🏀 From "bench him" to "Him."

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Just a few more days, folks. It’s almost playoff time, when the gloves will come off, the shoes will be triple-knotted, and stars will shine their brightest. But until then, we’re having fun watching role-players be HIM:

Today’s Lineup

Bench battle ⚔️: Starters are resting before the playoffs, so role-players are popping off!

Knicks Click👌: New York’s young pieces made history on Wednesday…

Top Five Friday 📈: We rank the best individual performances of the season.

But first, some trivia! ⬇️⬇️

Jarritos

Our good friends at Jarritos know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to making the best tasting sodas you can find! Jarritos’ all-natural fruit flavors are made with real cane sugar (no high fructose corn syrup here) so you can enjoy the refreshing taste of soda without any artificial sweeteners.

Plus, Jarritos’ classic glass bottles keep your soda extra cold 🥶🥶 even on those hot summer days ☀️🥵

Pro tip: Jarritos is the perfect addition to your Taco Tuesday watch parties 🌮 🎉 

Try their lineup of flavors like Mango, Pineapple, and Watermelon (our favorite). We promise your taste buds will thank you for it. Enjoy sodas the way they were meant to be experienced and pick up Jarritos’ Fiesta Pack at Walmart today!

Last Night’s Action

Only five games last night! Let’s get you updated—check out all of the box scores here.

Battle of the Bigs (sorta) sees Spurs beat Trailblazers 129-127

Drew Eubanks and Zach Collins faced off in this week’s edition of “NBA nerd fan-fic battles.” Eubanks is the Trailblazers’ backup big man, and his only other team has been the Spurs. And Collins is the Spurs’ backup big man whose only other team has been the Blazers. See where we’re going with this?

In any event, the matchup led to an epic showdown. Eubanks had 23 points and 5 blocks, but Collins walked away with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and the win! Tell your grandchildren about this day, folks.

Heat scorch Sixers 129-101

⚠️ Caution! ⚠️ The Heat were #TooHotToHandle last night. Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro had 24 apiece to keep Miami’s 6-seed hopes alive. For that to happen, though, the Heat would have to finish the year 2-0 and the Nets would have to go 0-2… We KNOW Mikal “Brooklyn” Bridges won’t let that happen.

Thunder snag big 114-98 win vs Jazz

With some key support from role-players Aaron Wiggins (15 points) and Dario Saric (14 points), OKC staved off numerous Utah pushes to greatly improve their play-in chances.

We won’t lie—with a bunch of Jazz shooters sitting out, the rim was going through a beating. Kris Dunn was great, however, with 22 points on 9-10 FG. And even though the Mavericks won on Wednesday, the Thunder remain in control of their own fate!

Suns edge out undermanned Nuggets 119-115

Honestly, we were shocked this game was close—after all, the Nuggets sat all five starters and gave DeAndre Jordan and Peyton Watson big time minutes. But it was really close! The leading scorer in the game wasn’t Kevin Durant (29 points) or Devin Booker; it was Bruce Brown with 31 of his own! And rookie Christian Braun (15 points) looks like a 8-year vet—makes no sense, but we love it! (psst… the Suns are 8-0 with KD 👀)

Cavs mash Magic 118-94 in role-player field day

Let’s be honest: everyone knew this game didn’t matter. In the Cavaliers’ victory over the Magic on Tuesday, Cleveland secured the 4th seed and Orlando was mathematically eliminated from postseason play. And just two days later, only 1 of the 10 starters from Tuesday’s game played. Still, it was fun to see Jalen Suggs (22 points) rain down four threes in a monstrous 1st quarter and Isaiah Mobley (18 points) get some playing time.

What Happened Wednesday

There have only been two games in NBA history where a trio of teammates each scored 30+ points and made 5+ threes. Both happened last night.

Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Obi Toppin combined for 107 points against Indiana. With an average age of 23 (!!!), they shredded the Pacers without the help of Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson or RJ Barrett.

And later that night, the Pelicans said “hold my drink!” Herb Jones, CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III combined for 96 points and a W over the second-seeded Grizzlies. Elsewhere in the West, the Clippers continued their tyrannical reign over Los Angeles, as they beat the Lakers for their 11th straight win against the purple and gold.

Speaking of games with play-in implications, Kyrie Irving single-handedly kept Dallas’ season alive with 19 4th-quarter points to elevate the Mavericks past the Kings. And back East, guards were dropping DIMES in big wins. Trae Young put up 25 points and 16 assists including a sick lob to John Collins, while Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie dished out 16 dimes of his own! And while Jrue Holiday usually finds himself locking up your favorite player, his 20 points and 15 assists officially locked up the 1-seed for Milwaukee!

Lauri to Start his Finnish Service

All men born in Finland 🇫🇮 must complete military service before the age of 30, and 25-year-old Jazz breakout star Lauri Markkanen is no exception.

Yesterday, it was reported that Markkanen will serve his duty this offseason in the Finish Defense Force Sports School, which facilitates preparation in “reconnaissance squads for emergency and wartime conditions.” His exact length of service is undetermined.

What’s more is that after decades of refusing to join NATO, Finland finally became a part of the international organization on Tuesday to protect itself and others from Russia. Enjoy Basketball covering geopolitics? Go figure.

Top Five Friday

Today we’re blessing y’all with some peak basketball: the Top Five best individual performances of the year. Let’s relive some memories, watch some highlights, and appreciate GREATNESS!

1. Donovan Mitchell: 71 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds in 145-134 W vs Bulls

When Devin Booker dropped 70 in 2017, people wondered if he would be able to be topped in the next 10 years. Turn out, it took just under six. Though he played 10 more minutes than Dame did, this is the most electric performance of the year because Spida hit tough bucket after tough bucket in crunch time.

2. Damian Lillard: 71 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds in 131-114 W vs Rockets

What separates Lillard’s 71 from Donovan’s is he did it in regulation–it only took 39 minutes!! But then again, the Rockets defense gives away 50-pieces like McDonald’s Happy Meals, and it was ultimately a blowout. Still, 71 points is generational scoring ability, people! Nothing better than Dame Time!

3. Luka Doncic: 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists in 126-121 OT W vs Knicks

This is maybe the most memorable performance of the year—it feels criminal to have this at three. You honestly aren’t wrong if you put it at number one. Not only is this the first ever 60/20/10 game in history, it was also an improbable comeback vs the Knicks. Doncic pulled out some MAGIC from deep in his bag and willed his team to victory. Truly a “where were you when _____” moment.

4. Joel Embiid: 59 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 7 blocks in 105-98 W vs Jazz

Honestly, this could even be #1 on the list! This is probably The Process’ magnum opus to date, as he asserted his will on the Jazz down low and even hit some big shots on the perimeter! Plus 7 blocks?? Unreal. An MVP-caliber performance for sure.

5. Damian Lillard: 60 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists in in 134-124 W vs Jazz

Two Dame performances in the top five?? Just shows you how incredible he’s been this year despite Portland’s lack of success. We were sad to put this performance ahead of the likes of Giannis, DBook and Anthony Davis, but Dame’s stat line is the most efficient 60+ point performance of the season. Somehow this has gone under the radar, but Lillard shot 72% from the field—he only took 29 shots and made 21 of ‘em!!

Frozen Moments

• DeAndre Jordan may be 100 years old, but he got UP on this alley-oop!

• In one half, Kevin Love did what every coach loves FOUR TIMES!

Good Reads

Evan Mobley Is Putting It All Together - Michael Pina (The Ringer)

Views from the bottom: 5 young NBA players to keep an eye on - Nekias Duncan (BasketballNews)

Gregg Popovich Still Having 'Fun' Coaching Rebuilding Spurs - Jeremy Brener (Sports Illustrated)

What We’re Enjoying

KOT4Q x DC: Enjoy Basketball co-founder Kenny Beecham talked with Don C in the United Center on “Chicago’s Own”, and we Enjoyed it to the MAX!

Hero Ball: If you liked “Game of Zones”, Bleacher Report dropped a new episode of their anime-style “Hero Ball”, which is co-produced by Enjoy Basketball co-founder Kenny Beecham!

Signing Off

That’s all, folks! Do your best today, but also take time to refocus and calm yourself. Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Ramadan Mubarak to those who celebrate!

Peace,

-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: 81% of Reggie Bullock’s points come from three-pointers, the most of any NBA player who has played in 50+ games. Surprisingly, Al Horford is third!