08-03-20 NBA Bubble Blog Train Monday
Dear friends, we sincerely apologize that Friday night’s Bubble Blog Train didn’t make it out of the station. It just was not meant to be. We ran into problems with our DirecTV League Pass account. A thunderstorm rolled in and knocked out our satellite connection for quite a while. Some folks showed up for the ending of the Rockets-Mavs game that went into OT. And to top it all off, there were official reports that Trump is really going to ban TikTok. So yeah… Not. Meant. 2B.
But have no fear, for the Monday bubble blog train is here!
Raptors -2.5 “at” Heat Under 221.5
The Monday matinee commenced with a wave and a defensive oriented first two quarters and a halftime score of Raptors 48, Heat 44.
The Raptors jumped out to a 17-point lead in the 3rd quarter, but the Heat stormed right back behind sharp shooting from Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk, each knocking down four 3s, and The Dragon who pitched in three 3s and 25 points off the bench.
Raptors 107, Heat 103.
The Heat offense sputtered down the stretch. Toronto’s defense seems to be growing in stature.
Fred VanVleet was THAT DUDE for the Raptors, scoring a career-high 36 points, 7 of 12 from three!
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Nuggets +5.5 “at” Thunder Over 219
This game was close throughout and went in Overtime in large part due to a very surprising Chris Paul missed free throw with 2.9 seconds left.
The Joker lulled the Thunder to sleep in OT.
Nuggets 121, Thunder 113. OT
Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 points in the first half and finished with 37 for the game, 12 of 16 shooting from the field. Color us impressed!
Three pointers: Denver 7 of 25 for 28% — OKC 15 of 36 for 41.7%
Points in the paint: Denver 50 — OKC 28.
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Pacers -8.5 “at” Wizards UNDER 227.5
So it turns out that T.J. “Bubble” Warren was not a one-hit wonder, following up his stellar 53-point Saturday with 34 points, 14 of 26 shooting, a +25 net rating and 11 boards to boot!
Pacers 111, Wizards 100.
Jalen Rose wants you to know that T.J. Warren was traded by the Suns for… ca$h considerations! The Suns are stupid.
Over the last 2 games, Thomas Bryant is 6 of 9 from three-point land. TB13 can shoot it!
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Grizzlies “at” Pelicans -4.5 UNDER 236
The Under here would have been the Lock of the Night. We are talking wayyyy UNDER.
Zion played some more minutes tonight! 23 points in 25 minutes to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Pelicans 109, Grizzlies 99.
It was the Pelicans who got their first bubble win and the Grizzlies who remain bubble winless.
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Spurs +7.5 “at” 76ers OVER 227.5
The Spurs won their first two bubble games and we were right back to wondering… Winter is Coming?
And after a great comeback in the 4th quarter, we were fully prepared to write WINTER IS COMING.
However, Shake Milton had other ideas:
76ers 132, Spurs 130.
After their tiff on Saturday, you really do gotta love that Embiid was the first one to congratulate Milton after the game-winner. The jump high five!
Embiid, of course, also joked about it on social media afterwards.
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Lakers -6 “at” Jazz Over 217
This Jazz Under was looking 50/50 for a while and then it was looking GREAT in the third quarter. But all of a sudden, a flurry of points at the end of the third had us cursing and what not. The fourth quarter was shaky and it was all coming down to the wire with a little over a minute left. We were right back in the electric chair!
Mike Conley hit an open 3 with 1:01 remaining to bring the current total to 214 points. “NO MORE POINTS.” Welp, AD missed the memo, immediately drilling a step-back And-1 three in Gobert’s eye balls to seal our fate. Just like that, no Junder tonight.
AD sure turned things around from Saturday night, toasting the Jazz for a final stat line of 42 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.
Lakers 116, Jazz 108.
The other good news is that the Lakers have clinched the 1 seed in the West!
LeBron: 22, 9 and 7. Ho hum.
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Six more games up tomorrow/Tuesday. 1:30pm EST will be here before we know it!
We love this game!