11 takeaways from tonight in the NBA:
For the TLDR bros
1) We’re all in love with Brandon Miller (24 points, 8 rebounds) but I’m not sure I can watch this team play another minute. Easily the worst offense since the ASB (102.8 ORTG). That’s now five straight games scoring under 100.
Cavs beat the Hornets 115-92 and end their three-game losing streak. Regarding injuries, Bickerstaff said he believes Mitchell, Strus, and Wade will all return before the playoffs.
“...a lot of these guys come into the league and they all think they can shoot, think they need the ball, they all want to play like Jokic. There are a lot of guys in this league that score every night... and they’re not very good if you want to win.” - Steve Clifford
2) So many Knicks things. Not even gonna bother with the Pistons.
* Deuce McBride subbed out at the 5:11 mark in the second quarter, which means he played 94 consecutive minutes over three games.
* DONTE DIVINCENZO MADE 11 3-POINTERS (new career-high, new franchise record) AND SCORED A CAREER-HIGH 40 POINTS. K, I’ll stop yelling.
* JOSH HART (shoot) with his sixth triple-double in the past two months. He’s now just two behind Walt Frazier for the most in a single season in Knicks history. One of the crazier mysteries of the world.
* Last I checked, Knicks starters were still in the game up 30, with under six minutes left. Fucking Thibs.
Thibs said OG Anunoby went through some parts of shootaround but the irritation in his elbow still needs to subside further for him to return to play.
“If Jalen passed the ball more I could have had probably 15." - Donte DiVincenzo on his 3-point record
“I don’t care about their team at all. I couldn't care less. Those guys...the way they got their threes...I don’t want to be a part of their story.” - Monty Williams on DD
3) Celtics were up 30 in the second quarter and somehow still lost (was really tempted to yell).
They rolled out their 22nd different starting lineup and the ninth in their last 10 games (Tatum at PG). Was bound to happen eventually. Just didn’t think against Atlanta. Al Horford has now started more games (30) than he has come off the bench (29) btw. Earlier today Jrue Holiday said he’s not dealing with a “dead arm”. Mazzulla said he’s not concerned about it.
Dejounte Murray, still going crazy (19 points, 15 assists, 3 steals). Averaging 22.0 points and 11.4 assists over his last five.
Hawks beat the Celtics 120-118.
“We got off to a really good start. It’s a great lesson - we let a team hang around... credit to them for battling back.” - Joe Mazzulla on the Hawks comeback
4) Enjoyed a Nets game for the first time in weeks! Jalen Wilson (12 points, 5 rebounds) gets his second start of the season and Trendon Watford (19 points, 7 rebounds) finally sees real minutes. Both are my two favorite Nets and yes, I get how weird that sounds but just think it’s criminal how little they’ve played in a lost season. Also, think they can actually play a bit. Maybe I’m in the minority.
Hornets might have the worst offense since the ASB but Toronto’s is the worst in March (103.3 ORTG). RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are back with the team and are in “return to competition conditioning.” Please hurry.
Nets beat the Raptors 96-88. Fewest points Toronto’s scored since 2021 and sixth-longest losing streak in franchise history (11).
“Nobody wants those situations to anybody, to any team.” - Darko on the Jontay Porter gambling investigation
5) Billups went back to the all-rookie lineup against the hottest team in the league. Rockets were without Jabari Smith Jr. (suspension).
Starting his first game of the season, Jock Landale (17 points, 9 rebounds) kept the Rockets afloat while FVV and Jalen Green struggled in the first half (8 points combined). Rooks held up for a nice chunk of the game but you can only keep Houston down for so long. Rockets' defense clamped up and Green scored 19 second-half points.
Rockets beat the Blazers 110-92 for their ninth straight win. They’re only 0.5 games back of the Warriors for the 10th seed.
“The thing we talked about is defending at the level we’re capable… We can always rely on that when shots don’t fall.” - Ime Udoka
“I don’t give a damn about the Rockets.” - Draymond Green
Think he cares yet?
6) This one’s gonna hurt. I could just skip it? The hell with it...
Wizards without Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones and Bilal Coulibaly... I really don’t wanna keep going. How the fuck you let Corey Kispert (19 points, 12 rebounds) get a double-double?! Yeah, I gotta stop.
Wizards beat the Bulls 107-105 and have won three straight.
We did get the Vucevic vs. Vukcevic matchup. That’s all that really matters. HOW DOES NIKOLA VUCEVIC SCORE JUST NINE POINTS AGAINST THE WIZARDS!?
Take my computer away.
“We didn’t have a good night offensively” - Billy Donovan
7) Suns with a night to forget. Jeremy Sochan (26 points, 18 rebounds) with a night to remember. Down 102-101, Sochan hits the game-winning three with 29.2 seconds left in the game.
To make matters worse for the Suns, they lose Bradley Beal (sprained right ring finger) and Jusuf Nurkic (sprained right ankle) to injuries. Both did not return. Beal said “the game plan” is to play against Denver on Wednesday.
The Wemby-less Spurs beat the Suns 104-102 and win the season series 3-1. Wild stuff. The loss drops Phoenix to 8th in the West. Still have the toughest remaining schedule in the league (.648).
“It’s unacceptable to lose that game.” - Frank Vogel
“It hurt like hell.” - Bradley Beal on his injured finger
8) Nuggets were without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Malone’s been pretty adamant about health being priority over seeding. Guess it helps when you’re playing against teams like Portland and Memphis. Two birds, one stone. Maybe it’s two stones? I don’t know but the two birds are dead.
The kids looked great. Braun (17 points) drew the start for Gordon and we even got some Strawther (22 minutes, 14 points) action for the first time in a while.
Not much on the Grizzlies side but we finally got a doubtful tag on Brandon Clarke a year after suffering a torn Achilles. He’s close. Feels weird seeing positive news coming outta Memphis.
Nuggets beat the Grizzlies 128-103 and are an NBA-best 15-2 since the All-Star break.
Michael Porter Jr. declined to speak with the media postgame.
“I think Julian’s matured. He’s grown up. He’s learned a lot.” - Michael Malone on Julian Strawther
9) Mavs' defense has been improving over their last seven games (106.3 DRTG). Shit, their defense improved during this game.
Jazz scoring by quarter:
41
25
22
17
P.J. Washington hits two huge 3-pointers in the 4th after missing his first four attempts. Been beating this drum for a while but despite how much his defense has improved (a lot), he has to hit shots. That’s a huge reason why they traded for him and he’s still shooting just 25.5% from three.
Mavs beat the Jazz 115-105. Luka Doncic records his 18th 25-point triple-double of the season.
“They were just falling. I just tried to stay aggressive, stay locked in, and just take the open ones. I felt good about them and they went in.” - P.J. Washington on overcoming his shooting struggles
10) Domantas Sabonis did it! 54 consecutive dub-dubs. Breaks Kevin Love’s 13-year record for the post-merger record for most consecutive double-doubles. Absolute insanity (still holding myself back from yelling). He now has 67 on the season. He didn’t stop there...
He added to his league-leading 25th triple-double of the season (11 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists). #NotAnAllStar
Maxey (29 points) was flames to begin this game btw. Scored Philly’s first 16 points. Still wasn’t enough. This night belongs to Sacramento. Light the damn beam.
Kings beat the Sixers 108-96.
“And counting…!!! Congrats to the new Double-Double" - Kevin Love
11) Couldn’t leave without welcoming back Russell Westbrook (hand). Returning from a 12-game absence without any restrictions, Russ plays 18 minutes.
They were in this game until Ty Lue got funky. They were down seven going into the fourth and then he throws out a lineup featuring three non-shooters (Russ, Norm, Harden, Tucker, Zubac). Pacers’ lead jumps to 14 in less than two minutes. It all went downhill from there.
Pacers beat the Clippers 133-116. Clips are 2-7 at home since the ASB and are now the 5th seed in the West.
“Yeah. We're soft.” Ty Lue on if the Clippers have an identity right now