This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kathy Willens/AP.)
After a huge event on Sunday, the NBA gets back to business with a ton more games. TEN, in fact.
02/08/2016
THE GAMES
CHICAGO BULLS 91 (27-24) @ CHARLOTTE HORNETS 108 (26-26)
With Jimmy Butler AND Derrick Rose out (not to mention Joakim Noah), the Bulls probably needed to go back to 1996 for some real-needed firepower. But you know, I’m still amazed that time machines aren’t invented yet. In the meantime, the Hornets took advantage of the undermanned Bulls and creamed them from start to finish.
Hey, the bugs are back to .500!
BEHIND THE LINES
Nicolas Batum (CHA): 19 pts, 13 rebs, 8 assts.
Kemba Walker (CHA): 30 pts, 7 rebs, 8 assts, 3 stls.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA): 20 pts, 7 rebs.
Pau Gasol (CHI): 22 pts, 10 rebs, 7 assts, 3 blks.
SACRAMENTO KINGS 100 (21-31) @ CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 120 (37-14)
What the Cavs and the Kings have in common that they’ve had some coaching problems this season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Tony Dejak/AP.)
The difference between them? The Cavs are battle-tested, way more experienced, and a much more talented and many polished players. Oh, and today’s difference? 20 points.
BEHIND THE LINES
LeBron James (CLE): 21 pts, 10 rebs, 10 assts.
Kyrie Irving (CLE): 32 pts, 12 assts.
J.R. Smith (CLE): 22 pts.
Omri Casspi (SAC): 16 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls.
Rudy Gay (SAC): 16 pts, 7 rebs.
Rajon Rondo (SAC): 7 pts, 8 rebs, 16 assts, 3 stls.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 87 (11-43) @ INDIANA PACERS 89 (28-24)
The Pacers built a 17-point lead in the third before Lakers went 2000 on them and scored 12 straight to end the period. Then Kobe Bryant went on a personal 11-2 run to give the 16-time champs the lead. L.A. led by four before Paul George took matters into his own hands. He made three straight foul shots after being fouled behind the arc. Then he followed it with a three-point play. Kobe couldn’t make another shot and the Pacers escaped with a narrow win.
BEHIND THE LINES
Paul George (IND): 21 pts, 9 rebs.
Myles Turner (IND): 14 pts, 13 rebs.
D’Angelo Russell (LAL): 16 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts, 4 stls.
Julius Randle (LAL): 15 pts, 19 rebs.
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 19 pts (6/25 FG), 5 rebs.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 98 (35-17) @ PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 92 (8-44) (OT)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Szagola/AP.)
The Sixers took command with a 19-point lead in the first half and the Clippers had to scrape, scratch, claw, bite, bark, and meow back. They cut it to single digits in the third. And finally, J.J. Redick made a three with 10 seconds left to catch the Sixers.
In overtime, the Clippers made the first eight straight points and that was enough to bury the Sixers. The Clips probably shouldn’t have won that game but that’s not what the record books will say.
BEHIND THE LINES
Chris Paul (LAC): 19 pts, 6 rebs, 7 assts, 4 stls.
J.J. Redick (LAC): 23 pts.
Jamal Crawford (LAC): 23 pts.
DeAndre Jordan (LAC): 12 pts, 21 rebs, 3 blks.
Jerami Grant (PHI): 17 pts, 11 rebs.
DENVER NUGGETS 104 (21-32) @ BROOKLYN NETS 105 (14-39)
Denver caught Brooklyn late after the Nets led by 16 points. Then Kenneth Faried hit a shot with 1.3 seconds left to give the Nuggets the lead. In the final play, the Nets got the ball to Joe Johnson and put up the shot from Stephen Curry/Dan Majerle range. The ball goes off the glass and into the basket for the rare Nets victory.
BEHIND THE LINES
Thaddeus Young (BRK): 20 pts, 7 rebs.
Danilo Gallinari (DEN): 24 pts, 7 assts.
Kenneth Faried (DEN): 22 pts, 13 rebs.
TORONTO RAPTORS 103 (35-16) @ DETROIT PISTONS 89 (27-26)
Detroit tried to rally after Toronto built a double-digit lead in the third before the Raptors went on a quick 11-2 run to start the fourth. Team Canada dumped some more dirt on the Motor City and made it into a 21-point game. Ouch.
Blame Canada, I guess.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kyle Lowry (TOR): 25 pts, 7 assts.
Ersan Ilyasova (DET): 17 pts, 6 rebs.
Andre Drummond (DET): 12 pts, 13 rebs.
ORLANDO MAGIC 117 (23-28) @ ATLANTA HAWKS 110 (30-24) (OT)
(PHOTO CREDIT: John Bazemore/AP.)
The Magic also had to come from behind as they were down by 18 in the third. Mario Hezonja made a three to give the Magic a one-point lead with 14 seconds left. Three seconds later, Paul Millsap got fouled but only split his foul shots to tie the game. They would go to OT.
Overtime is where Orlando flourished. They scored the first six points in the extra period. Back-to-back threes brought the Hawks back to within two before Evan Fournier countered with a clutch three of his own. The Hawks don’t get their revenge on the Magic.
BEHIND THE LINES
Elfrid Payton (ORL): 20 pts, 7 assts, 3 stls.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 28 pts, 13 rebs, 6 assts.
Jason Smith (ORL): 14 pts, 4 blks.
Aaron Gordon (ORL): 12 pts, 10 rebs.
Paul Millsap (ATL): 22 pts, 13 rebs, 6 assts, 4 stls.
Jeff Teague (ATL): 21 pts, 5 assts.’
Al Horford (ATL): 27 pts, 6 rebs.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 112 (26-27) @ MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 106 (30-22) (OT)
Marc Gasol left after the first quarter and the Blazers took advantage of that loss. But the Grizzlies still led late after Mike Conley converted a lay-up with 20.2 seconds left. Tony Allen split his free throws afterwards to boost the lead to two.
Damian Lillard tried to win the game with a three. Then the ball got batted around the basket before it went into the goal at the buzzer. Allen Crabbe was given credit for the tip-in and the game would go to overtime.
The Blazers would make the first six points in OT and the Grizzlies didn’t have enough to counter. Portland gets within one game of .500 after this big win on the road.
BEHIND THE LINES
Damian Lillard (POR): 33 pts, 5 assts.
C.J. McCollum (POR): 21 pts, 6 assts, 3 stls.
Zach Randolph (MEM): 26 pts, 9 rebs.
Mike Conley (MEM): 27 pts.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 116 (19-32) @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 102 (16-37)
It was a battle of two potential superstars (if Anthony Davis isn’t already) but for the teams themselves, it wasn’t much of a battle. The Pelicans led by as many as 27 points, which happened halfway through the fourth. It’s safe to say that this game didn’t go to overtime.
BEHIND THE LINES
Jrue Holiday (NO): 27 pts, 6 rebs, 9 assts, 3 stls.
Ryan Anderson (NO): 26 pts.
Anthony Davis (NO): 27 pts, 8 rebs.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 19 pts, 12 rebs.
Gorgui Dieng (MIN): 12 pts, 12 rebs.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 122 (39-14) @ PHOENIX SUNS 106 (14-39)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.)
A couple of runs put away the Suns. OKC scored 15 unanswered points from the end of the third to the start of the fourth. And when Phoenix tried to come back, OKC finished the game with a 12-2 run. When you have guys like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook clicking on all cylinders, the Thunder are hard to stop.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 32 pts, 6 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 29 pts, 8 rebs, 8 assts.
Markieff Morris (PHX): 23 pts, 7 rebs.
Archie Goodwin (PHX): 20 pts, 7 assts.
GETTING SOCIAL
The Pacers almost lost to the Lakers at home 😂
— Brandon Hall (@bshall2105) February 9, 2016
Well Hawks should have won this game in regulation, but the refs gave this one to the Magic in overtime. #officiating
— Kyle White (@itsKW) February 9, 2016
Clippers win one they had no business winning, prevailing, 98-92, over 76ers in overtime. J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford had 23 points each.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) February 9, 2016
Raptors better kill it during post season smh.
— dele dembélé (@theyhatekhev) February 9, 2016
Watching Kevin Durant put up 25 second half points is yet another reminder the #Suns desperately need a franchise player again.
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) February 9, 2016
Prokhorov on Joe Johnson banking in a game-winning 3 at the buzzer: "Joe Cool." #nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) February 9, 2016
LeBron James has a triple double at the end of the 3rd quarter……. 😐
— Ethan Snapp™ (@EthanSnappy) February 9, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
There were a hell of a lot of good plays on Monday night. There was a crossover from Joe Johnson. Andre Drummond made a full-court fling. Karl-Anthony Towns put someone in a poster and so did Russell Westbrook.
But I’ll choose this play: Joe Johnson can still do this thing. Watch him beat the Nuggets off the glass.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
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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