Scoreboard
Hornets 97, Wizards 87
Pistons 97, Pacers 89
Hawks 110, Celtics 99
Nets 109, Cavaliers 99
Heat 113, Pelicans 98
Magic 104, Knicks 98
Bucks 109, Lakers 102
Timberwolves 107, Kings 97
Thunder 101, Rockets 89
Suns 105, Mavericks 98
Trail Blazers 112, Bulls 107
What went down
Giannis Antetokounmpo must have circled this game against the Los Angeles Lakers on his calendar because he started the game hot. Like walking up to a 3-pointer kind of hot. In his first 16 minutes on the floor, Giannis already had big endgame numbers: 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting and five rebounds.
He was viciously dunked on by Anthony Davis in the third quarter but that was the only negative in his otherwise immaculate performance. Take a look at the reigning finals MVP’s stats after the game: 47 points (18-of-23 shots), nine rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
The Lakers simply had no answer in this battle of champions. Without LeBron James, it was Talen Horton-Tucker leading the scoring with 25 points. Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook were held to “only” 18 points and 19 points, respectively.
Another positive for the Milwaukee Bucks was the return of Khris Middleton, who missed their last eight games after going through health and safety protocols. He came back in good shape, immediately tallying 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 30 minutes of play.
The Bucks snapped a two-game losing streak with the win while the Lakers absorbed two losses in a row.
Big-time ballers
Lu Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder is known for sending the opposing team’s top scorers to a new hell but that doesn’t mean he can’t put the ball in the basket.
Against the Houston Rockets, Dort scored 34 points, missing only eight of his 22 attempts. This isn’t an outlier game either. For the past seven Thunder games, Dort is averaging 22 points per game, which is double his career average. OKC is 5-2 in that seven-game stretch.
LU DORT PUTBACK pic.twitter.com/ZMDodFgJgV
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 18, 2021
What he said
Jimmy Butler returned to action versus the New Orleans Pelicans after missing three games with a hurt ankle. He played a heavy 36 minutes, got a triple-double (31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists), and carried the Miami Heat to their 10th win in 15 games.
Butler was expectedly gassed after the game (the first half of a back-to-back), prompting him to make a simple request to his teammates Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry, who were both out:
Jimmy Butler has requested Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry 'come to work tomorrow' #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/0JSw83uxPY
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) November 18, 2021
Did you see that?
Tyler Herro has been having a ridiculously spectacular season so far for the Miami Heat but this is just plain ridiculous:
That'll count, Tyler Herro! 🤯😅
— NBA (@NBA) November 18, 2021
Watch on NBA League Pass
https://t.co/5QqkBhf1W0 pic.twitter.com/v4CPJcsoL6
