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Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 7 blockbuster games to follow around and we have another 11 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.
Saturday's recap:
- Denver Nuggets 111-132 Los Angeles Clippers
- Phoenix Suns 146-149 Washington Wizards
- Toronto Raptors 101-126 Philadelphia 76ers
- Milwaukee Bucks 87-94 Miami Heat
- San Antonio Spurs 101-108 Houston Rockets
- Dallas Mavericks 116-120 Golden State Warriors
- Oklahoma City Thunder 107-106 Utah Jazz
Highlights:
1. Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns): 33 points, 12-28 FG, 4 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 4 TOs.
2. Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards): 40 points, 17-33 FG, 11 rebounds, 15 assists, 1 block and 8 TOs.
3. Thomas Bryant (Washington Wizards): 31 points, 14-14 FG, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 TO.
4. Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder): 43 points, 15-25 FG, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block and 3 TOs.
Lowlights:
1. Josh Jackson (Phoenix Suns): 2 points, 1-8 FG, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
2. Danny Green (Toronto Raptors): 9 points, 3-12 FG, 3 rebounds and 3 TOs.
3. Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): 14 points, 6-15 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 2 TOs.
4. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder): 8 points, 3-17 FG, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 6 TOs.
Saturday's takeaway:
- The Denver Nuggets finally lost a game, to the Los Angeles Clippers 111-132 in a blowout loss. The Washington Wizards went up against the Phoenix Suns, winning a marathon triple overtime match, 149-146. The Philadelphia 76ers faced the top seed Toronto Raptors, who were without Kawhi Leonard for this one. 76ers won 126-101.
- Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 94-87 in a low scoring contest. The San Antonio Spurs lost to the surging Houston Rockets, 101-108.
- The Golden State Warriors went up against the Dallas Mavericks, winning the close encounter, 120-116. In the final match, Oklahoma City Thunder won a nail-biter over the Utah Jazz, 107-106.
Sunday's games:
- Atlanta Hawks @ Detroit Pistons
- Washington Wizards @ Indiana Pacers
- Phoenix Suns @ Brooklyn Nets
- Miami Heat @ Orlando Magic
- New Orleans Pelicans @ Sacramento Kings
- Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics
- Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
- Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers
- Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Lakers
PG 1 - Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors):
The Golden State Warriors are currently tied in a 3-way tussle for the top spot, with the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have a 22-11 record this season and have won 7 of their last 10 games, the latest being a hard-fought 120-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
They finally seem to be settling into a rhythm, and with DeMarcus Cousins scheduled to return soon, they will only look to carry on the momentum, and one of the players to look out for has to be Steph Curry.
Curry has been really good this season, whenever injuries have not forced him off the court. He is averaging a wonderful 29 points per game, along with 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game as well. He is shooting at an eye-popping 50% from the field, 48% from 3 and almost 95% from the free throw line, numbers which are quite frankly unheard of.
In the game last night against the Dallas Mavericks, Curry did not have his shooting boots on, only scoring 22 points, along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals as well. He shot only 32% from the field, which is a bad day at work for Curry. Expect him to bounce back hard tomorrow against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Alternate pick: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
PG 2 - Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics):
The Boston Celtics are in a bit of a rut recently, having lost the last 3 matches in a row. They are currently 18-13 to start the season and are occupying the 5th place in the Eastern Conference, 5 games behind the top seed, Toronto Raptors.
They have won the last 7 out of 10 games and lost their last game to the Milwaukee Bucks, 107-120. A lot of their recent form is due to the amazing form their point guard, Kyrie Irving, is in.
Kyrie started off the 2018-19 NBA season really slow, but has become his usual amazing self again. He has been stupendous for the Celtics, averaging 23 points per game, with more than 6 assists and 5 rebounds per game.
In his last match against the Bucks, he scored only 15 points off just 35% shooting, marking an uncharacteristic bad shooting night for Kyrie. He managed to grab 9 rebounds and make 7 assists, atleast making up for the lack of shooting.
The Celtics would want to end this losing streak and Kyrie will an integral piece in making it happen tomorrow against the Charlotte Hornets.
Alternate pick: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
SG 1 - Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards):
The Washington Wizards have had a rough start to their 2018-19 NBA season. In fighting within the team, along with trade rumours have left a mark on the team chemistry, not to mention the horrid start to their season.
They are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, with a 13-20 record. They have had injuries to their other star John Wall and Dwight Howard, who still is yet to make a contribution to this team. One man is dragging this team along and that is Bradley Beal.
Beal has been playing some of the best basketball of his career this season, averaging a stellar 24 points per game, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists as well. He has even become a great defender, averaging a steal and a block too.
In the game against the Phoenix Suns, Beal had his first triple double of his career, scoring a massive 40 points, along with 15 assists and 11 rebounds, winning the match for the Wizards in triple OT, 149-146. He will look to continue this form tomorrow against the Indiana Pacers as well, hoping the Wizards can get the win again.
Alternate pick: Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans)
SG 2 - Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns):
The Phoenix Suns are still the worst team in the NBA this season, winning just 4 of their first 28 games. But of late, they have seem to have found some form, having won the last 4 games out of 5. One of the biggest reasons for this upturn in fortunes has been the return of their star guard, Devin Booker.
Booker had a bright start to the season, and was even able to play as a point guard efficiently, handing out assists at a high rate while not letting it affect his scoring ability. He is averaging just under 25 points per game, almost getting 7 assists too and grabbing 4 rebounds.
In the last game against the Washington Wizards, Booker scored a huge 33 points and even managed to dish out 14 assists, a career high. He even pulled down 4 rebounds and had 1 steal and a block too. He is keeping this going at an elite level right now and if he can stay injury free, maybe the Suns can get back into the playoff contention.
Alternate pick: Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers)
SF 1 - Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder):
The Oklahoma City Thunder are having an amazing season as of now, tied for the top spot in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. They have a 21-10 record this season and have won their last 4 games in a row, with a 7-3 run in their last 10 matches.
Most of this is due to the stellar display by their star forward, Paul George, who has kept this team afloat when Russell Westbrook doesn't seem to get going.
George has been an absolute monster for the Thunder this season, even pushing himself into some MVP conversations with his sensational play. He is averaging 26 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and more than 4 assists per game. He even manages to average 2 steals and a block per game too.
In the game last night against the Utah Jazz, George exploded, scoring another 43 points, his second consecutive game. He also managed to grab 14 rebounds and dished out 6 assists as well. He even managed a superb 5 steals and 1 block too. His play has been amazing for the Thunder and they will hope he keeps it going against the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
SF 2 - LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers):
You can never ignore the King. He is always a tough competitor, night in and night out, even at the age of 33. Nobody expected him continue performing at this level even in year-15 but nothing seems to stop him.
He joined the Los Angeles Lakers this off season and has lifted them into playoff contention for the first time since 2013. They have a 19-13 record and are 5th in the Western Conference. Most of the credit has got to go to LeBron James.
LeBron James has been performing like he is still 24, averaging a massive 28 points per game, with 7 assists and 8 rebounds too. Even though his shooting numbers have taken a hit and his free throw percentage is down, he is still performing like an MVP does.
In the last game against the New Orleans Pelicans, he got another triple double, scoring 22 points, along with 14 assists and 12 rebounds as well. He even grabbed 2 steals against them and will look to continue this form and extend the Lakers win streak against the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow.
Alternate pick: N/A
PF 1 - Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls):
The Chicago Bulls have not been a good team this season, even though the expectations were high, after Zach LaVine was finally fit and the Bulls signing an offensive juggernaut in Jabari Parker. But injuries to Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Bobby Portis and their star forward Lauri Makkanen, had destroyed their hopes.
Now with LaVine and Portis injured again and Jabari Parker moved out of the rotation due to his poor defensive game, the Bulls look like they are back to being bad again. One player who seems to be going strong this season is Lauri Markkanen.
Lauri has returned from his injury on a positive note, averaging a nice 17 points per game along with 7 rebounds as well. He has become a better defender on the floor too, grabbing at least 1 steal and block per game.
In the 90-80 win over the Orlando Magic, Lauri had a massive 32 points off some really good 60% shooting. He even managed to grab 6 rebounds for them and 3 assists too. He even had a block, stuffing his overall stat sheet and helping out his team.
The Bulls will look to him and Dunn in the absence of LaVine and he will try and keep it going against the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow.
Alternate pick: John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)
PF 2 - Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons):
The Detroit Pistons had a great start to their 2018-19 NBA season but have since fallen off a cliff. They have fallen to the 7th spot in the Eastern Conference, with a 15-15 record, having lost 8 of their last 10 matches.
Their last game was a 98-86 loss to the Charlotte Hornets and it is not helping their cause that they keep losing every alternate game. A shining light this season for the Pistons has been their forward, Blake Griffin.
Griffin has been playing really well to begin the 2018-19 NBA season, averaging just under 26 points per game this season, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists as well. Griffin has scored more than 20 points in 9 out of his last 10 matches, which is a really impressive feat.
He has also not missed a lot of games due to injuries, which has made him a very valuable player for the Pistons. In the loss against the Hornets, Griffin scored a nice 23 points, with 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a block to go with it.
With a game against the lowly Atlanta Hawks tomorrow, hopefully Griffin can get the Pistons back to winning ways.
Alternate pick: Thaddeus Young (Indiana Pacers)
C 1 - Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans):
The New Orleans Pelicans can't seem to get going this season. They are currently 13th in the Western Conference with a 15-18 record, having lost 3 games in a row, the latest one being a 112-104 to LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers.
Injuries have cost this team a lot and exposed their bench, which is not at all strong. If there is one player who doesn't call it quits and is dragging them along, it is Anthony Davis.
Davis in the last 3 games, all of which are losses, has averaged 28 points per game, along with at least 14 rebounds and 5 assists per game too. He has also gotten 2 blocks per game at least and has given each game his best. He is in conversation for the MVP of this season and rightly so, but will miss out if the Pelicans fail to make the playoffs, irrespective of how good he is this season.
In the loss against the Lakers, Davis scored 30 points, along with 20 rebounds, 5 assists and a huge block too. The Pelicans will look to turn their fortune around against the Sacramento Kings and they will need Anthony Davis at his very best.
Alternate pick: Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
C 2 - Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers):
The Indiana Pacers have been a really great team this season and are currently in the 4th spot with a 21-12 record in the Eastern Conference. They have won 8 of their last 10 games, the most recent one against the Brooklyn Nets, 114-106.
They consolidated their spot really well, even with a knee injury sidelining Victor Oladipo through the most part of that run. One of the players they could count on showing up was Myles Turner.
Turner has been playing exceptionally well this season, averaging just under 13 points per game this season but has improved in the month of December, scoring more than 15 points per game and grabbing 10 rebounds on an average as well. He is an elite shot blocker and rim protector and has 3.5 blocks per game in the month of December.
In the game against the Nets, Turner scored an efficient 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as well. He had 3 assists and a steal while blocking a massive 5 shots. The Pacers would like to get another bunch of wins going and will look to Turner to play like he has of late against a weak Washington Wizards, who have problems with their front court.
Alternate pick: Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
Guess the Lakers players!
