The Milwaukee Bucks hand the Detroit Pistons a 126-106 loss

Friday, February 21, 2020

 

Before the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks saw their five-game win streak come to an end as they lost to the Indiana Pacers last Wednesday, 118-111.  Coming off of the break, they will hope to start another winning streak as they battle the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena tonight.  The Pistons, on the other hand, will try to avoid a fifth straight loss.

Tonight’s matchup will mark the third of four times that these two teams will meet up this season.  The last time they saw each other was on December 4 when the Bucks defeated the Pistons, 127-103.  During that game, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots while Andre Drummond had 23 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:

The Bucks and the Pistons have played each other a grand total of 268 times as the Bucks won 142 games while the Pistons were kept to 126 victories.

INACTIVES:

Milwaukee Bucks:

-Kyle Korver (back; 6.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 41.8 FG%, 40.7 3P%)
-Frank Mason (G-League; 1.3 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 14.3 FG%, 25.0 3P%)
-Thanasis Antetokounmpo (2.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 56.5 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Cameron Reynolds (G-League)

Detroit Pistons:

-Blake Griffin (knee; 15.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 35.2 FG%, 24.3 3P%)
-Luke Kennard (knee; 15.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 44.2 FG%, 39.9 3P%)
-Khyri Thomas (foot; 0.5 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
-Markieff Morris (coach’s decision; 11.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 45.0 FG%, 39.7 3P%)
-Louis King (G-League; 2.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 38.1 FG%, 36.4 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The Milwaukee Bucks would have complete control of things in the first half as they shot fifty-four percent from the field, keeping the home team to just thirty-six percent shooting.  Khris Middleton posted up 20 points while knocking down all four of his three-pointers attempted.  Giannis Antetokounmpo helped out with 19 points while collecting 12 rebounds, dishing off 3 assists, and committing 3 steals.

Brook Lopez had nine points on just thirty-three percent shooting.  He was able to get a hold of one defensive rebound while Eric Bledsoe earned himself eight points.  Bledsoe’s eight points included a three-pointer while Wesley Matthews was kept scoreless.  Robin Lopez played the most minutes off the bench as he had nine points.

As for the Pistons, Christian Wood scored 10 points off the bench while Thon Maker and Derrick Rose combined for 14 points.  Former Bulls’ player Tony Snell contributed with five points while drilling a trey.  Shooting guard Bruce Brown played 15 minutes off the bench but only had two points while the Bucks went into halftime with a huge 70-41 lead.

The Detroit ball club would attempt to make a comeback in the second half as they went on a 65-56 run, shooting fifty-eight percent from the field.  During that run, Brown scored 14 points off the bench while Langston Galloway had 12.  Three-time All-Star Derrick Rose contributed with six points.

On the other end of the floor, Antetokounmpo added 14 points to his scoring total.  George Hill had four points off the bench as the Bucks were able to hold off the Pistons, 126-106.  Giannis Antetokounmpo finished the game with 33 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, a season-high-tying 3 steals, and one block.  Christian Wood had 18 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.

So…what’s next?

The Milwaukee Bucks will host Joel Embiid (22.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 46.6 FG%, 33.6 3P%) and the Philadelphia 76ers (34-21) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.  This will mark the third of four times that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.  The last time they saw each other was on February 6 when the 76ers fell to the Bucks, 112-101.  Giannis Antetokounmpo finished that game with 36 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists, and one steal while Tobias Harris had 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and one steal.

The Detroit Pistons will head to Oregon to take on C.J. McCollum (21.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 44.6 FG%, 38.3 3P%) and the Portland Trail Blazers (25-31) on Sunday at 9:00 p.m.  This will be the first of two times that they play each other this season.

The Houston Rockets fall to the Detroit Pistons, 115 to 107

Sunday, December 15, 2019

 

The Houston Rockets are coming off back-to-back victories where James Harden made history:  He became the first player in league history to record back-to-back 50-point games with ten triples.  The Rockets will look to thrive off that as they host the Detroit Pistons tonight at the Toyota Center.

The Pistons, on the other hand, are looking to avoid a second straight loss as they are coming off a 122-111 defeat they took in the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday in Mexico.  Tonight’s matchup will mark the first of two times that these ball clubs will meet up this season.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:

The Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons have battled each other a grand total of 140 times in the past as the Pistons won 72 games while the Rockets were kept to 68 wins.

INACTIVES:

Detroit Pistons:

-Reggie Jackson (back; 5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 36.4 FG%, 20.0 3P%)
-Khyri Thomas (foot; 0.5 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
-Andre Drummond (illness; 17.7 PPG, 16.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 54.6 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Tim Frazier (coach’s decision; 2.4 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 20.9 FG%, 21.4 3P%)
-Louis King (G-League)
-Jordan Bone (G-League; 1.3 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 40.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Sekou Doumbouya (G-League; 1.5 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.0 APG, 50.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)

Houston Rockets:

-Tyson Chandler (illness; 1.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 76.5 FG%)
-Eric Gordon (knee; 10.9 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 30.9 FG%, 28.4 3P%)
-Gerald Green (foot)
-NeNe (abductor)
-Isaiah Hartenstein (coach’s decision; 3.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 68.8 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Thabo Sefolosha (coach’s decision; 1.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 34.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%)
-Russell Westbrook (rest; 22.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 42.5 FG%, 23.3 3P%)
-Michael Frazier (G-League)

GAMETIME:

Both teams would keep the game competitive in the first half as they shot forty-five percent from the field each.  James Harden, who is averaging 39 points per game this season, scored 14 points on forty-two percent shooting.  He was able to bury two shots from beyond the arc while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out seven assists.

Clint Capela helped out with 12 points while missing only one of his seven shots attempted.  He also had ten rebounds and one block while Danuel House and Ben McLemore had four points each.  Former Suns’ player P.J. Tucker drilled a three-pointer in the second period while Austin Rivers had six points off the bench.

As for the visiting team, Luke Kennard got hot for 18 points while hitting four three-pointers.  Tony Snell drilled 3 three-pointers to give himself nine points in the first half.  Both Blake Griffin and Thon Maker scored just two points each while Bruce Brown had five points.  Christian Wood played the most minutes off the bench but only had three points as the Michigan team went into the locker room with a 62-52 advantage.

The Pistons would close things out in the second half as they shot forty-four percent from the field, keeping the Rockets at thirty-five percent.  Derrick Rose, who scored eight points in the first half, added 12 more points in the second half while Brown contributed with 11 points.  Griffin would be held scoreless while Markieff Morris dropped 10 points off the bench.

On the other end of the court, James Harden scored 25 points, which included two three-pointers.  McLemore put up nine points while Rivers had eight points off the bench but it wouldn’t matter as the Pistons came away with a 115-107 victory.  Luke Kennard finished the game with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a season-high-tying one block while James Harden had 39 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and one steal.

So…what’s next?

The Detroit Pistons will host Bradley Beal (27.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 44.8 FG%, 33.0 3P%) and the Washington Wizards (7-16) on Monday at 7:00 p.m.  This will be the second of four times that they play each other this season.  The last time they met up was on November 4 when the Wizards came away with a 115-99 victory.  During that game, Beal scored 22 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished off 6 assists, and committed a steal while Luke Kennard had 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The Houston Rockets will host DeMar DeRozan (21.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 50.6 FG%, 35.7 3P%) and the San Antonio Spurs (9-15) on Monday at 8:00 p.m.  This will mark the second of four matchups between these two ball clubs this season.  December 3 was the last time they played each other as the Rockets lost in double overtime, 135-133.  James Harden finished the game with 50 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals while Lonnie Walker settled for 28 points, 4 rebounds, three steals, and one block.

The Detroit Pistons get blown out by the Chicago Bulls, 109-89

The Detroit Pistons are currently in the midst of their longest losing streak this season, trying to avoid a fifth straight loss.  They will look to do that as they battle the Chicago Bulls at the United Center, which would conclude a three-game road trip before returning back home.  The Pistons have only won one game on the road and that was in their season opener against the Indiana Pacers.

The Bulls, on the other hand, are dealing with struggles of their own as they try to avoid a fourth straight loss.  Tonight’s game will mark the second of four matchups between these two teams this season.  The last time they saw each other was on November 1 when the Pistons fell to the Bulls, 112-106.  Zach LaVine finished that game with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while Andre Drummond had 25 points, 24 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:

The Pistons and the Bulls have met up a grand total of 298 times in the past as the Bulls won 146 games while the Pistons went on to achieve 152 victories.

INACTIVES:

Detroit Pistons:

-Reggie Jackson (hip; 5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.0 APG, 36.4 FG%, 20.0 3P%)
-Tony Snell (hip; 9.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 46.2 FG%, 45.5 3P%)
-Khyri Thomas (foot; 0.5 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
-Tim Frazier (coach’s decision; 3.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 21.6 FG%, 23.1 3P%)
-Louis King (G-League)
-Jordan Bone (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Sekou Doumbouya (G-League)

Chicago Bulls:

-Cristiano Felicio (wrist)
-Luke Kornet (nose; 4.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 34.9 FG%, 21.7 3P%)
-Otto Porter (foot; 11.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 41.7 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
-Max Strus (coach’s decision)
-Denzel Valentine (coach’s decision; 1.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 20.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%)
-Chandler Hutchison (shin; 8.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 42.9 FG%, 36.4 3P%)
-Adam Mokoka (G-League)

GAMETIME:

Both teams would play in a competitive manner in the first half as the Bulls shot forty-three percent from the field while the Pistons shot forty-two percent.  The 7th pick in the 2017 draft Lauri Markkanen warmed up with 15 points, knocking down two three-pointers in the process.  Shaquille Harrison helped out with nine points and seven rebounds while Wendell Carter earned himself eight points.

Zach LaVine had five points, which included a three-pointer early in the first period.  Former Washington Wizards’ guard Tomas Satoransky was held scoreless in the twelve minutes that he played.  Coby White played the most minutes off the bench as he had three free-throws and two treys.

On the other end of the court, Langston Galloway chalked up ten points, nine of them coming from beyond the arc.  Both Blake Griffin and Luke Kennard earned themselves seven points each while Andre Drummond had six points.  Drummond also recorded seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks to go along with it.  Chicago-native Derrick Rose played 14 minutes off the bench as he had nine points while the Bulls went into halftime with a 59-55 lead.

The Bulls would take over in the second half as they went on a 50-34 run, shooting forty-two percent from the field while their defense held the visiting team to twenty-two percent.  Satoransky made up for his performance in the first half as they went six for seven, scoring 15 points.  He had 3 three-pointers while Markkanen helped out with nine points.

On the other end of the court, both Griffin and Rose had nine points each while Drummond was held scoreless.  Christian Wood had six points off the bench but it wouldn’t matter as the Bulls blew the Pistons out, 109-89.  Lauri Markkanen finished the game with 24 points, six rebounds, one steal, and two blocks while Derrick Rose had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and one steal.

So…what’s next?

The Detroit Pistons will host Trae Young (27.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 8.7 APG, 44.7 FG%, 36.9 3P%) and the Atlanta Hawks (4-9) on Friday at 7:00 p.m.  This will be the second of four times that these two teams will see each other this season.  The last time they played each other was on October 24 when the Hawks handed the Pistons a 117-100 loss.  During that contest, Trae Young scored 38 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, dished off 9 assists, and committed one steal while Derrick Rose settled for 27 points, one rebound, and 3 assists.

The Chicago Bulls will host Jimmy Butler (18.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.2 APG, 45.2 FG%, 24.0 3P%) and the Miami Heat (9-3) on Friday at 8:00 p.m.  This will be the first of four times that these teams will see each other this season.

The Detroit Pistons fall to the Golden State Warriors, 121-114

The Golden State Warriors have clinched a playoff spot for the seventh straight season after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 16.  But they have just recently lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night by 35 points, their largest loss margin of the season.  They will look to bounce back as they take on the Detroit Pistons at the Oracle Arena tonight.

The Pistons, on the other hand, are trying to avoid a second straight loss after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, 112-117.  They are currently at the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The Golden State Warriors and the Detroit Pistons have met up a grand total of 313 times in the past as the Warriors won 164 games while the Pistons went on to grab 149 victories.  This matchup will mark the second and final time that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.  The last time they saw each other was on December 1 when the Warriors fell to the Pistons, 102-111.  During that game, Blake Griffin scored 26 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and gave out 5 assists while Kevin Durant ended up with 28 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks.

INACTIVES:

Detroit Pistons:

-Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (coach’s decision; 3.2 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 32.9 FG%, 32.6 3P%, 60.0 FT%)
-Glenn Robinson III (coach’s decision; 4.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.4 APG, 40.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 82.9 FT%)
-Khyri Thomas (coach’s decision; 2.7 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 33.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 63.6 FT%)
-Isaiah Whitehead (G-League)
-Kalin Lucas (G-League; 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 100.0 FT%)
-Jon Leuer (4.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 58.7 FG%, 10.0 3P%, 74.2 FT%)
-Jose Calderon (2.4 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 37.8 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 81.8 FT%)

Golden State Warriors:

-Damian Jones (pectoral; 5.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 71.6 FG%, 64.9 FT%)
-Marcus Derrickson (coach’s decision; 3.1 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.1 APG, 41.7 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 75.0 FT%)
-Damion Lee (coach’s decision; 4.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.2 APG, 43.2 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 80.0 FT%)
-DeMarcus Cousins (rest; 15.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 48.5 FG%, 25.4 3P%, 75.9 FT%)
-Andre Iguodala (rest; 5.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 49.8 FG%, 33.6 3P%, 59.4 FT%)
-Jacob Evans (0.8 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.6 APG, 30.3 FG%, 12.5 3P%, 0.0 FT%)

GAMETIME:

The Golden State Warriors would have complete control on the game in the first half as they shot sixty-five percent from the field, limiting the Detroit Pistons to forty-four percent.  Klay Thompson got hot for 15 points while drilling 3 three-pointers in the process.  Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry ended up recording eleven points as he also had 3 three-pointers.  Along with that, Curry was able to grab seven rebounds and dish off two assists.

Kevin Durant was kept to just nine points but he did manage to knock down a shot from beyond the arc in the middle of the second quarter.  He did shoot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field as he had three rebounds and seven assists.  Draymond Green had nine points, as well.  He was able to hit a rare three-pointer to beat the buzzer at the end of the first half.  Shaun Livingston played eight minutes off the bench but only had four points.

On the other end of the court, Blake Griffin chalked up eleven points while shooting thirty-seven percent from the field.  He had a three-pointer at the beginning of the first period while he recorded two rebounds and three assists.  Two-time rebounding champion Andre Drummond contributed with eight points, along with seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Reggie Jackson was limited to just two points while Wayne Ellington was able to drill a three-pointer.  Louisiana-native Langston Galloway played the most minutes off the bench as he had seven points but it was the home team who went to the locker room with a 63 to 49 advantage.

The visiting team, however, was able to storm back as they sparked a 65 to 58 run, shooting forty-eight percent from the field in the second half.  During that run, Griffin put up 13 additional points while knocking down two more shots from behind the three-point line.  He had four rebounds and five assists while Ish Smith helped out with ten points.  Former Milwaukee Bucks’ forward Thon Maker also had ten points which included two three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Reggie Jackson ended up adding five more points to his scoring total while hitting a three-pointer in the third quarter.  Drummond was kept to just four points in the second half while he grabbed four rebounds.  The 12th pick in the first round of the 2017 draft Luke Kennard played the most minutes off the bench as he had 16 points, including 3 three-pointers.

As for the two-time defending champions, Curry chalked up 15 more points while hitting two three-pointers.  Thompson contributed with nine points which including a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.  Both Durant and Green were kept to just five points but it didn’t matter as the Golden State Warriors pulled out a 121-114 victory over the Detroit Pistons.  Stephen Curry finished the game with 26 points, along with a season-high-tying nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal while Blake Griffin settled for 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists.

So…what’s next?

The Detroit Pistons will travel to Colorado to battle Nikola Jokic (20.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 7.6 APG, 50.7 FG%, 32.6 3P%) and the Denver Nuggets (49-22) on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.  This will be the second and final time that these two teams will meet up this season.  The last time that they played each other was on February 4 when the Pistons handed the Nuggets a 129-103 loss.  Andre Drummond finished that game with 27 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks while Trey Lyles settled for 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, one steal, and one block.

The Golden State Warriors will head to Tennessee to take on Mike Conley (20.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 43.6 FG%, 36.6 3P%) and the Memphis Grizzlies (29-44) on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.  This game will mark the third of four times that these two ball clubs will see each other this season.  December 17 was the last time that the Grizzlies and Warriors played each other as the Grizzlies fell to the Warriors, 93-110.  During that game, Kevin Durant scored 23 points, pulled down 3 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and blocked 2 shots while Omri Casspi had 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and one block.

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.

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.