'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAAFH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAEf/xAAfEAABBAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBQASESEGMUH/2gAIAQEAAT8A8WqZcuxrYF+8EiweVWyfQzcBdl+iXvVOOMvIkGuu7CCcyYRxpDjKk2ygCqiSp0O/SZ//xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABEVH/2gAIAQIBAT8AUNEw97P/xAAaEQACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABBBIx/9oACAEDAQE/AM5YgtOtdGp//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 8 games to watch and we have another 8 great 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.
Monday's games:
- San Antonio Spurs 119-107 Detroit Pistons
- Brooklyn Nets 95-116 Boston Celtics
- Memphis Grizzlies 95-114 New Orleans Pelicans
- Denver Nuggets 113-125 Houston Rockets
- Utah Jazz 102-11 Milwaukee Bucks
- Los Angeles Lakers 107-97 Dallas Mavericks
- Orlando Magic 95-111 Sacramento Kings
- New York Knicks 101-111 Portland Trail Blazers
Highlights:
1. DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs): 26 points, 12-21 FG, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 2 TOs.
2. Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans): 36 points, 14-20 FG, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks and 2 TOs.
2. James Harden (Houston Rockets): 32 points, 7-18 FG, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and TOs.
Lowlights:
1. Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies): 7 points, 3-10 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 blocks and 2 TOs.
2. Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers): 13 points, 4-20 FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 TOs.
3. Tim Hardaway Jr. (New York Knicks): 5 points, 2-12 FG, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 TOs.
Monday's takeaways:
- The San Antonio Spurs faced the Detroit Pistons, where the Pistons fell to a 119-107 defeat to the Spurs. The Brooklyn Nets were absolutely outmatched in a 95-116 loss to the Boston Celtics. The Utah Jazz and the Milwaukee Bucks played each other in an entertaining game, in which the Bucks came out on top, 114-102.
- The blockbuster game of the night was the Denver Nuggets against the Houston Rockets, the Rockets were the better team tonight, beating the Nuggets in a big win, 125-113. The New Orleans Pelicans and The Memphis Grizzlies played in a game, where both teams were trying to stop their slide and the Pelicans came out on top, winning 114-95. The Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a low scoring game, with the Lakers finally winning 107-97 and stopping their losing streak.
- The Orlando Magic had a game against the Sacramento Kings, where the Kings managed to stop their 4 game losing streak, winning 111-95. In the final game of the night, the Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks, which the Blazers won with ease, 111-101.
Tuesday's games:
- Washington Wizards @ Philadelphia 76ers
- Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Denver Nuggets @ Miami Heat
- Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder
- Sacramento Kings @ Phoenix Suns
- New York Knicks @ Golden State Warriors
- Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Clippers
PG 1 - Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers):
The Philadelphia 76ers are enjoying a great run of form right now. They are 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-14 record. They have been in great form of late, winning 7 of their last 10, and have gone on a 3 game winning streak. Joel Embiid has had a great run to start the season but it has been the game of Ben Simmons which has enabled Embiid to become the force he has.
Simmons has been having a great year, averaging 16 points per game, along with more than 9 rebounds and just under 8 assists a game. He is also beginning to develop a jump shot, which will elevate his game to another level. In the win over the Dallas Mavericks, Simmons played an amazing game, scoring 20 points, dishing out 11 assists and grabbing a huge 14 rebounds, getting a triple double in the process.
His next game comes against the Washington Wizards and the 76ers will hope Simmons keeps this form going.
Alternate pick: Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
PG 2 - Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder):
Oklahoma City Thunder are having a wonderful season as of now, and are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a 25-14 record. They have won only 6 of their last 10 games, showing some regression in their performance of late, and lost their last game against the Washington Wizards, 116-98.
Russell Westbrook was their best performer and probably needs to be that for them each game.
Westbrook is, as usual, averaging a triple double, scoring 21 points per game, along with 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and is getting an elite 2.6 steals per game. In the loss against the Washington Wizards, Westbrook played a starring role, scoring 22 points, along with 13 assists, 15 rebounds and one big block.
The Thunder play the Minnesota Timberwolves next and will be hoping for another top performance from Russell Westbrook.
Alternate pick: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
SG 1 - Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards):
The Washington Wizards are not doing too well, struggling to make a mark this season. They are languishing at the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a 16-24 record and have won just 4 of their last 10 games. With John Wall out injured for the rest of the season, Bradley Beal has the chance to establish himself as the star of this team.
Beal has been having a superb year, averaging a solid 24 points per game, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists as well. He has improved his defense too and is grabbing a steal and a block per game too.
In the win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Beal had a great outing, scoring 25 points, along with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a big block. The Wizards need Beal performing at this level if they want to stand any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Alternate pick: Jimmy Butler (Philadelphia 76ers)
SG 2 - Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers):
The Indiana Pacers are one of the top teams this season in the Eastern Conference. They are playing really well and are in the 3rd spot in the East. They have a 26-13 record and have won 7 of their last 10 games. They have a really deep and talented bench and has supported the starting cast with ease but their most talented player has easily got to be Victor Oladipo.
Oladipo is playing some really good basketball this season, averaging more than 20 points per game, along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game as well. He missed a few games due to a knee injury but has returned in a rich vein of form.
In the loss to the Toronto Raptors in their most recent game, Oladipo and the Pacers just couldn't get going. He scored a measly 16 points on 40% shooting, along with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
The Pacers will be hoping to rebound with a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow and Oladipo would love to return to form.
Alternate pick: Buddy Hield (Sacramento Kings)
SF 1 - Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder):
The Oklahoma City Thunder, as we read in one of the previous slides, are having a wonderful season as of now, and are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with a 25-14 record. They have won only 6 of their last 10 games, and will need their star forward Paul George performing.
George has been the go-to player for the Thunder this season, averaging just under 27 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and 4 assists as well. He is an elite defender too, and has gotten more than 2 steals on an average each game.
George, in the loss against the Wizards, did not have a great night, scoring just 20 points, along with 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
The Thunder will be hoping George returns to his red hot form against the Timberwolves tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
SF 2 - Josh Richardson (Miami Heat):
The Miami Heat have been playing some really good basketball of late. They are finally in playoff contention and are sitting pretty at the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference. They have a 19-19 record and have won 7 of their last 10 matches. The breakout of Josh Richardson was on hold, but it seems to be resuming again now that he seems to have found his shot.
Richardson is averaging 18 points per game with 4 assists and 4 rebounds. He had started off the season really well, having a breakout campaign. But then, he lost his form and was trending downwards until recently, when he rediscovered his form.
In the latest game against the Atlanta Hawks, he scored only 11 points with at 36% shooting, with 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
The Heat will be hoping it was just a one game blip and Richardson will be playing at the highest level against the Denver Nuggets tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors)
PF 1 - Tobias Harris (Los Angeles Clippers):
The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the surprise packages in the Western Conference this season. They are currently 4th in a highly competitive West, with a 23-16 record, and have won 6 of their last 10 matches.
Their go-to scorer and player this season has been Tobias Harris, who has been putting together a career year for himself.
In their last game, the Clippers overcame the Orlando Magic, 106-96, and face the Charlotte Hornets tomorrow.
Harris has been playing some exceptional basketball, averaging more than 21 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and 2 assists as well. His defense is lacking a bit but he is still averaging a combined block and steal per game.
In the win over the Orlando Magic, Harris scored a huge 28 points, along with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.
The Clippers will be hoping he plays at a similar level tomorrow as well against the Hornets.
Alternate pick: Noah Vonleh (New York Knicks)
PF 2 - Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers):
Even though the Pacers' starting lineup doesn't feature Domantas Sabonis most of the time, he still is a really big part of this team.
Sabonis has been a killer player for the Indiana Pacers, his efficiency is 2nd to none in the NBA. He is an elite scorer and rebounder as well and yet does not get as many minutes as he is making a case for. He is averaging 15 points per game, with just under 10 rebounds and 3 assists as well. He also manages to get a combined block and steal per game, which is very useful.
In the game against the Raptors, Sabonis had 16 points, along with 11 rebounds, and 6 assists as well. His rise has truly been phenomenal and the Pacers will hope his form continues tomorrow as well, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Alternate pick: John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)
C 1 - Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers):
Embiid has been having a stellar season which has catapulted him into MVP discussion. He is averaging almost 27 points per game, with more than 13 rebounds per game and 3 assists as well. He is an elite rim protector, averaging almost 2 blocks per game. In the win over the Dallas Mavericks, Embiid had 25 points, along with 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and a big block too.
The 76ers will be hoping Embiid can play even better over the course of the season and they can become legitimate title contenders.
Alternate pick: DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
C 2 - Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets):
The Denver Nuggers are playing some amazing basketball this season. They are at the top of the Western Conference, with a 26-12 record, and have won their last 7 of out matches. They have been this good in spite of how badly injured their starting 5 were.
Nikola Jokic elevated his game to another level in their absence and it showed.
Jokic had been playing like an MVP recently, showcasing a great offensive game, interspersed with some impressive defense as well. He is averaging 19 points per game, along with more than 10 rebounds per game, and just under 8 assists a game too.
In the loss to the Houston Rockets, Jokic played just 28 minutes, with 13 rebounds and 4 assists. He even managed to get 2 steals and a block as well and shot at 55% from the field.
The Nuggets play the Miami Heat tomorrow and would need Jokic at his best.
Alternate pick: Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat)
Guess the Lakers players!
