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Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had three games to follow, and we have another 10 massive games to review tomorrow. James Harden has now reached five games consecutively in which he has scored 40+ points.
The only players to achieve this feat since 1977 are Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. He doesn't look like he is going to stop anytime soon and is making a strong case for a back to back MVP performance. 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 results:
- Toronto Raptors 107-125 San Antonio Spurs
- Denver Nuggets 117-113 Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets 135-134 Golden State Warriors
Highlights:
1. DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs): 21 points, 7-15 FG, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals and 3 TOs.
2. James Harden (Houston Rockets): 44 points, 13-32 FG, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 7 TOs.
Lowlights:
1. Danny Green (Toronto Raptors): 0 points, 0-7 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.
2. Iman Shumpert (Sacramento Kings): 0 points, 0-7 FG, 4 rebound, 1 assist.
Thursday's takeaway:
- Toronto Raptors faced the San Antonio Spurs in a huge game, marking the return of Kawhi Leonard to his old team. The Spurs came out as the winners, 125-107.
- The Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings went head to head, with the Nuggets winning, 117-113.
- The final game was a blockbuster game between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, where they fought tooth and nail, until the Rockets won, 135-134 in overtime.
Friday's games:
- Utah Jazz @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Washington Wizards @ Miami Heat
- Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls
- Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets @ Memphis Grizzlies
- Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
- New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers
PG 1 - Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
The Dallas Mavericks are playing really well this season, vying for a playoff spot, but have had a really bad loss of form. They are 11th in the Western Conference, with an 18-19 record this season.
They had started off really well this season but have tapered of late, winning just 3 games in their last 10 matches. In their last game, they absolutely blew the Charlotte Hornets off the court, winning 122-84. One man who has been exceptional for them this season has been Luka Doncic.
Doncic has been amazing as a rookie this season, averaging more than 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game, something that has not been done since Grant Hill's rookie season.
In the win over Charlotte Hornets, Doncic scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds as well, along with 4 assists, all in just 26 minutes. Doncic will look to keep this solid form going against the Boston Celtics.
Alternate pick: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
PG 2 - Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
The Portland Trail Blazers are having a great resurgence, having started the season really well only to have a bad run of games and now have returned to their earlier form. They are fifth in the Western Conference, with a 22-16 record.
They have won 7 of their last 10 games and are on a 2-game winning streak. Their run in the beginning and now was due to the form of one player, Damian Lillard.
Lillard has been superb this season for the Blazers, averaging 27 points per game, along with just under 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game as well.
His production has been superb this season and in the win over the Sacramento Kings last time, Lillard had 25 points with 6 assists, 6 rebounds and a steal. The Blazers will look for him to continue playing at an elite level against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
SG 1 - Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
The Washington Wizards are a team that are struggling this season in the Eastern Conference. They are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-23 record. They have lost John Wall for the season through injury, but have been a bit more lively recently, winning 4 of their last 10 games and have gone on a 2-game winning streak.
They play another team trying to make playoffs in the East, Miami Heat and will need their star, Bradley Beal, to fire on all cylinders.
Beal has been a superstar for the Wizards this season, scoring at an average of more than 23 points per game, along with almost 5 rebounds and 5 assists as well. His game will tend to go a level higher with Wall out for the rest of the season.
In the win over the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 24 points, along with 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals as well. He is going to become their go-to guy now and Wizards need him going from the whistle against the Miami Heat.
Alternate pick: Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
SG 2 - Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
The Phoenix Suns are the worst team in the Western Conference, with a 9-30 record, they seem to be heading nowhere. They have lost the last 6 of their 10 games and are on a 4-game losing streak.
They lost their last game to the Philadelphia 76ers, 132-127 and almost every game they have just one single player trying to get them that win, who is Devin Booker.
Booker has been a shining light in this horrid season for the Suns, averaging a huge 25 points per game, along with 7 assists and 4 rebounds per game too. He is scoring at a better rate and has even added a playmaking dimension to his game.
In the loss against the 76ers, Booker scored 37 points with 8 assists and 2 rebounds too. The Suns need him to play at this level if they want to come close to a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Alternate pick: Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)
SF 1 - Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are doing really well this season, they are second in the Western Conference with a 24-13 record. They are just 1.5 games behind the first spot in the Western Conference, have won 7 of their last 10 games and are on a 2-game win streak.
Apart from Westbrook being Westbrook, getting triple doubles on some horrible shooting, Paul George has become the go-to player for them recently.
George has been on a tear recently, averaging 31 points per game in December, which is just behind Harden. He is scoring at an average of 27 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and even 4 assists as well.
He is even averaging more than 2 steals a game, showing his prowess as an amazing defender. In the win over the Lakers, he scored a massive 37 points, along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a huge 4 steals too. The Thunder need him to keep playing at this level to keep their streak going.
Alternate pick: Danilo Gallinari (Los Angeles Clippers)
SF 2 - Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics)
The Boston Celtics are a team that are currently underwhelming this season, sitting in the fifth spot of the East with a 22-15 record. For a team that were supposed to be conference leaders and possible Eastern Conference champions, they have not shown great confidence.
They have lost 5 of their last 10 games and only just managed to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves last game, 115-102. One player who they must be expecting a lot from now is Gordon Hayward.
Hayward showed his prowess in the absence of Kyrie Irving in this game, scoring a huge 35 points with more than 70 percent efficiency from the field. He even managed 5 assists and 1 rebound as well.
His average for the season hasn't been as impressive, with him averaging only 11 points per game along with 5 rebounds and more than 3 assists too. With Kyrie seemingly not getting fit for tomorrow's game, Hayward could finally wake up from his slumber and explode
PF 1 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
The Milwaukee Bucks are a team that have exceeded all expectations this season. They are currently at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 26-10 record and have won 8 of their last 10 games.
They are on a 4-game winning streak and such unprecedented success under their new head coach and his system has been amazing. The fact that they seem to have unlocked Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been superb.
Giannis has been superb this season, leading the conversation for the regular season MVP with some stunning performances. He is scoring an average of 26 points per game, along with more than 12 rebounds per game and 6 assists per game also, which are amazing stats for a big man.
In the win over Pistons, which was a blowout, Giannis played only 26 minutes, scoring 15 points along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. Bucks will really need him at his best tomorrow too.
Alternate pick: N/A
PF 2 - Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic)
The Orlando Magic are currently vying for a playoff spot this season in the Eastern Conference. They have a 17-20 record in the Eastern Conference and are at the 10th spot. They have been in rough waters of late, winning just 5 of their last 10 matches.
In the game against the Chicago Bulls, the Magic won easily, 112-84 and apart from the All-Star level performances of Nikola Vucevic, they really have Aaron Gordon to thank.
Gordon has been doing well this season, averaging almost 15 points per game, along with just under 8 rebounds and just over 3 assists as well. He is the second star on the Magic team and him playing well usually ends up being a win for the Magic.
Gordon in his last game against the Chicago Bulls, scored 18 points along with 7 rebounds and a surprising 9 assists and a block. Gordon will be a key factor in their game tomorrow against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Alternate pick: Tobias Harris (Los Angeles Clippers)
C 1 - Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team that have struggled all throughout the 2018-19 NBA season. They are currently 13th in the Western Conference and have a 17-21 record. They have been in a rough patch of late, winning just 4 of their last 10 games and lost 2 in a row.
They have just had a bunch of injuries to deal with to their starters, but Karl Anthony Towns doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Towns has been exceptional ever since they traded Jimmy Butler away, and is averaging 22 points per game, along with 12 rebounds and 3 assists as well. The Timberwolves play well whenever KAT gets going and in the loss to the Celtics, Towns scored a big 28 points, with 12 rebounds, 7 assists and a block. He needs to be ever present for them against the Magic and grab a win.
Alternate pick: Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
C 2 - Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
The Indiana Pacers are a team that are playing well this season and are third in the Eastern Conference, above the 76ers and the Celtics. They have a 25-12 record and have won 8 of their last 10 games.
They have been on a 5-game winning streak and are looking like a real menacing team. A player who seems to have become a key player for the Pacers this season is Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis is having a career year this season, averaging almost 15 points per game, with more than 9 rebounds per game and 3 assists. He is a player that plays hard and gives it his all and in the last game, after an injury to Myles Turner, Sabonis played really well, scoring 20 points, along with 7 rebounds and a steal as well. With Turner questionable for tomorrow, Sabonis could have a huge line against the Chicago Bulls.
Alternate pick: Thomas Bryant (Washington Wizards)
Guess the Lakers players!
