Heat Look To Bounce Back Against Pelicans
By Dan Bruno
The Miami Heat play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Arena on Christmas Day.
The Heat (0-1) are coming off a loss in their first game of the season, as they fell short against the Magic in a hard-fought contest that went down the wire. Despite having five players score in double digits, including two with at least 20, the Heat fell short as they gave up a late rally. Bam Adebayo was the high-point man for the Heat, with 25 points, along with 11 rebounds, four assists and a block. Goran Dragic added 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds off the bench, while Tyler Herro, who started at point guard, finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, in 32 minutes of action. Jimmy Butler was impactful with seven steals to go along with 19 points, seven assists and three rebounds. The Heat shot only 20 threes in the contest and converted seven of them. They did a great job of moving the ball, with 25 assists, and they outscored their opponent by 10 in the paint, but they gave up 22 turnovers in the contest, which is something they will need to tighten up in order to compete with the Pelicans, who are coming off an impressive win.
The Pelicans (1-0) defeated the Raptors in their season-opener on Wednesday, as they outscored their opponent, 63-42, in the second half to secure the win. Despite a few new additions to the lineup, the Pelicans played well together, tallying 30 assists on 42 made field goals. They also shot 52 percent from the field, including 19-of-42 from long range. Brandon Ingram came up clutch for the Pelicans and finished with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and a block. Zion Williamson added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while J.J. Redick poured in 23 points, in 28 minutes off the bench. Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe both had solid outings and fit in well with their new squad. The Pelicans will be looking to build on momentum and need to bring the intensity from the start, as the Heat have had their wake-up call and will be looking to start strong as well.
The Heat (0-1) are coming off a loss in their first game of the season, as they fell short against the Magic in a hard-fought contest that went down the wire. Despite having five players score in double digits, including two with at least 20, the Heat fell short as they gave up a late rally. Bam Adebayo was the high-point man for the Heat, with 25 points, along with 11 rebounds, four assists and a block. Goran Dragic added 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds off the bench, while Tyler Herro, who started at point guard, finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, in 32 minutes of action. Jimmy Butler was impactful with seven steals to go along with 19 points, seven assists and three rebounds. The Heat shot only 20 threes in the contest and converted seven of them. They did a great job of moving the ball, with 25 assists, and they outscored their opponent by 10 in the paint, but they gave up 22 turnovers in the contest, which is something they will need to tighten up in order to compete with the Pelicans, who are coming off an impressive win.
The Pelicans (1-0) defeated the Raptors in their season-opener on Wednesday, as they outscored their opponent, 63-42, in the second half to secure the win. Despite a few new additions to the lineup, the Pelicans played well together, tallying 30 assists on 42 made field goals. They also shot 52 percent from the field, including 19-of-42 from long range. Brandon Ingram came up clutch for the Pelicans and finished with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals and a block. Zion Williamson added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while J.J. Redick poured in 23 points, in 28 minutes off the bench. Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe both had solid outings and fit in well with their new squad. The Pelicans will be looking to build on momentum and need to bring the intensity from the start, as the Heat have had their wake-up call and will be looking to start strong as well.
Warriors and Bucks Battle in Holiday Showdown
The Golden State Warriors take on the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Friday afternoon.
The Warriors (0-1) came into the new season eager to put last year's injury-derailed campaign behind them, but even with better overall health, Golden State still dropped a 125-99 decision to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night in a game the Dubs played without Draymond Green (foot). Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 20 points despite going just 7-for-21 from the field overall, and he added 10 assists, four rebounds and two steals. Rookie second overall pick James Wiseman served as a silver lining in his debut, posting 19 points, six boards and two steals. Wiggins furnished 13 points, two rebounds, one assist and one block. Oubre shot just 3-for-14 on his way to six points, but he added seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Marquese Chriss led the bench with nine points and eight rebounds.
The Warriors will continue without Green for Friday's contest.
The Bucks (0-1) also experienced Opening Night disappointment, and theirs was much more of the heartbreaking variety. Milwaukee overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, only to see a Jayson Tatum miracle three-pointer and a Giannis Antetokounmpo missed free throw in the closing second of regulation result in a one-point defeat. Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 35 points, complementing them with 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Khris Middleton followed with a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included eight assists. Jrue Holiday furnished 25 points, six boards, three assists, two steals and one block. Donte DiVincenzo supplied 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Bucks will list D.J. Augustin (calf), who missed the opener, as questionable for Friday's game.
The two teams played only once in last year's shortened season, with the Bucks notching a 107-98 win Jan. 8.
The Warriors (0-1) came into the new season eager to put last year's injury-derailed campaign behind them, but even with better overall health, Golden State still dropped a 125-99 decision to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night in a game the Dubs played without Draymond Green (foot). Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 20 points despite going just 7-for-21 from the field overall, and he added 10 assists, four rebounds and two steals. Rookie second overall pick James Wiseman served as a silver lining in his debut, posting 19 points, six boards and two steals. Wiggins furnished 13 points, two rebounds, one assist and one block. Oubre shot just 3-for-14 on his way to six points, but he added seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Marquese Chriss led the bench with nine points and eight rebounds.
The Warriors will continue without Green for Friday's contest.
The Bucks (0-1) also experienced Opening Night disappointment, and theirs was much more of the heartbreaking variety. Milwaukee overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, only to see a Jayson Tatum miracle three-pointer and a Giannis Antetokounmpo missed free throw in the closing second of regulation result in a one-point defeat. Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with 35 points, complementing them with 13 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Khris Middleton followed with a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included eight assists. Jrue Holiday furnished 25 points, six boards, three assists, two steals and one block. Donte DiVincenzo supplied 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Bucks will list D.J. Augustin (calf), who missed the opener, as questionable for Friday's game.
The two teams played only once in last year's shortened season, with the Bucks notching a 107-98 win Jan. 8.
Nets and Celtics Set for Christmas Clash
The Brooklyn Nets take on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Friday afternoon.
The Nets (1-0) had plenty of intrigue surrounding them heading into the season, considering the Kyrie Irving-Kevin Durant duo would finally have a chance to take the court together. Both stars and several of their teammates delivered in their first regular-season game together, as Brooklyn notched a comfortable 125-99 win against the Golden State Warriors in their season opener Tuesday night, a game that they controlled throughout. Irving paced the Nets in his first game since February 1 due to shoulder surgery, compiling 26 points and supplementing them with four rebounds and four assists. Durant followed with 22 points, adding five boards, three assists, three steals and one block. Caris LeVert turned in a bench-leading 20 points while also recording nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Joe Harris poured in 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
The Nets will be without Nicholas Claxton (shoulder/knee for Friday's contest.
The Celtics (1-0) were successful in their own right while cutting the ribbon on their new season, with Boston recording a memorable 122-121 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Coach Brad Stevens' squad rebounded from blowing a 17-point lead to start the fourth quarter by stealing the win with a Jayson Tatum miracle three-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo and a subsequent missed free throw by the latter. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, adding five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Tatum collected 30 points and also posted seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Jeff Teague checked in with 19 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block. Tristan Thompson managed 12 points, eight boards and one assist. Daniel Theis generated 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Celtics will continue without Kemba Walker (knee), Romeo Langford (wrist) and Tacko Fall (eye) for Friday's game.
The two teams split their 2019-20 four-game season series.
The Nets (1-0) had plenty of intrigue surrounding them heading into the season, considering the Kyrie Irving-Kevin Durant duo would finally have a chance to take the court together. Both stars and several of their teammates delivered in their first regular-season game together, as Brooklyn notched a comfortable 125-99 win against the Golden State Warriors in their season opener Tuesday night, a game that they controlled throughout. Irving paced the Nets in his first game since February 1 due to shoulder surgery, compiling 26 points and supplementing them with four rebounds and four assists. Durant followed with 22 points, adding five boards, three assists, three steals and one block. Caris LeVert turned in a bench-leading 20 points while also recording nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Joe Harris poured in 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
The Nets will be without Nicholas Claxton (shoulder/knee for Friday's contest.
The Celtics (1-0) were successful in their own right while cutting the ribbon on their new season, with Boston recording a memorable 122-121 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Coach Brad Stevens' squad rebounded from blowing a 17-point lead to start the fourth quarter by stealing the win with a Jayson Tatum miracle three-pointer over Giannis Antetokounmpo and a subsequent missed free throw by the latter. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, adding five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Tatum collected 30 points and also posted seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Jeff Teague checked in with 19 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block. Tristan Thompson managed 12 points, eight boards and one assist. Daniel Theis generated 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Celtics will continue without Kemba Walker (knee), Romeo Langford (wrist) and Tacko Fall (eye) for Friday's game.
The two teams split their 2019-20 four-game season series.
Lakers Host Mavericks on Christmas Day
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on Friday.
The Mavericks (0-1) have an uphill battle without Kristaps Porzingis and his absence was desperately missed in the opener. That's evident when you see that no one outside of Luka Doncic had more than 12 points. Doncic provided his typical 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists but it's hard to compete with a talented team like the Suns when there's not a lot of help. It's not like Porzingis is going to be back anytime soon either, so, they need players like Josh Richardson and Tim Hardaway Jr to carry more of the scoring load. It's not just KP's offense their missing though, as his rim protection is a major void as well. That was evident by the zero blocks that the Mavs had in the opener against Phoenix and one has to wonder how much longer they can survive without their big man.
The Lakers (0-1) suffered a loss against the Los Angeles Clippers in last year's opener and they ironically suffered the same fate this year. The good news is that things turned out fine after that defeat, navigating their way through a difficult year and parlaying it into an NBA Championship. What was clear in the opener is that these players need to figure out their roles. There are a ton of new pieces on this team and it appeared that LeBron James and Anthony Davis were taking a backseat to some of those newer players. Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder each recorded double-doubles in their debuts but this team isn't at its best unless James and Davis are carrying the load. That's all about chemistry though and this team will figure things out sooner rather than later.
These teams played four times last season, with Los Angeles winning three of four. In fact, the Lakers have won eight of their last nine games over the Mavs dating back three years.
The Mavericks (0-1) have an uphill battle without Kristaps Porzingis and his absence was desperately missed in the opener. That's evident when you see that no one outside of Luka Doncic had more than 12 points. Doncic provided his typical 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists but it's hard to compete with a talented team like the Suns when there's not a lot of help. It's not like Porzingis is going to be back anytime soon either, so, they need players like Josh Richardson and Tim Hardaway Jr to carry more of the scoring load. It's not just KP's offense their missing though, as his rim protection is a major void as well. That was evident by the zero blocks that the Mavs had in the opener against Phoenix and one has to wonder how much longer they can survive without their big man.
The Lakers (0-1) suffered a loss against the Los Angeles Clippers in last year's opener and they ironically suffered the same fate this year. The good news is that things turned out fine after that defeat, navigating their way through a difficult year and parlaying it into an NBA Championship. What was clear in the opener is that these players need to figure out their roles. There are a ton of new pieces on this team and it appeared that LeBron James and Anthony Davis were taking a backseat to some of those newer players. Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder each recorded double-doubles in their debuts but this team isn't at its best unless James and Davis are carrying the load. That's all about chemistry though and this team will figure things out sooner rather than later.
These teams played four times last season, with Los Angeles winning three of four. In fact, the Lakers have won eight of their last nine games over the Mavs dating back three years.
Nuggets Host Clippers in Christmas Nightcap
The Denver Nuggets play host to the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena on Friday.
The Clippers (1-0) looked dominant in the first game of the season, handing the Los Angeles Lakers a 116-109 defeat. The scoreline is actually a bit unfair to the Clippers, as they dominated throughout most of that game. The star of the show was Paul George, who dropped 26 of his 33 points in the second half, despite sitting the final five minutes of the game. George was very inconsistent throughout most of the postseason and if he can play like that all year, this will surely be a top-3 team in the west. The addition of Serge Ibaka was a huge plus in the opener too, providing 15 points and six rebounds while playing rim protector. That's something this club has been missing over recent years and it's exciting to see Ibaka return to his OKC form for yet another title contender.
The Nuggets (0-1) suffered a devastating home loss in their opener, taking a 124-122 overtime defeat at the hands of the Sacramento Kings. The defeat would be frustrating on its own but the nature of it was absolutely jaw-dropping. Will Barton getting blocked on an open lay-up when he should have taken a foul was bad enough but then Nikola Jokic turned the ball over in the final seconds which led to a fastbreak game-winner for the Kings. Jamal Murray didn't do much either, fouling out after going 1-of-9 from the field. The Jokic turnover was obviously bad but it's hard to blame a guy who finished that game with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists. If he continues to do that and Murray returns to his bubble form, this team will be just fine going forward.
These teams played three times in the regular season last year, with the Clippers winning two of three. With that said, Denver was the one who prevailed in the Western Conference Semis, upsetting Los Angeles after a 3-1 deficit.
The Clippers (1-0) looked dominant in the first game of the season, handing the Los Angeles Lakers a 116-109 defeat. The scoreline is actually a bit unfair to the Clippers, as they dominated throughout most of that game. The star of the show was Paul George, who dropped 26 of his 33 points in the second half, despite sitting the final five minutes of the game. George was very inconsistent throughout most of the postseason and if he can play like that all year, this will surely be a top-3 team in the west. The addition of Serge Ibaka was a huge plus in the opener too, providing 15 points and six rebounds while playing rim protector. That's something this club has been missing over recent years and it's exciting to see Ibaka return to his OKC form for yet another title contender.
The Nuggets (0-1) suffered a devastating home loss in their opener, taking a 124-122 overtime defeat at the hands of the Sacramento Kings. The defeat would be frustrating on its own but the nature of it was absolutely jaw-dropping. Will Barton getting blocked on an open lay-up when he should have taken a foul was bad enough but then Nikola Jokic turned the ball over in the final seconds which led to a fastbreak game-winner for the Kings. Jamal Murray didn't do much either, fouling out after going 1-of-9 from the field. The Jokic turnover was obviously bad but it's hard to blame a guy who finished that game with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists. If he continues to do that and Murray returns to his bubble form, this team will be just fine going forward.
These teams played three times in the regular season last year, with the Clippers winning two of three. With that said, Denver was the one who prevailed in the Western Conference Semis, upsetting Los Angeles after a 3-1 deficit.