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.)
Five games happened on Toosday. Let’s do this.
02/02/2016
THE GAMES
BOSTON CELTICS 97 (28-22) @ NEW YORK KNICKS 89 (23-28)
Celtics recovered nicely here. They separated themselves from the Knicks by building a double-digit lead. And they had a counter each time New York tried to make a comeback. Knicks couldn’t make a bucket in the last two minutes until Arron Afflalo‘s meaningless lay-in. AND GUESS WHO’S THIRD IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE NOW?
BEHIND THE LINES
Tyler Zeller (BOS): 16 pts, 10 rebs.
Evan Turner (BOS): 14 pts, 10 rebs, 3 stls.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 20 pts, 5 rebs, 8 assts.
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 16 pts, 14 rebs.
Robin Lopez (NY): 17 pts, 13 rebs, 3 blks.
Arron Afflalo (NY): 18 pts.
MIAMI HEAT 102 (27-22) @ HOUSTON ROCKETS 115 (26-25)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Halleran/Getty Images.)
James Harden played facilitator as he got a career-best 14 assists. The Rockets turned it into a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter as Marcus Thornton and Josh Smith took over the offense. Harden’s three after that barrage made it a 17-point lead and the Rockets are over .500 again. Hooray and stuff.
BEHIND THE LINES
James Harden (HOU): 26 pts, 14 assts.
Amar’e Stoudemire (MIA): 14 pts, 10 rebs.
Luol Deng (MIA): 17 pts, 8 rebs.
TORONTO RAPTORS 104 (33-16) @ PHOENIX SUNS 97 (14-36)
Earl Watson coached his first game as interim head coach but the same problems continued to plague the Suns. The Raptors limited the Suns to 13 points in the second quarter. Then Phoenix went through a four-minute stretch without scoring a field goal in the second half. Toronto holds on and wins their 12th of 13 games.
Oh, yeah. Markieff Morris, who’s been emo the whole season, had his best game of the season. Isn’t that a big F U or what?
BEHIND THE LINES
DeMar DeRozan (TOR): 22 pts.
Kyle Lowry (TOR): 26 pts.
Devin Booker (PHX): 27 pts, 5 rebs.
Archie Goodwin (PHX): 18 pts, 12 assts.
Markieff Morris (PHX): 30 pts, 11 rebs, 6 assts.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 95 (20-31) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 107 (24-26)
The Blazers started breaking away in the third quarter as a close game turned into… something not close. C.J. McCollum and Gerald Henderson carried Portland’s offense in the fourth. Rip City would go on to win their fifth straight game and I’ll be the first to tell you that I didn’t think they would compete for a playoff spot this season.
BEHIND THE LINES
C.J. McCollum (POR): 30 pts, 6 assts.
Damian Lillard (POR): 14 pts, 5 rebs, 12 assts.
Khris Middleton (MIL): 21 pts, 8 rebs, 3 stls.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 115 (14-36) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 119 (10-41)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
Reminiscent of their season-opener, the Lakers had a big lead (16) that they ended up blowing. But this time around, Kobe Bryant wouldn’t let them lose another. Kobe scored 38 points, including a long jumper with 26 seconds left to put the Lakers up three. Andrew Wiggins, who had an excellent game himself, lost the ball in the ensuing possession. Kobe then put away the game with free throws as Staples Center was drowned with “M-V-P” chants. Let them have this moment, people.
Byron Scott may or may not have pulled his pants down during Kobe’s performance.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 38 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts.
Lou Williams (LAL): 20 pts.
Julius Randle (LAL): 15 pts, 12 rebs.
Ricky Rubio (MIN): 10 pts, 15 assts.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 30 pts, 5 rebs.
GETTING SOCIAL
That Man is Cookin!!!! Looking just like old Kobe!! Love it
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 3, 2016
Worth noting for the Celtics. Last playoff team lower than the 3 seed to win the championship were the '95 Houston Rockets.
— Mike Bags (@MikeBagarella) February 3, 2016
UH OH BYRON D'ANGELO IS PLAYING WELL GET HIM OUT OF THERE FAST BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS LIKE HIM IMPROVING
— Rob Perezingis (@World_Wide_Wob) February 3, 2016
Another one. #Raptors pic.twitter.com/2slLw1jXME
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) February 3, 2016
Kind of think Markieff Morris dropping 30 pts game after Hornacek firing is his biggest insult to franchise to date.
— Jody Oehler (@radiojody) February 3, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
The Morris twin in Phoenix brings the house down on Team Canada.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
THE TAKEAWAY
You know what sucks? When big brother picks on little brother just because he can. I’m a little brother myself so I sympathize with all the other little brothers out there. Miles Plumlee got a dunk over Mason Plumlee last night. Not cool. GET YOUR REVENGE, MASON.
(Okay, it wasn’t much of a facial, per se. But I just want to represent for all the little brothers in the world.)
I had Milwaukee and Boston as fringe playoff teams coming into the season. It’s amazing how these teams have gone in opposite directions. The Bucks, who were an outstanding defensive team last season, are now 29th in defensive efficiency this season.
Celtics were as average as you can get last season but their D has been incredible as they are now 2nd in defensive efficiency. Brad Stevens has them playing all over the place. They don’t have the greatest rim protection but they stop pick and rolls, are excellent in transition defense, and are great at making their opponents turn the ball over (1st in turnovers per game and 3rd in turnovers percentage or turnovers per 100 plays). If they can get more scoring in place, they will be ones to watch out for.
Of course, I still don’t think they’ll beat Cleveland.
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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