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Meaningful basketball in December? It still doesn’t feel real to us. Let’s talk about the first two teams to book their ticket to Vegas, an Eastern Conference star potentially on the move, and more.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Malcolm Brogdon, Onyeka Okongwu, Roy Hibbert, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Enjoyers Tom and Fazeed! 🎉

Game Recaps

Bucks fend off short-handed Magic 114-109 with vintage Dame 4Q

With a spot in the semis on the line, the Magic and Bucks managed to put on a nail-biting show despite one side lacking its usual star power. Without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Orlando’s role players showed they could step up when it mattered most and hang with the NBA’s best—especially Jalen Suggs (32 PTS), who took us back to his Gonzaga days with 18 points in the 4th.

But hey, a win is a win in the NBA Cup, and we doubt the Bucks will be complaining any time soon. Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 PTS, 4 BLK) may have dominated the first three quarters with some help from Bobby Portis (22 PTS, 10 REB) off the bench, but it was Damian Lillard (28 PTS) who came through when it mattered most for Milwaukee, dropping 11 points in the final two minutes to book the Bucks’ ticket to Vegas. 🎟️

Thunder roll past Mavs 118-104 behind SGA’s dominant night

The NBA Cup quarterfinals gave us a tantalizing matchup between two of the league’s brightest stars, but by the end of the night, it was clear who wore the crown. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (39 PTS) delivered a near-flawless performance, dropping bucket after bucket with a mesmerizing mix of midrange pull-ups, tough drives, and silky jumpers—all while taking just four trips to the free-throw line. If this was a battle for the title of the NBA’s best guard, SGA made his case loud and clear. 🏆

Meanwhile, Luka Dončić (16 PTS, 11 AST) struggled to find his rhythm against the relentless defense of Lu Dort (11 PTS), who spent the night making life miserable for Dallas’ star. Even with the Mavericks shooting a solid percentage from deep, they couldn’t keep pace. The Thunder were everywhere, dominating the offensive glass and forcing turnovers to create a boatload of extra possessions that turned what could’ve been a nail-biter into a one-sided affair.

KAT’s three sends Raptors packing in 113-108 Knicks win

It’s been less than 30 games, and yet Karl-Anthony Towns (24 PTS, 15 REB) is already embracing the Empire State of the Mind. The Big Purr finished off this Knicks’ win with a layup and an ice-cold three on back-to-back possessions in the final 40 seconds, before dishing a little (okay, maybe a lot) of trash talk to some hecklers in the crowd.

Despite the loss, the Raptors reminded us that they have the potential to be a really solid team when healthy. RJ Barrett (30 PTS) once again led the way for Toronto, as the former Knick continues to showcase exactly why he was a top-three pick back in 2019.

Unfortunately, we have to deliver some bad news with this one as well. Scottie Barnes went down in the third quarter with what looked like a pretty rough ankle injury. We don’t have news from the Raptors yet about how much time he’ll miss, but prayers up for the young star. 🙏

Jimmy Buckets on the Move?

Two Finals appearances, a historic 8-seed upset, and multiple iconic media day hairstyles later, it looks like Jimmy Butler might be on his way out of South Beach. According to the latest reports from Shams Charania, the Miami Heat are “open to listening” to offers for the six-time All-Star, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

But the million-dollar question—or in this case, the $48,798,677 one — is where he’ll end up. Luckily, Shams left us with a bit of intel on this front as well. Nearing the end of his career, the 35-year-old Butler seems to have one thing on his mind—winning a ring. At the top of his list are three Western Conference contenders: the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors.

With two months left until the trade deadline, it’s a bit too early to say whether Jimmy ends up moving. But it’s certainly one to watch out for…

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Numbers to Remember

24.1

…LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller’s combined three-point attempts per game this season, which would be the most by a duo in NBA history. First-year coach Charles Lee has taken a bold step by giving his two stars the greenest of lights from long range… but the results haven’t followed yet. Over their last ten games, Ball and Miller are averaging nearly 61 points a night, but it’s taking them a whopping 50 shots to do so. We still have to give a round of applause to any team willing to push the limits of basketball like this.

6.5

…Dyson Daniels’ deflections per game since joining the Hawks, far and away the most in the league. To put that in perspective, nobody else has even gotten above 4.5 since they started tracking the stat in 2016. The former eighth overall pick seems to have found the perfect home in Atlanta next to Trae Young, and he could be just the defensive dynamo the team needs to win a playoff series for the first time since 2021.

0

…the number of players on the Grizzlies averaging 30+ minutes per game this season. Winners of nine of their last 10, the Grizz have adopted a “win by committee” style reminiscent of teams like the 2013 Nuggets and 2016 Hawks. But unlike those squads, Memphis is repping some serious star power in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr, a combination that could be a formidable force come playoff time.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

A huge THANK YOU to all of you for selling out our classic crewneck in just a few hours! 🙌 You continue to show us so much love and support, and we can’t wait to keep bringing you more. Stay tuned, because we’ve got something BIG coming soon… 👀

Talk soon,

-Spencer Poole