Welcome to the Daily NBA Fix for Tuesday, November 19th. Is it a surprise to anyone that Kevin Durant and Zach Randolph got their shine on in wins on Monday night? On top of that, we got back on track with our “Best Bets”, going 3-0 yesterday. Check out the night that was in the association and make a buck or two? Count me in.
Monday’s Results (home team in CAPS)
Portland Trail Blazers 108, BROOKLYN NETS 98
The Real Deal – At 9-2, the Blazers are looking like the real deal. Wesley Matthews responded to his All-Star vote snub by scoring 24 points, including 5-for-8 from the 3-point line. LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 with eight rebounds and Damian Lillard scored 19 with nine assists. The Nets looked horrible, shooting just 36.5 percent as a team. They stayed in the game by shooting 33-for-35 from the free-throw line.
CHICAGO BULLS 86, Charlotte Bobcats 81
Smelling Like Rose(s) – Derrick Rose continues to struggle mightily, but the other contributions and superb team defense has picked up the slack. Carlos Boozer scored 12 with 17 rebounds and Luol Deng added 21 points and eight rebounds. Rose shot just 4-for-13, ending with 12 points and five assists. Jeff Taylor led the Bobcats with 20 points off the bench in the loss.
DALLAS MAVERICKS 97, Philadelphia 76ers 94
Monta Does It All – Monta Ellis scored 24 points with 10 assists and two blocks in a solid team performance for the surprising 7-4 Mavericks. Shawn Marion added 20 points, two steals and two blocks and Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 with 10 rebounds. The 76ers shot just 54.5 percent from the free-throw line and 38.4 percent from the field, led by Evan Turner‘s 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Memphis Grizzlies 106, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 102
Grizzlies Bigs Best – Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for 49 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals to pull away from the Clippers late. Mike Conley added 15 points, with Kosta Koufos scoring 10 points with nine rebounds, two steals and four blocks in just 18 minutes. The Clippers got double-doubles from Blake Griffin (23p-11r) and Chris Paul (18p-11a), but they shot just 39.5 percent as a team.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 115, Denver Nuggets 113
1-2 Punch – The Thunder turned a nine-point deficit going to the fourth quarter into a two-point win behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They combined for 68 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists. It says a lot that Durant had a down shooting night from the free-throw line by shooting 13-for-16 (.813). The Nuggets got 18 points and 19 rebounds from J.J. Hickson and 29 points from Ty Lawson.
Golden State Warriors 98, UTAH JAZZ 87
Rest Can Wait – After taking a 23-point halftime lead, the Warriors probably thought they’d get some rest. Instead, the Jazz fought back and the Warriors didn’t get that rest. Klay Thompson scored 17 in 41 minutes, Andre Iguodala scored 11 in 38 minutes and Stephen Curry scored 22 with eight assists and three steals in 33 minutes. The Jazz got 18 points and three steals from Gordon Hayward.
Monday’s Top Five
One of the best in the league, every time he steps on the floor. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | DEN | W | 42:47 | 11 | 27 | .407 | 3 | 9 | .333 | 13 | 16 | .813 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 38 | |
| Zach Randolph | @ | LAC | W | 36:24 | 10 | 16 | .625 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | .857 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | |
| Ty Lawson | @ | OKC | L | 36:39 | 9 | 17 | .529 | 1 | 5 | .200 | 10 | 12 | .833 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 29 |
| Monta Ellis | PHI | W | 39:26 | 7 | 14 | .500 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 9 | 13 | .692 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 24 | |
| Wesley Matthews | @ | BRK | W | 36:53 | 9 | 13 | .692 | 5 | 8 | .625 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/19/2013.
Monday’s Bottom Five
Hey, you’ve made the list…wrong one, though. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | @ | CHI | L | 25:36 | 2 | 7 | .286 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| Jae Crowder | PHI | W | 19:58 | 1 | 8 | .125 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Marreese Speights | @ | UTA | W | 11:34 | 0 | 4 | .000 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Tyshawn Taylor | POR | L | 11:08 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Hollis Thompson | @ | DAL | L | 18:21 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/19/2013.
Circling The Drain
30. Utah Jazz (1-11)
29. Sacramento Kings (2-7)
28. Washington Wizards (2-7)
27. Milwaukee Bucks (2-7)
26. Detroit Pistons (3-6)
Random Tidbits and News
Kudos to the Utah Jazz for putting up a fight in a game they could have quit…Kosta Koufos is the first player since 1985-86 to put up 10 points, nine rebounds, two steals and four blocks in less than 19 minutes…Andrew Bogut and David Lee combined for 27 rebounds Monday night…The league leaders in minutes played are both playing for new contracts (Gordon Hayward – 446, Evan Turner – 438)…Kevin Durant has made 33 more free-throws than anyone in the league.
Tuesday’s Schedule and Lines
Wolves at Wizards (+2.5, 207.5)
Knicks at Pistons (-5.5, 197.5)
Hawks at Heat (-8.5, 204.5)
Celtics at Rockets (-12, 199.5)
Suns at Kings (-3.5, 192.5)
Your Best Bets*
Wolves -2.5
Celtics at Rockets OVER 199.5
Monday’s Best Bets
Bobcats +12
Sixers at Mavericks UNDER 214.5
Grizzlies +9
Season Record: 15-12
*you know, if gambling were legal where you are and you’re of age and you do it responsibly