All good things must come to an end.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Semi Ojeleye, Josh Smith, and Tina Charles! 🎉

Weekly Wrap-Up

LeBron breaks 19-year double-digit scoring streak, Lakers beat Raptors 123-120

The Lakers took down the Raptors last night thanks to a game-winning three from Rui Hachimura (12 PTS), but the story of this game was much less about that shot and more about the pass that made it possible.

With three seconds left in this game, it was none other than LeBron James with the ball in his hands. The game was tied at 120, and the NBA legend with a streak of scoring at least 10+ PTS stretching back to January 2007 only had eight.

LeBron got picked up by Immanuel Quickley at the top of the key, and instead of driving through the paint for what could have been the game-winning layup, he kicked it out to a wide open Hachimura on the perimeter.

Three-ball. Game over. Lakers win. Streak lost.

Well…

Spurs survive Magic comeback, Kornet secures 114-112 win with late block

With a lot of focus on San Antonio’s young guards Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle (even with the latter’s hip injury), it’s easy to forget that De’Aaron Fox is also in the mix.

Don’t do it.

After cruising into halftime with only nine points scored, Fox (31 PTS, 5 AST, 5 REB) helped the Spurs open up their margin over Jalen Suggs (24 PTS, 4 AST, 4 REB) and the Magic after the break on Wednesday night. Swipa got some help on the perimeter from Julian Champagnie (14 PTS, 4-7 3PT) and Devin Vassell (15 PTS, 3-7 3PT), and just like that, San Antonio was up by 15 halfway through the third.

Orlando didn’t take no for an answer, especially not Franz Wagner (25 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB). His 10 fourth-quarter points helped the Magic chip away at San Antonio’s lead, eventually cutting it to a one-point margin with just a minute left. But De’Aaron Fox hit his free throws—all five of them in the final minute—and Luke Kornet (5 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLK) sealed the deal with an epic block on Wagner to finish the game. Even without Wemby, these Spurs are special!

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• Here comes the rookie! VJ Edgecombe (10 PTS) saved the day last night with a put-back that gave the 76ers a 99-98 win over Golden State. Philly had led for the entire game thanks to Tyrese Maxey (35 PTS, 4-10 3PT), but the Warriors kept themselves in it with persistent defense and a true team effort on offense.

• Jamal Murray dropped 52 PTS—just three shy of his career high from this January—to help the Nuggets blow out Indiana on Wednesday. The final score was 135-120, but Pascal Siakam (23 PTS) and Co. had already had their work cut out for them; Denver was up by 25 going into the 4Q thanks to Murray’s hot shooting (19-25 FG, 10-11 3PT).

• Giannis exited early with a calf strain (which’ll keep him out for a few weeks), but the Bucks still came up with a 113-109 win over Cade Cunningham (17 PTS, 7 AST, 7 REB) and the top-tier Pistons. Kevin Porter Jr. (26 PTS, 7 AST) and Ryan Rollins (22 PTS, 8 AST) led the way for Milwaukee while Tobias Harris (20 PTS, 5-8 3PT) shot the lights out for Detroit.

• Cooper Flagg (22 PTS, 6 REB, 9-13 FG) led the Mavericks to a 118-108 win over Miami despite solid performances from the Heat’s big men—Bam Adebayo (21 PTS, 7 REB) and Kel’el Ware (22 PTS, 10 REB, 4-5 3PT)—up against Anthony Davis (17 PTS, 17 REB, 3 BLK), who made his presence felt on both ends.

• Josh Giddey came up with a triple-less triple-double (28 PTS, 11 AST, 11 REB, 0 3PM), but the Nets took down Chicago behind a standout performance from new Net Michael Porter Jr. (33 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL). Brooklyn beats the Bulls, 113-103.

• The Knicks overcame a big night from LaMelo Ball (34 PTS, 9 AST, 8 REB) and came away with a 119-104 home win over the Hornets. Karl-Anthony Towns (35 PTS, 18 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL) put on a show for the MSG crowd while Jalen Brunson (26 PTS, 5 AST, 3 STL) did just enough in his matchup against Melo.

Top Five Friday

The NBA Cup knockout round is almost here! The eight teams left vying to claim the third-ever in-season trophy will match up on Tuesday and Wednesday—let’s rank our top five contenders, shall we?

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0, quarterfinals vs. PHX): Undefeated in NBA Cup play and as close as you can get to being undefeated to begin with, the Thunder are undoubtably the team to beat in any competition at this point. With Jalen Williams back in the fold next to SGA (not to mention MVP candidate Isaiah Hartenstein), there’s no sign this team is gonna stop cruising through the competition.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (4-0, quarterfinals vs. SA): Would winning two of the first three NBA Cups solidify LeBron James as the greatest athlete to ever walk this Earth? Maybe not. But the Lakers are 5-1 in games LeBron has played in since the King’s return from injury, Luka Doncic just can’t stop scoring 35+, and Austin Reaves has shown he’s on a different timing this year. Two outta three ain’t bad!

3. New York Knicks (3-1, quarterfinals at TOR): Despite an injury to OG Anunoby a few weeks ago, the Knicks haven’t been as ravaged by injuries as some of the other teams in this bracket. We’ve seen plenty from Jalen Brunson and KAT in the little over a year since the Towns trade, but with a first-round matchup against an inexperienced Raptors squad, this could be their chance to capture their first trophy together.

4. Miami Heat (4-0, quarterfinals at ORL): Up against a Banchero-less Magic team riding on the backs of Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs in the first round, the new Norman Powell-led Heat are ready to make their first entry into the NBA history books. Tyler Herro returning from injury at the perfect time gives Miami a nice scoring boost as well heading into the tournament.

5. Toronto Raptors (4-0, quarterfinals vs. NYK): The Raptors have been one of the league’s quietest success stories this season, and it’s because both Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes are stuffing the stat-sheet AND averaging 20+ PPG. If they can get past the Knicks and break out of the East half of the bracket, Toronto might be just the perfect surprise to take down the reigning champs.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

Happy Friday, Enjoyers! Stay safe and warm this weekend—we’ll catch you on Monday.

Austin Zeglis