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The Rundown w/T-Money

Rundown v02.26.20 – Lakers and Bucks Stand Firm, Pacers Dominate, White has 101 in Last Three Games

Last night, Dennis Schroder and the Thunder withstood another 30+ point barrage from Coby White, Khris Middleton stopped the Raptors, Jayson Tatum took care of the Blazers, and Indiana bounced back from a 46 point loss with a 39 point win.

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 EastPACERS (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

********************

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, NBARAPTORS (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

********************

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 WestBULLS (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

********************

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 EastNUGGETS (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

********************

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 WestLAKERS (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

********************

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 EastTRAILBLAZERS (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

********************

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 WestWARRIORS (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

********************

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

********************

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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