3:32 left, the game was tied. After that point, Indiana outscored Houston 9-2, and scored 8 straight points to end the game. Indiana is now 6-2 on the year.
Malcolm Brogdon had career-high 35 points and 7 assists on 13/25 shooting.
Justin Holiday had 20 point and 5 rebounds on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
Domantas Sabonis had 22 points and 12 rebounds on 9/14 shooting.
This Indiana team is so good. Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon have both been excellent this season, as they have just been unbeatable this season. Justin Holiday was excellent off the bench, scoring 20 points. Victor Oladipo struggled shooting, but still had 18 points. Myles Turner is a monster down low, as he had 8 blocks on the night. The Pacers have roared to a quick 6-2 start, and they face the Phoenix Suns next.
Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 games, fueled by their two All-Stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. These two have been incredible to start this season, but they’ve gotten some solid help. The most consistent one has been rookie Payton Pritchard off the bench. He can shoot and get to the rim, and is a good passer. Really like what I’ve seen from him thus far. If the Celtics get production from their centers in Thompson and Theis along with Jeff Teague and Marcus Smart, they are tough to beat. The Heat have started their year off slow, but they are back at 0.500 with a 3-3 record. Their offense has been spotty, but they always have that reliable stout defense. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have been very good. Avery Bradley has been shooting well, they just need more offense from Jimmy Butler. This game will be very close and good, but I’m giving the edge to the Boston Celtics.
Boston Celtics
I love to watch this Celtics team play, and they were great in this game vs the Heat. Tatum and company got off to a hot start, shooting 52% from the field in the first quarter, leading by 8. The Celtics cooled off a bit in the 2nd, but held their lead entering halftime. But then the Celtics started to slow down, as Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler got going. The Heat scored 35 points in the 3rd, and the game was tied entering the 4th. The 4th quarter was back and forth, both teams playing very tough defense. With 4 minutes left, the Celtics tied the game. And then Boston scored 10 straight points, fueled by Tatum and Brown 3’s. But the Celtics couldn’t end the game, as Duncan Robinson scored 7 straight points to cut the lead to 3 with 38.9 seconds left. After a bad no call, Boston allowed a Goran Dragic 3, and the game was tied. The Celtics didn’t call a timeout on their final play, and it payed off. Marcus Smart missed at the end, but rookie Payton Pritchard tipped it back in with 0.2 seconds left, sealing the Boston win. Boston is now 6-3 on the year.
Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 5 rebounds on 10/21 shooting.
Jaylen Brown had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8/23 shooting.
Daniel Theis had 13 points and 5 rebounds on 6/11 shooting.
Jayson Tatum was incredible down the stretch, as he dictated everything the Celtics did on offense. Brown made some big plays, as did Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis. The Celtics offense was good throughout, although it stalled at times. Blowing that 10-point lead late is bad, but Payton Pritchard saved the day, as he continues to play amazing. Boston is playing really good right now, and they are starting to figure things out, and it’s only a matter of time before Kemba Walker returns. Boston takes on the Washington Wizards next.
Miami Heat
This one stings if you’re the Heat, although they did their best to fight in this game. Miami’s defense was awful in the first quarter, allowing a lot of open shots and they trailed by 8. They couldn’t cut into the lead, and still trailed by 8 at halftime. But the Heat started shooting a lot better in the 3rd, and they tied the game entering the 4th. And in the 4th, the Heat just didn’t do enough. With 4 minutes left, the game was tied. And then the Heat went cold, and the Celtics scored 10 straight points. It looked like it was game over for Miami, but they roared back. The Heat scored 7 straight in under 30 seconds to cut the lead to 3, got lucky that the refs didn’t call a foul against Miami, and then Goran Dragic tied the game with 13 seconds left. But the Heat could not force OT. Marcus Smart missed at the rim, and nobody boxed out Payton Pritchard, who gave the Celtics the lead with 0.2 seconds left, and Miami loses again, falling to 3-4 on the year.
Jimmy Butler had 26 points and 8 rebounds on 9/19 shooting.
Duncan Robinson had 16 points and 6 rebounds on 5/11 3-PT.
Bam Adebayo had 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists on 5/10 shooting.
The Heat just don’t look the same from last year. Their offense hasn’t looked as good as it did in the bubble. They couldn’t score late, and that’s why they were down 10 points. Jimmy Butler looked good, but he is still dealing with an ankle issue. Adebayo and Robinson were solid, but they need more off the bench. Bradley didn’t score, as they need him to hit some perimeter shots. Precious Achiuwa is good as a rookie, and I would like to see more of him. The Heat have to be better on offense is they want to win, it’s that simple. Miami falls below 0.500 again, and they face the Washington Wizards next.
Charlotte Hornets vs Atlanta Hawks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hornets have struggled as of late, as their offensive guard tandom hasn’t been working. I feel like they need to give Lamelo Ball more room and minutes to grow. But they continue to stay with Graham and Rozier in the the back-court. Their bench isn’t very consistent, and I just don’t like this roster. And they face a very good Hawks team. The Hawks have one of the best offenses in the league, but they’ve lost 3 of their last 4 games. Their offense has stalled at times, and even though they are without some of their better players, they are still very good with guys like Trae Young and John Collins. Their defense has been poor, as they need to pick it up on that end. The Hawks are the much more talented team in this game, and they will be winning this game.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have been so inconsistent this year, but they looked good in this game. Charlotte shot 41% from the field in the first half, as they led by 19. Gordon Hayward was excellent, and they were blanketing Trae Young. But the Hornets started to play worse in the 2nd half. Entering the 4th, they led by 14. But the Hornets didn’t play well to start the quarter, as they lost the lead with 5:22 left. But Gordon Hayward and company made some big shots down the stretch. Hayward’s step-back jumper with 1:32 left but the Hornets up by 7, and they sealed the win.
Gordon Hayward had a career-high 44 points and 7 rebounds on 15/25 shooting.
Lamelo Ball had 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6/12 shooting.
Terry Rozier had 14 points on 4/10 shooting.
Gordon Hayward has been excellent this season, as he has been their most consistent player. Lamelo Ball had his best game of his rookie career, as he was efficient and he did a little bit of everything. Rozier and Graham haven’t been great as of late, especially Graham. I would much rather see Lamelo Ball play, because he’s looked pretty good to start this season. The Hornets have been inconsistent this season, but they are 3-5 on the year. They face the New Orleans Pelicans next.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have been looking really bad as of late, something that happened last season as well. Anyway, it wasn’t a great start for the Hawks, as they trailed by 19 at halftime. They couldn’t stop Charlotte, as Trae Young was quiet. But the Hawks rallied in the 2nd half, as they took the lead midway through the 4th. But they couldn’t stop Gordon Hayward late, and they lost their 3rd straight game.
John Collins had 23 points and 11 rebounds on 9/16 shooting.
Kevin Huerter had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7/15 shooting.
De’Andre Hunter had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6/15 shooting.
Trae Young has to be better, as he shot 2/9 from the field. This Hawks offense has been struggled as of late, as they seemed to have lost that punch from the first few games. They are still without some rotation players, but losing 3 in a row isn’t normal, as they proved that they can win even without being fully healthy. Whatever is going on with the offense, they have to fix it. Atlanta is now 4-4 on the year, and they face the Charlotte Hornets again on Saturday.
Utah Jazz vs New York Knicks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Jazz got stomped by the Nets yesterday, as their offense has been so hot and cold this season. Bojan Bogdanovic needs to start shooting better if this Jazz team wants to be good. They can’t keep just relying on Donovan Mitchell. I haven’t liked the Jazz much this year, and now they face the surprise team of the year thus far; the New York Knicks. The Knicks have been playing well under new coach Tom Thibodeau, as he has made this team look solid. Julius Randle is the front-runner for MIP right now, as he has been incredible. RJ Barrett has been solid, and the Knicks have a solid supporting cast around those two. The Knicks have been very good, and I think this game will be close. But the Jazz have the offensive firepower, and I think that they will win this game.
Utah Jazz
I’ve been warning people about this Jazz team, and wouldn’t you know it. The Jazz are so overrated, and I’m about the only person who sees it. The Jazz started off pretty well, leading by 7 after the first quarter, shooting 46% from the field. The Jazz continued to do well, as they led by 12 at halftime. It seemed like an easy win. Until the Jazz collapsed in the 3rd, scoring just 19 points. Now they trailed by 3 entering the 4th. And even though they were the better team in terms of talent, they couldn’t get the the win. With 5:14 left the Jazz tied the game. And then Austin Rivers erupted, scoring 14 straight points down the stretch, and the Jazz lost for the 2nd straight time.
Jordan Clarkson had 19 points on 7/12 shooting off the bench.
Donovan Mitchell had 18 points on 8/23 shooting.
Joe Ingles had 16 points on 6/13 shooting off the bench.
I told you so. Felt good to say that. I’ve been saying this Jazz team is heavily overrated, mainly because they aren’t deep and they need their offense to be good to be… good. Bojan Bogdanovic continues to struggle shooting the ball. Mike Conley went 3/14 from the field in this game. The Jazz bench was their best offense, getting good nights from Clarkson and Ingles. But the Jazz have to get their offense going, otherwise they are going to struggle. Utah is 4-4 on the year, and they face the Milwaukee Bucks next.
New York Knicks
Well, this is surreal. The Knicks, being consistently good? Not possible, until now. And the fact that the Knicks won this game is wild, because they were playing awful in the first half. They shot 20% from 3, and trailed by 12 at halftime. But they rebounded in the 2nd half with a big 3rd quarter, and they took the lead entering the 4th. With 5:14 left, the game was tied. And then, the Jazz met Michael Jordan, I mean Austin Rivers. Rivers scored 14 straight points, and the Knicks won their 3rd straight game, improving to 5-3 on the year.
Julius Randle had 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists on 10/26 shooting.
Austin Rivers had 23 points on 9/14 shooting off the bench.
Elfrid Payton had 22 points and 8 assists on 10/15 shooting.
This Knicks team has been playing great basketball. Julius Randle has been doing everything, as he has been awesome. Austin Rivers won this game down the stretch, as he was a big boost off the bench. Elfrid Payton has been excellent scoring the ball, as he had 22 points. RJ Barrett shot 4/14 from the field, but the Knicks were still able to win. This Knicks team has been very impressive, as they play good team basketball. New York faces the OKC Thunder next.
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Thunder are a rebuilding team, and they have lost 3 of their last 4 games. This was to be expected, as they have gutted this roster with plans for the future. Only good players on the team are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Al Horford. It will be a struggle season for OKC. The Pelicans blew an easy win vs the Pacers, as they have a chance to rebound vs the Thunder. Brandon Ingram has been excellent this season, and Zion would be better if he got the ball more. If Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe can space the floor out, this team will be a lot better. If they can’t, then New Orleans will struggle. But the Pelicans have the obvious talent advantage in this game, and this should be an easy win for the Pelicans.
OKC Thunder
Could you just lose? Please? The Thunder should not be this good, it’s almost suspicious that they are this good with the roster they have. OKC trailed by 5 at halftime, as they weren’t playing bad vs the superior Pelicans team. OKC shot 45% from the field in the first half, feeling little resistance from the New Orleans defense. But the Thunder had a big 3rd quarter, and they led by 10 entering the 4th. And then things got interesting late. With 4:02 left, OKC regained the lead by 1 after a George Hill 3. The game went back and forth, but OKC trailed 110-109 with 30 seconds to go. Shai missed the layup, but Al Horford got the rebound, and George Hill drew a foul. He knocked down both free throws and OKC led by 1. The Thunder forced the ball out of Brandon Ingram’s hands, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker got a good look but missed at the buzzer, and OKC survived to win.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists on 7/17 shooting.
Darius Bazley had 20 points and 12 rebounds on 8/20 shooting.
Mike Muscala had 18 points on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
I really am at a loss for words. I really don’t want to talk about OKC, because they’re not relevant. Their roster is so bad, and I really don’t know how they are 3-4 on the year. Can they just lose. They are currently in the playoff hunt, which is just wild. I know they won’t keep this up, but it’s still kind of funny that they are doing this. OKC takes on the New York Knicks next.
New Orleans Pelicans
Disappointing loss for New Orleans, as they have now lost two-heartbreaking games in a row. New Orleans started this game off very well, as they scored 34 points in the first quarter on 58% shooting. They led by 5 at halftime. But then the Pelicans offense went ice cold, and they were outscored by 15 in the 3rd quarter. Now trailing by 10 in the 4th, the Pelicans made a comeback. The Pelicans trailed by 1 with about 4 minutes left. The Pelicans led by one with 33 seconds left, but they allowed an offensive rebound, and George Hill got 2 free throws, and he hit both of them. And on the Pelicans didn’t get a shot with Brandon Ingram to close the game, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed at the buzzer and New Orleans lost again.
Zion Williamson had 29 points and 6 rebounds on 12/17 shooting.
Brandon Ingram had 24 points and 11 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Lonzo Ball had 15 points on 6/18 shooting.
Zion got the ball, and he was excellent. I really wanted to see Zion get the ball more, and he was excellent tonight. Brandon Ingram was great as well, but those two didn’t get much help. Bledsoe was good, as was Lonzo, in the first half. Lonzo shot 4/6 in the first half, and he was just 2/12 in the 2nd half. This Pelicans team has had back-to-back close losses, both games where they could have won with better late game management. New Orleans is now 4-4 on the year, and they take on the Charlotte Hornets next.
Detroit Pistons vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pistons have been is close games this season, but they just haven’t been able to win them. Jerami Grant, Derrick Rose, and Blake Griffin have all been good to start this season, but the Pistons continue to rebuild. They were demolished in their last meeting with the Bucks on Monday, and similar things will happen today. Killian Hayes it out, while Blake Griffin is back. The Bucks and their big 3 of Middleton, Giannis, and Holiday have been excellent. Their bench has been strong, their strongest bench of their 3 years of contending. This Bucks team is starting to get rolling, and the Pistons stand no chance. Should be an easy win for the Bucks.
Detroit Pistons
Yeah, I really didn’t think much of this game. The Pistons were no match for the Bucks, as they were dominated in the first half. They trailed by 26 at halftime, and the game was over. While the game got a little closer in the 2nd half, the Bucks had control of this game throughout. The Pistons have lost 3 in a row, as they are now 1-7 on the year.
Jerami Grant had 31 points and 10 rebounds on 9/20 shooting.
Saddiq Bey had 20 points and 10 rebounds on 6/14 shooting off the bench.
Jerami Grant continues to play very well, but there just isn’t that much help on this Pistons team. Killian Hayes was out of this game, but he has struggled, as have Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. I love rookie Saddiq Bey and he played really well today off the bench. I think that the Pistons should be looking to trade Griffin and Rose, and go full in on a rebuild around Grant, Bey, and Hayes. Detroit is 1-7 on the year, and they face the Phoenix Suns next.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks did what they were supposed to do, against the inferior Detroit Pistons. The Bucks scored 44 points in the first quarter, and led by 26 at halftime, as they cruised to another easy win. The Bucks have won 4 of their last 5 games, as they are now 5-3 on the year.
Giannis had 25 points and 8 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9/15 shooting.
Brook Lopez had 17 points and 5 assists on 6/9 shooting.
The Bucks started off a little slow, but they have been getting better as they get some easy wins vs bad teams. If the Bucks can start to get rolling, they will be tough to beat. Their big 3 of Middleton, Giannis, and Holiday have all been great, and this Bucks supporting cast is very good. Milwaukee looks for their 4th win in a row against the Jazz.
Toronto Raptors vs Phoenix Suns
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Raptors have been shockingly bad this season, as they seemed to lost that defense and toughness from the past two seasons. Pascal Siakam has been ok, but him along with Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry haven’t been enough to carry this weak supporting cast. The Raptors will have to start playing a lot better to try and make the post-season. The Suns have been very good to start their season, led by CP-3 and Devin Booker. Their defense has been excellent this season, as they have looked sharp, starting the year 5-2. The Suns are the much better team, and they should be winning this game.
Toronto Raptors
This is starting to get out of hand. What has happened to this team? They almost have the same record as the Pistons. Crazy. The Raptors played pretty good in the first half, as they trailed by 4, shooting 48% from the field. Pascal Siakam was shooting the ball well, and it looked like a winnable game. But the Raptors defense allowed 38 points in the 4th quarter, and they trailed by 9 entering the 4th. And the Raptors never even got close in the 4th, as they lose their 3rd straight game.
Pascal Siakam had 32 points and 9 rebounds on 11/21 shooting.
Kyle Lowry had 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9/15 shooting.
OG Anunoby had 20 points and 8 rebounds on 8/10 shooting.
I’m honestly shocked at how this Raptors team has started the season. I predicted they would be worse because they lost so much this offseason, but I still thought of them as a playoff team. But this, this is crazy. The Raptors just can’t play defense. And when they need big nights from their Big 3, somebody doesn’t have a good game. Tonight it was Fred VanVleet, who had just 13 points. This Raptors bench isn’t ideal, as they have just been so bad to start this season. Toronto is now 1-6 on the year, and they face the Kings next time out.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns continue to look very good, as they have been excellent on both ends. The Suns led by 4 at halftime, shooting 47% from the field and 45% from 3. The Suns offense was humming in the 3rd, as they scored 38 points. Leading by 9 entering the 4th, the Suns never faltered on either end, and they cruised to their 6th win of the year.
Devin Booker had 24 points and 6 assists on 6/14 shooting.
Jae Crowder had 21 points on 7/11 shooting, 6/9 3-PT.
Cam Johnson had 16 points on 6/10 shooting off the bench.
This Suns team has been playing great team basketball. Devin Booker is a nightmare to guard, and they just have so many shooters like Crowder and Cam Johnson who have been playing great. Ayton had a double-double and Chris Paul added 8 assists. This Suns team is balanced on offense, and it’s hard to find faults. The Suns are 6-2 to start this season, as they are looking like threats in the Western Conference. The Suns take on the Pistons next time out.
Chicago Bulls vs Sacramento Kings
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bulls have won 4 of their last 5 games and find themselves back at 0.500. They trailed by 20 against Portland, and rallied late to win that game. They are still without Lauri Markkanen, but their roster is solid with guys like Zach Lavine and Coby White. They just need some solid bench production, along with some solid defense. This Bulls team is exciting to watch, and they face a decent Kings team. The Kings started this season off hot, but have lost their last 3 games and they are now 3-4. De’Aaron Fox has been good, but everybody else has been spotty. Marvin Bagley and Buddy Hield need to play better, but they have rookie Tyrese Haliburton back, and he will provide a scoring boost off the bench. Both these teams are young, and this should be a good game. I’m giving the slight edge to the Bulls however, as they have been playing well as of late.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls definitely could have won this game, but again their defense was at fault. The Bulls shot 50% from the field in the first half, and trailed by 3. The Kings lost De’Aaron Fox with a hamstring injury in the 2nd quarter, a good opportunity for the Bulls to win this game. The Bulls had a good 3rd quarter, scoring 34 points and the game was tied entering the 4th. The 4th was a back and forth affair, both teams battling hard. With 2:07 left, the Bulls cut the Kings lead to 3. But with 38.3 seconds left, Buddy Hield hit a 3 plus the foul, and the Kings pushed their lead to 5. Coby White responded quickly, and the Bulls needed a stop. But Tyrese Haliburton made a very tough shot, fading to his left from the left corner, and he floated it in, and the Kings won. Chicago is now 4-5 on the year.
Coby White had 36 points and 7 assists on 15/23 shooting.
Zach Lavine had 32 points and 7 rebounds on 13/24 shooting.
The Bulls got most their scoring from their back-court, but they couldn’t find much scoring anywhere else. Otto Porter went 1/8 from the field, as they needed him to be that 3rd scoring option. The Bulls defense couldn’t get stops late, which has been a problem for that. That Buddy Hield 4-point play and that Tyrese Haliburton 3 were big blows, and they couldn’t recover. But the Bulls are still 4-5 on the year, and they face the LA Lakers next.
Sacramento Kings
Impressive win for the Kings, saying how they had been struggling as of late and losing De’Aaron Fox in the middle of this game. The Kings led by 3 at halftime on 50% shooting, as they were having no problems against a poor Chicago defense. The game was tied entering the 4th, and the Kings made some huge plays. The Kings had a lead, but the Bulls cut it to one with 1:34 left. Then Buddy Hield hit a 3, plus the foul to put the Kings up 5. But then the Bulls scored in 3 seconds, so the Kings needed one last score. Buddy Hield found Tyrese Haliburton, and he step-backed in the corner, and drilled a fading 3 to beat the shot-clock, and the Kings won. Sacramento is now 4-4 on the year.
Richuan Holmes had 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10/11 shooting.
Marvin Bagley had 21 points and 12 rebounds on 8/14 shooting.
Harrison Barnes had 20 points and 5 assists on 7/10 shooting.
Really impressed with how the Kings played in this game. The Kings lost their best player, and they didn’t miss a beat. Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley were excellent, as maybe this gets them going. Richuan Holmes was also very good. But of course, we have to take about my favorite rookie, Tyrese Halliburton. It was great to see him out there, as he had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench. He was excellent, and is my pick for the best rookie thus far. The Kings bench was excellent, and they were instrumental in this win. The Kings avoid losing 4 games in a row, and they are 4-4 on the year. The Kings face the Toronto Raptors next.
LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Clippers nearly mounted a 20-point comeback vs the Spurs, but they came up just short. Paul George didn’t play in that game, but he is back for this game. The Clippers will be getting back Marcus Morris, who makes his season debut. Morris will provide some scoring and defense, making this Clippers offense even better than it already is. The Warriors have gotten things going, as Steph Curry looks like an MVP candidate. This Warriors team has won 4 of their last 5 games, as their offense has been excellent. But they have struggled against good teams this year, and this LA team is very good. They need Wiggins and Oubre to continue doing what they’ve been doing, and they need defense from Draymond Green. If the Warriors do this, they can win. But the Clippers have the talent advantage in this game, and I have them winning this game.
LA Clippers
This was a surprisingly tough game for the Clippers, but they pulled through. The first half was ugly, with the first quarter being about defense, but both offenses picking it up in the 2nd quarter. The Clippers shot 43% from the field and led by one at halftime. In the 3rd, the Clippers picked things up and took a double-digit lead. But the Warriors fought back, and LA led by 6 entering the 4th. And in the 4th, the Clippers scraped out a win, as Nicolas Batum hit two big 3’s late to seal the win for LA. The Clippers are now 6-3 on the year.
Kawhi had 21 points on 7/12 shooting.
Paul George had 21 points and 12 rebounds on 5/15 shooting.
Nicolas Batum had 13 points and 5 rebounds on 4/9 shooting.
The Clippers are going to be a lot better as Marcus Morris comes back. He played just 18 minutes, but scored 12 points on the bench. He’ll just be getting better with time. Kawhi and PG were good, as were Ibaka and Batum. Luke Kennard was good off the bench, and the Clippers locked down Steph Curry. Patrick Beverley did what he usually, but the entire Clippers team made an effort to not let him get going, and it worked. LA is now 6-3 on the year, and they the Warriors again on Friday.
Golden State Warriors
This is what can happen when teams decide to zero in on Curry. Curry had his way against Portland and the Kings, but the Clippers decided to take him out the game. And the Warriors struggled on offense without their best player. The first half was ugly, but Eric Paschall kept them in the game. Things got out of hand a bit in the 4th, but the Warriors recovered well and stayed in the game. But they couldn’t sustain their offense without Curry, and they lost, snapping a 2-game win streak. Golden State is now 4-4 on the year.
Andrew Wiggins had 19 points on 8/12 shooting.
Eric Paschall had 19 points on 7/14 shooting off the bench.
Stephen Curry had 13 points and 5 assists on 5/17 shooting.
Andrew Wiggins and Paschall were the only two guys who played well outside of Curry. The Warriors have to get offense from guys other than Curry, because teams like the Clippers will just smother Curry. Kelly Oubre continues to struggle, as he cannot buy a 3-pointer right now. And without Klay Thompson, this is what I worry about with this team. Can they win without Curry going ballistic? Yet to be seen. Golden State gets another crack at LA on Friday.
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