Scoreboard
Pacers 125, Hornets 113
Timberwolves 126, Magic 108
Thunder 121, Wizards 120
Celtics 126, Hawks 101
Raptors 112, Heat 104
Bucks 113, Cavaliers 98
Pelicans 124, Bulls 110
Rockets 101, Mavericks 92
Knicks 106, Nuggets 103
Suns 130, Warriors 119
What went down
Among all preseason favorites, the Boston Celtics are the only ones that have truly lived up to the hype.
Earlier today, they cruised to their eighth straight win and a league-best 12-3 record after crushing the Atlanta Hawks on the road.
To the Hawks’ credit, they kept it close in the first half with Trae Young leading a run that pulled them to within five points. But Payton Prichard dashed any hopes of them recovering right at the halftime buzzer.
PP QUICK STRIKE 🏹 pic.twitter.com/LrSj4w4Orz
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 17, 2022
The Celtics overwhelmed the Hawks with their depth. They didn’t need big games from their duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who finished with 19 and 22 points, respectively. They got a tremendous all-around outing from Derrick White, who had 16 points and 10 assists and clamped down his former San Antonio Spurs teammate Dejounte Murray.
The Celtics’ offense is firing at an all-time level. When they get Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon back, it’s easy to see this Celtics team blowing out teams on a daily basis.
But maybe not the Milwaukee Bucks, who pulled off an impressive win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
They didn't need a massive game from Giannis Antetokounmpo, because Brook Lopez continued his solid bounce-back season. Splash Mountain drilled seven triples en route to 29 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
The Bucks are 11-3 for the season. They played today for the fourth straight game without Jrue Holiday and have missed Khris Middleton since the start of the season. There’s so much room to improve for a Bucks team suddenly developing some depth.
Out West, the Phoenix Suns survived a 50-piece from Steph Curry and defeated the Golden State Warriors at home.
The Suns have been solid. Despite some talk about their shaky chemistry, Phoenix is 9-5 for the season. Golden State, on the other hand, might be in dire straits already. They’re winless on the road and are 6-9. That’s with Curry dropping huge point tallies on ridiculous efficiency. What more do the defending champs need?
Big-time baller
It's clear that the Oklahoma City Thunder are all-in on getting the best odds at drafting Victor Wembanyama next year. Just look at their frontline rotation. It's also clear that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a stud.
🔥 SGA TRIPLE FOR THE LEAD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rwv0sYE2XI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 17, 2022
SGA drilled the game-winning triple that gave the Thunder the win over the Washington Wizards. He finished with 42 points on 14-for-21 shooting with six rebounds and seven assists.
For the season, he’s averaging 32.3 points on 50/40/90 shooting splits with 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Those are numbers that not only get you on the All-Star team but should also get you on an All-NBA team.
What he said
The wise Marge Simpson said it best: “It’s true, but he shouldn’t say it.”
Kevin Durant opened up to Bleacher Report about… well… everything. He gave upfront answers about the current Brooklyn Nets situation, his trade request in the offseason, and even Kyrie Irving.
But what’s been talked about most were a couple of particular lines. Asked about the pressure of playing this season, he had this to say: “Look at our starting lineup. Edmond Sumner, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, [Nic] Claxton, and me. It’s not disrespect, but what are you expecting from that group? You expect us to win because I’m out there.”
Certainly, Durant really didn’t mean anything derogatory by what he said. It’s also hard to sugarcoat those lines.
Did you see that?
If you need a reminder of just how much Filipinos love Kobe Bryant, this post on r/Philippines should brighten up your day.
