Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Posted on

Knicks unable to overcome poor first half in 120-105 loss to Spurs

The Knicks had a first half to forget, and could not complete an improbable comeback as they fell to the short-handed Spurs, 120-105, on Wednesday night in San Antonio.

New York was down by as much as 28 points but could not get any closer than eight points in the second half as they fell to 43-25 on the season.

The Spurs were losers of 20 of their last 29 games entering Wednesday, and were without Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox.

Here are the takeaways...

-Towns scored the Knicks' first nine points, making his first four shots as New York exploited the lack of rim protection with Wembanyama out for the season. However, the Knicks could not stop the Spurs from scoring. San Antonio made five of their first seven shots to take a 13-9 lead.

San Antonio kept pushing the pace and went out to a 16-1 run, which included 14 straight missed field goals when head coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout. The Knicks could not buy a bucket and went big, bringing in Mitchell Robinson who contributed right away with two tip-ins. But overall, the first quarter was a nightmare for the Knicks who shot just 28 percent (8-29) to the Spurs' 44 percent.

Towns scored 13 points while Robinson (4), OG Anunoby (1) and Mikal Bridges (2) accounted for the other Knicks' points. Josh Hart didn't even attempt a shot. Veterans Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul each scored 10 points in the opening frame.

-The Knicks came out in the second quarter much better, cutting their deficit to just four points, but the Spurs used screens and dribble penetration to get any shot they wanted. This was coupled with the Knicks, once again, shooting poorly, especially from three.

With about six minutes remaining, the Knicks were down 22 and to make things worse, Towns appeared to injure his left thumb on a shot. After a timeout, Towns went to the back but was on the bench when the game restarted. The Spurs would increase their lead to 67-43 at halftime, ending one of the worst first halves of the season for the Knicks.

In the first half, New York shot 31 percent (16-51) including 4-for-21 from three. Miles McBride and Bridges were the only starters not named Towns to make a field goal in the first two quarters, and those two only made one field goal each. Hart was left scoreless after missing his only three shots attempted.

On the defensive end, the Spurs shot 51 percent from the field, 8-for-21 from three, in the first half.

-Whatever Thibodeau said to his team at halftime, must have lit a fire under the Knicks as their defensive intensity was better. New York's defense caused turnovers and bad shots to help them go on a 22-3 run to cut the Spurs' lead to 73-65 with 6:25 remaining in the third.

The Spurs would find their offense, capitalizing on Knicks turnovers and getting to the free-throw line to go out to a 10-0 run. The Knicks pushed back to go into the fourth quarter down 83-72.

-The Knicks eventually cut their deficit to eight points thanks to the lineup that included Towns and Robinson. But the combination of Sandro Mamukelashvili off the bench and putting Robinson on the foul line -- which slowed the Knicks offense and forced Thibodeau to bench his center -- helped San Antonio push back and they never looked back.

Mamukelashvili had a career night. He had a game-high 34 points off the bench, including 7-for-7 from three in 19:27 on the floor. The Seton Hall product also had nine rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Towns had a team-high 32 points while the other starters could not get 15 on this night. Anunoby (14), Hart (2), Bridges (14) and McBride (11) just could not match Towns' production. Robinson posted 13 points and came down with 11 rebounds in 17 minutes on the floor.

The difference in this game was the rebounds. Without a true center, the Spurs outrebounded the Knicks 52-44.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks are right back at it on Thursday as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

Posted on

Carter's career night pushes injury-riddled Kings past Cavs

Carter's career night pushes injury-riddled Kings past Cavs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

No Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, or Jake LaRavia, no problem. 

Well, at least that’s the case when Kings rookie guard Devin Carter erupts for a career night, fueling a short-handed Sacramento team to a pivotal 123-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. 

Carter, one of seven Sacramento players to score in double digits, finished the night with a career-high 16 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and three steals on 6-of-11 shooting from the field.

On a night in which the Kings trailed 20-7 nine minutes into the game against the top team in the East and without some of its major firepower, the stage was set for a new face to step up. 

“Next-man-up mentality: young guy Devin Carter came in and played huge tonight,” big man Trey Lyles told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live.”

“He could have been hanging his head not playing a lot, but he came out ready to play. [He] picked up full court and he ended the game for us, which is great for him. He was playing well and he stayed confident.” 

Fittingly, on the night Carter put together his NBA performance to date, he also delivered the best dunk of his young career. 

With the Kings and Cavaliers exchanging leads in the dying minutes of the game, interim coach Doug Christie left Carter, who turned 23 on Tuesday, to seal a vital victory. 

“Devin brings the physicality, the swagger, the confidence,” Christie said.  “I’ll just speak for myself that I expect out of my team. 

“There’s a calmness in the competition in him. My grandmother used to say, ‘Still waters run deep,’ and he brought it. Big time.” 

Forward Keegan Murray, who finished with 13 points, alluded to Carter’s growth throughout the season, praising the 23-year-old’s ability to “pick up” advice from Sacramento’s veterans.

“He’s been good,” Murray told reporters. “I think he’s had spurts this year. Like in Boston, he was pretty good. Honestly, he’s a rookie and goes through those ups and downs. 

“I went through them, too. He’s able to capitalize on his opportunities tonight when guys are down. Kudos to him, and I know he should have an impact on our team the rest of the way.” 

DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk combined for 49 points, with the Kings shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor.

With just 14 games left in the regular season, the Kings’ record stands at 35-33, placing Christie and Co. at the No. 9 spot in the West. 

Injuries might have Sacramento short-handed, but, luckily, it had Carter on Wednesday night.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

3 observations after Sixers get blown out by West-best Thunder

3 observations after Sixers get blown out by West-best Thunder  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Western Conference-leading Thunder never trailed and led by as many as 41 points Wednesday night against the Sixers.

The final score of the 57-12 Thunder’s victory at Paycom Center was 133-100.

Aaron Wiggins was OKC’s top scorer, posting 26 points. Jaylin Williams recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists.

Quentin Grimes had 28 points, five assists and three steals for the Sixers. Chuma Okeke tallied 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Justin Edwards scored 19 points.

The majority of the 23-46 Sixers’ roster remained out, including Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain and right finger sprain), Paul George (season-ending left groin and left knee injuries) and Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury). 

OKC also sat quite a few key players. Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rested. Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were all out with injuries. Notably, the Sixers’ first-round pick this year will convey to the Thunder if it does not fall within the top six.

The Sixers will visit the Spurs on Friday night. Here are observations on their defeat in Oklahoma City:

Sixers struggle vs. OKC’s bigs 

Former Sixer Isaiah Joe helped OKC jump out to a lead, draining a three-pointer to open the scoring.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse called timeout less than two minutes into the night after Jaylin Williams hit a triple to put the Thunder up 10-0. OKC racked up 42 points in the first quarter and built a 16-point lead through 12 minutes. 

As usual, the Sixers faced significant disadvantages in their efforts to guard opposing big men. OKC’s starting frontcourt of Williams and Chet Holmgren profited on early opportunities to shoot over smaller Sixers inside. As soon as rookie center Branden Carlson checked in, he got a put-back, and-one layup. The trio of Williams, Holmgren and Carlson totaled 28 first-quarter points on 11-for-13 shooting. 

Going into Wednesday night, the Sixers ranked 29th in the NBA in opponents’ field goal percentage at the rim, according to Cleaning the Glass (68.6 percent). With centers Embiid, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona still sidelined, their interior defense was never likely to dramatically improve in Oklahoma City. 

Nice night for Okeke

The Sixers fell back to earth in the shooting department after sinking 24 threes in Monday’s overtime loss to the Rockets. They started 1 for 8 from long range. 

However, Okeke’s jumpers were dropping right away.

Playing the third game of his second 10-day contract with the Sixers, Okeke drilled three shots beyond the arc in the first quarter. The 6-foot-7 forward was also the Sixers’ best rebounder. He pulled down 11 boards (four offensive, seven defensive) in the first half alone. 

Whether or not they stick with the Sixers past this season, players such as Okeke, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Oshae Brissett have had chances to essentially audition for the league. They’ve all clearly been glad to show what they can do.

No March Madness

The Sixers cut the Thunder’s lead down to 52-46 with a 16-1 run in the second quarter. That’s as close as they’d get, though.

While Grimes kept piling up the points, he didn’t come near matching his career-high 46-point performance in Houston and had a rough third quarter.

Once the Sixers fall behind, it’s hard to see any realistic path back into games these days. Outside of Grimes lighting it up, there’s just not much the Sixers can lean on to wipe out major deficits. Every time the Sixers take the floor, it seems like a win would be a March Madness-style upset.

And, as the Thunder demonstrated Wednesday, OKC certainly doesn’t need its full-strength team to earn very decisive wins.

Posted on

Doc Rivers reportedly meets with Lillard, Antetokounmpo to discuss what is holding Bucks back

Bringing in Damian Lillard (and shipping out Jrue Holiday) was supposed to bring the Milwaukee Bucks closer to a title. Last year, injuries got in the way.

This year, a healthy Bucks are good — 38-30, fifth in the East — but have gone 2-5 in their last seven and look worlds away from a contender. Milwaukee is 0-11 against the teams with the four best records in the NBA (Oklahoma City, Cleveland, Boston and New York).

Following Tuesday night's loss to the Warriors (who were resting Stephen Curry), coach Doc Rivers had a sit-down meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard to talk about what is not working in Wisconsin, reports Chris Haynes.

"Now in this meeting, I'm told, was an open forum for both stars to provide input on ways to improve the team. It was a constructive session, with each individual being allowed to share their perspectives."

There is no single answer for Milwaukee. There may not be an answer at all.

The Bucks' biggest problem — in these seven games and all season — has been their offense. Even with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, this has been a middle-of-the-pack offense most of the season that has fallen into the bottom 10 across the last seven games. This is an outstanding shooting team — second in the league in 3-point percentage and fifth in eFG% — but nothing ever feels smooth and natural in getting to those shots.

If the Bucks get beat in the first round (which Indiana could do in a 4/5 matchup) or get routed by the Cavaliers or Celtics in the second round, Milwaukee is going to have to take a step back this summer and ask some hard questions. Can this personnel, at this age, contend? A Kyle Kuzma for Khris Middleton swap-out was not the answer. This summer, much more drastic changes may be called for.

Posted on

Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world'

Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has immeasurable respect for two-way force Draymond Green.

And on Wednesday, the 11-year coach showed his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame-bound forward even more love, in talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.”

“I think he’s the best defender in the world, and I realize how good [Victor] Wembanyama is, how good Rudy Gobert is and others,” Kerr said of Green to Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Kerr didn’t lie.

Green, who has made eight All-Defensive teams and is the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, needs no defensive introduction. He has spoiled opposing offensive sets throughout his entire 13-year NBA career and, as a four-time champion alongside Kerr, plays today with the same hunger on both sides of the floor as if he were ringless. 

Kerr further explained that Green has plenty of respect outside of the Bay and across the league.

“Draymond said it himself – ask the other coaches around the league who don’t they want to face,” Kerr told Willard and Dibs. “I have personally asked other coaches around the league. Trust me, there’s so much respect around the league for Draymond around the league, amongst the coaches. They see the versatility in his defense. 

“These other guys are good defenders; I don’t think any of them can do everything – protect the rim, guard pick and roll out in half court, blow up stuff from the weak side.”

Green can guard any player, from Damian Lillard to Wembanyama. As Kerr said, the same can’t be said for other top defenders.

Green brings with his defensive skill set an unmatchable passion. Kerr acknowledged that sometimes Green goes over the line, but concluded by explaining how that’s part of the deal for the game’s best defender.

“Draymond, he’s a defensive genius,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “He’s also a competitive freak of nature. Obviously, his emotion gets the best of him at times. But it’s all part of the package, and the package is incredibly disruptive to opposing teams. We are so lucky to have him. He remains an amazing player, even at this stage in his career.”

There never will be another player like Green to play for Golden State or in the NBA; Kerr understands and praises his longtime forward often.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks

Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski almost hit one of the NBA’s more iconic celebrations in Golden State’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Chase Center.

In talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday, the second-year Swiss Army Knife detailed his temptation to demonstrate superstar teammate Steph Curry’s “night night” celebration after knocking down a clutch 3-point shot toward the end of regulation against the Bucks.

“I was contemplating it on the second [three-point shot], but then I was like, that’s kind of [Curry and Draymond Green’s] thing, so let me just not intrude on their little celebration,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Dub Nation probably wouldn’t have minded. Nevertheless, here’s the “second” triple Podziemski referenced:

Podziemski could’ve done any celebration he wanted Tuesday night in San Francisco.

Over 29 minutes, he finished the Golden State win with 17 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep and collected seven rebounds and one steal.

Sure, the “night night” celebration might be Curry’s trademark – and Green’s new rental – but Podziemski should have his own signature move after a game-sealing play; it’s on his mind, at least.

“I got to find some of mine that I could kind of label as mine and stick with it,” Podziemski admitted to Willard and Dibley.

Something with the hair, maybe? Podziemski said that would be “something.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

NBA power rankings 2024-25: Celtics back on top of final rankings, Thunder, Cavaliers round out top three

This is the final NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings of the season. By this time next week we will be deep into the Play-In Tournament and talking seedings and possible upsets. It's appropriate that this final ranking comes full circle with Boston on top.

TRUE TITLE CONTENDERS

1. Boston Celtics (59-20, Last Week No. 2). It's fitting that the Celtics end the season where they started it — on top of these NBA Power Rankings and as the team to beat in the title chase. Boston is peaking at the right time, having gone 17-2 in their last 19 (best in the league), led by Jayson Tatum, who somehow almost gets taken for granted despite playing at an MVP level all-season long. The road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy runs through Boston.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (65-14, LW 1). Oklahoma City ran away with the West, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a deserving MVP. Still, in the loss last week to the Lakers, the playoff concerns with this team seemed to raise their heads again: Can Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren step up when opponents sell out to stop SGA? That's the question this team has to answer to reach the NBA Finals and possibly win it. Nobody is going to question SGA or if the Thunder defense is good enough, but a one-man offensive show doesn't get this team where it wants to be.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (63-16, LW 3). Cleveland has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East and heads into the playoffs looking like a legitimate contender and threat to Boston. Kenny Atkinson will be deservingly rewarded with the Coach of the Year award. Donovan Mitchell will be rewarded by likely being First Team All-NBA/fifth in MVP voting — but, for my money, Evan Mobley is the guy who deserves that honor, he has been the player on both ends driving the Cavaliers' improvement.

SECOND TIER CONTENDERS

4. Golden State Warriors (47-32, LW 4). What a mid-season turnaround — the Warriors enter the playoffs looking like the biggest threat to the Thunder. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, Golden State is 22-6, and the team has a top-five offense and defense since the All-Star break. If you needed more proof, wins last week over the next two teams in this ranking — the Nuggets and Lakers — cemented the Warriors as a team that can make a title run. Also, all the self-promotion aside, Draymond Green has a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (48-31, LW 9). Nico Harrison didn't just gift the Lakers a bridge to their post-LeBron future, he gifted them a player in Luka Doncic who makes them a threat to win any playoff series starting this season. Adding Doncic has allowed LeBron James to thrive as a play finisher rather than a creator, while Austin Reaves has taken over a lot of the shot creation. J.J. Redick has proven himself as up to the job. We'll see how the Lakers' defense holds up in the playoffs, but this team is legit.

6. Denver Nuggets (47-32, LW 5). WHAT?!?!? Owner Josh Kroenke apparently had been thinking about firing Mike Malone since midseason (at least) but didn't want GM Calvin Booth to "win" the long-running battle between coach and GM, so he fired them both. With three games and less than a week left in the season. Officially, Kroenke said he hoped the firings would be a "jolt" that would inspire the team in the playoffs. In reality, this feels destabilizing and like throwing in the towel on this season. Is anybody picking Denver over the Lakers or Warriors, let alone the Thunder, in the West now?

7. Houston Rockets (52-27, LW 6). Are we all sleeping on the Rockets as a playoff threat? The conventional wisdom has been they are a promising young team but who would their No. 1 option be in a tight postseason game? They are seen as a year or two — and a move or two — away. However, that athletic and long-armed defense got the Rockets wins against the Thunder and Warriors in the past week, maybe this team is a bigger threat than we realize. Whatever happens in the playoffs will set the course the front office takes going forward.

PLAYOFFS OR BUST

8. Los Angeles Clippers (47-32, LW 7). Tyronn Lue has his team peaking at just the right time. Kawhi Leonard has scored 20+ points in his last dozen games, Ivica Zubac is a force in the paint (and had a 20-20 game this week), the Clippers are stout defensively and smart offensively. Things are unsettled in the West — with four teams tied at 47-32 as of Wednesday morning — but if the Clippers face the Nuggets, Timberwolves or Grizzlies in the first round, it would be tough to pick against them.

9. New York Knicks (50-29, LW 10). The Knicks are locked into the No. 3 seed and Jalen Brunson is back in time for the playoffs. That means it’s time for the annual concern that Tom Thibodeau has run his starters into the ground during the regular season — it’s a legitimate concern. Check out this stat from Chris Herring at ESPN: “Looking at the teams the Knicks could face in the first round of the playoffs, Bridges this season has run 37 miles more than Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, 41 miles more than Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and 66 miles more than Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, according to NBA tracking data.”

10. Indiana Pacers (48-31, LW 11). Another team peaking at the right time, the Pacers have won five in a row, 11-of-13, and they have a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. The Pacers are on the verge of a 50-win season and will have home court in the first round of the playoffs, likely against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee won the season series between the teams 3-1).

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33, LW 8). The season started with management trading away Karl-Anthony Towns, leading to rough patches as Minnesota tried to find a new identity. That identity has come around of late, with the Timberwolves going 14-4 in their last 18, but Tuesday's ugly come-from-ahead loss to Milwaukee (where Minnesota led by 24 with 10:09 left and got outscored) hurt. Huge game Thursday against Memphis, Minnesota needs that one to avoid the play-in.

12. Memphis Grizzlies (47-32, LW 13). After dropping their first three games under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies have won three straight and find themselves in the four-way tie between seeds 4-7 in the West. The Grizzlies face a critical back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Nuggets on Thursday/Friday and need wins to avoid the play-in. This summer, there are some hard questions in Memphis that need to be answered about the direction of this franchise (and who is coaching them).

13. Milwaukee Bucks (45-34, LW 14). Are we underselling Milwaukee as a playoff threat? The Bucks are peaking at the right time, having won five in a row — including an insane comeback against Minnesota — and Giannis Antetokounmpo has three straight triple-doubles. Milwaukee seems likely to land the No. 5 seed, meaning on the road against Indiana in the first round, followed likely by the Cavaliers in the second round. If the Bucks get bounced in the first round or get destroyed in the second round, it could be a very hot summer in Milwaukee.

14. Detroit Pistons (43-36, LW 12). The Pistons made a massive leap this season and are playing with house money entering the playoffs (where they likely get the Knicks in the first round). Cade Cunningham is deserving of an All-NBA nod and maybe Most Improved Player, while J.B. Bickerstaff will get votes for Coach of the Year. After some rough years, Pistons fans should savor this season, it's been fantastic.

15. Orlando Magic (39-40, LW 15). Orlando will want to clinch the No. 7 seed before facing No. 8 seed Atlanta on Sunday in the final game of the regular season, but that means beating one of two red-hot teams to close the season in Boston or Indiana (though both may not have much to play for and rest key guys). Last season Orlando pushed the Cavaliers to seven games in the playoffs, a great learning experience for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and the rest of the team, but it's going to be tough to build on that facing Boston (if Orlando is the No. 7 seed) or Cleveland (if No. 8). Still, this is a team on the rise if it can stay healthy.

16. Miami Heat (36-43, LW 17). The Jimmy Butler III era is over in Miami, but now the hard questions come: Who is this team without Butler? Can they land another name free agent? How do the Heat take a step forward off being a bottom-tier play-in team this season? They have Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and Kel’el Ware had a strong rookie season, but right now this is a middle-of-the-pack team, and that is not where Pat Riley likes to be.

17. Atlanta Hawks (37-42, LW 16). Is there a player more at a crossroads entering the playoffs than Trae Young? He has matured his game, become a strong playmaker and at least tries harder on defense, but the question about whether the Hawks can build a winner around him remains. If (really, when) the Hawks are bounced either in the Play-In Tournament or the first round, the Hawks need to take a hard look at this team and where they want to go. They have other talent on the roster, including Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, among others, but is it time to pivot from Young? Can they?

18. Sacramento Kings (39-40, LW 20). It's going to be a rough offseason in Sacramento. De'Aaron Fox pushed his way out the door to San Antonio and now Domantas Sabonis and others will have questions about what direction this franchise goes, or they may push to leave, also. This isn't a terrible roster with Zach LaVine on it, maybe a .500 team, but in this West, that will not get the Kings very far.

19. Chicago Bulls (36-43, LW 18). Chicago made its move towards a youth movement — then kept winning games because Coby White and Josh Giddey stepped up and played well. Giddey and White are good, but not the No. 1 option the Bulls need, and they are winning too much to draft that star. The big question this summer: How much do the Bulls want to pay Giddey? He wants starting point guard money (around $30 million a season), but do the Bulls want to tie themselves to him long term, or really go all-in on the rebuild? (If not the Bulls, who pays Giddey?)

20. Dallas Mavericks (38-41, LW 19). Dallas has its path for next season, if it can just get and stay healthy. Anthony Davis in the paint and Kyrie Irving — likely returning mid-season from his torn ACL — give the Mavericks two All-NBA level players when they are on the court. Dallas ownership needs them on the court because the bad blood from the Luka Doncic trade is only going away with wins on the court.

CAPTURE THE (COOPER) FLAGG

21. Portland Trail Blazers (35-44, LW 22). The final months of the season showed that Portland has a lot of quality on its roster: Deni Avdija took a big step forward, as did Scoot Henderson, they have Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Look for the Trail Blazers to make a leap next season and be playing in late April (and maybe beyond). The big question this offseason, will Chauncey Billups get an extension and be back coaching, or are the two sides parting ways? A lot of buzz around the league about a split.

22. Phoenix Suns (35-44, LW 21). Celtics announcers Brian Scalabrine and Mike Gorman pretty much summed up the Suns' season when Boston and Phoenix played last week. Scalabrine: “Great practice game for us. You really want to execute your offense, just call the Phoenix Suns. It’s the best way to work on what you want to work on.” Gorman: “You are not gonna face much resistance against this team.” Yup. There are big changes coming this offseason, with Kevin Durant likely traded and league sources expecting Mike Budenholzer to be out as coach.

23. Toronto Raptors (29-50, LW 23). Rough season in Toronto, but their future is laid out: Brandon Ingram gets healthy and returns next season to play alongside Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Toronto should move up and be a playoff team next season.

24. San Antonio Spurs (32-47, LW 24). We only got five games of Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox together this season, but next season look for them to show some chemistry and for the Spurs to make a leap in the West. The big offseason question: Who is going to coach them? Will Gregg Popovich return, and if so, for how long? Long-time Popovich right-hand man Mike Budenholzer is expected to be available, as is Taylor Jenkins (who was the right-hand to Budenholzer for a long time). And don't forget Michael Malone.

25. Brooklyn Nets (26-53, LW 25). The bright spot in Brooklyn this season was the job by rookie coach Jordi Fernandez, who kept this team competitive even as GM Sean Marks traded away talent as the team is in a full-on rebuild. It will be interesting to see what Fernandez can do with real talent in a few years.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (21-58, LW 26). Is Zion Williamson back in New Orleans next season? The Pelicans are expected to test the trade waters for him, there will be interest, but will New Orleans get the haul they hope for the former No. 1 pick? Might they just hold on to him? What happens with Zion determines where this franchise goes next year.

27. Philadelphia 76ers (23-56, LW 27). Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey need to swing by a church every day this summer and light a candle for the health of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia is locked into that core, and while they can tweak the role players around them, that core being healthy for 55+ games next season is the only way they get anywhere near the heights they expected this season.

28. Charlotte Hornets (19-60, LW 28). Two keys to the Hornets' offseason: 1) How the lottery balls bounce; 2) The answer to the question "Do they still want to build around LaMelo Ball?" Those two things could be interrelated.

29. Washington Wizards (17-62, LW 29). Rookies Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George showed promise this season, but the Wizards still need the lottery balls to bounce their way this offseason. This is not going to be a fast rebuild.

30. Utah Jazz (16-63, LW 30). While the short-term focus is on the lottery balls and the NBA Draft, the other big question for Utah is whether they trade Lauri Markkanen this summer or bring him back and try to win with him? Expect a Markkanen trade, but if the lottery gods are unkind that could change the dynamic.

Posted on

Podz reveals Butler's unique Warriors pregame ritual

Podz reveals Butler's unique Warriors pregame ritual originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors wing Jimmy Butler is unique. 

Unlike his teammates, the 35-year-old has a distinctive locker room tradition that many NBA players never have seen. Such as second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, who told 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” about Butler’s pregame routine. 

And, yes, the six-time All-Star’s ritual is out of the ordinary. Unique. 

“I think the biggest thing that stands out to me is he lights a candle in his locker – home or away,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. “I’ve never seen that before.” 

Outside of lighting candles prior to games, the veteran forward has been electric since his arrival in the Bay, helping Golden State to a red-hot 15-2 record and boosting its NBA playoffs panorama.

In those 17 games, Butler has also made franchise history, being the fastest player to reach both 100 rebounds and 100 assists. 

Regardless of why Butler lights candles, Podziemski argues it’s rewarding. 

“I don’t know if it’s something spiritual or just a good luck thing, but he does that,” Podziemski added. 

“I’ve never seen that. I saw it for the first time in Chicago when we were there, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is different.’ But, hey, it’s working.” 

You heard him, Jimmy: Keep lighting candles.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Podz admits to ‘lick my chops' attitude during Steph's absences

Podz admits to ‘lick my chops' attitude during Steph's absences originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors never want to play without superstar Steph Curry, but they know they must step up in his absence as they did in Tuesday’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center.

However, Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski, who scored 17 points against Milwaukee on 4-for-7 3-point shooting with seven rebounds and one steal, admitted he looks forward to games when Curry is unavailable – for understandable reasons, of course.

Podziemski on Wednesday explained to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” why he genuinely enjoys opportunities to suit up without his four-time NBA champion teammate.

“I mean, [when] No. 30’s out, I tend to lick my chops a little bit, knowing I’ll get more shots,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. “[I] understand everyone’s play has to elevate because of his absence and just be ultra-aggressive; I think I was for three quarters, I think a little bit in the third quarter I was a little bit passive. 

“And ‘aggressive’ doesn’t always mean scoring, it’s just always trying to be assertive and make the right play; I think we did that, for the most part, in yesterday’s game.”

Golden State never wants to be Curry-less. But sometimes, the 37-year-old just needs a break. And Curry was given a rest day Tuesday night.  

Podziemski proved his later point by helping lead the Warriors to a massive win over the Bucks in Curry’s absence, specifically knocking down a couple of Curry-esque, big-time triples late in the fourth quarter. 

Six-time NBA All-Star wing Jimmy Butler also poured in a historic, game-high 24 points on 6-for-11 shooting with an impressive 10 assists and eight rebounds, while rookie center Quinten Post and reserve sharpshooter Buddy Hield combined for 29 points and 10 boards.

As Podziemski mentioned, the Warriors understand they must step up to minimize Curry’s absence. So far, Golden State is 7-3 without Curry during the 2024-25 NBA season, and Podziemski has averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists over the eight Curry-less games he has played this campaign.

While the Warriors prefer Curry to be active for every game, at least coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the organization know Podziemski always is ready to answer the call.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

LaVine, Garland out for Kings-Cavs game; LaRavia questionable

LaVine, Garland out for Kings-Cavs game; LaRavia questionable originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings will be without another key starter as they face the best team in the NBA.

Zach LaVine was a late scratch from Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center due to personal reasons, per the NBA’s latest injury report.

He joins Kings star center Domantas Sabonis as the players ruled out for Wednesday’s contest. Sabonis suffered a moderate right ankle sprain and will miss at least Sacramento’s next six games before he is re-evaluated next Friday.

LaVine, who was traded to Sacramento as part of the blockbuster deal that sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, is averaging 22.7 points on 52.7-percent shooting from the field and 44.1 percent from 3-point range in 18 games with the Kings, along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 36.5 minutes.

Kings second-year forward Jake LaRavia, who Sacramento also acquired at the trade deadline, was questionable with an illness but later downgraded to out. The 23-year-old quickly has become a fan favorite in the 916. Through 15 games with the Kings, averaging 5.4 points on 41.1-percent shooting from the field and 36.6 percent from downtown, with 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 18.6 minutes off the bench.

For Cleveland (56-12, first in the Eastern Conference), two-time NBA All-Star guard Darius Garland is out due to rest. Garland is averaging 20.9 points on 47.6-percent shooting from the field and 40.7 percent from long-range, with 2.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.5 minutes through 64 games this season.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Posted on

Pistons vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 19

It’s Wednesday, March 19, and the Detroit Pistons (38-31) and Miami Heat (29-39) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.

The Pistons are currently 20-15 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Heat have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Detroit is 2-1 against Miami this season with both wins coming by one possession in OT.

The Pistons are 1-2 in the last three games, but are coming off a 46-point win over the Pelicans, while the Heat have dropped a season-high eight straight games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pistons vs. Heat live today

  • Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Kaseya Center
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pistons vs. Heat

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Pistons (-214), Heat (+178)
  • Spread:  Pistons -4.5
  • Over/Under: 217 points

That gives the Pistons an implied team point total of 110.37, and the Heat 107.51.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Pistons vs. Heat game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pistons to cover versus the Heat:

"Detroit is coming off a 46-point win and rested a majority of their players from the third quarter on against the Pelicans, while Miami lost its eight-straight game. Miami is struggling to compete for four full quarters, so this is a Detroit or pass spot."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pistons & Heat game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 217.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pistons vs. Heat on Wednesday

  • The Heat have won 8 of their last 10 home games against the Pistons
  • The Pistons' last 3 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Pistons have covered the Spread in 9 of their last 11 road games against the Heat
  • The Heat have won 3 straight home games against the Pistons

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Rockets vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 19

It’s Wednesday, March 19, and the Houston Rockets (44-25) and Orlando Magic (32-37) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Rockets are currently 18-14 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Magic have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. These teams met for the first time this season on March 10 and Houston won 97-84.

This is the final matchup between the two and Orlando is 3-2 in the last five games after losing five straight, while Houston is on a seven-game winning streak.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Rockets vs. Magic live today

  • Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Kia Center
  • City: Orlando, FL
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Rockets vs. Magic

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Rockets (-145), Magic (+121)
  • Spread:  Rockets -2.5
  • Over/Under: 209 points

That gives the Rockets an implied team point total of 105.24, and the Magic 103.93.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Rockets vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Magic +2.5 against the Rockets:

"Houston is on a seven-game winning streak with one of those victories coming over Orlando (97-84), however, six of the past seven games for the Rockets have come in Houston. This is the first road game since March 6 for Houston. Orlando is coming off a three-game home stand themselves and an upset win over Cleveland that should give this team some confidence. I don't hate the Under, but this would be Orlando or pass for me."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Rockets & Magic game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Orlando Magic at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 209.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Rockets vs. Magic on Wednesday

  • The Rockets have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference Southeast Division teams
  • The Total went under in 21 of the Magic's 34 home games this season
  • The Magic have covered in 4 of their last 5 games
  • The Magic have won 8 of 14 home games following a win

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Mavericks vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 19

It’s Wednesday, March 19, and the Dallas Mavericks (33-36) and Indiana Pacers (38-29) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Mavericks are currently 14-20 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Pacers have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. The Pacers are 1-0 against the Mavericks this season with a 134-127 win in Dallas. This marks the final meeting between the two.

The Pacers are back at home after a three-game road trip where they went 2-1 capped off by a 132-130 OT win over the Timberwolves. Dallas has lost seven of the past eight games and currently on a three-game losing streak. The Mavericks lost the 76ers, 130-125 in the last time out.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Mavericks vs. Pacers live today

  • Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+261), Pacers (-329)
  • Spread:  Pacers -10.5
  • Over/Under: 234.5 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 115.82, and the Pacers 120.26.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Mavericks vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers to cover:

"Dallas is currently in its worst stretch of the season and the year is lost after the Luka Doncic trade. That was evident in a loss to the 76ers where they were -6.5 to -8.5 favorites. The Mavericks are running low on players and the Pacers have played much better at home than on the road, so I would lean the Pacers to cover and get the sweep over the Mavs. This spread opened at -8.5 and moved to -10.5. I prefer staying at -10 or lower."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +8.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 234.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Pacers on Wednesday

  • The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Southwest Division teams
  • Each of the Mavericks' last 3 road games with the Pacers have stayed under the Total
  • The Pacers are 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games
  • Betting the Mavericks on the Money Line in all their road games this season is showing a 107% return on investment

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Draymond Green: 'One million percent I have a case' to win Defensive Player of the Year

The moment Victor Wembanyama went out for the season, the Defensive Player of the Year race was thrown wide open.

Draymond Green says he has a case — and he made it on the court Tuesday night. Green was the primary defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo for 7:04 of the Warriors' win over the Bucks and held the former MVP to 0-of-6 shooting (for the game, Antetokounmpo scored 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting). After the game, the never-shy Green said he had a case for Defensive Player of the Year, quotes via NBC Sports Bay Area.

"If we keep winning and close this year out strong, most definitely. I look around the league and don't see many players impacting the game on the defensive end the way I do. I don't see many players completely throwing off an entire team's offense the way I do. One thousand percent.

"Especially with Wemby going down, seemed like he had it won. And now it is right there. So, one million percent I have a case, and I will continue to build that case for these next 13 games. Tonight was a prime example of that."

Green has a strong case, but first, he needs to qualify. He has played in 55 games this season and needs to stay healthy and play in 10 of the Warriors' remaining 13 games to reach the 65-game threshold set by the league.

Evan Mobley, whose defensive versatility is at the heart of the Cavaliers' top-10 defense, is the current frontrunner (and betting favorite) for the award. Among bigs, the Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. has a strong case, and while he's returned and should easily reach the 65-game mark, his recent missed time and Memphis falling out of the top 10 in defense did not help his case. The Clippers Ivica Zubac has a strong case that seems to be slept on by watchers of the race. Voters tend to lean into big men for this award — as paint protectors they impact defense more than perimeter players — but Dyson Daniels in Atlanta and Lu Dort in Oklahoma deserve consideration.

We've reached the campaign part of the awards season, when players, teams, and some vocal fan bases will make their case for various players to win awards. Nobody is going to have as loud a campaign for an award as Green.

Green absolutely is deserving, and if nothing else is very likely to end up on First Team All-Defense. As for a second DPOY award for Green, a few more nights like Tuesday go a long way toward making his case.

Posted on

How Mikal Bridges has stepped up for Knicks in Jalen Brunson's absence

In the wake of New York’s captain and leading scorer Jalen Brunson injuring his ankle, many questions arose about how the Knicks would respond in his absence after playing 61 of their 62 games with him at the helm.

Some suggested his injury would force the Knicks to learn how to play and win without him, which would be a beneficial development as the playoffs near. One player in particular is proving this theory right -- Mikal Bridges.

The starting shooting guard acquired for a bundle of first-round picks has had an up-and-down season, but he has stepped up since Brunson went down.

In his last five games, Bridges is averaging 23.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 63.4/47.1/95.0 shooting splits, helping the Knicks go 3-2 without their best player.

It’s been a departure from Bridges’ season averages of 17.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 48.8/35.0/72.7, stemming from newfound aggressiveness and trust in his ability to create and score. He’s looked much more like the guy New York hoped they would get when emptying their asset chest this past offseason, and the hope is he’ll continue this approach once Brunson returns and the postseason begins.

Bridges is actively seeking out his own creation opportunities, calling for more pick-and-rolls with himself as the ball handler, and putting an emphasis on getting into the paint. This has not only opened up easier close-range scoring opportunities for Bridges but more playmaking chances -- an underrated part of his game.

Where Bridges used to be more connective in the offense, he’s now initiating, leveraging defenses with his scoring threat and finding open shooters and cutters. There’s an argument for him being the third-best passer on the team, and it seems he and the Knicks have realized this and taken advantage.

New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) celebrates with teammates after making the game-winning shot in overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
New York Knicks small forward Mikal Bridges (25) celebrates with teammates after making the game-winning shot in overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. / Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Another benefit of his attacking offense: he’s finally getting to the free-throw line. Bridges had previously shied away from contact, dropping his free throw attempts per game from 3.9 last year to 1.3 this season.

He’s attempted 20 free throws in the last five games; a total that he needed the previous 22 games to match. A willingness to take contact at the rim won’t just grant him free points at the stripe but will keep defenses honest and open up his mid-range game more.

Bridges’ offense was on full display against the Trail Blazers, when he scored 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting and buried the buzzer-beating three in overtime to give New York the win. What’s more, his offensive eruptions haven’t taken away from his stout defense.

New York has taken full advantage of Brunson being out to get back to its defensive roots, boasting a 104.9 defensive rating over the last five games, good for third in the league. Bridges has been a pivotal part of that despite the increase in minutes and offensive load.

The Knicks are hoping Bridges can keep up this level of play as Brunson rehabs and even once he’s back in the starting lineup. While Brunson can dominate the ball, Bridges has had many chances to take over like this in bench lineups or on nights when New York’s stars aren’t up to par, with mixed results.

This stretch could earn him some added comfort and trust to consistently bring his game to another level, which would pay dividends come the postseason. Bridges is built to be a key performer there, with defense taking precedent and offenses being pushed toward the inefficient mid-range where he thrives.

Now it’s time to show he can step up to that responsibility. So far, Bridges looks ready.