One point. @%#1*$#@%^! point.
That was the margin of the Portland Trailblazers’ win over the Brooklyn Nets and what ousted the Phoenix Suns from playoff contention after an impressive 8-0 run through the eight game seeding schedule in Orlando.
The Suns, and the City of Phoenix, have a lot to be proud of, especially head coach Monty Williams who has been through hell and back when it comes to adversity and showed the Suns how to come back from adversity and shine better than any other team through eight games.
But the Blazers have also shown grit, determination, perseverance, and the will to gut it out in the trenches. The minute Damian Lillard missed two free throws and saw L.A.’s Patrick Beverley over on the Clippers’ bench laughing and acting like a 12 year old with his ass on his shoulders, he got the greatest gift from Beverley and his antics: motivation.
Since then, Lillard has gone for 51 points, 61 points, and 42 more last night and powered the Blazers to an opportunity to slaughter some bear on Saturday, and set his team up for the biggest takedown this season – the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shit just got real interesting …
********************
Washington Wizards 96
Boston Celtics 90
And what consolation prizes do we have for our departing contestants, Johnny?
Well the Boston Celtics gifted the Washington Wizards their first win in the bubble, their only win in the bubble, one they truly didn’t even earn. They’ll be headed back to Washington with that … maybe some luggage for head coach Scott Brooks, courtesy of American Tourister. Back to you, Bob.
While they might savor their lone win more than a year’s supply of Rice-A-Roni, the Wizards can take solace that Thomas Bryant improved his season stats in the bubble. Up until March 11th, he was averaging 13 points and 7.2 rebounds. But in Orlando, Bryant juiced up his numbers to 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds.
We’ll need to keep an eye on how Washington handles things between today and next season. Bryant and Rui Hachimura look like the only locks to me.
| WIZARDS (25-47) 9th in the East | CELTICS (48-24) 3rd in the East |
| Thomas Bryant 26 points – nine rebounds – two assists – four steals – two blocks | Javonte Green 23 points – four rebounds |
| Troy Brown, Jr. 17 points – eight rebounds – three assists – three steals – one block | Semi Ojeleye 13 points – eight rebounds – two assists – one steal |
| Ish Smith 11 points – three rebounds – eight assists – one steal – two blocks | Enes Kanter Eight points – five rebounds – three assists – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Wizards: Season Complete
Celtics vs. Sixers – Monday
********************
Sacramento Kings 136
Los Angeles Lakers 122
The second consolation gift of the afternoon yesterday went to the Sacramento Kings, but that was a victory well-earned after the Kings dropped 21 three pointers on the Lakers, who did play LeBron James for just more than a quarter, but rested Anthony Davis.
Buddy Hield came off the bench with an eight for 14 barrage of threes, Bogdan Bogdanovic rained five of 11 on L.A., and Cory Joseph was a perfect three of three. Nemanja Bjelica, Jabari Parker, and DaQuan Jeffries each got a lick in, while Yogi Ferrell added two more.
The Lakers responded by letting Dion Waiters get his feet wet with a team high 19 points. Waiters’ success and the fact that the Lakers are letting him get playing time ahead of J.R. Smith doesn’t bode well for Smith. Perhaps James asked the Lakers to bring Smith on board as a scapegoat.
We’ll see if the Lakers make it past the Portland Trailblazers. They should be shaking in their Nikes – Damian Lillard is like an assassin on a mission right now.
| KINGS (31-41) 12th in the West | LAKERS (52-19) 1st in the West |
| Buddy Hield 28 points – five rebounds – two assists – two steals | Dion Waiters 19 points – three rebounds – five assists |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic 27 points – six rebounds – nine assists – two steals | LeBron James 17 points – three rebounds – four assists |
| Jabari Parker 19 points – eight rebounds – six assists | Markieff Morris 14 points – five rebounds – one assist |
NEXT GAMES
Kings: Season Complete
Lakers vs. Blazers/Grizzlies – TBD
********************
Milwaukee Bucks 106
Memphis Grizzlies 119
Giannis Antetokuonmpo’s headbutt on Moritz Wagner is the reason he didn’t play last night and a huge part of why the Memphis Grizzlies appeared to have mauled the NBA’s best team.
But the Grizzlies woke from their bubble slumber and took care of business, ensuring their survival for at least another couple of days until they face the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday afternoon – a team they’ll have to defeat twice if they want their season to continue.
Jonas Valanciunas and Ja Morant brought triple doubles to last night’s affair, not giving a damn who was on the other side of the scorer’s table or on the floor. They played their hearts out to get to the play-in games this weekend.
Valanciunas was as impressive as we’ve seen him in the bubble, even all season long, and will have to be against a renewed and revived Jusuf Nurkic. Morant and Dillon Brooks will have Damiam Lillard and C.J. McCollum to contend with and someone’s going to have to figure out how to contain Carmelo Anthony.
Perhaps the Grizzlies have bitten off more than they can chew – we’ll see on Saturday.
| BUCKS (56-17) 1st in the East, NBA | GRIZZLIES (34-39) 9th in the West |
| Brook Lopez 19 points – nine rebounds – one assist – one block | Dillon Brooks 31 points – two rebounds – two assists – one block |
| Frank Mason III 18 points – four rebounds – eight assists – one steal – one block | Jonas Valanciunas 26 points – 19 rebounds – 12 assists – one block |
| Donte DiVincenzo 17 points – four rebounds – four assists – one steal | Ja Morant 12 points – 13 rebounds – 10 assists |
NEXT GAMES
Bucks vs. Magic – Tuesday
Grizzlies vs. Blazers – Saturday
********************
Dallas Mavericks 102
Phoenix Suns 128
The game I wanted to watch with the ending I wanted to see.
I am so damn proud of the Phoenix Suns and what head coach Monty Williams was able to do. The sad thing is it amounts to nothing in the immediate picture, but in the grand scheme, you have to be happy for Williams and the entire Suns organization.
8-0. That means they outperformed the reigning NBA champions in the bubble, as the Toronto Raptors went 7-1 (at bets, assuming they beat the Nuggets tonight) and are in the playoffs.
But the Portland Trailblazers and Memphis Grizzlies won their games, so all of Phoenix’s W’s can do not is be a part of a DJ Khaled lyric, because all they did was win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win …
Dallas will spend the next few days resting and preparing for their eventual ouster from Orlando as the face the Los Angeles Clippers as they play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Games 5-7, if necessary, will be August 25th, 27th, and 29th.
But nothing but love and congratulations for the Phoenix Suns.
You showed ‘em. Next season will be great, this is something to build upon.
| MAVERICKS (43-32) 7th in the West | SUNS (34-39) 10th in the West |
| Boban Marjanovic 18 points – 20 rebounds – three assists | Devin Booker 27 points – seven rebounds – five assists |
| Luka Doncic 18 points – five rebounds – one steal | Dario Saric 16 points – six assists – two steals |
| Justin Jackson 13 points – two rebounds | Cameron Johnson 15 points – five rebounds – three assists – two steals – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Mavericks vs. Clippers – Monday
Suns: Season Concluded
********************
San Antonio Spurs 112
Utah Jazz 118
The run is over for head coach Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. There will be no 23rd consecutive appearance in the NBA Playoffs. Of course, judging by the lineup, Popovich knew that, too.
So the Spurs and the Utah Jazz played what amounted to a G League exhibition game so that those less experienced could get their feet wet and the veterans could get the rest they needed to pack up their hotel rooms, or in the Jazz’s case, rest up for what will be a hellish ride against the Denver Nuggets.
Denver has one more game tonight against the Toronto Raptors, but it may well be another G League exhibition as neither team wants to risk their star players on the brink of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
But it wasn’t on the shoulders of the eight game seeding schedule or the fractured and abbreviated season. The Spurs started off the season poorly – an eight game losing streak in the second and third weeks of November 2019 – and should consider themselves blessed to have been included in the 22-game seeding format created by the NBA Commissioner.
Usually we just watch the Spurs add pieces in the offseason. This year may be a little different than we’re used to – and that’s saying a lot after the 2020 we’ve had.
Keep an eye on San Antonio. May be bigger changes than we’re used to seeing.
| SPURS (32-39) 11th in the West | JAZZ (44-28) 6th in the West |
| Keldon Johnson 24 points – two rebounds – one steal | Rayjon Tucker 18 points – two rebounds – one assist |
| Luka Samancic 16 points – six rebounds – three assists – one block | Georges Niang 13 points – five rebounds – two assists |
| Marco Belinelli 16 points | Jarrell Brantley 13 points – four rebounds – six assists – one steal – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Spurs: Season Concluded
Jazz vs. Nuggets – Monday
********************
New Orleans Pelicans 127
Orlando Magic 133
Not so much a G League exhibition here, although this game counted for absolutely nothing. But a tune up for the Orlando Magic, who now get to face the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokuonmpo back in the lineup, and Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe rested.
New Orleans is another team that was lucky to have been included in the bubble, with the league wanting to showcase their No. 1 pick – Zion Williamson.
Williamson never truly represented what the NBA and Pelicans saw in him drafting him No. 1 last summer. And I have to agree with Fox’s Shannon Sharpe that Williamson may not be all that special at the NBA level, more journeyman than star.
If you think about all the ‘next Michael Jordan’ or next ‘LeBron James’ players, none have really become Jordan- or James-level type stars. If you’re looking past James for the NextGen player, he’s already here – Luka Doncic – and no one pre-anointed him.
Williamson will be like Shawn Kemp, especially if he can stay away from the gumbo, jambalaya, and King cake.
The Magic, on the other hand, have their work cut out for them against the Bucks. It will be interesting to see how Nikola Vucevic holds up without Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac.
Did Gordon ever find Kyle Lowry’s room? It’s 858.
| PELICANS (30-42) 13th in the West | MAGIC (33-40) 8th in the East |
| Frank Jackson 31 points – two rebounds – five assists – one steal | Nikola Vucevic 23 points – six rebounds – three assists – one steal |
| Nickeal Alexander-Walker 29 points – one rebound – seven assists – one steal | D.J. Augustin 22 points – four rebounds – six assists |
| Josh Hart 23 points – 14 rebounds – six assists – one steal – one block | James Ennis III 16 points – four rebounds – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Pelicans: Season Concluded
Magic vs. Bucks – Tuesday
********************
Portland Trailblazers 134
Brooklyn Nets 133
The man is on a mission. Damian Lillard has had a mindset and a laser focus unmatched by anyone in the bubble, and since missing the two free throws and the game-saving three pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers, the man has been on a tear.
154 points in three games, including 42 last night in a shootout with Caris LeVert (37 points), Lillard shot the lights out at 59.1 percent, 57.1 percent from downtown, and near perfect (eight of nine) from the line this time around to carry the Portland Trailblazers into another game.
Saturday is for all the marbles. Again. Every game since the Clippers game has been like that, according to Lillard, and the Blazers have stepped up to each and every challenge thus far.
Beat the Grizzlies, and it’s on to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the no-name Los Angeles Lakers. Lose, and it’s ‘the most important game of our lives’ again on Sunday against a Memphis Grizzlies team that now has confidence they can beat you … a second time in a row.
Best to snuff Memphis once and for all on Saturday.
The focus and determination Portland has right now should be the Lakers’ worst nightmare. They had likely hoped for the Phoenix Suns or may be rooting for the Grizzlies.
But if the Blazers keep playing like they’re playing, no one is safe.
Be careful what you make fun of, Patrick Beverley. Karma is a bitch – Damian Lillard isn’t.
| TRAILBLAZERS (35-39) 8th in the West | NETS (35-37) 7th in the East |
| Damian Lillard 42 points – three rebounds – 12 assists – two steals | Caris LeVert 37 points – six rebounds – nine assists – two steals – one block |
| C.J. McCollum 25 points – four rebounds – seven assists – three steals – one block | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 19 points – eight rebounds – one assist |
| Jusuf Nurkic 22 points- 10 rebounds – three assists – one steal | Joe Harris 19 points – three rebounds – four assists |
NEXT GAMES
Blazers vs. Grizzlies – Saturday
Nets vs. Raptors – Monday
********************
FRIDAY’S LINEUP
(All Times Eastern)
| 1:30 p.m. Denver Nuggets Toronto Raptors Altitude | 4 p.m. Miami Heat Indiana Pacers SUN Sports |
| 6:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder Los Angeles Clippers FSN Prime Ticket | 9 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers Houston Rockets AT&T SportsNet Southwest |
********************
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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