This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images.)
Nine games happened on Friday night. Including the battle of L.A. Was it really a battle?
01/29/2016
THE GAMES
ORLANDO MAGIC 94 (20-25) @ BOSTON CELTICS 113 (27-21)
The Magic never really seemed to be in the game from the second quarter on. Meanwhile, the balanced attack gave the Celtics their fifth straight win. They are silently creeping up for home court advantage in the first round. And I’m sad that the Magic are 1-12 in 2016.
BEHIND THE LINES
Marcus Smart (BOS): 16 pts, 3 stls.
Kelly Olynyk (BOS): 16 pts.
Jared Sullinger (BOS): 11 pts, 11 rebs.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 14 pts, 8 rebs.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 114 (33-12) @ DETROIT PISTONS 106 (25-22)
Same deal happened for this game; it was all Cavs from the second quarter on. More importantly for Cleveland, they had their “big three” all score over 20 points; how often does that happen? The Cavs have won their third in a row after losing on Tyronn Lue‘s debut.
BEHIND THE LINES
LeBron James (CLE): 20 pts, 9 rebs, 8 assts.
Tristan Thompson (CLE): 11 pts, 14 rebs.
Kevin Love (CLE): 29 pts, 6 rebs.
Kyrie Irving (CLE): 28 pts.
Andre Drummond (DET): 20 pts, 8 rebs.
PHOENIX SUNS 84 (14-34) @ NEW YORK KNICKS 102 (23-26)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Elsa/Getty Images.)
The Suns are dead. Just… dead.
BEHIND THE LINES
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 19 pts, 10 rebs, 8 assts, 4 stls.
Devin Booker (PHX): 21 pts.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 108 (25-24) @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 116 (36-13)
A Thunder 8-0 run gave them the lead in the third quarter and they never relinquished it after that. Kevin Durant and Enes Kanter had double-doubles while Russell Westbrook had his sixth triple-double of the season. I’m sure they took pleasure on defeating former teammate James Harden.
BEHIND THE LINES
Enes Kanter (OKC): 22 pts, 10 rebs.
Kevin Durant (OKC): 33 pts, 12 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 26 pts, 10 rebs, 14 assts.
James Harden (HOU): 33 pts (15/17 FT), 7 rebs, 7 assts.
MIAMI HEAT 107 (26-21) @ MILWAUKEE BUCKS 103 (20-29)
If it’s Heat/Bucks, you know it’s a dunkfest. The Buck crowd definitely got a treat except I don’t think they were thrilled when Dwyane Wade came through for the Heat again. His long jumper gave Miami the lead with 44 seconds left and his free throws held off the deer late. You can say that the Heat fans were… Wade-ing to exhale. I hate myself.
BEHIND THE LINES
Chris Bosh (MIA): 20 pts, 6 rebs, 5 assts.
Dwyane Wade (MIA): 24 pts, 7 assts, 3 blks, 3 stls.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 28 pts, 6 assts, 3 stls.
Greg Monroe (MIL): 24 pts, 5 rebs.
BROOKLYN NETS 79 (12-35) @ DALLAS MAVERICKS 91 (27-22)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Pennington/Getty Images.)
The Nets had difficulty scoring (as per the course, really). Nets shot under 36 percent in the game. And the Mavs led the last 40 minutes of this contest. Dallas continues to surprise the league.
BEHIND THE LINES
Zaza Pachulia (DAL): 16 pts, 12 rebs.
Chandler Parsons (DAL): 19 pts, 10 rebs.
Brook Lopez (BRK): 28 pts, 12 rebs.
Thaddeus Young (BRK): 11 pts, 10 rebs, 5 stls.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 90 (14-34) @ UTAH JAZZ 103 (21-25)
Karl-Anthony Towns had a very impressive game. And he basically tried to put the Wolves on his back for this game. But the Jazz closed the third quarter with a 14-0 run and never looked back.
KAT is going to be a future MVP candidate.
BEHIND THE LINES
Derrick Favors (UTA): 20 pts, 9 rebs.
Rodney Hood (UTA): 22 pts.
Rudy Gobert (UTA): 14 pts, 12 rebs.
Gorgui Dieng (MIN): 20 pts, 15 rebs.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 32 pts, 12 rebs.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS 91 (22-25) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 109 (22-26)
This was Nicolas Batum‘s first game in Portland since he got dealt to Charlotte. But he only went 1 for 11 in this contest. Damian Lillard and Allen Crabbe then went on a flurry at the end of the third, going on a 12-2 run to end the buzz.
BEHIND THE LINES
Allen Crabbe (POR): 20 pts.
Damian Lillard (POR): 22 pts, 5 rebs, 6 assts, 3 stls.
Mason Plumlee (POR): 13 pts, 12 rebs, 5 assts.
Al-Farouq Aminu (POR): 17 pts, 12 rebs.
Marvin Williams (CHA): 20 pts, 9 rebs.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 93 (9-40) @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 105 (31-16)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
It took a little longer than expected to put away the Lakers but the Clippers have to be encouraged with the play of their bench. Austin Rivers has been steady and Cole Aldrich has stepped up his play. But Lance Stephenson had a breakout game, scoring 16 points. It’s about time, right?
BEHIND THE LINES
Chris Paul (LAC): 27 pts, 7 assts.
DeAndre Jordan (LAC): 6 pts, 17 rebs.
Julius Randle (LAL): 23 pts, 14 rebs.
GETTING SOCIAL
LeBron missed dunk will be looped all night, but the Love three-pointer that resulted from it will go unwatched.
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) January 30, 2016
He may be 5 on the court tonight be he stays 88 in my heart @nicolas88batum
— Ty (@TaylorEngle) January 30, 2016
Lance. A lot. #Clippers
— Isaac Lowenkron (@isaaclowenkron) January 30, 2016
Huge win for the #Celtics tonight. Home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs is definitely realistic.
— Alex Greenberg (@AGreenberg22) January 30, 2016
I see you bro @KarlTowns. 30 ball
— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) January 30, 2016
A home win tonight at the #ThunderDome! Good job tonight guys. #LoudCity pic.twitter.com/SDkcw5FclS
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 30, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
DeAndre Jordan had a nice alley-oop jam but this is all about Lance Stephenson. He can still do this:
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
THE TAKEAWAY
So about those Celtics, huh? That 50-win prediction made by some critics may not be so far off, eh?
The Thunder are now on a 60-win pace themselves but you know, they’re up against two historic teams in the Spurs and the Warriors. By the way, the Cavs themselves are also on pace for 60 wins. When was the last time we had FOUR teams win 60 games in the same season? 1997-98. Three teams in the West (Utah had 62 and Seattle and the Lakers had 61) and the Bulls (62). Only time it happened, actually.
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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