POWERED BY

The NBA Cup semifinals are tomorrow. Only four teams remain. Who’s winning it all?

Today’s Lineup

🎉 HBD to Enjoyers Gavin, Xavier, Ryan, Costa, Caleb, Arjun, and Simon! 🎉

Game Recaps

Sabonis’ big night leads Kings over Pelicans 111-109

For a second there, it looked like New Orleans was gonna be able to make magic happen at the end of this game—after a night full of Domantas Sabonis (32 PTS, 21 REB) and DeMar DeRozan (29 PTS), CJ McCollum (39 PTS) and the Pelicans wanted their fair share of the action and went on a decent run to prove that.

But Sabonis is Sabonis, and a Keegan Murray (18 PTS) three with a minute and a half left sealed the deal for SacTown. Been a while, huh Kings fans?

Sengun, Rockets knock Warriors out of NBA Cup in 91-90 duel

This game had all the vibes of an intense playoff matchup, and we’re smack in the middle of December. Awesome.

After being down by as many as 14 in the second quarter, Jonathan Kuminga (20 PTS, 7 REB) and the Warriors stormed back and took the lead from Houston late in the third. Things looked good for Golden State, but one thing was for sure—Alperen Sengun, (29 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST) and the Rockets wanted to win this game. After being down six with just over a minute left in the game, Houston went on a 7-0 run to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals. Watch this huge defensive play from Jabari Smith (15 PTS) to ice the game:

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• It was a tale of two halves between Atlanta and New York on Wednesday night, as Jalen Johnson (21 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST) and the Hawks turned the jets on at just the right time after being down 10+ in the first half to grab a 108-100 win from New York and move on to the NBA Cup semifinals!

• Payton Pritchard (27 PTS, 10 AST) led the Celtics in scoring as Boston took the Pistons down, 123-99. Shoutout to rookie Ron Holland (26 PTS), who had one of the best games of his young career!

• The Heat won their fourth straight, a 114-104 victory over Toronto thanks to 21 PTS and 16 REB from Bam Adebayo and a nice shooting night from Tyler Herro (23 PTS, 4-7 3PT).

Film Friday

He’s more than just a shooter—in fact, he’s an early frontrunner for NBA 6MOTY. After his big game last night, we’re gonna take a look at just how impactful Payton Pritchard has been on the court for Boston.

1. Pritchard’s off-ball movement skyrockets his shooting potential.

We said he’s more than just a shooter, but let’s get one thing straight: Pritchard is an incredible floor-spacing shotmaker. It’s not just his efficiency by the numbers that stands out—his speedy off-ball movement helps him routinely find open looks and cause chaos among defenders.

2. Pritchard is one of the league’s best rebounding guards.

If someone on the Celtics misses a shot, they don’t just have seven-footers Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta to rely on to grab a board. The Celtics grab more offensive rebounds on a +/- basis with Pritchard on the court, and he himself has an incredible ability to weave through and make strong, athletic plays despite his smaller frame. Stuff like this makes Pritchard an especially dynamic threat in both phases on the court: ⬇️

3. Half-court buzzer beaters? Don’t worry about them.

You knew this was coming, didn’t you? You can’t watch Payton Pritchard play for that long before you stumble on one of his incredible half-court heaves. Whether it’s to beat the first half buzzer in Game 5 of last year’s Finals or just another three in a recent blowout win over Washington (which ended up getting called off), you can always count on Pritchard to make a big shot when you need it:

Three in the Key

Winter Style Starts with Nike Air Max.

Discover the Nike Air Max collection designed just for men. With standout styles like the Air Max Plus, AM1, DN, and Pulse, these sneakers combine innovative technology and eye-catching designs. Each model offers cushioned support and versatility, making them perfect for any occasion.

Shop the Men’s Air Max Collection

Signing Off

Another week gone by! With less than three of them left in 2024, be sure to spend some of that time around family and friends. And basketball, of course.

-Austin Zeglis