Sunday NBA Blog Train: 5 Games
Warriors (0-1) at Thunder (1-1)
So… Warriors -1 was a trap!
Thunder 120, Warriors 92.
Listen, it’s only been 2 games, an incredibly small sample size, but the Warriors defense looks like a very serious problem. One so detrimental that it really is hard not to wonder already if Golden State has enough on this roster without Klay to make it in the loaded West. The Warriors were getting smacked in this one by 40. Sound the overreaction panic alarm!
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Nets (1-1) at Grizzlies (0-2)
Hello, Ja Morant! The rook had 17 points in the 4th quarter and a game-saving block on Kyrie at the end of regulation.
Grizzlies 134, Nets 133. OT
Down by 2 late in OT, Ja had a slick dish to Jae Crowder who nailed a three-point game-winner at the buzzer!!!
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Heat (1-1) at Timberwolves (2-0)
Heat +7 looked like a like lock for the majority of this one, but it ended in a silly push.
Timberwolves 116, Heat 109.
Andrew Wiggins stroking threes in the clutch? Andrew Wiggins was stroking threes in the clutch. Wiggy scored 16 in the fourth, including three straight threes with 3 minutes left to give the T-Wolves a 9-point lead that they would not surrender.
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Trail Blazers (1-1) at Mavericks (1-1)
The Mavs dropped 40 in the first quarter and had a 19-point lead in the 2nd, but the Blazers played sound team basketball with 27 assists to snag a nice come-from-behind road win.
Tim Hardaway Jr. missed what would have been the game-winning three at the buzzer. Luka didn’t take the final shot because he rebounded a missed free throw by Kent Bazemore with 5 seconds left and passed the ball up the court to THJ.
Blazers 121, Mavericks 119.
The dynamic duos did their thang:
Dame and C.J. combined for 57 points.
Luka and KP combined for 61 points.
Rodney Hood provided a crucial 20 points on very efficient 8 of 12 shooting, 3 for 3 from downtown.
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Hornets (1-1) at Lakers (1-1)
Former Hornet Troy Daniels was described by Charlotte play-by-play man Eric Collins as “a great shooter, but a turnstile on defense — el matador!”
AD had a monster first half with 25 points and 9 rebounds.
Lakers 120, Hornets 101.
The Hornets trailed by 1 at the half. The Lakers blew the roof off the doors with a big run early in the 4th quarter.
Dwight Howard resurgence alert! D39 was perfect from the field, 8 for 8, good for 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks which included a Mutombo finger-wagging with a big smile.
Good things seem to happen when Alex Caruso is in the game. The Bald Mamba needs more PT!