This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: LM Otero/AP.)
It was a four-game Tuesday. Let’s get into the recap.
01/05/2016
THE GAMES
NEW YORK KNICKS 107 (17-19) @ ATLANTA HAWKS 101 (21-15)
The Knicks led by 16 in the second half but they saw their deficit cut to two late. Still, Jose Calderon made a lay-up with 18 seconds left and that was enough to keep the Hawks out of a win.
BEHIND THE LINES
Arron Afflalo (NY): 23 pts, 7 rebs.
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 23 pts, 11 rebs, 7 assts.
Kristaps Porzingis (NY): 17 pts, 11 rebs.
Al Horford (ATL): 13 pts, 10 rebs, 8 assts.
Paul Millsap (ATL): 19 pts, 7 rebs.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 106 (14-23) @ CHICAGO BULLS 117 (21-12)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Daniel/AP.)
The Bulls were clinging to a one-point lead late in the third before they broke away with an 8-0 run. Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol, and company boosted the lead to 13 late and Chicago ended up with a wire-to-wire win over the deer.
BEHIND THE LINES
Taj Gibson (CHI): 11 pts, 14 rebs, 6 blks.
Jimmy Butler (CHI): 32 pts, 10 assts.
Pau Gasol (CHI): 26 pts, 11 rebs, 5 assts, 3 blks.
Greg Monroe (MIL): 13 pts, 12 rebs.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 18 pts, 7 rebs, 4 stls.
Khris Middleton (MIL): 26 pts, 7 assts.
Michael Carter-Willams (MIL): 20 pts, 12 assts.
SACRAMENTO KINGS 116 (14-21) @ DALLAS MAVERICKS 117 (20-15) (2OT)
The Mavs and the Kings battled it out in the final moments before DeMarcus Cousins converted a lay-up that tied the game and sent it to OT. In the first OT, the younger Curry missed a jumper that would’ve won it. There would be a second extra period.
DeMarcus Cousins dominated the early part of the second overtime (the game, really). Rudy Gay would put the Kings up seven with 1:20 left. Dirk Nowitzki‘s three would cut the deficit to two with 26 seconds left. Rick Carlisle chose not to foul, which was a very risky proposition but somehow the shot clock expired on the Kings and the Mavs had one last chance.
With 2.3 ticks left, Deron Williams faked and then made a corner three to win the game for Dallas. What a heartbreaker for the Kings but it felt like redemption for Deron Williams.
BEHIND THE LINES
Deron Williams (DAL): 25 pts.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): 23 pts, 5 rebs.
Zaza Pachulia (DAL): 9 pts, 17 rebs, 5 stls.
Wesley Matthews (DAL): 20 pts.
JaVale McGee (DAL): 13 pts, 11 rebs.
DeMarcus Cousins (SAC): 35 pts, 17 rebs, 6 stls, 10 TOs.
Darren Collison (SAC): 14 pts, 12 assts.
Rudy Gay (SAC): 31 pts, 5 rebs.*
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 109 (33-2) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 88 (8-28)
If the Kings/Mavs game was a drama/thriller, this Dubs/Lakers game falls under comedy.
BEHIND THE LINES
Klay Thompson (GS): 36 pts.
Marreese Speights (GS): 12 pts, 10 rebs.
Jordan Clarkson (LAL): 23 pts, 5 rebs.
GETTING SOCIAL
Mortal kombat RT @guida_jim: @Isaiah_Thomas mortal kombat or street fighter
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) January 6, 2016
Best part of owning a team is being able to run on the court and dog pile after a buzzer beater +letsgomavs
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 6, 2016
Yooo. That rim was 12 feet high… https://t.co/fr2SBPXvTl
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) January 6, 2016
Good way to finish the back to back in LA! Any chance the sun can come out a little tomo? #needit #santamonica
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 6, 2016
And Deron Williams did the longest pump fake I've ever seen in my life how did he get that shot off?!!?!????
— Yung Goat (@AbeTheIllest) January 6, 2016
Jimmy Butler has posted back-to-back, 30-point (or more) games for 2nd time in career.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 6, 2016
Great btb wins by the #Knicks against a solid Hawks team!
Let's keep this momentum going into Sunday when we're @TheGarden @TimW51!
— Christopher Ward (@cward78) January 6, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
Of course, this goes to Deron Williams.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
THE TAKEAWAY
I guess you can do whatever you want but I mean…
Lakers fan jumping on the Warriors’ bandwagon mid-game https://t.co/q9VWcRSsUe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 6, 2016
Yeah, I don’t know what to say. By the way, the Lakers had a three-game winning streak, right?
The Kings should hold their heads up high but, man, what a tough game against the Mavericks. Up seven with a minute and change and to lose it in a buzzerbeater. On the other side, I’m happy for Deron Williams, who really hasn’t had many good moments since he left Utah.
Now there was this report about Stephen Curry: his leg injury won’t heal completely until possibly for another month.
A lot of people are saying, “REST, REST. DON’T BE FOOLISH.” This isn’t so black and white, people.
Yes, I get that the Warriors are 33-2 and that 73-9 isn’t worth THAT much; it’s all about the ring. I TOTALLY GET THAT. At the same time, the Spurs are RIGHT under them at 30-6. Sitting Curry out for a month could easily put the Warriors in a swoon. Unlike the Spurs (who can sit out one or two guys because of their depth), the Warriors are built a different way. Nearly everything in their game plan revolves around the THREAT of Stephen Curry. Notice how the spacing is so much different when he’s not there for the Warriors. That’s why he’s the MVP. You sit Curry out and there’s a chance that the Spurs can take the best record. And do you REALLY wanna give the #1 seed to the SAN ANTONIO FRIGGIN’ SPURS?
I’m not saying NOT to rest Curry. But the Dubs have to walk a fine line. Maybe don’t play him as many minutes. Or sit him out on games that they can win without Curry. As much as they have had a record-setting start, it’s STILL apparently not good enough. Way to ruin the league AGAIN, Spurs. (Just kidding. I love the way the Spurs go about their biz.)
Happy Hump Day!
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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