This is the Hangover. This is where I get drunk on the NBA as I recap last night’s action as well as a few things going on around the league. Here’s your word vomit.
Happy Thanksgiving!
11/23/2016
THE GAMES
MEM 104 (10-5) @ PHI 99 (4-11) [2OT]
SA 119 (12-3) @ CHA 114 (8-6)
PHX 92 (5-11) @ ORL 87 (6-9)
POR 125 (8-9) @ CLE 137 (11-2)
ATL 96 (10-5) @ IND 85 (7-9)
BOS 111 (9-6) @ BRK 92 (4-10)
MIA 84 (4-10) @ DET 107 (7-9)
TOR 115 (9-6) @ HOU 102 (9-6)
LAC 124 (14-2) @ DAL 104 (2-12)
DEN 83 (6-9) @ UTA 108 (8-8)
MIN 96 (4-10) @ NO 117 (6-10)
LAL 106 (8-8) @ GS 149 (13-2)
OKC 101 (8-8) @ SAC 116 (6-9)
(PHOTO CREDIT: John Kuntz/Cleveland.Com.)
TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN
So the top four teams in the league (record-wise and perception) all did their thing on Wednesday night.
Cleveland is thankful for Kevin Love. His acquisition has been much maligned but it’s been pretty much all good ever since he stopped Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. On Wednesday, Love scored 34 points in the first quarter, the second-most points ever scored in a quarter (Curry’s backcourt mate, Klay Thompson, scored 37 in early 2015). It was an incredible shooting exhibition displayed by the Beach Boys’ lead singer’s nephew.
But like they sang in Kokomo, Love took it fast then took it slow as he only scored six points the rest of the game. Still, that avalanche was enough to take Portland out of their game and the Cavs won by 12, taking their record to 11-2.
When Golden State got Kevin Durant, people believed it can be the most frightening offense in years. G. State is definitely thankful for the 2014 MVP. It was realized against the undermanned Lakers as the Dubs scored a whopping 149 points against them. The funny thing is that the previously mentioned Cavs had scored 137 points earlier, which became the season high for most points scored in a game. That only lasted a few hours.
That 149 points are the most in an NBA game since March 2012 when Durant and his old buddies in OKC beat the Timberwolves (which had Love!) in double OT (if you want to get technical and only include regulation games, it’s been the most points in a game since March 2010). Also, those Warriors dished out 47 assists and that’s the most dimes in nearly 25 years. We know that a lot of games have had clock errors this season and now the Dubs might give the scoreboard errors, too. Warriors are now 13-2 and have won their last nine.
By the way, the NBA Finalists from last year each had 80-point first halves (Cavs 81, Warriors 80).
The Clippers are thankful to have a core that has stayed together over the years and now they’re off to a 14-2. Chris Paul is healthy and is being his usual Point God self. Blake Griffin is healthy and has put together an excellent combo game of outside shooting, passing, rebounding, and high-flying acts. J.J. Redick has become a more dangerous outside shooter. DeAndre Jordan continues to dunk on people. Luc Mbah a Moute has somehow become a reliable three-point shooter to go along with his excellent defense. And they might have the best bench in the Chris Paul era.
Their defense has been incredible this season. People are thinking Warriors/Cavs III but the Clippers could easily play spoiler as they seem to be on a mission on their own.
The Spurs have won their last seven games and are 12-3. And they are thankful that nobody’s really talking about them in this championship chase. I mean, I would but I’m afraid Gregg Popovich will go after me.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
Other hot teams? The Grizzlies have won their last six games. It took them double overtime to beat the surging Sixers, but they did take Joel Embiid out of the second overtime as he is still on a minutes restriction. He had 12 points and 11 boards in 27 minutes. I understand Embiid’s frustration, who kicked a chair because of this. I also understand where the Sixers are coming from; it’s a precautionary measure as he had been out with foot injuries for two seasons.
What I don’t understand, though, is that he’s not playing on Friday against the Bulls. If they’re taking him out on Friday then why not play him for a few more minutes? Also, why are they not letting him play on Friday? It’s not like the Sixers were on a back-to-back; the entire league is off since another sports league owns that holiday. Well, I’m not the Sixers so whatever.
The Hawks had their three-game skid snapped as they beat the struggling Pacers. Dwight Howard‘s quiet revival continues as he went for 23 points and 20 boards.
Speaking of revivals, the Pelicans have four straight wins since Jrue Holiday returned. While Holiday didn’t have a great shooting game against the Wolves, Holiday is still averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. A lot of teams are bunching up in the middle of the West and we’re glad that the Pelicans have now joined that fray.
And to top this all off, here’s Zach LaVine doing a 360 off the foul line because he’s a freak of nature.
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: Max Becherer/AP.)
Anthony Davis continues on with these eye-popping numbers.
45 points, 10 rebounds.
And this statline seems sweeter because the Pelicans have won their fourth straight game. Uh-oh.
WATCH THIS PLAY
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
This is a heck of a bounce pass by Stephen Curry to Draymond Green, who finished with the thundah.
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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