02-10-20 NBA Blog Train Monday
The Blog Train is back with 9 games on the Monday night menu.
ALL ABOARD!!!
Hornets +3.5 at Pistons UNDER 206.5
This UNDER 206.5 might be the Purest Lock of the season! 163 total points. They could have played a 5th quarter and they still wouldn’t have hit 206.5! Hornets +3.5 was also never in doubt. Pure, so pure.
P.J. Washington lite power dunk. Level 1.75?
Hornets 87, Pistons 76.
The Hornets led wire-to-wire and have now won 10 straight games against the Pistons, sweeping them in back-to-back seasons.
Somewhere, Big Penguin is smiling.
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Nets +6.5 at Pacers Under 217
Not gonna lie. We were disappointed that Bird did not give us “Spencer WIN-diddie” tonight. This was a cake without icing.
Nets 106, Pacers 105.
The Pesky Pacers have now lost 6 in a row since Dipo’s return… It is the first time that Indiana has lost 6 in a row since February 2017.
The Nets are still 6 games behind the Pacers for the 6 seed in the East.
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Hawks at Magic -8.5 OVER 222.5
The Magic were rockin’ their orange city edition jerseys tonight. You know what? We did not mind them as much tonight.
They were fine against the Hawks road whites. But let’s not see them again for a while, m’kay?
We are glad that the Dedmon “Call Me” 3 is back in ATL.
From the logo! At least one of these every night from Ice Trae. Steph. Dame. Trae. Who’s next?
Magic 135, Hawks 126.
The Magic are 14-1 this season when they score 110+ points.
Tonight’s 261 total points were a bit more than the first two Magic-Hawks games that totaled 194 and 202 points.
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Timberwolves at Raptors -8.5 OVER 235
This Over was never in doubt with a halftime score of 75-74!
Should somebody tell them that Jimmy Butler got them to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years?
The Blog Train is not complete without Coaches in Despair, one of our favorite segments.
Both coaches on the same play!
Not quite the logo, but pretty close!
Raptors 137, T-Wolves 126.
The Raptors have won 15 games in a row, the 5th longest winning streak in the NBA over the last 5 years.
D-Lo had a nice debut as a T-Wolf: 22 points on 7 of 12 shooting, 4 of 5 from three and 5 assists. However, the 6 turnovers were not great and the -22 net rating is rather glaring.
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Kings at Bucks -10 Over 229.5
No Giannis tonight. His son Liam Charles Antetokounmpo was born today.
Our beloved Hornets miss Marvin already.
Bucks 123, Kings 111.
The Bucks are 5-0 this season without Giannis.
The Kings fought valiantly and even had a small lead at halftime and going into the 4th quarter.
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Jazz PK at Mavericks OVER 216.5
Another night without Junder. It’s time to stay away.
Do you think Luka wishes that he was out on the court?
Jazz 123, Mavericks 119.
The Mavs are 3-4 without Luka in the last 7 games.
The Jazz were mostly a Pure Lock, save for a tiny scare late in the 4th quarter when the Mavs went on a frenzy.
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Spurs at Nuggets -6.5 OVER 216
Over 216 would have been another Pure Lock tonight. It was a Monday of Pure Locks.
Look at how pink Jokic was looking late in the 4th quarter.
Nuggets 127, Spurs 120.
In classic Denver fashion this season, the Nuggs trailed by 22 points at halftime but were propelled by a 14-0 fourth quarter run led by Jamaal Murray.
Winter is Coming? The Spurs have lost 5 in a row and are 5 games back of the 8 seed. San Antonio has not won a Rodeo Road Trip game yet and only three games remain.
The Nuggets have won 4 in a row and are in second place in the Western Conference.
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Heat -7 at Warriors Under 219.5
Even though the Heat were on the second night of a West Coast back-to-back, you had to figure they would be motivated as all hell after losing last night in Portland, handing them the first 3-game losing streak of the season. Heat -7 was a Solid Lock, but it wasn’t Pure because the Warriors went on a 19-2 run in the 3rd quarter to pull within 4.
Rock-Paper-Scissors decided who would have to give Iggy’s half time speech.
Airplane Mode power oop! Level 3? He got way up.
Marquese Chriss power oop! Another Level 3?
Look who was cordial after the game!
Heat 113, Warriors 101.
Points in the paint: Heat 50, Warriors 30.
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Suns at Lakers -13 Under 230.5
Cam Johnson power dunk! Level 3.7? He lost control and was still able to power dunk this on poor JaVale with his wrist. Cam Johnson, we had no idea!
Kuzual. (Sorry.)
Lakers 125, Suns 100.
Playoff Rondo made an appearance in 27 minutes with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting, 4 of 5 from three (!?), 6 assists, 4 rebounds and a game-high +22 net rating. We think Rondo was tired of hearing all the talk at the trade deadline about how the Lakers needed a reliable ball handler and facilitator off the bench.
Kelly Oubre (noted power dunker), posted an unideal -34 net rating in 27 minutes.
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Tonight, we end with one we have been saving, per a special request.
We call it, “Oprah in the rain.”
The Blog Train will be back up and running on Wednesday night. Catch you then.
We love this game!