Word on the street is that the Golden State Warriors are drooling over Karl-Anthony Towns’ unhappiness in Minnesota …
What would a lineup possibly look like in Golden State as they tip off the 2020-21 season later this year?
With a healthy Stephen Curry, healthy Klay Thompson, a possibly draftee in LaMelo Ball, Draymond Green, and Karl-Anthony Towns, you’d almost have to pencil the Golden State Warriors back in for another championship consideration, if not certainty. Hell, use a Sharpie instead of a pencil.
Though Anthony Davis is living his best life in L.A., he still has a lingering desire to play in Chicago. But even if he stayed, with the Warriors’ fluidity in offense and everyone healthy, Towns might end up being the better Wildcat when all is said and done. Plus, Davis and LeBron James will be another year older.
Let the Lakers get theirs this year, then bring it back to the Bay.
Of course, this is conjecture, maybe even fantasy, at this point. But …
Thoughts?
Hit me in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter here.
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Charlotte Hornets 109
Cleveland Cavaliers 106
Despite shooting 50 percent to the Charlotte Hornets’ 44, despite outrebounding the Hornets, and despite having more assists, more blocks and more steals, the Cleveland Cavaliers found a way to lose last night’s game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The formula was 14 turnovers and giving their guests 10 more trips to the free throw line with their 22 personal fouls. Someone do a welfare check on John Beilein, please.
| HORNETS (14-23) 9th in the East | CAVALIERS (10-24) 13th in the East |
| Terry Rozier 30 points – six rebounds – three assists – one steal | Collin Sexton 21 points – one rebound – two assists – one steal |
| Devonte’ Graham 16 points – one rebound – 11 assists – one steal | Kevin Love 18 points – eight rebounds – four assists – one block |
| Dwayne Bacon 15 points – four rebounds – two assists – one steal | Cedi Osman 17 points – one rebound – two assists – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Thunder at Cavaliers – Saturday
Hornets at Mavericks – Saturday
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Denver Nuggets 124
Indiana Pacers 116
The Indiana Pacers had the Denver Nuggets where they wanted them going into the half, up two, and a competitive game. Then it became The Silence of the Lamb, as the Denver defense squoze Jeremy Lamb and the Pacers in the second half, 62-52, with a defensive effort that start with a 35-27 second quarter that set the tone for the rest of the game. Michael Porter, Jr. didn’t start last night, but was the Nuggets’ team leader nonetheless, dropping 25 while Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray kicked in 22 apiece for the team’s 24th win of the season.
| NUGGETS (24-10) 2nd in the West | PACERS (22-13) 6th in the East |
| Michael Porter, Jr. 25 points – five rebounds – one assist | Jeremy Lamb 30 points – six rebounds – two assists – one steal |
| Nikola Jokic 22 points – seven rebounds | Myles Turner 21 points – five rebounds – one assist – one block |
| Jamal Murray 22 points – five rebounds – seven assists – one steal | T.J. Warren 20 points – five rebounds – two assists – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Pacers at Hawks – Saturday
Nuggets at Wizards – Saturday
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Toronto Raptors 76
Miami Heat 84
There have been a couple of real lackluster games in the NBA this season, and the Toronto Raptors have been a part of both of them, and each time, they’ve lost. The first was the Raptors’ visit to Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers, which was a cure for insomnia back on November 11th, 98-88. Last night in Miami was worse as the teams combined for 160 points and Serge Ibaka was the high scorer with 19 points. Miami put just enough together to eke out an eight point win.
| RAPTORS (23-12) 4th in the East | HEAT (25-9) 3rd in the East |
| Serge Ibaka 19 points – 10 rebounds – two blocks | Bam Adebayo 15 points – 14 rebounds – two assists – one block |
| Kyle Lowry 15 points – four rebounds – eight assists – one block | Tyler Herro 13 points – four rebounds – three assists – one steal |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 13 points – seven rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block | Goran Dragic 13 points – two rebounds – one assist – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Heat at Magic – Tonight
Raptors at Nets – Saturday
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Utah Jazz 102
Chicago Bulls 98
If you thought the Toronto Raptors-Miami Heat game was long and arduous, the Utah Jazz-Chicago Bulls wasn’t far behind. The Jazz had five players in double figures to Chicago’s three, and used a 29-19 third quarter as a catalyst for moving past the Bulls for the four point win.
| JAZZ (22-12) 6th in the West | BULLS (13-22) 10th in the East |
| Bojan Bogdanovic 19 points – six rebounds – one assist – one steal | Zach LaVine 26 points – four rebounds – five assists – one steal – one block |
| Rudy Gobert 17 points – 12 rebounds – three blocks | Wendell Carter, Jr. 18 points – 13 rebounds – four assists |
| Donovan Mitchell 17 points – four rebounds – seven assists | Lauri Markkanen 18 points – eight rebounds – two assists – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Jazz at Magic – Saturday
Celtics at Bulls – Saturday
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Golden State Warriors 84
Minnesota Timberwolves 99
Going for the hat trick on a slate of insomnia cure games, the Minnesota Timberwolves protected home court last night from the threat of the Golden State Warriors, who showed up in one of their most lackluster games this season, injuries aside. The effort just wasn’t there for a Warriors team that had handled these same Timberwolves, 113-104, a couple days before Christmas as part of their four game win streak over the holidays.
| WARRIORS (9-27) 15th in the West | T’WOLVES (13-21) 11th in the West |
| Glenn Robinson III 16 points – six rebounds – one assist | Robert Covington 20 points – 10 rebounds – two assists – two steals – two blocks |
| Eric Paschall 13 points – seven rebounds | Shabazz Napier 20 points – three rebounds – seven assists – two steals – one block |
| Omari Spellman 10 points – five rebounds – one assist | Naz Reid 13 points – six rebounds – one assist – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Pistons at Warriors – Saturday
Timberwolves at Cavaliers – Sunday
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Brooklyn Nets 111
Dallas Mavericks 123
The Brooklyn Nets had seven players in double digit scoring last night against the host Dallas Mavericks. Of course, none of that means much when your seven are outscored 94-87 by Dallas’ top five double digit scorers, and one of those is Luka Doncic, who missed his 10th triple double of the season by three dimes, but dropped 15 points in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks’ win helped them avoid a three game losing streak. Kristaps Porzingis (sore right knee) did not play, but then again, neither did Kyrie Irving. Again. But Caris LeVert may return as soon as Saturday.
| NETS (16-17) 7th in the East | MAVERICKS (22-12) 5th in the West |
| Spencer Dinwiddie 19 points – two rebounds – five assists – one steal | Luka Doncic 31 points – 13 rebounds – seven assists – one block |
| Dzanan Musa 14 points – three assists | Seth Curry 25 points – two rebounds – one assist – one steal |
| Taurean Prince 11 points – six rebounds – two assists – one steal | Maxi Kleber 18 points – four rebounds – one assist – three blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Raptors at Nets – Saturday
Hornets at Mavericks – Saturday
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Oklahoma City Thunder 109
San Antonio Spurs 103
They’ve done it again … and on the road, in one of the most pristine environments in the NBA. The guard corps from the Oklahoma City Thunder continues to defy odds, completing the Texas Two Step with style – defeating the Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City on New Years Eve and then traveling to the hallowed hardwood of the AT&T Center and stuffing the San Antonio Spurs, who remain four and a half game behind the Thunder in the Western Conference.
| THUNDER (19-15) 7th in the West | SPURS (14-19) 8th in the West |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 25 points – seven rebounds – five assists – one steal – two blocks | DeMar DeRozan 30 points – four rebounds – three assists |
| Dennis Schroder 19 points – one rebound – three assists – one steal | LaMarcus Aldridge 22 points – 11 rebounds – three blocks |
| Chris Paul 16 points – eight rebounds – five assists – two steals | Lonnie Walker IV 16 points -seven rebounds – one assist |
NEXT GAMES
Thunder at Cavaliers – Saturday
Spurs at Bucks – Saturday
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Memphis Grizzlies 123
Sacramento Kings 128
The Memphis Grizzlies went on the road and roared out to a commanding 42-26 first quarter lead. The Kings responded with a 37-18 second quarter to take a three point lead into the locker room at the half, then pounded the Grizzlies again in the fourth, 38-26, to salt away the win. At the end of the night, both teams were at 13-22, neck and neck for the title of King of the Western Conference Basement Club. Dilly Dilly.
| GRIZZLIES (13-22) 13th in the West | KINGS (13-22) 12th in the West |
| Ja Morant 23 points – one rebound – seven assists | De’Aaron Fox 27 points – four rebounds – nine assists – five steals – two blocks |
| Jae Crowder 19 points – four rebounds – six assists | Buddy Hield 26 points – seven rebounds – three assists – one block |
| Jonas Valanciunas 18 points – 12 rebounds – two assists | Richaun Holmes 18 points – seven rebounds – two blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Grizzlies at Clippers – Saturday
Pelicans at Kings – Saturday
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Detroit Pistons 112
Los Angeles Clippers 126
The Los Angeles Clippers led 69-63 at the half, but caught the right wind in the third quarter, outscoring the sputtering Detroit Pistons, 37-16. To sail away with the easy 14 point win last night in L.A. The Clippers’ bench came in and scored 68 points, while Detroit had nine players in double digits to no avail. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams combined for 45 off the bench to give Kawhi Leonard and Paul George a night of semi-load management. The duo only had to put up 30 together.
| PISTONS (12-23) 11th in the East | CLIPPERS (25-11) 3rd in the West |
| Bruce Brown, Jr. 15 points – two rebounds – six assists – one steal | Montrezl Harrell 23 points – four rebounds – three blocks |
| Christian Wood 14 points – six rebounds – one assist | Lou Williams 22 points – five rebounds – five assists – one steal |
| Derrick Rose 14 points – two rebounds – six assists | Kawhi Leonard 18 points – six rebounds – five assists – two steals – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Grizzlies at Clippers – Saturday
Pistons at Warriors – Saturday
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FRIDAY’S LINEUP
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics – 7 p.m. EST – NBC Sports Boston
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic – 7 p.m. EST – Fox Sports Florida
Portland Trailblazers at Washington Wizards – 7 p.m. EST – NBC Sports Washington
Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets – 8 p.m. EST – ESPN
New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns – 9 p.m. EST – Fox Sports Arizona
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 p.m. EST – ESPN
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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, and Oklahoma City.
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
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