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It’s here. The second half of the 2024-25 NBA season.

And. We. Back.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to 2000s legend Steve Francis and Enjoyers Ethan and Jalen! 🎉

Game Recaps

Orlando takes down Atlanta 114-108 behind Paolo’s 36

Talk about a tale of two halves! Atlanta opened up a 19-point lead in the first half of this game against Orlando, mainly led by Trae Young’s 38-point scoring outburst. But when the second half started, it was Magic, Magic, Magic—Paolo Banchero (36 PTS, 10 REB) brought Orlando all the way back into the game.

After all that, this game was tied 103-103 with under three minutes left…. until a perfectly-timed Orlando run capped off by a Franz Wagner dunk secured a Magic win. Play the song!

Hornets take Lakers down 100-97 on Wednesday after trade deadline drama

In terms of storylines, you’ve gotta credit the NBA for (somehow) predicting that this would be a huge game with regards to the Mark Williams/Dalton Knecht trade fiasco. LeBron James (26 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB) and Rui Hachimura (17 PTS, 8 REB) led the way for Los Angeles in the first half of this one, dropping ten points each including two threes for LeBron. But a big Charlotte fourth quarter led by LaMelo Ball (27 PTS, 12 4Q PTS) put the Hornets on top, despite this huge LeBron jam over Williams (10 PTS, 9 REB).

LeBron hit a big three with seven seconds left to bring the Lakers to within one, but after two LaMelo free throws, neither of the King’s two game-tying three-point attempts fell as the clock ran out. LA might’ve needed a little more out of Luka Doncic (14 PTS, 1-9 3PT) in this one!

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• San Antonio spoiled Kevin Durant’s return to the University of Texas, as De’Aaron Fox (26 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST) and the Spurs beat Phoenix 120-109 in Austin despite KD’s 22 PTS.

• The Nuggets grabbed their ninth straight win, a 129-114 W over Miles Bridges (36 PTS, 13 REB, 7 AST) and the Hornets, behind a near-triple-double from Nikola Jokic (29 PTS, 17 REB, 9 AST) and Jamal Murray’s big night (34 PTS).

• Desmond Bane (23 PTS, 7 AST) had a good night leading the Grizzlies in scoring, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Tyrese Haliburton (22 PTS, 9 AST) and Myles Turner (17 PTS, 10 REB) in a 127-113 Pacers win.

• Chicago hung around with the Knicks for four quarters—thanks in part to Josh Giddey’s 27 PTS, which included four threes—but KAT (32 PTS, 18 REB) led New York to a 113-111 win when OT rolled around.

• The Celtics, led by Payton Pritchard’s 28 PTS and Jayson Tatum’s triple-double (15 PTS, 11 REB, 10 AST) despite a poor shooting night, took down Philly 124-104. Paul George led the Sixers with 17 PTS.

• Brook Lopez (22 PTS, 7 REB) and Taurean Prince (14 PTS, 7 REB) hit four threes each as Giannis (23 PTS, 8 REB) and the Bucks took down the Clippers 116-110.

Around the League

Spurs’ Wembanyama out for remainder of season with blood clot in shoulder

We got the worst kind of Shams bomb yesterday—that Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama would be out for the rest of the season with deep vein “thrombosis”, or a blood clot, in his right shoulder.

As for the Spurs, they currently sit outside the play-in range looking in. All hopes of a postseason push were centered on the new partnership of Wemby and De’Aaron Fox, so here’s hoping (a) Swipa can pull off some magic himself and (b) Wemby is healthy and ready to go as soon as possible!

Bucks forward Bobby Portis suspended 25 games for drug violation

Bad news for Bucks fans: Shams reported yesterday morning that Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis would miss almost the entire rest of the regular season for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Portis’ agent took to ESPN to explain the situation, saying that an assistant unintentionally gave the veteran forward a banned substance with a similar name to an approved, routine medication that Portis frequently takes.

Bobby will be unavailable for Milwaukee until their April 8th match against Minnesota, their fourth-last game of the regular season. Looking forward to seeing Portis back in action!

Top Five Friday

Since the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 Finals, there’s been a new, unique champion each year in the NBA since. So what if this trend were to continue, with previous champions like Boston, Milwaukee, Denver, and LA all ineligible as contenders? Here are the top five potential new Finals winning candidates down the stretch this season! 🤔

1. Oklahoma City Thunder: This might be an obvious pick given OKC’s historic season so far, but we’re sure that SGA and company are primed for a deeper run than last season’s early playoff exit this time around. If they’re healthy come playoff time, the Thunder’s weapons might just be too much.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Talk about historic seasons! Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the Cleveland All-Star Cavaliers started the year in a way few teams ever have, and they now have a chance to grab their first post-LeBron championship as one of the best teams in the East.

3. Memphis Grizzlies. With teams like the Nuggets and Celtics ineligible, the Grizzlies slide in as a serious contender here. Would Ja Morant solidify himself as one of the top PGs in the game with a run to the Finals? Or does he also have to follow through on his Dunk Contest promise?

4. New York Knicks: Props to the Knicks for methodically constructing this roster over the past three years, from signing Jalen Brunson back in 2022 to trading for KAT this past summer. New York is one of the best teams in the East and are primed for a run.

5. Houston Rockets. This young core can play. We know that. But with all the Western Conference’s star depth, a deep playoff run would be truly meaningful for this youthful squad—especially AL-P.

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Three in the Key

Signing Off

TGIF, Enjoyers! We couldn’t be happier that the second half of the NBA season is here and that we get to spend it hanging out with y’all. See you Monday!

Austin Zeglis