Scoreboard
Bucks 150, Pistons 130
Magic 113, Celtics 98
Bulls 111, Hawks 100
Rockets 119, Timberwolves 114
Jazz 120, Hornets 102
Trail Blazers 147, Spurs 127
Kings 133, Grizzlies 100
What went down
After seeing the Hollywood lights, the Memphis Grizzlies got beamed up in Sacramento as the Kings cruised to an easy win.
It's easy to dismiss this game as Ja Morant and Steven Adams both sat out to rest on the second of a back-to-back. But it's no longer cool to dismiss the Kings – a team that will give-and-go and pick-and-roll opponents to submission.
The Kings opened the game with 12 triples in the first quarter, tying an NBA record. They waltzed to the win from there as the Grizzlies just couldn’t weather their offense.
The Kings just tied an NBA record with 12 threes in the first quarter 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2023
📲 https://t.co/WjxYAo0Ivs pic.twitter.com/LmsBd5DVXi
Six Kings scored in double-digits led by Trey Lyles who had 24 points off the bench. Rookie Keegan Murray and veteran Harrison Barnes each had 20 points while De’Aaron Fox had 17 points and 10 assists. The Kings chalked up their seventh win in 10 games, giving them a 27-19 record.
Just in front of the Kings for second place in the West are the 31-16 Memphis Grizzlies, who have dropped their third straight game. California has not been kind to them.
Out East, the Milwaukee Bucks finally got healthy, welcoming Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton back to the lineup with a big road win over the Detroit Pistons.
The Bucks raced to a big lead at the half against the rebuilding Pistons and managed to collect 150 points, the most they’ve scored in a game since tallying 150 in a win against the Washington Wizards in 2020.
Giannis has 20 points on 100% FG in the first quarter 😳
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/1pomQZN8Pi pic.twitter.com/Nys5xBfuZp
For a team many are saying haven't lived up to expectations, the Bucks are doing quite well in the standings. They’re third in the East at 30-17, just four games behind first-place Boston.
Big-time baller
Who is the best player on the Houston Rockets? That’s been a hot button topic on the internet right now for a team that’s on its third year of rebuilding with more of the same developmental talk in the horizon.
The Jalen Green fans got plenty of ammunition today as the former no. 2 overall pick dropped a career-high 42 points with six triples against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
42 PTS (career-high)
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2023
4 REB
4 AST
6 Threes
A career night for Jalen Green in the Rockets W 🚀 pic.twitter.com/zr2blrGZlq
In his sophomore year, Green hasn’t shown as much improvement as people expected, but he has been making strides. He was always going to be a project and games like this show why a little more patience could go a long way.
What he said
The NBA debuted Throw It Down earlier today for the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers game. This is the NBA’s spin on the NFL’s Manningcast – an alternate broadcast where Bill Walton provides his own psychedelic commentary to a game as he brings on guests to the show.
Walton lived up to his reputation as the first edition of Throw It Down was equal parts poetic and hysterical. For those searching for a new way to experience games, you can’t go wrong with welcoming Bill Walton to your living room.
Bill Walton compares Damian Lillard to a Grateful Dead song 🤣
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2023
Watch him on #NBAThrowItDown live on the NBA App.
📲 https://t.co/r95VzsNYMu pic.twitter.com/qlNb74L5hy
Did you see that?
This might have been the first notification you saw on your phone: the Los Angeles Lakers finally made a trade, shipping three second round picks and Kendrick Nunn to Washington for Rui Hachimura, the no. 9 overall pick in the 2019 Draft.
This was an easier deal for the Wizards, who needed to clear playing time at the forward position and had run their relationship with their former lottery pick dry. The Lakers get much needed wing help, but it remains to be seen just how well Hachimura, a career 35.6 percent 3-point shooter, does for a Los Angeles team starved of perimeter shooting.
In Orlando, the Magic not only got a win over the league-leading Boston Celtics, they also welcomed back Jonathan Isaac.
First bucket back is a tough turnaround jumper 💪 https://t.co/NvOI1dFGkN pic.twitter.com/5tMtlxXxvt
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2023
Isaac last played in the Disney bubble in 2020 after tearing his ACL. Several setbacks have cost him over two years of his career, but he did look pretty good in his return. Isaac adds more wing depth and defense for a tall and fun Magic squad.
