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NBA Round Up: Dame Beats Blazers

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MILWAUKEE – Bucks all-star Giannis Antetokounmpo tipped in Bobby Portis’ missed shot with 18.1 seconds remaining for the game-winning points, and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 108-102 Sunday in Damian Lillard‘s first game against his old team.

Lillard totaled 31 points and capped his big game with four clinching free throws for his sixth 30-point game of the season.

The meeting was the first since Portland ended an 11-year relationship with Lillard, dealing him to the Bucks in the offseason in a three-team deal that brought Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara to the Trail Blazers along with a 2029 first-round pick.

The win Sunday was Milwaukee’s seventh in its last eight games, while Portland lost for ninth time in its last 10 outings.

Nets 118, Bulls 109

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points as host Brooklyn hit an NBA season-high 25 3-pointers and stormed back from a 21-point deficit for a victory over skidding Chicago.

The Nets gave up the game’s first 13 points and trailed 30-9 with 4:37 left in the first quarter. Brooklyn outscored the Bulls 109-79 the rest of the way and 99-73 over the final three quarters. Brooklyn finished two shy of the team record set Feb. 15, 2021, in Sacramento and set a record for 3s in a home game. The Nets also finished four shy of the NBA record set by Milwaukee on Dec. 29, 2020.

Royce O’Neale and Lonnie Walker IV added 20 apiece. The duo combined to shoot 12-of-20 from 3-point range as the Nets hit 20 of their 3s after the opening quarter. DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 27 but the Bulls lost their fourth in a row and seventh time in eight games. Coby White added 23 while Patrick Williams and Zach LaVine contributed 20 apiece as the Bulls made 13 of their first 21 shots and eight 3s in the opening quarter and finished at 48.2 percent overall.

Suns 116, Knicks 113

Devin Booker sank the tie-breaking 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left for visiting Phoenix, which squandered a 15-point lead before edging New York.

Booker scored 20 points in the second half and finished with a double-double (28 points, 11 assists) for the Suns, who have won seven straight, including the last two games without Kevin Durant. The 13-time All-Star warmed up beforehand but sat out his second straight game with a sore right foot. Eric Gordon scored 25 points while Jordan Goodwin (14) and Nassir Little (11) got into double figures off the bench.

Jalen Brunson had 35 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost two of their past three games. Julius Randle scored 28 points and reserve Immanuel Quickley added 18.

Magic 130, Hornets 117

Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony scored 30 points apiece as Orlando extended their winning streak to seven games, beating visiting Charlotte.

Paolo Banchero had 23 points, Jalen Suggs scored 12 and Goga Bitadze contributed 11 points and seven rebounds for Orlando, which has won seven consecutive games for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Moritz Wagner added 11 points and seven rebounds. Franz Wagner and Anthony recorded season-high point totals for Orlando, which shot 54 percent from the field and 37 percent (10 of 27) from 3-point range.

Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Terry Rozier collected 22 points and nine assists, Brandon Miller had 20 points, P.J. Washington 13 and Mark Williams added 12. Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball had seven points before exiting midway through the second quarter with a right ankle strain. Ball had to be helped to the locker room after colliding with Banchero near the basket.

Timberwolves 119, Grizzlies 97

Anthony Edwards scored 24 points and Minnesota held host Memphis to just 38.6 percent shooting from the floor in sending the Grizzlies to their fourth consecutive loss.

Every Minnesota player who saw action scored, with five reaching double-figures. Mike Conley shot 6-of-9 from 3-point range, leading to the Wolves’ 15-of-34 shooting (44.1 percent) from the beyond arc, and finished with 18 points. Conley also dished a game-high 10 assists.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 18 points and three blocks, Desmond Bane scored 13 and Santi Aldama had 14 points with a team-high seven rebounds.

Nuggets 132, Spurs 120

Nikola Jokic had a season-high 39 points along with 11 rebounds and nine assists, Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points and host Denver beat San Antonio.

Reggie Jackson had 20 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 16 points and Julian Strawther added 10 points for Denver. The Nuggets played without forward Aaron Gordon, who sat with a right heel strain. With Jamal Murray sidelined since early November, Denver was without two starters.

Victor Wembanyama had 22 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and four blocks, Devin Vassell scored 19 points, Malaki Branham added 15 points, Julian Champagnie finished with 13 points and Keldon Johnson and Tre Jones scored 10 each for the Spurs, who dropped their 12th straight.

Cavaliers 105, Raptors 102

Darius Garland scored 24 points and Cleveland defeated visiting Toronto.

Max Strus scored all 20 of his points in the third quarter for the Cavaliers, who had lost their two previous games. Donovan Mitchell added 10 points for Clevland. Evan Mobley had 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Jarrett Allen chipped in with 18 points.

Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl each scored 18 points for Toronto. Poeltl added 13 rebounds. Scottie Barnes had 15 points for the Raptors, who had won their two previous games. Dennis Schroder scored 15 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 13 points and OG Anunoby added 11.

-Field Level Media

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NBA: Friday Round-Up

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ORLANDO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – There was a healthy slate of games – including key In-Season Tounament contests across the landscape of the NBA as team returned from a Thursday, Thanksgiving holiday break.

Magic 113, Celtics 96

Orlando turned in a dominant second half and extended its winning streak to six games by beating visiting Boston in an NBA in-season tournament game.

Orlando outscored Boston 65-40 in the final two quarters and improved its record to 3-1 in East Group C. Boston’s tournament record in the group stage fell to 2-1.

Mo Wagner came off the bench to score a game-high 27 points for the Magic, who have won their past four home games. Paolo Banchero added 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Magic. Jayson Tatum scored 26 points for the Celtics, who shot 24.1 percent from 3-point range (7 of 29).

[Read more…] about NBA: Friday Round-Up

Celtics Face Magic in Friday Matinee

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ORLANDO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said his team is starting to believe it can compete with – and defeat – the best teams in the NBA, and that showed when his squad knocked off the Denver Nuggets 124-119 Wednesday night.

The victory extended the Magic’s winning streak to five games.

Orlando has another big challenge ahead when it meets the visiting Boston Celtics in an NBA in-season tournament game Friday afternoon. Boston improved its record to an NBA-best 12-3 by beating the Milwaukee Bucks 119-116 on Wednesday.

“That’s what the growth of this team is turning into — the belief system of knowing what we’re capable of doing in big games,” Mosley said. “I can’t say enough how proud I am of this group. How hard they worked and how they continue to believe in what they’re capable of doing on a regular basis.

“The trust and belief these guys have in one another. 
 Our identity is that we’re a defensive team that strives for pushing each other to be better every night.”

Franz Wagner scored 24 of his team-high 27 points in the second half of the victory over the defending champion Nuggets. Paolo Banchero added 23 points in the win.

“I think (Wagner’s) ability to see, and communicate the things that he sees 
 that’s not easy for a lot of people to do, because he sees the game a little bit differently because of his IQ,” Mosley said. “In the way he’s able to communicate it with his teammates is very special, and then at the end he had 24 points in the second half. They challenged him and he stepped up. He made big play after big play.”

The Magic broke a 115-115 tie on a Banchero 3-pointer with 1:49 to play. Banchero, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, shot 4 of 5 from behind the 3-point arc. He’s shooting 45.5 percent on 3-point attempts this season after finishing at 29.8 percent last season.

“A lot of teams try to stop me from getting to the rim so my whole thing is just making ’em pay,” Banchero said. “I’ve always been a good shooter so it’s just believing in it and taking the right ones, the ones that are in rhythm, the ones that feel good. And when I take ‘em, I’m shooting with confidence.”

The Celtics received 26 points and eight assists from Jaylen Brown, and 23 points and 11 rebounds from Jayson Tatum in their triumph over Milwaukee.

Boston led throughout the game, but had to fend off a late run by the Bucks. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points.

“Obviously, the fans and everyone in the building knew this was No. 1 and No. 2 seed (in the Eastern Conference) playing against each other, and that just adds more fuel to the atmosphere,” Porzingis said. “The energy was there. We played hard and they made a good push at the end and almost made a comeback, but we held strong.”

The Celtics are 2-0 in in-season tournament games, and are the only unbeaten team in the East’s Group C. Boston’s victories came against Brooklyn and Toronto.

Orlando has won two of its three in-season tournament games. The Magic beat Chicago and Toronto after opening with a loss to Brooklyn.

– Field Level Media

Celtics Gift a Game in Charlotte

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CHARLOTTE – Hornets forward Miles Bridges, recently reinstated from an NBA suspension, drilled a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left in overtime as Charlotte pulled off a 121-118 upset victory against the visiting Boston Celtics on Monday.

Charlotte delivered a startling fourth-quarter comeback, scoring the last nine points in regulation over a span of the final two minutes, en route to snapping a four-game losing streak.

LaMelo Ball contributed 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Hornets. Ex-Celtic Gordon Hayward had 20 points, Mark Williams posted 18 points and 16 rebounds, Bridges finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds and P.J. Washington had 15 points off the bench.

Jayson Tatum scored 31 of his 45 points in the first half for the Celtics, whose six-game winning streak ended. He also had team-high totals in rebounds (13) and assists (six).

Boston’s Payton Pritchard produced 21 points off the bench, while teammates Kristaps Porzingis (17 points), Jaylen Brown (13) and Jrue Holiday (11) were also in double figures.

After Bridges’ basket, Tatum made two free throws and Hayward matched that to account for the final score.

Until the final minutes Monday, the Celtics had a wildly successful four-game road trip — and they were greeted by many of their adoring fans on this final stop.

Bridges played in his third game since serving a suspension stemming from a domestic violence case, but he was in the starting lineup for the first time. Bridges replaced Washington.

Charlotte, which was down 11 points with six minutes left, trailed 108-99 with two minutes to go before rallying.

Williams’ putback of an offensive rebound made it a two-point game with 33 seconds left.

Holiday missed a pair of free throws with 10.1 seconds to play in regulation, and Ball’s driving, double-clutch layup tied the score with seven seconds left. Boston’s Sam Hauser missed a potential winning shot at the regulation buzzer.

The Celtics led 65-54 at halftime. Charlotte was within 90-87 on Washington’s jumper with about 9 1/2 minutes to play.

Ball had 17 first-half points, but that seemed pedestrian compared to Tatum, who shot 10-for-15 from the floor and sank five 3-pointers in the half.

–Field Level Media

Celtics Skip Past Grizzlies, 102-100; Tonight, It’s On to Charlotte

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CHARLOTTE – The Boston Celtics have been among the best teams in the NBA for the first month of the season.

That’s not the case for the Charlotte Hornets, who need something good to happen.

The teams with opposite types of streaks will meet tonight in North Carolina where the Celtics will conclude a four-game road stretch.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 26 points to lift Boston to its sixth straight victory on Sunday with a 102-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Even that wasn’t totally satisfying for the Celtics, however.

“We got lucky enough to win that game,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “You can learn from losses. You can learn from wins. I didn’t think we deserved to win the game because a lot of the stuff that we did.”

With that in mind, Mazzulla will have a motivational angle to use for the game in Charlotte. He said the Grizzlies played harder than the Celtics in Sunday night’s game. It’s all part of the heightened expectations for the Celtics, who are led by Jayson Tatum’s averages of 26.9 points and 8.7 rebounds a game.

“Guys in the locker room set a high standard for themselves,” Mazzulla said.

The Hornets probably are in a totally different state of mind as they try to break a four-game losing streak. In home games, Charlotte has dropped six straight since winning the season opener.

Charlotte’s offense has been regularly sparked by guard LaMelo Ball, who has reached the 30-point mark in five of the last seven games. He’s averaging 24.4 points per game. With 25 or more points in each of those seven games, that’s the second-longest Hornets streak in that category in franchise history.

Rookie Brandon Miller is coming off a career-high 29 points against the New York Knicks on Saturday night. Yet Miller is receiving hard lessons on the pro level about the necessity for focused defensive intensity.

“I think we kind of struggled maintaining our man in transition,” Miller said. “I think that’s just an effort thing with us, something we’ve got to clean up going into the game against Boston. Our focus is just individual defense. I think if we shut down a few players, we will have a great outcome in any game.”

Miller’s offensive skills have translated well in the early part of his NBA career.

“He does it the right way. He works in practice,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said.

Clifford said the defense must be addressed across the roster with the team. The Hornets shot 49 percent from the field Saturday night against the Knicks, a rate that should be good enough to at least keep the team in tighter games.

The Hornets have lost by 14 or more points in three of the four games in their skid.

Ex-Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has scored a total of 12 points in 90 minutes across the last three games combined for the Hornets. He has shot 6-for-25 from the field in those games, missing all six of his 3-point attempts.

“That’s something we have to work on,” Clifford said of getting Hayward and P.J. Washington to pick up the pace offensively.

The Hornets were missing backup center Nick Richards, who was in the concussion protocol, on Saturday night.

–Field Level Media

NBA: Round-up from Saturday

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SAN FRANCISCO – Chet Holmgren hit a game-tying 3-pointer in regulation and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 10 of his 40 points in overtime as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept two games from the Golden State Warriors with a 130-123 victory on Saturday night in California.

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Holmgren finished with a season-best 36 points and Jalen Williams had 22 for the Thunder, who used 19 3-pointers and 59.4 percent shooting from behind the 3-point arc to outgun the Warriors 128-109 on Thursday.

Chris Paul countered Gilgeous-Alexander’s first hoop of overtime with a 3-pointer to give the Warriors one final lead at 120-119 before the Thunder star hit three mid-range shots and a layup.

Andrew Wiggins went 5 of 8 on 3-pointers as he scored a season-high 31 points for Golden State, which got Stephen Curry back from a two-game absence due to a sore knee. Curry also hit five 3-pointers and finished with 25 points.

The Thunder were able to send the game into overtime when Holmgren caught an inbounds pass in the left corner with 1.6 seconds remaining and buried a 3-pointer for a 117-all tie.

Bulls 102, Heat 97

DeMar DeRozan hit the go-ahead jumper with 21.9 seconds left and scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as host Chicago rallied from a 21-point deficit to earn a victory over Miami.

The Bulls did not get the lead until Alex Caruso hit an open 3-pointer from the left side to make it 97-94 with 51.8 seconds left. After Jimmy Butler sank a game-tying 3-pointer with 42.7 seconds left, DeRozan made a turnaround 18-footer from the left elbow over rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. to make it 99-97.

Nikola Vucevic added 15 points for the Bulls, who outscored Miami 101-75 over the final 41-plus minutes. Butler led the Heat with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. The Heat sped out to a 22-1 lead as they made nine of their first 11 shots.

Grizzlies 120, Spurs 108

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points and visiting Memphis turned the game around with an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter, roaring from behind to beat hapless San Antonio.

The Grizzlies trailed 99-93 with 10:01 to play but swept to the lead with their 18-0 outburst over the ensuing 5 1/2 minutes, with Ziaire Williams capping the surge with a 3-pointer. San Antonio missed all eight of its shots in that pivotal stretch.

Desmond Bane added 26 points for Memphis, with Santi Aldama racking up 17 points and 10 rebounds. Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 22 points. Victor Wembanyama added 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Knicks 122, Hornets 108

Jalen Brunson poured in 32 points and Donte DiVincenzo drained seven 3-pointers on the way to a season-high 25 points as New York kept rolling by defeating host Charlotte.

Julius Randle provided 21 points as the Knicks won for the sixth time in their past seven games. New York has also won three straight road games.

LaMelo Ball tallied 34 points, aided by eight 3-pointers, and rookie Brandon Miller had a season-best 29 points, but the Hornets were saddled with their fourth loss in a row.

Timberwolves 121, Pelicans 120

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, including a game-winning field goal with five seconds left, and Minnesota overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat host New Orleans.

Anthony Edwards added 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves.

Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pelicans. Zion Williamson was given the night off as New Orleans completed a back-to-back amid a stretch of four games in six days.

Bucks 132, Mavericks 125

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 40 points on 18-for-26 shooting from the field to help rally Milwaukee to a win over visiting Dallas.

Damian Lillard added 27 points for the Bucks, who won their fourth consecutive game and their second in as many nights. Milwaukee outscored the Mavericks 43-27 in the final quarter and rallied after trailing by as many as 12 in the second half.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 39 points, 33 in the second half. Luka Doncic had 35 points for Dallas, which has now lost two of its past three games, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 17.

–Field Level Media

Nuggets, Jokic Edge GS Warriors

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DENVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nikola Jokic produced 35 points and 13 rebounds, Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and the host Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 108-105 on Wednesday in a matchup of the past two NBA champions.

Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points while Aaron Gordon finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which swept a four-game homestand.

Stephen Curry put up 23 points and Klay Thompson had 15 for the Warriors, who have lost two of their past three games. Thompson’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer slipped out of his hands.

The Warriors played without Draymond Green (personal reasons) and Gary Payton II (non-COVID illness). Denver guard Jamal Murray missed his second straight game with a right hamstring strain.

76ers 106, Celtics 103

Joel Embiid had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and nine rebounds and host Philadelphia held on to clip Boston.

Tobias Harris scored 17 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 14 for the Sixers, who won their sixth game in a row following a one-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener.

Kristaps Porzingis led the Celtics with 29 points, Derrick White added 19 and Jayson Tatum had 16 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Trailing 106-103, the Celtics had a chance to tie the game, but Porzingis missed a 3-point try with 6.2 seconds left.

Kings 121, Trail Blazers 118 (OT)

Domantas Sabonis’ free throw with 42.8 seconds remaining in overtime broke a tie, Malik Monk dropped in a pair of foul throws with 13 seconds left and Sacramento snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Portland.

The Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant (38 points, nine rebounds) had two looks at a potential tie but missed consecutive 3-point attempts in the final 9.1 seconds. The extra session was required after Monk scored the final four points of regulation for the Kings.

Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Monk had 23 points and a team-high 10 assists.

Suns 116, Bulls 115 (OT)

Grayson Allen scored 26 points while sinking a career-high eight 3-pointers and Kevin Durant added 25 points to lift Phoenix past host Chicago in overtime.

Jusuf Nurkic scored the go-ahead layup off a screen-and-roll pass from Durant with 7.3 seconds left in OT and finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. Nurkic missed two free throws with 0.4 seconds to go, but the Bulls’ backdoor lob attempt on their final possession was unsuccessful.

Making his regular-season debut for the Suns after dealing with back spasms during the preseason, Bradley Beal contributed 13 points. His night featured three 3-pointers, as Phoenix finished 19-for-48 from beyond the arc.

Heat 108, Grizzlies 102

Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 30 points and added 11 rebounds to fuel visiting Miami past Memphis, which remains winless at home in four tries.

Adebayo made 8 of 15 shots from the floor and 14 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line. That effort came on the heels of his 22-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist performance in the Heat’s 108-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Miami’s Tyler Herro sustained a right ankle sprain after landing on the foot of Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. during the first quarter. Herro did not return to the contest, finishing with six points and two assists in eight minutes. Jackson scored a team-high 28 points.

Wizards 132, Hornets 116

Kyle Kuzma pumped in 33 points and Washington snapped a four-game losing streak with some huge offensive bursts against host Charlotte.

Danilo Gallinari and Delon Wright paced Washington’s bench scoring with 18 points apiece. The Wizards’ reserves outscored the Hornets’ backups 72-23.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 34 points and seven assists. Gordon Hayward added 18 points.

Rockets 128, Lakers 94

Jalen Green scored a game-high 28 points while Alperen Sengun chipped in 19 as host Houston extended its winning streak to four games with a wire-to-wire victory over injury-ravaged Los Angeles.

Green was efficient throughout, making 11 of 15 attempts. Sengun was 8 of 10 from the floor while, like Green, adding seven rebounds.

The Lakers, who added Anthony Davis (hip) to a long list of sidelined rotation players, dropped their third game in a row. Los Angeles reserve Rui Hachimura scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his return from a four-game absence caused by a concussion.

Pacers 134, Jazz 118

Aaron Nesmith scored 24 points to lead six players in double figures as Indiana took control in the fourth quarter to beat Utah in Indianapolis.

Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points apiece, while Tyrese Haliburton scored all 16 of his points in the second half for the Pacers, who have won three of their past four games.

Jordan Clarkson scored 33 points to lead the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight. Lauri Markkanen had 24 points and nine rebounds.

Knicks 126, Spurs 105

Julius Randle posted another double-double for host New York, which scored the first 13 points of the game and was never seriously threatened in a win over San Antonio.

Randle finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds in his seventh double-double in eight games this season. Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 25 points while RJ Barrett had 24 points for the Knicks, who committed just four turnovers.

Jeremy Sochan scored 16 points while Malaki Branham and No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama each had 14 points for the Spurs, who have lost three straight. Wembanyama missed his first seven shots from the field and scored just six points in the first three quarters.

Nets 100, Clippers 93

Lonnie Walker IV scored a season-high 21 points and host Brooklyn survived a shaky finish to defeat Los Angeles and keep James Harden winless with his new team.

Walker stepped up for the Nets after Cam Thomas was lost for the final 20:33 due to a sprained left ankle. Royce O’Neale clinched Brooklyn’s first home win by hitting a 3-pointer with 18.3 seconds to go.

The Clippers’ Paul George scored 24 to lead all scorers, but they shot just 39.6 percent and missed 28 of 36 3-point tries in their third straight defeat. Harden contributed 12 while hearing boos every time he touched the ball against the team that traded him to Philadelphia at the 2022 trade deadline.

Timberwolves 122, Pelicans 101

Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and dished eight assists as Minnesota cruised past New Orleans in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting for the Timberwolves, who won their fourth game in a row. Rudy Gobert registered 17 points and 21 rebounds.

Brandon Ingram scored 24 points on 11-for-25 shooting and rookie Jordan Hawkins added 14 points for the Pelicans, who lost their third straight game.

Bucks 120, Pistons 118

Damian Lillard had 34 points as host Milwaukee overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ejection and a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Detroit.

Bobby Portis had 18 points for the Bucks, and Brook Lopez added 14, including a pivotal 3-pointer in the late going. Antetokounmpo was whistled for a technical in the first quarter and picked up another three minutes into the second half, triggering an automatic ejection. He stared down Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart after a dunk.

Cade Cunningham put up 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Marcus Sasser supplied 26 points for the Pistons, who have lost six straight games.

Raptors 127, Mavericks 116

Pascal Siakam recorded season bests of 31 points and 12 rebounds and also had five assists to help Toronto knock off host Dallas.

OG Anunoby added 26 points and Dennis Schroder had 18 for the Raptors, who won for the third time in the past four games. Scottie Barnes contributed 14 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Luka Doncic registered 31 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals for the Mavericks, who fell for just the second time in eight games this season. Kyrie Irving added 22 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. buried five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points.

Thunder 128, Cavaliers 120

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 points to lift host Oklahoma City past Cleveland.

The Thunder closed out their season-high, six-game homestand with a 3-3 record, winning the final two games. Oklahoma City swept the two-game season series with the Cavaliers.

Caris LeVert led Cleveland with 29 points off the bench while Evan Mobley added 22 and Donovan Mitchell had 20. Mitchell shot just 1 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc, however.

–Field Level Media

NBA Round-Up; Celtics Fall

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Celtics were the last team to fall from the ranks of the undefeated and James Harden made his debut with the LA Clippers on a busy Monday night in the NBA.

Timberwolves 114, Celtics 109 (OT)

Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 38 points in as Minnesota prevailed in overtime to hand Boston its first loss of the season.

Edwards, who also had nine rebounds and seven assists, came through in OT by making jump shots on three consecutive possessions. Jaden McDaniels had a 20-point performance for the Timberwolves, who received 14 points and 12 rebounds from Rudy Gobert.

Jayson Tatum scored a team-high 32 points for the Celtics, who got 26 points from Jaylen Brown and 20 from Kristaps Porzingis.

Knicks 111, Clippers 97

RJ Barrett, returning from a two-game absence caused by a sore left knee, scored 11 points during a fourth-quarter surge as the host New York Knicks broke open a tie game and cruised to a 111-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

The Knicks outscored the Clippers 35-21 in the fourth quarter and 69-51 in the second half, spoiling the debut of new Los Angeles acquisition James Harden.

Barrett finished with 26 points while Julius Randle posted a season-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who won at home for the first time in three tries this season. Mitchell Robinson (13 points, 15 rebounds) also had a double-double for New York.

Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points while Harden finished with 17 points in 31-plus minutes in his first action since the Philadelphia 76ers dealt him to the Clippers on Oct. 31.

Nuggets 134, Pelicans 116

Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, rookie Julian Strawther scored a career-best 21 points and host Denver rallied from a 20-point deficit to rout New Orleans.

It was Jokic’s 108th career triple-double, fourth most on the all-time list. Rookie Jordan Hawkins scored a career-high 31 points and Brandon Ingram added 22 for the Pelicans.

New Orleans guard CJ McCollum was out after an MRI on Sunday revealed he had a collapsed lung and would likely miss multiple games. The Nuggets were missing guard Jamal Murray, who will be out for an extended period of time due to a hamstring injury.

Warriors 120, Pistons 109

Stephen Curry had 34 points and visiting Golden State defeated slumping Detroit.

Chris Paul finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench, and Klay Thompson had 17 points. Dario Saric added 12 points, while Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney chipped in 10 apiece.

Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes each had 21 points and combined for 12 assists for Detroit, which has lost five straight games. Isaiah Stewart contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Ausar Thompson had 16 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Pacers 152, Spurs 111

Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points, 20 of them in a dominating first half, and Myles Turner added 15 points and 11 rebounds as Indiana rolled past San Antonio in Indianapolis.

Indiana has won two of the first three games on its current homestand and ran the Spurs and rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama out of the building while forging a 25-point lead by halftime and a 39-point advantage late in the third quarter. Indiana finished with its highest-scoring game of the season.

Doug McDermott led San Antonio with 17 points off the bench. Keldon Johnson added 16, Zach Collins had 14, Wembanyama produced 13 points and 10 rebounds and Charles Bassey scored 10 points for the Spurs, who were playing the second game of a home-road back-to-back.

Mavericks 117, Magic 102

Luka Doncic poured in 29 points and Kyrie Irving scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half as Dallas improved to 6-1 with a big comeback win over host Orlando.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 points for Dallas, which trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter before outscoring Orlando 64-36 in the second half.

Paolo Banchero scored 22 points to lead Orlando. Moe Wagner and Cole Anthony had 19 points apiece off the bench for the Magic, who missed their first 13 3-point attempts in the second half.

76ers 146, Wizards 128

Joel Embiid had 48 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lift host Philadelphia over Washington.

Tyrese Maxey added 22 points and a career-high 11 assists, Tobias Harris contributed 18 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14 for the Sixers, who won their fifth game in a row after a season-opening loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kyle Kuzma led the struggling Wizards with 28 points, while Jordan Poole added 23 and Deni Avdija followed with 16.

Heat 108, Lakers 107

Bam Adebayo recorded a triple-double of 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 28 points and Miami survived a late-game surge to beat visiting Los Angeles.

Tyler Herro finished with 22 points despite going just 2-for-10 from 3-point range on a night when the Heat collectively went just 12-for-37 from beyond the arc. The Miami defense forced Los Angeles into an even worse shooting performance from deep, however, limiting the Lakers to 8 of 26 from long range.

LeBron James scored seven of his game-high 30 points in a 1:19 stretch late in the fourth quarter, helping trim a 10-point Miami lead to one. His last points of the burst, a three-point play with 2:39 remaining, capped the game’s scoring.

Bucks 129, Nets 125

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and hit the tiebreaking basket with 71 seconds remaining as Milwaukee outlasted Brooklyn in New York.

Antetokounmpo shot 15 of 27 from the field and scored nine points in the final six-plus minutes to help the Bucks get their second straight win. Damian Lillard added 21 points and seven assists for Milwaukee.

Cam Thomas led all scorers with 45 points and Mikal Bridges added 31 in the loss. Ben Simmons grabbed 15 rebounds for the Nets.

Bulls 130, Jazz 113

Zach LaVine scored 24 points and DeMar DeRozan added 21 as Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over visiting Utah.

Coby White hit 7 of 9 shots to finish with 18 points and had seven assists for the Bulls, who had eight players score in double figures as they successfully opened a three-game homestand with their top offensive output of the season.

Lauri Markkanen had a game-high 29 points, including five 3-pointers, but the Jazz posted a third consecutive loss.

Rockets 122, Kings 97

Jalen Green scored a game-high 23 points while Alperen Sengun posted a double-double as Houston dismantled visiting Sacramento for the second time in three days.

Green needed only nine shot attempts to pace the Rockets in scoring, doing most of his damage at the free-throw line, where he finished 10 of 12. Sengun, meanwhile, was the offensive linchpin, pairing a career-high 12 assists with 17 points to help Houston to its third consecutive victory.

The Kings, playing their third straight game without guard De’Aaron Fox (ankle), lost for the third straight time. They fell 107-89 at Houston on Saturday.

Thunder 126, Hawks 117

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma City past visiting Atlanta, ending the Thunder’s two-game skid while also ending the Hawks’ four-game winning streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed Friday’s loss to Golden State with a sprained left knee. Trailing by 19 entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks didn’t go away quietly and steadily cut into the Thunder’s lead, eventually getting it down to six with a minute remaining.

But rookie center Chet Holmgren grabbed a rebound of Gilgeous-Alexander’s miss and laid it in, then was fouled by Onyeka Okongwu and made the free throw to finally put the game away.

–Field Level Media

NBA to Play ’25 All-Star Game in SF

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SAN FRANCISCO – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The National Basketball Association announced that the San Francisco Bay Area has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2025. as the 74th NBA All-Star Game will be played at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

NBA All-Star 2025 will mark the first time that the event has been held at Chase Center, which opened in 2019. Additional signature events will take place throughout the Bay Area, including at Moscone Convention Center, Oakland Arena and the Warriors’ Oakland facility.  The Warriors previously hosted NBA All-Star in the Bay Area in 2000 at Oakland Arena in Oakland and in 1967 at the Cow Palace, home of the San Francisco Warriors, in Daly City.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement during a press conference at Chase Center, where he was joined by Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob, Warriors Co-Executive Chairman Peter Guber, Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

“We are thrilled to host our NBA All-Star festivities in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there is a long and storied history of basketball,” said Silver.  “I want to thank Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and the entire Warriors organization for their support in bringing NBA All-Star back to the Bay Area.”

“It has been 25 years since the NBA All-Star Game was played in the San Francisco Bay Area, and we are delighted to bring the NBA’s marquee event to Chase Center in 2025,” said Lacob. “In addition to the significant economic impact and tourism business that NBA All-Star will drive, we look forward to hosting various events in San Francisco and Oakland to bring together basketball fans from all over the world.”

“San Francisco is honored that NBA All-Star 2025 will be coming to our incredible city,” said Breed. “Major sporting events like this bring excitement to our city and generate significant economic activity that creates jobs and support for our small businesses. We are proud to be home to an organization like the Golden State Warriors that not only provides thrills to all of our amazing fans night after night at Chase Center, but is a great partner to our city and supporter of communities across San Francisco.”

NBA All-Star on-court events will tip off on Friday, Feb. 14 at Chase Center with NBA Rising Stars, an annual showcase for top rookies and second-year NBA players.  On Feb. 15, the fourth NBA HBCU Classic will feature men’s basketball programs from two historically Black colleges and universities followed by State Farm All-Star Saturday Night which will feature the Kia Skills Challenge, the STARRY 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk.  NBA All-Star 2025 will culminate with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The NBA will host several events for fans of all ages at venues throughout the Bay Area, including at Moscone Convention Center, Oakland Arena and the Warriors’ Oakland Facility. These events, including NBA All-Star Practice, the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the official NBA All-Star fan event, will feature basketball, media, technology and pop culture as diverse and vibrant as the Bay Area.

The league will also continue its commitment to social impact with a full schedule of community engagement events during NBA All-Star 2025.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Nov. 5

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“Good Night, Bad Knight”

By TERRY LYONS

NEW YORK – We’re here on earth for such a short time, it’s hard and it’s wrong to write someone off for eternity just for their shortcomings on earth. But, in the situation of Coach Bobby Knight’s death, I’ll make an exception.

Forever the optimist, this columnist always tries to seek-out the best in any one person, and maybe – in the case of Bobby Knight – it was to seek-out the guy who loved to fish in Montana or hunt in his native Ohio. I hoped to uncover some speck of good in Knight but the only universe of judgement in my playbook was the guy who coached basketball at West Point, Indiana and, after finally being fired at IU, Texas Tech in Lubbock.

Let’s be clear: My opinion on Knight is culled from experience, some firsthand but mostly from live television or well-reported stories from his own players or those who covered him. Knight had an amazing friendship with Indiana sportswriter Bob Hammel, a man who had the Inside Stuff on Knight’s controversial career at IU. His friendship was a rare hit amongst the many media members he berated, often crossing the line of decency of one human being to another.

For a man who was a bully or tried to act like one, often intimidating an unsuspecting questioner, Knight had very thin skin in terms of accepting criticism. Of the media he once said, “All of us learn to write in the second grade 
 most of us go on to greater things.” That was in response to the late curmudgeon Andy Rooney’s column criticizing IU for not firing Knight after one of his major transgressions, of which he had many. Most were born of his “my way or else” attitude towards anyone who wasn’t within his inner circle.

Interestingly, there was a memorable time when Knight tried to intimidate a former IU coaching colleague who was jogging in the gymnasium during basketball practice. That fellow coach was Doug Blubaugh, a gold medalist as a welterweight wrestler at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Upon being cursed out and told to leave the gym, Blubaugh pinned Knight up against a wall. Legend has it from firsthand accounts, “In seconds, Blubaugh had wrenched “The General” by the collar and slammed him, sputtering and squirming, against the far wall of Assembly Hall. Calmly, Blubaugh explained he was IU’s wrestling coach and that Knight would never address him that way again.

Knight never challenged him again.

It gets much worse: “I think if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it,” said Knight to Connie Chung of NBC News in an awkward 1988 interview. According to Associated Press, Knight contended the quote was taken out of context, later saying: “The word rape can be used in several ways. One is in something that has gone out of control or over which you have no control. It obviously was in that context that I was using the word.”

I believe, at that point in time, Knight should’ve been fired from IU, never to be within 100 miles of educating the youth of America ever again – at any school 
anywhere.

Aside from the boorish behavior, childish rants, one other incident crossed the line and that was Knight’s treatment of Rance Pugmire, a volunteer SID who worked an NCAA tourney as the moderator of press conferences. Let the video tape tell the story for itself, but I must say, as a fellow PR guy, this just burned me up.

Yet, the enablers – enabled. His peers spoke glowingly of him and stepped up to support him back then. All of the same stories of Knight’s “greatness” resurfaced this week on talk radio.

They spoke of Knight with reverence and his place amongst basketball victories, some 902 career victories to go along with three NCAA titles and five trips to the NCAA Final Four. They spoke of his many charitable efforts and contributions. They spoke of his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame and coaching the 1984 USA men’s basketball team to the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

To be fair, his accomplishments, his X’s and O’s (replicated by coaches around the world and even in playgrounds by astute players with high basketball IQs, and his contributions to and love of the game are second to none. My friend, Andy Jasner, son of the great Philly basketball writer, Phil Jasner, shared this story:

“Bobby Knight was a polarizing figure,” wrote Andy on Thursday. “You never knew what you were going to get. When I was assigned to write a feature on him as a young reporter, I did what I was taught to do. I did my homework and then tried to set up an interview. Never received a phone call back despite numerous attempts. Then I went after it again using knowledge taught by Phil Jasner. I left a message with a bit of my background about Dad and Coach Chaney. About a week later the phone rings. It’s Coach Knight. He said and I’m paraphrasing — “you got me with Coach Chaney.” “Coach Knight and I talked for about 45 minutes. The interview was maybe 15 minutes. Everyone has their story. This is mine. Before we hung up, he told me to call him anytime. I ran into him years later and he called me by name. Asked if I needed anything. I know he was polarizing. This is my personal memory. RIP,” concluded Andy, finishing up his tribute.

Stories like Andy’s abound and I was so glad he shared his experience.

Then, why do I fall on the critical side of Knight’s fence?

It was his modus operandi that set the coach back and that is the focus of my criticism. Simply put: An examination of Knight’s full body of work makes him a person who should NOT have been anywhere NEAR an institution educating our youth.

My personal interaction with Knight came only once and was in preparation of the ‘84 Olympics, back when the NBA helped ABA/USA by gathering some players to scrimmage against the Olympic team.

With only three years of NBA experience under my belt, I flew from LaGuardia Airport in Queens to Providence for the first of those scrimmages. It was an early Sunday morning when I arrived at the (then) Providence Civic Center to find an empty building with the exception of the late Bill Wall – the executive director of ABA/USA – who was struggling to hang a wrinkled ABA/USA banner on the center court scorer’s table. ABC Sports had the TV rights to game and their tech crew and talent were nowhere to be found.

Within 30 minutes, there were a few more building workers, a few more TV techs – laying wires to their cameras and then a buzz of activity when the men’s Olympic team rolled in. NBA players strolled in as well, all coming from different locations and most driving themselves to the arena. The NBA “All-Stars” all had a New England connection. I can remember Boston College’s Michael Adams and a few others dressing for the game. Most hadn’t touched a basketball since April and Adams’ BC classmate, John Bagley, asked me if I had some sneakers in my bag and what size I wore.

“Eleven and 1/2,” was the reply.

“Oh, I need some 15s,” said Bagley sadly. “But, let me try your shoes on.”

Next thing I knew, Bagley was in the NBA lay-up line with his 15s jammed into my red and white, size 11 1/2 PONY low-cuts.

I threw together our roster and the players grabbed jerseys and we recorded each player’s uniform number as things settled down with some 59:00 on the countdown clock.

All good.

With a few minutes to myself, I strolled down the Civic Center corridor to pay a visit to my St. John’s University bud, Chris Mullin, who had earned a spot on the ‘84 Olympic team. Mo was getting dressed and he perked up with that great Brooklyn accent upon seeing a friendly face. I wished him well, made note we’d see each other another time or three on the road to Los Angeles.

It was time to leave the locker, giving some respect to our “opponents,” but upon exit, I bumped into the head coach of the United States’ team – yes, Bobby Knight. I extended a hand, which he shook as I introduced myself, stating, “I’m here from the NBA league office and will be helping out with our players.” Straight, short and to the point. “If I can do anything to help you guys, please let me know.”

Knight nodded and said rather politely, “Well, if we need any help from you, we’re in big trouble.”

I laughed out loud, didn’t say another word but did the best pivot move he’d ever seen – the kind ARMY cadets do in drills – as I walked out of the locker – never to utter another word nor be in the same room with the great Bobby Knight ever again. That said, I never held a grudge but DID thoroughly enjoy a 1999 NCAA second round tournament game when my Johnnies drilled Knight’s No. 19 Hoosiers by 25 points – (St. John’s 86, Indiana 61).

Payback’s a bitch.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: One minute Boston College football fans were calling for the firing of head coach Jeff Hafley, the next they’re making plans for a Bowl Game or even a longshot at the ACC Conference Championship game 
 The various investment funds originating in Saudi Arabia have, to date, invested in LIV Golf, Formula 1, Premier League club Newcastle United, and Mixed Martial Arts. 
 According to Front Office Sports, “Saudi Arabia just secured the 2034 FIFA World Cup — but its aggressive ambition to be involved in as much of professional sports as possible shows no sign of slowing.” 
 That includes the sports of cricket and involvement with the ATP and WTA along with ownership of at least two major tennis tournaments. 
 Boston-based DraftKings (NYSE: DKNG) banked $790 million in revenue for the quarter, a 57% jump compared to third-quarter 2022. The increase due to strong customer retention and growth, the company said. 
 Boston Common Golf players Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott, and Tyrrell Hatton will join Boston Common Golf President & CEO Mark Lev (a former Celtics front office man) for a press conference this Monday to share details of their new venture. 
 ESPN will televise the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards Show on Baseball Tonight Sunday, November 5, from 7:30-8:30pm EST. The show will emanate from ESPN’s Bristol studios. Karl Ravech will host the telecast with analyst Doug Glanville. 
 There’s been no reputable confirmation on the rumor the NBA’s new In-Season Tournament home basketball courts were built in Chernobyl.

NBA ZONE: As promised as the NBA’s In-Season Tournament began Friday, here’s one viewpoint of how the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season will shape-up. (Look for my In-Season tourney predictions but the 2024 NBA Playoff Predictions will await another week or two).

EASTERN Conference: It’s a 1 and 1-A race between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, and Celtics backers are simply thrilled Nick Nurse (former Toronto head coach) is with Philadelphia and newbie Adrian Griffin (sans asst. Terry Stotts) is heading-up the Buckaroos.

The race for the Cs and Bucks will be determined on which team indoctrinates its new star acquisition the best, the quickest and stays the healthiest.

As of November 1, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and his merry band of assistants (including the surprising but brilliant employment of Jeff Van Gundy to the staff, has newcomers Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis indoctrinated to the Celtics’ offense and the shares of the Celtics’ way have been fully purchased and deposited for safety. Meanwhile, Milwaukee is maxed-out on potential league MVP and man for all seasons Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Portland Trail Blazer great Damian Lillard, both banking 45.6m for their efforts.

That leads us to insert the 2023-24 list of highest team salaries in the NBA, according to HoopsHype (USA Today), before we survey other grounds in the league – East and West:

TOP TEN NBA TEAM SALARIES for 2023-24:

  1. Golden State Warriors = $208,923,886
  2. Los Angeles Clippers = $198,182,527
  3. Phoenix Suns = $187,933,275
  4. Milwaukee Bucks = $185,264,014
  5. Boston Celtics = $185,232,476
  6. Miami Heat = $181,726,509
  7. Denver Nuggets = $179,569,508
  8. Philadelphia 76ers = $171,559,536
  9. New Orleans Pelicans = $169,909,579
  10. Los Angeles Lakers = $168,238,712

Quick Notes: Please take note that the “large market” New York Knicks (14), Brooklyn Nets (18) and Chicago Bulls (13) are not amongst the Top Ten. Also note, the acquisition of James Harden took the LA Clippers to No. 2, behind only the Golden State Warriors who are paying Steph Curry a cool $51,915,615, Klay Thompson $43,219,440 and newly acquired guard Chris Paul $30,800,000. 
 And, I still can’t believe there’s a team in the NBA named the Pelicans.

Back to the League-wide look: The Philadelphia 76ers remain the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 pick by consensus. Joel Embiid is the reigning league MVP and a force to be reckoned with, but the 76ers’ depth remains iffy. Oft-injured and divisive guard James Harden was banished to the LA Clippers, stating 76ers coach Doc Rivers had him “on a leash” but the fact he doesn’t need to play or run a system, because “he is a system,” were parting shots and spoke volumes of Harden’s new place in the NBA.

The East’s next-best team is either the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks. Only the Heat can be considered dangerous and contenders. ‘Nuff said?

WESTERN Conference: The NBA’s West is a party of one – the Denver Nuggets, the defending champions who are quite likely to repeat as long as center Nikola Jokic remains healthy.

After the Nuggets, there’s a significant drop to the No. 2 club, probably the Phoenix Suns but possibly the LA Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors or LA Lakers. Everyone outside of the Rockies has flaws the size of boulders, not diamonds.

The Sacramento Kings could improve (again) and would be a nice surprise for the Western Conference finals.

TIDBITS: Let’s take a quick look at the new NBA “In-Season” Tournament and predictions for the right to play for the first NBA Cup.

West: Group A:

  • Phoenix Suns*
  • L.A. Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Utah Jazz
  • Portland Trail Blazers

West: Group B

  • Denver Nuggets*
  • LA Clippers**
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • Houston Rockets

West: Group C

  • Sacramento Kings*
  • Golden State Warriors
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • MinnesotaTimberwolves
  • Oklahoma City Thunder

East: Group A

  • Philadelphia 76ers*
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Detroit Pistons

East: Group B

  • Milwaukee Bucks*
  • Miami Heat**
  • New York Knicks
  • Washington Wizards
  • Charlotte Hornets

East: Group C

  • Boston Celtics*
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Orlando Magic
  • Chicago Bulls

West Quarterfinals: Denver v. LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns v. Sacramento Kings

East Quarterfinals: Boston Celtics v. Miami Heat and Milwaukee v. Philadelphia

On to Las Vegas:

Semis: Denver v. Sacramento and Boston v. Milwaukee

Finals: Denver over Boston

MVP: Nikola Jokic

QUARTERLY REPORT: MORE REALLY BAD INVESTMENTS: A look at some bad investments made in the past few months. This follows a previous list of doozies.

  • Platelet-Poor Plasma Co.
  • The Whole Seven and a Half Yards Co.
  • Mike Pence University
  • Theranos II
  • Chernobyl Mike’s Sub Shop
  • Cryptocurrency Exchange FIX
  • You Can NOT Be Sirius XM Radio (Investors should’ve known when every channel was DJ’d by John McEnroe)
  • Actual Intelligence

*All of the companies above seem to be solid investments as time goes by, as WWYI explores all and lists its batch of sure-fire hits at the market. Please note: “The investments and services offered by us may not be suitable for all investors. If you have any doubts as to the merits of an investment, you should seek advice from an independent financial advisor.”