03-12-21 NBA Blog Train Friday
First of all, hope you had the Under tonight, because… every game went Under tonight.
Second of all, the Blog Train is BACK!
76ers -3.5 at Wizards Under 239.5
OH NO.
That’s what we all thought, Tweeted and shouted when we saw Embiid go down.
The Sixers are calling it a “hyperextended knee.” A very important MRI awaits. Update: the MRI revealed no structural damage, but a left knee bone bruise is expected to keep Embiid out 2-3 weeks.
WHEW.
Sixers 127, Wizards 101.
The second big story here is that Wizards announcer Justin Kutcher said that: “I think that Ben Simmons is one of, if not the, most overrated players in the NBA.”
And… he doubled down after the game. #NBATwitter was ready.
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Nuggets at Grizzlies +2.5 UNDER 229.5
The Grizz were down 1 with 6.3 seconds left. Ja took it right at Jokic, who went straight up, and no foul was called despite the ref’s hand going up, as if to signal a foul. Apparently the ref later said he was merely signaling Jokic’s verticality.
If you are looking for a new fantasy basketball team name, might we suggest Jokic’s Verticality.
Nuggets 103, Grizzlies 102.
The Grizz still covered!
This Under would have been a Pure Lock.
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Cavaliers at Pelicans -6.5 UNDER 225.5
We were very curious to see how the Pelicans would respond after getting eaten alive last night by the T-Wolves. Could they bring high energy and sustain it for a full 48 minutes?
They sure did, and it started with defensive effort. The Pellies were engaged from the jump.
In the 3rd quarter, the Cavs scored 9 points. NINE. This Under would have been one of the most Pure Locks.
Pels 116, Cavs 82.
In the first half, Zion scored 17 points in 12 minutes. Big Z finished with 23 on the night in only 18 minutes of work.
Kevin Love was back tonight! Love played in his third game of the season.
It’s time for a Cavaliers episode of WHO HE!? #33 Brodric Thomas… WHO HE!? Sir Brodric is a rookie from Truman State… Truman State, but of course! Tonight was his first game for the Cavs, but he actually played three games earlier this season for the Rockets. A two-way contract guy, Brodric Thomas cashed in a 3-ball tonight.
Tonight was also the Cavalier debut for two-time NBA Champion Quinn Cook!
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Heat -2 at Bulls UNDER 222.5
Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn’s return to Chicago. Heat -2 was the way. The fourth quarter was ALL about the Heat.
The Heat scored 13 points in the 2nd quarter. This Under would have been one of the most Pure Locks.
Heat 101, Bulls 90.
Per the Chicago broadcast, Kelly Olynyk is second on the Heat in net rating. We looked it up and he’s tied with Dragic who scored 20 points in the fourth quarter tonight.
Zach LaVine (30) and Markkanen (20) did their part, but the Bulls didn’t have much else.
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Magic at Spurs -7.5 UNDER 214.5
D-Wade would give Air Gordon’s necklace a 9 out of 10.
Really low team quarters was definitely a trend tonight. The Magic scored 10 points in the first quarter and 13 in the fourth.
You might have heard this one before: This Under would have been one of the most Pure Locks!
Keldon Johnson power dunk!
Spurs 104, Magic 77.
Points in the paint: Spurs 44, Magic 18.
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Rockets +19 at Jazz Under 229.5
The Jazz green jerseys tonight…….. ehh was not so sure about them at first but warmed up to them. One thing we know for sure is that hey are definitely better than whatever the hell the Heat were wearing last night.
No, we are not into these Pacers-looking mustards at all.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 27 points and dished out 8 assists in his second game as a Rocket. And why was this guy was down in the G League? Dude can hoop.
Jazz 114, Rockets 99.
The Rockets have lost 14 games in a row, yes, but they should hang their hats on the fact that they covered here, quite the feat against the Jazz!
This one was actually on pace to go possibly go Over for a minute in the third quarter when the scoring picked up. The scoring slowed in the 4th, and the Junder prevailed!
Your favorite segment is back for a second time tonight in a Rockets edition of WHO HE!? #33 Anthony Lamb… WHO HE?! Lamb is a rookie from Vermont, a 4-year college guy. Tonight was his second ever NBA game, having debuted with the Rockets last night against the Kings. Apparently Lamb is the first ever player from the University of Vermont to score in an NBA game.
Pretty cool!
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Pacers at Lakers -4.5 Under 219.5
The end of this game was kooky.
The spread was Lakers -4.5, and the Lakers were up 103-100 with 9.9 seconds left. Brogdon was trying to pass the ball inbounds, but he was struggling to find somebody, anybody. Instead of taking the Pacers last timeout (which they did want to save), Brodgon forced the inbounds to Sabonis, yet KCP was right there to steal it away.
KCP was fouled and knocked down both free throws. 105-100 Lakers with 8.5 seconds left. Pacers timeout.
The Pacers would need to go for a quick 3 here, right? Right! Except…. that is NOT what the Pacers did. The Pacers took forever to shoot! It was eventually Sabonis pump faking a 2, knowing he needed a 3, taking two giant steps back, and firing up an airball that didn’t stand a chance.
Ballgame.
Lakers 105, Pacers 100.
Conspiracy: Tonight, the Pacers had… the Lakers -4.5! The fix is in!
The Lakers leading scorer tonight was… KUZMA: 24 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, including a stretch of 8 straight points in the 4th quarter, fueled by some absolute dimes from LeBron.
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Eight games ahead on the Saturday slate with an early matinee! The Knicks and Thunder tip off at 2pm EST.
We love this game!
