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Hey Shai, does any NBA guard have as many 40-point games as you do this season?

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Dwyane Wade, Ayo Dosunmu, and Enjoyers John, Ope, and Noah! 🎉

Game Recaps

Shai’s fifth 40-point game of season leads OKC past Cleveland in cathartic 134-114 win

SGA and company might have been just a little upset that Cleveland broke their 15-game win streak last week. Upset enough, at least, to turn what could have been a tight rematch of that legendary game into an absolute BLOWOUT.

This game wasn’t even as close as the final score indicates, which is funny considering the Thunder won by 20. OKC was up by more than 40 in the third quarter, propelled by leading man Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (40 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL) and cast members Lu Dort (22 PTS, 6 3PM) and Jalen Williams (19 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 5 stocks).

And as if the narrative of OKC “getting even” didn’t make enough sense already, the Thunder and Cavs now both sit atop their respective conferences at 34-6 exactly. You gotta love the NBA!

New York survives Philly comeback in 125-119 overtime win

The first half of this one was all New York—they led by 13 going into the break—but by the word “overtime” in the headline, you can probably predict what happened in the second.

After Mikal Bridges (16 first-half points) helped the Knicks open up a large lead in the second quarter, New York saw it dwindle away when Tyrese Maxey (25 second-half points) turned the jets on after the break. It was a back-and-forth game by the 4Q, with hustle play after hustle play earning Josh Hart (10 PTS, 17 REB, 12 AST) his fifth triple-double of the season, but a goaltending penalty on a Maxey lay-in with three seconds left tied the score by the end of regulation.

And in OT, the Knicks went a perfect 5-5 from the floor to jump ahead of Philly and secure the win—a masterclass.

Elsewhere around the NBA…

• Houston and Sacramento fought until the last second of regulation late last night, but clutch free throws from Malik Monk (28 PTS, 9 AST) and DeMar DeRozan (31 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST) after great nights from both lifted the Kings over the Rockets 132-127.

• A big day for Devin Booker (37 PTS, 5 AST) propelled the Suns over Washington 130-123 despite a career game for Wizards rookie guard Kyshawn George (24 PTS, 4 AST, 4 REB, 6-8 3PT).

• Donte Divincenzo (28 PTS, 6-12 3PT, 9 AST) and the Timberwolves did everything they could in the final minutes of the fourth quarter against Golden State, but when Steph Curry (31 PTS, 8 AST) is on the other team, it’s hard to claw back from any kind of margin. The Warriors finished off Minnesota, 116-115.

• Toronto grabbed a 110-97 upset win over Boston thanks to a near-triple-double from RJ Barrett (22 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST) and a great all-around performance by Scottie Barnes (18 PTS, 9 AST, 2 BLK).

• Breakout alert! Two-way guard Keaton Wallace (27 PTS, 4-7 3PT, 6 REB, 6 AST, 4 STL) stunned the world on Wednesday when he stuffed the stat sheet and led the Hawks to a more than comfortable 110-94 win over Chicago.

• Tyler Herro’s 34 PTS weren’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ team effort, as Los Angeles (three players with 22+ PTS) ended their three-game skid with a 117-108 win over Miami.

Top Five Friday

The trade deadline is officially less than three weeks away! We already saw one swap—the Suns getting Nick Richards from Charlotte for Josh Okogie—but in case you’re hoping your favorite squad makes a move, here are the top five under-the-radar role players you should look out for.

1. Daniel Theis, NOP

Theis should be plenty available for any team to call New Orleans with a trade inquiry, with Yves Missi breaking out into ROTY conversations and the Pelicans’ season virtually over. Theis is a veteran shooting big with playoff experience, which is one of those archetypes contending teams just love.

Remember this?

2. Bruce Brown, TOR

Bruce Brown didn’t play this season until December, and he has only suited up for eight of the Raptors’ games since then, averaging just about six points a night. Given Toronto’s place in the Eastern Conference standings and what we’ve seen Brown can do on good teams, like his time in Denver and Indiana, Cowboy Bruce could be on the move.

3. Javonte Green, NOP

Another Pelican—such is life when you’re 10-32 near the trade deadline.

We’ve seen what Javonte Green can do late in the season for teams trying to make a postseason push. Remember when, after not playing the entire 2023-24 season, he averaged 12.2 PPG on back-to-back 10-day contracts with the Bulls? Green could contribute to the bottom of a contender’s rotation tomorrow.

4. Simone Fontecchio, DET

With guys like Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. rising to the top as the role-players driving the Pistons’ recent surge, it might be time for Detroit to see what they can get for Fontecchio. He’s been a fairly consistent shooter since his days back in Utah, and at 6’8” provides some size as well.

5. Ousmane Dieng, OKC

After OKC paid a king’s ransom (multiple first round picks) for him on draft night back in 2022, it seems like Ousmane Dieng might just not fit with the Thunder. He’s still only 21 and has only played in around 12 minutes per game since being drafted, keeping the door open for a new team to unlock what made Dieng a coveted prospect.

Where to Find the Best Deals on Hoka Shoes

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Here are the top 8 stores where you can find great deals on Hoka.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Happy Friday, Enjoyers! If you’re at the beginning of a long weekend thanks to MLK Day, take advantage of the extended break to get a head start on a project you’ve been putting off. No better time than now! See you Monday.

Austin Zeglis