This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
Ten games were played on Sunday. Go get it.
02/21/2016
THE GAMES
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 111 (22-33) @ DETROIT PISTONS 106 (27-29)
Who knew that this was the day Anthony Davis would go buck wild?
For probably the first time this season, Davis proved a lot of us right as he looked like the best basketball player in the planet. The Brow carried the birds in an individual performance that was probably the best of the season. Davis scored 59 points and grabbed 20 boards. Marinate on that for a minute.
BEHIND THE LINES
Anthony Davis (NO): 59 pts, 20 rebs.
Jrue Holiday (NO): 20 pts, 7 rebs, 9 assts.
Reggie Jackson (DET): 34 pts.
Andre Drummond (DET): 21 pts, 14 rebs, 3 blks.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 115 (40-14) @ OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 92 (40-16)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Alonzo Adams/AP.)
This close match-up turned into a laugher in the second half. Even when Kyrie Irving left the game early due to the flu, LeBron James and Kevin Love took care of the business at Chesapeake Arena. Love got to the line and finished inside at will as he arguably played his best game as a Cav in a blowout.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Love (CLE): 29 pts, 11 rebs.
LeBron James (CLE): 25 pts, 7 rebs, 11 assts, 3 stls.
Tristan Thompson (CLE): 14 pts, 14 rebs.
Kevin Durant (OKC): 26 pts, 5 rebs, 3 blks.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 20 pts, 9 rebs, 11 assts.
BOSTON CELTICS 121 (33-24) @ DENVER NUGGETS 101 (22-34)
The Celtics were savages from the start as they got off to an 18-point lead after one quarter. The Nuggets, who were once down by 24, were able to cut the deficit down to five but they never got closer than that. Denver’s 24 turnovers poisoned them and the Celtics turned it into a blowout.
BEHIND THE LINES
Avery Bradley (BOS): 20 pts.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 22 pts, 12 assts.
Jared Sullinger (BOS): 16 pts, 11 rebs, 5 assts.
Nikola Jokic (DEN): 23 pts, 13 rebs.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS 118 (47-9) @ PHOENIX SUNS 111 (14-42)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.)
The Spurs were somehow locked into a close contest with the not-so-good Suns after they led by double digits. Sonny Weems caught the Spurs at 100 after a jumper. But the Spurs scored seven in a row and never looked back. San Antonio actually had a wire-to-wire win despite the closeness of the result.
BEHIND THE LINES
Tony Parker (SA): 22 pts.
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): 19 pts, 10 rebs.
Patty Mills (SA): 21 pts, 5 assts.
Alex Len (PHX): 23 pts, 13 rebs.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS 104 (29-26) @ BROOKLYN NETS 96 (15-41)
The buzz got Al Jefferson back and he came off the bench to score 18 points. And the Nets played from behind the entire time. But they couldn’t overcome Kemba Walker, who had a big 28 points.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kemba Walker (CHA): 28 pts.
Brook Lopez (BRK): 16 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assts.
Joe Johnson (BRK): 17 pts.
INDIANA PACERS 105 (30-25) @ ORLANDO MAGIC 102 (24-30)
Monta Ellis‘s three-pointer gave the Pacers the lead. And the Magic could never get over the hump. Victor Oladipo missed a three with two seconds left when they were down one. Myles Turner made a couple of free throws and, with no timeouts, the Magic’s last-second heave was just that. A heave.
BEHIND THE LINES
Monta Ellis (IND): 21 pts.
Paul George (IND): 20 pts, 6 assts.
Jordan Hill (IND): 13 pts, 10 rebs.
Evan Fournier (ORL): 23 pts.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 19 pts, 13 rebs.
Aaron Gordon (ORL): 10 pts, 11 rebs.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 85 (32-23) @ TORONTO RAPTORS 98 (36-18)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Melissa Renwick/Toronto Star.)
The Raptors didn’t shoot well. But the Grizzlies shot even worse. Toronto held Memphis to under 37 percent shooting and the bears only shot 15 percent from behind the arc. That doesn’t sound like a winning formula.
BEHIND THE LINES
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR): 10 pts, 12 rebs.
DeMar DeRozan (TOR): 21 pts, 5 rebs.
Kyle Lowry (TOR): 18 pts, 7 assts.
Zach Randolph (MEM): 18 pts, 6 rebs.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 103 (8-47) @ DALLAS MAVERICKS 129 (30-27)
Jahlil Okafor had a nice game.
That’s like… the only nice thing I can say about the Sixers in this game.
BEHIND THE LINES
Wesley Matthews (DAL): 21 pts.
Jahlil Okafor (PHI): 31 pts, 8 rebs.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 115 (11-46) @ CHICAGO BULLS 126 (29-26)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images.)
The Kobe Bryant farewell tour continued as close friend Pau Gasol introduced Kobe in Chicago.
As for the game, it was fairly close before the Bulls closed the third quarter with nine straight points to grow their lead to 17. Even without Jimmy Butler, the Bulls’ firepower was just too much for the Lakers.
BEHIND THE LINES
Derrick Rose (CHI): 24 pts, 7 rebs, 6 assts.
E’Twaun Moore (CHI): 24 pts.
Pau Gasol (CHI): 21 pts, 7 rebs, 5 assts, 5 blks.
Julius Randle (LAL): 22 pts, 12 rebs.
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 22 pts.
Jordan Clarkson (LAL): 20 pts, 9 rebs.
UTAH JAZZ 111 (27-28) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 115 (29-27)
Damian Lillard did it again. His lay-up broke a 109-tie with 23 seconds left. Derrick Favors missed his counter lay-up and that was it for the Jazz. Lillard continues to carry this team to unexpected expectations.
BEHIND THE LINES
C.J. McCollum (POR): 31 pts.
Damian Lillard (POR): 30 pts, 5 assts.
Derrick Favors (UTA): 22 pts, 8 rebs.
Gordon Hayward (UTA): 21 pts, 5 rebs, 4 stls.
Rudy Gobert (UTA): 7 pts, 8 rebs, 5 blks.
GETTING SOCIAL
Kobe and Pau will forever be best friends and brothers.
— Vjollca (@VjollcaShabani) February 22, 2016
I have to apologize to @AntDavis23 of the Pelicans who scored 59pts & 20rebs. You are definitely the best big man in the NBA!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 22, 2016
Congrats Dirk 29,000 is straight Buckets!!!!!!
— Brandon Jennings (@thinkiminthe90s) February 22, 2016
Anthony Davis with NBA season high 59 points along with 20 rebounds. What a day. #beast #FearTheBrow
— Spencer Sproul (@this_baller_kid) February 21, 2016
Good second win on the road! Let's keep it going! Let's get some rest we have another important game tomorrow.
Off to Miami ✈#PacerNation— Ian Mahinmi (@ianmahinmi) February 22, 2016
Kevin Love was pretty impressive v OKC .. #understatement #Cavs turned Thunder into a late winter drizzle
— john telich (@JohnTelich8) February 22, 2016
Always special for me to play in Phoenix but always happy to win! Wasn't that easy but we stayed focused the whole game. Good Sunday night!
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) February 22, 2016
WATCH THIS PLAY
The Thunder did lose but a consolation is that Russell Westbrook had the best play of Sunday.
https://youtu.be/7KfyANdNm2U
(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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