03-04-22 NBA Blog Train Friday
The Blog Train is back just in time for the home stretch!
It has definitely been a minute. Working on bigger projects makes it more difficult for the Blog Train to leave the station, but we’ll never forget how we got started.
Nine games on the Friday night menu, so let’s get to it.
All aboard!
Cavaliers +8 at 76ers OVER 216
The Cavs started this game absolutely EN FUEGO: 17-of-23 shooting in the 1st quarter en route to 43 points and a 13-point lead after the first frame. Embiid was in early foul trouble and couldn’t be as aggressive on defense. But the Sixers rising star picked them up when they needed him most.
21-year-old Tyrese Maxey drilled all of his first five 3s as the roar of the Philly crowd proliferated louder after each one.
Georges Niang also made five 3s as the Sixers outscored the Cavs by five in the 2nd, six in the 3rd and eight in the 4th to completely overcome the early 21-point deficit.
Sixers 125, Cavs 119.
Maxey led all scorers with 33 points. Harden had 25 and 11 dimes. Embiid scored 22, his fewest in a Sixers win since November 29th.
The Cavs had four players score 20 or more: Garland (26 to go along with a career-high 19 assists), Okoro (22), Allen (20) and Osman (20).
The Sixers are now 4-0 with James Harden. Tomorrow night: Sixers at Heat. Whoop whoop!
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Pacers at Pistons +2.5 Under 230.5
The Pistons led 65-62 at halftime but were up by as many as 15 early on. Saddiq Bey stayed red-hot with 14 points in the first half and Bagley had 10 at the break as well.
The Pesky Pacers took control in the 4th and had a 6-point lead with just under 3 minutes left, but that lead evaporated entirely when Shady Cade and Bey both hit 3s to tie the game at 105 with 1:40 left. Then a clutch Cade lay up was followed by a couple of free throws from Jerami Grant — and it was the Pistons who had a 3-point lead with 19 seconds to go.
Who attempted the potential game-tying corner 3 for the Pacers? That would be Jalen Smith (career 31% from 3) after a Malcolm Brogdon drive and kick. She did not fall. Ballgame.
Pistons 111, Pacers 106.
Saddiq Bey finished with 25 points, 6-of-8 from 3. Cade had 20 and Bagley scored 18. Bagley has looked quite rejuvenated in Mo-Town.
Shoutout to Duane Washington Jr. for the Pacers who scored 16 points in 20 minutes off the bench —
ballin’ on a two-way contract.
The Pistons have now won 5 of the last 7 games! DEEETROITTTT. BASKETBALLLLLLL.
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Hawks at Wizards +6 Over 225
John Collins played in his first game since February 11, but DeAndre Hunter had his best game of the season tonight for the Hawks: 17 points in the first half and it looked like the Hawks might cruise. But KCP had 14 points in the first half of his own, and the fightin’ Wiz just wouldn’t go away.
After being down by 10 with four minutes left, the Wizards climbed ALL the way back in late behind an array of 3s and trailed by just 1 in the final 10 seconds. A pair of Trae Young free throws pushed the Hawks lead to 3 with 3.7 seconds left. The Wizards didn’t have any timeouts, but Kuzma had a good look at a potential game-tying 3 from half court. Alas, she did not fall.
Hawks 117, Wizards 114.
Hunter finished with 26 points (tying his season high) on a very efficient 8-of-12 shooting.
KCP scored 28 in all, including 6-of-6 from 3.
The Hawks move a half-game ahead of the Hornets for the 9-seed in the East, while the Wizards are 2 games behind Charlotte, on the outside of the play-in looking in.
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Bucks -5 at Bulls Under 240.5
The forever undermanned Bulls fought their asses off, but the Bucks Big 3 was just too much.
But at least we got an Airplane Mode power dunk on Giannis!
Bucks 118, Bulls 112.
Giannis, Middleton and Holiday combined for 82 points.
DeRozan, LaVine and Vooch combined for 78.
The Bucks and Bulls are now tied for 3rd place in the East: 3 games behind the #1 Heat.
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Magic +7.5 at Raptors UNDER 219.5
No WCJ for the Magic tonight, but Big Chum got the start and held it down in the rebounding department, snagging 11 boards while Cole Anthony snatched 12 of his own.
The Magic played sound team-ball with seven players in double-figures, while the Raptors were a bit top-heavy with only four.
Magic 103, Raptors 97.
The biggest box score difference was free throws: Magic 20-of-21. Raptors 11-of-17.
Shoutout to Siakam who dropped 34 and to Malachi Flynn who scored a season-high 20, filling in for All-Star Fred VanVleet (knee).
The Raptors have lost 6 out of the last 9 games but still have a 2.5-game lead over the Nets for the 7-seed.
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Jazz at Pelicans +5 Under 223
The Pelicans doubled up the Jazz in the 1st quarter, 35-17, and never looked back. This shit was a WRAP.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Pure Lock of the Night!
Pelicans 124, Jazz 90.
Who leads the Pelicans in plus-minus this season? That would be Jose Alvarado!
Because this game was such a blowout, we did at least get to see both of the Hernangomez bros.
The Pelicans are a half-game back of the Lakers for the 9-seed in the West.
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Timberwolves -10 at Thunder Over 230.5
Another blowout here, but the Thunder were competitive in the 1st quarter.
Then the T-Wolves outscored them by 39 over the final three quarters.
The play of the game?
T-Wolves 138, Thunder 101.
3-pointers: T-Wolves 22-of-47. Thunder 9-of-35.
SGA scored 33 points which puts his last five games at 32, 36, 37, 29 and 33.
Sam Presti has to love losing on a night when the Pistons and Magic both won.
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Rockets at Nuggets -8.5 UNDER 234
No Jokic, no problem for the Nuggets. It was BOOGIE TIME in Denver on Friday night.
That’s right, DeMarcus Cousins did it all, scoring 31 points with 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. It was the most points Boogie had scored since April 2019 with the Warriors and his first 30-point game since January 2018 when he was in New Orleans with AD.
Nuggets 116, Rockets 101.
Tonight, Will Barton became the Nuggets all-time leader in 3-pointers made.
Christian Wood continues to play well for the Rockets, 22-10-5 tonight on efficient 7-for-12 shooting and 8-for-8 at the line.
The Rockets tanker’s paradise and 12-game losing streak continues.
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Knicks +6.5 at Suns Over 221.5
No Book in addition to no CP3.
The Knicks had a lead. Julius Randle got ejected.
But all you really need to know is that CAM JOHNSON CALLED GAME.
Suns 115, Knicks 114.
T-Shirt All-Star Cam Johnson: 38 points and 9-of-12 from 3!
4th quarter: Suns 34. Knicks 21.
Ain’t no catching the Suns who have pushed their lead atop the Western Conference Standings to 8 games.
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It’s nice to be back, y’all! We’ll catch you again soon.
We love this game!
