There's A New Number One Seed In The Western Conference

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Folks, we're about 35% of the way through the NBA season. Seriously! In the Eastern Conference, things are beginning to take shape. In the West, it's kind of like that video from a few years ago during a blizzard where no cars could stop, so they all kept rear-ending each other. Anyway, this weekend unsurprisingly had some phenomenal games, and we're here to recap them. Let's get after it!

And remember—our Mini Hoop is available now! If you want to receive your hoop in time for the holidays, today (Monday) is your LAST day to order! Don't sleep!

Newsletter Preview

Huge Weekend Of Hoops: Catch up on what you missed from a busy weekend around the league.

Unsung Heroes: This second-year forward is playing an essential role on a Pelicans team that looks like a real contender.

Shake-Up In The West: There are two new teams atop the Western Conference gauntlet.

PrizePicks

If you're a consistent enjoyer of this newsletter, then you know how much we rock with PrizePicks! If you're new around here, we'll give you the rundown. PrizePicks is the most fun way to play daily fantasy, period!

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Highlights From Friday & Saturday

Friday

Have the Nets arrived? After beating Atlanta on Friday in Ben Simmons' return to action, they improved to 6-1 in their last seven games and 15-12 on the season (good enough for 4th in the East.) Speaking of teams who have definitely arrived, New Orleans outlasted Phoenix to improve their winning streak to six in a row and take over first place in the West. Zion Williamson ruffled some feathers by playing until the buzzer, which is ironic because he's the one who plays for ... the Pelicans. Settling in right behind those Pels' in the standings are the Memphis Grizzlies, who beat Detroit 114-103 and have very quietly moved up to second place in the conference. In Philly, the Sixers and Lakers tried so hard to gift each other an early Christmas present in the form of a win; Philadelphia begrudgingly accepted the victory in the end. Their Big 3 (Embiid, Harden, and De'Anthony Melton, obviously) combined for 99 points.

Saturday

There's nothing better than seeing a player who has battled injuries make their way back to an NBA court—that happened on Saturday. Shoutout to Kemba Walker! The four-time All-Star and Charlotte Bobcats legend scored eight points and dished five assists in his Dallas Mavericks debut.

To answer yesterday's question, yes, the Nets have arrived. And they'll go as far as Cam Thomas, Edmond Sumner, and Day'Ron Sharpe take them ... that's probably not true, but the trio did combine for 74 points as a shorthanded Brooklyn squad outlasted Indiana. In Portland, Drew Eubanks (AKA the Shaq of Troutdale, Oregon) was dunking on everybody in a Blazers win over Minnesota. 36 points from Damian Lillard helped, too. Down in The Bay, Golden State handled Boston—something that very few teams have been able to do—123-107.

Sunday's Slate

Pelicans prevail 129-124 in OT thriller against Suns

Just let these two teams play every day. For the second time in three days, New Orleans (18-8) bested Phoenix (16-11) in a game that felt like it was being played in early May and not December. Zion Williamson scored 35 points once again, proving that preseason reports of his demise were very premature. Everything is coming up Pelicans as they've now won seven in a row. The West may be in chaos at the moment, but the Pelicans sitting in the #1 spot does not feel like a fluke.

Box Score

AD & LeBron fend off Bogdanovic and Pistons, 124-117

Is anyone having a better under-the-radar year than Bojan Bogdanovic? He's flirting with a 50/40/90 season as we pass the 1/3 mark of the season, and put up 38 against the Lakers on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Pistons are now 7-22 after 30+ from Anthony Davis and LeBron James-- plus a clutch late corner three from Austin Reaves-- was enough to propel the Lakers (11-15) to a dub.

Box Score

Magic sweep two-game weekend series with Raptors, win 111-99 on Sunday

Paolo Banchero has been everything he was supposed to be. Another 20-point double-double on Sunday helped the Magic (8-20) win their third straight. There's certainly talent on Orlando's roster, and they might be finding their footing a bit after they beat Toronto (13-14) twice over the weekend. The Raptors should make a Disneyland trip before they leave Orlando. Could help lift the team morale.

Box Score

Knicks jump on Kings early, hold on for 112-99 victory

Without looking at the standings, what place do you think the Knicks (14-13) currently sit in the Eastern Conference? Did you say tied for sixth? Probably not, and we can't blame you. But that's where they are! New York is back over .500 and winners of four straight after beating the De'Aaron Fox-less Kings (14-11). Julius Randle also appears to have his mojo back.

Box Score

Rockets get best win of season, beat Bucks 97-92

Khris Middleton just can't catch a break—he sprained his ankle after playing just six minutes in this one and didn't return. Milwaukee (19-7) has been elite in his absence this year, but he's essential to their postseason aspirations; here's to hoping he doesn't miss any time. Houston (8-18) got a 30-piece from Jalen Green, who makes scoring the ball look so dang easy. The Rockets' defense led the way late by only allowing 13 Bucks points in the fourth quarter.

Box Score

Embiid has monster game as 76ers win 131-113 against Hornets

The phrase "monster game" has kind of lost all of its meaning for Joel Embiid, considering that an average game for him is 33 points and ten rebounds. But on Sunday, he posted 53 & 12 on 20-32 shooting, which ... yeah, that's a monster game. The Sixers (14-12) handled the Hornets (7-20) who got 29 from both Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr.

Box Score

AJ Griffin hits another bizarre buzzer-beater as Hawks win crazy game against Bulls, 123-122

AJ Griffin has two buzzer-beaters in 23 career games. If he plays ten years and keeps up this pace, he'll finish his career with like ... 60 buzzer-beaters. Here's a rundown of the last two seconds in The A. Trae Young hit a jumper to give Atlanta (14-13) the lead with two seconds left. Then DeMar DeRozan was fouled on a three and made three free-throws to give Chicago (11-15) a one-point lead with 0.5 seconds left. Then, this:

Box Score

Latest Basketball News

NBA, Players' Association Agree To Extend Opt-Out Deadline: The initial date for the NBA and NBAPA to have the ability to opt-out of the current CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) was set for December 15th, but both sides have agreed to extend that deadline until February. The CBA does not end in February, but if no agreement is reached by then, the chances of a potential lockout will increase greatly.

Unsung Heroes

When your name is Trey, you basically have to be good at shooting threes. Okay, well, Trey Murphy III is actually named Kenneth, but the point stands. The second-year Virginia product flashed the 3&D potential he was drafted to provide in his rookie year, and his game has expanded greatly in his sophomore campaign. Averaging 13 points on 40% shooting from three and 94% from the free-throw line, Murphy's scoring (not just from deep) and length are both instrumental on a New Orleans team with an intriguing mix of offensive firepower and defensive stoppers.

New Orleans' Big 3 of Williamson, Ingram, and McCollum are tough to stop on the offensive end of the floor. But when the Pels’ defense falters a bit, having guys like Murphy and Herb Jones—who have both started at points this season—is crucial.

Good Reads

Domantas Sabonis is connecting everything for the Kings - Leo Tochterman (Sactown Royalty)

Russell In Reserve: How The Lakers Sixth-Man Experiment Is Helping Fuel Their Turnaround - Jackson Frank (OptaAnalyst)

Home Is Where The Fantasy Group Chat Is - Kasey Anderson (Flagrant Magazine)

Signing Off

Folks, we're getting close to the end of 2022. If things haven't been going your way this year, keep your head up! You'll figure it all out. Enjoy some basketball this week, and remember to be nice to yourself; no one really knows what they're doing, after all. Talk soon!

-Quinn Everts

Trivia Answer: The player in Friday's poll who has produced a 20-assist, 0-turnover game? Chris Paul!

Trivia Question: Who is the Philadelphia 76ers' all-time leading scorer?