Suns, Clippers, and Pelicans All Blow Big Leads Leads! 1.8.21
It’s a Friday night of NBA hoops, and we have a action-packed day, with 10 games on the schedule.
Game Of The Day Prediction: Jazz vs Bucks or Clippers vs Warriors
Phoenix Suns vs Detroit Pistons
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Suns have been one of the best teams in the west, with their new-look roster meshing seamlessly from day 1. Their big 3 of Booker, Paul, and Ayton have been good to start the season, and they have a solid supporting cast. The Suns have been very fun to watch this season, and they face a struggling Pistons team. The Pistons have dealt with injuries, as they are 1-7 to start the year. Jerami Grant has been one of the few bright spots, as he has been very good. Blake Griffin and D-Rose have been ok, although I think it’s time to trade the both of them. Rookie Saddiq Bey has looking promising thus far, and I want to see him play more and develop. The Suns are contending and the Pistons are rebuilding, as this will be another easy win for Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns
This was a terrible game for Phoenix, especially with how well they started the game. The Suns came out of this game, guns blazing. They scored 29 points in the first quarter, shooting 65% from the field. The Suns built a 23-point lead midway in the 2nd quarter, as they were shooting 12/17 from 3. Then, things started to collapse. The Pistons got back into the game, and the Suns only led by 8 at halftime. The Suns continued to struggle shooting from deep, and they only led by 4 entering the 4th. And in the 4th, the Suns battled back and forth with the lead with Detroit, and with 1:29 left, the Suns led by 4. But a Mason Plumlee dunk with 9.6 seconds left tied the game. Devin Booker missed at the buzzer, and we were headed to OT. And the Suns were terrible in OT, as the Pistons scored 9 points in a row, and a Jerami Grant 3 with 18 seconds left, ended the Suns comeback attempts. Phoenix is now 6-3 on the year.
Devin Booker had 23 points on 8/18 shooting.
Langston Galloway had 17 points on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
DeAndre Ayton had 14 points and 12 rebound on 7/8 shooting.
The Suns started off this game shooting 12/17 from 3, and ended the game shooting 17/52. That means they finished the game going 5/35 from 3. Their offense was horrendous, as they were thoroughly outplayed by the Pistons. Their defense in the overtime period wasn’t good, as they just fell apart. Really disappointing way to lose this game, up by 23 points against one of the worst teams in the league. Phoenix takes on the tough Indiana Pacers next.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons showed some fight in this game, as they were getting run out the gym in the first portion of this game. The Suns were shooting excellently from the 3-point line, starting the game 12-17 from 3. The Pistons trailed by 23 in the 2nd quarter, but they didn’t give up. They finished the 2nd quarter strong, and trailed by 8 at halftime. They cut the lead to 4 entering the 4th, and then battled down the stretch. But they trailed by 4 with 1:29 left. But Jerami Grant was responsible for the final 4 points, setting up Mason Plumlee for the tying slam with 9 seconds left. The Pistons got a stop, and they were headed to OT. And in the OT, the Pistons dominated. Saddiq Bey scored 5 quick points, as the Pistons scored 9 straight to start the OT period. Jerami Grant’s 3 ended the game, and the Pistons came back from 23 down to win this game.
Jerami Grant had 31 points and 10 rebounds on 10/15 shooting.
Delon Wright had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 7/11 shooting.
Blake Griffin had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5/13 shooting.
The Pistons showed some real toughness and heart in this game, as their defense was excellent in the 2nd half. Jerami Grant was excellent scoring the ball, as he did everything tonight. Blake Griffin was excellent in OT. Delon Wright was good, but Saddiq Bey continues to shoot the ball well off the bench. I really like some of the pieces that this Pistons team has, and I like what they’ve been doing as of late. Detroit takes on the Utah Jazz next.
OKC Thunder vs New York Knicks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Thunder are somehow floating near 0.500, even though they are rebuilding. Talent-wise, this team isn’t that good, but they’ve won 3 games thus far. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort are a promising young back-court, and they also have promising forward Darius Bazley. The Thunder are decent, but don’t expect this type of success to continue in the future. The Knicks have looked so much better to start this season, and all of it can be attributed to the coaching of Tom Thibodeau. He has turned Julius Randle into a do-it all forward, and he has a solid rotation with guys like RJ Barrett and Austin Rivers. This Knicks team might not be the best on paper, but they play hard on both ends. The Knicks do have the talent advantage in this game, as well as the better coach, so I’m giving them the edge in this game.
OKC Thunder
This game started off ugly for the Thunder, as their offense was horrendous. OKC shot 21% from the field, and scored just 15 point in the first quarter. But after that, their offense started to pick up. OKC tied the game at halftime, as Al Horford was hitting his shots, keeping them in the game. In the 2nd half, OKC’s offense continued to get better, and they were able to slow down the Knicks. And in the 4th, the Thunder continued to pour it on. They scored 32 points in the 4th, and their defense continued to stifle the Knicks. The Thunder are now 4-4 on the year.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 25 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds on 9/14 shooting.
Hamidou Diallo had 23 points and 11 rebounds on 8/13 shooting off the bench.
Al Horford had 15 points and 8 rebounds on 6/15 shooting.
The Thunder have been playing well to start this season, as even though their roster isn’t great, they’re playing great team basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo led the way scoring, but Al Horford carried them in the first half when the Thunder offense wasn’t clicking. The Thunder defense was excellent, holding the Knicks to 36% shooting on the day. OKC takes on the Brooklyn Nets next time out.
New York Knicks
The Knicks looked very bad on offense tonight, and they just couldn’t get anything going. The Knicks defense was the story early, as they held the Thunder to just 15 first quarter points. But the Knicks allowed Al Horford to get going, and their lead slipped away, with the Thunder back in the game at halftime. And in the 2nd half, the Knicks offense still couldn’t get anything going. They scored just 47 points in the 2nd half, and they just didn’t look right in this game, as they are now 5-4 on the year.
RJ Barrett had 19 points and 7 rebounds on 7/21 shooting.
Julius Randle had 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists on 8/15 shooting.
Elfrid Payton had 16 points and 6 rebounds on 4/16 shooting.
The Knicks had been playing very good as of late, especially on offense. But they just weren’t hitting their shots. They were just 33% from 3, as they just couldn’t get their shots to fall. Quickley was horrendous off the bench, shooting 1/9 from the field. Payton and Barrett didn’t shoot the ball well from the field, as they reverted back to what they did to begin the year. The Knicks are still growing, as they have a long ways to go, but this was a disappointing loss. New York takes on the Denver Nuggets next.
Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Wizards have struggled so far this season, mainly due to their poor defense. The Wizards are the 2nd worst defensive team in terms of defensive rating, and that just overshadows their offense, which is decent. Bradley Beal has been amazing this season, and Russell Westbrook had been doing his triple-double things. Their help has been ok, but they have some solid players like Davis Bertans. But their defense is just so bad. The Celtics have been very good this season, especially down the stretch of games. They have one of the best duos in the league with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, both of whom have been excellent. Their supporting cast, which has been good, is very thin in this game. They are without Tristan Thompson, Robert Williams, and Grant Williams. So they are very thin at the center position, which Theis being their only decent one. This could be a problem, but they’ll just have to rely on Brown and Tatum more. I still think the Celtics will win this game, even with their limited center depth.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards are one of the worst defenses in the league, and it just takes away their talent on offense. Bradley Beal was getting cooked by Jayson Tatum, as he and Jaylen Brown were dominant in this game. The Wizards trailed by 19 at halftime, but they did manage to come back and cut the deficit in the 2nd half, but that defense, man that defense is horrible. This Wizards team is going to continue struggle if they can’t play defense.
Bradley Beal had 41 points on 16/29 shooting.
Rui Hachimura had 17 points and 5 rebounds on 7/12 shooting.
Davis Bertans had 13 points on 4/10 shooting.
This game was another one where defense would have won this game. Russell Westbrook struggled shooting, which was surprising saying that the Celtics only had one good center (sorry Tacko). Westbrook has been putting up numbers, but like we’ve seen at other points in his career, empty numbers. Bradley Beal continues to do everything on offense with not much help. This Wizards team has been a disaster thus far, as they are 2-7 on the year. Washington takes on the Miami Heat next.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics continue to look very good, even though they were plagued by Covid. They only had Daniel Theis down low, and they still were in control for most of this game. Jayson Tatum was dominant in the first half, as was Jaylen Brown. The two of them have been so good without Kemba Walker this season. The Celtics defense was good against everybody but Bradley Beal, and that was enough for them to win. Boston is now 7-3 on the year, as they have won their last 4 games.
Jayson Tatum had 32 points on 5 rebounds on 14/27 shooting.
Jaylen Brown had 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/19 shooting.
JT and JB have been lethal this season, both of them playing at an All-Star level. Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis were solid as well, but Payton Pritchard has continued to score well off the bench, with 11 points off the bench. He has been a top-3 rookie this season, and he will be an important x-factor going forward. Kemba Walker is progressing to getting back, and this Celtics team will become even better. Boston is now 7-3 on the year, and they take on the Miami Heat.
Charlotte Hornets vs New Orleans Pelicans
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Hornets have been wildly inconsistent this season, looking promising and absolute trash this season. I really don’t like their roster, as they need to give Lamelo Ball, their franchise player, more playing time as he has been good so far this season (much to my surprise). I really couldn’t tell you what the Hornets are doing with their team, and Lamelo faces his brother, Lonzo, with the Pelicans. The Pelicans have a spacing problem, as having Zion and Steven Adams just closes the floor down. And when Eric Bledsoe and Lonzo Ball struggle to shoot, it makes the spacing worse. They need to play Zion more when Steven Adams isn’t on the floor, so he can get more room. Ingram and Zion are very talented, but they would be better with more space. The Pelicans are the better team in this game, and I have them winning, but spacing remains an issue with this team.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets played excellent in this game, beyond the first quarter. The Hornets defense was awful in the first quarter, allowing 38 points on 65% shooting. But after that bad quarter, the Hornets responded the rest of the way. The Hornets defense was much better in the 2nd quarter, but they still trailed by 12 at halftime. But the Pelicans continued to struggle on offense, and the Hornets took advantage of their turnovers, trailed by just 5 entering the 4th. And they dominated the 4th as well, allowing just 23 points and scoring 36 points. The Hornets completely dominated the 2nd half of this game, as Lamelo got the better of his brother. The Hornets are now 4-5 on the year.
Gordon Hayward had 26 points and 7 rebounds on 9/18 shooting.
Miles Bridges had 20 points on 8/11 shooting, 4/6 3-PT off the bench.
Devonte Graham had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists on 5/13 shooting.
Very impressive comeback by Charlotte after that awful first quarter. Gordon Hayward was excellent in the 2nd half, as he has been looking like an All-Star to start this season. Miles Bridges has been excellent off the bench, looking like a 6th Man of the Year candidate. Lamelo Ball nearly had a triple-double, as he was excellent against his brother. I still want to see Lamelo start, although Devonte Graham finally played better. This Hornets team has been getting better, and if they can play defense like they did in this game, they can be good. The Hornets take on the Atlanta Hawks next time out.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have done it again, for the 3rd straight game. They squandered a very winnable game, especially after dominating the first quarter. The Pels were getting whatever they wanted, scoring 38 points on 65% shooting in the first quarter. It was poised to be a blowout. But then things started to change. The Pelicans were turning it over so much throughout this game, as they gave the Hornets chances to come back in this game. The Hornets kept chipping away at the lead, and the Pels collapsed in the 4th. They allowed 36 points and were outscored by 13 as they lost this game, their 3rd straight loss.
Zion Williamson had 26 points and 8 rebounds on 12/22 shooting.
Josh Hart had 19 points and 8 rebounds on 6/8 shooting off the bench.
JJ Redick had 17 points on 5/8 shooting, 4/7 3-PT off the bench.
The Pelicans just haven’t been able to win winnable games. Zion Williamson was good, but missed a lot of shots at the rim. Brandon Ingram has terrible shot selection, as he wasn’t aggressive. Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe were awful, and it made the floor even smaller. Josh Hart and JJ Redick were good off the bench, but the Pelicans have to learn to win these games. They could have very easily won the last 3, but they blew all 3 of them. And in the competitive Western Conference, every game counts. New Orleans is now 4-5 on the year, and they take on the Dallas Mavericks next.
Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Jazz’s offense has been bad as of late, as Bojan Bogdanovic continues to struggle. And when Mike Conley struggles, suddenly the offense becomes give Mitchell the ball, which isn’t a recipe for success. I really don’t like this Utah team, as they have to have everybody playing good to be contenders. And now they face a very good Bucks team. The Bucks have gotten things going on both ends, as their big 3 of Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday have been excellent this season. The Bucks supporting cast has been very good this season, and they are tough to beat when they get things going. The Bucks are the better constructed team in this game, and they should win this game soundly.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz’s offense looked super good in this game, as they made a mockery against one of the best defense in the league. The Jazz were shooting the 3 ball well, as they scored 65 points in the first half on 49% shooting and 52% 3-PT shooting. Jordan Clarkson was excellent, as the Jazz just out-paced the Bucks. The Jazz scored 39 points in the 3rd, keeping even with the Bucks. And in the 4th, the Jazz just kept keep-away with the lead. They were so good on offense, as they shrugged off this two-game slump. The Jazz showed how good they can be, as they are now 5-4 on the year.
Donovan Mitchell had 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 12/24 shooting.
Jordan Clarkson had 26 points and 6 rebounds on 10/20 shooting off the bench.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 points and 5 rebounds on 7/16 shooting.
The Jazz’s offense looked like the best in the league in this game. They were red-hot from the start, as they made 25 3-pointers on 47% shooting. Donovan Mitchell was excellent and efficient, and he has help. Jordan Clarkson was instant offense off the bench, and Bojan Bogdanovic got out of his shooting struggles in this game. Mike Conley had a double-double with 17 points. But I just don’t know if the Jazz can keep this up. I highly doubt that they can play nearly as well on offense every single night, as they have to find other ways to win other than just when their offense is good. The Jazz take on the Detroit Pistons next time out.
Milwaukee Bucks
There was no problem with the Bucks offense, as Giannis was getting whatever he desired. But the Bucks defense, which has been one of the best in the league thus far, really struggled against a hot-shooting Jazz team. The Bucks allowed 65 points in the first half, allowing the Jazz to shoot 52% from 3. The Bucks produced 38 points in the 3rd, but they allowed 39. And then they couldn’t make any sort of dent in the lead, and they lost this game, ending their 3-game win streak.
Giannis had 35 points and 8 rebounds on 14/25 shooting.
Khris Middleton had 31 points and 10 rebounds on 11/19 shooting.
Jrue Holiday had 17 points and 5 assists on 7/14 shooting.
The Bucks offense was spectacular, especially from their starting 5. Giannis dominated Gobert and the Jazz down low, and Middleton continues to shoot well from the field. Holiday was solid on both ends, but the problem was their bench. Their bench, which had been very good to start this season, didn’t produce any scoring, and they just fell flat. The Bucks defense had been up and down this season, and they couldn’t do anything to slow down the Jazz. Milwaukee needs better defense going forward, as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers next, one of the worst offenses in the league.
Brooklyn Nets vs Memphis Grizzlies
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Nets have looked very good without their two superstars on the court, and they look to continue that vs the Grizzlies. Their roster is still good with guys like Caris Levert, Joe Harris, and Jarrett Allen. But there’s something about the Nets and how they play better when their roster is worse. Even without KD and Kyrie, the Nets are much better than the Grizzlies. Memphis has struggled mightily without Morant and Jackson Jr, as their offense has been awful without those two. Memphis just hasn’t been able to win close games with Morant, which is obviously understandable. The Grizzlies have lost 3 straight games, and this will likely be their 4th straight loss, as Brooklyn is the better team.
Brooklyn Nets
Without KD and Kyrie, the Nets won their last game. But they started this game off very slow. They allowed 40 first quarter points to the Grizzlies, allowing them to shoot 52% from the field. The Nets trailed by 15 at halftime, as they just couldn’t stay in front of Memphis. But they started to mount a comeback in the 2nd half. The Nets scored 39 points in the 3rd, and they trailed by 6 entering the 4th. And the Nets fought down the stretch, taking the lead at one point. But Memphis went on a 9-0 run in the 4th, and the Nets barely lost this game.
Caris Levert had 43 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 15/23 shooting.
Taurean Prince had 16 points on 4/13 shooting.
Joe Harris had 13 points on 6/9 shooting off the bench.
Caris Levert was amazing in this game. He missed just 8 shots, en route to scoring 43 points. He did everything in his power to keep this game close, but it just wasn’t enough. TLC continues to struggle, as he was 1/8 off the bench in this game. Landry Shamet was solid, but the Nets defense just wasn’t good. Still a pretty good game for Brooklyn, one they would have won with KD and Kyrie on the floor. The Nets are now 5-5 on the year and they take on the OKC Thunder next time out.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies offense, which had struggled mightily without Ja Morant, finally broke through in this game. Memphis scored 40 points in the first quarter, shooting 63% from 3. The Grizzlies led 15 at halftime, as they were just dominating the Nets on offense. But in the 2nd half, the Nets started to creep back in it, as the Grizzlies allowed 39 points in the 3rd. And in the 4th, things got close, maybe a little too close. The Grizzlies lost the lead, and it looked like things would get interesting late. But the Grizzlies went on a 9-0 run late in the 4th, and a Brandon Clarke score iced the game, as Memphis snapped a 3-game losing streak.
Dillon Brooks had 24 points on 10/19 shooting.
Brandon Clarke had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9/22 shooting.
De’Anthony Melton had 14 points and 5 rebounds on 6/10 shooting off the bench.
The Grizzlies offense finally seemed to get going, as they were able to outpace the Nets. Dillon Brooks was excellent, as was Brandon Clarke. The Grizzlies bench was great, with 3 guys scoring in double figures. And the Grizzlies won this game without Jonas Valanciunas in the 2nd half. Very impressive win for Memphis, as they needed this, as they had been struggling mightily without Morant. Memphis is now 3-6 on the year, and they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers next.
Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Magic lost Markelle Fultz for the year with a knee injury, but they are still very good. The Magic have been solid on both ends as they have raced out to this 6-2 start. The Magic are without Fournier and Gordon in this game, so they will need some scoring from guys like Terrence Ross and Nikola Vucevic. The short-handed Magic will face a tough test with the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have lost their last two games against two good teams, as their limited depth has hurt them. James Harden needs to play better for this Rockets team to win, because they don’t have that many players to help him. Christian Wood is good, and John Wall and Eric Gordon are decent, but other than that it’s role guys and guys you have never heard about. The Magic are short-handed, and the Rockets are not at a wide talent margin. But I still think that the Magic will win this game.
Orlando Magic
[Insert blowout here]
Houston Rockets
I’m not going into too much depth concerning this game, because it was never close. The Rockets jumped on the short-handed Magic, outscoring them by 29 in the first half. The Rockets extended their lead, winning by 42.
Christian Wood had 22 point and 15 rebounds on 9/17 shooting.
Harden and PJ Tucker with 15 points, John Wall with 14.
Rockets are now 3-4 on the year, and they take on the LA Lakers next time out.
Toronto Raptors vs Sacramento Kings
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Raptors have been a mess this season, as they have just not looked the same as they have in the past couple of seasons. Pascal Siakam has been up and down, but he has been better as of late The Raptors are without Kyle Lowry, so they need more scoring from Fred VanVleet and the Raptors bench. This will be a very tough game for the Raptors to win. The Kings have been pretty good this season, as they have been getting better over the past few seasons (still should have kept Dave Joerger). De’Aaron Fox has been very good, and while the Kings supporting cast has been shaky, they are talented with guys like Bagley, Hield, and Harrison Barnes. Tyrese Haliburton has easily been the best rookie so far, as he makes this team so much better with his play-making and shooting. This Kings team is solid, and I think that they will win this game.
Toronto Raptors
This game was the perfect example of modern basketball. There was so much scoring in this game, it was crazy. The Raptors allowed 43 points in the first quarter, allowing the Kings to shoot better than 80% from the field. And yet they only trailed by 8. The Raptors defense was a lot better in the 2nd quarter, and they trailed by 3 at halftime. The Raptors were shooting 57% from the field in the first half, as they scored 71 points in the first half. The scoring didn’t stop as the Raptors scored 40 points in the 3rd, and took an 8-point lead entering the 4th. But the Raptors opened up the 4th with a flurry of points, and blew open a 21-point lead with 8 minutes left to go in the 4th. The Raptors outscored the Kings by 13 more in the 4th, and they won 144-123. The Raptors are now 2-6 on the year.
Fred VanVleet had 34 points and 7 assists on 13/22 shooting.
Chris Boucher had 23 points and 10 rebounds on 9/12 shooting off the bench.
Norman Powell had 22 points on 6/8 shooting.
The Raptors offense was on absolute fire in this game. Even without Kyle Lowry, the Raptors took advantage of this very poor Kings defense. VanVleet was excellent, as were Powell and Boucher. Pascal Siakam was efficient and nearly had a triple-double. Malachi Flynn, their first round pick, was good off the bench, as was Terrence Davis. Nick Nurse did a great job managing his rotations, as he got the most he could out of his guys. The Raptors will need to continue to do that in order to win. Toronto takes on the Golden State Warriors next time out.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings scored the ball a lot, it’s just that their defense rivals that of the Washington Wizards. Just flat out bad. The Kings started off this game by shooting over 80% from the field and scoring 43 points in the first quarter. Things were looking good, but their defense couldn’t help them. The Raptors started to climb back into the game, and after allowing 40 points in the 3rd, the Kings were down by 8 entering the 4th. But then the Raptors went on a massive run, and before you knew it, the Kings were down 20. Disappointing loss for Sacramento, as they fall to 4-5 on the year.
De’Aaron Fox had 23 points on 9/11 shooting.
Harrison Barnes had 21 points and 8 assists on 6/8 shooting.
Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points and 8 assists on 5/7 3-PT off the bench.
The Kings played very well, it’s just that their defense was awful. De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes were both very efficient and very good. Tyrese Haliburton continues to be the best rookie, as hit 5 3’s and dished out 8 assists. He was their only good bench player. Bagley, Holmes, and Hield were also in double figures. It’s just that their defense completely negates anything positive they did on offense. They need to play better defense if they want to win games. The Kings take on the Portland Trail Blazers next time out.
LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Clippers won their last game vs the Warriors, although it wasn’t very pretty. They obviously have their star-studded duo of PG and Kawhi, and with Marcus Morris returning, their supporting cast gets even better. I really like the makeup of this Clippers team, as they try and contain Steph Curry again. The Warriors need to try and unleash Steph Curry to be successful, as they just can’t win games when he’s not playing well. Andrew Wiggins has been good since that early slump, but Kelly Oubre continues to miss everything not at the rim. Eric Paschall has been good off the bench, but they need more from Oubre. The Warriors stayed competitive with the Clippers last time even with Curry being very quiet, and if they get him going, they have a chance at winning this game. But the Clippers are the much more talented team in this game, and they should be winning this game.
LA Clippers
What happened to the Clippers? They had this game in hand, and they just blew it. The Clippers played so well in the first half, leading by 14 after a big first half from Paul George. The Clippers were shooting 59% from the field, and they had this game in hand. The Clippers took a 20-point lead in the 3rd, and the game should have been over. But then Steph Curry and the Warriors got hot, and the lead was just 6 at the end of the 3rd. And the Warriors continued to surge, as the Clippers offense was just isolation, similar to what we saw last year. The Clippers managed just 18 points in the 4th, and the Warriors cruised to the win. LA is now 6-4 on the year.
Paul George had 25 points and 7 assists on 9/13 shooting.
Kawhi Leonard had 24 points on 7/17 shooting.
Serge Ibaka had 19 points and 7 rebounds on 9/12 shooting.
The Clippers have no excuse for this game. They were up by 22 in the 3rd, and then were promptly outscored 52-30 the rest of the way. They let Steph Curry get going, and everybody else followed suit for the Warriors. The Clippers bench has to be better, and the Clippers offense can’t go back to what didn’t work last year. That being no passing and just straight isolations. They’ve found great success passing the ball and playing like a team. And that didn’t happen down the stretch, and the Clippers lost. LA takes on the Chicago Bulls next.
Golden State Warriors
Very impressive comeback by the Warriors, led by Steph Curry. The Warriors looked like they did in the first game between these two teams. They were down by 14 at halftime, and couldn’t stop PG and Kawhi on the other end. The Warriors trailed by as many as 22 in the 3rd, and then Steph Curry said enough was enough. Curry started to get going, and the rest of the Warriors followed him. The lead was just 6 entering the 4th, and then the Warriors dominated the 4th, outscored LA by 16 in the 4th, en route to a win. The Warriors are now 5-4 on the year.
Steph Curry had 38 points and 11 assists on 13/24 shooting, 9/14 3-PT.
Andrew Wiggins had 16 points and 6 rebounds on 5/10 shooting.
Eric Paschall had 12 points and 6 rebounds on 5/10 shooting off the bench.
The Warriors showed some real heart and toughness in this game. Steph Curry is back to his MVP form, as he dominated the Clippers in the 2nd half, scoring 24 of his 38 points. Andrew Wiggins continues to play solid, and the Warriors bench was very good. Wiseman continues to develop, and Draymond Green directs traffic, teaching all these young guys the ins and outs of Warriors basketball. Kelly Oubre might as be playing for the other team, as he has been so, so bad for the Warriors. But the Warriors are starting to figure out how to win games. Golden State takes on Raptors next time out.
Chicago Bulls vs LA Lakers
Pre-Game Thoughts: The Bulls have been looking a lot better as of late than they did to start the season, but they struggle defensively at times. Zach Lavine and Coby White have been excellent in the backcourt, but they are still awaiting the return of Lauri Markkanen. Wendell Carter Jr. has been getting burned in the pick and roll, as he just hasn’t looked good. Now he faces Dennis Schroder, which will be a tough ask. The Lakers looked terrible against the Spurs, and look to bounce back against the Bulls. AD and KCP are out, leaving the Lakers very short-handed. Lebron James will have to do more, and they need a lot more scoring from guys like Kuzma, Schroder, and Harrell. This will be a tough game for the Lakers, as they will need to lock in defensively, something they haven’t done this season. I think that the Bulls will win this game.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls gave the Lakers everything they had this game, but they came up just short. Zach Lavine started off very hot in the first quarter, scoring 19 points on 100% FG shooting, and leading the Bulls to a 5 point 1st quarter lead. But LA responded, and the Bulls trailed by 1 at halftime. In the 3rd, the Bulls continued to battle, as they now trailed by 4 entering the 4th. In the 4th, the Bulls kept closing the Lakers leads, but they couldn’t pull ahead. With 2:11 left, Chicago trailed by 7. Garrett Temple hit a 3 with 37 seconds left, and the lead was down to one. Zach Lavine missed a pull-up jumper, and Dennis Schroder sealed the game at the free throw line. The Bulls are now 4-6 on the year.
Zach Lavine had 38 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on 14/22 shooting.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 23 points and 7 rebounds on 9/15 shooting.
Thaddeous Young had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7/12 shooting off the bench.
Zach Lavine was incredible in this game, scoring half his points in the first quarter. He did everything to keep the Bulls in the game, but he missed the potential game-winning shot. Wendell Carter Jr. controlled things in the paint with no AD for the Lakers. Thaddeous Young was very good off the bench, and Coby White was solid. The Bulls lost Otto Porter just 6 minutes into the game, as he had back spasms. But a hard-fought effort for the Bulls, and that’s all you can hope for with a rebuilding team. The Bulls take on the LA Clippers next.
LA Lakers
The Lakers very nearly lost this game, but they were able to pull it out in the end. Zach Lavine was hot early, and the Lakers trailed by 5 after the first quarter. But a strong 2nd quarter propelled LA into the lead, and they held that into the 4th where they led by 4. The Lakers opened the 4th strong, taking a double-digit lead. But the Bulls kept coming back at them, and with 37 seconds left, the Lakers lead was just one. The Lakers caught a break as Zach Lavine missed, and the Lakers hung on to win, improving to 7-3 on the year.
Lebron James had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11/21 shooting.
Dennis Schroder had 17 points and 6 assists on 5/11 shooting.
Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and 14 rebounds on 7/13 shooting off the bench.
The Lakers were short-handed in this game, so they tried out a new starting lineup, and it worked. Wesley Matthews hit 4 3-pointers in his first start, and Markieff Morris was also solid. I like Morris and Matthews much more than Kuzma, as they can space the floor a lot more reliably. Montrezl Harrell was a monster off the bench, as he was a beast without Anthony Davis on the floor. Kyle Kuzma still hasn’t been great, but the Lakers bench was good in this game. The Lakers defense still has a ways to go, as they need to continue playing defense in order to win games. They also need to get healthy. The Lakers take on the Houston Rockets next time out.
What Are Your Thoughts From This Action-Packed Day Of NBA Basketball? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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