The Indiana Pacers hold the Cleveland Cavaliers off, 92-90

Tonight will mark the third game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers in their playoff series.  The first game took place on April 15 when the Pacers handed the Cavaliers a disappointing 98-80 loss.  During that game, Victor Oladipo scored thirty-two points, grabbed six rebounds, gave out four assists, committed four steals, and blocked one shot while LeBron James finished with twenty-four points, ten rebounds, twelve assists, one steal and one block.  The two teams met up again on April 18 as the Cleveland Cavaliers got revenge by escaping with a 100-97 victory.  LeBron James had forty-six points in that game, along with twelve rebounds, five assists, and two steals while Victor Oladipo scored twenty-two points, pulled down three rebounds, dished out six assists and came up with two steals.  Both teams will look to take a 2-1 lead in the series as they clash with each other in Cleveland.

INACTIVES:

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Jose Calderon (coach’s decision; 4.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 50.3 FG%, 46.4 3P%)
Tristan Thompson (coach’s decision; 5.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.6 APG, 56.2 FG%)
Ante Zizic (coach’s decision; 3.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.2 APG, 73.1 FG%)
Okaro White (3.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 43.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%)
Kendrick Perkins (3.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)

Indiana Pacers:

Al Jefferson (coach’s decision; 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 53.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
T.J. Leaf (coach’s decision; 2.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.2 APG, 47.1 FG%, 42.9 3P%)
Alex Poythress (coach’s decision; 1.0 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.1 APG, 42.3 FG%, 36.4 3P%)
Glenn Robinson (coach’s decision; 4.1 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 42.4 FG%, 41.2 3P%)
Joe Young (sinus infection; 3.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 43.0 FG%, 37.9 3P%)
Ike Anigbogu (1.2 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.0 APG, 44.4 FG%)

GAMETIME:

The home team would have the upper hand at the beginning of the game as they shot fifty-four percent from the field, limiting the Indiana Pacers to forty-six percent.  Kevin Love scored sixteen points which included two three-pointers in the second quarter.  He also had three rebounds and one assist while LeBron James helped out with thirteen points.  James shot fifty percent from the field while knocking down a three-pointer in the middle of the second quarter.  Former Pacers’ guard George Hill saw to it that he got eleven points while J.R. Smith was kept to just five points.  Rodney Hood played the most minutes off of the bench but was limited to just two points.

As for the Indiana Pacers, Bojan Bogdanovic earned eleven points which included three three-pointers.  He also collected one defensive rebound while Victor Oladipo scored five points on just thirty-three percent shooting.  He did have a three-pointer at the beginning of the game while Thaddeus Young had four points.  Lance Stephenson played sixteen minutes off of the bench as he chalked up eight points but it was the Ohio team who went into the locker room with a 57-40 lead.

The visiting team would storm back in the second half as they went on a huge 52 to 33 run, shooting forty-six percent from the field.  During that run, Bogdanovic stayed hot as he scored nineteen points on seventy-eight percent shooting.  He also had four three-pointers in the fourth quarter while Oladipo earned himself thirteen points.  As for the Cavaliers, LeBron James did what he usually does and kept the team in the game with fifteen points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.  With 0.2 seconds remaining in the game, Smith heaved up a desperate three-pointer from half court but would miss as the Pacers hold off the Cavaliers, 92 to 90.  Bojan Bogdanovic finished with thirty points and four rebounds while LeBron James had twenty-eight points, twelve rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block.

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The Philadelphia 76ers take a 2-1 lead in the series as they hand the Miami Heat a 128-108 loss

Tonight will mark the third game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in their playoff series.  The first game was on April 14 when the 76ers defeated the Heat with a 130-103 score.  During that game, J.J. Redick scored twenty-eight points, grabbed two rebounds, gave out one assist, and committed one steal while Kelly Olynyk finished with twenty-six points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block.  The 76ers and the Heat met up again on April 16 as the Heat got revenge with a 113 to 103 win.  Dwyane Wade finished that game with twenty-eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals while Ben Simmons had twenty-four points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two blocks.  Each team will look to grab a 2-1 lead as they battle each other in South Beach for their third game.

INACTIVES:

Philadelphia 76ers:

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee; 5.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 37.5 FG%, 33.5 3P%)
Richaun Holmes (coach’s decision; 6.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 56.0 FG%, 12.9 3P%)
Jerryd Bayless (7.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 41.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%)
Furkan Korkmaz (1.6 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, 28.6 FG%, 29.4 3P%)

Miami Heat:

Dion Waiters (ankle; 14.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 39.8 FG%, 30.6 3P%)
Udonis Haslem (coach’s decision; 0.6 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.4 APG, 20.0 FG%, 12.5 3P%)
Jordan Mickey (4.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 47.6 FG%, 12.5 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The beginning of the game would be held to a competitive standard as the Miami Heat shot fifty percent from the field while the Philadelphia 76ers shot forty-six percent.  Goran Dragic scored twelve points on sixty percent shooting while recording two defensive rebounds and five assists.  Justise Winslow played fifteen minutes off of the bench as he got hot for nineteen points, including four three-pointers.  North Dakota-native Tyler Johnson helped out with eight points while drilling two three-pointers in the first quarter.  Dwayne Wade was kept to just two points off of the bench while Hassan Whiteside had three points.  Kelly Olynyk played the most minutes off of the bench but was kept to just a three-pointer and a free-throw.

On the other end of the court, Joel Embiid chalked up eleven points but only shot twenty-nine percent from the field.  He did have a three-pointer late in the second quarter while putting up three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.  Dario Saric had nine points which included a three-pointer in the second quarter.  He also had three rebounds and one assist while Robert Covington scored seven points with a three-pointer in the middle of the first quarter.  Ben Simmons also had seven points along with six rebounds, seven assists and one steal.  Former Golden State Warriors guard Marco Belinelli played fourteen minutes off of the bench as he had fourteen points but it was the home team who walked into halftime with a tight 64-63 lead.

The 76ers would respond in the second half with a huge 65 to 44 run as they shot fifty-seven percent from the field, keeping the Heat to forty-one percent.  During that run, Simmons, Saric and Embiid all had twelve points each.  Ben Simmons also collected six defensive rebounds and three steals while Dario Saric had three three-pointers, four rebounds and three assists.  Joel Embiid earned himself two three-pointers as well as four defensive rebounds, two assists and two blocks.  Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson each scored eleven points for the Heat but it wasn’t enough as the Philadelphia 76ers handed the Miami Heat a 128-108 loss, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.  Goran Dragic finished with twenty-three points, two rebounds, eight assists and one steal while Joel Embiid had twenty-three points in his return, along with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and three blocks.

The Philadelphia 76ers hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132 to 130

The Philadelphia 76ers have recently clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2012 when Doug Collins was the head coach.   They will look to put fear in a team that they will potentially meet in the Playoffs as they host the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center.  The Cavaliers are currently looking for their sixth straight victory while the 76ers are on a hot twelve-game winning streak.

This meeting between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers will mark the fourth and final time that these two ball clubs will play each other this season.  They have battled each other a grand total of 210 times in the past as the Cavaliers won 104 games while the 76ers pulled out 106 victories.  March 1 was the last time they saw each other as the 76ers handed the Cavaliers a 108 to 97 loss.  During that game, J.J. Redick scored 22 points, pulled down 2 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists while LeBron James settled for 30 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and one steal.

INACTIVES:

Cleveland Cavaliers:

John Holland (coach’s decision; 1.5 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.2 APG, 27.5 FG%, 26.9 3P%)
London Perrantes (coach’s decision; 0.2 PPG, 0.2 RPG, 0.4 APG, 16.7 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Ante Zizic (coach’s decision; 3.2 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.2 APG, 71.9 FG%)
George Hill (ankle; 10.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.8 APG, 46.0 FG%, 41.6 3P%)
Jose Calderon (hamstring; 4.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 51.1 FG%, 47.3 3P%)

Philadelphia 76ers:

Joel Embiid (face; 22.9 PPG, 11.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, 48.3 FG%, 30.8 3P%)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee; 5.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 37.5 FG%, 33.5 3P%)
Justin Anderson (coach’s decision; 5.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 APG, 42.1 FG%, 31.5 3P%)
Jerryd Bayless (coach’s decision; 7.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 41.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%)
Furkan Korkmaz (coach’s decision; 1.9 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 33.3 FG%, 33.3 3P%)
Demetrius Jackson (1.1 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 38.9 FG%, 14.3 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The Philadelphia 76ers will start the game on a high note as they shot fifty-seven percent from the field in the first half, keeping the Cleveland Cavaliers at forty-three percent.  Former Milwaukee Bucks guard J.J. Redick scored nineteen points, which included 3 three-pointers.  He also had two defensive rebounds and one assist while Ben Simmons recorded thirteen points on sixty-seven percent shooting.  Simmons was also able to grab eleven rebounds while he gave out eight assists, committed three steals, and blocked one shot.  Robert Covington would help out as he connected for two three-pointers and grabbed two boards.  Marco Belinelli played fourteen minutes off of the bench as he earned himself twelve points.

On the other end of the floor, Jeff Green chalked up seventeen points as he shot a perfect one-hundred percent from the field.  He also had 3 three-pointers while LeBron James contributed with nine points, five rebounds, and nine assists.  Five-time All-Star Kevin Love would see to it that he got seven points with a three-pointer early in the first quarter.  He also had six defensive rebounds and three assists while Rodney Hood was limited to just four points.  J.R. Smith would play the most minutes off of the bench but was kept to just two points as the 76ers went into halftime with a huge 78-55 advantage.

The Ohio team would make a comeback in the second half as they went on an incredible 75 to 54 run, shooting sixty-three percent from the field.  During that run, LeBron James went off for thirty-five points while hitting two three-pointers in the third quarter and two more three-pointers in the fourth quarter.  He also had six defensive rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block while Green continued to help out with sixteen points.  Kevin Love was able to earn ten points, which held two three-pointers in the third quarter.  The 76ers, however, were able to hold off the Cavaliers as James missed two much-needed free-throws, winning the game 132-130.  J.J. Redick finished with twenty-eight points, two rebounds, and one assist while LeBron James had forty-four points, eleven rebounds, eleven assists, two steals, and one block.

So…what’s next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will travel to New York as they battle Tim Hardaway (17.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 42 FG%) and the Knicks (27-51) on Monday at 7:30 p.m.  This matchup will mark the third of four times that they will play each other this season.  The Cavaliers and the Knicks have battled each other a total of 213 times in the past as the Cavaliers won 95 games while the Knicks went on to win 118 games.  The last time they clashed with each other was on November 13 when the Cavaliers crept away with a 104 to 101 win.  LeBron James finished that game with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 blocks while Tim Hardaway had 28 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and one block.

The Philadelphia 76ers will host Harrison Barnes (18.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 45 FG%) and the Dallas Mavericks (24-55) on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.  This game will mark the second and final time that these two teams will meet up this season.  They have played each other a grand total of 72 times as the Mavericks won 37 games while the 76ers were kept to 35 wins.  October 28 was the last time that the 76ers and the Mavericks battled each other as the Mavericks fell to the Philadelphia team, 112-110.  During that game, Ben Simmons scored 23 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, gave out 8 assists, committed 3 steals, and blocked one shot.  Joel Embiid also had 23 points, along with 9 rebounds, and 4 assists while Harrison Barnes finished with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and one steal.

The Phoenix Suns get destroyed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-87

The Phoenix Suns cannot wait for this season to end as they are sitting at the fourteenth spot in the Western Conference with a 19-47 record.  They are also on a current three-game losing streak, hoping to break it as they visit Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Thunder, on the other hand, are hoping to avoid a third straight loss as they are coming fresh off of a 122-112 defeat to the Houston Rockets.

The Suns and the Thunder have battled each other a grand total of 259 times in the past as the Suns won 140 games while the Thunder ended up with just 119 victories.  The last time they played each other was on March 2 as the Suns fell to the Thunder, 124 to 116.  During that game, Russell Westbrook scored 43 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, dished off 8 assists, committed one steal, and blocked one shot while Devin Booker finished with 39 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and one block.

INACTIVES:

Phoenix Suns:

Brandon Knight (knee)
Alan Williams (knee)
Tyler Ulis (coach’s decision; 6.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 37.6 FG%, 25.7 3P%)
Jared Dudley (coach’s decision; 2.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.3 FG%, 35.7 3P%)
T.J. Warren (back, 19.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.0 FG%, 21.6 3P%)
Danuel House (G-League; 4.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 37.3 FG%, 25.8 3P%)

Oklahoma City Thunder:

Andre Roberson (knee; 5.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 53.7 FG%, 22.2 3P%)
Kyle Singler (1.9 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.2 APG, 33.3 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
Daniel Hamilton (3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 45.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
PJ Dozier (1.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)

GAMETIME:

The Oklahoma City Thunder would have control at the beginning of the game as they shot forty-six percent from the field while their defense kept the Phoenix Suns to twenty-eight percent.  Seven-time All-Star Russell Westbrook scored 14 points while pulling down five defensive rebounds and dishing off six assists.  Carmelo Anthony helped out with 3 three-pointers while recording four defensive rebounds and one steal.  Both Paul George and Steven Adams had 8 points each while Corey Brewer earned six points, three defensive rebounds, one assist, and one steal.  Former Houston Rockets’ forward Patrick Patterson played 8 minutes off of the bench but was held completely scoreless.

On the other end of the floor, Devin Booker lit the floor up with 15 points while drilling two three-pointers in the first quarter.  He also had four defensive rebounds while Josh Jackson contributed with six points on only thirteen percent shooting.  Jackson added two rebounds, two assists, and one steal to that while Elfrid Payton had four points, three rebounds, and three assists.  Troy Daniels played the most minutes off of the Phoenix bench but was kept to just a three-pointer near the end of the first quarter as the Thunder went into halftime with a 49-38 lead.

The Thunder would close things out in the second half as they went on a 66 to 49 run, completing fifty-nine percent of their shots.  Westbrook continued to add to his scoring total as he chalked up 13 more points on a perfect one-hundred percent shooting.  He also had three rebounds and three assists while George also had 13 points.  He would earn nine of those points from beyond the arc while Brewer had 11 points.  Carmelo Anthony only scored two points in the 8 minutes that he played while Adams had 8 points.

Devin Booker continued to help the Suns out as he put up 15 more points.  He was able to connect for two three-pointers in the third period but it wasn’t enough as the Oklahoma City Thunder handed the Phoenix Suns a huge 115-87 blowout loss.  Russell Westbrook finished the game with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists while Devin Booker would settle for 30 points, 6 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

So…what’s next?

The Phoenix Suns will travel to North Carolina to clash with Kemba Walker (23.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 43 FG%) and the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.  This game will mark the second and final time that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.  The Suns and the Hornets have met up a total of 55 times as the Suns won 34 games while the Hornets were limited to just 21 victories.  February 4 was the last time they saw each other as the Hornets slipped away with a 115-110 win.  Nicolas Batum finished that game with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal while Josh Jackson earned 23 points, 5 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will host LaMarcus Aldridge (22.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 50 FG%) and the San Antonio Spurs (37-27) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.  This meeting will mark the third of four matchups between these two teams this season.  They have saw each other a grand total of 199 times in the past as the Thunder won 89 games while the Texas team went on to pull out 110 victories.  The last time they battled each other was on December 3 when the Thunder handed the Spurs a 90-87 loss.  During that game, Russell Westbrook scored 22 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, gave out 10 assists, and came up with one steal while Dejounte Murray had 17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and one block.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hand the Detroit Pistons their third straight loss, 112-90

Things have been looking good for the Cleveland Cavaliers since the trades have been made as they have won 5 of their 9 games since the deadline.  But right now, they are hoping to avoid a third straight loss as they host the Detroit Pistons, who are also trying to avoid a third straight loss.  This matchup between the Cavaliers and the Pistons will mark the fourth and final time that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.

The Cavaliers and the Pistons have battled each other a grand total of 234 times in the past as the Cavaliers won 104 games while the Detroit team went on to pull out 130 victories.  The last time they saw each other was on January 30 when the Cavaliers were handed a disappointing 125-114 loss.  During that game, Stanley Johnson scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, gave out 4 assists, committed 2 steals, and blocked one shot while LeBron James had 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and one block.

INACTIVES:

Detroit Pistons:

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%)
Jameer Nelson (coach’s decision; 5.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 40.2 FG%, 33.9 3P%)
Kay Felder (G-League; 3.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 29.4 FG%, 21.1 3P%)
Reggie Hearn (G-League; 3.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 100.0 FG%, 100.0 3P%)

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Jeff Green (back; 10.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5 FG%, 30.9 3P%)
Kevin Love (hand; 17.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 46.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%)
Tristan Thompson (ankle; 6.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 58.5 FG%)

GAMETIME:

The game would be somewhat competitive at the beginning as the Cavaliers shot forty-eight percent from the field in the first half while the Pistons ended up shooting forty-one percent.  Larry Nance Jr. got hot for 18 points on seventy-three percent shooting while recording three offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds.  LeBron James would help out with 16 points which included two three-pointers.  James also had five rebounds and three assists while Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, and Ante Zizic earned four points each.  Kyle Korver played nine minutes off of the bench but was limited to just a three-pointer in the middle of the second quarter.

As for the Michigan team, Blake Griffin lit the floor up with 15 points while connecting for two three-pointers in the first period.  He also had five rebounds, four assists, and one steal while Maryland-native Reggie Bullock earned eight points.  Bullock was able to knock down two three-pointers while Andre Drummond recorded six points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block.  Stanley Johnson played the most minutes off of the bench but was kept to just five points while the home team went into the locker room with a 54 to 49 lead.

The Cleveland Cavaliers would close things out in the second half as they went on a 58 to 41 run, shooting fifty percent from the field.  LeBron James added to his scoring total with 15 points while earning 3 three-pointers in the third quarter.  He also had 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and one steal while Cedi Osman had 10 points off of the bench.  Nance would slow down as he had only four points in the second half while Rodney Hood earned nine points.  On the other end of the court, Griffin collected ten more points but it wasn’t enough as the Cavaliers handed the Pistons a 112-90 blowout loss.  LeBron James finished with 31 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and one steal while Blake Griffin had 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal.

So…what’s next?

The Detroit Pistons will host DeMar DeRozan (23.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 46 FG%) and the Toronto Raptors (45-17) on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.  This matchup will mark the third of four meetings between these two ball clubs this season.  The Raptors and the Pistons have played each other a grand total of 89 times in the past as the Pistons earned 54 wins while the Raptors were kept to just 35 victories.  The last time they saw each other was on February 26 when the Raptors handed the Pistons a huge 123-94 blowout loss.  During that game, DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points, grabbed one rebound, gave out 7 assists, committed 2 steals, and blocked one shot.  Kyle Lowry also had 20 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Andre Drummond had 18 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will travel to Colorado to battle Gary Harris (17.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 49 FG%) and the Denver Nuggets (35-28) on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.  This game will mark the second and final time that the Nuggets and the Cavaliers will meet up this season.  It was only four days ago when they last saw each other as the Cleveland team fell to the Nuggets, 126-117.  Gary Harris finished that game with 32 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and one steal while LeBron James settled for 25 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, and 2 steals.

The Clippers pull through with a 123-120 victory over the Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have recently came off of an eight-game losing streak but, unfortunately, they are in route of losing a third straight time as they visit Los Angeles to take on the Clippers.  The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, are looking for a second straight victory.  This matchup between the Clippers and the Nets will mark the second and final time that these two teams will meet up this season.

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets have battled each other a grand total of 88 times in the past as the Clippers won 40 games while the Nets went on to pull out 48 wins.  The last time that they fought each other was on February 12 when the Nets fell short to the Clippers, 114-101.  During that game, Lou Williams scored 20 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, gave out 4 assists, committed 2 steals, and blocked one shot while Joe Harris had 16 points, 2 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.  D’Angelo Russell also finished with 16 points, along with 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal.

INACTIVES:

Brooklyn Nets:

Jeremy Lin (knee; 18.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 41.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%)
Quincy Acy (coach’s decision; 5.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 33.4 FG%, 32.7 3P%)
Timofey Mozgov (coach’s decision; 4.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 53.6 FG%, 22.2 3P%)
Jahlil Okafor (coach’s decision; 6.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 53.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Nik Stauskas (coach’s decision; 4.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.9 APG, 38.5 FG%, 40.5 3P%)
James Webb (G-League; 1.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 23.8 FG%, 23.5 3P%)
Milton Doyle (G-League; 3.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.7 APG, 28.0 FG%, 15.4 3P%)
Isaiah Whitehead (G-League; 6.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 46.5 FG%, 38.9 3P%)

Los Angeles Clippers:

Patrick Beverley (knee; 12.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 40.3 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
Avery Bradley (hernia; 14.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 41.4 FG%, 36.9 3P%)
Jawun Evans (abdominal; 5.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 34.3 FG%, 26.5 3P%)
Danilo Gallinari (hand; 15.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 40.7 FG%, 32.1 3P%)
Boban Marjanovic (coach’s decision; 5.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 53.8 FG%)
C.J. Williams (G-League; 5.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 44.8 FG%, 31.3 3P%)
Tyrone Wallace (G-League; 10.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 46.1 FG%, 30.8 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The Los Angeles Clippers would have the upper hand at the beginning of the game as they shot fifty-seven percent from the field, limiting the Brooklyn Nets to forty-two percent.  Former Detroit Pistons’ forward Tobias Harris got hot for 18 points while shooting sixty-two percent from the field.  He also had two rebounds, one assist, and two blocks while Milos Teodosic chalked up 12 points with two three-pointers in the middle of the first quarter.  DeAndre Jordan made sure to help out with nine points, eight rebounds, and one assists while Austin Rivers settled for just five points.  Lou Williams played 15 minutes off of the bench as he earned himself 12 points.

On the other end of the court, Caris LeVert chalked up 11 points off of the bench which included one three-pointer late in the first period.  DeMarre Carroll earned himself six points which all came from beyond the arc while collecting four rebounds.  D’Angelo Russell was able to knock down a three-pointer and two free-throws to give himself five points while Spencer Dinwiddie was kept to just two points.  Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played the most minutes off of the bench but was limited to just five points while the home team went into halftime with a commanding 65 to 53 lead.

The Nets would bounce back in the second half as they sparked up a 67 to 58 run, shooting forty-five percent from the field.  LeVert continued to add to his scoring total as he collected 16 more points which contained four three-pointers.  He also had four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while Carroll connected for four three-pointers and two free-throws, earning 14 points in return.  Hollis-Jefferson had ten points as he played the most minutes off of the bench while Joe Harris earned 11 points off of the bench.  But, behind Rivers’ 22 second-half points and a game-sealing jumper by Lou Williams, the Clippers were able to hold off the Nets, 123-120.  Austin Rivers finished the game with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while Caris LeVert had a career-high 27 points, along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and one block.

So…what’s next?

The Brooklyn Nets will stay in California as they battle Stephen Curry (26.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 49 FG%) and the Golden State Warriors (49-14) on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.  This game will mark the second and final meeting between these two ball clubs this season.  The Nets and the Warriors have met up a total of 87 times in the past as the Warriors won 51 games while the Brooklyn team was limited to just 36 victories.  November 19 was the last time they saw each other as the Warriors snuck away with a 118 to 111 win.  Stephen Curry finished that game with 39 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals while Allen Crabbe settled for 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The Los Angeles Clippers will host Anthony Davis (28.1 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 54 FG%) and the New Orleans Pelicans (35-26) on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.  This meeting will mark the third of four matchups between these two ball clubs this season.  The Clippers and the Pelicans have matched up a grand total of 52 times as the Pelicans won 27 games while the Clippers earned 25 wins.  The last time they battled each other was on January 28 when the Clippers handed the Pelicans a 112-103 loss.  During that game, Blake Griffin scored 27 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, dished off 7 assists, and came away with one steal while Anthony Davis finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and one block.

The New Orleans Pelicans manage to slip away with a 121-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs

It’s been a little over a month since DeMarcus Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles injury in a game against the Houston Rockets, leaving the Pelicans in a state of wonder.  But honestly, you wouldn’t be able to tell as they are currently on a six-game winning streak, hoping to grab a seventh straight victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Texas.  The Spurs, on the other hand, are coming fresh off of a 110-94 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Pelicans and the Spurs have battled each other a grand total of 64 times as the Spurs won 46 games while the Pelicans were limited to just 18 victories.  This game will mark the second of four meetings between these two ball clubs this season.  The last time they played each other was on November 22 when the New Orleans team walked away with a 107 to 90 win.  During that game, Anthony Davis scored 29 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished off 4 assists, and came away with one steal while Rudy Gay finished with 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and one steal.

INACTIVES:

New Orleans Pelicans:

Alexis Ajinca (knee)
DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles; 25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 47.0 FG%, 35.4 3P%)
Solomon Hill (hamstring)
Frank Jackson (foot)
DeAndre Liggins (coach’s decision; 2.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 41.0 FG%, 35.6 3P%)
Charles Cooke (G-League; 0.7 PPG, 0.1 RPG, 0.1 APG, 20.0 FG%, 16.7 3P%)

San Antonio Spurs:

Pau Gasol (knee; 10.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 46.4 FG%, 39.8 3P%)
Kawhi Leonard (quadricep; 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 46.8 FG%, 31.4 3P%)
Brandon Paul (coach’s decision; 2.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 44.0 FG%, 28.6 3P%)
Derrick White (coach’s decision; 2.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 48.0 FG%, 50.0 3P%)
Matt Costello (G-League; 0.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.0 APG, 33.3 FG%)
Darrun Hilliard (G-League; 1.1 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 26.3 FG%, 0.0 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The San Antonio Spurs would have control of the game at the beginning as they shot fifty-two percent from the field while the New Orleans Pelicans ended up shooting forty-six percent.  Manu Ginobili, who is in conversation for this season’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, scored 13 points off of the bench, which included a three-pointer at the end of the second quarter.  Dejounte Murray helped out with 11 points, as well as 5 rebounds, one assist, and one block.  Patty Mills had nine points and two assists while LaMarcus Aldridge earned himself 8 points and 3 rebounds.  Danny Green played 12 minutes off of the bench but was kept to just a three-pointer.

On the other end of the court, Jrue Holiday chalked up 13 points with one three-pointer near the end of the first quarter.  Anthony Davis did what he usually does and dropped 10 points while grabbing eight rebounds and coming up with one steal.  Rajon Rondo contributed with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists while Nikola Mirotic had eight points off of the bench.  The 2004-2005 Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor was kept scoreless while E’Twaun Moore had two points.  Darius Miller played the most minutes off of the bench but was held to just a three-pointer while the Spurs went into halftime with a 60-51 lead.

The visiting team, however, would bounce back in the second half as they sparked up a 70 to 56 run, shooting fifty-five percent from the field.  During that run, Davis added to his scoring total by putting up 16 more points, along with seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal.  Moore would make up for his first half performance by earning himself 15 points on sixty-four percent shooting.  Holiday helped out with 12 points, which included a three-pointer in the middle of the third quarter.  As for the Spurs, Rudy Gay got hot for 17 points but it wouldn’t be enough as the Pelicans hold on to capture a 121-116 victory.  Anthony Davis finished the game with 26 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, and 2 steals while Rudy Gay settled for 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, one steal, and 3 blocks.

So…what’s next?

The New Orleans Pelicans will stay in Texas as they battle Harrison Barnes (18.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 45 FG%) and the Dallas Mavericks (19-42) on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.  This matchup will mark the third of four games that these two teams will play against each other this season.  The Pelicans and the Mavericks have clashed with each other a total of 62 times in the past as the Pelicans won 21 games while the Mavericks went on to pull out 41 wins.  December 29 was the last time that met up as the Texas team snuck away with a 128 to 120 win.  Dennis Smith finished that game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and one steal while Anthony Davis had 33 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

The San Antonio Spurs will also stay in Texas as they host Brandon Ingram (16.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.8 APG, 47 FG%) and the Los Angeles Lakers (26-34) on Saturday at 9:00 p.m.  This game will mark the second of three times that the Spurs and Lakers will battle each other this season.  They have fought each other a grand total of 221 times as the Lakers won 113 games while the Spurs were limited to 108 wins.  The last time they saw each other was on January 11 when the Lakers handed the Spurs a 93 to 81 loss.  During that game, Brandon Ingram had 26 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and one steal while LaMarcus Aldridge settled for 20 points, 4 rebounds, one assist, and one block.

The Brooklyn Nets strike the Chicago Bulls with a 104 to 87 loss

The Brooklyn Nets currently hold the record for the longest losing streak in the league, hoping to avoid a ninth straight loss.  They will look to break this streak as they host the Chicago Bulls at the Barclays Center, who are currently on a three-game losing streak.  The Nets and the Bulls have battled each other a grand total of 173 times in the past as the Bulls won 99 games while the Nets ended up winning just 74 games.  This matchup will mark the first of three times that these two ball clubs will face each other this season.

INACTIVES:

Chicago Bulls:

Omer Asik (coach’s decision; 1.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.1 APG, 43.8 FG%)
Jerian Grant (coach’s decision; 8.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 42.6 FG%, 34.0 3P%)
Zach LaVine (rest; 17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 40.2 FG%, 38.3 3P%)
Antonio Blakeney (G-League; 7.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.6 APG, 36.6 FG%, 30.0 3P%)
Ryan Arcidiacono (G-League; 1.2 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 41.7 FG%, 30.0 3P%)
Paul Zipser (foot; 3.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 36.0 FG%, 34.8 3P%)
Robin Lopez (12.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 52.7 FG%, 25.0 3P%)

Brooklyn Nets:

Jeremy Lin (knee; 18.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 41.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%)
Timofey Mozgov (coach’s decision; 4.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 53.6 FG%, 22.2 3P%)
Jahlil Okafor (calf; 6.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 53.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
James Webb (G-League; 1.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 23.8 FG%, 23.5 3P%)
Milton Doyle (G-League; 3.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.7 APG, 28.0 FG%, 15.4 3P%)
Isaiah Whitehead (G-League; 6.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 46.5 FG%, 38.9 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The game would be somewhat competitive at the beginning as the Chicago Bulls shot forty percent from the field while the Brooklyn Nets ended up shooting thirty-eight percent.  Lauri Markkanen scored 15 points which included a three-pointer in the middle of the second quarter.  He also had three rebounds while Connecticut-native Kris Dunn helped out with 13 points on fifty-six percent shooting.  Dunn added three defensive rebounds and three assists to it while both David Nwaba and Justin Holiday had four points each.  Denzel Valentine played 15 minutes off of the bench but was kept to just five points.

On the other end of the court, both Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll chalked up 11 points each in the fifteen minutes that they played.  They also had two three-pointers each while Crabbe earned three defensive rebounds and one steal while Carroll collected three rebounds and three assists.  The 2015-2016 All-Rookie player D’Angelo Russell contributed with two three-pointers in the first quarter while Jarrett Allen had four points.  Joe Harris played the most minutes off of the bench but was limited to just five points as the visiting team hit the locker room with a tight 51-49 lead.

The New York team would catch the Bulls by surprise in the second half as they sparked up a huge 55-36 run after the break.  During that run, Allen posted up 14 points, 6 rebounds, one assists, and 2 blocks while shooting eighty-six percent from the field.  Crabbe saw to it that he got 10 points with two three-pointers in the third period.   Both Dante Cunningham and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had two points each while Carroll earned himself seven points.  Dunn would score 10 points for the Bulls but it wasn’t enough as the Nets handed the Bulls a 104-87 loss.  Allen Crabbe finished the game with 21 points, 3 rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Kris Dunn had 23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

So…what’s next?

The Chicago Bulls will visit North Carolina to take on Kemba Walker (22.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 43 FG%) and the Charlotte Hornets (27-33) on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.  This matchup between the Bulls and the Hornets will mark the third of four times that they will meet up this season.  They have battled each other a grand total of 115 times as the Hornets won 40 games while the Bulls went on to pull out 75 victories.  December 8 was the last time they saw each other as the Chicago team pulled away with a 119-111 overtime win.  Lauri Markkanen finished that game with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Dwight Howard had 25 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, and 6 blocks.

The Brooklyn Nets will travel to Ohio to clash with LeBron James (26.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 8.9 APG, 55 FG%) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (35-24) on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.  This meeting will mark the third of four times that these two ball clubs will play each other this season.  The Nets and the Cavaliers have battled each other a total of 189 times in the past as the Nets won 80 games while the Cavaliers ended up winning 109 games.  The last time they met up was on November 22 when the Ohio team handed the Nets a 119 to 109 loss.  During that game, LeBron James scored 33 points, pulled 6 rebounds, dished off 5 assists, and committed 2 steals while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The Oklahoma City Thunder hold off the Sacramento Kings, 110 to 107

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to start another winning streak as they hope to grab their second straight win after All-Star break.  They will look to do that against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center, who are currently on the brink of a two-game losing streak.  The Thunder and the Kings have battled it out a grand total of 238 times in the past as the Thunder won 150 games while the Kings were limited to just 88 wins.

This meeting between these two ball clubs will mark the third of four times that they will play each this season.  The last time they met up was on January 15 when the Thunder slipped away with a 95 to 88 win.  During that game, Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, dished off one assist, and blocked 2 shots while Buddy Hield finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

INACTIVES:

Oklahoma City Thunder:

Andre Roberson (knee; 5.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 53.7 FG%, 22.2 3P%)
Nick Collison (coach’s decision; 1.9 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.3 APG, 87.5 FG%)
Dakari Johnson (coach’s decision; 2.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 55.3 FG%)
Kyle Singler (coach’s decision; 2.1 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.1 APG, 36.8 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
Daniel Hamilton (G-League; 3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 45.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
PJ Dozier (G-League; 1.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.0 APG, 50.0 FG%)

Sacramento Kings:

Harry Giles (knee)
Iman Shumpert (foot; 4.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 37.9 FG%, 26.9 3P%)
Bruno Caboclo (coach’s decision; 0.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
De’Aaron Fox (eye; 11.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 41.0 FG%, 32.6 3P%)
JaKarr Sampson (G-League; 4.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.5 APG, 64.1 FG%, 60.0 3P%)
Kosta Koufos (illness; 6.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 56.1 FG%)
Jack Cooley (G-League; 2.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.0 FG%)

GAMETIME:

Despite the Thunder ending the first quarter with a huge 44 to 21 lead, the first half would be competitive as they shot fifty-five percent from the field while the Kings shot fifty percent.  Paul George scored 15 points as he nailed two three-pointers in the first quarter.  He also had two defensive rebounds, seven assists, and one steal while Carmelo Anthony collected 15 points, as well.  Anthony, however, would earn all of those points from beyond the arc while Steven Adams earned himself 12 points and 2 blocks.  Russell Westbrook helped out with 8 points while recording 9 defensive rebounds, 8 assists, and one steal.  Raymond Felton played 10 minutes off of the bench but was held to just two points.

On the other end of the court, two-time All-Star Zach Randolph posted up 14 points which included 3 three-pointers.  He also had 8 rebounds and 2 assists while Buddy Hield scored 12 points off of the bench.  Hield added 6 rebounds and 3 assists to it while Willie Cauley-Stein earned himself seven points.  Former Washington Wizards’ guard Garrett Temple knocked down two three-pointers while Bogdan Bogdanovic had two free-throws.  Vince Carter played the most minutes off of the bench as he had seven points but it was the Oklahoma City Thunder who went into the locker room with a 67 to 60 lead.

The home team would make a comeback, though, as they sparked up a 53 to 43 run, shooting forty-five percent from the field.  During that run, Randolph continued to put on a scoring display as he earned 17 more points, which included a three-pointer early in the third quarter.  He also had two offensive rebounds and two defensive rebounds while Vince Carter had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal.  Hield played the most minutes off of the bench as he had seven points.

As for the Thunder, George had 11 more points with one three-pointer in the middle of the third period.  He also had five defensive rebounds and one assist while Carmelo Anthony collected eight points with two three-pointers.  Westbrook earned 9 points, 6 defensive rebounds, 3 assists, and one steal but the most important shot was at the end of the game when he nailed a clutch three-pointer to give the Thunder a 110 to 107 win.  Paul George finished the game with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and one steal while Zach Randolph had 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists.

So…what’s next?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on Stephen Curry (26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 49 FG%) and the Golden State Warriors (44-14) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.  This matchup will mark the third of four times that these two ball clubs will meet up this season.  The Warriors and the Thunder have fought each other a total of 262 times in the past as the Thunder pulled out 145 wins while the Warriors were limited to just 117 victories.  February 6 was the last time they met up as the Thunder defeated the Warriors, 125-105. Paul George finished the game with 38 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals while Kevin Durant had 33 points, 6 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.

The Sacramento Kings will host Brandon Ingram (16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 46 FG%) and the Los Angeles Lakers (23-34) on Saturday at 10:00 p.m.  This game will mark the third of four times that they will play each other this season.  The Kings and the Lakers have saw each other a grand total of 462 times as the Kings won 165 games while the Lakers went on to earn 297 wins.  The last time they met up was on January 9 when the Kings fell short to the Lakers, 99-86.  During that game, Julius Randle scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, gave out 6 assists, and committed one steal while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and one steal.

The Denver Nuggets pull away from the Milwaukee Bucks with a 134-123 win

Both the Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks are on two-game winning streaks, hoping to grab a third win as they battle each other in Wisconsin at the Bradley Center.  This matchup between these two ball clubs will mark the first of two times that they will meet up this season.  The Nuggets and the Bucks have clashed with each other a grand total of 99 times in the past as the Nuggets won 62 games while the Bucks were limited to just 37 victories.

INACTIVES:

Denver Nuggets:

Monte Morris (coach’s decision; 3.3 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 66.7 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Mason Plumlee (calf; 7.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 58.1 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Torrey Craig (G-League; 4.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 45.1 FG%, 26.3 3P%)
Paul Millsap (wrist; 15.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 44.6 FG%, 34.5 3P%)
Tyler Lydon (knee; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
Richard Jefferson (wrist; 1.6 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 41.7 FG%, 28.6 3P%)
Kenneth Faried (personal; 5.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 51.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%)

Milwaukee Bucks:

Matthew Dellavedova (ankle; 4.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 36.9 FG%, 37.7 3P%)
Malcolm Brogdon (13.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 48.7 FG%, 37.8 3P%)
John Henson (hamstring; 8.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 58.7 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
Mirza Teletovic (lung; 7.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 43.9 FG%, 46.7 3P%)

GAMETIME:

The Denver Nuggets would be in the driver’s seat, taking full control in the first half as they shot sixty-four percent from the field, limiting the home team to just forty-seven percent shooting.  Gary Harris ended up scoring 20 points on seventy-eight percent shooting while knocking down four three-pointers and two free-throws.  Nikola Jokic helped out with 16 points while he also shot seventy-eight percent from the field.  Jokic connected for a three-pointer in the second period while collecting 11 rebounds and 12 assists.  With doing that, Jokic recorded his fastest triple-double in NBA history (14 minutes and 33 seconds), beating Jim Tucker’s time of 17 minutes in 1955.  Will Barton had 13 points while Wilson Chandler earned 11 points, both hitting 3 three-pointers each.  Devin Harris played 10 minutes off of the bench but was kept to just a three-pointer.

On the other end of the court, Giannis Antetokounmpo chalked up 17 points with one three-pointer at the beginning of the game.  He also had four rebounds, four assists, and one block while both Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe earned 12 points each.  Tony Snell had seven points on forty-three percent shooting while Thon Maker was kept scoreless.  Former Cleveland Cavaliers’ center Tyler Zeller played the most minutes off of the bench but was limited to just four points as the Colorado team went into halftime with a 74 to 62 lead.

The Bucks would attempt to make a comeback, though, as they shot sixty percent from the field in the second half while the Nuggets ended up shooting just forty-six percent.  Antetokounmpo continued to add to his scoring total as he scored 19 more points on seventy-three percent shooting.  He also collected seven rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks while Bledsoe received 15 points with 3 three-pointers in the fourth quarter.  Middleton helped out with five points and six rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Nuggets pulled away with a 134-123 win behind Jamal Murray’s 19 second-half points.  Nikola Jokic finished the game with 30 points, 15 rebounds, a career-high 17 assists, one steal, and one block while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 11 rebounds, a season-high 13 assists, and 3 blocks.

So…what’s next?

The Denver Nuggets will host LaMarcus Aldridge (22.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 50 FG%) and the San Antonio Spurs (35-24) next Friday on 9:00 p.m.  This meeting will mark the fourth and final time that these two teams will play each other this season.  The Nuggets and the Spurs have battled each other a grand total of 208 times in the past as the Spurs won 136 games while the Nuggets were limited to just 72 wins.  February 13 was the last time they saw each other as the Nuggets handed the Spurs a 117-109 loss.  During that game, Nikola Jokic scored 23 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, gave out 11 assists, and blocked one shot while Joffrey Lauvergne had 26 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and one block.

The Milwaukee Bucks will visit Canada to take on DeMar DeRozan (23.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 46 FG%) and the Toronto Raptors (41-16) next Friday at 7:30 p.m.  This matchup will mark the third and final time that the Bucks and Raptors will meet up this season.  These two ball clubs have met up a total of 90 times as the Raptors won 41 games while the Bucks went on to pull out 49 victories.  The last time they battled each other was on January 5 when the Raptors defeated the Bucks with a 129-110 score.  Serge Ibaka finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and one steal while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.