Scoreboard
Grizzlies 123, Clippers 108
Hornets 114, Bucks 106
Pistons 97, Magic 95
Pacers 125, Jazz 113
Celtics 99, Knicks 75
Heat 123, Suns 100
What went down
We got a trio of upsets for Sunday breakfast.
The Charlotte Hornets gave us the appetizer, outlasting the Milwaukee Bucks. Sure, the defending champs didn't have Jrue Holiday due to a sore ankle. But the Hornets did have to contend with a red-hot Giannis Antetokounmpo, who almost single-handedly led a fourth-quarter comeback and finished with 43 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hornets poured on the pressure in the third quarter and early fourth quarter with a resurgent Terry Rozier leading the attack. Rozier, who has struggled to get back into shape due to several prolonged injuries this season, continued to build momentum and finished with 28 points with six 3-pointers.
Our second helping of an upset came with the Indiana Pacers torching the Utah Jazz. This happened mostly due to Domantas Sabonis dominating a Rudy Gobert-less Jazz down low (more on this later), but it was Lance Stephenson that stole the show.
Born Ready, who was signed on a 10-day hardship deal, had another stellar outing off the bench with 16 points, 14 assists, and four steals.
9 AST for Stephenson 🏀
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2022
35 PTS for Sabonis 🔥@Pacers in front at home with 6 minutes to go on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/L8Rrlv9ZoR pic.twitter.com/h3VjxNDnLH
Yes, it’s 2022, and we’re talking about Lance making people dance like it’s 2012. This is the same Stephenson that was playing with PBA players in Hong Kong three years ago and now he’s back in the NBA.
The final serving was whipped up by the Miami Heat, who blasted the Phoenix Suns in their own arena. This Miami team continues to find ways as they played without Jimmy Butler, who was resting his back, and Bam Adebayo.
The Heat did their damage on defense, holding the Suns to 38 percent shooting, while also getting a little luck with their outside shots as they drilled 22 of their 44 3-point attempts. The Suns went 14-of-34 from deep, but some of their 3s came with Miami already up big in the fourth quarter.
Held together by Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, and PJ Tucker, this Heat squad looks encouraging now, but hopefully, they get Butler and Adebayo back in top shape to make a dent in the loaded Eastern Conference.
Big-time baller
Domantas Sabonis was actually too big for a Jazz lineup without Rudy Gobert. The second-generation All-Star put up a career-high 42 points on 18-for-22 shooting with six boards and three assists.
A career-high 42 PTS on an efficient 18-of-22 shooting night 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2022
Domantas Sabonis showed out in front of the home crowd to lift the @Pacers to the dub! pic.twitter.com/FwVmaphxTI
The Pacers have been excruciatingly inconsistent and unlucky this season, so hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come.
What he said
Klay Thompson is coming back tomorrow and he’s ready to address the slander he’s received over the last couple of weeks.
There are people calling his contract one of the worst in the league. There have been skeptics of what his true impact could be. Klay’s just glad he finally has a chance to shut people up tomorrow.
"I know myself. I know how good I am. I know the things I've done. It's like, how many times do I have to do something that no one else has ever done before and get respect? Do I have to go score 50 in a quarter now? Like, what the hell? It's whatever though, man. It's over with. I'm going to use it as fuel,” Thompson told the media.
Did you see that?
@NBAHistory is one of the best Twitter follows out there for their nostalgic content. Today, they reminded people that Jamal Crawford brought the streets to the NBA.
On this day in 2008… Jamal Crawford mesmerized in transition with the handle! #NBAVault #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/8qJZXgtkjo
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 8, 2022
