Only four NBA teams will have the opportunity to play in Vegas for the NBA Cup.

Two of those four spots were filled last night.

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Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Nae’Qwon Tomlin, Mark Aguirre, and Tacko Fall! 🎉

Game Recaps

Magic cool down Heat 117-108, advance to NBA Cup Semis

The Orlando Magic are heading to Vegas. 🔥

The Magic and its fanbase needed a night like Tuesday, after receiving news earlier in the week that Franz Wagner is going to miss at least the next 2-4 weeks with an ankle injury. Though Franz is a huge loss, games like tonight are why the front office traded four first round picks for Desmond Bane.

His number was called, and he stepped up….big time:

Bane led the way, and the rest of the squad followed. All five Magic starters scored in double figures in this one, most notably Jalen Suggs (20 PTS, 7/13 FG), and Paolo Banchero (18 PTS, 7 REB).

For Miami, their road to the cup ends here. They got out to a 30-17 lead after the first quarter, but it was all Orlando the rest of the way. The Heat saw four players score 19 or more, but at the end of the day, Bane and the rest of the Magic were far too much to overcome…

Orlando has now won 11 of their last 15 games and will be playing for a spot in the Cup championship on Saturday. Talk about hitting your stride at the right time! 👀

Knicks dethrone Raptors 117-101 to advance to NBA Cup Semis

New York State of Mind….or Vegas State of Mind? 🤔

The Knicks have punched their ticket to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup Semis and will go up against the Magic, giving us basketball enjoyers a semi-final showdown for the ages:

Going into this cup matchup, the Knicks have had the Raps’ number, winning nine straight against the squad up north. They got their 10th straight when the stakes were much higher, led by the greatness of Jalen Brunson, who put up 35 points on an absurd 13/19 shooting from the floor. One thing’s clear, JB does not shy away from the bright lights. 😎

For Toronto, their cup dreams are over, but they may have bigger issues to worry about. They’ve now lost six out of their last seven games, and have been looking like a different team than the one who ripped off seven straight Ws just a few weeks ago. Brandon Ingram was a bright spot in this one, putting up 31 points on 11/18 shooting. Otherwise, it was a rough night on both ends of the floor for the Raps…

Knicks. Magic. Saturday night. Don’t miss it. 🔥

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• Streak Snappin’ Suns! Phoenix goes into Minnesota and ends the Wolves’ five-game winning streak in their 108-105 win on Monday. Mark Williams (22 PTS, 7 REB) continues to make the Suns’ front office look smart for acquiring him in the offseason, and it’s practically a guarantee at this point we’re going to hear Colin Gillespie’s (19 PTS) name in Most Improved Player talks throughout the season. The Suns managed to hold down the fort without Devin Booker, and got the win in spite of Anthony Edwards’ best effort (40 PTS, 15/21 FG).

• Monday night was one Derik Queen will always remember. The rookie put up a monstrous 33 point, 10 rebound, 10 assist triple double in the Pelicans’ matchup against the Spurs, the first TD of his very bright NBA career. Unfortunately, these big numbers weren’t enough, as the Spurs sqeaked by with the 135-132 win. The Spurs used their 20-point halftime lead as a cushion while the Pels came roaring back to have a chance to tie the game on the final possession. Sometimes, it is how you start and not how you finish. 😎

• Are the Pacers…..back? The reigning Eastern Conference champs get the 116-105 win over the Kings on Monday, making it their fourth win in the their last six games. Andrew Nembhard (28 PTS, 10 AST) Benedict Mathurin (25 PTS), and Pascal Siakam (23 PTS) were a three-headed monster for Indy in the victory. Russell Westbrook put up his 207th triple double of his career (24 PTS, 13 REB, 14 AST) and even led a late Kings’ rally down the stretch, but it wasn’t enough. The Pacers’ record still isn’t eye popping by any means at 6-18, but they’re only three and ½ games out of a play-in spot with a LOT of season to go. 👀

Wayback Wednesday

The 1980s in the NBA were mostly dominated by the intense rivalry between Magic’s Lakers vs Bird’s Celtics, along with the rise of a young Michael Jordan. Down in Atlanta though, there was another all-time great career unfolding at the same time. A career packed with a whole lotta DUNKS.

Give it up for this week’s edition of Wayback Wednesday… The Human Highlight Film himself, Dominique Wilkins! 🔥

You don’t just get nicknamed ‘The Human Highlight Film’ for no reason. Simply put, Wilkins put together some of the most electrifying, high-flying slams you’ll ever see on a basketball court. He entered the league in 1982, and was later viewed by many as “Jordan before Jordan.” The way he would float in the air on his way to the rim was pure artistry.

His highlight tapes were special, but ‘Nique was way more than just a dunker. He carved out a Hall of Fame career…quickly. He’d routinely take the Hawks to the playoffs season after season, and in 1985-86, just his fourth season in the league, he finished second in MVP voting behind Larry Bird, averaging 30.3 points and eight rebounds. Not too shabby! 😎

Though he developed into an absolute superstar, Dominique still had time to show off his ridiculous slams. If you have some time today, we highly recommend you watch this highlight of arguably the greatest Dunk Contest of all-time, the 1988 showdown between ‘Nique and MJ. Your jaw will be on the floor: ⬇️

If it wasn’t for playing in the same era as Magic, Larry, and Michael, it’s likely Dominique would have experienced much more playoff success. He could never quite get over the hump, but it wasn’t without valiant effort.

In 1988, Wilkins forced a seventh game against Bird’s Celtics in the East Semis. Bird and Wilkins put on a show in game 7, making it one of the of greatest playoff duels of the decade.

Like most NBA careers, players go through highs and lows. In 1991, ‘Nique unfortunately tore his achilles. Back then, it was much harder to come back and play at the same level after getting hurt, but he was an anomaly. He recovered in just 10 months and averaged 28.1 points the following season while finishing fifth in MVP voting. Don’t call it a comeback!

Dominique Wilkins was one of the flashiest and exciting superstars of all time. If you’re talking 1980s NBA, sure, you have to mention Larry, Magic, and Michael. Just don’t leave out Dominique.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

That’s all for today, Enjoyers! Thanks for making us a part of your day. It’s time to get in the holiday spirit! If you have some spare time this week, put on your favorite holiday movie and just relax. It’s a great way to unwind after dealing with the stresses of day-to-day life.

See you on Friday!

Bobby Kasmire