Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
Bradley Beal had another 50-point game on Saturday.
(PHOTO CREDIT: NBA.)
Washington had a thrilling win against Indiana on Saturday. Two subplots were going on for the Wizards there. We know Russell Westbrook has the career triple-double record in sight. And we also know that Bradley Beal is currently second in scoring.
More on Russ later but Beal went for a 50-point game that night. But he tweaked his hamstring and had to sit out the extra period. Still, a 50-piece is a 50-piece.
Then later in the night, Stephen Curry, who leads the league in scoring, came out hot against Oklahoma City. He was so hot that the Golden State Warriors blew the Thunder out of the water (and, really, who hasn’t done that as of late). Curry would end with 11 threes and 49 points before sitting out the 4th quarter.
Curry admitted he knew that Beal went for 50.
We’re in a battle for the scoring title. And we really haven’t cared much for the scoring title since 2013 when Carmelo Anthony won a close one after Kevin Durant sat out the last game of the season to anticlimactically hand the title over.
As of right now, Curry has 31.9 compared to Beal’s 31.1. The NBA has become more of a team-oriented game although we see a lot of individual brilliance. When it comes to both Curry and Beal, though, it’s almost like they had to take care of business on their own. They don’t have great teams at the moment so they have carried them throughout the season. Yes, Westbrook has been huge as of late. But earlier on for the Wizards, it was just Beal doing the work. The Warriors tried their own team approach early before realizing that Curry had to do all the scoring for them to have a chance at the postseason.
It’s going to be quite the last week of the season. Besides teams jockeying for position, we now have an individual battle to watch out for.
Bullet Passes
Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson for most career triple-doubles. They’re both at 181 each.
This seemed impossible to catch. But the fact that Westbrook just went off like this continues to be so remarkable. We thought a triple-double season wasn’t going to happen again. Yet Westbrook is about to do it for a FOURTH time. That is off the page.
Russ went for 33-19-15. HOW DOES THAT A 6’3″ GUARD DO THAT?!
Domantas Sabonis also had a triple-double at 30-13-13. It’s his 8th triple-double of the season but, ya know, that pales in comparison to Russ, who has THIRTY-FIVE.
The Blazers continue to take care of business and are 1.5 games ahead of the Lakers for the 6th spot. The Lakers look more and more in trouble as the days go by.
You know, we didn’t realize that the Sixers have won 8 straight to break away from the pack in the East. They’re three games ahead of the Nets with a week left in the regular season. Unless something strange happens to Philly, they should get the #1 seed in the East.
The Utah Jazz won to pull 1.5 games ahead of Phoenix.
But I mean, either way, who thought Phoenix was even going to be in the Top EIGHT? What they have done this season has been fantastic.
The Spurs are only two games ahead of the Pelicans for the final play-in spot with 5 games each left for them. Hmmmmmmm…
NBA Scoreboard
May 8, 2021
Watch This Play
Russell Westbrook did so many things. And that includes the game-saving block.
Russell Westbrook sinks the go-ahead free throws and comes up with the CLUTCH game-sealing block in OT! 👏 pic.twitter.com/BrD3KKNlXk
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2021
What a night he had.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.