This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Soobum Im/USA Today.)
Five games and only one was close. It was a pretty ridiculous Sunday.
01/17/2016
THE GAMES
PHOENIX SUNS 87 (13-29) @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 117 (13-29)
The Wolves don’t usually win at home. But the Suns are kind of dead; they don’t really have much of a squad at the moment. Anyway, even with the Wolves’ big fourth quarter, it seemed like the game was pretty much academic before that.
BEHIND THE LINES
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 18 pts.
Ricky Rubio (MIN): 18 pts.
Brandon Knight (PHX): 20 pts.
MIAMI HEAT 74 @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 99 (30-12)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Sue Ogrocki/AP.)
Russell Westbrook got his second straight triple-double. The Heat had 21 turnovers. And Miami could only muster up 32 points in the second half. It would’ve been nice if this for OKC if this happened to them in June 2012.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 24 pts, 10 rebs, 3 stls.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 13 pts, 10 rebs, 15 assts.
Hassan Whiteside (MIA): 14 pts, 11 rebs, 4 blks.
Dwyane Wade (MIA): 22 pts.
DALLAS MAVERICKS 83 (23-19) @ SAN ANTONIO SPURS 112 (36-6)
Usually, when San Antonio goes against Dallas, it’s an epic match-up. This time around, it was an EPIC FAIL for the Mavericks. And with that, I am never using the term EPIC FAIL ever again. Do people still use EPIC FAIL? Whatever. I’m not hip to the lingo.
BEHIND THE LINES
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): 23 pts, 7 rebs.
Dwight Powell (DAL): 15 pts.
INDIANA PACERS 126 (22-19) @ DENVER NUGGETS 129 (16-25)
Oh, good grief. A close game.
The fourth quarter was full of buckets. But the bucket that was put in by Randy Foye from behind the arc with 20 seconds left broke a 123-tie. Important free throws were made and missed before Paul George had a chance to tie the game. But Emmanuel Mudiay got a piece of George’s three at the top. The Pacers lost on Myles Turner‘s career game by letting the Nuggets score 45 points in the fourth.
BEHIND THE LINES
Gary Harris (DEN): 20 pts.
Danilo Gallinari (DEN): 23 pts.
Will Barton (DEN): 21 pts.
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 18 pts, 4 stls.
Monta Ellis (IND): 24 pts, 5 assts.
Myles Turner (IND): 25 pts.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 112 (22-20) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 95 (9-34)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill4/AP.)
The game was close after halftime before James Harden and company realized they were playing the Lakers. At least, the Lakers didn’t lose by 20 like their previous two match-ups. Gotta look for the silver lining.
BEHIND THE LINES
James Harden (HOU): 31 pts, 5 assts.
Clint Capela (HOU): 14 pts, 11 rebs.
Dwight Howard (HOU): 14 pts, 15 rebs, 3 blks.
Julius Randle (LAL): 12 pts, 11 rebs.
Lou Williams (LAL): 20 pts.
GETTING SOCIAL
I miss the Sonics
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) January 18, 2016
There is a ton of time, and Rockets just screwing around out here. If the Lakers would value more possessions, they’d get back in this
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) January 18, 2016
So basically you telling me Russell Westbrook going to just keep posting triple-doubles until y'all recognize him as a MVP candidate? Got it
— Donnie B (@ImDonnieB) January 18, 2016
*
Good evening fans! A great win at home against a Texan rival. Thanks for all showing up and your chants! Have a good evening. #GoSpursGo
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) January 18, 2016
Spurs win by 30 (29) and Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker combined for 11 points. That to me is incredible.
— Patty Ice (@Big_P_Ween) January 18, 2016
Thank you to EVERYONE who has sent some birthday love my way. Each of you guys have made me feel ultra special on this day.. #34 #Capricorn
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 18, 2016
Win! Go nuggets
— Jusuf Nurkić (@nurkic23) January 18, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
Will Barton, who is having an excellent season, gets his little 360 off over the Pacers.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
THE TAKEAWAY
With the Spurs winning, they are now only 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are off to a 37-4 start but the Spurs are a ridiculous 36-6 themselves. If only they didn’t lose to the Rockets on Christmas Day…
The Suns look burnt or dead.
Kobe Bryant being a facilitator can really frustrate you. If only he was more like that throughout his career. He could still get his shots, too, no problem. But there were too many times where he took matters in his own hands.
Anyway, happy MLK Day. Finals rematch coming up later today.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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