Lillard Stuns Chicago; Lakers Survive Against Celtics! 1.30.21
It’s a Saturday night of NBA hoops and we have 8 games on the schedule today.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls
Portland Trail Blazers
WHAT A GAME. This was such a roller-coaster of a game, but Damian Lillard again came up big for Portland. The Blazers played very well in the first half, because of their excellent defense in the 2nd quarter, where they held the Bulls to just 19 points on 6/23 shooting. Portland’s 2nd unit was very good, and the Blazers led by 11 entering the break. But in the 3rd, Lavine and Markkanen started to get going, and when the 2nd unit started to get cold in the 4th, things were going bad for Portland. Zach Lavine hit a killer 3 with 32 seconds left, putting the Blazers down 5. With 11.5 seconds left, the lead was still 5. But Damian Lillard hit a deep 3, cutting the lead to just two. Then the Bulls inbounded, and the Blazers got a jump-ball. The Blazers won the tip, and the ball found it’s way to Dame, and he dribbled right, stepped back to hit the game-winning 3, improving Portland to 10-8 on the year.
Damian Lillard had 44 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists on 15/26 shooting.
Enes Kanter had 22 points and 11 rebounds on 9/13 shooting.
Gary Trent Jr. had 18 points on 6/14 shooting.
This was a good win, but again, that 3nd unit was awful in the 4th quarter. In the first half the Blazers were getting stops thanks to their zone defense, and they got their shots to fall. But then they went away from the zone, and the Bulls kept burning them from 3. Lavine and Markkanen carried the Bulls to a 5-point lead, game essentially in hand. But sometime, a little luck goes a long way. Damian Lillard again came up big, as Portland got another much-needed win. Portland takes on the Bucks next.
Chicago Bulls
What a loss for the Bulls. They had this game in hand, but they just let it slip away. The Bulls offense was terrible in the 2nd quarter, and they trailed by 11 at halftime. They were turning it over and missing wide open shots, not a recipe for success. But in the 3rd Lauri Markkanen and Zach Lavine started to get going, and that carried over into the 4th as the Bulls were surging, getting stops and score. The Bulls led by 5 after a Zach Lavine 3, and they still led by 5 with 11.5 seconds left. But they allowed Dame to hit a 3, and they got a jump ball after Lavine couldn’t get away from the trap. The Blazers won the jump ball, and Portland got Damian Lillard pretty open, and he drilled the game winner. Chicago falls to 7-11 on the year.
Lauri Markkanen had 31 points and 6 rebounds on 12/18 shooting, 6/11 3-PT.
Zach Lavine had 26 points and 7 rebounds on 9/12 shooting, 6/8 3-PT.
Coby White had 20 points and 6 assists on 6/11 shooting.
Pain.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets
Milwaukee Bucks
Again? Really? Really? How? So many questions. The Bucks defense was once again awful in this game. The Hornets were getting whatever they wanted, as the Bucks again lose. In the first quarter, even with Jrue Holiday shooting well, the Bucks allowed 39 points. Giannis got going in the 2nd, but the Bucks still trailed by 4, allowing 68 points in the first half. In the 3rd, the Bucks again played solid offense, but their defense continued to be awful. Entering the 4th, the Bucks trailed by 3, and their defense needed to step up. And instead it disappeared, as they again allowed 29 points, and their offense just couldn’t keep up, as the Bucks fall to 11-8 on the year.
Giannis had 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists on 12/19 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7/17 shooting, 5/10 3-PT.
Jrue Holiday had 18 points on 5/9 shooting, 4/6 3-PT.
A couple questions for the Bucks before we get to the defense. Why did Khris Middleton take 9 shots? The guy is a borderline All-Star, and was good when he shot the ball, but he only shot the ball 9 times. Why dud Jrue Holiday not get the ball more in the 2nd half? He had 16 points in the first half, yet just 5 in the 2nd half. Now let’s get to that defense. Gordon Hayward was no match for Middleton, and Lamelo Ball destroyed the Bucks off the bench, finishing with a career-high 27 points. The Hornets bench was excellent, and they dominated the Bucks bench. The Bucks have been far inferior this season, and right now, even with the best roster they’ve assembled around Giannis, they are floundering. Maybe a change at coach would help. The Bucks take on Portland next.
Charlotte Hornets
I said that if the Hornets could score, they could be dangerous. They scored, and they won. Pretty simple. The Hornets scored 39 points in the first quarter, shooting 73% from 3. Their offense continued to roll, as they led by 4 at halftime, mainly due to 26 points off the bench from Monk, Bridges, and Ball. The Hornets led by 3 entering the 4th, and their offense was once again excellent. But they were able to get stops, and they won, someway, somehow. The Hornets are now 9-11 on the year.
Gordon Hayward had 27 points on 10/22 shooting.
Lamelo Ball had 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists on 8/10 shooting off the bench.
Malik Monk had 18 points on 7/16 shooting off the bench.
This game was all on the Hornets bench. Hayward had 27 points, but the other Hornet starters didn’t do much of anything. But the Hornets bench was excellent. Lamelo Ball has been excellent, and this was his best game. He was very efficient, hit some 3’s, did his usual bit of passing, and got the to the line. A complete game from Ball, who has been the best rookie thus far. Monk had 18 points, and Bridges added 11. The Hornets bench scored 62 points, as they were so good. If the Hornets are able to score like this against everybody, they can be a sleeper team in the East. The Hornets take on the Heat next.
Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans
Houston Rockets
After a rough first quarter on both ends for the Rockets, they dominated the rest of this game. The Pelicans jumped on Houston early, as they were lighting it up for 3 once again, and Houston fell behind by 8. But that 2nd quarter, wow. The Rockets torched the Pelicans for 48 points, and they outscored the Pels by 26, taking a 18-point lead entering the break. And in the 2nd half, the Rockets just kind of coasted, and never gave the Pelicans any type of momentum, as they have won their last 5 games, and they are back at 0.500 with a 9-9 record.
Christian Wood had 27 points and 9 rebounds on 11/13 shooting.
Victor Oladipo had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 7/14 shooting.
John Wall had 15 points and 9 assists on 5/12 shooting.
What a 2nd quarter, especially saying how bad the Rockets were defensively in that first quarter. They were awesome offensively in the 2nd, led by their dynamic big 3. And then they never gave up anything to the Pels in the 2nd half. Christian Wood dominated his matchup with Steven Adams, and Wall and Oladipo were solid. The Rockets defense got much better in the last 3 quarters, as they get their 5th straight win. The Rockets take on the OKC Thunder next.
New Orleans Pelicans
Yeah, I kind of knew this shooting wasn’t going to last. I’ll keep this short. The Pelicans shot 55% from 3 in that first quarter, and led by 8. After that, their offense went back to normal, and they allowed 48 points in the 2nd. They never came back, as it seems their game against the Bucks was a fluke. Zion was very good against PJ Tucker, finishing with 26 points. But Ingram struggled, as did Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe, who shot 3/14 from 3. JJ Redick again didn’t play, as it seems he’s going to be traded or waived soon. The Pelicans need some shooting, as even with Redick struggling, playing him a bit doesn’t hurt. The Pels are now 7-11 on the year, and they take on the Kings next.
Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat
Sacramento Kings
The Kings started this game off very well, but then they cooled off, and even a late rally couldn’t save them late. The Kings again started this game off well, as they scored 35 points on 55% shooting from deep. They led by 11, but Jimmy Butler got going in his return, and the Kings led by just 2 at the half. And they compounded that bad 2nd quarter with a bad 3rd quarter, as they now trailed by 7 entering the 4th. But the Kings didn’t stop fighting, as they kept fighting, even taking the lead with 1:44 left. But Jimmy Butler scored with 42 seconds left, giving the Heat the lead back. De’Aaron Fox missed a shot at the rim, but the Kings had one last chance to win with 4.6 seconds left. But De’Aaron Fox passed it up, and Richuan Holmes didn’t get off a good jumper. The Kings 3-game streak is lost, as they are now 8-11 on the year.
De’Aaron Fox had 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 12/26 shooting.
Buddy Hield had 18 points and 5 rebounds on 6/13 3-PT.
Marvin Bagley had 17 points on 7/8 shooting.
I really have a problem with De’Aaron Fox shooting 11 3’s and passing that last shot up. First of all, Fox has never been a knock-down shooter, a guy who maybe take a couple of them. But he shoot 11 in this game, something that definitely favors the Heat. And on that last possession, he was decently open, and shooting it was the best option as he didn’t have enough time to get anybody a better shot. Tyrese Haliburton was solid all-around, but this is a game the Kings definitely could have won if they played better in the 2nd and 3rd. The Kings take on the Pelicans next.
Miami Heat
With Jimmy Butler back in the lineup, the Heat got some of that swag they had last year in that Finals run. The Heat defense got off to a slow start, allowing the Kings to start well, but then Jimmy Butler and company got going. Butler was attacking, getting to the free throw line a lot, and making sure to tell the Kings about it. Butler had 20 points in the first half, bringing the Heat back in it. The Heat again played well in the 3rd, and they took a lead entering the 4th. But the Kings got going, and the Heat lost their lead late. But Jimmy Butler made another timely shot, and the Heat made a few key stops late, ending the Kings rally and getting a much needed win. Miami is now 7-12 on the year.
Jimmy Butler had 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists on 8/19 shooting, 14/16 FT.
Bam Adebayo had 18 points and 13 rebounds on 7/11 shooting.
Tyler Herro had 15 points on 5/12 shooting.
Having Jimmy Butler does so much for this team. He got to his spots, which was mainly the foul line in this game as he was excellent at getting to the rim. But what he does for the team intangibly with his leadership and hustle, it means a lot for the Heat. Adebayo, Herro, and Robinson were solid as well, as the Heat needed this win, one that can get them going now that they have their star back. Bradley is out of Covid protocols, but he’s dealing with a knee injury, and Goran Dragic was also out. If the Heat can just stay healthy, they can claw themselves back in the Eastern Conference standings.
LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics
LA Lakers
It sure wasn’t pretty, but the Lakers needed this game, and they got it late, even though they were a little lucky. The first half was one where AD was dominating down low, having 18 and 10 in the first half alone. The Lakers were shooting pretty well, but Tatum and Brown were a problem, combining for 12/18 shooting and 26 points. The Lakers defense wasn’t that good, as they led by just 3 even with AD playing very well. And in the 3rd, the Lakers had that collapse. Jaylen Brown was attacking, and the Lakers trailed by 7 entering the 4th, needing a big run to get back into the game. And they got just that as they opened the 4th strong, and took the lead with 5:25 left. And LA looked like they had ended it, leading by 7 with 1:40 left. But then Boston got right back into it as Tatum hit a couple of tough shots. AD lost the ball, and the Celtics chose not to call timeout. Jaylen Brown raced things down the floor, and the ball got to Kemba Walker, who got a great mid-range look. But as it was with most Walker shots that night, he missed, and LA survived, as they improved to 15-6 on the year.
AD had 27 points and 14 rebounds on 11/25 shooting.
Lebron had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 7/17 shooting.
Montrezl Harrell had 16 points and 5 rebounds on 8/10 shooting off the bench.
AD wasn’t that good for all intents and proposes. He was 7/14 in the first half, but just 4/11 in the 2nd half. Lebron was solid throughout, but the Lakers bench was excellent. Montrezl Harrell, who had been struggling, was excellent on offense against a poor Celtics front, and also had 3 blocks and 2 steals. Kuzma hit 3 3-pointers, as LA needed this win against a very good Celtics team. LA did get lucky that Walker was ice cold and missed that late shot, as well as Marcus Smart missed of the 4th with a calf strain. LA is now 15-6 on the year, and they take on the Atlanta Hawks next.
Boston Celtics
This was a tough loss for Boston, as they’ve had two winnable games, both games where they’ve come up just short. With AD dominating Boston down low, Tatum and Brown went to work, as they were surprisingly effective against a stout LA defense. They both had 13 points in the first half, and the Celtics found themselves down just 3. And then the Celtics were excellent in the 3rd, outscoring LA by 10, highlighted by the pass of the year from Jayson Tatum to Robert Williams. Boston led by 7 entering the 4th, but LA responded as Boston went cold. The Lakers themselves took a 7-point lead in the 4th with 1:40 left, and all hope seemed to be lost. But Jayson Tatum hit a couple of tough shots, and Boston trailed by just one. They forced the turnover, and had the ball with 10 seconds. Now they had a red-hot Jayson Tatum who has a record of being great in the clutch this season. They have a timeout. Those two add up to a Boston timeout and Tatum game-winner opportunity. However the Celtics race it up to Kemba Walker, who had made just 1 field goal in the game. He got a good look, but a cold shooter is a cold shooter, as he missed, and Boston lost a heart-breaker. Boston is now 10-8 on the year.
Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 9 rebounds on 12/18 shooting, and the pass of the year.
Jaylen Brown had 28 points on 13/19 shooting.
Daniel Theis had 14 points and 7 rebounds on 5/11 shooting.
With JT and JB going off, calling a timeout was the better move there late. Don’t get me wrong, Kemba got off a great shot. But he was 1/12 in the game, and with two guys who are on absolute fire, you give either one of them the ball, likely Tatum. Tough loss, but not a terrible one. The Celtics did a much better job on Davis in the 2nd half, but the Lakers bench was much better than the Celtics bench, which was basically just Robert Williams. No Marcus Smart last was a blow, especially on defense. It was reported that he left with a calf strain, and the seriousness of the injury hasn’t been reported yet. Not having Payton Pritchard did hurt, but the Celtics will have to try and rebound against a tough Warriors team.
Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
Yeah, about that rustiness. Even after not playing for over a week, the Grizzlies didn’t skip a beat. Their offense going going right from the start, scoring 64 points on 61% shooting. They had very balanced scoring, and it wasn’t even Ja Morant doing most of the scoring. The Grizzlies kept things rolling in the 2nd half, adding another 65 points, and after a great 4th quarter, Memphis gets the win, improving to 8-6 on the year. 7 guys were in double figures, including 3 guys off the bench. The Grizzlies offense, which hasn’t been known for being that good, was excellent in this game. Memphis takes on the Spurs again to start February.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs offense wasn’t even half bad in this game, as they shot well from the floor and from 3, which is rare for the Spurs in losses. But their defense was terrible, against a Memphis team that hadn’t played in over a week, and a team that was missing two of their better players. And the Spurs allowed 129 points. Nice. Expect the Spurs to be much better on defense the next time these two teams play to start February, as I can see Gregg Popovich is in a rage of anger right now over that poor defense.
Phoenix Suns vs Dallas Mavericks
Phoenix Suns
Again, without Devin Booker the Suns needed to find a way to win. And they did that with a very good 4th quarter run. The first half was back and forth, both teams battling hard. The Mavs were shooting 56% from the field and the Suns were shooting just 44% from the field. But the Suns were a lot better from 3, and the game was tied at halftime. But in the 3rd, Luka got going and the Suns now trailed entering the 4th. But the Suns fought back thanks to some big shots from Chris Paul, and the game was tied at 96 with 3:41 left. Then Chris Paul orchestrated a masterpiece of a run. Deandre Ayton got a dunk, Chris Paul hit a jumper, Chris Paul gave Ayton an alley-oop, and Jae Crowder hit a 3 off Paul’s assist, and the Suns now led by 9. The Suns 9-0 run have them the win, their 2nd straight without Booker, as they are now 10-8 on the year.
Chris Paul had 29 points and 12 assists on 8/18 shooting.
Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 17 rebounds on 8/16 shooting.
Chris Paul had a masterpiece late, and I think it was thanks to a technical foul he got with 4:43 left. That was the turning point for Paul and the Suns. Deandre Ayton was excellent down low, as he was getting all the Mavs bigs in foul trouble. Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder were excellent, as Crowder hit 4 3-pointers. The Suns bench was solid, as they got a great win against the Mavs, and they take on the Mavs again to start February.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs were without KP and Kleber in this game, but they still should have won this game. In the first half, the Mavs were able to get Tim Hardaway Jr. going, as Dallas was shooting 56% from the field, and they were tied up at halftime. In the 3rd, Luka turned on a switch, and gave the Mavs a lead entering the 4th. But in the 4th, the Mavs offense started to slow down, and the game was tied at 96 with under 4 minutes to go. But the Mavs offense shut down, and Chris Paul tore them up, leading the Suns on a 9-0 run that eventually won then the game. Dallas has lost their last 5 games, as they are now 8-12 on the year.
Luka had 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists on 12/22 shooting.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points and 8/19 shooting.
Willey Cauley Stein had 14 points and 9 rebounds on 7/8 shooting.
With each passing day, I’m starting to think less and less that this Mavs team is dealing with rustiness. Either Maxi Kleber is that bad, or this team just hasn’t been constructed well enough. They don’t really have a good center, as Andre Drummond might be a guy of need. Kristaps Porzingis has been a guy of need, and if KP is enough to get Bradley Beal, I would at least consider getting home. Again, I’m hoping that the Mavs are dealing with rust and not regression, because I think we all had high hopes for them this season. They’ll have to turn things around and fast, as it will be very tough to climb back into the Western Conference standings. The Mavs take on the Suns again to start February.
Detroit Pistons vs Golden State Warriors
Detroit Pistons
Just rebuild already.
Golden State Warriors
I pointed this out before the game. If Curry plays well and the Warriors shoot well, they will likely not lose. Well Curry had 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11/17 shooting, 6/8 from 3, and the Warriors shot 47% from 3. Wiggins and Oubre were also excellent, combining for 38 points on 16/31 shooting. Jordan Poole was solid off the bench, as the Warriors got a great tune-up win, as they prepare for a tough game against the Celtics next.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 8 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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