This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images.)
It was kind of a dull night in the NBA but we still got your recap, regardless. Four games on Tuesday.
01/20/2016
THE GAMES
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 96 (6-38) @ ORLANDO MAGIC 87 (20-21)
(PHOTO CREDIT: John Raoux/AP.)
Imagine if Ish Smith played with the Sixers from the jump. His playmaking helped the Sixers separate from the Magic in the third. And I’m getting more sad about the Magic, who have now lost eight of nine in January. They wished it was 2015 all over again.
BEHIND THE LINES
Ish Smith (PHI): 13 pts, 11 assts.
Jahlil Okafor (PHI): 20 pts, 5 rebs.
Tobias Harris (ORL): 15 pts, 10 rebs.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 15 pts, 11 rebs.
Elfrid Payton (ORL): 21 pts, 6 rebs, 10 assts.
MIAMI HEAT 87 (23-20) @ WASHINGTON WIZARDS 106 (20-21)
The Wizards are so puzzling. They’ve been the epitome of inconsistency. One day, they’ll have an impressive win over Chicago. In another, they’ll lose to a team like the Lakers. This time around, they thrashed Miami. By the way, they lost to the same Heat team by 22 earlier in the month.
BEHIND THE LINES
John Wall (WAS): 18 pts, 10 assts.
Marcin Gortat (WAS): 15 pts, 12 rebs.
Bradley Beal (WAS): 18 pts.
Chris Bosh (MIA): 18 pts.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 91 (29-11) @ BROOKLYN NETS 78 (11-32)
The Cavs took out their anger on the Nets. And Kevin Love, who made some questionable comments about the Cavs needing to look in the mirror, nearly had a 20-20. I guess things could be worse for Cleveland; they’re not the Nets, who have lost 9 of 10.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Love (CLE): 17 pts, 18 rebs.
LeBron James (CLE): 17 pts, 5 assts.
Tristan Thompson (CLE): 14 pts, 10 rebs.
Brook Lopez (BRK): 16 pts, 10 rebs.
UTAH JAZZ 111 (18-24) @ NEW YORK KNICKS 118 (22-22) (OT)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Julie Jacobson/AP.)
How many times has this happened where someone fouls a three-point shooter when up three in the waning seconds of a game? Kristaps Porzingis did this to Gordon Hayward with two seconds left. Hayward made all three foul shots to send the game to OT.
But the Knicks took control of OT; Derrick Williams‘ three-point play put the Knicks up six. Backed by an impressive Carmelo Anthony performance, the Knicks are back to .500.
BEHIND THE LINES
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 30 pts, 7 rebs, 9 assts.
Robin Lopez (NY): 22 pts, 12 rebs, 3 blks.
Kristaps Porzingis (NY): 16 pts, 5 rebs, 3 blks.
Gordon Hayward (UTA): 27 pts, 5 assts.
Rodney Hood (UTA): 29 pts, 6 rebs, 5 assts.
BOSTON CELTICS 109 (22-21) @ TORONTO RAPTORS 115 (27-15)
The dinosaurs are rolling towards the All-Star break, which is, by the way, in Toronto. Back-to-back threes by Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross broke the Raptors away from a tie. Then DeMar DeRozan, who scored 34, made a big jumper to put the Raptors up two possessions and, eventually, the win. Toronto has won six straight.
BEHIND THE LINES
DeMar DeRozan (TOR): 34 pts, 6 assts.
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR): 19 pts, 12 rebs.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 21 pts, 10 assts.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 125 (39-4) @ CHICAGO BULLS 94 (24-17)
Derrick Rose looked like his MVP version, making twisting lay-ups, crossovers, and bank shots. It was great to see.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, the Golden State Warriors looked like… the Golden State Warriors. They were incredibly dominant once again. And this was after they obliterated the Cavs.
BEHIND THE LINES
Stephen Curry (GS): 25 pts, 7 rebs, 11 assts.
Klay Thompson (GS): 20 pts, 5 rebs.
Jimmy Butler (CHI): 23 pts, 5 rebs.
Derrick Rose (CHI): 29 pts.
DETROIT PISTONS 123 (23-19) @ HOUSTON ROCKETS 114 (22-22)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Pat Sullivan/AP.)
So this was fun.
The Rockets were down in the second quarter so they took to fouling Andre Drummond. Then wih the Rockets down nine at the half, they took fouling to the extreme. They brought in K.J. McDaniels to start the second half, just so he can foul Drummond (5 FOULS IN NINE SECONDS). The Rockets were able to take the lead after Drummond only made 5 of 16 foul shots. But the Pistons took the lead back later. Houston tried the fouling strategy again but they came up with empty possessions. Pistons won the game despite that free throw exhibition by Drummond.
Drummond shot 36 free throws (Detroit shot 59 total). If you’re a fan of watching free throws, this was probably the game for you.
BEHIND THE LINES
Marcus Morris (DET): 22 pts, 5 rebs.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DET): 22 pts, 3 stls.
Andre Drummond (DET): 17 pts (13/36 FT), 11 rebs.
Clint Capela (HOU): 10 pts, 13 rebs.
James Harden (HOU): 33 pts, 17 rebs, 14 assts.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS 95 (19-23) @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 109 (32-12)
The Thunder won wire-to-wire against these slumping Hornets. Durant continues to score quietly in the background while Westbrook ferociously lights up the stat sheet. OKC has now won six straight but ya know… Spurs and Warriors…
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 26 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts.
Steven Adams (OKC): 10 pts, 10 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 16 pts, 8 rebs, 15 assts, 5 stls.
Kemba Walker (CHA): 21 pts.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 94 (13-31) @ DALLAS MAVERICKS 106 (25-19) (OT)
Karl-Anthony Towns had a dominant game (as you can see in the line below) that helped Minnesota go up by double digits. But the Mavs were able to send it to overtime, where they took over. Chandler Parsons had 16 of his handsome 30 points in the fourth and OT and the Mavs won even without Dirk Nowitzki in the line-up.
BEHIND THE LINES
Chandler Parsons (DAL): 30 pts, 8 rebs.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 27 pts, 17 rebs, 6 blks.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 23 pts, 7 rebs.s
SACRAMENTO KINGS 112 (18-23) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 93 (9-35)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
The Lakers tried to come back in the fourth quarter after being down by double digits but the NorCal Kings went on a 13-0 run to put down their old rivals. The Kings are suddenly in the 8th seed in the West. What?
BEHIND THE LINES
Willie Cauley-Stein (SAC): 12 pts, 10 rebs.
Rajon Rondo (SAC): 11 pts, 5 rebs, 17 assts.
DeMarcus Cousins (SAC): 36 pts, 16 rebs.
Rudy Gay (SAC): 16 pts, 6 rebs, 5 blks.
Brandon Bass (LAL): 18 pts, 7 rebs, 3 blks.
ATLANTA HAWKS 104 (26-17) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 98 (19-26)
Paul Millsap made a late three. Al Horford followed it up with two big buckets and the Hawks held on against the Blazers in Rip City. The Hawks rose up to third in the East standings while the Blazers missed a golden opportunity to gain ground on the 8th seed.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kent Bazemore (ATL): 23 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts.
Paul Millsap (ATL): 23 pts, 9 rebs.
Meyers Leonard (POR): 10 pts, 10 rebs.
C.J. McCollum (POR): 28 pts.
GETTING SOCIAL
Warriors literally made quick work of Bulls. You don't say many national TV games end in 2 hours, 11 minutes
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) January 21, 2016
We are going to be tough to deal with after the All Star game. #Knicks
— Airtight Willy (@chill4will) January 21, 2016
Rose is old school Im not watching the game but I bet there is no celebrating after a bucket, no friends wit other team, loves big match up
— Jordan Crawford (@jcraw55) January 21, 2016
Rose/ Curry. Contrast of styles, this is gonna be fun!
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) January 21, 2016
Got crossed over? DILLIGAF? 😂 I know we got an X in the win column though….. #godubs
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 21, 2016
Even if it's just for 18 hours, I will enjoy this. The Kings are the 8th seed in the West #Kangz
— Eduardo Montes (@ed_m7) January 21, 2016
Not gonna lie, I was damn near in tears at the @Raptors game seeing that tribute to @IamAmirJohnson. #WeTheNorth #raptor4life
— I am Bidong (@TheRealBidong) January 21, 2016
A dude is clowning the #Sixers for winning six games. ..But their sixth win came against the Magic. .. He sounds like THE clown
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) January 21, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
I wish I was a little bit taller. I wish I was a baller. I wish I could dunk like Andre Iguodala.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA India.)
THE TAKEAWAY
As mentioned, the Kings are 8th in the West. I said they would be fighting over a playoff spot this season. But I didn’t think the West would be this bad.
The Warriors don’t look so bad anymore after back-to-back 30-point wins on the road over Eastern powers. Just in time as they go against the Spurs on Monday.
So I guess the Sixers won’t be breaking any worst record records. The record is 9 wins for worst record and they already have six wins. But we also know that the Lakers are only three games ahead of the Sixers. Depending on your view, this could be a horrible thing or a good thing. Of course, it would be even more horrible if the Lakers get pushed out of the Top 3 in the lottery no MATTER what their record is.
I’ve gone over the free throw/hack-a-whatever issue before. I’m not going to make a gripe if they don’t change any rules. But if they do, I won’t be against it. I totally get it.
Houston and Washington have become puzzling teams to me. Their defenses are obviously both down. James Harden looks lazy on the defensive end and it seems to have trickled down on the entire team. Washington has just been incredibly inconsistent but they’ve also had some injuries which has messed up some continuity.
All I got. Happy Thursday!
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.
us on FaceBook! Thank you!