Daily NBA Fix 11-8-13: Dwight Misses, Vintage Flash and Lawson Shines
It’s The Daily NBA Fix for Friday, Nov. 8, 2013! We’re here Monday through Friday, providing you with all you need to satisfy your NBA cravings. We’ve got results, game capsules, highlights, the top and bottom five players of the day, random tidbits, gambling lines and even some predictions.
Thursday’s Results (home team in CAPS)
DENVER NUGGETS 109, Atlanta Hawks 107
Ty One On – The Nuggets are officially in the win column, thanks to Ty Lawson‘s 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Nate Robinson added 15 off the bench for a Nuggets team that shot 14-for-25 from the 3-point line. Paul Millsap and Al Horford combined for 50 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and five blocks in the loss.
Los Angeles Lakers 99, HOUSTON ROCKETS 98
Hack-a-Dwight Worked – The Lakers got a 3-pointer from Steve Blake to defeat the heavily-favored Rockets in Houston. As a team, Los Angeles shot 16-for-35 from 3-point land and were able to overcome poor shooting nights from Pau Gasol (1-for-10) and Steve Nash (3-for-11). Dwight Howard shot just 5-for-16 from the free-throw line to negate Jame Harden’s tremendous 35-9-5-4-2 stat line.
MIAMI HEAT 102, Los Angeles Clippers 97
Vintage Flash – Dwyane Wade scored 29 to go along with his four rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block to lead the Heat to a statement win at home. LeBron James didn’t have to do much, as he scored 18 with five rebounds and six assists. The Clippers got double-doubles from DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, but they allowed the Heat to shoot 53.5 percent from the field, which is a recipe for disaster.
Thursday’s Top Five
A terrific game by Harden for naught, as the Rockets fall at the buzzer. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | GmSc | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Harden | LAL | L | 43:54 | 9 | 24 | .375 | 3 | 9 | .333 | 14 | 16 | .875 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 30.8 | |
| Paul Millsap | @ | DEN | L | 34:28 | 10 | 15 | .667 | 2 | 3 | .667 | 7 | 11 | .636 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 29.3 |
| Blake Griffin | @ | MIA | L | 38:18 | 11 | 15 | .733 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 4 | 5 | .800 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 23.7 |
| Dwyane Wade | LAC | W | 33:54 | 13 | 22 | .591 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3 | 4 | .750 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 21.2 | |
| Ty Lawson | ATL | W | 39:02 | 9 | 16 | .563 | 3 | 5 | .600 | 2 | 3 | .667 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 19.7 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/8/2013.
Thursday’s Bottom Five
A win is a win, but Gasol stunk it up offensively. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | GmSc | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pau Gasol | @ | HOU | W | 31:59 | 1 | 10 | .100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | -3.8 | ||
| Norris Cole | LAC | W | 27:04 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | -2.7 | ||
| Xavier Henry | @ | HOU | W | 13:56 | 1 | 5 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | -2.3 | |
| Francisco Garcia | LAL | L | 14:12 | 1 | 6 | .167 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -2.0 | ||
| Cartier Martin | @ | DEN | L | 23:06 | 0 | 7 | .000 | 0 | 4 | .000 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -1.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/8/2013.
Circling The Drain (aka The Power Tankings)
The Nuggets picked up a victory to lose steam in their quest to go 0-82, but I’m still not convinced they are going to get out of the bottom five any time soon.
30. Utah Jazz (0-5)
29. Boston Celtics (1-4)
28. Denver Nuggets (1-3)
27. Sacramento Kings (1-3)
26. Washington Wizards (1-3)
Random Tidbits
In the last 10 years, only Andrew Bogut, Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Evans and Dwight Howard (twice) have attempted 16 or more free-throws while making five or less…Only Howard lost (both times) the game…Hard not to feel for Steve Nash as he looks done (27.9 FG%, 21.9 2P%)…Patrick Beverley probably deserved to be in the bottom five with his 1-for-10 shooting and five fouls.
Friday’s Schedule and Lines
Knicks (-2.5) at Bobcats (o/u 188.5)
Raptors at Pacers (-8.5 o/u 188.5)
Celtics at Magic (-5.5 o/u 191.5)
Cavs at 76ers (-2.5 o/u 198.5)
Nets (-2) at Wizards (o/u 198.5)
Thunder (-4) at Pistons (o/u 197.5)
Jazz at Bulls (-14 o/u 188.5)
Mavs at Timberwolves (-3 o/u 207.5)
Lakers at Pelicans (-8 o/u 202.5)
Warriors at Spurs (-5.5 o/u 207)
Nuggets at Suns (PK o/u 201.5)
Kings at Blazers (-5.5 o.u 202.5)
Your Best Bets*
Magic -5.5
Pistons +4
Suns PK
Yesterday’s Best Bets
Hawks +5 (WIN)
Rockets -14 (LOSS)
Season Record: 6-2
*you know, if gambling were legal where you are and you’re of age and you do it responsibly