For just the second time since James Borrego took over as Pelicans coach on Nov. 15, the New Orleans Pelicans have won a game! Despite their struggles all year, New Orleans has to be happy with the performances tonight as they had six players score 15+ points including both of their rookies, Jeremiah Fears (19pts) and Derik Queen (17pts). Plus, the Pelicans got a nice boost as Jordan Poole was able to play for the first time in 18 games, scoring 22pts in 26 minutes off the bench.
Portland, who only had 10 players available, has sputtered and cooled off recently after their fun start to the season as they’ve now lost six of their last seven games. Shaedon Sharpe (21pts/3r/3a) led the Blazers but Jerami Grand (16pts) and Deni Avdija (16pts) both struggled, shooting a combined 11-34 for the game.
It’s just been one of those types of seasons for the Clippers so far. LA fought all night to hang around vs. the Rockets and found themselves with a chance to tie on the last possession only for the team to fail to inbound the ball in time.
It was incredible to watch a team self-implode like that in the moment and just looks surreal when you consider the caliber of talent on the court and on the coaching staff.
It was also a wildly inefficient night for the Clippers’ stars. James Harden (22pts) went 7-18 from the field while Kawhi Leonard (24pts) shot just 9-22 while playing a season-high 41 minutes. The lone bright spot really was Ivica Zubac (33pts/7r) who tied his season-high in scoring on a crazy 13-14 shooting performance. LA has now lost seven of their last eight and three straight games. Of course, this also means that now the Oklahoma City Thunder are the current favorite to win the #1 overall pick in next year’s draft by way of owning the Clippers’ pick.
Imagine all this losing and frustration and you don’t even get to enjoy the AJ Dybantsa video drop. But hey, at least Chris Paul isn’t there to yell at everybody and make them feel bad.
As hot as Boston were in the first half is as cold as they went in the second, scoring just 34 total points as the Bucks cruised to just their second win on the year without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31pts on a fantastic 13-17 shooting. He also notched a semi-viral moment when the cameras picked up some trash talk between him and Jaylen Brown.
Off the bench, Bobby Portis was also wildly efficient, putting up 27pts on 11-13 shooting in just 26 minutes.
For Boston, it was a frustrating loss because once again, they just went cold from three and continued to try. They finished 14-49 from deep including 3-11 from Payton Pritchard and 0-9 from Sam Hauser. Their bright spot has to be Jordan Walsh (20pts/8r) who looked great and continues to impress.
At one point this game was tied 13-13 in the first and then Denver went on a 24-6 run that basically put the game away by the time the first quarter was over. Nikola Jokic (36pts/12r/8a, 14-16 FG) had another incredible performance as the Nuggets haven’t lost a road game since Halloween night vs. Portland.
Sacramento was playing without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Dennis Schroder but honestly, they may not have made much of a difference with how hot the Nuggets have been playing, even missing Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon.
One cool moment for Sacramento came as DeMar DeRozan sank two free throws in the second quarter to pass Vince Carter and move into 23rd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. It’s an incredible testament to DeMar’s talent, perseverance, and longevity.
On Thursday, two Bucks players shot down a report from Chris Haynes earlier this week that Giannis Antetokounmpo had gathered his team to speak to them about the rumors surrounding his future with the team.
“I don’t really know, honestly. I don’t really remember a time he met with us. Yeah, he didn’t sit us down like ‘The Apprentice.’ It didn’t go down like that.” – Kyle Kuzma
“Did that actually happen? Are you asking me? I mean, no. This is the last thing I’m gonna say about anything regarding false information. At the end of the day, everyone needs to wait until Giannis says something. Because all of this is just he say, she say and I guarantee you when we start winning and go 8-0, 9-0, you won’t see nothing about the Bucks. You won’t say, ‘Oh, the Bucks are 8-0, 9-0, they’re flourishing and Giannis is —’ We’re not gonna see that positive news. At least for me, this is the last time I’m going to answer anything false.” – Kevin Porter Jr
It’s an interesting wrinkle in what felt in the moment like a pretty nothingburger type of story and I don’t know if anything will come from this long-term or if reporters will ever get the chance to question Giannis himself about it, but it feels worth noting. Especially as Iman Shumpert took to his podcast to suggest Giannis was faking the calf injury that currently has him sidelined.
“Giannis cut corners. I could [play], but I’m going to sit down because I’m going to get traded.” – Iman Shumpert via the Shump Street podcast
In a heartbreaking article and video interview, former NBA player Jason Collins revealed that he is currently battling Stage 4 Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, touches on why he’s opting to share his diagnosis and what his treatments have been like and it’s an extremely powerful, moving testimony to his desire to help and inspire others.
What makes glioblastoma so dangerous is that it grows within a very finite, contained space — the skull — and it’s very aggressive and can expand. What makes it so difficult to treat in my case is that it’s surrounded by the brain and is encroaching upon the frontal lobe — which is what makes you, “you.”
– Jason Collins on his Stage Four Glioblastoma (via ESPN)
It’s an extremely heavy read but it’s one I highly recommend because I’m in awe of Collins’ strength and resilience in the face of something like this.
– Grizzlies’ Zach Edey out with stress reaction in surgically repaired left ankle, will be re-evaluated in four weeks
– Signed Upper Deck Kobe Bryant card sells for $1.22 million at auction
Hawks at Pistons
Timberwolves at Warriors
Knicks at Magic
Spurs at Thunder
76ers at Hawks
Lakers at Suns
Warriors at Trail Blazers
Thank you for hanging out for another week of HOOPS. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read, I hope you enjoyed it. More importantly, I hope you’ve been having a good week and can enjoy a great weekend. Stay safe and take care.