This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP.)
There was a Game of the Year candidate in this 9-game menu. But did it live up to the hype? Well…
01/25/2016
THE GAMES
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 107 (14-32) @ CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 114 (31-12)
Tyronn Lue wanted to run more so the Cavs obliged. Still, the Cavs never ran away from the Wolves. LeBron James finally put them away with a basket to put them up six with 19 seconds left. The Cavs hung on and it was probably closer than they wanted it to be but Coach Lue finally has his first win as a head coach.
BEHIND THE LINES
Tristan Thompson (CLE): 19 pts, 12 rebs.
LeBron James (CLE): 25 pts, 9 assts.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 20 pts.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 26 pts, 11 rebs.
Zach LaVine (MIN): 21 pts, 6 assts.
BOSTON CELTICS 116 (25-21) @ WASHINGTON WIZARDS 91 (20-22)
The Celtics stepped on the gas in the third quarter. The lead went from three to double digits in a manner of minutes. The Wizards gave the ball away 20 times and you’re rarely going to win a basketball game that way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Nick Wass/AP.)
BEHIND THE LINES
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 23 pts, 9 assts.
Otto Porter, Jr. (WAS): 15 pts, 6 rebs.
Jared Dudley (WAS): 15 pts.
Marcin Gortat (WAS): 10 pts, 11 rebs.
MIAMI HEAT 89 (24-21) @ CHICAGO BULLS 84 (25-19)
Derrick Rose left the game early with a hamstring injury.
The game was tied at 84 with a minute and a quarter left. Then Chris Bosh countered with a jumper. Pau Gasol would miss the game-tying jumper. Dwyane Wade would put away the game with a long jumper that would make analytic people crazy.
But I’m sure the Bulls loss definitely made their fan base crazy.
BEHIND THE LINES
Dwyane Wade (MIA): 28 pts, 7 rebs, 5 assts.
Pau Gasol (CHI): 19 pts, 17 rebs.
ORLANDO MAGIC 102 (20-23) @ MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 108 (26-20) (OT)
It was all about Jeff Green here.
After cutting the deficit to two with 14 seconds left, Green made the steal. Then he made the teardrop with 1.3 seconds left to tie the game. They would go to overtime.
Lots of grit, grind, and free throws happened in OT but it was really all Grizz at that point.There was no big shot; both teams only made one field goal each. But foul shots gave Memphis the win. Take note, DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond.
BEHIND THE LINES
Jeff Green (MEM): 30 pts, 8 rebs.
Zach Randolph (MEM): 18 pts, 13 rebs.
Tony Allen (MEM): 9 pts, 12 rebs, 4 stls.
Tobias Harris (ORL): 16 pts.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 16 pts, 14 rebs.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 112 (25-22) @ NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 111 (16-28)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Max Becherer/AP.)
Anthony Davis got unintentionally elbowed by Tyreke Evans in the second quarter. Davis was diagnosed with a concussion and didn’t return to the game.
Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday led the charge in erasing a 15-point deficit. His three-point play gave the Pelicans the lead inside two minutes. But Patrick Beverley made a three to give the lead back to the Rockets. After Harden completely missed a three, the Pellies had one last shot at it but Holiday’s three from Baton Rouge missed. The Rockets are now three games above .500 and we all can’t believe it.
BEHIND THE LINES
James Harden (HOU): 35 pts, 11 rebs, 8 assts.
Trevor Ariza (HOU): 31 pts (8/11 3FG), 5 rebs, 3 stls.
Jrue Holiday (NO): 32 pts, 6 rebs, 9 assts, 3 stls.
Ryan Anderson (NO): 22 pts, 9 rebs.
ATLANTA HAWKS 119 (27-19) @ DENVER NUGGETS 105 (17-28)
The Hawks controlled the game from the second quarter on. Hotlanta limited the Nuggets to 39.3 percent shooting while the Hawks themselves shot 50 percent. The win vaulted the Hawks back to the third position in the East.
BEHIND THE LINES
Jeff Teague (ATL): 12 pts, 10 assts, 3 stls.
Paul Millsap (ATL): 22 pts, 9 rebs.
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 15 pts, 10 rbs.
Will Barton (DEN): 21 pts, 8 rebs.
DETROIT PISTONS 95 (24-21) @ UTAH JAZZ 92 (19-25)
The Pistons thought they had the game in hand after Reggie Jackson made a three to put them up six. But the Jazz came back as they kept the Pistons from rebounding; Rodney Hood made a three to cut the lead down to one. After Jackson made foul shots, the Jazz had a chance to tie but Gordon Hayward missed the three that would’ve sent it to OT.
While Reggie Jackson had a great game, Andre Drummond‘s performance as of late has been concerning (7 pts, 6 rebs).
BEHIND THE LINES
Reggie Jackson (DET): 29 pts.
Rudy Gobert (UTA): 17 pts, 17 rebs.
Gordon Hayward (UTA): 22 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts.
Rodney Hood (UTA): 23 pts.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS 129 (22-23) @ SACRAMENTO KINGS 128 (20-24) (2OT)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rich Pedroncelli/AP.)
DeMarcus Cousins dominated… no, really… DOMINATED this game.
Kemba Walker missed his second foul shot which would’ve won the game. So they went to the first overtime and Cousins scored ALL the Kings points for that period. Walker missed a three that would’ve won it and a second OT happened.
Cousins would foul out in the second overtime but Willie Cauley-Stein helped in the cause as his dunk gave the Kings a two-point lead. But Troy Daniels made a three with nine seconds left. Darren Collison missed a go-ahead jumper and the Hornets survived Cousins and the Kings.
At least, news stations can finally get a real picture of Troy Daniels, right?
BEHIND THE LINES
Troy Daniels (CHA): 28 pts (8/11 3FG), 7 rebs.
Marvin Williams (CHA): 21 pts, 5 rebs.
Jeremy Lin (CHA): 20 pts, 7 rebs, 11 assts.
Kemba Walker (CHA): 24 pts (5/25 FG), 8 assts, 4 stls.
Rajon Rondo (SAC): 7 pts, 10 rebs, 20 assts.
Rudy Gay (SAC): 20 pts, 9 rebs.
DeMarcus Cousins (SAC): 56 pts, 12 rebs.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS 90 (38-7) @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 120 (41-4)
The Game of the Year candidate got a little less hype after Tim Duncan was said to be sitting out. And then the Warriors picked ’em apart from every angle and, somehow, this Game of the Year turned into the Most Disappointing Game of the Year. Warriors got up for this game and showed them who’s boss.
But, at least, Gregg Popovich had a built-in excuse. He said that they had no answers for this game. Yeah. For THIS game. What if he had a full team and there’s more at stake? You’re not fooling anyone, Pop.
BEHIND THE LINES
Stephen Curry (GS): 37 pts, 5 stls.
Kawhi Leonard (SA): 16 pts, 5 rebs.
GETTING SOCIAL
Boogie Cousins had 56 and 12 tonight while Rondo has 20 dimes and 10 boards.. NBA is too much man these guys are insane
— Kendall Snyder (@KendallSnyder) January 26, 2016
Sick 😕 but finally finished this chest/tri work,and my Celtics blew the Wizards out 🙌🏽🍀☘
— Nick T (23-21) (@Niktazzy) January 26, 2016
James Harden just shoving Pelicans defenders with his off-arm.
— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) January 26, 2016
Warriors destroyed the Spurs by 30 without Tim Duncan is a statement! With him I wonder what would've happened if he played tonight
— Diehard Lakerfan (@LakerfanDiehard) January 26, 2016
when the cavaliers got blown out by the warriors "they sucked" 😴 but what's the spurs excuse?
— Cavs 31-12 (@mxcxveli2) January 26, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
Uncle Jeff Green comes out for his once-a-month posterization of somebody. Sorry, Jason Smith.
(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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