Scoreboard
- Raptors 123, Magic 108
- Nets 124, Clippers 120
- Pacers 134, Grizzlies 116
- Trail Blazers 132, Wizards 121
- Celtics 111, Warriors 107
- Jazz 117, Pistons 105
What went down
It was one of those soul-crushing plays. Jaylen Brown, a ball of energy for the Boston Celtics, stopped the Golden State Warriors from getting an easy bucket, then—like a burning sphere—zipped all the way to the basket to drop the hammer, giving Boston a 10-point lead in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
The game was pretty much close all throughout, but that sequence by Brown gave the Celtics much-needed protection from the flamethrower that is Steph Curry. The Warriors played without James Wiseman, still without Klay Thompson, then lost Kevon Looney to a sprained ankle. It was again up to Curry to drag the Warriors to a W. He almost did it, too. He scored eight straight to cut the Celtics’ lead to four with two minutes left, but Boston—learning from the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls—held on for dear life.
Curry finished with 38 points on seven 3s, firing until the very end, soul very much intact. Just goes to show what the Warriors truly need to get back to elite status: more warm bodies.
Big-time baller
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet drained a wide open 3-pointer at the 8:43 mark of the first quarter versus the Orlando Magic to put his team on the scoreboard. Not quite an amazing highlight, but that basket will forever be part of the Fred VanVleet 54-point game mixtape.
Steady Freddy was anything but steady against the Magic, connecting on 11 3s and scoring 46 points…by the third quarter. He dropped eight more in the fourth quarter to break a few records: most points scored by an undrafted player in NBA history and most points scored by a Raptor in franchise history. From undrafted to unreal—that’s big time.
What he saidCongrats to my brotha Freddy V! Kyle old ass couldn’t do it. Glad you did champ! Been telling you!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) February 3, 2021
There are no lies, from the man who previously held the Raptors’ single-game scoring record of 52 points.
Did you see that?
"It's about that time..." DAME TIME! ??
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2021
Damian Lillard steps back and fires from WAY downtown to close out the @trailblazers win! pic.twitter.com/YqnXpvW3We
The Portland Trail Blazers were up 11 with over a minute left when Damian Lillard, orbiting outside the 3-point line, casually dribbled further back into a 30-footer and (probably) said under his breath: “It’s time.” The game clock said 1:12, but Dame Time is really the only timekeeping device that mattered here. Lillard, of course, had to check his wrist to see if he’s on schedule. He always is.
