Blazers Cruise, Dominate Bulls
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Chicago Bulls, 118-98, at United Center on Wednesday.
The Blazers (47-27) were widely expected to dominate the game against the Bulls (21-55) and that's exactly what happened at United Center, as they controlled the action right from tip-off. Portland quickly jumped to a 27-14 lead in the first half, and they would never relinquish that advantage. The second quarter finished 32-27 and the third one finished 28-24, so by the time of the final 12 minutes, Portland had the game already wrapped up. Chicago won the final quarter by a 33-31 score, but that didn't affect the score since Portland cruised their way to a 20-point win.
Six Portland players finished with a double-digit scoring total but surprisingly, Seth Curry led the way off the bench with 20 points. Rodney Hood had 15 points and Zach Collins added 13 points, meaning most of the heavy scoring was done thanks to the bench players. Damian Lillard finished with 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Enes Kanter delivered 13 points and six boards. Al-Farouq Aminu had 12 points and 11 boards.
Six Chicago players scored over 10 points. Shaquille Harrison led the way with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Wayne Selden had 11 points, 12 boards and four assists. Robin Lopez delivered 15 points with nine rebounds, and Cristiano Feliciano filled the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ryan Arcidiacono chipped in with 12 points.
The Blazers (47-27) were widely expected to dominate the game against the Bulls (21-55) and that's exactly what happened at United Center, as they controlled the action right from tip-off. Portland quickly jumped to a 27-14 lead in the first half, and they would never relinquish that advantage. The second quarter finished 32-27 and the third one finished 28-24, so by the time of the final 12 minutes, Portland had the game already wrapped up. Chicago won the final quarter by a 33-31 score, but that didn't affect the score since Portland cruised their way to a 20-point win.
Six Portland players finished with a double-digit scoring total but surprisingly, Seth Curry led the way off the bench with 20 points. Rodney Hood had 15 points and Zach Collins added 13 points, meaning most of the heavy scoring was done thanks to the bench players. Damian Lillard finished with 11 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Enes Kanter delivered 13 points and six boards. Al-Farouq Aminu had 12 points and 11 boards.
Six Chicago players scored over 10 points. Shaquille Harrison led the way with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Wayne Selden had 11 points, 12 boards and four assists. Robin Lopez delivered 15 points with nine rebounds, and Cristiano Feliciano filled the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ryan Arcidiacono chipped in with 12 points.
Thunder Come Back To Beat Pacers, 107-99
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers, 107-99, on Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
After a second quarter where they only scored 16 points, the Thunder (44-31) found themselves down nine at halftime and potentially on their way to a sixth loss in the last seven games. Then, near the start of the third quarter and 10 points, Oklahoma City caught fire. Over the next six minutes of gameplay, the Thunder rattled off a remarkable 24-0 run, and while they did allow the Pacers (45-30) to creep back into the game, the margin never got smaller than five.
It was a much-needed win for Oklahoma City, who has hit quite the slide as the regular season draws to a close, and the team earned it on the back of Paul George, who scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field. Steven Adams was close behind with a monster offensive performance by his standards, posting 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes. Russell Westbrook recorded yet another triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, while Jerami Grant's 19 points made him the fourth and final Thunder player to reach double figures.
As for the Pacers, they made the same amount of three-pointers (13) and made one less field goal than the Thunder on Thursday, and the difference in the game ended up being their inability to get to the free throw line. And even when they got there, they couldn't convert, going 6-of-11 from the charity stripe. Bojan Bogdanovic lead the way with a team-high 28 points while going 6-of-9 from behind the arc, while Domantas Sabonis came off the bench to post a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Myles Turner posted a double-double of his own with 12 points and 14 rebounds in 31 minutes of his own.
After a second quarter where they only scored 16 points, the Thunder (44-31) found themselves down nine at halftime and potentially on their way to a sixth loss in the last seven games. Then, near the start of the third quarter and 10 points, Oklahoma City caught fire. Over the next six minutes of gameplay, the Thunder rattled off a remarkable 24-0 run, and while they did allow the Pacers (45-30) to creep back into the game, the margin never got smaller than five.
It was a much-needed win for Oklahoma City, who has hit quite the slide as the regular season draws to a close, and the team earned it on the back of Paul George, who scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field. Steven Adams was close behind with a monster offensive performance by his standards, posting 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes. Russell Westbrook recorded yet another triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, while Jerami Grant's 19 points made him the fourth and final Thunder player to reach double figures.
As for the Pacers, they made the same amount of three-pointers (13) and made one less field goal than the Thunder on Thursday, and the difference in the game ended up being their inability to get to the free throw line. And even when they got there, they couldn't convert, going 6-of-11 from the charity stripe. Bojan Bogdanovic lead the way with a team-high 28 points while going 6-of-9 from behind the arc, while Domantas Sabonis came off the bench to post a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Myles Turner posted a double-double of his own with 12 points and 14 rebounds in 31 minutes of his own.
Warriors Rally To Close Out Win In Memphis
By Dan Bruno
The Golden State Warriors defeated the host Memphis Grizzlies, 118-103, at FedEx Forum on Wednesday evening.
The Grizzlies got out to a great start at home, as they were able to put together a 37-31 lead after one quarter. The Warriors responded in a big way in the second, as they had the game tied at 47 halfway though the quarter, and went on to outscore the hosts by six the rest of the way, to take a 66-60 lead into halftime. The Grizzlies did not back down and came out strong in the third to keep it a close game. The Grizz outscored the visitors by one in the quarter, to make it a five-point game going into the fourth. The Grizzlies kept pressing and tied it up at 91, just minutes into the fourth. However, the Warriors picked it up and did not look back from there, as they went on to earn their 25th road win of the season.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 28 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. Kevin Durant tallied 28 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, while DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks. The Warriors shot 54 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas led the Grizzlies with 27 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks, in 32 minutes. Mike Conley tallied 22 points, eight assists and one rebound, while Bruno Caboclo added 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. The Grizzlies shot 39 percent from the field, including 10-of-31 from deep.
The Grizzlies (30-45) will look to bounce back as they take on the Suns in Phoenix on Saturday. The Warriors (51-23) take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Friday.
The Grizzlies got out to a great start at home, as they were able to put together a 37-31 lead after one quarter. The Warriors responded in a big way in the second, as they had the game tied at 47 halfway though the quarter, and went on to outscore the hosts by six the rest of the way, to take a 66-60 lead into halftime. The Grizzlies did not back down and came out strong in the third to keep it a close game. The Grizz outscored the visitors by one in the quarter, to make it a five-point game going into the fourth. The Grizzlies kept pressing and tied it up at 91, just minutes into the fourth. However, the Warriors picked it up and did not look back from there, as they went on to earn their 25th road win of the season.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 28 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. Kevin Durant tallied 28 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, while DeMarcus Cousins added 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks. The Warriors shot 54 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from deep.
Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas led the Grizzlies with 27 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks, in 32 minutes. Mike Conley tallied 22 points, eight assists and one rebound, while Bruno Caboclo added 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. The Grizzlies shot 39 percent from the field, including 10-of-31 from deep.
The Grizzlies (30-45) will look to bounce back as they take on the Suns in Phoenix on Saturday. The Warriors (51-23) take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Friday.
Wizards Take Down Suns, 124-121
By Oscar Heanue
The Washington Wizards edged out the Phoenix Suns, 124-121, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday.
For the second straight game, Phoenix (17-59) could not get the win despite a 50-point night from Devin Booker. Booker shot 19-of-29 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, but his strong play could not get the job done. Washington (31-45) was able to draw 28 fouls and get to the free-throw line 43 times, generating plenty of offense despite its poor 67 percent shooting night at the stripe. Thomas Bryant scored the last six points for Washington in the win, including a game-winning and-one with just 2.8 seconds remaining. He finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Bradley Beal and Jabari Parker led the Wizards in scoring with 28 points each. Parker was particularly impressive, grabbing 15 rebounds off the bench. The Wizards were able to dominate the glass all night, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds in total. Despite the team's strong overall offensive play, ball movement still stagnated at points, as the team finished with just 18 total assists.
Phoenix, meanwhile, saw little offense outside of Booker's heroics. DeAndre Ayton had 14 points to go with 10 rebounds and two blocks. However, Booker was the undisputed story of the night, joining James Harden as only the second player this season to have multiple 50-point games. Unfortunately for the Suns, both performances have come in a losing effort.
The Wizards will visit Utah on Friday, while Phoenix will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
For the second straight game, Phoenix (17-59) could not get the win despite a 50-point night from Devin Booker. Booker shot 19-of-29 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, but his strong play could not get the job done. Washington (31-45) was able to draw 28 fouls and get to the free-throw line 43 times, generating plenty of offense despite its poor 67 percent shooting night at the stripe. Thomas Bryant scored the last six points for Washington in the win, including a game-winning and-one with just 2.8 seconds remaining. He finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Bradley Beal and Jabari Parker led the Wizards in scoring with 28 points each. Parker was particularly impressive, grabbing 15 rebounds off the bench. The Wizards were able to dominate the glass all night, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds in total. Despite the team's strong overall offensive play, ball movement still stagnated at points, as the team finished with just 18 total assists.
Phoenix, meanwhile, saw little offense outside of Booker's heroics. DeAndre Ayton had 14 points to go with 10 rebounds and two blocks. However, Booker was the undisputed story of the night, joining James Harden as only the second player this season to have multiple 50-point games. Unfortunately for the Suns, both performances have come in a losing effort.
The Wizards will visit Utah on Friday, while Phoenix will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Jazz Blows Out Lakers, 115-100
By Oscar Heanue
The Utah Jazz cruised past the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-100, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday.
It was a clean victory for the Jazz (45-30), who led for the entire game after scoring the first basket. Utah shot an efficient 49.4 percent from the field in the win while limiting Los Angeles (33-41) to just 38.1 percent from the floor. The Lakers, who were without LeBron James (rest), struggled to find any signs of life offensively. The team shot just 9-of-27 from beyond the arc and 70.5 percent at the free-throw line in the loss.
Rudy Gobert was the top scorer for Utah with 22 points. Gobert also tallied 11 rebounds and three blocks. Joe Ingles scored an additional 11 points for the Jazz while tallying a season-high 14 assists. Ingles' strong facilitation helped Utah rack up 33 team assists by the night's end.
The Lakers were led by 21 points from sophomore guard Kyle Kuzma. JaVale McGee recorded his fifth straight double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks. However, the two strong games were not enough to mask some other poor performances for the Lakers. Rajon Rondo shot just 1-of-11 en route to three points, while Lance Stephenson added 10 points on only 3-of-11 shooting.
Utah will host the Washington Wizards on Friday, while Los Angeles will see the Charlotte Hornets.
It was a clean victory for the Jazz (45-30), who led for the entire game after scoring the first basket. Utah shot an efficient 49.4 percent from the field in the win while limiting Los Angeles (33-41) to just 38.1 percent from the floor. The Lakers, who were without LeBron James (rest), struggled to find any signs of life offensively. The team shot just 9-of-27 from beyond the arc and 70.5 percent at the free-throw line in the loss.
Rudy Gobert was the top scorer for Utah with 22 points. Gobert also tallied 11 rebounds and three blocks. Joe Ingles scored an additional 11 points for the Jazz while tallying a season-high 14 assists. Ingles' strong facilitation helped Utah rack up 33 team assists by the night's end.
The Lakers were led by 21 points from sophomore guard Kyle Kuzma. JaVale McGee recorded his fifth straight double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks. However, the two strong games were not enough to mask some other poor performances for the Lakers. Rajon Rondo shot just 1-of-11 en route to three points, while Lance Stephenson added 10 points on only 3-of-11 shooting.
Utah will host the Washington Wizards on Friday, while Los Angeles will see the Charlotte Hornets.