It was a high scoring weekend, with some highly anticipated match-ups. With multiple 50 points nights this weekend was nothing short of interesting. Let’s hop into it.
The Golden State Warriors played the Orlando Magic on Friday night and lost 124-120. Although Stephen Curry dropped 29 points and 6 three pointers, Nikola Vucević and Terrance Ross both had big games helping Orlando win.
The Magic went on to make it a perfect weekend as they faced the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, and Detroit who has been playing bad all season, lost that game 105-96.
The Golden State Warriors played the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday after their loss on Friday, and Stephen Curry sat out this game due to not feeling well. This one went down to the wire, and the Warriors were up by 2 points with 5 seconds left to the game. After a controversial Time Out call, Draymond Green got 2 technical fouls which tied up the game, then Terry Rozier hit a two point buzzer beater to give the Hornets the W, 102-100.
The Denver Nuggets played the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The Cavs typically have one of the best defenses in the league, but with Andre Drummond sitting out pending a trade, their defense is just as bad as their offense. With Jamal Murray scoring 50 points, only missing 4 shots, and not taking a single free-throw, it put the Nuggets up by 17 as they won, 120-103.
The Cavs lost again on Sunday as they played the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in the line-up for OKC, he dropped 31 points and 9 assists to help his team win the game 117-101.
The Denver Nuggets, after their big win, lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Jamal Murray had another good game putting up 30 points, but the Nuggets were not able to pull through a W, as they lost 123-115.
Ben Simmons sat out the Friday night’s game between the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76er’s. This game was close all the way through, with Zach Levine scoring 30 points, but the 76er’s were able to hang on to the lead and close out Chicago 112-105.
Chicago did get back into the W column just 24 hours later as they faced the Sacramento Kings. Zach Levine dropped 38 points on 75% shooting, and although the Kings had a good all around game, they could not get back into it, as they were handed the L 122-114.
With Ben Simmons back in the line-up for the 76er’s, they were favored to win as they matched up against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Kyle Lowry was absent from the game, but that did not stop the Raptors from winning, as Fred VanVleet came out strong, dropping 4 three pointers in the 1st quarter and Toronto took the W 110-103.
Before the Atlanta Hawks beat the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, they played the Boston Celtics on Friday. With both Jason Tatum and Kemba Walker having 25+ point games, they were able to close out Trae Young who had 31 points, and his Hawks team, as the Celtics won 121-109.
The Boston Celtics played again on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, although Jason Tatum had 32 points, plus the shot that sent the game into overtime, Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans took over in OT and won the game 120-115.
The Pelicans went 50/50 this weekend. Before they beat the Celtics, the played the scorching hot Phoenix Suns on Friday. Chris Paul had 15 points and 19 assists, which made a huge difference, and put the W out of New Orleans reach as they lost 132-114.
Phoenix went on to have a perfect weekend as they played Saturday night as well against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was a blow out as the Suns took this game easily 128-97.
The Memphis Grizzlies faced the Detroit Pistons on Friday and this game went very much like the Pistons game against the Magic, and Memphis won 109-95.
The Oklahoma City Thunder played the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday before their Sunday match-up against Cleveland. The Bucks - who have been in a dry spell since Jrue Holiday has been absent from the lineup - were able to find a rhythm and with Giannis Antetokounmpo having 29 points and 19 rebounds the Bucks won 98-85.
Sacramento after losing to Chicago on Saturday, played and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. This could mean the Bucks are out of their experimental faze as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kris Middleton combined for 70 points to help the Bucks win 128-115.
Before the Raptors beat the 76er’s on Sunday, they played the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. This game was not a high scoring game, but it was close to the end, but with Toronto consistent team play, they were able to take the W, 86-81.
Minnesota lost the second game of the weekend as they played the New York Knicks on Sunday. With Julius Randle continuing his All-Star caliber season dropping 25 points and 14 rebounds, he brought the W to New York in a close game, 103-99.
With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back in the lineup as the Utah Jazz took on the Los Angeles Clippers, it was a guaranteed nail biter. This game went down the the wire, with Kawhi scoring 29 points to overcome Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points night, and to help the Clips snap the Jazz’s winning streak as they took to the W 116-112.
The Clippers went on to play the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, and BK was still missing Kevin Durant. That made it even more surprising when the Nets won the game against a rested Clippers team, 112-108. Brooklyn is seriously looking for a title this year and it’s looking they might get it.
Bradley Beal had another 35 point night on Saturday night as the Washington Wizards took on the Portland Trailblazers. This topped with Russel Westbrook having a triple double with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, garnered the Wizards the W, 118-111.
It was a Finals Rematch on Saturday night between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. This game was close to the finish with Alex Caruso missing the game tying shot as the Heat won 96-94. LeBron James had a near triple double cashing in 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, but it was not enough to help the Lakers win.
This has been the Weekend Edition of Briefly In Depth.
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