Scoreboard
Wizards 113, Mavericks 105
Hawks 104, 76ers 95
Heat 117, Hornets 112
Trail Blazers 106, Pelicans 95
What went down
In a grueling slugfest, the Miami Heat averted disaster at home, escaping the shorthanded Charlotte Hornets in overtime.
Miami stumbled into this game with a 4-7 record – a rough start for the East's top seed last season. Charlotte, on the other hand, has been hobbled with injuries. They just got Terry Rozier back last week but LaMelo Ball has yet to play a game this season while Gordon Hayward just hit the injury list with shoulder issues.
That set up the duel at the end of regulation with the Hornets getting clutch buckets from lottery pick-turned-journeyman Dennis Smith Jr. while the Heat relied on a gassed Jimmy Butler.
.@Dennis1SmithJr WITH THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME@HornetsOnBally | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/S5RU9GQmFK
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 11, 2022
In the end, things got sloppy. Both teams fumbled their final possessions in regulation. Overtime was a back-and-forth of isolation basketball. The Heat barely edged out the Hornets thanks to a few missed free throws and a traveling call on Kelly Oubre Jr. with nine seconds remaining.
Butler finished the game with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in 42 minutes of action. At this stage of his career and with his injury history, Butler needs to be preserved for the playoffs but it seems the Heat need him to stay afloat now.
Big-time baller
The Washington Wizards were supposed to get stomped by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks today since they were playing without Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
Instead of Luka Magic, we got Kuz-mania.
THIS MAN IS ON FIIIIIIIIRE 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0CglDWXHlt
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 11, 2022
Imbued with the power of the fashionable Wizards pink City Edition jerseys, Kyle Kuzma went off for a season-high 36 points to go with 11 rebounds and six assists, leading the Wizards to their sixth win of the season.
If there was anyone who’d get a boost from playing in the drippiest of uniforms, it was probably going to be Kuzma.
What he said
If you’re still holding your breath for the release of the Kyrie 8, you can exhale because it seems the relationship between Irving and Nike is over.
“Kyrie stepped over the line, it’s kind of that simple,” says Nike co-founder Phil Knight. “He just made some statements we can’t abide by and that’s why we ended the relationship.” pic.twitter.com/VWWAEbsIku
— CNBC (@CNBC) November 10, 2022
“I would doubt that we go back, but I don’t know for sure,” Nike co-founder Phil Knight said about the company suspending its deal with Irving.
Did you see that?
All 30 City Edition jerseys were revealed earlier today. This batch features an eclectic range of inspirations with teams trying to capture what makes their city great.
Some used their city’s unique architecture like the Denver Nuggets featuring the Union Station arc and font in front.
This one is for you, Denver. #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/qXdBWrhXVt
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 10, 2022
Some got local artists to capture the vibe of the city like Milwaukee deriving inspiration from Bronzeville artists for their patchwork design.
We are the Gathering Place. pic.twitter.com/qAhmS1RLXa
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 10, 2022
We’re going to go in-depth on some of the best and not-so-best of the bunch in another article, later.
Also, Jerami Grant went off on the New Orleans Pelicans to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a win without Damian Lillard. Grant’s 28-point performance was highlighted by this dissection of the Pelicans’ defense.
JERAMI GRANT GAMEBREAKER 💫#RipCity | @JeramiGrant pic.twitter.com/AVAuzI15RQ
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 11, 2022
