Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 5 games to follow, and we have another 10 fabulous games to review tomorrow. Let's analyse some of the meaningful performances from the last night, results of the matches and the top players to look out for in the matches tomorrow.
Thursday's recap:
- Boston Celtics 113-127 Houston Rockets
- New York Knicks 96-112 Milwaukee Bucks
- Los Angeles Lakers 116-117 Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trailblazers 110-109 Golden State Warriors
- Philadelphia 76ers 114-97 Utah Jazz
Highlights:
1. James Harden (Houston Rockets): 45 points, 11-26 FG, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 6 TOs.
2. Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors): 26 points, 11-23 FG, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 TOs.
Lowlights:
1. Allonzo Trier (New York Knicks): 7 points, 2-10 FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 1 TO.
2. Ricky Rubio (Utah Jazz): 5 points, 1-10 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 TOs.
Thursday's takeaways:
- The Boston Celtics took on the Houston Rockets in a mouthwatering clash, only for the Rockets to come out on top, 127-113. The Milwaukee Bucks faced off against the New York Knicks for the 2nd time in as many days, with the Bucks/Knicks winning 112-96.
- The Los Angeles Lakers took on the Sacramento Kings, with the Kings winning, 117-116. The Portland Trail Blazers went up against the Golden State Warriors in an enticing game, with the Blazers winning, 110-109. The last match was the Philadelphia 76ers facing off against the Utah Jazz, with the 76ers winning, 114-97.
Friday's games:
- Brooklyn Nets @ Charlotte Horntes
- Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards
- Toronto Raptors @ Orlando Magic
- Detroit Pistons @ Indiana Pacers
- Atlanta Hawks @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ Phoenix Suns
- San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers
PG 1 - Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets):
The Brooklyn Nets are currently playing out of their skins. They are 9th in the Eastern Conference, with a 17-19 record, and are in amazing form. They have won 9 of their last 10 matches, and have won their last 2 games in a row.
They went up against the Charlotte Hornets in their last game, winning 134-132, and their next match is also against the same team. One player who has been playing really well this season for the Nets is their guard, Spencer Dinwiddie.
Dinwiddie has been on a roll this season. He is averaging 18 points per game, even dishing out more than 5 assists per game too. He has been playing really well of late.
In the game against the Charlotte Hornets, he scored a massive 37 points, with 11 assists and 2 rebounds. He has been of great importance to the Nets and will look to keep it going for the remainder of the season.
Alternate pick: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
PG 2 - Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks):
The Dallas Mavericks broke their 6-game losing streak recently, by beating the New Orleans Pelicans, 122-119. They are currently 12th in the Western Conference, with a 16-17 record.
Even though they started the season really well, they have won just 4 of their last 10 games and that has dropped them this far down. One of the reasons for them contending for a playoff spot has been Luka Doncic.
Doncic has been a revelation this season, averaging 19 points per game, just under 7 rebounds and more than 5 assists. The list of rookies who have achieved this rare feat include Grant Hill, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, among others.
Doncic finds himself on the cusp of greatness already and shows no signs of stopping. In the win over the Pelicans, Doncic had 21 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, along with a steal as well. He will look to keep it going against the Pelicans tomorrow as well.
Alternate pick: Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets)
SG 1 - DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs):
The San Antonio Spurs are a team that do not give up. They were second last in the Western Conference a while ago and have turned it around, and are now 8th, with a 19-16 record.
They have lost only 4 of 14 games in the month of December, and are currently on a 8-2 run. They beat the Denver Nuggets, who they play next, last time around, 111-103. A key player to thank is their guard, DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan has been crucial to the Spurs this season, scoring at an average of just above 23 points per game, with more than 6 assists and just under 6 rebounds as well. DeRozan has been an integral part of this Spurs run, which has helped them rise to the 8th spot.
In the last game, a win over the Denver Nuggets, DeRozan had 30 points, with 5 assists and 7 rebounds as well. He managed to get 2 steals and a block too, stuffing his stat sheet. He will look to keep this going tomorrow as well and help the Spurs keep this run going.
Alternate pick: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
SG 2 - Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns):
The Phoenix Suns still might be a losing team going for the lottery spots again this season, but ever since TJ Warren and Devin Booker have been healthy, they have been entertaining. They are currently at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 9-26 record, but have won 5 of their last 10 games. One man who seems to have changed it for them is Devin Booker.
Booker has been awesome ever since he got back from injury, averaging a massive 25 points per game, along with 7 assists as well as 4 rebounds. Since his return from injury, he has managed to score the same amount of points as before, while improving his playmaking abilities, which is the hallmark of a top player.
In the win over the Orlando Magic, Booker scored 35 points, along with 8 assists and 7 rebounds as well. He even managed to get 2 steals and a block. He is really stepping up his game and should look to keep it going.
Alternate pick: Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans)
SF 1 - Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors):
The Toronto Raptors are currently top of the Eastern Conference. They have a 26-10 record right now, but have not been playing as well of late, winning just 5 of their 10 games. Their last game was a great comeback win over the Miami Heat, winning 106-104, and they have one player to thank who has been consistent throughout their wins and losses: Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard has been a revelation this season, after moving from the Spurs in this off-season. He is averaging an amazing 27 points per match with more than 8 rebounds too. He is even managing to dish out 3 assists per game. His elite defending has won him plaudits, with this year being no different, as Kawhi is averaging more than 2 steals and blocks per game.
In the win over the Heat, Kawhi scored a huge 30 points, with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals as well, which played a huge part in the Raptors getting the win.
Alternate pick: NA
SF 2 - Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder):
The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the best teams in the Western Conference this season, with a 21-12 record, and they are just 1 game behind the Western Conference leaders.
Their last game was a 109-113 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas and they will be looking forward to reverse that loss against the Phoenix Suns, and one player who is very crucial for them is Paul George.
George has been the go-to scorer for the Thunder this season and he has repaid their faith, averaging a massive 26 points per game, along with 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. In the loss against the Rockets, George had a great 28 points, along with 14 rebounds and 2 assists. He even had 3 steals but couldn't get the win.
The Thunder face the Phoenix Suns tomorrow and will be hoping to get the win.
Alternate pick: TJ Warren (Phoenix Suns)
PF 1 - John Collins (Atlanta Hawks):
The Atlanta Hawks have been a bad team this season. They are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, with a 9-24 record, and have lost 6 of their last 10 games. There is no doubt that they are heading towards the lottery spot this season too.
They lost their last game 129-121 to the Indiana Pacers, and face the Minnesota Timberwolves next. One player who has been the shining light for this team is John Collins.
Collins has been amazing since his return from injury, averaging more than 18 points per game, along with 10 rebounds as well. He has blossomed into an amazing player for the Hawks, becoming a double double machine for them.
In the loss to the Indiana Pacers in their last game, Collins had an exceptional game, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He even had a huge block to try get the Hawks a win but it did not pan out. Hawks play the Timberwolves tomorrow and Collins will try leading them to a win.
Alternate pick: Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons)
PF 2 - Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls):
The Chicago Bulls have been struggling to get it right this season. They are 13th in the Eastern Conference and have a horrible record of 9-26 this season. They have won only 4 of their last 10 games and lost their last one to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 119-94. One player who has been great for them this season, however, is Lauri Markkanen.
Lauri, since his return from injury, has been of great help to the Bulls, averaging more than 17 points per game, along with 7 rebounds as well. He has been the shining light of this Bulls team with most of their good players injured.
In the last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Markannen had an empty line, scoring 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. He will look to improve his game tomorrow against the Washington Wizards who have a weak frontcourt.
Alternate pick: Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
C 1 - Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans):
One game after the other, Anthony Davis remains a mainstay in almost every DFS lineup, but is not able to drag his Pelicans onto a win, let alone a streak. The New Orleans Pelicans are 14th in the Western Conference, with a 15-20 record, having lost their last 5 games in a row.
Injuries have left them with a thin bench that has been exposed, and even with one of the top 5 players in the league, they are not able to get wins under their belt.
Davis has been one of the frontrunners for the MVP award this season, averaging a huge 28 points per game, along with 13 rebounds and more than 4 assists per game too. He is an elite defender as well, averaging 2 steals and blocks per game too.
In the loss against the Mavericks, he scored 32 points, with 18 rebounds. He also had 2 assists, along with a steal and a block. He will try to drag the Pelicans to a win against the Mavericks tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
C 2 - Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons):
The Detroit Pistons were having a great start to their season, but somewhere in the middle, it went haywire and now they are 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 16-16 record. They have won just 3 of their last 10 matches, no matter how well their 2 star players, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, seem to be playing.
They beat the Washington Wizards in the last game, 106-95, and Andre Drummond seems to be the player getting back in form.
Drummond has been playing really well this season, averaging just under 18 points a game, along with a massive 15 rebounds per game as well.
In the win over the Washington Wizards, Drummond scored a nice 16 points, along with 11 rebounds and 4 assists as well. He is an elite defensive force and had a great game, getting 3 steals and 2 big blocks. He will look continue this against the Indiana Pacers too.
Alternate pick: Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)