The Hangover: Damian Lillard Catches Fire; Clippers Win 9th Straight Game

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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: Craig Mitchelldyer/AP.)

Nine games on Wild Card Sunday!

01/10/2016

THE GAMES

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 111 (11-25) @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 114 (25-13) (OT)

The Clippers had trouble putting away an Anthony Davis-less Pelicans. They had a 10-point lead that disappeared and they couldn’t make a field goal in the latter half of the fourth. After a missed three by New Orleans, J.J. Redick had a chance to put away the game with free throws and a two-point lead. Somehow, Redick ended up splitting them and Jrue Holiday was somehow fouled on a three-pointer. The game would go to OT.

Chris Paul and Wesley Johnson made back-to-back threes but, again, free throw misses bit the Clips again. The Clippers led by three as time ticked away and held on after Ryan Anderson‘s attempt at a three, which turned out to be a two, didn’t go in. Clips have won nine straight games.

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

BEHIND THE LINES
Jamal Crawford (LAC): 21 pts.
Chris Paul (LAC): 25 pts, 5 rebs, 11 assts, 3 stls.
DeAndre Jordan (LAC): 12 pts, 11 rebs.
Ryan Anderson (NO): 16 pts, 10 rebs.
Tyreke Evans (NO): 26 pts, 7 rebs, 7 assts.
Jrue Holiday (NO): 29 pts, 11 rebs, 3 stls.

DALLAS MAVERICKS 93 (22-16) @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 87 (12-26)

It’s just amazing that Dirk Nowitzki can still keep producing. The Wolves cut down the double-digit deficit to four inside two minutes before Dirk made a clutch three-point play to stop the Wolves run. Dirk scored 29 points as Dallas continues to surprise in the West.

BEHIND THE LINES
Zaza Pachulia (DAL): 13 pts, 11 rebs.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): 29 pts, 7 rebs.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 21 pts, 7 rebs.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 95 (26-9) @ PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 85 (4-36)

The Sixers made it interesting for a while; Ish Smith made a three to cut the lead to 81-79. Then for the next six minutes, LeBron James showed why he’s the four-time MVP by scoring 12 in a 14-0 Cavs run. Reality bites, Sixers.

BEHIND THE LINES
LeBron James (CLE): 37 pts, 7 rebs, 9 assts.
Tristan Thompson (CLE): 10 pts, 10 rebs.
Kevin Love (CLE): 15 pts, 15 rebs, 7 assts.
Ish Smith (PHI): 18 pts, 7 rebs, 10 assts.
Jahlil Okafor (PHI): 21 pts, 7 rebs.

BOSTON CELTICS 98 (19-18) @ MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 101 (21-18)

The Celtics led by 21 in the third quarter. An 18-2 run, however, brought the Grizzlies back in the same quarter. Still, Boston led by 8 going into the final period.

That lead would disappear. Memphis scored eight unanswered points. Then Marc Gasol made a three-point play to give the edge to the bears. A Matt Barnes putback put the Grizz ahead for good and grit, grind, and free throws won the day for Memphis despite 21 turnovers.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Brandon Dill/AP.)

BEHIND THE LINES
Zach Randolph (MEM): 25 pts, 13 rebs.
Tony Allen (MEM): 15 pts, 10 rebs.
Marc Gasol (MEM): 11 pts, 11 rebs.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 35 pts, 8 assts.

INDIANA PACERS 103 (21-16) @ HOUSTON ROCKETS 107 (19-19) (OT)

The Rockets trailed by 12 halfway through the fourth before James Harden and Trevor Ariza jumpstarted a run to get themselves back in it. And with 17 seconds left, Ariza made a three to tie the game. They would go to OT.

In the OT, Pacers led by six but that was also quickly erased due to some more three-pointers. Ariza made a three to give the Rockets a one-point lead. Monta Ellis countered with a basket before Corey Brewer made another three to give Houston a TWO-point lead. Monta would miss a jumper that would’ve tied it with seven seconds left and that was it for the Pacers. Rockets now back at .500.

BEHIND THE LINES
Dwight Howard (HOU): 21 pts, 17 rebs.
Trevor Ariza (HOU): 24 pts, 5 rebs.
James Harden (HOU): 21 pts, 9 rebs, 9 assts.
Paul George (IND): 20 pts, 6 rebs, 7 stls.
Monta Elli (IND): 11 pt, 13 assts.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS 88 (15-24) @ NEW YORK KNICKS 100 (19-20)

The Knicks would start pulling away at the end of the first half and the lead would grow to 22 points after the third quarter. Carmelo Anthony was two dimes short of a triple-double and Kristaps Porzingis delighted again with a signature putback slam.

BEHIND THE LINES
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 24 pts, 10 rebs, 8 assts.
Kristaps Porzingis (NY): 15 pts, 6 rebs, 5 blks.
Greg Monroe (MIL): 28 pts, 10 rebs.
Khris Middleton (MIL): 20 pts.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS 92 (17-20) @ DENVER NUGGETS 95 (14-24)

The Nuggets seemed to have it all wrapped up, leading by 10 with four minutes left. Both teams were actually scoreless for the next two minutes before the Hornets made their run. The Hornets cut down the deficit to three with 45 seconds left but their attempts to tie the game went futile as both Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum missed threes.

Denver somehow won a close game without scoring in the last four minutes. Meanwhile, the bugs have lost seven straight.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.)

BEHIND THE LINES
Danilo Gallinari (DEN): 27 pts, 6 rebs.
Jeremy Lamb (CHA): 15 pts, 8 rebs, 3 stls.
Cody Zeller (CHA): 15 pts, 6 rebs.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 110 (26-12) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 115 (16-24)

The Thunder were leading by eight with three minutes left before Damian Lillard unleashed hell on Oklahoma City’s team. In a span of 1:54, Lillard made five three-pointers, the last one giving Portland a three-point lead. The Thunder couldn’t do anything after that, as they turned the ball over, got their shot blocked, and couldn’t get a defensive rebound. Lillard finished off his scoring spree with a couple of foul shots.

Dame scored 17 of his 31 points in the last 3:06 of the game. Amazing.

BEHIND THE LINES
Damian Lillard (POR): 31 pts (8/14 3FG), 7 rebs, 9 assts.
C.J. McCollum (POR): 22 pts, 7 rebs, 6 assts.
Mason Plumlee (POR): 11 pts, 11 rebs.
Kevin Durant (OKC): 28 pts, 6 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 25 pts, 9 rebs, 15 assts.
Steven Adams (OKC): 17 pts, 10 rebs.

UTAH JAZZ 86 (17-20) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 74 (8-31)

There was no Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell, and Brandon Bass for the Lakers.

After a hideous first quarter, the Jazz took over and the game looked very one-sided. The Lakers shot under 33 percent against the Jazz D. Utah is starting to get some traction as they have won their second game in a row.

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

BEHIND THE LINES
Gordon Hayward (UTA): 25 pts, 3 blks.
Lou Williams (LAL): 18 pts, 8 rebs, 6 assts.
Larry Nance, Jr. (LAL): 10 pts, 11 rebs.

GETTING SOCIAL

WATCH THIS PLAY

Kevin Love and LeBron James make this look so easy.

(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA India.)

THE TAKEAWAY

LeBron getting hit in the face with a basketball then laughing afterwards about it is priceless.

Also, LeBron continues to raise the roof.

Strangely enough, I am down with LeBron raising the roof. I have never been a fan of LeBron James’ celebrations. In fact, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the “raise the roof” celebration in the mid-90s (only because I thought it was mostly stolen from wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior). Maybe because this doesn’t seem as contrived as his previous celebrations.

While the Clippers aren’t gaining anything on the Spurs and the Warriors, they did gain on OKC. They’re only a game behind the third-seeded Thunder. Watch out.

And we didn’t even realize that the CAVS have won seven straight. Not the longest win streak right now (Clips are at nine straight) but it is indeed something to look at, especially in the race for home court against the West. They are eight games behind the Warriors overall but only 4.5 behind the Spurs. You know, just in case.

And I’m just sad for the Hornets now. Sad.

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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