Nets and Bucks Duel; Warriors Shock LA! 1.18.21
It’s a busy day of NBA hoops on MLK Day, as we have 9 games on the schedule today.
Game Of The Day Prediction: Bucks vs Nets or Suns vs Grizzlies
Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Magic’s offense finally got going against a poor Brooklyn defense. The only problem was they faced the wrath of Kevin Durant and James Harden. But it was promising to see their offense take a step in the right direction. They need major production from Vucevic, Gordon, and Terrence Ross off the bench. They are still missing Evan Fournier, as they look to snap a 5-game losing streak. The Knicks are also a team that have struggled to score the ball, but they’ve been getting better, stomping the Boston Celtics yesterday. If RJ Barrett can be a consistent scorer next to Julius Randle, the Knicks have a chance. Immanuel Quickley has been very good off the bench, and if this Knicks team can score, they are decent. Both these teams struggle with identity, but I am giving the slight edge to the Knicks in this game.
Orlando Magic
This was a tough game for the Magic offensively, but they managed to make things interesting late in the 4th quarter. Orlando scored just 13 points in the first quarter, and managed just 38 for the first half, trailing by 9.
They had no reliable scoring options, and it was tough sledding.
In the 3rd quarter, the Magic again struggled to score, scoring just 16 points. They trailed by 14 points early on in the 4th, and then they finally managed to turn things on.
With 5:50 left, they tied the game. The two teams kept battling, and the Magic took the lead with under 2 minutes to go. But Aaron Gordon turned it over and RJ Barrett scored with 46 seconds left, giving the Knicks a 4-point lead. The Magic couldn’t score, and the Knicks iced the game at the line.
Orlando is now 6-8 on the year.
Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 14 rebounds on 10/16 shooting.
Terrence Ross had 19 points on 5/16 shooting off the bench.
Aaron Gordon had 18 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 assists on 6/18 shooting.
The Magic offense was just bad. They scored less than 17 points in a quarter twice, as they were being smothered by the Knicks defense. They only had one good stretch of offense in the game, and that was in the 4th quarter.
They didn’t have much production other than their “Big 3”. The Magic have to find ways to score, because scoring 84 points won’t win you much games in this day and age of scoring, although they likely would have been good in the 90s. Orlando has lost 6 straight, and they are now 6-8 on the year. They take on the Minnesota Timberwolves next.
New York Knicks
The Knicks nearly blew this game, but came through in the end. In the first half, their defense was superb. They allowed just 38 points on 32% shooting, and they led by 9 behind a great first half from Barrett and Quickley. Their defense was stellar in the 3rd quarter as well, and they led by 12 entering the 4th. But in the 4th, their lead disappeared.
The Magic went on a run, and the game was tied with 5:50 left. The Knicks missed a lot of free throws and layups, and they lost the lead with 1:40 to go. But RJ Barrett got a steal and score, giving the Knicks a 4-point lead.
The Knicks got a couple of stops and they finally made some free throws, sealing the win, improving to 7-8 on the year.
RJ Barrett had 22 points and 10 rebounds on 9/19 shooting.
Julius Randle had 21 points and 17 rebounds on 5/19 shooting.
Offense was once again not the Knicks’ strong suit, but their defense in this game was excellent. They locked down the Magic for about 40 minutes in this game, and really only allowed them to get going late.
The missed free throws and layups down the stretch were problematic, because you have to convert the easy ones. But the Knicks defense has been winning them games, and with RJ Barrett looking much better offensively as of late, the Knicks have been able to win, as they are now 7-8 on the year. New York takes on the Golden State Warriors next.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Atlanta Hawks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Timberwolves have struggled this season without Karl Anthony Towns, as their offense just isn’t the same. Towns will be out for an extended period of time because of his positive test for Covid, leaving the T-Wolves exposed. The T-Wolves have two guys averaging 20+ points in D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, but their roster isn’t very deep and Anthony Edwards has been disappointing thus far.
The Hawks have taken a major step-back since starting the season 4-1. Trae Young has been shooting horribly, and not getting to the free throw line. He makes their whole offense run, and when he’s struggled the team has also struggled.
Yes, they have dealt with injuries, but their roster is still a pretty good one, one that can most certainly compete in todays NBA. The Hawks can take advantage of a poor Timberwolves defense, one that is the 2nd worst is the league. I think that the Hawks will get back on track and win this game.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves really couldn’t stop the Hawks, as their limited depth down low made it tough for them to keep up with the Hawks. The T-Wolves offense was pretty good in the first half, as they shot 41% from the field and scored 51 points. But they allowed the Hawks to score 58 points on 46% shooting. The T-Wolves didn’t close the deficit in the 3rd, still trailing by 7 entering the 4th. The T-Wolves fell behind by 15 in the 4th, but managed to cut it to 6 with 1:47 left. But it was just too little too late, and the T-Wolves fall to 3-9 on the year.
D’Angelo Russell had 31 points and 7 assists on 11/22 shooting.
Malik Beasley had 15 points and 5 rebounds on 5/17 shooting.
Anthony Edwards had 12 points and 5 rebounds on 5/16 shooting.
The T-Wolves just haven’t been able to stay healthy, and it’s been hurting them. D’Angelo Russell can only do much, as he didn’t have much help in this game. Anthony Edwards continues to struggle, as he hasn’t been shooting the ball well this season. Depth is something the T-Wolves struggle with, and it’s something they have to address. Minnesota takes on the Orlando Magic next.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks needed this win for their confidence, as they had been sliding over the past week or so. Their offense got back on track, against a poor defense, but they got it done.
Atlanta shot 46% from the field in the first half, as they were getting anything they wanted. They held their lead into the 4th quarter, and then they pushed that lead to 15. The T-Wolves attempted to comeback, but the Hawks put them away late, improving to 6-7 on the year.
De’Andre Hunter had 25 points on 8/15 shooting.
Clint Capela had 23 points and 15 rebounds on 10/16 shooting.
Trae Young had 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists on 3/8 shooting.
The Hawks needed this win for their confidence, as they had been horrible leading up to this game. Trae Young got back to the free throw line, as that’s what he should be doing, whether or not people like it. Hunter and Capela feasted down low on the weak interior of Minnesota. Collins and Huerter were also in double figures for the starters, as maybe this can get the Hawks going.
We all know what they’re capable of doing on offense, they just haven’t been able to produce. Atlanta takes on the Pistons next on Wednesday.
Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Pistons ran the undermanned Heat out of the gym two days ago and they were dominant. Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin have been sub-par this season, but if they can be productive alongside a break out player in Jerami Grant, the Pistons can be decent.
The key for the Pistons is not starting off slow, which they tend to do a lot. But they face a Heat team looking for revenge. The Heat are still short-handed, but I doubt that they will allow the Pistons to beat them twice.
They have Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic back, but Tyler Herro remains out. If the Heat can just hold the Pistons down on defense, they can definitely win this game. I think that the Heat will win this game.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons started this game so well, and then they kind of just slowly declined for the next 3 quarters. The Pistons were red hot to start this game, shooting 68% from the field and leading by 12.
But then reality started to catchup.
The Heat took the lead in the 2nd quarter, but the Pistons finished strong, but their lead was 6 at halftime. Miami was shooting 54% from the field in the first half, as the Pistons defense was struggling.
And in the 3rd, the Pistons just collapsed. They scored just 19 points, and allowed 33. They had lost their lead, now trailing by 8 entering the 4th. The Pistons kept fighting back, but the Heat always had answers. A Bam Adebayo block with 31 seconds left sealed the win for the Heat, as the Pistons blew another winnable game, as they are now 3-10 on the year.
Jerami Grant had 27 points and 6 assists on 10/19 shooting.
Wayne Ellington had 24 points on 7/11 3-PT.
Derrick Rose had 21 points on 6/11 shooting off the bench.
This is a game the Pistons should have won, given the way they started the game. They should have at least held the lead for longer than they did, as Miami was right back in the game almost immediately. That 3rd quarter was terrible, and the Pistons couldn’t get stops in the 4th when they needed to, as they fall to 3-10. If the Pistons can’t win games like these, it will be a tough season for them. Detroit takes on the Atlanta Hawks next.
Miami Heat
The Heat had been struggling as of late, as they had been hit hard by Covid.
They were stomped by the Pistons the last time these two teams played, and the Heat were determined not to lose again. But this game didn’t start off that well for the Heat, as their defense allowed the Pistons to shoot 68% from the field in the first quarter, and they trailed by 12. After that, it was all Heat.
They actually took the lead in the 2nd quarter at one point, but ended up trailing by 6 at halftime, as their offense started to get going.
And then the Heat dominated the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Pistons as they scored 33 points. They led by 8 entering the 4th, and they never gave up their lead, despite multiple attempts by the Pistons. A late Bam Adebayo block sealed the win for the Heat, as they snap a 3-game losing streak, improving to 5-7 on the year.
Bam Adebayo had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/15 shooting.
Goran Dragic had 22 points on 9/15 shooting.
Duncan Robinson had 18 points on 6/9 3-PT.
The Heat needed this win, as they had been struggling because all of their Covid cases and injuries. They started off slow, but then controlled the game the rest of the way. Bam Adebayo has been very good in his return, as he has been looking better and better on offense. Dragic, Robinson, and even Kendrick Nunn played well off the bench. The Heat still haven’t gotten Jimmy Butler or Avery Bradley back, and Tyler Herro has been injured. When the Heat can get back to full strength, they will be a good team. Miami takes on the Toronto Raptors next on Wednesday.
San Antonio Spurs vs Portland Trail Blazers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Spurs have been very good, and bad at times this season. They have some real talent on offense, with the likes of veterans like DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Patty Mills.
They also have young guys like Lonnie Walker, Dejounte Murray, and Keldon Johnson. They are a weird pairing, but they’ve been good at times. The key for the Spurs is offense, and they face a generally weak Portland team.
As a Blazers fan, I’m not very optimistic about this game. Portland is without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, leaving Damian Lillard mostly on his own. The Blazers role players will have to step up if they want to win this game.
The Blazers defense has been good at times, but weak for most of this season. They need Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. to patrol the wings, and lock things down. Portland will have a tough time winning this game, but it is possible. But I do think that the Spurs will win this game.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs took advantage of the short-handed Blazers, as they were getting whatever they wanted. San Antonio shot 58% from the field in the first half, scoring 59 points, led by LaMarcus Aldridge. But they only led by 5. In the 3rd, they pushed their lead to 10, but then Portland responded with a flurry to stops and scores, and the lead was just 5 entering the 4th for the Spurs. And then the Spurs dominated the 4th quarter, taking advantage of a weak Portland 2nd unit, hitting a barrage of 3’s. They scored 38 points in the 4th, and cruised to a win, improving to 7-6 on the year.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points on 10/17 shooting.
Patty Mills had 21 points on 8/11 shooting off the bench, 5/7 3-PT.
Rudy Gay had 21 points and 7 rebounds on 8/17 shooting off the bench
The Spurs had a tough time with the short-handed Blazers for most of this game, but they hit their outside shots in the 4th, and cruised to a win.
LaMarcus Aldridge was very aggressive and played well in this game, hitting all of his mid-range shots. Mills and Rudy Gay were superb off the bench, as the Spurs have been finding their stride on offense as of late, as they are now 8-6 on the year. They take on the Golden State Warriors next.
Portland Trail Blazers
Without two of their best players, it was always going to be hard for Portland. But they fought hard. But once their defense collapsed late in the 4th, it was game over. The Blazers did a nice job hanging in there in the first half, scoring 54 points on 49% shooting. Their defense was poor against LaMarcus Aldridge in the pick and roll, but they were hanging in there.
They fell behind by 10 in the 3rd, but Damian Lillard and company got themselves back into the game, trailing by 5 entering the 4th. But the Blazers bench struggled on defense, and they were hit with a barrage of 3’s, and they couldn’t recover. Portland falls to 8-6 on the year.
Damian Lillard had 35 points and 6 assists on 10/23 shooting.
Rodney Hood had 21 points on 9/14 shooting.
Carmelo Anthony had 14 points on 6/13 shooting off the bench.
Damian Lillard did all he could, and he had some help from Rodney Hood and Carmelo off the bench. Robert Covington continues to struggle, and they didn’t get much from Enes Kanter. Portland’s defense was terrible, allowing LaMarcus Aldridge to get whatever he wanted in the pick and pop action. They allowed a lot of open 3’s, especially off of offensive rebounds. They are obviously short-handed, not having Jusuf Nurkic for a few months and not having CJ McCollum for at least a week. Their defense has to be better if they want to win games. Portland takes on the Grizzlies next on Wednesday.
Phoenix Suns vs Memphis Grizzlies
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Suns haven’t played since January 11th, as their last 3 games have been postponed.
The Suns have been good, but they’ve lost games that they shouldn’t have lost (like blowing a 20-point lead to the Kings). The Suns are solid on both ends, and their duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker are very good.
I’m still looking for DeAndre Ayton to be involved more on offense, as Mikal Bridges has really been their 3rd scoring option so far. The Suns face another good young team in the the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies got their superstar point guard Ja Morant back, as they remain around 0.500.
The Grizzlies will be without Jonas Valanciunas down low, which leaves them vulnerable to an attack Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton down low. The Grizzlies will make this game tough, but the Suns should be winning this game.
Phoenix Suns
Yeah, the Suns not playing for a week really showed in this game, especially down the stretch where they failed to execute time and time again. The Suns started off well, their defense leading the way in the first quarter. But they let Memphis score at will in the 2nd quarter, and the Suns found themselves down by 4. They were very sloppy, a lot of turnovers, shooting just 40% from the field. In the 3rd, the Suns cut into the that lead, trailing by just entering the 4th. And then the Suns had a very weird 4th quarter. They started to hit their 3’s, and they led by 6 with 4:14 left. But then they allowed Memphis to get back in it, tying the game at 98 with 1:42 left. The Suns missed, and then Grayson Allen hit a big 3, putting them up 3. Ja Morant scored with 31 seconds left, again pushing the lead to 3. Then Memphis hit their free throws, and the game was over. Devin Booker missed a dunk with 1:56 left, Chris Paul had an offensive foul, as they made some mistakes down the stretch. Phoenix is now 7-5 on the year.
Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 16 rebounds on 7/14 shooting.
Mikal Bridges had 17 points and 8 rebounds on 6/9 shooting.
Chris Paul had 16 points and 7 assists on 7/13 shooting.
The Suns just couldn’t execute late in this game. Devin Booker got rim stuffed on a wide open dunk, and Chris Paul had an offensive foul, among multiple missed shots. Not playing for a week really didn’t help the Suns case, as they were very rusty. The Suns got scoring from their roster, all 5 of their starters were in double-digits, and their bench scored 31 points. They just didn’t execute well, something I expect them to get better at as they get to play more games. The Suns are now 7-5 on the year, and they take on the Houston Rockets next.
Memphis Grizzlies
This was an impressive win for the Grizzlies, as they fought back well late in the game. The Grizzlies offense started off slow, but they scored 34 points in the 2nd quarter, and they led by 4 at halftime. The lead was just two entering the 4th quarter, and things weren’t looking great for the Grizzlies. Their offense slowed down, and they found themselves down by 6. But Morant and company fought back, tying the game at 98 with 1:42 left. Morant found Grayson Allen for a wide open 3, which he hit, giving the Grizzlies a 3-point lead. The lead was just one with under a minute to-go, and Memphis turned to Morant. He drove down the lane, and made a tough finish in traffic, giving the Grizzlies a 3-point lead. The Grizzlies made their free throws down the stretch, and hung on to win their 5th straight game, improving to 7-6 on the year.
Ja Morant had 17 points and 10 assists on 5/10 shooting.
Brandon Clarke had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 8/13 shooting.
Grayson Allen had 16 points on 4/8 shooting off the bench.
The Grizzlies had 7 guys score in double figures, as everybody chipped in to score this game. Morant did a very good job organizing everybody, having a double-double in this game. The Grizzlies bench was very good, but I was impressed by the young Grizzlies down the stretch of this game. They got stops and hit some big shots, something that they’ll have to be good at, because every game counts in the West. Memphis is red-hot right now, as they’ve won their last 5 games, improving to 7-6 on the year. Memphis takes on Portland next, on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bucks are back to their regular season dominance, as they have one of the best defenses and offenses in the league. The Bucks have won 7 of their last 8 games, as they have been dominant. Their big 3 of Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday have been excellent, although Holiday should get the ball more. Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez have been excellent scoring the ball, and the Bucks make it tough for everybody they face. Now they face a major test against the super-team that is the Brooklyn Nets. KD and Harden dominated the Magic in their first game together, but now they face a very good Bucks team. Kyrie Irving remains out, so Harden and KD will have to run things. It’s key that guys like Joe Harris get going, so not all the scoring is on KD/Harden. The Nets defense will be a problem, as KD will likely have to guard Giannis. Deandre Jordan will be exposed by Brook Lopez as he can stretch the floor, making this a tough matchup. I think that the Bucks will win this game.
Milwaukee Bucks
This was one heck of a game, but one that the Bucks definitely could have done better in. The Bucks started off well, having no problems against a poor Nets defense. But in the 2nd quarter, they didn’t get in transition much, and they couldn’t stop the Nets, and they trailed by 3 at halftime. The Bucks were shooting just 43% from the field, while Brooklyn was shooting 50%. In the 3rd, the Bucks defense continued to struggle, as they fell behind by 11. But they finished the quarter strong, and trailed by just 5 entering the 4th. In the 4th, both teams were going at each other, defense being basically nonexistent. The Bucks fell behind again, but they battled back. With 2:47 left, the Bucks held a 3-point lead. The lead went back and forth, but with 37 seconds left, the Bucks trailed by 2. Middleton missed, and the Bucks didn’t foul. There was like a 3 second differential, and they didn’t foul. But they got lucky and forced a turnover, and called timeout with 3.8 seconds left. They went to Khris Middleton in the corner, and he nearly hit the game winner, as the ball went halfway down and out. Milwaukee fell just short in this game, and they are now 9-5 on the year.
Giannis had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists on 13/26 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 25 points on 10/20 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 22 points and 6 assists on 8/16 shooting.
This is what I wanted to see from the Bucks Big 3. They all got their shots, and they were all very good. Giannis was a mismatch for the Nets, as he dominated down low. Middleton and Holiday were good on the outside, but the problem for the Bucks was defense. They put smaller defenders on KD, like DiVincenzo and Pat Connaughton. Not exactly the best personnel. James Harden was getting hounded by Jrue Holiday, but Holiday didn’t do much to slow down the Beard. This Nets defense has to be better against the good teams in the East, because when their offense falters like it did in the 2nd quarter, it’ll be tough for them to win. The Bucks take on the LA Lakers next, on Thursday.
Brooklyn Nets
This was one heck of a win by the Nets, as their high-powered offense was just too good for the Bucks. Harden and KD were dominant late, and the Nets held on to win. The Nets defense struggled early, allowing 34 points in the first quarter. But they really tightened things down on defense, allowing just 22 points in the 2nd quarter. The Nets had 4 guys in double figures in the first half, shooting 50% from the field and torching the Bucks. In the 3rd, the Nets offense continued to torch Milwaukee, and they built a double-digit lead. But the Bucks closed the deficit with a late run, and the Nets lead was just 5 entering the 4th. The Nets again built a lead in the 4th, and the Bucks continued to battle back. These two teams kept going back and forth, one-upping each others efforts. With 2:47 left, the Nets trailed by 3. The two teams went back and forth, until KD hit a pullup 3 off of an offensive rebound, giving Brooklyn a 2-point lead with 38 seconds left. The Nets got a stop, and had a chance to seal the deal. But they turned it over, giving the Bucks one last chance. Khris Middleton very nearly made a tough step-back 3 in the corner over Bruce Brown, but he missed, and the Nets survived to win. Brooklyn is now 9-6 on the year.
James Harden had 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 12 assists on 13/25 shooting.
Kevin Durant had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 10/21 shooting.
Joe Harris had 20 points and 6 rebounds on 7/12 shooting.
James Harden looked much better than he did in his debut, as he was much more efficient, and smart with the ball. He looked unstoppable, making so many tough shots. KD had a pretty pedestrian shooting night for his usual standards, but he hit the dagger 3. But Joe Harris was the x-factor here. He hit 5 3’s, and was just a really good floor spacer, giving Harden and Durant so much more room to operate. Defense from the Nets was pretty good all around, although I think that they need somebody other than Deandre Jordan down low. Kyrie Irving for Myles Turner? Maybe. But this was a good test for the Nets, as they improve to 9-6 on the year. They take on the Cleveland Cavaliers next.
Dallas Mavericks vs Toronto Raptors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Mavericks have been devastated by Covid and injuries, as Luka Doncic has been fighting for his life to keep this team afloat. If they were healthy, the Mavs would likely be formidable. Instead they are mediocre for the moment. The Mavs do get Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. back alongside Luka Doncic, as he gets some players alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who is still getting back to form. The Mavs face a Raptors team that has been hitting their form. Since starting the season 1-6, the Raptors have responded. Siakam has been playing much better alongside Lowry and VanVleet, and the emergence of Chris Boucher has been pushing this team. The Raptors defense hasn’t been great, especially on the interior where they miss Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol. If the Raptors can (somehow) contain Luka Doncic, they can win this game. This game will be good, but I’m giving the edge to the Raptors.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks got some of their guys back, but they are still brutally short-handed, and it again showed in this game. The Mavs offense started slow, but picked up in the 2nd quarter, as they shot 41% from the field in the first half, and it was a tie game. But the usually solid Mavs defense wasn’t good in the 3rd, allowing 34 points, and the Mavs never recovered. They allowed 35 more points in the 4th, as they couldn’t get things together on that end. The Mavs have fallen to 6-7 on the year.
Kristaps Porzingis had 23 points and 9 rebounds on 8/14 shooting.
Trey Burke had 17 points on 5/11 shooting off the bench.
Luka had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists on 4/11 shooting.
The Mavs have been good defensively this season, but they are still without their best defenders like Finney-Smith, Kleber, and Richardson. Kristaps Porzingis was efficient, and very good in this game as he tries to find a rhythm. Until the Mavs get healthy, it will be tough for them to win. Hopefully they can get their guys back and continue to compete. Dallas takes on the Pacers next on Wednesday.
Toronto Raptors
I said that if the Raptors got things down on the defensive end, they could win games. And that’s what’s been happening, as the Raptors have been figuring things out after that horrendous start to the season. In the first half, the Raptors started off well defensively, but allowed Dallas to get back in it, and the game was tied at halftime. The Raptors were shooting 43% from the field, but just 12% from 3. The game looked like it was going to be close, but that all changed in the 2nd half. The Raptors offense got hot, as they scored 69 points in the 2nd half, and allowing just 46. They dominated the 2nd half of this game, as they improve to 5-8 on the year.
Kyle Lowry had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9/12 shooting.
Chris Boucher had 21 points and 10 rebounds on 8/12 shooting.
Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 5 assists on 7/19 shooting.
The Raptors had another good offensive scoring attack, with 5 guys in double figures. Lowry was excellent, and Siakam and Anunoby were solid. Chris Boucher continues to be very good off the bench, as he had a double-double. Norman Powell has been playing much better as of late, as he scored 17 points in this game. The Raptors have been figuring things out, especially on the defensive end, as they have won their last 3 games, improving to 5-8 on the year. Toronto takes on the Miami Heat next.
Houston Rockets vs Chicago Bulls
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Rockets have looked solid since the block-buster James Harden trade, as they seem to be more relaxed. They’ve been very short-handed lately, but they get some key guys back. Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins return, along with Victor Oladipo as he makes his Rockets debut. The Rockets play with a lot of energy and heart, and they can catch teams by surprise. The Bulls have been getting healthier, and they’ve looked good at times this season. Zach Lavine, Lauri Markkanen, and Coby White have all been really good this season, and the Bulls have solid help with guys like Carter Jr, Williams, and Temple. The Bulls are young and tend to have collapses and turnovers, but they have looked really promising as of late. This will be a good game, but I’m giving the edge to the Bulls.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets got to see more of their roster since the blockbuster James Harden deal, including Victor Oladipo’s debut for the team. It was eventful to say the least. The Rockets offense was horrendous to start this game, as they shot 33% from the field and scored just 16 points from the field. After that, the Rockets were very good. They scored 36 points in the 2nd quarter, but still trailed by 12 because they couldn’t stop Chicago. The Rockets started to make some ground in the 3rd, as they trimmed the lead to 7 entering the 4th. The Rockets continued to fight in the 4th, but the Bulls wouldn’t let Houston back into it. A Lauri Markkanen 3 with 47 seconds left sealed the game, and Houston lost, falling to 4-8 on the year.
Victor Oladipo had 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists on 13/23 shooting.
Christian Wood had 30 points and 9 rebounds on 11/16 shooting.
Eric Gordon had 21 points on 9/17 shooting.
Victor Oladipo was very good in is debut, as he didn’t miss a beat from the start he was having with the Pacers. Eric Gordon was solid, and Christian Wood continues to show out. But the Rockets just started off too slow, and their defense was horrendous in this game. But Victor Oladipo playing like this is a welcome sign, even though it is likely he leaves in free agency this summer. The Rockets need some defense going forward, as they continue to reshape their team in the post-James Harden era. Houston takes on the Suns next on Wednesday.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls looked very good in this game, as their offense just couldn’t be stopped. The Bulls got off too a fast start, leaving the Rockets in the dust as they led by 12. They matched the 36 points Houston scored in the 2nd quarter, and the lead was still 12 at halftime. Chicago was shooting 50% from the field in the first half. The Bulls offense slowed down a bit in the 3rd, and their lead was just 7 entering the 4th. And then the Bulls, a very young and mostly inexperienced team, held onto their lead in the 4th. They never gave the Rockets the lead, and a Lauri Markkanen 3 with under a minute to go sealed the game. The Bulls improve to 6-8 on the year.
Zach Lavine had 33 points and 7 assists on 11/16 shooting.
Lauri Markkanen had 18 points and 7 rebounds on 5/12 shooting.
This was a really impressive win for the Bulls. Their offense was red-hot all night long, scoring 28+ points in all 4 quarters. Zach Lavine continues to play like an All-Star, and Lauri Markkanen has been good since his return from Covid. 7 players were in double figures, as the Bulls offense has been very good. But the young Bulls, a team that has blown leads already this season, held their lead in the 4th quarter, and never let the Rockets take the lead, which was very impressive, a step in the right direction for the Bulls. Chicago is now 6-8 on the year, and they take on the Charlotte Hornets next on Friday.
Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers
Pre-Game Thoughts: I haven’t been high on the Warriors this season, but they’ve been proving me wrong as they’ve been better than expected. Steph Curry has been doing it all, looking like an MVP once again. Draymond Green is a defensive mastermind, and Wiggins and Wiseman fill in nicely. Kelly Oubre has been horrendous shooting the ball, although he has been getting better. The key for Golden State is defense, although I really don’t think any of this matters as they play the best team in the league, the LA Lakers. What more can you say? They’ve won 9 out of their last 10 games, as they have been rolling. Their offense and defense are both top-5 in the league, as their new roster has been dominant. The Lakers have the clear-cut advantage in this game, and they should be winning.
Golden State Warriors
What a comeback by the Warriors. I thought this game was over, but they proved me and a lot of people wrong as they came back to win this game. The Warriors started this game off very slow, trailing by as many as 19 in the first quarter, as their offense just couldn’t get anything going. The Warriors couldn’t close the deficit in the 2nd, and they trailed by 16 at halftime. The Warriors defense was nonexistent, as LA was shooting 54% from the field. But the Warriors refused to give up. The Warriors went on a big run in the 3rd, cutting the lead to two points. But the Lakers ended the quarter strong, and Golden State trailed by 11. They didn’t give up still. The Warriors kept chipping away at the lead, and then they started to get stops. They took a 4-point lead with 1:39 left. Steph Curry hit a 3 with 1:07 left, putting Golden State up by 5. The Warriors led by two, and the Lakers had the ball. They went down the floor, and Golden State denied, AD, and shut the whole things, forcing LA to take a timeout with 1.7 seconds left. Lebron James missed, and the Warriors came back from 19 down to win, improving to 7-6 on the year.
Steph Curry had 26 points and 7 rebounds on 8/22 shooting.
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 23 points on 9/18 shooting.
Eric Paschall had 19 points on 8/11 shooting off the bench.
The Warriors just kept fighting, and they never gave up. It would have been easy to, because they were facing the best team in the league, but they refused to quit. They made some big shots and stops down the stretch, as they looked like the Warriors of old in this game. Steph Curry was good, but Oubre was everywhere. Hitting shots, forcing turnovers, and blowing kisses. Paschall and Wiggins shot a combined 15/22, as they were both very efficient and good. An impressive win for the Warriors, as they are now 7-6 on the year. They take on the San Antonio Spurs next on Wednesday.
LA Lakers
What a disappointing loss for the Lakers. They had been dominant leading up to this game, and they were in control for most of this game. But they let their guards down, and allowed the Warriors to pull a massive comeback on them. The Lakers jumped on the Warriors, leading by as many as 19 in the first quarter. The Lakers had another good 2nd quarter, and they led by 16 at halftime. Should be an easy win. Or so they thought. The Warriors went on a big run in the 3rd quarter, and the LA lead evaporated to just two points. But the Lakers were quick to their feet, and they still led by 11 entering the 4th. But the Lakers again couldn’t hold their lead. The Warriors kept chipping away, and the Lakers offense started to stall out. The Lakers fell behind by 5 with 1:07 left after a Steph Curry 3. The Lakers cut the lead to two, and they had the ball with 11.3 seconds left. They decided to not call a timeout, which was a bad move. They couldn’t get the ball to AD, and they didn’t even get up a shot, and the clock nearly ran out. With 1.7 seconds left, the Lakers called a timeout, after they had just wasted 10 seconds. The Lakers went to Lebron James, and he missed the 3, completing a Lakers meltdown. LA is now 11-4 on the year.
Dennis Schroder had 25 points and 5 rebounds on 8/15 shooting.
Lebron James had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 6/16 shooting.
Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and 8 rebounds on 7/8 shooting off the bench.
Very disappointing loss for the Lakers. To blow a 19-point lead against a far inferior Warriors team at home is embarrassing. Lebron and AD shot a combined 12-32 from the field, as they were locked up by Kelly Oubre and James Wiseman. Kuzma and Harrell were very good off the bench, and Dennis Schroder continually attacked the rim. But the Lakers offense was just forcing things late in that games, and their “best defense in the league” turned into swiss cheese late. If the Lakers want to be champs, they can’t lost games like these. LA is now 11-4 on the year, and they face the Milwaukee Bucks next on Thursday.
What Are Your Thoughts From The 9 Games Today? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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