01-03-20 NBA Blog Train Friday
TGIF! The first Friday of the decade.
Welcome to The NBA Blog Train! We have game capsules for all 6 games tonight.
Heat at Magic -1 UNDER 206.5
We took the Heat tonight, feeling like the Heat owed us one, even though they were on the second night of a back-to-back. And we felt that the Magic without Isaac (out for a couple of months) would lose some steam on defense.
*Narrator voice*
They did not lose any steam on defense.
The Heat shot 7 of 37 from three and coughed up 18 turnovers. The Magic held the Heat to just 6 points in the 4th quarter! WTF.
From our Orlando Magic Season Preview: Air Gordon and T-Ross, the rare power dunker pair that can also shoot the 3-ball. β Well, both are shooting quite worse from three this year compared to last season.
Air Gordon: 35 percent in 2018-2019 and 29 percent so far in 2019-2020.
T-Ross: 38 percent in 2018-2019 and 33 percent so far in 2019-2020.
Tonight, T-Ross was a torch off the bench, firing in 6 of 10 from three. However, Aaron Gordon was only 1 for 6.
The coaches did not look happy at the end of this one.
You would not think that the Magic were about to win by 20 here.
Magic 105, Heat 85.
The Magic have now won 5 of their last 6 against the Heat. We will see if the Heat can bounce back from this one, currently 9-0 this season after a loss. Next up for Miami, the Blazers on Sunday night.
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Hawks +10.5 at Celtics Under 224.5
In the last Celtics game capsule, we mentioned how JT consistently looks smooth as hell and has no problem making increasingly difficult shots.
See what we are talking about? Tatum actually did not have a great game, just 2 of 16 shooting (oof) saved by 9 of 10 free throws. We still have Jayson Tatum as an Eastern Conference All-Star.
We agree that it was taunting, but Smart also did not really have anywhere to goβ¦ But itβs Marcus Smart, he of shenanigans aplenty. More importantly, that was a helluva block by Theis!
Celtics 109, Hawks 106.
The Hawks took control in the 1st quarter with a 14-0 run, and even led by 18 at one point, but the Celtics, even without Kemba, were inevitable.
Points in the paint: Celtics 62, Hawks 34.
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Blazers -7 at Wizards Under 232.5
Beal did not play and IT was ejected less than 2 minutes into the game.
Seriously.
The Wizards box score was downright goofy. The most points by a Wiz starter was 10. The Wizards bench outscored the starters 76 to 27! Garrison Matthews is a sniper, 5 of 7 from three, ripping the net.
Blazers 122, Wizards 103.
Portland really needed this one, snapping a 5-game losing streak.
Points in the paint: Blazers 62, Wizards 42.
In the latest segment of WHO HE?! We have Jaylen Hoard β #6 for the Blazers β a 6-8 rookie from Wake Forest. Born in France, Hoard attended Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina. Shout out NC!
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76ers at Rockets -4.5 . Under 227.5
Headband Harden did not get an 80-piece, but *spoiler alert* he played rather well.
Simmons power put-back. Simmons had a big night: 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Also 4 blocks and 3 steals, but 3 of 7 on free throws.
This Beard outlet to Brodie deserved a second look.
Rockets 118, 76ers 108.
Over 227.5 would have been a Bad Beat. The Over was on pace all night and then at 226 points with 55 seconds left, Embiid missed a short jumper, Capela missed 2 free throws and then Embiid missed a three.
Headband Harden, Capela and Russ combined for 94 points.
Headband Harden 40-point triple double: 44 points (13 of 24, 6 of 12 from three), 11 rebounds and 11 assists. New look, still wrecking this league.
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Knicks at Suns -7 Over 224
Consistent Kelly Oubre threw down a fast break dunk in the 2nd quarter, flexed and nodded his head, and was hit with a tech.
We completely agree with Twitter. Let Kelly have this thing!
Suns 120, Knicks 112.
Oubre had the last laugh: 29 points (20 in the 2nd half) on 11 of 16 shooting, 5 of 7 from three.
The Knicks led for quite a while, but their troubles closing out games continued in the 4th quarter.
Thatβs five straight 30-point games for Devin Booker!
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Pelicans at Lakers -10Push OVER 224.5
LeBron was dishing dimes (15), Danny Green was raining threes (6 of 10), and AD dominated from everywhere (40 points through 3 quarters, 46 on the night).
#FullExtension
AD in the immediate on-court post-game interview: βI feel good.β β Revenge treats The Brow well.
Lakers 123, Pelicans 113.
The Lakers second straight game with 74 points at halftime.
Silver lining for the Pellies: Zion is now practicing in full!
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11 games on the Saturday slate and 5 games on Sunday. We will catch you next time.
We love this game!