The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Ben Simmons for at least two weeks with a nerve impingement, Brandon Clarke will miss about the same amount of time for the Memphis Grizzlies with a quad injury, and Jeremy Lamb is seeking a second opinion on his knee before the Indiana Pacers officially declare him done for the season.
Seven games last night; let’s take a look.
Charlotte Hornets 80
Indiana Pacers 119
The only time the Charlotte Hornets could keep up with the Indiana Pacers last night was in the fourth quarter, after the damage had been done and the game was in hand for Indiana. The Pacers outscored Charlotte by 10 in the first, 15 in the second, and 14 in the third to take the 39 point win after suffering a 46 point loss themselves just two nights before. Domantas Sabonis led a cadre of Pacers in double digit scoring with 21 points and 15 rebounds on the night. Five others joined him with T.J. Warren scoring 19, Justin Holiday 16, 15 for Malcolm Brogdon, and 10 apiece for both Doug McDermott and JaKarr Sampson. Charlotte was led by Miles Bridges’ 17, but the Hornets could muster much else in the loss. The Pacers were without Jeremy Lamb (knee, possibly out for the season) and Victor Oladipo (lower back).
HORNETS (19-38) 11th in the East | PACERS (34-24) 6th in the East |
Miles Bridges 17 points – six rebounds – one assist – one steal | Domantas Sabonis 21 points – 15 rebounds – nine assists |
Caleb Martin 11 points – three rebounds – two assists – one block | T.J. Warren 19 points – three rebounds – two assists – one steal |
Cody Martin Nine points – six rebounds – three assists – two steals | Justin Holiday 16 points – three rebounds – three assists – two steals – one block |
NEXT GAMES
New York at Charlotte – Tonight
Portland at Indiana – Thursday
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Milwaukee Bucks 108
Toronto Raptors 97
The game of the night featured the two best teams in the NBA going for what would have amounted to traction in the conference, bragging rights at least for a day, and a measuring stick on where the Toronto Raptors are compared to their conference rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks. After a very competitive first half, where the Raptors took a two point lead into the locker room, they came out and laid down in the third quarter, allowing Milwaukee to outscore them 34-19 and in essence, wrest control of the ball game. In that regard, it only ended up a measuring stick game, and the Raptors saw they have a ways to go to get to Milwaukee’s level. The Bucks are the fastest team in NBA history to 50 games, while the loss – coupled with a Lakers win – fell to third best in the NBA.
BUCKS (50-8) 1st in the East, NBA | RAPTORS (42-16) 2nd in the East |
Khris Middleton 22 points – eight rebounds – three assists | Pascal Siakam 22 points – six rebounds – three assists – one block |
Giannis Antetokuonmpo 19 points – 19 rebounds – eight assists – three blocks | Fred VanVleet 14 points – two rebounds – one assist – one steal |
Eric Bledsoe 17 points – seven rebounds – four assists – one steal – one block | O.G. Anunoby 11 points – five rebounds – four assists – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Charlotte at Toronto – Friday
Oklahoma City at Milwaukee – Friday
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Oklahoma City Thunder 124
Chicago Bulls 122
The Oklahoma City Thunder scored 72 points in the first half, enough to do as Oklahomans do around this time of year – weather the storm. Chicago stormed back with an impressive 38-19 third quarter to get themselves back in the game, but another 30+ point game from Coby White wasn’t enough in the end. Zach LaVine also scored 27 of his 41 points in the second half surge, in which the Bulls doubled up the Thunder in the third. It was Oklahoma City’s fourth straight win, while the Bulls have lost nine of their last 10 games. Gotta do better than two on five, Chicago.
THUNDER (36-22) 6th in the West | BULLS (20-39) 10th in the East |
Danilo Gallinari 24 points – four rebounds – one steal | Zach LaVine 41 points – five rebounds – four assists – one steal |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 21 points – 11 rebounds – three assists – one steal – two blocks | Coby White 35 points – seven rebounds – three assists |
Dennis Schroder 21 points – two rebounds – five assists – one steal | Shaquille Harrison 11 points – three rebounds – two assists – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Sacramento at Oklahoma City – Thursday
Chicago at New York – Saturday
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Detroit Pistons 98
Denver Nuggets 115
The Denver Nuggets’ 40-18 mark are at the same place they were this time last year after 58 games, which is a good thing because the Nuggets led the Western Conference at that time and were the third best team in the NBA a year ago. This year, they’re the fifth best team record-wise after all the dust settled on last night’s games, but that’s okay. Denver is healthy and right where they want to be in the hunt in the West … and beyond. They took it to the Detroit Pistons last night, and while Christian Wood is having his coming out party since the trade of Andre Drummond, I’m not sure anyone outside Detroit is noticing. In fact, I’m not sure even people residing in Detroit are noticing much about Wood or the Pistons. More are awaiting the Detroit Tigers’ season, it appears. But let that be, while Jerami Grant and the Nuggets play under the radar and keep winning games. Their eyes are on the backs of Nos. 23 and 3 in purple and gold. They’re five games back and have work to do, this blue collar team.
PISTONS (19-41) 12th in the East | NUGGETS (40-18) 2nd in the West |
Christian Wood 20 points – 10 rebounds – one assist – one steal – one block | Jerami Grant 29 points – four rebounds – one assist |
Derrick Rose 20 points – two rebounds – five assists – two steals | Jamal Murray 16 points – five rebounds – eight assists – one steal – one block |
Brandon Knight 14 points – two rebounds – six assists – one steal | Nikola Jokic 16 points – five rebounds – four assists – four steals |
NEXT GAMES
Detroit at Phoenix – Friday
Denver at Los Angeles – Friday
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New Orleans Pelicans 109
Los Angeles Lakers 118
The Mardi Gras jerseys aren’t working anymore for the New Orleans Pelicans. Time to trade them out for something new. At least wash them, because they got sullied last night in L.A. after the Lakers dragged the Pelicans through the dirt in the first and fourth quarters. LeBron James dropped a 40 point game to lead all scorers, while Brandon Ingram stole back the spotlight from Zion Williamson to drop 34 against his former teammates in L.A. Williamson followed up with 29 points, but Anthony Davis and Danny Green combined for 38 points and 19 rebounds collectively. It was L.A.’s sixth straight win, while Davis is undefeated against his former Pelicans. Green had five three pointers in the win.
PELICANS (25-33) 10th in the West | LAKERS (44-12) 1st in the West |
Brandon Ingram 34 points – seven rebounds – four assists – two steals | LeBron James 40 points – eight rebounds – six assists – one block |
Zion Williamson 29 points – six rebounds – three assists – one steal | Anthony Davis 21 points – 14 rebounds – three assists – one steal – six blocks |
Nicolo Melli 11 points – six rebounds – two assists – one block | Danny Green 17 points – five rebounds – four assists – two steals – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Los Angeles at Golden State – Thursday
Cleveland at New Orleans – Friday
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Boston Celtics 118
Portland Trailblazers 106
Jayson Tatum shot a career high from downtown Portland last night, hitting eight three pointers from all over the Moda Center, and leading the Boston Celtics to their 40th win of the season. Twenty six of Tatum’s game high 36 were in the second half, as the Celtics put up 62 points on Portland to take the win. C.J. McCollum was stalwart without Damian Lillard again, and got good help from Hassan Whiteside and Trevor Ariza, but could have used more than 35.7 percent shooting from Carmelo Anthony. The Blazers need to find something special for the last 23 games of the season if they’re going to have any hopes of even making the playoffs. They’ve yet to cross the .500 mark and remain three full games back of the Memphis Grizzlies.
CELTICS (40-17) 3rd in the East | TRAILBLAZERS (26-33) 9th in the West |
Jayson Tatum 36 points – five rebounds – one assist – two blocks | C.J. McCollum 28 points – four rebounds – 10 assists – three blocks |
Jaylen Brown 24 points – seven assists – two rebounds – one steal | Hassan Whiteside 18 points – 19 rebounds – three assists – one block |
Brad Wanamaker 13 points – five rebounds – four assists – one steal | Trevor Ariza 17 points – eight rebounds – two assists – two steals |
NEXT GAMES
Boston at Utah – Tonight
Portland at Indiana – Thursday
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Sacramento Kings 112
Golden State Warriors 94
Stephen Curry is days away from returning to the Golden State Warriors’ lineup. He will make his return this Sunday, March 1. That wasn’t soon enough for the Warriors last night, who could have used his deft touch to handle the Sacramento Kings, who have handled their last three opponents – the Warriors, Grizzlies, and Clippers. De’Aaron Fox led the way for Sacramento with 21 points in the Battle of Northern California, matched by Marquese Chriss’ 21 points. Harrison Barnes also jumped in the 21 point fray, and Buddy Hield finished with 19 points. Sacramento shot 52 percent on the road to Golden State’s 44 percent on their home floor.
KINGS (24-33) 12th in the West | WARRIORS (12-46) 15th in the West |
De’Aaron Fox 21 points – two rebounds – five assists – one steal – one block | Marquese Chriss 21 points – 10 rebounds – three assists |
Harrison Barnes 21 points – two rebounds – one assist | Andrew Wiggins 16 points – one assist |
Buddy Hield 19 points – six rebounds – two assists – one steal | Damion Lee 14 points – six rebounds – four assists – one steal – one block |
NEXT GAMES
Sacramento at Oklahoma City – Thursday
Los Angeles at Golden State – Thursday
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WEDNESDAY’S LINEUP
(All Times Eastern)
7 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers Cleveland Cavaliers NBC Sports Philadelphia | 7 p.m. Brooklyn Nets Washington Wizards YES | 7 p.m. New York Knicks Charlotte Hornets Fox Sports Southeast |
7:30 p.m. Orlando Magic Atlanta Hawks Fox Sports Florida | 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves Miami Heat Fox Sports North | 8 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies Houston Rockets Fox Sports Southeast |
8:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks San Antonio Spurs ESPN | 9 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers Phoenix Suns FSN Prime Ticket | 10:30 p.m. Boston Celtics Utah Jazz 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
- Denver
- Oklahoma City
- Atlanta
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia