At the end of last night, I thought the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics would have at least settled who would be the winner in the Clint Capela sweepstakes between the two teams.
Also, have Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, and Luke Kennard played their last games in Cleveland and Detroit?
Kennard is reportedly being eyeballed by the Phoenix Suns, and how long will it be before the Minnesota Timberwolves make my prediction of D’Angelo Russell landing there a reality?
Dallas is looking at both Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and/or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but that’s only reportedly to make Dorian Finney-Smith feel more comfortable so he’s not the only Dallas Maverick with a hyphenated last name.
Drummond, Love and Marcus Morris continue to be the center of the rumor mill, but things are going to have to pick up rather quickly as the trade deadline looms this Thursday, February 6th.
Maybe everybody’s waiting on Boston and Atlanta, by way of Houston.
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New York Knicks 139
Cleveland Cavaliers 134 (OT)
It was a season high 33 points for Kevin Love last night in Cleveland. But it was a season low for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who got embarrassed for the second time in a week on their home floor by another non-playoff bound team, this time the New York Knicks. Cleveland had the easy jump in the first half and third quarter, but sloppy defense allowed the Knicks right back in the thick of things, and after tying it up at 127-127, the Knicks took charge in the overtime and nailed down their 15th win of the season.
| KNICKS (15-36) 13th in the East | CAVALIERS (13-38) 14th in the East |
| Marcus Morris 26 points – two rebounds – one assist | Kevin Love 33 points – 13 rebounds – six assists – one block |
| Julius Randle 20 points – eight rebounds – three assists – two steals | Collin Sexton 29 points – two rebounds – seven assists – one steal |
| Elfrid Payton 17 points – 11 rebounds – 15 assists – one steal | Larry Nance, Jr. 18 points – eight rebounds – six assists – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Cleveland at Oklahoma City – Wednesday
Orlando at New York – Thursday
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Dallas Mavericks 112
Indiana Pacers 103
After being down 55-53 at the half, the Dallas Mavericks applied a little pressure and a little more offense to take the nine point win from the host Indiana Pacers last night in Indianapolis. Kristaps Porzingis stepped up big in the absence of Luka Doncic, leading all scorers with 38 points and 12 rebounds, outdueling Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 26 and 12. Both teams landed at 31-19 when all the dust settled.
| MAVERICKS (31-19) 6th in the West | PACERS (31-19) 5th in the East |
| Kristaps Porzingis 38 points – 12 rebounds – one steal | Domantas Sabonis 26 points – 12 rebounds – nine assists – one steal |
| Tim Hardaway, Jr. 25 points – four rebounds – five assists | Malcolm Brogdon 14 points – six rebounds – three assists – one block |
| Dorian Finney-Smith 15 points – 11 rebounds – four assists – one block | Myles Turner 11 points – five rebounds – one assist – two steals – three blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Indiana at Toronto – Wednesday
Memphis at Dallas – Wednesday
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Golden State Warriors 125
Washington Wizards 117
A 72 point first half set the tone for the Golden State Warriors’ lone visit to the nation’s capital last night, as the Warriors used the offensive outburst to carry them past the Washington Wizards by eight points. Despite another All Star-like performance from Bradley Beal, the Wizards just couldn’t get it done against another one of the league’s non-playoff bound teams. They lost badly against the Atlanta Hawks a week ago Sunday, and then suffered a 20 point loss in Milwaukee before returning home and patching together two wins this week. Alec Burks continued his evolution, leading the Warriors to the win with a 30 point night.
| WARRIORS (12-39) 15th in the West | WIZARDS (17-32) 10th in the East |
| Alec Burks 30 points – three rebounds – two assists – two steals | Bradley Beal 43 points – two rebounds – six assists – two steals |
| Glenn Robinson III 22 points – six rebounds – seven assists – one steal | Davis Bertans 19 points – four rebounds – five assists – one steal – one block |
| Damion Lee 19 points – one rebound – six assists – one steal | Rui Hachimura 11 points – eight rebounds |
NEXT GAMES
Golden State at Brooklyn – Wednesday
Dallas at Washington – Friday
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Orlando Magic 112
Charlotte Hornets 100
The five game skid is over for the Orlando Magic, who still maintain the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, despite a sub-.500 record. The Magic nearly hit 50 percent from downtown, swishing 16 of their 34 attempts, with Michael Carter-Williams and Mo Bamba hitting 100 percent, Terrence Ross hitting 57.1, and three other players at 50 percent. Markelle Fultz also had a career high 14 assists.
| MAGIC (22-28) 8th in the East | HORNETS (16-34) 12th in the East |
| Nikola Vucevic 22 points – seven rebounds – five assists | Terry Rozier 18 points – three rebounds – two assists |
| Evan Fournier 17 points – three rebounds – one assist | Cody Zeller 17 points – seven rebounds – two assists – one steal |
| Aaron Gordon 16 points – 12 rebounds – five assists – two steals | Miles Bridges 16 points – eight rebounds – two assists – one steal – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Charlotte at Houston – Tonight
Orlando at Boston – Wednesday
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Boston Celtics 123
Atlanta Hawks 115
The Boston Celtics outscored the Atlanta Hawks 67-50 over the second and third quarters to run out of Atlanta with an eight point win. But these two teams were more in discussion with regard to the acquisition of Houston’s Clint Capela last night. The Hawks had had discussions with the Rockets, but Danny Ainge’s close ties with Houston general manager Daryl Morey have the Celtics in the conversation now, as well. Meanwhile, as basketball game was played last night. The Celtics’ perimeter game didn’t look like a trade for Capela was necessary, especially if they have to give up Marcus Smart. John Collins did a nice job with 22 and 11, but it wouldn’t hurt to add Capela’s 13.9 points, 13.8 rebounds. and 1.2 assists.
| CELTICS (34-15) 3rd in the East | HAWKS (13-38) 15th in the East |
| Jayson Tatum 28 points – seven rebounds – three assists – one steal | Trae Young 34 points – three rebounds – seven assists – two steals |
| Gordon Hayward 24 points – seven rebounds – six assists – one block | Kevin Huerter 23 points – three rebounds – two assists – one block |
| Jaylen Brown 21 points – five rebounds – steal | John Collins 22 points – 11 rebounds – three assists – one steal – two blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Orlando at Boston – Wednesday
Atlanta at Minnesota – Wednesday
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Philadelphia 76ers 106
Miami Heat 137
Four games separate these two teams in the Eastern Conference standings, but they couldn’t be further apart in the direction they’re headed and last night’s game was a microcosm of that as the Miami Heat used an 81-54 second half to blister the Philadelphia 76ers, sending the team to its 20th loss. You may recall that Philadelphia was the last undefeated team to start the season, but even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup this past week, there are still far too many question marks for a team that was supposed to compete for an NBA Championship this year. That lethargy gave Jimmy Butler the chance to make a statement against his former team with a 38 point performance.
| SIXERS (31-20) 6th in the East | HEAT (34-15) 4th in the East |
| Joel Embiid 29 points – 12 rebounds – two assists – one steal | Jimmy Butler 38 points – seven rebounds – two assists – three steals |
| Mike Scott 17 points – three rebounds | Goran Dragic 24 points – three rebounds – six assists – one steal |
| Ben Simmons 16 points – eight rebounds – seven assists | Duncan Robinson 19 points – two rebounds – three assists |
NEXT GAMES
Miami at Los Angeles – Wednesday
Philadelphia at Milwaukee – Thursday
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Phoenix Suns 97
Brooklyn Nets 119
A 64-45 second half performance from the Brooklyn Nets was all the doctor ordered against the Phoenix Suns, who made it look interesting, being down only 55-52 at the half last night in Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving sat this one out, but the Nets have learned to live without Irving who has been nothing more than a shadow figure on this roster, his 54 point game aside. Caris LeVert dropped 29 to lead all scorers, outdoing Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton and his 25 point, 17 rebound night.
| SUNS (20-30) 12th in the West | NETS (22-27) 7th in the East |
| Deandre Ayton 25 points – 17 rebounds – five assists – two blocks | Caris LeVert 29 points – three rebounds – seven assists – two steals |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. 21 points – five rebounds – one assist | Joe Harris 16 points – four rebounds – two assists – one steal |
| Mikal Bridges 12 points – six rebounds – four assists – four steals – two blocks | Taurean Prince 15 points – six rebounds – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Phoenix at Detroit – Wednesday
Golden State at Brooklyn – Wednesday
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Detroit Pistons 82
Memphis Grizzlies 96
It’s sad that Andre Iguodala hasn’t reported to the Memphis Grizzlies. He could be enjoying the ride that the Grizzlies have been on this season, particularly the past 15 games. Hell, he could have been a contributing factor. Sad, because people would rather ride others’ coattails to contending games, playoffs, and championships rather than expose that that’s all they’ve been doing is riding others’ coattails. Also sad, because I remember when Iguodala was the next A.I. – literally and figuratively – in Philadelphia. Now he just is waiting to ride LeBron James’ coattails, sitting idly by while James is putting in the work laying the foundation. The Grizzlies are, too, behind Dillon Brooks, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson, Jr. who had a monster dunk on Andre Drummond last night.
| PISTONS (18-34) 11th in the East | GRIZZLIES (25-25) 8th in the West |
| Andre Drummond 25 points – 18 rebounds – four assists | Jonas Valanciunas 26 points – 17 rebounds – two assists – four blocks |
| Christian Wood 17 points – five rebounds – one assist – two steals – two blocks | Dillon Brooks 15 points – four rebounds – five assists – one block |
| Langston Galloway 17 points – two rebounds – three assists | Jaren Jackson, Jr. 14 points – five rebounds – two assists – one steal – three blocks |
NEXT GAMES
Phoenix at Detroit – Wednesday
Memphis at Dallas – Wednesday
********************
Minnesota Timberwolves 109
Sacramento Kings 113
The Sacramento Kings not only dropped a 65-50 first half on the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, they withstood a rally by the Wolves in the second half, where Minnesota ran off a 59-48 attempted comeback over the third and fourth quarters in Sacramento last night. De’Aaron Fox led all scorers with 31 points on the night and even Bogdan Bogdanovic outdid Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who put up a listless 22 and 10 night for the Timberwolves.
| TIMBERWOLVES (15-34) 14th in the West | KINGS (19-31) 13th in the West |
| Karl-Anthony Towns 22 points – 10 rebounds – six assists – one steal – two blocks | De’Aaron Fox 31 points – three rebounds – five assists – two steals |
| Shabazz Napier 17 points – three rebounds – seven assists | Bogdan Bogdanovic 23 points – two rebounds – three assists |
| Robert Covington 15 points – eight rebounds – two assists – three steals – one block | Buddy Hield 16 points – two rebounds – three assists – one steal |
NEXT GAMES
Atlanta at Minnesota – Wednesday
Miami at Sacramento – Friday
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San Antonio Spurs 105
Los Angeles Clippers 108
San Antonio jumped out to a 10 point lead at the Staples Center after one, but the Los Angeles Clippers, but try as they might, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan couldn’t defeat former Spur Kawhi Leonard, even they outscored Leonard and Paul George, 53-41. That’s because the only other Spurs that got involved were Patty Mills and Trey Lyles. L.A.’s bench, behind Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams got it done, with 12 point contributions from Williams and starter Patrick Beverley. The win keeps the Clippers on the heels of the first place Los Angeles Lakers.
| SPURS (22-27) 10th in the West | CLIPPERS (35-15) 2nd in the West |
| LaMarcus Aldridge 27 points – nine rebounds – five assists – two blocks | Kawhi Leonard 22 points – six rebounds – seven assists – one steal – two blocks |
| DeMar DeRozan 26 points – five rebounds – two assists – two steals | Paul George 19 points – 12 rebounds – eight assists |
| Patty Mills 18 points – two rebounds – two assists – one steal | Montrezl Harrell 14 points – three rebounds – one assist |
NEXT GAMES
San Antonio at Los Angeles – Tonight
Miami at Los Angeles – Wednesday
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TUESDAY’S LINEUP
(All Times Eastern Standard Time)
| 7:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks New Orleans Pelicans TNT | 8 p.m. Charlotte Hornets Houston Rockets AT&T SportsNet Southwest |
| 9 p.m. Portland Trailblazers Denver Nuggets TNT | 10 p.m. San Antonio Spurs Los Angeles Lakers Spectrum SportsNet |
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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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