Last Night In The NBA: Avoid Your Family With Some Basketball Highlights

Good morning everybody and welcome to another edition of Last Night In The NBA where we bring you up to speed on everything that went down from the night before in the Association. I know yesterday was about family and football so chances are you weren’t able to watch all 11 games. But seeing as how today is just a regular day for me (see: Greenberg) I figured there may be some of you that need an escape from your family today. So while normally this blog helps you get through the bullshit of your morning at your 9-5, today this can be something you pull up when you’re hiding in the bathroom for way too long because you just need a break. We have a lot to get to so let’s get started, consider this my Christmas present to you. If you didn’t see any of the action from yesterday, here’s what happened

Atlanta Hawks (9-23) 98 vs Detroit Pistons (15-16) 95

I’m having a hard time figuring out the Pistons. I’m not sure they stink, they have a ridiculous frontcourt, but at the same time I’m not sure they’re good enough to hang onto a Top 8 spot. Losing at home, where they are now 10-8 to the lowly Hawks certainly doesn’t help. They trailed essentially the entire way and STILL had a chance to win when Blake Griffin stepped to the line with 23 seconds left. He missed both FTs. They climbed all the way back from 17 points down and anytime you lose a game because you miss two FTs, that hurts.

Both Blake/Drummond combined for just 18 points on 10-26 shooting which stinks, and as a team the Pistons shot just 41/34%. If not for Langston Galloway catching fire in the fourth, I’m not sure there is even a game for Blake to lose at the FT line

The Pistons have now lost two in a row and 3 of 4, and you stretch back further and they are just 2-9 over their last 11. This slide has them currently sitting in the 8 seed, but the red hot Nets are just a game behind.

For ATL, for some reason they’ve won 3 in a row and I don’t need to tell you how stupid that is with all the tanking teams around them tallying up losses. I will say though this performance did give us a great Vince outing, which at this point should be cherished and celebrated whenever they happen. Finishing with 18/7 only makes me think that Carter can play for like 3-4 more years. Let’s get nuts

Trae Young had a nice all around game despite his 4-14 shooting same with Jeremy Lin

and this was an impressive win considering it came without John Collins in the lineup, who is arguably their best player. Credit Len/Dedmon for holding it down.

Washington Wizards (13-21) 89 vs Indiana Pacers (22-12) 105

I don’t find it all that surprising that right after a triple OT thriller in which guys played 50+ minutes and the Wizards scored 149 points that they came out last night and had this type of performance. Just 36/25% as a team with 22 turnovers, you do that shit against a very good Pacers team and that’s how you get blown out. Wall/Beal combined to go 3-18, only two starters ended up in double figures, and outside of Markieff Morris and his 15 points off the bench there certainly wasn’t much to be happy about

The Wizards are now 3-7 over their last 10 and sit 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot. Their 4-15 road record is pretty brutal and a huge reason they are in this hole, and until they figure out that defense that’s giving up 118 a night, things are going to continue to be a struggle.

For IND, nice when you don’t have to overly rely on Victor Oladipo

and a big reason why that was the case was because Myles Turner had one of his better performances of the entire season

The Pacers do a great job of keeping things balanced among their starters (all five in double figures), then getting a double/double from Sabonis off the bench (15/10), and they used a big third quarter to get some separation, and from there it was a wrap. Now 12-5 at home they’ve won their last two and have the Hawks up next. They remain just 2.5 back of TOR and just 1.0 back of MIL, so I think it’s fair to say IND is not going away.

Phoenix Suns (8-26) 103 vs Brooklyn Nets (16-19) 111

I know watching the Suns can at times hurt your eyes. More often than not they are painful to watch, but I keep telling you to plow through that and give them a chance because watching Booker/Ayton dominate is worth it. The two combined for nearly half of PHX’s points last night, and Ayton was a certified monster

He snagged his rookie leading 21st double/double and at least they were competitive despite shooting 17% from three. This loss was big for PHX because it has them tied for CLE for the top spot in our tanking standings

so you combine that with the great Ayton performance and I’m happy as a clam as a Suns fan.

For BKN, just like he’s done all year Spencer Dinwiddie was awesome off the bench with 24/7 on 7-14 shooting

and you combine that with the 18/6/8 from Russell and a surprising 16/10 from Kurucs

and this sure as shit looks like a team that’s about to find themselves in the Top 8. They’ve been playing great over the last few weeks to the tune of an 8-2 record, and I think this run has surprised everyone since Caris LeVert went down. They could have tanked but instead have gone in the exact opposite direction. Good on them.

Charlotte Hornets (16-16) 103 vs Boston Celtics (19-13) 119

We’ll; be talking about the Celts in their normal blog, so instead take this time to appreciate the play of Willy Hernangomez who I feel might be sneaky underrated

CHA is now 4-9 on the road and they are holding onto that 6th spot in the East with dear life. Just 5-5 over their last 10, if they aren’t careful they could see a couple of teams leapfrog them.

Chicago Bulls (9-25) 112 vs Cleveland Cavaliers (8-26) 92

Listen someone had to win this game even if neither team really wanted to. If I’m a Bulls fan I guess I’m happy that you got to see Baby Dirk go pretty nuts

and then Kris Dunn put up a very solid 17/8/7 on 8-11 shooting

As a team CHI shot 55/50% and they really pulled away in the second half not just because they scored 58 points, but because they brought it on the defensive end holding the Cavs to just 33 points. They may lose all the time, but they have a real piece in Baby Dirk I think we can all agree there. Don’t look now but this was the first time all year the Bulls won back to back games. Congrats.

For CLE, hey at least you got a much needed loss while still getting strong showings from guys like Larry Nance Jr

The Cavs are now 5-13 at home. have lost 5 of their last 6 including their last 3, and at this point I don’t think anyone is surprised by that. They’re doing what you want, play a semi-competitive game for stretches but not get too carried away especially when you’re playing a fellow tanking team.

Miami Heat (16-16) 115 vs Orlando Magic (14-18) 91

Not a bad battle in Florida as the Heat came out and shot the ball very well. They finished with 50/51% splits with 16 3PM, and a large portion of that production came from Tyler Johnson who had a career night from behind the arc

They also got 22/6/5 from Justise Winslow

and you know what? Winslow has been playing really well for a while now. He’s had a pretty good December where he’s topped 20 points four times and I think this stretch is what Heat fans were hoping for when he signed his extension. Remember he’s just 22 so it’s not as if he’s a finished product. After getting off to a strong start in the first quarter the Heat nevert really looked back, and they find themselves in the 7 spot in the East after winning their 5th straight. You want to talk about a team in the East that has turned around their season, the Heat should be in that discussion.

For ORL, they’ve now lost 3 in a row, and when you go 41/35% and turn it over 19 times, this is what happens. It’s hard to find a good highlight for this one, so here ya go

New Orleans Pelicans (15-19) 117 vs Sacramento Kings (18-15) 122

You know what’s not going to help the Anthony Davis rumors? Losing 4 games in a row and having the second worst record in the West. Now 4-14 on the road, things are starting to slip for NO and that’s dangerous given what’s in store for their future. You have to be able to beat the Kingss even if they are much improved, and offensively there wasn’t really an issue. There rarely is with the Pelicans, it normally comes down to whether or not they could defend. Last night, they could not

They blew an early 11 point lead in this game and really collapsed in the fourth where they lost 36-21. That has to sting and is only going to add fuel to the AD fire.

For SAC, this team man. They really are good!

Four players with at least 19 points, 14 3PM, just 9 TOs, this team is currently the 7th seed in the West! Time to buy in on the Baby Kings if you haven’t already folks. Buddy Hield is developing into a legit stud, their young talent is taking a step forward, and their offense is no joke. If they can ever improve defensively, this team is going to be very very good.

Minnesota Timberwolves (15-18) 114 v Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11) 112

Yeah this game didn’t make much sense. What business did the Wolves have coming into OKC and pulling this win out? They’re just 3-13 on the road, but I guess that’s what happens when Andrew Wiggins goes a little nuts

Andrew Wiggins and clutch don’t get mentioned in the same sentence often, so cherish that. Hilarious they pulled this out even with KAT taking just 9 FGA but I guess that’s what happens when you finish with 49/51% splits and 14 3PM.

For OKC, Paul George continued his strong play with 31/11 on 11-24 shooting

And Westbrook was back to doing Westbrook things with another triple double

but I would say it had to be a little disappointing after their 38-18 second quarter that ultimately they dropped this game. I have no problem with Westbrook making the right basketball play at the end passing it to Alex Abrines who had the open look, he just missed it. OKC now finds themselves in the 3rd spot in the West, and this was just their 3rd loss at home all year. I think they’ll be fine.

Los Angeles Clippers (19-14) 127 vs Golden State Warriors (23-11) 129

Tough loss for the pesky Clippers. They had an offensive explosion, finishing with 53/78% splits with 18 3PM, a recipe that usually is good enough to take down the Warriors at home. Their Big 3 showed up in a big way

and they matched GS punch for punch for the first 24 minutes. Unfortunately, they dug their grave in the third quarter like we see happen against this team all the time, and that 36-23 quarter proved to be the difference. Now 8-10 on the road this year the Clippers are doing their best to hang onto their playoff spot and after beating both DAL/DEN this would have been a huge win for them. Remember they beat the Warriors the last time they played, so that just goes to show you how for real these Clippers are looking.

For GS, I mean what are you supposed to do when Curry/Durant combine for 77 points?

add in the fact that GS only turned it over 7 times, and that makes them really tough to beat. Now 15-3 at home, this team is back to being extremely terrifying.

Dallas Mavericks (15-17) 118 vs Portland Trail Blazers (19-14) 121

*clears throat*

LUUUUKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Impossible to not love Luka at this point. Every time he touches the floor it has become must watch stuff and he did not disappoint last night. That shot to send it into OT was fucking ridiculous, and it seems like every night he is giving us something new that makes us shake our heads. What a player. Combine that with 27 from Harrison Barnes

and the Mavs were right there. Unfortunately they fell short, and are now 2-14 on the road. That continues to make my brain hurt. How can this team be that bad on the road? A huge fourth quarter got them back in the game, but when it came time to get a stop late, they couldn’t.

For POR, as expected Dame/CJ carried most of the load

and this was huge because the win now keeps them on pace with teams like LAL for that top 4 spot in the West. They still don’t play much defense but they are tough to beat at home where they are now 13-5, and anytime their guards are playing at this level they can beat anyone. Given their beatdown against UTA on Friday, this was a much needed win to help them get back on track.

Memphis Grizzlies (17-16) 107 vs Los Angeles Lakers (19-14) 99

Speaking of awesome rookies, we need to give Jaren Jackson Jr his proper credit. Dude is NASTY\

that dagger in LeBron’s face? Beautiful. What a huge shot for the teenager and it just shows you how deep his bag really goes. He can beat you in the post, he can beat you from deep, he’s been one of the best rookies all year. MEM needed this win to help bring them to 8-10 on the road and stay within striking distance of that final playoff spot. Considering they’re 3-7 over their last 10, this win could be just what they need to start a nice little streak.

For LAL, they had balanced scoring

but their fourth quarter defense was pretty embarrassing. Giving up 35 points which were the most MEM scored in any quarter certainly wasn’t ideal, and neither was Lonzo going 2-10. The Lakers are in a little bit of a slide, losers of 3 of their last 4, and with the Warriors coming up next this isn’t exactly the best time to not be playing good basketball. Their defense has been suspect at best over this stretch, and if they defend like this against GS, they may give up like 140.

And that’s it! You’re now all caught up with everything that happened last night in the NBA. Hopefully this helped distract you from your family, and since we’re off tonight I’ll see everyone the day after Christmas to recap all the day games. Have a great Monday!