The Pistons end the Celtics’ eight-game winning streak, 113 to 104

The Boston Celtics are currently in the midst of their longest winning streak this season, looking for their ninth straight victory.  They will hope to do that as they battle the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena.  The Pistons, however, are facing the complete opposite situation.  They are trying to find a way to put an end to what is now a six-game skid.

The Celtics and the Pistons have played each other an inclusive total of 420 times in the past as Detroit Pistons won 156 games while the Boston team went on to win 264 matchups.  This meeting between the two teams will mark the third of four times that the Celtics and Pistons will battle each other during this season.

The last time they saw each other was on October 30 when the Celtics pulled out a 108-105 victory.  During that game, Kyrie scored 31 points, pulled down 5 rebounds, dished off 5 assists, and committed one steal while Blake Griffin finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and one block.

INACTIVES:

Boston Celtics:

-Jabari Bird (personal)
-Al Horford (knee; 12.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 49.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 70.0 FT%)
-Guerschon Yabusele (ankle; 1.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 32.0 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 87.5 FT%)
-Semi Ojeleye (coach’s decision; 3.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.1 APG, 39.7 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 63.6 FT%)
-Brad Wanamaker (coach’s decision; 3.2 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 48.1 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 83.3 FT%)
-PJ Dozier (G-League; 3.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 50.0 FG%, 50.0 3P%)

Detroit Pistons:

-Henry Ellenson (ankle; 6.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 40.0 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 100.0 FT%)
-Zaza Pachulia (illness; 4.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 38.6 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 80.3 FT%)
-Glenn Robinson (ankle; 4.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 39.0 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 84.6 FT%)
-Ish Smith (groin; 9.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 41.5 FG%, 32.9 3P%, 66.7 FT%)
-Khyri Thomas (coach’s decision; 1.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 33.3 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 50.0 FT%)
-Keenan Evans (G-League)
-Zach Lofton (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)

GAMETIME:

With both the Pistons and the Celtics having something to prove, they played hard in the first half, shooting in the low 50-percents.  Kyrie Irving would get hot as he scored 17 of Boston’s 56 first-half points.  He nailed a three-pointer in the middle of the first period while recording 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.  Marcus Morris, who is averaging a career-high 15 points per game this season, was kept to just seven points in the 15 minutes that he played in the first half, finishing the game with a sum of nine points.

Jayson Tatum, Aron Baynes, and Marcus Smart all chipped in with six points each while Smart earned his from beyond the arc.  Gordon Hayward, who is still trying to bounce back from a nasty injury he endured in last season’s opener, played the most minutes off the bench but was kept to just two points.

On the other end of the floor, Blake Griffin put up 11 points on 36 percent shooting, including a trey in the first period.  Reggie Bullock, who missed the last five games due to an ankle injury, drilled two three-pointers and a free-throw to earn himself seven points.  Andre Drummond had 5 points in the first half but grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked one shot while recording one assist and one steal.  Langston Galloway played 15 minutes off the bench as he chalked up 10 points, helping the home team gain a 57-56 lead at halftime.

The Detroit Pistons would be about business in the second half as they went on a 56 to 48 run, shooting 46 percent from the field.  Griffin added 16 more points to his scoring total while earning four defensive rebounds and two assists.  He did, however, have five turnovers.  Andre Drummond contributed with 14 points while going up for 14 boards and preventing 3 shots from going in.  Jose Calderon, who is averaging a career-low two points a game this season, played the most minutes off the bench but was kept to just three points.

As for the Massachusetts team, Marcus Smart lit the floor up with 15 points while hitting three treys.  He also had 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals while Tatum helped out with 11 points.  Irving struggled in the last half as he was limited to just nine points on 23 percent shooting.  Hayward had four points off the bench but it wouldn’t matter much as the Pistons held on to end the Celtics’ eight-game winning streak, 113-104.  Blake Griffin finished the game with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and one steal while Kyrie Irving had 26 points, a season-high-tying 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

So…what’s next?

The Boston Celtics will host T.J. Warren (18.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 52.1 FG%, 44.4 3P%) and the Phoenix Suns (5-24) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.  This matchup will mark the second and final meeting between these two ball clubs this season.  November 8 was the last time they met up as the Celtics escaped with a 116 to 109 victory.  Kyrie Irving finished that game with 39 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and one block while Devin Booker settled for 38 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals.

The Detroit Pistons will host Giannis Antetokounmpo (26.6 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 6.1 APG, 58.2 FG%, 13.1 3P%) and the Milwaukee Bucks (19-9) on Monday at 7:00 p.m.  This will be the second of four games that these two teams will play against each other this season.  The last time they battled each other was on December 5 when the Pistons fell to the Bucks, 92-115.  During that game, Eric Bledsoe scored 27 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished off 4 assists, and committed 3 steals while Blake Griffin had 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and one block.

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The Clippers hand the Pistons a 108-95 loss in Griffin’s first game against his former team

It’s been almost two weeks since superstar Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons by the Los Angeles Clippers and it seems like the Pistons were the winners in that trade, notching a five-game winning streak right after the exchange.  They will look to push it to six games as they host the Clippers tonight.  This will be the very first time that Blake Griffin will face off against the Clippers and will be the last time that these two teams will play each other this season.

The Clippers and the Pistons have battled each other a grand total of 114 times in the past as the Pistons won 71 games while the Clippers were limited to just 43 victories.  The last time that they clashed with each other was four days before Halloween as the Pistons pulled away with a 95 to 87 win.  During that game, Andre Drummond scored 15 points, pulled down 17 rebounds, gave out one assist, committed 2 steals, and blocked 3 shots.  Reggie Jackson also had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and one steal.  Austin Rivers finished the game with 20 points, 4 rebounds, one assist, and 4 steals.

INACTIVES:

Los Angeles Clippers:

Patrick Beverley (knee; 12.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 40.3 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
Jawun Evans (abdominal; 5.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 34.3 FG%, 26.5 3P%)
C.J. Williams (ankle; 5.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 46.2 FG%, 35.0 3P%)
Boban Marjanovic (coach’s decision; 5.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 51.9 FG%)
Milos Teodosic (foot; 9.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 38.2 FG%, 33.8 3P%)
Sindarius Thornwell (coach’s decision; 3.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.7 APG, 44.4 FG%, 38.5 3P%)

Detroit Pistons:

Dwight Buycks (illness; 8.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 46.2 FG%, 39.1 3P%)
Reggie Jackson (ankle; 14.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 44.6 FG%, 33.9 3P%)
Jon Leuer (ankle; 5.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.6 APG, 41.7 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Henry Ellenson (coach’s decision; 2.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 34.4 FG%, 34.6 3P%)
Reggie Hearn (coach’s decision; 3.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 100.0 FG%, 100.0 3P%)
Eric Moreland (coach’s decision; 1.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 50.9 FG%)
Jameer Nelson (coach’s decision; 5.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 41.0 FG%, 36.4 3P%)
James Ennis (acquired; 6.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 48.6 FG%, 35.7 3P%)
Kay Felder (G-League; 3.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 29.4 FG%, 21.1 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The game would have a competitive start as the Detroit Pistons shot forty-eight percent from the field as the Los Angeles Clippers shot forty-four percent from the field.  Montrezl Harrell ended up scoring 12 points off of the bench while grabbing three offensive rebounds.  Danilo Gallinari would contribute with 10 points as he knocked down a three-pointer in the first quarter.  He also had two defensive rebounds while Austin Rivers collected eight points on seventy-five percent shooting.  DeAndre Jordan was kept scoreless but still managed to record three offensive rebounds and three defensive rebounds.  Lou Williams played 14 minutes off of the bench but was limited to just six points.

On the other end of the court, former Suns forward Reggie Bullock got extremely hot for 16 points on sixty-seven percent shooting from the field.  He earned 12 of those points from beyond the arc while gobbling up three defensive rebounds.  Blake Griffin ended up just scoring nine points but did put up four defensive rebounds and four assists to go along with it.  Ish Smith helped out with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals while Stanley Johnson had 6 points and 3 rebounds.  Andre Drummond posted up five points and seven rebounds in the 20 minutes that he played.  Anthony Tolliver played the most minutes off of the bench but just had five points as the Pistons went into halftime with a 56-52 lead.

The visiting team would close things out in the second half as they went on a huge 56-38 run, shooting forty-nine percent from the field.  During that run, Lou Williams played the most minutes off of the bench as he lit the floor up with 20 points.  Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Danilo Gallinari, and Montrezl Harrell would all have six points each while Austin Rivers earned eight points.  Blake Griffin would score 10 more points but it wouldn’t be enough as the Clippers handed the Pistons a 108-95 loss.  Lou Williams finished the game with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals while Blake Griffin had 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and one block.  Reggie Bullock also had 19 points, along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

So…what’s next?

The Los Angeles Clippers will travel up to Pennsylvania to take on Joel Embiid (23.7 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 49 FG%) and the Philadelphia 76ers (26-25) on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  This matchup will mark the second and final time that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.  The Clippers and the 76ers have battled each other a grand total of 130 times in the past as the Clippers won 60 games while the 76ers went on to win 70 games.  November 13 was the last time they saw each as the 76ers survived that matchup with a 109 to 105 victory.  Joel Embiid finished that game with 32 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, and one block while Lou Williams had 31 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals.

The Detroit Pistons will visit the Peach State to take on Dennis Schroder (19.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.4 APG, 43 FG%) and the Atlanta Hawks (17-38) on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.  This game between the Pistons and the Hawks will be the third of four times that these two teams will meet up this season.  They have played each other a total of 463 times in the past as the Pistons won 234 games while the Hawks pulled out 229 wins.  The last time they played each other was on December 14 when the Detroit team handed the Hawks a 105 to 91 loss.  Tobias Harris finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and one steal while Ersan Ilyasova settled for 23 points, 3 rebounds, and one assist.

The Los Angeles Clippers pull away with a 120-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers

It seems like the Los Angeles Clippers has taken over as the top Los Angeles basketball team as the Lakers would be stuck in a four-year playoff drought, going on five years if they fail once again.  But with Magic Johnson in charge and the new additions of rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, they would hope to break that streak but it won’t be easy as the Western Conference has grown to become more competitive than ever.

Tonight, the Clippers will host their city rivals at the Staples Center as this matchup will mark the second of four meetings this season between these two teams.  The Lakers and the Clippers have met up a total of 213 times with the Lakers winning 145 games and the Clippers winning 68 games.  The last time that they battled each other was on the season’s opener, October 19.  During that game, Blake Griffin scored 29 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, dished off 3 assists, and committed 2 steals.  Brook Lopez had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

INACTIVES:

Los Angeles Clippers:

Patrick Beverley (knee; 12.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 40.3 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
Danilo Gallinari (buttocks; 12.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 35.5 FG%, 26.0 3P%)
Milos Teodosic (foot; 5.5 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 33.3 FG%, 42.9 3P%)
Jamil Wilson (coach’s decision; 0.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
Brice Johnson (G-League; 2.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.2 APG, 71.4 FG%)

Los Angeles Lakers:

Tyler Ennis (coach’s decision; 1.8 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 36.8 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Ivica Zubac (coach’s decision; 0.8 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.0 APG, 40.0 FG%)
Alex Caruso (G-League; 1.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)
Luol Deng (2.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)
Vander Blue (G-League; 0.5 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.3 APG, 33.3 FG%)
Thomas Bryant (G-League)

GAMETIME:

The Clippers would start things off right for the game as they shot fifty-six percent from the field in the first half, limiting the Lakers to forty-eight percent.  Blake Griffin would end up dropping 15 points with two three-pointers in the second quarter.  He also had eight rebounds and four assists while former Lakers’ player Lou Williams scored 13 points.  Austin Rivers would collect 12 points while earning four rebounds and three assists.  Rookie guard Sindarius Thornwell played the most minutes off of the bench as he settled for just a three-pointer.

On the other end of the floor, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would help the Lakers out as he heats up for 20 points while knocking down four three-pointers in the first quarter.  Kyle Kuzma ended up with ten points as Larry Nance collected four rebounds to put with his six points.  Jordan Clarkson would play 14 minutes off of the bench to earn six points as the Lakers go into halftime with a tight 62-60 lead.

The Clippers would end up outscoring the Lakers, 60-53, in the second half behind Lou Williams’ amazing 29 points.  Blake Griffin would have 11 points but unfortunately, he would have to leave the game in the fourth quarter due to a knee injury.  Brandon Ingram would put up 15 points for the Lakers, along with Clarkson’s 11 points but it was the Los Angeles Clippers who sneak away with a 120-115 win.  Lou Williams finished the game with a season-high 42 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and one steal.  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would end up with a season-high 29 points, 6 rebounds, one assist, and 3 steals.

So…what’s next?

The Los Angeles Clippers will host Rodney Hood (17.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 42 FG%) and the Utah Jazz (9-11) on Thursday at 10:30 p.m.  The Clippers and the Jazz have battled each other a total of 193 times with the Clippers pulling 83 wins while the Jazz had 110 wins.  This game would mark the second of four times they play each other this season as the Clippers defeated the Jazz on October 24, 102 to 84.  During that game, Blake Griffin scored 22 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, dished off 6 assists, and blocked one shot.  Donovan Mitchell had 19 points, 2 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

The Los Angeles Lakers will host Klay Thompson (20.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 50 FG%) and the Golden State Warriors (15-5) on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.  These two teams have met up a total of 447 times with the Lakers winning 275 games and the Warriors winning 172 of them.  This game would mark the first of four matchups between them this season.

The Indiana Pacers deal the Sacramento Kings a 101 to 83 loss

The Sacramento Kings were hoping to break the three-game losing streak as they took on the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.  The Pacers, on the other hand, are trying to bounce back from a 114 to 96 loss in the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Sacramento Kings would play without Vince Carter (coach’s decision) last night, along with Garrett Temple (rest), Harry Giles (knee), JaKarr Sampson, and Jack Cooley.  The Pacers would be without Edmond Sumner (knee), Myles Turner (neck), and Glenn Robinson III (ankle).

The Pacers would open the game up well as they shot forty-seven percent from the field, limiting the Kings to thirty percent. Thaddeus Young would score six points off of fifty percent shooting from the field. Domantas Sabonis would also put up six points while pulling down nine rebounds and dishing off two assists. Former Thunder’s guard Victor Oladipo played for the entire quarter but was only held to five points while Darren Collison was limited to just three free-throws.

As for the Kings, Bogdan Bogdanovic played for eleven minutes but was held to only four points but he did manage to get ahold of two defensive rebounds. He shot fifty percent while De’Aaron Fox would come off the bench to also score four points off of fifty percent shooting. Kosta Koufos came off the bench to chalk up three and two defensive rebounds as the Indiana Pacers went into the second quarter with an early 24-13 advantage.

The home team continued to impress as they go on a large 31-17 run in the second quarter, shooting a high fifty-seven percent from the field while holding the Sacramento team to thirty-five percent. Bojan Bogdanovic would heat up for ten points while shooting sixty-seven percent from the field. Young ended up with five points in the quarter with three coming from beyond the arc. Oladipo continued to contribute with five points, as well, along with two assists. Sabonis would shoot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field to give himself four points to go along with the three rebounds and three assists he collected.

On the other end of the floor, former Spurs guard George Hill would chalk up four points while collecting one defensive rebound.  Bogdanovic would end up connecting for a three-pointer while giving out one assist.  Zach Randolph played for eight minutes only to be held to two points and two turnovers.  Willie Cauley-Stein jumped up to grab one offensive rebound and one defensive rebound to go along with the two free-throws that he made.  The Kings did not give up but it was still the Indiana Pacers who enter halftime with a huge 55 to 30 lead.

The California team would look to respond in the third period as they shot forty-one percent from the field while holding the Indiana Pacers to a very low seventeen percent.  Randolph would make up for his performance last quarter as he posts up eight points while collecting one offensive rebound and two defensive rebounds.  Hill contributed with four points as he shot only thirty-three percent from the field.  He did manage to get ahold of two defensive rebounds in the eleven minutes that he played.  Cauley-Stein was held to just two points but would do some work on the boards as he grabbed one offensive rebound and four defensive rebounds.

Thaddeus Young would try to help the Pacers out as he scored four points with three coming from behind the arc and the other one from the free-throw line.  He also gobbled up two defensive rebounds while Maryland-native Victor Oladipo knocked down four free-throws at the line to go along with his two defensive rebounds.  Domantas Sabonis and bench player Lance Stephenson would each score two points and pull down two defensive rebounds as the Indiana team still had an advantage at the end of the third, 69-48.

The Kings would take the last attempt at a comeback as they shot fifty-eight percent from the field while keeping the Pacers at only forty-two percent.  Fox played the entire quarter as he got hot for twelve points, shooting seventy-five percent from the field.  He also managed to record one offensive rebound, two defensive rebounds, four assists, and one steal.  Skal Labissiere also played the entire quarter but he was held to only six points and two defensive rebounds.  Rookie point guard Frank Mason was also held to just six points while Justin Jackson would score five points with three coming from beyond the arc.

The Pacers would shut down the Kings’ attempt to come back as they finished things off in the last twelve minutes.  Cory Joseph came off of the bench to record eleven points as he shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He would earn nine of those points from behind the three-point line as former 76ers’ forward Alex Poythress collected two three-pointers.   Bojan Bogdanovic scored five points with three coming from beyond the arc and the other two from the charity stripe.  T.J. Leaf played for the entire quarter as he recorded four points, two offensive rebounds, and two assists.  Stephenson came off of the bench to chalk up two points, three rebounds, and four assists as the Indiana Pacers easily pull away with a 101 to 83 win over the Sacramento Kings.  Bojan Bogdanovic finished the game with seventeen points, three rebounds, and four assists.  De’Aaron Fox would finish with eighteen points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal.

The Celtics break an 11-game losing streak to the Spurs as they pull out a 108 to 94 win

The San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics would meet for the first time this season, which marked the first of two games that these teams would play against each other.  The Celtics have lost the last eleven matchups to the Spurs but things would be different as the Boston team will have Kyrie Irving.  The Spurs were without Darrun Hilliard, Joffrey Lauvergne (ankle), Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps), Tony Parker (quadriceps), Matt Costello (coach’s decision), and Manu Ginobili (rest).  The Celtics would be without Kadeem Allen, Jabari Bird, and Marcus Morris (knee).  The Celtics looked to extend their winning streak to five as they hosted the Spurs at the TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics would start the game off impressively as they shot fifty percent from the field in the first quarter as the Spurs shot forty-eight percent.  Jaylen Brown would chalk up nine points while shooting sixty percent from the field.  He also gobbled up three defensive rebounds and dished off one assist.  Kyrie Irving also scored nine points in the eleven minutes that he played, hitting a three-pointer in the process.  He dished off two assists, as well, while Al Horford recorded four defensive records and three assists to go along with the six points he put up.

On the other end of the court, Texas-native LaMarcus Aldridge scored nine points in the eleven minutes that he played.  He also pulled down two defensive rebounds as Rudy Gay came off of the bench to chalk up four points with two of them coming from the free-throw line.  Pau Gasol was limited to just a three-pointer as well as Danny Green.  Brandon Paul would come off of the bench to knock down a three-pointer and grab two defensive rebounds but it was the Celtics who ended the first quarter with a 30 to 26 lead.

The Celtics would continue to own the show as they shot forty-eight percent from the field in the second quarter, holding the visiting team to thirty-eight percent.  Former Cavaliers’ point guard Kyrie Irving would continue to impress as he drops seven more points while shooting seventy-five percent from the field.  He also managed to grab one defensive rebound and dish off three assists as Marcus Smart collected six points and two defensive rebounds.  Horford and Jayson Tatum would earn three defensive rebounds while rookie Daniel Theis recorded three offensive rebounds.

As for the Texas team, Bryn Forbes came off of the bench to drop two three-pointers while collecting two defensive rebounds.  Gay only scored five points while Danny Green played ten minutes and was held to just a three-pointer.  Patty Mills came off of the bench to put in a three-pointer while Aldridge scored two points and grabbed two offensive rebounds.  Kyle Anderson was held scoreless in the seven minutes he played but he would collect two offensive rebounds as the Celtics headed into halftime with a 54-49 advantage.

The home team would go on a 26 to 18 run in the third period as they shot forty-three percent from the field while the San Antonio team shot thirty-three percent.  Kyrie Irving would continue to contribute as he chalks up eight more points with six coming from behind the arc.  Brown would play for the entire quarter as he put up seven points, three coming from beyond the arc and two coming from the charity stripe.  Aron Baynes ended up with four points in the period as Al Horford collected two points, two offensive rebounds, and three defensive rebounds.

On the other end of the floor, Paul collected six points on sixty-seven percent shooting from the field with three of those points coming from beyond the arc.  Gay would put up five points while knocking down a three-pointer in the process as Gasol would be limited to just three points.  Gasol did, however, grab three defensive rebounds while Dejounte Murray and Patty Mills were held to two points each.  Anderson was kept scoreless as he pulled down two defensive rebounds but it was still the Massachusetts team that went into the fourth quarter with a huge 80 to 67 lead.

The Boston Celtics would close things out in the last period as they shot fifty percent from the field while the San Antonio Spurs shot forty-eight percent.  Jayson Tatum would connect for two three-pointers while he grabbed down two defensive rebounds.  Horford ended up with four points while Terry Rozier got hot for ten points, earning six of them from beyond the arc.  Marcus Smart was held scoreless but did manage to dish off five assists.

Brandon Paul would continue to contribute to the Spurs scoring as he puts nine additional points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He took three of those points from beyond the arc and two from the free-throw line.  Kyle Anderson would make up for last quarter as he posts up five points including one three-pointer.  Pau Gasol would be limited to three points but would grab two offensive rebounds and one defensive rebound.  Davis Bertans came off the bench to earn three points, two rebounds, and three assists but it was the Boston Celtics who easily pull out a 108 to 94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  Kyrie Irving would finish the game with twenty-four points, two rebounds, six assists, and three steals.  Brandon Paul finished with eighteen points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

The Timberwolves walk away from the Heat with a 125 to 122 overtime win

Last night’s matchup between the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves would mark the first of two games that these teams will play against each other.  The Heat was trying to avoid a third straight loss as they try to recover from the loss they took in the hands of the Boston Celtics.  The Minnesota team, on the other hand, are trying to get a winning streak going as they come fresh off a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Timberwolves were without Cole Aldrich (coach’s decision) for this game, along with Aaron Brooks (coach’s decision), Marcus Georges-Hunt (coach’s decision), Anthony Brown, and Justin Patton (toe).  The Heat would play without Udonis Haslem (coach’s decision), Jordan Mickey (coach’s decision), A.J. Hammons, Matt Williams, Derrick Walton, Rodney McGruder (leg), and Hassan Whiteside (knee).  Both teams would try to battle hard as the Heat hosted the Timberwolves at the American Airlines Arena.

The Miami Heat would end up shooting fifty-eight from the field in the first quarter while holding the Timberwolves to forty-one percent. Goran Dragic heated up for ten points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field. He also gobbled up two defensive rebounds as former Thunder guard Dion Waiters scored six points to go along with the two defensive rebounds and one assist that he recorded.

Josh Richardson was limited to just forty percent shooting from the field as he earned five points with three coming from beyond the arc. Bam Adebayo only dropped three points but he did manage to grab three offensive rebounds and one rebound. James Johnson was held to just two free-throws but would collect five defensive rebounds.

As for the Minnesota team, Karl-Anthony Towns chalked up seven points which would include one three-pointer. He also pulled down one offensive rebound and two defensive rebounds as he shot seventy-five percent from the field. Jeff Teague played for ten minutes in the quarter as he scored seven points, collecting three of them from behind the arc. He would also record two defensive rebounds and two assists while Nemanja Bjelica came off of the bench to knock down a three-pointer. Andrew Wiggins was held to two points in the twelve minutes that he played as the Heat walked into the second quarter with a 32-23 advantage.

The Timberwolves would have something to say about that in the second quarter as they shot sixty-four percent from the field while the Florida team shot fifty-nine percent. Wiggins would make up for last quarter as he starts to warm up for seven points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field. He ended up knocking down a three-pointer in the process while Towns also shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.

Towns collected five points in the eight minutes that he played while pulling down one offensive and two defensive rebounds. Jimmy Butler played for seven minutes as he chalked up five points along with one rebound and one assist. Teague was held to just two points but did manage to get off three assists.

On the other end of the court, Kelly Olynyk would come off of the bench to drop nine points which included one three-pointer. He also was able to pull down three defensive rebounds and dish off two assists. Dragic shot sixty-seven percent from the field but was only held to six points, three from beyond the arc and one from the free-throw line.

Justise Winslow shot a perfect one-hundred from the field as he scores six points while collecting two defensive rebounds. Dion Waiters ended up shooting fifty percent from the field but was held to only four points. Adebayo would settle for two points and three offensive rebounds as the Miami Heat went into halftime with a close 62-60 lead.

During the third quarter, the Heat ended up shooting forty-four percent from the field as the Timberwolves were held to twenty-nine percent.  Bam Adebayo shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field as he scored seven points and collected two rebounds.  Okaro White would come off of the bench to put up five points as he shot one-hundred percent from the field.  Three of those points came from beyond the arc as Tyler Johnson was limited to four points, two coming from the charity stripe.

On the other end of the court, Taj Gibson warmed up with seven points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He also collected two defensive rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns chalked up five points, three of which came from beyond the arc and the other two from the free-throw line.  Andrew Wiggins shot only twenty percent while collecting four points and four rebounds but it was the home team who ended the third with an 82-79 lead.

The last quarter would be held closely as the Miami Heat shot forty-seven percent from the field as the Minnesota Timberwolves shot forty-one percent.  Dion Waiters would continue to impress as he posts up fourteen points while shooting seventy-one percent from the field.  Kelly Olynyk ended up shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field, earning nine points in return.  He connected for a three-pointer in the process of grabbing one defensive rebound.  Winslow would gather up two defensive rebounds and two points while Adebayo took a free-throw and three rebounds.

As for the Minnesota team, Jamal Crawford came off of the bench to drop eight points, earning three of them from behind the three-point line.  Jeff Teague chalked up seven points with three of them coming from beyond the arc and the other two from the free-throw line.  Wiggins collected six points on fifty percent shooting from the field while Butler would be held to just four free-throws.  Towns was held scoreless but he did manage to gobble up one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds.

With only thirty seconds left in the game, the score would be 110 to 106 in the Timberwolves’ favor.  Dion Waiters would go to the line off of a foul by Jimmy Butler and nail two free-throws to make the score 110 to 108.  With three seconds left in the game, Waiters would make a driving layup to tie the game up at 110, forcing overtime.

The overtime period would be held closely as the Timberwolves shot fifty-seven percent while the Heat shot fifty percent.  Waiters ended up shooting only forty-three percent from the field but was able to score seven points in return.  He committed one steal while Olynyk knocked down one three-pointer.  Goran Dragic was held scoreless but did pull down two rebounds.

The Timberwolves would finish things off in overtime, though, as Teague recorded seven points, three coming from beyond the arc and two from the free-throw line.  Wiggins would be held to just three free-throws while Towns knocked down one three-pointer.  Butler was limited to just two points as the Minnesota team pull away with a 125 to 122 win.  Jeff Teague finished the game with twenty-three points, five rebounds, eleven assists, and six steals (tying his career-high).  Dion Waiter would finish with thirty-three points (tying his career-high), five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

The Chicago Bulls earned their first win of the season against the Atlanta Hawks, 91-86

The Chicago Bulls were hoping to avoid a 0-4 slump as they hosted the 1-3 Atlanta Hawks at the United Center.  The Hawks, on the other hand, tried to avoid their fourth straight loss of the season as they took on the Bulls in the first of three matchups.  The Atlanta Hawks would start the game off right as they shot forty percent from the field while holding the Bulls to thirty-six percent.

Robin Lopez would get hot for ten points as he shot fifty percent from the field in the twelve minutes that he played.  He grabbed one offensive rebound and one defensive rebound while rookie forward Lauri Markkanen would drill a three-pointer and collect three defensive rebounds.  Denzel Valentine was held scoreless in the nine minutes that he played but did manage to get ahold of one offensive rebound and four defensive rebounds.

As for the Georgia team, 2014 NBA Champion Marco Belinelli would come off of the bench to knock down two three-pointers while dishing off one assist.  Taurean Prince ended up being held to just one three-pointer in the nine minutes that he played while Isaiah Taylor came off the bench to drop a three-pointer.  Mike Muscala recorded two points, two offensive rebounds, and four defensive rebounds as the Hawks ended the first quarter with a 20 to 18 lead.

The second quarter would be held closely as the Atlanta Hawks shot forty percent from the field while the Chicago Bulls shot thirty-six percent.  Kent Bazemore shot thirty-three percent in the six minutes he played as he scored five points, three coming from the three-point line.  He also grabbed two defensive rebounds while Muscala scored four points which would include two free-throws.  Belinelli would also be held to four points as Utah-native John Collins came off of the bench to record two points, one offensive rebound, and two defensive rebounds.

On the other of the court, David Nwaba shot fifty percent from the field while putting up five points, one offensive rebound, and three defensive rebounds.  Former Knicks center Robin Lopez ended up with four points and three offensive rebounds while shooting sixty-seven percent from the field.  Jerian Grant would be held to only one free-throw in the ten minutes that he played but he did manage to record two defensive rebounds and two assists as the Hawks went into halftime with a tight 39 to 37 lead.

The Bulls went on a 28 to 20 run in the third period as they shot forty percent from the field but the Hawks still shot forty-one percent from the field.  Markkanen chalked up seven points on seventy-five percent shooting from the field while collecting one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds.  Former Golden State Warriors’ shooting guard Justin Holiday scored seven points which would include one three-pointer.  He also collected two offensive rebounds and two defensive rebounds while Grant recorded five points, two rebounds, and four assists.

As for the visiting team, John Collins would come off of the bench to put up seven points in the eight minutes that he played.  Bazemore would continue to contribute as he chalked up four points on forty percent shooting from the field.  Maryland-native Malcolm Delaney would also end up with four points while Mike Muscala knocked down a three-pointer.  Isaiah Taylor would be scoreless in the five minutes that he played off of the bench but he did manage to grab one offensive rebound and two defensive rebounds.  Dewayne Dedmon was also kept scoreless as he grabbed two defensive rebounds but it was the Bulls who gained the lead and ended the third quarter with a 65-59 advantage.

The Hawks attempted to come back in the fourth period as they shot forty-eight percent from the field while keeping the Chicago Bulls to thirty-three percent.  Marco Belinelli would continue to contribute as he gets hot for eleven points, earning nine of those points from beyond the arc.  Muscala chalked up five more points while getting ahold of two offensive rebounds and one defensive rebound.  He also connected for a three-pointer while Delaney recorded two points and three assists.

The Bulls would close things out as Valentine warmed up for seven points while shooting only twenty-nine percent from the field.  He did knock down a three-pointer in the process while Nwaba collected six points and two defensive rebounds.  Grant scored five points while Lauri Markkanen collected one three-pointer, one free-throw, and four defensive rebounds.  Quincy Pondexter came off the bench only to be held scoreless but he would grab three rebounds as the Chicago Bulls pull out a 91-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.  Robin Lopez finished with sixteen points, eight rebounds, and four assists while Marco Belinelli ended up finishing with twenty-three points, two rebounds, and two assists.

The Nets hand the Cavaliers their second loss of the season, 112-107

The Brooklyn Nets would be without D’Angelo Russell (23.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 5.5 APG) and Sean Kilpatrick (12.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 1.8 APG) for Wednesday’s matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  They would hope to avoid their second straight loss as they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Barclays Center.

During the first quarter of the game, the Cavaliers would shoot forty-one percent from the field while the Nets shot forty percent.  LeBron James shot fifty percent from the field while scoring eight points and collecting three defensive rebounds.  Kevin Love would also shoot fifty percent from the field as he dropped five points, collecting three of those points from beyond the arc.  He also pulled down one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds while Kyle Korver came off of the bench to knock down a three-pointer.

As for the Nets, DeMarre Carroll shot seventy-five percent from the field as he chalked up eight points.  He would knock down two three-pointers in the process of doing so, along with two defensive rebounds.  Former Portland Trail Blazers’ shooting guard Allen Crabbe came off of the bench to chalk up five points as Trevor Booker would come off the bench to record two defensive rebounds and three assists.  Spencer Dinwiddie was limited to four points in the nine minutes that he played as the Brooklyn team ended the first quarter with a 26 to 23 lead.

The Cavaliers would shoot fifty-nine percent from the field in the second period while the Brooklyn Nets were limited to thirty-eight percent.  Jeff Green came off of the Cleveland bench to chalk up nine points as he shot seventy-five percent from the field.  He would collect six of those points from the three-point line as James scored six points and dished off five assists.  Korver would also chalk up six points, earning three of them from beyond the arc while Love gobbled up three defensive rebounds.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would put up seven points while shooting only twenty percent from the field.  He would earn three of those points from beyond the arc and the other four from the free-throw line.  Carroll continued to contribute as he recorded six more points while Dinwiddie knocked down two three-pointers to give himself six points while collecting two defensive rebounds.  Booker would be held to only two points but managed to grab three offensive rebounds and two defensive rebounds as the Nets went into halftime with a slight 55-52 lead.

The New York team went on a 29 to 21 run in the third quarter as they shot forty-eight percent from the field, limiting the visiting team to forty-two percent.  Crabbe would come off the bench to drop nine more points which would all be earned from the three-point line.  Hollis-Jefferson would drop nine points, as well, while connecting for a three-pointer in the process.  He also pulled down two offensive rebounds and two defensive rebounds while former Cavs’ guard Joe Harris came off the bench to drop a three-pointer.  Quincy Acy would be held scoreless in the six minutes he played but did manage to get ahold of three rebounds.

LeBron James ended up with only five points in the eleven minutes that he played, three of those coming from behind the arc.  He also collected one offensive rebound and one defensive rebound while Kyle Korver would come off of the bench to put up four points.  Jae Crowder would be limited to only a three-pointer while J.R. Smith and Channing Frye would put up two points each.  Tristan Thompson was held scoreless but did manage to grab four defensive rebounds as the Nets went into the fourth period with an 84 to 73 lead.

The Cavaliers would respond with a run of their own in the last quarter, shooting fifty percent from the field while keeping the Nets at forty-seven percent.  LeBron James would continue to contribute with ten more points while shooting eighty-three percent from the field.  He would also grab four defensive rebounds while dishing off five assists in the process.  Korver scored nine points which would all come from beyond the arc.

On the other end of the court, Spencer Dinwiddie ended up dropping ten points to add to his scoring total while recording one defensive rebound and three assists.  Carroll would knock down a three-pointer and a free-throw in the quarter while grabbing three defensive rebounds.  Harris would come off the bench to nail a three-pointer as the Nets escaped with a 112-107 victory over the Cavs.  Spencer Dinwiddie finished with a career-high twenty-two points, along with five rebounds, and six assists.  LeBron James would finish with twenty-nine points, ten rebounds, and thirteen assists.

The Clippers earn their third straight win against the Jazz, 102 to 84

The Los Angeles Clippers would seek their third straight win as they hosted the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center, who were looking for their second straight win.  This game would mark the first of four matchups between these two teams.  The Clippers and Jazz met up in the first round of the playoffs last season as the Jazz defeated the California team, 4-3.  The Clippers, who are now without Chris Paul, would seek revenge last night.

The Utah Jazz shot forty-three percent from the field in the first quarter as the Los Angeles Clippers shot forty percent.  Ricky Rubio would score eight points while shooting sixty-seven percent from the field.  He would also collect one offensive rebound and two defensive rebounds while Joe Ingles connected for a three-pointer.  Alec Burks came off the Utah bench to hit a three-pointer as well but he also pulled down two defensive rebounds.

On the other end of the court, Patrick Beverley would also earn eight points with six of those points coming from beyond the arc.  Blake Griffin would contribute with seven points while knocking down a three-pointer in the process of doing so.  Danilo Gallinari ended up with four points and two rebounds as the Clippers ended the first quarter with a 27 to 20 lead.

The Utah team would go on a 21 to 15 run in the second period as they shot thirty-nine percent from the field, limiting the Clippers to thirty-five percent.  2009-2010 All-Defensive Player Thabo Sefolosha would come off of the bench to drop points while shooting sixty-seven percent from the field.  He would knock down a three-pointer while doing so as well as collecting four defensive rebounds.  Joe Johnson would come off the bench to also shoot sixty-seven percent from the field but would only score four points.  Rudy Gobert was limited to three points in the quarter while Derrick Favors and Donovan Mitchell were held to two points.

As for the Clippers, Gallinari would shoot only thirty-three percent from the field while collecting four points.  He also gobbled up two defensive rebounds while Austin Rivers would drill a three-pointer.  Blake Griffin ended up with two points in the seven minutes that he played while DeAndre Jordan received two points, two offensive rebounds, and five defensive rebounds.  Beverley would play for the entire quarter, only to be held to two points as the home team would go into halftime with a slight 42-41 lead.

The Clippers would respond in the third quarter with a huge 33 to 15 run, shooting fifty-seven percent from the field while limiting the visiting team to twenty-seven percent from the field.  Griffin would continue to add to his scoring total as he chalks up nine more points, along with five defensive rebounds.  Jordan would shoot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field to earn five points, which would go along with his four rebounds that he collected.  Lou Williams will come off of the bench to earn five points including one three-pointer.

For the Jazz, Gobert would collect nine more points as he shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He also pulled down three rebounds while Johnson would collect four more points.  Rubio and Favors would be held scoreless throughout this period while Sefolosha would collect four defensive rebounds off of the bench.  Rubio would manage to get off four assists as the Clippers walk into the last quarter with a huge 75 to 56 lead.

The Jazz would shoot sixty-three percent of the field in the last period while the Clippers shot fifty-nine percent from the field.  Mitchell would get hot for fifteen points on the Utah side, which would include three 3-pointers.  Raul Neto came off of the bench to drop five points, earning three of them from beyond the arc as Derrick Favors shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field to earn four points.

The Clippers would finish things off, though, as Griffin drops five points which would include one three-pointer.  Rivers and Beverley would also collect five points each as they both shot sixty-seven percent from the field.  DeAndre Jordan would receive two points and two rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers easily pull away with a 102 to 84 win over the Utah Jazz.  Blake Griffin would finish the game with twenty-two points, nine rebounds, and six assists while Donovan Mitchell finished with nineteen points, two rebounds, and one assist.

The Brooklyn Nets get handed a 125-121 loss by the Orlando Magic

The Brooklyn Nets and the Orlando Magic would meet up for the second time this season as the Magic lost the first matchup, 126 to 121.  This time around, the Magic looked for revenge as they hoped to earn their second straight win as the Nets looked for their third straight win.  After this game, there will be two more matchups between these teams as the Magic hosted the Nets at the Amway Center.

The first quarter of the game would be held closely as the Orlando team shot forty-five percent from the field and the Nets shot forty-eight percent.  D’Angelo Russell would heat up for twelve points early, earning all of them from beyond the arc.  Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would shoot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field as he drops four points while Trevor Booker came off the bench to collect three points and two defensive rebounds.  Allen Crabbe would also come off the bench to knock down a three-pointer while collecting one offensive rebound and two assists.

On the other end of the court, Aaron Gordon would heat up for fourteen points as he shot seventy-one percent from the field.  He ended up earning three of those points from beyond the arc while collecting two offensive rebounds and three defensive rebounds.  Former Denver Nuggets’ shooting guard Evan Fournier would score four points while gobbling up four rebounds.  D.J. Augustin ended up with four points, which he would earn all them from the charity stripe as the game would be tied at 30 apiece heading into the second quarter.

During the second period, the Magic shot fifty percent from the field, limiting the Brooklyn Nets to thirty-seven percent.  Gordon would continue to impress as he chalks up ten more points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He would knock down two three-pointers in the process of doing so.  He also pulled down two defensive rebounds while Augustin would drop six points as he shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  Fournier would be held to only two points in the six minutes that he played but he did manage to grab two defensive rebounds.

As for the New York team, Hollis-Jefferson started to heat up as he scored ten points, shooting eighty percent from the field.  He also earned two offensive rebounds and two assists while Caris LeVert would collect eight points, knocking down a three-pointer while doing so.  Former Toronto Raptors’ forward DeMarre Carroll ended up with four points which would all be earned from the free-throw line.  Timofey Mozgov would hit a rare three-pointer to give himself three points to go along with his two defensive rebounds as both teams head into the locker room with a 61-61 score at the half.

The Brooklyn Nets would spark a 35 to 26 run in the third quarter as they shot fifty-five percent from the field while limiting the Magic to forty percent.  Aaron Gordon would continue to go off as he chalks up twelve more points while collecting three rebounds.  Fournier would shoot eighty percent from the field while putting up ten points.  Nikola Vucevic ended up recording only two points in the ten minutes that he played but he did pull down three defensive rebounds.

On the other end of the court, DeMarre Carroll would heat up for eleven points, hitting two three-pointers in the process of doing so.  Mozgov shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field while collecting six points and two defensive rebounds.  Spencer Dinwiddie would knock down a jumper along with two free-throws while giving out three assists.  Trevor Booker would collect two points off the bench along with three rebounds as the visiting team ended the third quarter with a 96-87 lead.

The Florida team would respond with a 38 to 25 run in the last quarter as they shot a high sixty percent from the field, limiting the Nets to thirty-two percent.  Evan Fournier ended up dropping twelve points, six coming from beyond the arc and the other six coming from the free-throw line.  Jonathon Simmons would come off of the bench to chalk up seven points while grabbing two defensive rebounds.  Aaron Gordon ended up earning five more points while collecting one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds.

As for the Nets, Russell scored nine points while shooting a low twenty-nine percent from the field.  He would earn two rebounds while Jarrett Allen chalked up five points while shooting a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  Carroll added four more points to his scoring total while LeVert gobbled up three rebounds to add to his three points and two assists.  Hollis-Jefferson and Booker would each be limited to two points as the Orlando Magic slip away with a 125 to 121 win over the Brooklyn Nets.  Aaron Gordon finished with a career-high forty-one points along with fourteen rebounds, and two assists.  D’Angelo Russell would finish with twenty-nine points, five rebounds, and one assist.