Nerlens Noel isn’t going to play this year. That’s one more on a crowded list of reasons not to watch the 76ers this season. That sounded mean.
San Antonio Spurs 123, Orlando Magic 101
Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 22 points, while also dishing out six assists and grabbing five boards … Patty Mills led the Spurs with 22 points and five steals in just 23 minutes … Kawhi Leonard continued his hot preseason, scoring 19 points and grabbing five rebounds in 21 minutes … Manu Ginobili scored 12 points in 17 minutes and it’ll be interesting to see how many minutes Ginobili gets a night this year. Last year, he averaged just 23 a night; can he drop below 20? We’ll see … Tony Parker took the night off.
Indiana Pacers 107, Atlanta Hawks 89
Ian Mahinmi had a plus-34 plus/minus, but scored just six points and played just 23 minutes; that’s the preseason for you … David West led the Pacers with 24 points and seven boards … Lance Stephenson scored six, grabbed six boards and dished out eight assists. I think that’s a way Stephenson can be described: “He’s the kind of guy that can play off the ball, score six points, grab six boards and end up with eight assists.” Who else puts up numbers like that from the 2? … Mike Scott and Jeff Teague both scored 17 for the Hawks (and that’s the most interesting thing to say about the Hawks in this game).
Detroit Pistons 99, Washington Wizards 96
Eric Maynor scored eight points and dished out five assists off the bench for the Wizards and I’m hoping he returns to pre-injury form. Remember how well he was doing before he had that knee injury? Those Maynor-Russell Westbrook lineups were finishing games at times … Bradley Beal scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 31 minutes … Chauncey Billups scored 12 and added six assists and it’ll be interesting to see if he can stay healthy and/or become a leader for this team. The talent is obviously there, but can a near-finished Billups really control guys who are in their early 20s and have never won anything before? That seems like a tough task to me … Greg Monroe scored 18, grabbed seven boards and added five assists; I really hope things don’t work out in Detroit for Monroe because Houston would be the most fantastic fit for him.
Phoenix Suns 88, Oklahoma City Thunder 76
Eric Bledsoe started and played 29 minutes (Goran Dragic DNP). The former Clipper scored 15 points, dished out seven assists and pulled down six boards, but shot just 6-for-16, including 0-for-4 from distance. I see Bledsoe as Nate Robinson, except taller and without the pull-up 3 … Alex Len played just 10 minutes, but did manage to commit four fouls, so he can hang his hat on that … Jeremy Lamb continued his poor shooting, going 4-for-11 in 39 minutes, scoring 13 … Thabo Sefolosha went just 1-for-9 from the field, scoring just two points in 22 minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers 108, Utah Jazz 94
Brian Cook led the Jazz with 18 points, which I guess is a little depressing for Utah fans … Derrick Favors recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards in 28 minutes … Alec Burks scored 14, dished out six assists and grabbed five boards off the bench (Richard Jefferson started). I’d like to see Burks getting 30 minutes a night with Trey Burke out. Why not? … Jordan Farmar led the Lakers with 20 points in just seven field goal attempts … Jodie Meeks scored 15 off the bench for L.A. and Wesley Johnson added 14.