🏀 Magnificent Maxey

Some weekends just have it all, and this was one of ‘em. Luka and Maxey masterclasses, KD vs. Bron living up to the hype, a Draymond ejection, three big win streaks on the line… what more could you ask for?

Today’s Lineup

Sixers Have A Star: Tyrese Maxey had the game of his life on Sunday ⭐

Racking Up W’s: Rockets stay red hot, T’Wolves on a tear in the West 🚀🐺

Unsung Heroes: This sixth-year guard has been an offensive force in BKN 😪

Maxey Masterclass

Tyrese Maxey is here. Really here. He set a new career high on Sunday with 50 in a win against Indiana (6-4). Aside from scoring at an outrageous clip, Maxey is passing better than ever before, and he’s (apparently) even protecting the rim now. The James Harden trade is looking better by the day for Philly. Nine straight wins for the Sixers. Play the song.

Houston, We Have A Good Basketball Team

They’re incapable of playing normal games, but the Houston Rockets are the hottest team in basketball, nonetheless. Now 6-3 after a 107-104 thriller against the Nuggets (8-2), Houston gets a total team effort every night. Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet (26 PTS), and Jeff Green (apparently) add real veteran presence, and Alperen Sengun (23/8/5) is playing like a star. Something fun is brewing in H-Town.

Wolves are Wreaking Havoc

The Wolves have been pretty much unstoppable since Timberwolves Brasil became a prominent part of our lives…we’re just saying. On a six-game winning streak of their own after downing Golden State (6-5) on Sunday, Minnesota is 7-2 while posting the league’s best defensive rating in nearly a decade. Rudy Gobert is back. Anthony Edwards is a star. Look out.

Sunday’s Slate

Quickley, Knicks survive Ball’s big day, beat Hornets 129-107

New York (5-4) got 24 points from RJ Barrett and a season-high nine assists from Immanuel Quickley. Also, a season-high one mid-Griddy dap. For Charlotte (3-6), LaMelo Ball was basically a one-man show (32/7/6). He’s been great recently.

Nets defense comes up clutch in 102-94 win over Wizards

Almost begrudgingly, one team did have to win this game. It was the Nets (5-5)! Nic Claxton’s return jolted BKN’s defense — they clamped up Washington (2-7) late, ruining the Bilal Coulibaly (20/7/3/4 STL) coming-out party.

Grizzlies beat struggling Clippers in LA 105-101

Marcus Smart: winning player. A huge hustle play in the waning moments of this game helped Memphis (2-8) grind out a win they needed. Los Angeles (3-6), meanwhile, looked uninspired. They are now 0-4 in the James Harden Era.

Bulls beat Pistons 119-108 behind DeRozan’s big night

Chicago (4-6) went on a 22-4 run during this game, which is usually a good recipe for a win. DeMar DeRozan hooped with 29 points plus four blocks. Detroit (2-9) has lost eight in a row. Ausar Thompson (16 rebounds) continues to shine, though.

Heat get big games from Bam, Robinson, beat Spurs 118-113

In this game, San Antonio (3-7) shot better from the field and from 3PT range, had more rebounds, and recorded more assists, but Miami (6-4) still won. That’s called getting Heat Culture’d. Bam Adebayo (24/11/6/3 STL) has been elite through three weeks.

Mavs stay hot behind efforts from their two stars, defeat Pelicans 136-124

Dallas (8-2) is rolling right now. Kyrie Irving had 35/6/7 and Luka Doncic had a “pedestrian” 30/4/9 in this one against New Orleans (4-6) but don’t forget the role players, who have been instrumental in this start, too. Dereck Lively II and Grant Willams were splendid additions.

Thunder fend off Suns 111-99 thanks to Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City (6-4) is playing like fans hoped they would; Jalen Williams scored a season-best 31 points, SGA got into his bag late and finished with 35, and they completely shut down Phoenix (4-6) in the fourth, allowing just 13 points.

LeBron-less Lakers hold off pesky Blazers, win 116-110

If you didn’t stay up well past midnight EST to watch the Lakers (5-5) play against the shorthanded Blazers (3-6)… that’s fine. But you missed a great game. Skylar Mays (15 PTS,12 AST) tried to put Portland on his back just one day after receiving a standard NBA contract, but Anthony Davis (30/11/6) had other plans.

Weekend Whirlwind

• Luka Doncic seemingly has a personal vendetta against the LA Clippers. He put together another masterclass on Friday, finishing with a hilarious stat line: 44 PTS, 6 rebounds, 6 assists in 31 minutes. Luka is, inexplicably, playing the best basketball of his career.

• LeBron vs. KD lived up to the hype, but it was Cam Reddish who eventually stole the show with a big shot as the Lakers prevailed.

• Draymond Green got ejected on Saturday for an armbar to Donovan Mitchell’s back on a fastbreak. Cleveland would end up with the win. Fair call?

Unsung Heroes: Lonnie Walker IV

Lonnie Walker IV can score. He showed that in his time with San Antonio and a short stint in LA last season. But now a Brooklyn Net, Walker has evolved from an inefficient bench scorer into a legitimate offensive option for the young Nets.

As of Saturday, Walker is in the 97th percentile among wings in effective field goal percentage while also shooting nearly 50% from three. On a Brooklyn team that doesn’t have many offensive creators behind Mikal Bridges, Walker's improvement is a welcome development. On the season, he’s averaging 16.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Daily Trivia

Three In The Key

• Mark Williams grabbed how many offensive rebounds on Friday?

• All love between Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama after their first NBA matchup

• Keegan Murray has THIS in his game? We were unfamiliar…

What We’re Enjoying

The Holdovers: Need a new wintertime comfort movie? Done. The newest collaboration between director Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti (who also combined to make Sideways, one of the best movies of the 2000s) is heartfelt and touching all the way through. It also looks and sounds great.

Signing Off

And that, our dear friends, is all the time we have today. Before we depart, we want to send our thoughts to Sixers forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been released from a hospital after being struck by a vehicle while walking near his residence in Philadelphia in a really scary accident. Get well soon, KO! 💙 

Trivia Answer: Yes, we were surprised by this too. The record for most steals by a rookie since 2008 belongs to…Mario Chalmers!

Before you go…