Well, it’s official – the Lakers are resting their star player – CodeName: SoreRightGroin. Once they locked the No. 1 seed in the West, it was just a matter of time. Advantage: Rockets.
Milwaukee clinched the East – finally – but something tells me the load management that Giannis Antetokuonmpo had in the second half against Brooklyn was it for the Bubble. The man wants a championship so he doesn’t have to entertain any offers from the Golden State Warriors.
(Leave that to KAT).
And has anyone noticed that the Phoenix Suns went from bubble worst to bubble darlings as they’ve shot out to a 4-0 record and are hot on the heels of the Portland Trailblazers and Memphis Grizzlies?
Send all cards, gifts, and kudos to Monty Williams. Send all cash to me, as I can’t wait to watch the Suns’ next four games, but also how Williams is developing the team. I might need the cash to move back to Phoenix.
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New Orleans Pelicans 125
Sacramento Kings 140
The NBA worked out the 22-team format so they could feature the New Orleans Pelicans as eye candy, getting their No. 1 pick in a playoff situation to showcase what he could do.
Well, said eye candy – Zion Williamson – had his best game in the eight game seeding format, but the Pelicans lost their third game in four outings last night to the Sacramento Kings, who are also 1-3 in the bubble. Both teams are tied for 12th (or 13th, however you want to look at it) while Phoenix has blazed past both with a 4-0 record in Orlando.
Williamson tied teammate Brandon Ingram’s 24 point performance against the Kings, but it was Bogdan Bogdanovic’s night to shine as he led all scorers with 35 points on 65 percent shooting, 66.7 percent from downtown.
Sacramento shot out to a 10 point lead after one, then extended it with a third quarter extension of seven points and never had to look over their shoulder. The Sacramento win overshadowed what was arguably one of Williamson’s nicest performances of the season, scoring wise – 10 of 12 from the floor for 24 points for 83.3 percent shooting.
It was visions of performances like that that pushed the NBA to bring the Pelicans into the bubble – and that Zion WIlliamson and the Pelicans will pack in their luggage and take home with them as a participant ribbon.
| PELICANS (29-39) 13th in the West | KINGS (29-39) 12th in the West |
| Brandon Ingram 24 points – three rebounds – three assists – one steal | Bogdan Bogdanovic 35 points – four rebounds – three assists – one steal |
| Zion Williamson 24 points – two rebounds – two assists | De’Aaron Fox 30 points – three rebounds – 10 assists – three steals – one block |
| J.J. Redick 18 points – one assist – one block | Harrison Barnes 22 points – six rebounds – two assists – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Pelicans vs. Wizards – Tonight
Kings vs. Nets – Tonight
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Miami Heat 116
Milwaukee Bucks 130
After what seemed like early hunting season, the Milwaukee Bucks are back in the thick of things, having dodged a couple of bullets that the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets threw at them.
It took a 2-2 run through four games, but the best record in the East – in the NBA – finally clinched their conference after beating the Miami Heat, one of three potential threats in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee looked like they were in trouble for a third straight game as Miami raced out to a 73-56 halftime advantage, leading the Bucks by as many as 23 points at one point in the contest. But the Bucks dispatched the Heat with a 74-43 answer in the second half, with Giannis Antetokuonmpo and Khris Middleton combining for 66 points in the much needed win.
Milwaukee also spotted Brooklyn a 73 point first half; dangerous habit to allow, much less repeat.
Miami was playing without Jimmy Butler (sore right ankle) and Goran Dragic (sprained left ankle). The Bucks were well rested as most of their stars sat out the second half of Milwaukee’s loss to the Nets on Tuesday night.
| HEAT (43-26) 4th in the East | BUCKS (55-14) 1st in the East, NBA |
| Duncan Robinson 21 points – one rebound – one assist | Giannis Antetokuonmpo 33 points – 12 rebounds – four assists – one steal |
| Tyler Herro 20 points – four rebounds – five assists – one steal | Khris Middleton 33 points – six rebounds – eight assists |
| Jae Crowder 15 points – four rebounds – one assist – one steal | Brook Lopez 17 points – four rebounds – two steals – two blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Heat vs. Suns – Saturday
Bucks vs. Mavericks – Saturday
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Indiana Pacers 99
Phoenix Suns 114
It was the game we’d all been waiting for since Monty Williams’ Phoenix Suns had gotten out to a 3-0 start, and Nate McMillan’s Indiana Pacers had done the same – two undefeated teams battling it out, maybe overtime, right?
Not if Deandre Ayton and the Suns had anything to say about it, and they did. And their play spoke volumes.
Seeded as the last place team coming in, the Suns have become a very dangerous opponent in the bubble, making the most of their opportunity, especially against the Pacers, who’ve always been a stalwart team in the Eastern Conference.
The Suns outscored the Pacers by five in the first, seven in the third, and four in the fourth to take the 15 point win from Indiana … and that was without Devin Booker holding game high honors. In fact, the Suns played so well as a team, that Booker was No. 3 in the game, behind Ayton and the game’s leading scorer, Malcolm Brogdon, who had 25 in the end.
Seven players landed in double figures for Phoenix, with Ayton leading the way at 23 points and 10 rebounds, Booker had 20, Dario Saric finished with 16, and Cameron Payne ended up with 15 points. Cam Johnson finished with 14 and 12 on the night, Ricky Rubio hit for 13, and it was 10 points for Mikal Bridges.
The Suns shot 46 percent on the night, despite not performing well from beyond the arc, and had 27 dimes. They stand at 30-39, quite unimpressive to the untrained eye, but their 4-0 start in the bubble has them perched at No. 10 in the Western Conference – a game and a half back of the Portland Trail Blazers and two games back of the Memphis Grizzlies.
| PACERS (42-27) 10th in the East | SUNS (30-39) 10th in the West |
| Malcolm Brogdon 25 points – six rebounds – six assists – one block | Deandre Ayton 23 points – 10 rebounds – one assist – two steals – four blocks |
| Myles Turner 17 points – eight rebounds – two assists – one steal – three blocks | Devin Booker 20 points – three rebounds – 10 assists |
| T.J. Warren 16 points – 11 rebounds – one assist – two steals | Dario Saric 16 points – eight rebounds – one assist |
NEXT GAMES
Pacers vs. Lakers – Saturday
Suns vs. Heat – Saturday
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Los Angeles Clippers 126
Dallas Mavericks 111
Is it me, or do the Dallas Mavericks just seem content to be here and take home a participant’s ribbon? After all, as individually impressive as Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis have been in the bubble in Orlando, the Mavericks are 1-3 and have hovered over their seventh place spot like a dog watches his water bowl.
Nothing has been impressive about the team, and that should be concerning to Mavericks fans because if the lethargy and malaise continue, they’ll be rounded up and sent home. They shoot horses, don’t they?
The other concerning issue is that this is potentially the first round matchup for the Mavericks – the No. 2 seed versus the No. 7 seed; both teams are seemingly locked into those seedings with four games to go. Dallas has Milwaukee next, then Utah, the Blazers the next night in a back to back, and then wraps up with the Phoenix Suns to close out their bubble schedule.
Their lone win? Sacramento. Three days ago. In overtime.
Dallas has some internal questions and issues that need resolved, because that lineup for their remaining four games? They could end up 1-7 if they don’t start getting things to the next level or two.
| CLIPPERS (46-22) 2nd in the West | MAVERICKS (41-30) 7th in the West |
| Kawhi Leonard 29 points – six rebounds – five assists – one steal | Kristaps Porzingis 30 points – nine rebounds – five assists – one block |
| Paul George 24 points – seven rebounds – six assists | Luka Doncic 29 points – three rebounds – six assists |
| Ivica Zubac 21 points – 15 rebounds – one assist – one block | Dorian Finney-Smith 12 points – eight rebounds – three assists – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Clippers vs. Blazers – Saturday
Mavericks vs. Bucks – Saturday
********************
Portland Trailblazers 125
Denver Nuggets 115
I remember when conversation first began about playoff seeding and the bubble, and how Damian Lillard was seriously considering opting out if he felt the Portland Trailblazers didn’t have a chance. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – had Dame slid over into the entitlement mentality of “if we can’t win then I’m not playing?”
Of course, my response was you can’t win if Damian Lillard doesn’t play. Why, after being so close to playing for an NBA championship, would a star player want to step away if their team didn’t have a chance of winning. That’s some Carmelo Anthony shit right there, in my opinion.
Thankfully, Lillard knew that all along, that competitive fire, that killer instinct burns inside him. And he’s in the bubble, pushing his team, the Trailblazers knocking at the door of the slumbering Memphis Grizzlies, eager to take that No. 8 seed and make it their own. After last night’s win over Denver, the Blazers are within reach at a half game back of the dormant Grizzlies.
Lillard punctuated Portland’s push with a 45 point night that put a dent into Michael Porter, Jr’s coming out party. Porter had shown everyone why the Denver Nuggets were so patient with him through his back injury, and monitored rehabilitation. He’d given the Nuggets the lift and buoyancy they’ve needed to stay relevant in the bubble and been a more than able replacement in the Denver lineup for the missing Jamal Murray.
But Portland is on a mission to right their own wrongs of last season’s abrupt end at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. They feel they could have been a better opponent in the NBA Finals for the Toronto Raptors. They’re working their tails off for the chance to prove it.
None more than Damian Lillard.
| TRAILBLAZERS (32-38) 9th in the West | NUGGETS (45-24) 3rd in the West |
| Damian Lillard 45 points – four rebounds – 12 assists – three steals | Michael Porter, Jr. 27 points – 12 rebounds – two assists – two steals – one block |
| Gary Trent, Jr. 27 points – three rebounds – four assists – two steals | Jerami Grant 18 points – three rebounds – two assists – one block |
| Jusuf Nurkic 22 points – seven rebounds – four assists – one steal – two blocks | Mason Plumlee 13 points – seven rebounds – five assists – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Blazers vs. Clippers – Saturday
Nuggets vs. Jazz – Saturday
********************
Los Angeles Lakers 97
Houston Rockets 113
As soon as I’d written it yesterday, I knew I’d prophesied it – the Los Angeles Lakers are resting LeBron James. “Sore right groin” might be the official line, but the Lakers and James are serious about a title. Now. Not next year. This year. That’s why they brought in Anthony Davis, though I think it’s going to take another guy and it’s not J.R. Smith or Dion Waiters.
But the Houston Rockets took note and took advantage, even without their star guy – Russell Westbrook – nursing a bruised right quad.
James Harden shot the lights out with no LeBron to guard him; 57.9 percent to lead all scorers on the night, and nearly double Kyle Kuzma’s 21 point performance for the Lakers. Ben McLemore added 20 points, Jeff Green chipped in 15, Danuel House Jr. finished with a solid 14, and Austin Rivers contributed 11 to go along with five assists.
Kuzma finished better than Davis, who had 17 and 12, Danny Green – still struggling – added 10, as did Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Talen Horton-Tucker. Dwight Howard finished with 15 rebounds and eight points.
Houston jumped out to a 33-26 first quarter lead and never looked back. They need to, though; Utah is on their heels with the same 43-25 mark.
| LAKERS (51-17) 1st in the West | ROCKETS (43-25) 4th in the West |
| Kyle Kuzma 21 points – five rebounds – three assists – two steals – two blocks | James Harden 39 points – eight rebounds – 12 assists – three steals – one block |
| Anthony Davis 17 points – 12 rebounds – three assists – one block | Ben McLemore 20 points – four rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block |
| Danny Green 10 points – three rebounds – one assist – two steals – one block | Jeff Green 15 points – four rebounds – three assists – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Lakers vs. Pacers – Saturday
Rockets vs. Kings – Sunday
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FRIDAY’S LINEUP
(All Times Eastern)
| 1 p.m. Utah Jazz San Antonio Spurs AT&T SportsNet | 4 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder Memphis Grizzlies NBATV | 5 p.m. Sacramento Kings Brooklyn Nets NBC Sports California |
| 6:30 p.m. Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers TNT | 8 p.m. Washington Wizards New Orleans Pelicans Fox Sports New Orleans | 9 p.m. Boston Celtics Toronto Raptors TNT |
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Tracy Graven is a Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, and done NBA radio, for the last two decades for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, and HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show and NBARadioShow.com, and is also tackling the NFL, NCAA, and will be pinch-hitting on some Major League Baseball coverage for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 20 years in locker rooms in
- Orlando
- Boise (G League)
- San Antonio
- Phoenix
- Denver
- Oklahoma City
- Atlanta
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
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