NBA Action on MLK Day; Dame Dolla Goes OFF! 1/20/20

It’s a big day in the NBA, as we have 14 games on the schedule tonight.

Congratulations to Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers for winning the Western Conference Player of the Week Award for games played from Jan. 13th to Jan. 19th. Leonard averaged 38.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists with 2.7 steals per game, and Kawhi led the Clippers to a 3-0 record.

Congratulations to Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers for winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week Award for games played from January 13th to the 19th. Simmons averaged 21.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists with 1.3 steals per game, while leading the 76ers to a 3-1 record.

Detroit Pistons vs Washington Wizards

Prediction: Washington Wizards

The Pistons travel to the nations capitol to take on the Wizards.

The Wizards won a close game, 106-100.

Bradley Beal had 29 points and 6 assists for Washington.

Derrick Rose had 21 points for the Pistons.

The Wizards shot 51% from the field and 38% from 3. The two teams combined for 36 turnovers.

The Wizards are now 14-28 on the year, and the Pistons have fallen to 16-28.

Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks

Prediction: Toronto Raptors

The Raptors travel south to take on the Hawks.

The Raptors won a close game, 122-117.

Norman Powell had 27 points for the Raptors.

Trae Young had 42 points, 6 rebounds, and 15 assists for Atlanta.

The Hawks shot 49% from the field and 36% from 3. The Raptors made 33 free throws, and the Hawks made 23.

The Raptors are now 29-14 on the year, and the Hawks continue to struggle at 10-34.

Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets

Predictions: Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets. Kyrie Irving is out for the Nets.

The 76ers outscored the Nets by 7 in the 4th quarter, and they won 117-111.

Ben Simmons had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for Philadelphia.

Spencer Dinwiddie had 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Nets.

The Nets shot 48% from the field and 38% from 3. The 76ers forced the Nets into 22 turnovers.

The 76ers are now 29-16 on the year, and the Nets have fallen to 18-24.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets

Prediction: Houston Rockets

The Thunder travel to Houston to take on the Rockets.

The Thunder outscored the Rockets by 21 in the 4th quarter, and they won 112-107.

Chris Paul had 28 points and 7 rebounds for the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook had 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists for Houston.

The Rockets shot 45% from the field, and the Thunder shot 38% from 3. The Rockets outscored the Thunder by 20 in the paint, 64-44.

The Thunder are now 25-19 on the year, and the Rockets have lost 3 in a row and they are 26-16.

New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Prediction: New York Knicks

The Knicks travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavs.

The Knicks cruised to a 106-86 win.

Marcus Morris had 19 points and Julius Randle had 19 points and 9 rebounds for New York.

Collin Sexton had 17 points and 5 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

The Knicks shot 48% from the field and 39% from 3. The Knicks outscored the Cavs by 22 in the paint, 56-34.

The Knicks are now 12-32 on the year, and the Cavs have fallen to 12-32 as well.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.

The Pelicans cruised to a 126-116 victory.

Jrue Holiday had 36 points and 6 rebounds for the Pelicans.

Dillon Brooks had 31 points and 9 rebounds for Memphis.

The Pelicans shot 48% from the field and 44% from 3. The Grizzlies had 70 points in the paint, and the Pelicans had 36.

The Pelicans are now 17-27 on the year, and the Grizzlies have lost their 7 game win streak, and they are 20-23 on the year.

Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks

Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks

The Bulls travel to Milwaukee to take on the MVP and the Bucks.

The Bucks cruised to a 111-98 win.

Giannis had 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists for Milwaukee.

Zach Lavine had 24 points and 5 rebounds for the Bulls.

The Bucks shot 58% from the field and 42% from 3. The Bulls forced the Bucks into 23 turnovers.

The Bucks are now 39-6 on the year, and the Bulls have fallen to 16-29.

Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Hornets

Prediction: Orlando Magic

The Magic travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets.

The Magic dominated, winning 106-83.

Evan Fournier had 26 points for the Magic.

Malik Monk had 20 points for Charlotte.

The Magic shot 48% from the field and 50% from 3. The Magic forced the Hornets into 18 turnovers.

The Magic are now 21-23 on the year, and the Hornets have fallen to 15-30.

Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat

Prediction: Miami Heat

The Kings travel to South Beach to take on the Heat.

This game was very back and forth, with the Heat winning 118-113 in OT. At the end of regulation, Bam Adebayo had a layup with 0.8 seconds left to force OT. The Heat squeezed by the Kings to hold on and win.

Kendrick Nunn had 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for Miami.

Nemanja Bjelica had 22 points and 6 rebounds for the Kings.

The Heat shot 51% from the field and 38% from 3. The Kings forced the Heat into 21 turnovers.

The Heat are now 30-13 on the year, and the Kings have fallen to 15-28.

LA Lakers vs Boston Celtics

Prediction: LA Lakers

The Lakers travel to meet their rivals, the Boston Celtics. Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo are back in action for the Celtics.

The Celtics obliterated the Lakers, winning 139-107.

Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 5 rebounds for the Celtics.

JaVale McGee had 18 points and 5 rebounds for LA.

The Celtics shot 56% from the field and 47% from 3. The Celtics outscored the Lakers by 12 in the paint, 62-50.

The Celtics are now 28-14 on the year, and the Lakers have fallen to 34-9.

Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Prediction: Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.

The Nuggets won a narrow game, 107-100.

Michael Porter Jr. had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Denver.

Karl Anthony Towns had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Timberwolves.

The Nuggets shot 48% from the field and 36% from 3. The Timberwolves forced the Nuggets into 13 turnovers.

The Nuggets are now 30-13 on the year, and the Timberwolves have fallen to 15-28.

Indiana Pacers vs Utah Jazz

Prediction: Utah Jazz

The Pacers travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz.

The Jazz dominated, winning 118-88.

Donovan Mitchell had 25 points for the Jazz.

Myles Turner had 12 points and 5 rebounds and Aaron Holiday had 12 points for Indiana.

The Jazz shot 54% from the field and 39% from 3. The two teams combined for just 15 free throw makes.

The Jazz are now 30-13 on the year, and the Pacers have fallen to 28-16.

San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns

Prediction: Phoenix Suns

The Spurs travel to the desert to take on the Suns.

The Spurs held on to win 120-118.

Derrick White had 25 points and 7 assists for San Antonio.

Devin Booker had 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Suns.

The Suns shot 53% from the field, and the Spurs shot 55% from 3. The Spurs forced the Suns into 14 turnovers.

The Spurs are now 19-23 on the year, and the Suns have fallen to 18-25.

Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers

Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers

The Warriors travel north to take on the Blazers. CJ McCollum is out for the 2nd straight night for Portland.

This game was back and forth throughout, but the Blazers managed to win 129-124 in OT. At the end of regulation, Damian Lillard hit the game tying 3 with 15.3 seconds left to force OT. The Blazers came from a 6 point deficit in OT to win.

Damian Lillard had a career high, franchise high, and MLK Day record with 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Blazers.

Alec Burks had 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists for Golden State.

The Blazers shot 44% from the field and 32% from 3. The Warriors had 54 points in the paint, and the Blazers had 48.

The Blazers are now 19-26 on the year, and the Warriors have fallen to 10-35.

Predictions: 11-3

I hope you have enjoyed another day in the NBA, please leave a comment on how your team is doing, and which team looks like they might not make the playoffs.