GOOD MORNING PEOPLE!!
Golden State 125, Sacramento 123
It’s clear that the break done spoiled these players, pampered these coaches. It’s nearly impossible to spend a long weekend amid the all free towels and room service pot stickers and not develop an attitude of sorts.
Dave “Looks Like a James” Joerger had it out with Buddy Hield late in the contest, chafing at his star for missing defensive designs dab in the middle of Buddy’s attempt to keep the Kings alive. Hield hit a couple of desperation threes late in the contest but passed up on a deep three to win it on the game’s final possession, spiraling into a two-point miss with Joerger echoing off the egg crates.
The Kings were fantastic, Sacramento hung with the champs and gave us a season series to teeheehee over.
De’Aaron Fox ran unbowed and Marvin Bagley (28 points, 14 rebounds) was capable of playing crucial two-way minutes. Willie Cauley-Stein kept his wits and Corey Brewer (who is on the Kings) hit three three-pointers. Draymond Green typically does terrible things to Harrison Barnes, but the ex-GSW ran for 13 points and two clutch buckets late.
Steve Kerr had to spray DEATHLINEUP all over the Kings in the second quarter, the sometimes-smiling Kevin Durant went nuts in the second and third quarters, Stephen Curry ran a beacon all evening:
Nemanja Bjelica (DNP-CD) is out of Sacto’s rotation in the wake of the Barnes acquisition.
Bogdan Bogdanovic starts at small forward now, Sacramento has an uneasy luxury on its hands moving forward with the ascension of Harry Giles (eight rebounds on Thursday) and Bagley. Yogi Ferrell is also averaging an all-time low in minutes per game, this is just primo soap opera shit.
Warriors: 42-16 (tops in the West)
Kings: 30-28 (1.5 games out of the playoff bracket)
Milwaukee 98, Boston 97
Players creep carefully around probable playoff opponents, the skulk takes on even more stealth around teams that have met each other before. It’s instinct, nobody wants to upset anyone else this early, particulars just wanna to lap up a drink from the standing water and wait until spring brings its spots back.
The Celtics ran without Gordon Hayward (sprained right something) and it showed, BOS could have used another playmaker and spacer, the Celtics shot just six free throws all night. Jaylen Brown was keen to be a part of a real game again, he was a sprinter and hit 6-9 shots with five bench boards.
Jayson Tatum wasn’t bad and Al Horford compiled mental notes (alongside 8-21 shooting, 17 rebounds, five assists, 21 points, two blocks and three steals) to contend with in May. Kyrie missed two-thirds of his shots but came on late, wasn’t enough.
Nah, Ersan Ilyasova (4-4 shooting) lost his mask over the All-Star break and Malcolm Brogdon (15 points) wanted to make damn sure he was counted as “part of this.” Khris Middleton hit his fair share of answers on the way toward a 15-point night but the routine was run by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
He’s such a thrill to watch, and then he’ll end your evening. Giannis gotta be the last one standing.
Bucks: 44-14 (tops in the East)
Celtics: 37-22 (No. 5)
Portland 113, Brooklyn 99 (Thursdays on NBC)
Each team took ages to prime the pump but Portland outlasted its hosts in this victory, an impressive and intriguing start to a road trip that will keep the Blazers outta PDX for a fortnight.
Enes Kanter entered, he sure did, compiling 18 points and nine rebounds and sloppy defense off the Blazer pine: Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins sat all evening.
Kanter supplied the blow for Jusuf Nurkic, who needed a little time in a seat to survey the floor and get used to the idea of not letting players from the other team touch the ball (after he threw it).
Jusuf recovered from his five turnovers long enough to trod beastly, even cramming on Jarrett Allen, 27 points and a dozen boards with three blocks. Portland’s offense was wack, its timing shot to hell, the boys needed every one of these lay-ins.
Even with Kanter whiffing, the Nets didn’t have enough bodies to lean in with. Caris LeVert (12 points on 11 shots) still needs time to work his tail off and BKN clunked 29 of 36 three-pointers in the loss.
D’Angelo Russell was made to look weary, 4-16 shooting, Shabazz Napier had to finish so many plays and this sometimes (2-11 shooting) went well (11 assists).
Portland capitalized on random clangs and touch from beyond, on a night when Dame Lillard blurped 16 of 21 field goal attempts.
Different heroes are going to have to stand in and all over this trip, Seth Curry (ohfer three) and Evan Turner (missed all five shots) can’t look so bloody ordinary out there if the Blazers want to turn corners.
Trail Blazers: 35-23 (No. 4 in the West)
Nets: 30-30 (No. 6 in the East)
Philadelphia 106, Miami 102
Working without MVP candidate Joel Embiid (bum knee), the Sixers went with the next-best thing:
Marjanovic’s impact waned as the evening moved along, spirits having already soared.
Miami made it back because its bench was the drug: Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney McGruber and Bam Adebayo all crashed toward necessary scores, Dwyane Wade hit 8-18 shots in his role as the guy that kind of keeps things interesting until he runs out of breath.
The Sixers responded with the crush: Ben Simmons was a load all night in the post, even against Miami’s phalanx of tatted arms. Tobias Harris (Sixer-high 23 points) picked his spots and Jimmy Butler worked diligently as a shooting guard asked to play point guard.
T.J. “A Little Annoying” McConnell ran toward five assists in a dozen minutes, Mike Scott was not paying attention. J.J. Redick missed 7-10 shots but had the legs to nail a clutch three-pointer late, he’s going to have those wheels now that opponents are charged with chasing Butler and Harris around for 44 minutes.
76ers: 38-21 (No. 4 in the East)
Heat: 26-31 (No. 10)
Cleveland 111, Phoenix 98
The Cavs enjoy playing alongside each other, and the Suns are still figuring out if that’s the case. Throw in the road setting, All-Star break estrangement plus Kevin Love’s return and you had all the tools to make the visiting Suns look way worse than the rebuilding Cavaliers.
Phoenix isn’t way worse, suck hits a saturation point with tanking teams, but the Cavs had the competence advantage.
Cedi Osman returned to complete Cleveland’s circle, five assists and 19 points and a fine floor game for the punters to appreciate. Ante Zizic had his way finishing inside, missing two shots in nine tries, while Love had an elbow under it — 16 points and three three-pointers to go with 11 rebounds.
Matthew Dellavedova pitched 11 assists, David Nwaba gave good minutes and Marquese Chriss got to boast unconvincingly to the Phoenix bench after each of his two field goals.
Phoenix was paced by Devin Booker’s 30 points and 28 terrible decisions, he’d finish with nine turnovers. DeAndre Ayton managed five offensive rebounds and 13 points but otherwise looked like a rookie in October.
Cavaliers: 13-46 (Nope.)
Suns: 11-49 (Nooo.)
THEME FROM BULLITT
Thank you for reading.
(More to come.)
Behind the Boxscore : N2M : LeBron's on it