While the NBA Playoffs won’t tip off until April, sometimes we get lucky enough to see a postseason atmosphere in February. Friday was one of those times.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Jonas Jerebko! 🎉

Game Recaps

Shai’s return boosts Thunder to wins over Nuggets and Mavs

The reigning MVP is back in action for the reigning champs, and that’s bad news for the rest of the league.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his return to the court on Friday night following a nine-game absence and wasted no time returning to form. First, Shai dropped 36 PTS in OKC’s 127-121 win over the Nuggets, a high-octane matchup with major WCF vibes. Then, on Sunday, he dropped a calm 30 on 60% shooting to key the Thunder’s win over Dallas.

The Denver duel was an instant classic, with no love lost between the two contenders. After the Nuggets blitzed Shai on the final possession of regulation, Alex Caruso’s potential game-winner was no good, sending the game to extra time. There, the Thunder dominated despite Shai sitting the entire period on a minutes restriction.

Denver got big games from its dynamic duo of Jamal Murray (39 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST) and Nikola Jokic (23 PTS, 17 REB, 14 AST), while the three-time MVP also made headlines for an exchange with OKC’s Lu Dort. Jokic took exception after Dort made contact with him as he ran up the floor, causing a major scuffle.

After a seven-game series last playoffs, there’s a clear rivalry brewing between two of the West’s best. Hopefully we get to see them face off again… 👀

Knicks shut down Spurs 114-89, ending 11-game win streak

Victor Wembanyama may love playing chess in New York, but on Sunday night, it was the Knicks securing checkmate.

Wemby and the Spurs saw their 11-game win streak come to an end in the Big Apple, with the hometown Knicks playing lockdown defense to wrap up the win. New York opened up a 26-2 run in the first half and never looked back, forcing 22 San Antonio turnovers which led to 24 PTS.

Mikal Bridges (25 PTS, 5 STL) and Jalen Brunson (24 PTS, 7 AST) lit the way for New York, while Wemby (25 PTS, 13 REB, 4 BLK) led the Spurs in scoring but also recorded 7 TOs. The Knicks rank already top 10 in defensive rating so far this season, but completely shutting down a team like San Antonio is a promising sign as the postseason nears. Next time your team travels to MSG, expect to work for every bucket.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• As if one peek at a potential conference finals series wasn’t enough, Detroit and Cleveland also played a wild one on Friday night, with Cade and ‘em pulling out the victory 122-119. First-time All-Star Jalen Duren continued his sensational season with a 33-point, 16-rebound performance, while Cleveland was led by Jarrett Allen (25 PTS, 9 REB) in the absence of star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Detroit also motored past Orlando 106-92 on Sunday with Cade Cunningham dropping 29 PTS and 11 AST, while Harden returned to lead Cleveland to a 106-102 win over Brooklyn.

• Neemias Queta is known as the rugged defender and rebounder within Boston’s big rotation, but he can put the ball in the hoop when he needs to. That was evident Sunday, when Queta scored a career-high 27 PTS on 71% shooting in the Celtics’ 114-98 win over Philly. Queta also racked up 17 REB and 3 BLK while Jaylen Brown added 27 PTS, 8 REB, and 8 AST, helping to overcome a combined 56 PTS from Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

• The New Orleans Pelicans have quietly been one of the league’s better teams of late, assembling a four-game win streak after Saturday’s 115-105 win over Utah. Saddiq Bey (who’s averaging 17.4 PPG on the season, in case you haven’t heard) scored 24 PTS in the win, though NOLA also lost Zion Williamson to an ankle injury. Coach James Borrego said the former #1 pick merely “tweaked” his foot but did not provide a timetable for return.

• When none of your starters log more than 29 minutes, it’s either a very good or a very bad sign. It was the former for the Lakers on Saturday, when L.A. breezed by the short-handed Warriors 129-101 behind 29 PTS from Luka Doncic and 22 from LeBron James. If the season ended today, the Lakers would dodge the Play-In as the West’s #6 seed while Golden State would head to the tourney as the #8.

• Jonathan Kuminga is Enjoying Basketball as a member of the Hawks, leading Atlanta to wins in their last three games including Sunday’s 135-101 blowout W over Portland. The former Warrior scored 17+ PTS in each of those wins, including 20 in the Blazers win. Onyeka Okongwu also added 25 PTS and 10 REB as the Hawks (31-31) fight for a winning record.

Record Retrospective

In today’s league, bigs like Wemby and Chet Holmgren rule the paint as some of the NBA’s most fearsome rim protectors. But before the emergence of the three-point shot, protecting the paint was even more important— and its defenders even more renowned.

Elmore Smith’s journey to the NBA was unconventional to say the least. The Macon, Georgia native did not make his high school team as a 5-foot-11 freshman in 1965, but earned a spot two years later after leaping to 7 feet tall (go figure). From there, he blossomed at Division II Kentucky State before being drafted third overall by the Buffalo Braves in 1971.

Smith made an immediate impact as a scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker. He averaged 17+ PPG and 12+ RPG in two seasons with Buffalo before being traded to the Lakers in 1974. That season, the first in which the NBA recorded blocks, Smith became the category’s inaugural leader with an absurd clip of 4.9 BPG.

The highlight of the season came on October 28 against Portland, when Smith turned away 17 Trailblazers shots, including 11 in a single half and six in a single quarter. He played all 48 minutes in LA’s 111-98 win, setting an NBA record that still stands to this day.

Smith later retired from basketball at 29 due to a series of knee injuries, but his career average of 2.9 blocks per game still stands fifth in league history. His simple nickname, “Elmore the Rejector,” is a fitting one!

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, try to embrace the challenging tasks the world throws your way. In the end, everything you want to achieve lies outside your comfort zone! See you soon.

Walker Carnathan