A night of close-calls

Hey Enjoyers! Virtually every game yesterday went down to the wire, which means there is a lot of high-quality basketball to talk about. Didn't catch every minute? We got you covered. Let's dive on in!

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Bam 💥 Adebayo dominates the East's best...

Inner Peace ✌️ Knicks fans feel a bit better after last night's Cavs game... 

Joke's on You 🃏 Nikola Jokic returned with another MVP-caliber performance...

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Yesterday's Games

Heat scorch Celtics 98-95

Bam Adebayo bullied the Celtics (35-14) into an L with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and the go-ahead bucket with 20 seconds left. It was a back-and-forth contest, but Miami (27-22) heated up (get it?) with a 15-0 run. Props to Jayson Tatum with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists in the losing effort. Also, if you haven't heard of Haywood Highsmith (15 points, 10 rebounds), you better tune in! He's been a solid big for the Heat during this hot streak (two cringy heat puns in one paragraph? yikes). Regardless, take a look at this CHAOTIC last 90 seconds of the game:

Box Score

Knicks stifle the Cavaliers and the "what-ifs" 105-103

If you let a petty Knicks fan write the game script for last night's game against Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland, it probably would have looked a lot like how it ended up going down. Julius Randle was in prime 2020 form with 36 points, and the Knicks (26-23) snapped a four-game losing streak, walking away with the win over the Cavaliers (29-20).

Somewhat poetically, the Knicks' defense also dogged Spida in the final few minutes, stifling not one, not two, but three of his shot attempts—though the potential game-tying layup ended in a Mitchell injury, and had some thinking it was a foul. Props to Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who hustled for extra possessions and guarded the rim steadfastly. Randle, however, adapted and sank eight three-pointers, tying a career-high. Exactly how the Bing-Bong fan club drew it up!

Box Score

Jokic and Nuggets scrape by resurgent Pelicans 99-98

After a two-game hiatus, two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic let his presence be known. The Serbian Sensation (new nickname alert? 👀) scored a 25-point triple-double and a last-minute floater to catapult the Nuggets (34-14) over the Pelicans (26-22) in a narrow win. Denver controlled most of the game, but the Pelicans surged back with help from 12 fourth-quarter points from the ever-feisty Jose Alvarado. Plus, his kids are really, really cute. Still, The Joker extended New Orleans' losing streak to five and gave us a show!

Box Score

Wizards ward off Mavericks 127-126

Fun fact: In their 62-year history, the Washington Wizards/Bullets franchise is undefeated after trading away Rui Hachimura. Tonight, the Wizards (21-26) beat the Mavericks (25-24) on the road in a down-to-the-wire affair despite a valiant 41 points from Luka Doncic, including a jaw-dropping floater. Don't ignore greatness, folks! Tonight Luka Magic was simply ... magical. Still, a nasty 30-ball from Kyle Kuzma and a last-second clutch Delon Wright steal on Doncic elevated Washington over Dallas.

Box Score

Clippers top Lakers 133-115 despite LeBron's scoring outburst

Fortunately for LeBron James, his son Bronny was selected yesterday for the McDonald's All-American game. Unfortunately for LeBron James, he can't seem to beat his local rival, the LA Clippers (26-24). But we can't say he didn't try his best! Though moving to 3-10 versus the Clippers while in the purple and gold, King James dropped 46 points last night with a career-high nine three-pointers and hustled like he was still Bronny's age!

As if he didn't already have every record in the book, LeBron now has scored 40+ points against every team in the NBA! Meanwhile, the Clippers duo of Paul George (27 points) and Kawhi Leonard (25 points) shredded the Lakers (22-26) defense with help from bench microwaves Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson on their way to the smooth victory.

Box Score

Pacers pull away from Bulls 116-110, snap losing streak

In the continued absence of Tyrese "Enjoyer of Basketball" Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner chipped in 26 apiece to terminate the Bulls (22-25). The Pacers (24-25) eliminated a seven-game skid thanks to overcoming a 21-point deficit and a last-minute Mathurin bucket to pull away. Shoutout to T. J. McConnell for a 20-point, 10-assist night and the hard-nosed Pacers defense for wearing down a weary Bulls roster playing the second night of a back-to-back.

Box Score

Suns cruise past Hornets in 128-97 win

In the most one-sided match of the night, the Suns (25-24) steamrolled the Hornets (13-36) from the jump, concluding in a 30-point victory. Cam Johnson wowed with 24 points in just 18 minutes. Don't look now, but the Suns, who we told you to buy low on just a few weeks ago, are on a four-game win streak and have risen from 12th to 6th in the West!

Box Score

Monday Night Notes

Monday night saw one player's long-awaited return to the NBA. Jonathan Isaac hadn’t played an NBA game since August 2, 2020. 904 days later, he suited up for the Magic. Watching him check in to a standing ovation was truly moving, and he even had some very promising flashes on-court. Orlando also came away with a win over the Celtics and is officially Boston’s Kryptonite, winning the season series 3-1 against the #1 seed.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks committed a federal felony against the Pistons' defense, putting up 150 points in a 20-point victory which saw Giannis Antetokounmpo score 20 points in the first quarter alone. Additionally, Jalen Green notched a career-high 42 points in a win over the Timberwolves as the Trail Blazers bounced back from their loss to the Lakers with a blowout win over the Spurs, led by Damian Lillard's 37 points and 12 assists. 

Latest Basketball News/Lakers Are Having Nunn of It

Lakers acquire Rui Hachimura

Wake up!! It's Trade O'Clock!! The Wizards traded Rui Hachimura in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. For Wizards fans, y'all received a 2023 pick via CHI, a 2029 pick via LA, and the less favorable Wizards/Lakers pick in 2028. If that second-round 8th grader becomes the next Jokic, Draymond, or Ginobili, this will be a great trade!

Meanwhile, Lakers fans finally got the move many wanted. Woj says that the Lakers intend to sign Rui, a restricted free agent, to an extension this summer—something the Wizards abstained from doing. So what does this mean for the LakeShow? Well, the 24-year-old Japanese forward offers decent shooting at the 4 spot, a strong frame, and chemistry with former teammate Russell Westbrook. Good work, LeBro—we mean, Rob Pelinka!

Market Watch

Welcome back to Market Watch, where we track the metaphorical "stock" of NBA players and teams. This week, we have two teams that expected to live at the bottom of the standings before the start of the season. One of these teams came out swinging but is now in decline. The other started near the bottom of the West, but now their stock is surging!

Rising Stock: Oklahoma City Thunder

The OKC Thunder have won eight of their last 11 games and are having fun on the court and on social media while doing it. Josh Giddey is a nightly triple-double threat, Lu Dort imprisons your favorite star on a regular basis, and under-the-radar find Isaiah Joe is a three-point sniper (we wrote a thread on just how good he is here!) And, of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is giving defenses headaches seven days a week.

Falling Stock: Indiana Pacers

After shocking the NBA with their competitive start, the Pacers are 1-7 in their last eight games and are currently the 9th seed; however, it's important to note that all seven losses have synced up with Tyrese Haliburton being sidelined due to various injuries. There are two spins here. The pessimistic view is that while they’ve had a fun and unexpected season, you probably should’ve sold your Pacers stock three weeks ago when they were the 6th seed out east. The optimistic spin is that if you want to swing for the fences, you should buy the dip, as a healthy Haliburton and an uneventful trade deadline could have Indiana near the upper half of the play-in tournament. 

Frozen Moments

• When discussing jump balls, Bill Walton got oddly philosophical.

• Shaedon Sharpe can absolutely float through the air.

• The Kings' sharpshooting just tied an NBA record!

Good Reads

The 24 Players Who Deserve to Make the 2023 NBA All-Star Game - Michael Pina (The Ringer)

Aaron Gordon is Making a Strong All-Star Case - Rohan Nadkarni (Sports Illustrated)

What We're Enjoying

Stephen A. Smith released his book, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, which details his childhood, off-camera persona, and professional challenges.

Happiest Country in the World: Watch this travel vlog on how this country is carbon negative, measures success in Growth National Happiness (GNH) instead of Growth Domestic Product (GDP), and is said to be the happiest country in the world!

Signing Off

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-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: In the first NBA All-Star Game in 1951, Ed Macauley won the All-Star Game MVP Award! Never heard of him? Well, he actually was the NBA's all-time leading scorer for a season before being dethroned. Which brings us to today's trivia question...

Trivia Question: Seven players have, at some point, been the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Which one of these players has never held this crown?