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Welcome to another day of the NBA 2018-19 season. Yesterday, we had 10 games to watch and we have another eight mammoth 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.
Friday's results:
- Utah Jazz 117-91 Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic 103-120 Minnesota Timberwolves
- Washington Wizards 109-115 Miami Heat
- Indiana Pacers 119-116 Chicago Bulls
- Dallas Mavericks 93-114 Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets 109-100 Memphis Grizzlies
- Atlanta Hawks 112-144 Milwaukee Bucks
- Los Angeles Clippers 121-111 Phoenix Suns
- New York Knicks 119-112 Los Angeles Lakers
- Oklahoma City Thunder 111-109 Portland Trail Blazers
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Highlights:
1. Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers): 36 points, 14-28 FG, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 2 TOs.
2. Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves): 29 points, 11-20 FG, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
3. Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder): 37 points, 10-23 FG, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 TOs.
Lowlights:
1. Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks): 0 points, 0-10 FG, 2 rebounds and 1 TO.
2. Colin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers): 13 points, 3-13 FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal and 4 TOs.
3. Jared Dudley (Brooklyn Nets): 0 points, 0-4 FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1 TO.
Friday's takeaway:
- The Utah Jazz faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, blowing them off the court, 117-91. The Minnesota Timberwolves grabbed a much needed win over the Orlando Magic, 120-103.The Miami Heat piled on the struggles of the Washington Wizards, winning 115-109.
- The Chicago Bulls played an overtime game against the Indiana Pacers, but losing to them in the end, 116-119. The Dallas Mavericks could not get anything going against the Kyrie-less Boston Celtics, still losing in a huge loss. 93-114. The Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies played each other in a tantalizing game, only for the Nets to edge out the Grizzlies, 109-100. The Milwaukee Bucks faced the Atlanta Hawks in a heavily mismatched contest, with the Bucks winning comfortably, 144-112.
- The Phoenix Suns faced the Los Angeles Clippers in a good competitive game, with the Clippers eventually winning, 121-111. The New York Knicks went up against the Los Angeles Lakers, snapping their 8 game losing streak, winning 119-112. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder played a really great game of basketball, only for the Thunder to emerge victorious with a 111-109 win.
Saturday's games:
- Charlotte Hornets @ Denver Nuggets
- Utah Jazz @ Detroit Pistons
- Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers
- New Orleans Pelicans @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers
PG 1 - Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
The Golden State Warriors have not been able to get going this season. They are currently third in the Western Conference, with a 25-14 record.
They were considered, and still are, one of the best teams in the history of NBA but have not been able to translate it into regular season wins this year. They have won just six of their last 10 games and one player who is giving it his best for them is Steph Curry.
Curry has been phenomenal for the Warriors this season, have won just 6 of their 12 games when Curry has sat due to injury.
He has averaged almost 29 points per game, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists as well. His consistency on the offensive end of the floor, helping create space for the other Warriors stars is key.
In the loss against the Rockets, his game was overshadowed by the performance of James Harden. But nonetheless, Curry was superb, scoring 35 points, along with 6 assists and 3 rebounds.
He was having a great game but alas the Warriors lost. They will be hoping from a similar Curry performance against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night.
Alternate pick: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
PG 2 - Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers have having a good season till now. They are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a 25-14 record.
They have won only six of their last 10 matches but have managed to win 2 games on the trot. One man who has been playing really well for them this season is Ben Simmons.
Simmons has been playing really well for the 76ers this season, continuing his solid play from his rookie year.
He is averaging 16 points per game this season, along with a solid 8 assists and 9 rebounds per game. Even though his lack of a jumper has been a huge concern for basketball fans everywhere, he has started to show it off in recent games.
In the win over the Phoenix Suns, Simmons scored a huge 29 points, along with 6 assists, 3 rebounds and a big block.
The 76ers hope that even if his jumper is a work in progress, his game keep steady at this level and he provides the superb support that he has been providing to Joel Embiid.
Alternate pick: Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
SG 1 - James Harden (Houston Rockets):
The Houston Rockets are on a roll. They have won their last nine games in 10 matches and have reached the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.
They have a 22-15 record and are on a six-game winning streak. In their previous game, they beat the reigning champions Golden State Warriors, 135-134 in overtime and all their recent success is down to one man, James Harden.
Harden has been an absolute monster of late. He has had five games in a row where he has scored more than 40 points in a game, which is an absolutely ridiculous thing to have a record of.
He is averaging almost 34 points per game this season, which is the leader in scoring charts for the NBA. He also averaging just under 9 assists a game and 6 rebounds as well. In the absence of Chris Paul, Harden has become the main man again and it shows.
In the game against the Warriors, Harden has scored 44 points, along with 15 assists, 10 rebounds and 1 steal and 2 blocks as well. Harden will look to take this into the 6th game running tomorrow.
Alternate pick: N/A
SG 2 - DeMar DeRozan (San Antonio Spurs)
The San Antonio Spurs are playing some great basketball of late. They have taken over the seventh spot in the Western Conference and have a 22-17 record.
They have won an impressive seven of their last 10 matches and have gone on a three-game winning streak too. DeMar DeRozan is one of their star players and his consistent performances have helped them reach the playoff spots.
DeRozan has been instrumental to the Spurs' success, averaging a massive 23 points per game, along with 6 rebounds and a surprising 6 assists per game as well.
His playmaking dimension was previously not explored since he played with an elite point guard in Kyle Lowry.
But this season, he has been the de facto point guard for the Spurs. In the win over his old team Toronto Raptors, DeRozan grabbed himself his first career triple-double, scoring 21 points, along with 14 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals as well.
He certainly got the better of his old team and now the Spurs will need him to play well against the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans)
SF 1 - Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
The Golden State Warriors are a team that were expected to blow all the competition out of the water since the word go.
But they have been struggling to match their soaring expectations and are currently occupying the third spot with a 25-14 record.
One player who has been a constant bright spot in their season, even when they were struggling with injuries, is their key player, Kevin Durant.
Durant has been playing at a really high level this season, scoring at an average of 28 points per game, along with 6 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game as well. He is an elite scorer but has also been able to contribute as a playmaker as well as a rebounder for the Warriors this season.
His versatility makes him a very valuable part of the Golden State team. In the loss to the Rockets, Durant scored 26 points, along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.
He was just not able to get it going from beyond the arc but the Warriors will be hoping he bounces back tomorrow against the Sacramento Kings.
Alternate pick: N/A
SF 2 - Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors)
The Toronto Raptors have slipped in the past few weeks of the NBA season. They were the No.1 team in the Eastern Conference for a long time this season, but then injuries and losses in games they should have won cost them the top spot.
They are now second in the East, with a 28-12 record, behind the Milwaukee Bucks. They have won just five of their last 10 and need to get themselves out of this rut.
Leonard has been their star throughout, during their highs as well as their lows. He has been playing at an MVP level again, after an injury-ridden season last year.
He is averaging 27 points per game, along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists as well. In the loss against his old team San Antonio Spurs, he managed to score 21 points along with 5 assists, 1 rebound and 2 steals.
The Raptors really need the win tomorrow night against the Giannis-led Bucks and will be banking on Kawhi to turn it on.
Alternate pick: Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
PF 1 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
The Milwaukee Bucks are a team that are currently enjoying a great spell of basketball. They are at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 27-10 record.
They have won nine of their last 10 matches and are on a 5 game winning streak. They have adapted to their new coach's system fairly quickly and it has reaped results as well. Finally, Giannis seems like a player unlocked.
Giannis has been the frontrunner for the MVP award this season, averaging a monstrous 26 points per game, along with more than 12 rebounds and 6 assists per game too, a quality only a handful of big men have.
Giannis is now getting more space than he has ever gotten on the court and is making full use of it. In the blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks, Giannis had 16 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds along with 1 steal and 2 blocks, all in just 19 minutes.
He still can improve his game by shooting the three balls better but the Bucks will need him at his best tomorrow against the second-placed Raptors and if the Bucks want to keep the top spot.
Alternate pick: N/A
PF 2 - Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons):
The Detroit Pistons are a team that had started the season hot but are now struggling to string a bunch of wins together.
They have fallen out of the playoff spots, currently in ninth position with a 17-19 record. They have won just four in their last 10 matches and have won their most recent game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Blake Griffin is one player who seems to have returned to near his best with the Pistons. He is averaging 25 points per game, along with just under 9 rebounds and 5 assists per game as well.
He has really been shooting the three well and has added a playmaking dimension to his game. He looks like the guy to take the Pistons over into the playoffs but really needs some help from his teammates.
In the win over the Grizzlies, Griffin scored 26 points, along with 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals as well. The Pistons need his form to keep going against the Utah Jazz.
Alternate pick: Julius Randle (New Orleans Pelicans)
C 1 - Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
The New Orleans Pelicans do not seem to be winning and going a run. They are having a start-stop season, hampered with injuries and bad form.
They are still 14th in the Western Conference, with a record of 17-22, having just won 3 of their last 10 games and losing their latest one to the Brooklyn Nets, 126-121. One man who has been their MVP this season is Anthony Davis.
Davis has been one of the other big names in the regular season MVP discussions. He has been absolutely carrying the Pelicans on his shoulders, but he has not been able to get them past the finish line every time.
He is averaging almost 29 points per game, along with 13 rebounds and 4 assists. He is an elite defender is thus averaging a more than 1 steal and almost 3 blocks a game too.
In the loss against the Nets, he managed to score 34 points, along with an absurd 26 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and a steal. The Pelicans really need him to keep performing at this rate if they want to go anywhere near the playoffs.
Alternate pick: Clint Capela (Houston Rockets)
C 2 - Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers, as we read in of the earlier slides, are having a good season. They are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a 25-14 record.
They have won only six of their last 10 matches but have managed to win two games in a row. Apart from the talent of Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid has been playing at an MVP level as well.
Embiid has been playing at a superb level this season, averaging 27 points per game, along with more than 13 rebounds a game and over 3 assists a game too. He is an excellent rim protector and has been averaging almost 2 blocks a game.
Embiid, in the win over the Phoenix Suns, was playing really well. He scored 42 points, along with a big 18 rebounds, with 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 big blocks.
If the 76ers do well this season, most of it will be down to how well Embiid has played this season and they will need him to play at his best against the Dallas Mavericks tomorrow.
Alternate pick: Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
