01-01-20 NBA Blog Train Wednesday - New Year's Day
RIP David Stern.
We are forever grateful for everything that you did for this wonderful game.
Magic -3 at Wizards Over 222.5
Just two minutes into the game, Jonathan Isaac injured his knee in a collision with Beal. Isaac was carried to the locker room on a stretcher. :/
With Aaron Gordon also out tonight, it was Vooch and the T-shirt Boys who were big for the Magic in the first game of the new decade.
D.J. Augustin scored a season-high 25 points in 31 minutes off the bench. Fournier scored 18 points in a whopping 38 minutes.
Magic 122, Wizards 101.
The Over hit with 18.3 seconds left thanks to an Amile Jefferson free throw. Under 222.5 would have been a Bad Beat!
In the latest episode of WHO HE?! We have Anzejs Pasecniks of the Washington Wizards. #18. A 7-1 220 lb center from Latvia, Pasecniks was selected in the 1st round of the 2017 Draft by... the Orlando Magic. So this was a Anzejs Pasecniks Revenge Game!
Pasecniks debuted on December 18th — while we were out on the road in Cali. This was his 7th game of the season, averaging 20 minutes a game with Moe Wagner sidelined for several more weeks.
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Blazers at Knicks +4 UNDER 225.5
Melo’s return to MSG. That meant a Reverse Revenge Game for the Knicks! The one thing that the Knicks do well is Reverse Revenge Games.
Melo did his part with a season-high 26 points on 11 of 17 shooting, 3 of 5 from three, 7 rebounds and… 0 assists.
MSG gave Melo all of the love.
Mitchell Robinson was a perfect 11 of 11 from the field, scoring 22 points in 27 minutes off the bench.
Knicks 117, Blazers 93.
If Wob is not your go-to correspondent for all things Knicks, you are doing it wrong. We are happy for you, Wob! Holy shit, the Knicks have won 3 straight?
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Timberwolves +18 at Bucks UNDER 221
Giannis played, however, KAT and Wiggins did not, hence the 18-point spread. Double Ewing Theory Alert!
This might be our favorite highlight of the season. Shout out Jarrett Culver! Never change, Robin Lopez! We love everything about this, but it is just too bad that this was the last Bucks-Wolves game of the season.
Bucks 106, T-Wolves 104.
Giannis did his part (32p/17r/4a), but the three-ball just was not falling for the Bucks: 9 of 36 for 25 percent. Still got that dub, though.
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Suns +11 at Lakers Under 225.5
What.
Blonde Kuzma did throw down a lite power dunk!
Consistent Kelly — that’s what we are starting to call Oubre.
Poor Aron Baynes. We say that a lot.
Lakers 117, Suns 107.
We almostttt took Over 225.5 and staying away was our best decision of 2020 so far.
The Lakers jumped out to a humongous lead, 43 to 17 after the 1st quarter, up by 36 in what looked like a laugher. Then the 4th quarter started and the wheels not only fell off but completely disintegrated. It took the Lakers 5 minutes into the 4th quarter before they scored their first point! The Lakers held on, but they did not cover or hit the Over. Sometimes staying away is just as good as winning.
The Lakers are now 18-0 vs opponents with a losing record.
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The first Thursday of the decade features a 9-game slate. The Blog Train will not be leaving the station, but we hope to be back up and running on Friday night.
Thanks again and RIP, Commish. You will never be forgotten.
We love this game!