This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.)
Four games on Thursday. But of course, there was a special one in Sacramento.
01/07/2016
THE GAMES
ATLANTA HAWKS 126 (22-15) @ PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 98 (4-34)
Philadelphia had been winning a lot (for them as of late). Then they faced a playoff team. This was like finding out that the girl you crushed from afar got a boyfriend and you wished that you had asked her out earlier.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kent Bazemore (ATL): 22 pts, 6 rebs.
Jahlil Okafor (PHI): 21 pts, 7 rebs.
BOSTON CELTICS 92 (19-17) @ CHICAGO BULLS 101 (22-12)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Beaty/AP.)
The Bulls started off the second half with a 13-2 run and the Celtics never really threatened after that. The Bulls got excellent performances from Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol, and Derrick Rose (18 points, 7 rebounds). Suddenly, the Bulls are starting to break away from the pack in the East to chase Cleveland.
BEHIND THE LINES
Pau Gasol (CHI): 17 pts, 18 rebs.
Jimmy Butler (CHI): 19 pts, 5 rebs, 10 assts.
Jae Crowder (BOS): 17 pts, 3 stls.
Jared Sullinger (BOS): 13 pts, 11 rebs.
UTAH JAZZ 94 (15-20) @ HOUSTON ROCKETS 103 (18-19)
The Jazz were leading in the first half but the Rockets took the lead back early in the third with a 9-2 run. The Rockets led by 10 halfway through the fourth and was able to counter each Jazz rally attempt with a big bucket each time. Harden ended with 33 points as he carried the load once again without Dwight Howard.
BEHIND THE LINES
James Harden (HOU): 33 pts, 8 rebs.
Gordon Hayward (UTA): 15 pts, 5 assts.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 115 (8-29) @ SACRAMENTO KINGS 118 (15-21)
This was fun. It was Kobe Bryant‘s last game in Sacramento and he put on another show, scoring 28 points. But the Kings led by as many as 27 points.
The spotlight then shifted from Kobe (who sat the entire fourth quarter) to the young Lakers. Jordan Clarkson (15 points) and D’Angelo Russell helped with the fast and furious rally and even gave the Lakers a brief lead. Russell was, unfortunately, lost for the last two minutes as he twisted his ankle after his last basket.
Rajon Rondo made a teardrop to give the Kings back the lead with 21 seconds left. Then Clarkson lost the ball in the ensuing possession. After free throws, Lakers had one last shot to tie the game but Lou Williams missed badly on a three. There was still time left after the Kings got the board but the Lakers chose not to foul.
BEHIND THE LINES
DeMarcus Cousins (SAC): 29 pts, 10 rebs, 7 assts.
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 28 pts.
D’Angelo Russell (LAL): 27 pts.
Lou Williams (LAL): 20 pts, 5 rebs.
GETTING SOCIAL
Decent-case scenario: Lakers lose (tank, I guess), kids lead comeback, bass ups trade value. Now, prayers up for DLO.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) January 8, 2016
Kobe Bryant said Vlade Divac gave him a Charlotte Hornets jersey with the No. 8 on it, laughed: "It's awesome!"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 8, 2016
Celtics are a perfectly fine, good team. Not sure they're winning a playoff series.
— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) January 8, 2016
Rondo court vision is 💯 #floorgeneral
— Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside) January 8, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
The young Sixers had a nice fastbreak. Behind-the-back, touch pass, slam dunk.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA India.)
THE TAKEAWAY
As I said, the Bulls are starting to break away themselves from that pack in the East. They’re only 2.5 games behind Cleveland but now they’re also ahead by 1.5 games on #3 Miami. Chicago has also won six games in a row.
It was a welcome sight for Jazz fans to see Rudy Gobert back. He’s on a minutes restriction but having him there is better than not having him at all. But on the other side, Derrick Favors is still missing games because of his back spasms. It sucks to see an up-and-coming team be held back by injuries. Somehow, they’re still holding the 8th spot in the West despite a not-so-favorable 15-20 record.
Lastly, despite the frustrations, D’Angelo Russell kept his poise. After that big game against Sacramento, he said, “Y’all ain’t seen nothing yet.” Even in Summer League, I saw Russell’s body language. He has that confidence. He has that poise. He’s not an elite athlete, sure, but he also has enough swagger and smarts that can help him get to the next level in the NBA. I’m not going to say he’s going to be somewhere on LeBron James or Stephen Curry‘s floor but I’m also not going to put restrictions on the guy. Plus he’s got incredible floor vision. I think this guy gets it.
Happy Friday, everyone!
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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