The Hangover: Warriors Smash Knicks; Clippers Do Same To Bulls

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This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Elsa/Getty Images.)

I hope you didn’t skip any of these games instead of watching all-star games from football or hockey. But, hey, that’s what we’re here for in case you DID skip. Seven games happened in the league on Sunday.

01/31/2016

THE GAMES

CHICAGO BULLS 93 (26-20) @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 120 (32-16)

The game broke away from the Bulls as EX-Bull Jamal Crawford (remember?!) threw fireballs starting at the end of the third quarter. He scored 10 on a 13-2 run that turned this game into a blowout. The Bulls didn’t score in the last 4:35, which is actually not bad considering I haven’t scored in the last… no, never mind.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Marc J. Terrill/AP.)

BEHIND THE LINES
Jamal Crawford (LAC): 26 pts.
J.J. Redick (LAC): 21 pts.
DeAndre Jordan (LAC): 17 pts, 20 rebs, 4 blks.
Derrick Rose (CHI): 20 pts, 5 rebs.
Pau Gasol (CHI): 15 pts, 14 rebs, 5 blks.
Jimmy Butler (CHI): 23 pts.

ATLANTA HAWKS 87 (27-22) @ MIAMI HEAT 105 (27-21)

It was all Miami in this game as they led by double digits from the second quarter on. Also of note is that Amar’e Stoudemire went into the Lazarus Pit and got a double-double.

BEHIND THE LINES
Chris Bosh (MIA): 18 pts, 7 rebs.
Amar’e Stoudemire (MIA): 13 pts, 12 rebs, 3 stls.
Paul Millsap (ATL): 17 pts, 5 rebs.
Al Horford (ATL): 17 pts.

BOSTON CELTICS 114 (27-22) @ ORLANDO MAGIC 119 (21-25)

The Celtics kept their good play going… until the third quarter when the Orlando Magic of the fall of 2015 woke up. Aaron Gordon and Victor Oladipo erased a that big deficit with a 14-2 run. Then Boston went on a scoring drought at the wrong time as they only scored one field goal in a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. Orlando took advantage and the Celtics never recovered after another huge Magic run (18-2). The Magic end January with a win while the Celtics’ five-game win streak was done.

BEHIND THE LINES
Evan Fournier (ORL): 24 pts.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 16 pts, 13 rebs, 7 assts, 3 blks.
Aaron Gordon (ORL): 19 pts, 14 rebs, 5 assts.
Marcus Smart (BOS): 26 pts, 5 rebs.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 23 pts.
Avery Bradley (BOS): 22 pts, 3 stls.

PHOENIX SUNS 78 (14-35) @ DALLAS MAVERICKS 91 (28-22)

The Phoenix Suns looked good coming into the fourth. And then the sun set and they all became zombies by the fourth quarter.

Phoenix got held to nine points in the final stanza and I don’t think you can win many games by scoring that little in the last 12 minutes.

BEHIND THE LINES
Deron Williams (DAL): 27 pts.
Tyson Chandler (PHX): 12 pts, 13 rebs.
Devin Booker (PHX): 19 pts, 7 rebs.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 116 (44-4) @ NEW YORK KNICKS 95 (23-27)

It’s really weird to see Stephen Curry struggle these days. But that’s why the Warriors are the best TEAM because you have guys like Draymond Green getting a trip-dub without missing a field goal and Klay Thompson shooting the lights out. Anyway, the Warriors pulled away in the second half and lather, rinse, repeat.

BEHIND THE LINES
Draymond Green (GS): 20 pts, 10 rebs, 10 assts.
Klay Thompson (GS): 34 pts.
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 24 pts, 10 rebs.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 93 (14-35) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 96 (23-26)

Blazers and Wolves kept it close in the first three quarters. before the Blazers went on a 12-2 run in the fourth. The Wolves went on a run but it was too little too late. C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard made free throws to ice the game and that late three by Tayshaun Prince served to make the score more respectable.

Blazers have won four straight. What?

BEHIND THE LINES
C.J. McCollum (POR): 21 pts.
Damian Lillard (POR): 21 pts, 8 assts.
Gorgui Dieng (MIN): 13 pts, 10 rebs.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 21 pts, 13 rebs, 3 blks.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS 101 (23-25) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 82 (9-41)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.)

Charlotte shot badly (.375) but the Lakers were even worse (.338). The Lakers looked awful and it looked like they put as much effort on the game as Dawson Leery would on being a real friend.

BEHIND THE LINES
Marvin Williams (CHA): 19 pts, 12 rebs, 3 blks.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA): 19 pts, 12 rebs.
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 23 pts, 8 rebs.
Julius Randle (LAL): 10 pts, 11 rebs.

GETTING SOCIAL

WATCH THIS PLAY

Look at Aaron Gordon with the putback jam!

(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)

THE TAKEAWAY

We all know MY disdain of Byron Scott as head coach of the Lakers. Four coaches have been axed thus far this season, including Jeff Hornacek, who was fired after the Suns got cooled off by the Mavs. YET… Byron still has a gig.

Jordan Clarkson thinks a change needs to be made. I wonder if that’s a sign of things to come. The Lakers have lost 10 straight, which ties the franchise record for longest losing streak. Who did Byron tie? His old teammate, Magic Johnson, when he coached late in the 1993-94 season.

Scott has pissed off Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell. He thinks Tarik Black needs more energy, a player KNOWN for being an energy player. He’ll forgive Kobe Bryant on every turn. And Scott will throw his young players under the bus. He gets on Russell for having too much confidence. And then now he’s saying his guys have a lack of confidence. I wonder why, Byron. I’m amazed Russell hasn’t blown a gasket yet and the fact that he’s not even 20 yet makes it even more amazing.

There was a reason why the Lakers got guys like Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams, and Brandon Bass; the Lakers wanted to shoot for the playoffs. And I guess with a team like a fixed-up Kobe, Hibbert, Williams, and Bass, it sounds good on paper. So there’s no intentional tanking here. But riddle me this: Byron Scott is trying to win games while throwing his potential future franchise players under the bus but he’s 9-41. HOW IS HE STILL THE LAKERS COACH?

Anyway, Portland is shooting for that playoff spot. I think it’s amazing in itself that the Blazers lost four starters and STILL have a shot at making the postseason. I’m glad C.J. got a chance to play and Damian Lillard is proving himself on why he IS the franchise player for the Blazers. They’re playing like they have nothing to lose. Unlike the Lakers, who feel like they have everything to lose when they get on the court. Thanks for that environment, Byron.

The Warriors are 44-4 which puts them ahead of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who were 43-5 after 48 games. I’m glad that Draymond Green admitted to chasing a triple-double against the Sixers. Why? Because he held himself accountable. Players, believe it or not, like to chase stats. Well, it’s much better if it happened in an organic manner. Just like he did against the Knicks. He’s got nine triple-doubles this season, which is incredible because they still have 34 more games to play.

Lastly, J.J. Redick has his own podcast at the The Vertical. Let me say that it’s refreshing to hear a CURRENT NBA player have his own takes on the NBA DURING the season. He had former teammate and now Wizards player Jared Dudley on his first pod. Listen to them chit chat about basketball. Again, they’re not blind to what’s going on in basketball. It’s kind of weird but also kind of cool listening to them talk about the Warriors. I definitely recommend listening to that podcast.

While you’re at it, you should listen to my podcast, too. Thanks, guysh!

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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