Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards, Wizards win 138-118
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 30 | 5 | 0 | 13/22 | 3/5 | 1/2 | 0 | 2 |
Markelle Fultz
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 23 | 5 | 8 | 8/14 | 3/4 | 4/4 | 1 | 0 |
Key Takeaways
- Big bounce-back game for Rui Hachimura who went from scoring 0 against the New York Knicks a few days ago to matching his career-high with 30 points in the win.
- All five starters finished in double figures, but Kyle Kuzma led the way with 25 points, ten rebounds, and six assists; Notably, the Wizards’ injury issues continue to plague them. While this was only Bradley Beal’s second game back from his hamstring injury, Kristaps Porzingis was the next to fall as he went down in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain. This team cannot catch a break.
- Rough night for the Rookie of the Year leader as Paolo Banchero finished with 15 points and one rebound in 28 minutes. One rebound is easily his season-low. But Franz Wagner had a strong game with 20 points, nearly half coming from the free throw line (9-of-10).
- I’m going to say, go back to giving that man Bol Bol 20+ minutes a night. In only 16 minutes, Bol finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and four blocks. We need more Bol Bol.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Cavs win 114-102
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 38 | 9 | 3 | 19/27 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 28 | 4 | 10 | 12/27 | 1/5 | 3/3 | 1 | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- With no Giannis Antetokounmpo in the way, Evan Mobley must have seen a highway to the basket because he finished with a career-high 38 points. You could tell that the green light to be aggressive was there because the man had 27 attempts! For context, the next highest he’s had this season was 18 attempts against the LA Clippers on November 7th. It should be noted that Donovan Mitchell did not play in this game which elevated Mobley to being a top-2 option. Last night he made himself #1. Don’t expect this consistently but this does show shades of the offensive improvement people were expecting of him in Year 2.
- Bobby Portis and Jrue Holiday each gave the Milwaukee Bucks a double-double. Portis with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Holiday had 28 points and ten assists. The big standout was the lack of impact from Brook Lopez. Only had ten points and five rebounds on a horrendous 0-of-6 shooting from three. He did have four blocks, but it’s like if he’s not hitting threes, his effectiveness on offense plummets to nearly nothing. If he cannot produce at a high level offensively, he will have to lean on being a DPOY candidate as his saving grace come playoff time.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks, Hornets win 122-118
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 34 | 3 | 5 | 11/25 | 7/13 | 5/5 | 4 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 25 | 5 | 12 | 9/22 | 0/4 | 7/9 | 0 | 0 |
Key Takeaways
- Terry Rozier scored 28 of his 34 points in the second half to help mount a 19-point comeback to snap the Atlanta Hawks’ five-game winning streak.
- The other two big contributors for the Hornets in this one were the frontcourt duo of Mason Plumlee and P.J. Washington. The big men combined for 48 points and 17 rebounds, while Washington also hit 4-of-7 threes. This trifecta carried the Charlotte offense in the absence of LaMelo Ball (left ankle, right wrist).
- The Hawks had everything clicking and STILL folded. Six players in double figures. The trio of Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, and De’Andre Hunter each scored 25+. Everyone except for Young was hitting their threes. They simply lost this game due to late-game execution. Jalen Johnson fouled Rozier with 1.1 seconds left and it essentially sold the game. Tough way to go out.
Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors, Celtics win 106-104
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 27 | 8 | 6 | 10/23 | 4/8 | 3/3 | 3 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 29 | 9 | 10 | 14/23 | 0/4 | 1/2 | 0 | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- With no Jayson Tatum in the lineup (left wrist soreness), Jaylen Brown took the lead with a game-high 41 minutes and led the team with 27 points.
- The Boston bench was big-time in this game as well as the combination of Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams, and Payton Pritchard combined for 60 points.
- With this win the Boston Celtics continue to assert their dominance as their winning streak extends to nine straight.
- Raptors head coach continues to play his starters heavy minutes and it’s starting to heavily backfire. Not only have they lost three straight, but they entered this game without Fred VanVleet (sore right rib) and lost O.G. Anunoby in the third quarter to a sore right ankle. He’s pulling the Tom Thibodeau and it’s wearing down his guys. All four other starters aside from Anunoby played 37 minutes or more.
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Timberwolves win 113-104
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 44 | 6 | 4 | 17/29 | 8/16 | 2/2 | 3 | 3 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 19 | 16 | 7 | 7/9 | 1/1 | 4/10 | 1 | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Anthony Edwards erupted for a season-high 44 points to hand the Houston Rockets their 13th straight loss. Edwards was everywhere on the floor with steals, blocks, a flamethrower from deep, and even put Alperen Sengun on a poster. D’Angelo Russell also added 23 points and eight rebounds for the T-wolves.
- But the unsung hero for the T-wolves was Nathan Knight who was the team’s third-leading scorer with 19 points in 24 minutes off the bench. In limited minutes he was highly efficient with a team-high eight free throw attempts and was tied with Edwards for the most steals with three.
- For the Houston Rockets, All five starters scored in double figures with Alperen Sengun leading the charge. Notably, Jabari Smith (right ankle sprain) and Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) missed this game.
- A name to keep an eye on is Tari Eason. Eason has mainly been coming off the bench this season, but he got the start in this one. As a high-energy guy, he finished with 14 points and nine rebounds with five of them coming on the offensive glass. With more time, Eason could become a key developmental player for them that helps unlock their up-tempo offense.
Indiana Pacers vs. Phoenix Suns, Suns win 112-107
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 18 | 10 | 12 | 8/15 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 2 | 0 |
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 24 | 10 | 4 | 6/11 | 1/2 | 11/15 | 1 | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Despite being extremely short-handed without all their starters aside from Mikal Bridges, the Phoenix Suns were able to outlast the Pacers to steal the victory.
- Bridges had 22 points in this one, but this game was all about Phoenix’s bench. Josh Okogie led all scorers with 24 points along with ten rebounds, four assists, a steal, and four blocks. Jock Landale had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds in 17 minutes. Saben Lee gave them 12 points. Even a guy named Ian Wainright who is built more like a football player than a hooper came in and got six points and a few steals. This was the definition of a team effort.
- For the Pacers, T.J. McConnell records his first triple-double of the season while Bennedict Mathurin led the team with 23 points off the bench. Mathurin was 0-of-3 from three but made up for it by going a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
- The dynamic trade deadline duo of Buddy Hield and Myles Turner also played well as they combined for 38 points, 20 rebounds, and hit eight total threes. Whatever team gets the trade package of these two is going to be very happy. IF they even get traded.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings, Sixers win 129-127
Top Performers
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 32 | 3 | 6 | 12/29 | 2/8 | 6/6 | 0 | 0 |
De’Aaron Fox
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 31 | 4 | 9 | 11/19 | 0/2 | 9/10 | 2 | 0 |
Key Takeaways
- Despite being without both Joel Embiid (left foot injury recovery) and James Harden (right foot tendon strain), the Philadelphia 76ers were able to survive and take the win on the back of 32 points from Tyrese Maxey.
- Six Sixers finished in double figures including Montrezl Harrell, Tobias Harris, and Georges Niang each had 17 points. With this win, the Sixers are perfect 5-0 on this road trip.
- The Kings blew this one. At one point they were up 71-50 in the latter portion of the second quarter but went into halftime up only 74-64. From there, the Sixers were able to continue to put together runs and soon the score flipped to 102-96 in favor of the Philly. That was the turning point.
- Nonetheless, De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes combined for 58 points along with Kevin Huerter who chipped in 20 points. And of course, you have Domantas Sabonis with his routine near triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists. Sacramento is still solid, but as the favorites in this matchup, this was a winnable game for this team.
