10 takeaways from tonight in the NBA: 1) Brandon Miller is way too fun. Damn shame that he’s on such a gross team (for now). Scored 31 points (7-13 3PT) including a dagger three with 25 seconds left. More importantly, Hornets finally score 100+. First time since March 13. Max Strus (knee) returned from a 12-game absence and you just knew he was good to go as soon as the first one went up. Drilled a corner three less than a minute into the game. Scored 19 points (5-10 3PT) in 24 minutes. Glad to have you back. Hornets beat the Cavs 118-111. Didn’t see this upset coming (10.5-point dogs). “We were lazy in our rotations, we were lazy in our closeouts ... we weren’t good defensively. We didn’t have the grit we needed to win the game ... we didn’t bring our best effort tonight.” - J.B. Bickerstaff 2) Draymond Green, man. Huge game for GS and he gets ejected less than four minutes in. First ejection since the suspension (fourth this season). If we’re being real, shoulda gotten tossed last night after the neck pull. Nine games left, you’re up one game on Houston and you do this? Almost feels like the wheels are coming off. Luckily for him, he still has Steph (17 points, 10 assists) who was visibly emotional after the ejection. Scored 5 points in the final 70 seconds, which sealed the win. Jamahl Mosley inserted Markelle Fultz back into the starting lineup. First start since Feb. 13. Wasn’t great (4 points, 16 minutes). Warriors beat the Magic 101-93. “Too bad. It was unfortunate. He deserved it.” - Steve Kerr on Draymond’s ejection. “All I’ll say is we need him. He knows that. We all know that. So whatever it takes for him to be on the floor and available, that’s what’s gotta happen.” - Steph on Dray 3) Cam vs. Poole had those Magic vs. Bird vibes. I kid, I kid ... kinda. Poole scores a season-high 38 points (26 in the second half) to go along with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. Thomas matched him (38 points, 7 assists). The hell with the points. We know about the buckets but have you been paying attention to their new roles? Poole’s averaging 8.3 assists over his last three and Thomas is averaging 5.7 over his last three. We got some more Noah Clowney at the 4 today. Nets are finally leaning into it. Nets win 122-119, ending the Wizards three-game winning streak. “I love him at the point.” - Kevin Ollie on Cam Thomas 4) We knew AD was never going to play. Not after how he was laboring with that knee issue last night, in a game he played 51 minutes. Jaxson Hayes (14 points, 7 rebounds, 30:30) got the start. Storyline of this one was easily LeBron vs. GG Jackson. You haven’t thought it through yet, have you? Oldest player in the league vs the youngest player in the league. 39 vs. 19. The win goes to the 39-year old. Gets his fourth triple-double of the season (23 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists). Still funny that he’s doing this at this age. GG had just 10. Rui Hachimura stepped up big for AD with 32 and 10. Seems to always go off in Memphis. Welcome back Brandon Clarke (20:50)! First game back since tearing his Achilles a year ago. Didn’t think he’d play a single game this season and never been so happy to be wrong. Shoutout to Desmond Bane (26 points, 16 assists). Lakers beat the Grizzlies 136-124. “I’m not gonna lie. I’m not a really big fan of this city.” - Rui Hachimura 5) James Harden made his return to Philly and yeah, there was a lot of boos. During intros and every touch. It’s Philly -- what did ya expect? Clippers were absolutely miserable in the first half. Kawhi and PG scored a combined 6 points, shooting 14.2%. Figured this would be another "look in the mirror" kinda game for them. Still might be, who knows? But the second half was the complete opposite. They combined for 33 points on 52.2% shooting. Game ended in controversy. Kelly Oubre looked like he got fouled on a drive to end the game. Refs swallowed their whistles and admitted they got it wrong afterward. Clippers beat the Sixers 108-107. Sixers are 26-8 with Embiid and 13-26 without him. Speaking of... “I think there’s a very good chance [Joel Embiid] will return before the playoffs” - Nick Nurse “You a b*tch, you a b*tch, you a b*tch” - Kelly Oubre to each ref after the game. (lips weren’t hard to read) 6) Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like Ant just doesn’t get up for games like this against the Pistons. Or maybe that finger really is bothering him? Either way, he took just 11 shots (9 points, 5 assists). Nah, I’m gonna go with the matchup theory. He scored 9 points against the Blazers and Hornets earlier this year too. Keeping a mental note. ✍️ Gobert (11 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks) had his fingerprints all over this one. His plus/minus tells you all you need to know. +20 in 34 minutes on -5 in 14 minutes off Not much on the Pistons side. Cade scored 32, so yeah. Wolves beat the Pistons 106-91 and get win #50. Hey, look at that. Congrats Minny. Been a long time coming. “I think Rudy’s been our MVP this season on both ends.” - Kyle Anderson 7) I’m gonna try to keep this as short as I can cause there’s a lot. Knicks vs. Raptors... First and foremost, OG and Precious both got tribute videos and gift baskets. Yes, gift baskets. Now, about Deuce McBride (29 points, 9-14 3PT). He almost broke DiVincenzo’s 3-point record that was just set on Monday LOL. Think Thibs wanted him to get it too cause he was still in the game late in the 4th when they were up 40+. Hilarious but truly sickening. I can hear that laugh in my head as I type. His six 3-pointers in the first quarter were the most by a Knick since '96-97. MitchRob (ankle) returns after missing over three months. Played only 12 minutes (8 points, 2 blocks) but so good seeing him out there. Some really big returns tonight. ❤️ As for the Raps, let’s just fast-forward the rest of the season. Ochai Agbaji had to be helped to the locker room after a hard fall. Just screaming in pain too. Couldn’t put any weight on his right leg. Garrett Temple started for him in the second half. Nobody wants this. Knicks beat the Raptors 145-101. The 145 points is their most in a game since 1980. “It felt great. Just got to work on a few things and just keep taking it day by day.” - MitchRob 8) This Dalano Banton stretch is way too funny. It’s unbelievable but I can’t help but laugh. The good kind of laughs. Dude’s been in the league for five seasons and never averaged more than 8.2 ppg. He’s hit double-figures in nine straight. Goes off tonight for 31, a game after scoring 28 against the Rockets. He’s got a 26% usage rate over his last 10. I thought we’d be at the point of the season where Scoot’s doing this, not him. Hawks beat the Blazers 120-106. Dejounte Murray drops 30 after being questionable throughout the day. “He’s a scorer. Obviously, you guys are seeing him playing with other guys that are like real, real role players. I don’t think this is Dalano, where he’s getting 28 and 30 and 26 and ... but he’s capable. He’s much better than I thought he was.” - Billups on Dalano Banton 9) Jalen Green and the Rockets have won 10 straight. The team is in must-watch territory every night. Cannot tell you enough how entertaining this stretch has been and it’s all because of the lottery boys, Amen and Jalen. Green has been a top-15(ish) player over the last month. You understand how crazy that is? There was a stretch before that where he couldn’t even see the court in the fourth quarter. They were trying to trade his ass! Over his last 10 games, he’s scoring 29.8 ppg on 64.5 TS%. Best of all, he’s actively trying to defend. The effort is clear as day. Think with guys like him (D’Angelo too), you just have to let them have fun. They’re at their best when they're able to play freely. As for Amen, kid put up 25 AND 15 (!!!) making him the first rookie Rocket since Yao to reach those numbers. Their future is blindingly bright. And if you haven’t seen the Isaiah Joe dunk on Uncle Jeff yet, scroll further down our timeline ASAP. Had no clue he had that kind of jump. Rockets beat the SGA-less Thunder 132-126 in OT. “WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAAAYYY!!!” - Tari Eason on his IG 10) Bulls hold the Pacers to under 100 points. That’s definitely the lede. First time all season Indiana didn’t crack the century mark. This team finds different ways to surprise me every single night. Mostly bad surprises. It’s just an awful matchup for the Pacers really. They like to run, the Bulls are good in transition. They defend the 3-point line really well, the Bulls don’t shoot 3s. They don’t send double-teams, DeMar (27 points) makes them pay. You knew Vuc (22 points, 9-20 FG, 12 rebounds) would get fed tonight after Billy Donovan openly criticized the team for not going to him in the loss against the Wizards. Coby White (18 points, 7 rebounds) started 0-6 before turning things around. Found Donovan’s quote below interesting about him admitting his recent struggles are from the minutes played. And please move Javonte Green (+26!!!) ahead of Torrey Craig in the rotation. Bulls beat the Pacers 125-99 and win the season series 3-1. “In fairness to him and he’ll never say this but I will. I think some of the minutes had a lot to do with that. I do think that’s impacted him.” - Billy Donovan on Coby White’s shooting struggles K, gotta stop there. Starting to feel like I’m putting in more time than Deuce McBride.
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist Wow nothing about Suns and Denver 😳
@Underdog__NBA @sloprules @WinkyChrist This is the most words I’ve ever read on Twitter/Xand it was 100% worth it
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist Key takeaways.... The NBA IS FUN!!!
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist Can draymond just retire already please.
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist I’m happy for you. Or sorry that happened
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist Hoping Oubre’s words don’t come back to bite him and the Sixers.
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist Hachimura was not mentioned with 7 threes? :OOO
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist It was fun to read this. Good work man!
@Underdog__NBA @WinkyChrist This is very very good bro