Mar 12, 2020
Bulls vs Magic
The Bulls arrived in Orlando feeling pretty good about themselves having won their previous game vs the Cavs. The Magic, however, were ready. After decisive road victories over Minny, Houston and Memphis, the Magic were ready to show their home crowd some love. After briefly falling behind in the first quarter – Coby White continued to impress – Aaron Gordon took control of the game and the Magic never trailed again, laying a 122-92 beating on the Bulls. Said Gordon after the game, “They came with more energy than we did so we had to up our game and give our fans what they paid to see”.
Bulls Magic
Points White 22 Gordon 27
Assists White 7 Fultz 6
Rebounds Harrison 9 Vucevic 11
Celtics vs Bucks
After struggling last week with some forgettable losses, the Celtics arrived in Milwaukee having beaten the surging Pacers. Meanwhile, the Bucks were still without Giannis and couldn’t handle a resurgent Celtics team with both Tatum and Brown scoring over 30 points and Marcus Smart being his usual pesky self. Even Middleton’s game high 37 couldn’t get Milwaukee over the line as the Celtics took the road victory 110-98. Said Middleton after the game, “They just wanted it more than we did. We were a little bit slow in transition and they feasted on that.”
Celtics Bucks
Points Tatum 32 Middeton 37
Assists Smart 9 Middeton 6
Rebounds Tatum 10 Lopez 12
Mar 13, 2020
Cavs vs Hornets
The battle for 10th and 11th in the eastern conference played out in Charlotte with the home team coming away with a 96-92 win. Devonte Graham continued his campaign for MIP, putting up a career high 42 points on 17 of 21 shooting. While these two teams are several games out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East, it was interesting to watch some of the league’s future stars learning their craft and they kept it close throughout the game with the largest lead never being more than 7 points. After the game, Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said, “It was a close game and if we’d gotten off to a better start in the 2nd half I think we could have had this one. We’re going to need to win these kinds of games if we’re going to grab that last playoff spot.”
Cavs Hornets
Points Sexton 18 Graham 42
Assists Garland 4 Graham 6
Rebounds Drummond 20 Zeller 9
Wizards vs Celtics
Coming off a tidy win over the Giannis-less Bucks, the Celtics returned home to welcome the wily Wizards. In a game that the playoff Celtics should have handled easily, Bradley Beal single handedly pushed the Celtics to the brink and only last second heroics from Kemba Walker gave the Celtics their first lead with 4 seconds left in the game and the Celtics escaped with a 101-100 victory. Marcus Smart hurt his finger in the 2nd quarter, but returned after the break and played regular minutes. He said, “They surprised us right out the gate and we shouldn’t get surprised on our home court. We fought back and got the W. That’s all that matters.”
Wizards Celtics
Points Beal 41 Walker 20
Assists Beal 9 Walker 8
Rebounds Bryant 11 Fall 14
Knicks vs Heat
The Heat sat Jimmy Butler to give his injured toe a little more rest when the Heat hosted the Knicks and it turned into a battle between youngsters RJ Barrett vs Bam Adebayo. RJ registered his first professional triple double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and on the other side of the floor Bam was perfect from the field going 13-13 to finish with a game high 29 points in addition to 17 rebounds. In the end, the Heat outlasted the Knicks and came away with a 97-91 victory. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra received a technical foul in the 3rd quarter and after the game had this to say. “I like my money in my pocket. I’m not going to say the refs didn’t do a good job tonight, but I’m going to talk to the commissioner about increasing the money available to officials for eye care.”
Knicks Heat
Points Randle 19 Adebayo 29
Assists Barrett 10 Nunn 5
Rebounds Barrett 11 Adebayo 17
Western Conference games from March 11-31 2020
March 11 2020
Utah Jazz @ OKC Thunder
117 112
The Jazz arrive in OKC without Emmanuel Mudiay, but although the Thunder take occasional leads of 5 to 10, the Jazz climb back with a monster fourth quarter and win the game 117-112
Pts: Rudy Gobert: 25 pts UTA
Ast: Chris Paul: 7 asts OKC
Reb: Rudy Gobert: 10 rebs UTA
New Orleans Pelicans @ Sacramento Kings
122 105
With Marvin Bagley expected to be out until Mid-April, and New Orleans without Nickeil Alexander Walker and JJ Redick, these teams come short handed, but even a 25 pt night from De’Aaron Fox wasn’t enough for the landslide of New Orleans, especially the young duo of Zion Williamson and Brandom Ingram. The Pelicans win 122-105
Pts: Zion Williamson: 27 pts NOP
Ast: Lonzo Ball: 8 ast NOP
Reb: Derrick Favors 8 reb NOP
March 12
Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers
101 112
With no Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr, Memphis is very short handed going into this Playoff Battle. The Grizzlies in 8th and Blazers in Ninth. The Portland crowd, however, combined with Damian Lillard, are too much for the Grizzlies to handle. The Blazers score the first bucket and don’t give up the lead the whole game. They win 112-101.
Pts: Damian Lillard: 28 pts POR
Ast: Ja Morant 8 ast MEM
Reb: Hassan Whiteside: 16 reb POR
Brooklyn Nets @ Golden State Warriors
128 119
The Nets go to Golden State with a 3 game win streak, and a 2 point win in Los Angeles vs the Lakers 2 nights before. The game should be a piece of cake for Brooklyn, and it is. Even with Steph scoring 30, the Warriors still can’t overcome the power of Brooklyn.
They win the game 128-119.
Pts: Steph Curry: 30 pts GSW
Ast: Spencer Dinwiddie: 7 ast BRK
Reb: Deandre Jordan: 10 reb BRK
Houston Rockets @ LA Lakers
114 108
The Rockets with their tiny lineup go to Los Angeles with a chip on their shoulder, and the Lakers, just losing on this ground a couple nights before, choose to play both their superstars, who are both half healthy. It turns out to be fatal. In the fourth quarter, the game 102-98 for LA with 3 minutes to go, Lebron, in a tangle of players on the Lakers’ offensive drive, sprints down the lane to the paint, and goes to ground. He has reaggrevated his groin injury, which has let him down in recent years. He goes to the locker, and doesn’t return. Without their leader and dimer, the Lakers are a shambles. The Rockets go on an 8-2 run in 2 minutes, and in the final minute, despite the Lakers’ best efforts, James Harden puts up 2 threes and an assist to Westbrook. The Lakers lose again. 114-108 is the final score, in what will be known as one of the biggest late game turnarounds ever.
James Harden spoke after the game: “Great game by us, 46 I think from me, of course its a bummer when you aren’t playing a full strength team, especially half healthy players, but we hung in there and eventually got the goods”.
Pts: James Harden: 46 pts HOU
Ast: Lebron James: 9 ast LAL
Reb: Anthony Davis: 12 reb LAL
March 13
Minnesota Timberwolves @ OKC Thunder
102 135
Having lost the first game in this Predictions article, the Thunder need a win here to keep homecourt hopes alive. The Rockets overtook them for 5th but the 19 win Timberwolves are a perfect team to rely on to give you a win, (no offense) especially without KAT. the Thunder demolish the TWolves, with 30 point nights from Shai and CP3. The final score is 135-102.
Steven Adams in an interview after the game said: “We did well, Shai had a brilliant points night, CP3 played how CP3 always plays, and a great performance”.
Pts: Shai Gilgeous Alexander: 34 pts OKC
Ast: Chris Paul: 12 ast OKC
Reb: Steven Adams: 13 rebs OKC
Denver Nuggets @ San Antonio Spurs
125 115
The Spurs come into this game knowing that the Nuggets will probably be too much for them. However the Nuggets are coming off a loss and Jamal Murray reported feeling ill before the game. Even with Murray out, the Nuggets still go into halftime leading by 12. They don’t let up and win the game 125-115.
DeMar DeRozan said after: “ The Boys didn’t play their best basketball today, and thats all you need for an off night”.
Pts: Nikola Jokic: 30 pts
Ast: DeMar DeRozan: 8 ast
Reb: Nikola Jokic: 12 reb
New Orleans Pelicans @ Utah Jazz
104 146
With both teams feeling good coming off wins, the Pelicans are bummed to hear that Lonzo Ball sprained his ankle in training and couldn’t play. The Jazz score the first 10 points of the game and it ends up becoming a 16-4 run, with 14 of them coming from Mitchell and Gobert. Williamson has an off game and that was all it took to become a slaughter. The Jazz win 146-104, with a career high from Donovan Mitchell, 54 points.
A stoked Rudy Gobert said after the game: “Great game from us, the home crowd was amazing today, and some luck went our way, and that was the key to a good game”.
Pts: Donovan Mitchell: 54 pts
Ast: Donovan Mitchell: 15 ast
Reb: Gobert: 22 reb
Brooklyn Nets @ LA Clippers
91 93
The Nets, having won their first 2 games of their Western road trip, go back to LA, this time vs the Clippers, and are confident. That is, until Spencer Dinwiddie tears his ACL midway through the second quarter. That was enough to break the camel’s back, and the Clippers go on an 8-2 run. They don’t choke. The Clippers win the game 93-91.
Caris LeVert said after the game: “Obviously it’s disappointing losing you next best player after 3 of your 5 best players are already out. But that only means we’ll have to play harder I guess”.
Pts: Kawhi Leonard: 25 pts
Ast: Caris LeVert: 7 asts
Reb: Kawhi Leonard: 10 reb