Ten Takeaways From 1/9/25
ONE) Garland 40-Burger
Hello friends. There’s a lot going on right now. Admittedly, didn’t get to watch a lot of basketball today, but still wanted to get one of these out on stuff that I noticed.
Cleveland gave Donovan Mitchell a scheduled rest day. Thought they might cap some of the other Cavs after that intense game against OKC last night but the minutes were pretty normal. Atkinson admittedly tries to not play his guys over 30 minutes anyway. Caris LeVert scored 18 points on his first start of the season. (All-Star) Darius Garland scored a season-high 40 points on 77.0% TS. They probably would have lost without him. Evan Mobley in the B2B had 7 and 6 assists.
Last night, Chris Boucher checked in for garbage time with about four minutes to go and went on to make ten straight points without a miss. It carried over. He scored 11 points in the first quarter without a miss (4-4 FG, 3-3 3PT). He finished with 23 points (9-14 FG) and 12 boards.
The Cavs beat the Raptors 132-126. Cleveland’s won 12 straight.
TWO) Steve Kerr <3
Been critical of Steve Kerr all season because of that 11 or 12-man rotation he rolls out but we’re not doing that today. Kerr’s family home was one of the houses lost in the Palisades wildfire. Thankfully, his 90-year-old mother safely evacuated. He said that coaching would help provide him an escape for a few hours. Man, that was his childhood home.
“That's my hometown, and all my friends who are from there, pretty much, they've all lost, lost their homes, their family homes, child, our whole high school is gone… Not a loss of life. A loss of property. Completely different thing.” - Steve Kerr
God bless him.
THREE) Gui
Andrew Wiggins missed because of personal reasons. If only we all had as many personal days as he’s had over the last two seasons. Kidding aside, Wiggins and his wife are expecting their baby to be delivered so he’ll also be out tomorrow. Buddy Hield (19 points, 32 minutes) started for him. Draymond Green (7 points 4 stocks) was questionable with an ankle sprain but we knew he wasn’t going to miss a homecoming game in Detroit. Steph’s wrist or thumb looked like it was bothering him. He finished with 17 points on 36.6% TS (5-21 FG, 2-14 3PT). Gui Santos, yes Gui Santos (13 points) played 26 minutes. F*cking Kerr.
Ausar Thompson (illness) returned to the starting lineup after missing the last couple of games. Malik Beasley (21 points) also stuck with the starters because Tim Hardaway Jr. (back tightness) was a late downgrade to out.
“How many battles, little battles can you win? Box out, loose ball. He won a million battles tonight. That’s what wins games.” - Steve Kerr on Gui Santos
The Warriors beat the Pistons 107-104. The Pistons’ five-game win streak is over.
FOUR) No Paolo Yet
Chris Haynes released another one of his Hayens Briefs (so stupid) earlier in the day where he pretty much just confirmed what Shame already reported. That Paolo (oblique) was going to make his return on Friday against the Bucks so we’re gonna have to wait another day. Cole Anthony (12 points, 27 minutes) continues to start over Anthony Black.
Anthony Edwards detonated Anthony Black. To be fair, Black looked like he knew what was coming and tried getting out of the way but it was too late. Don’t know about you but I’d probably rank it in his top 10 posters. Mike Conley was a +23 in 23 minutes.
“It was a nice one, but he a guard. I can’t really count those.” - Anthony Edwards on his dunk
The Timberwolves beat the Magic 104-89.
FIVE) Missed FTs Didn’t Matter
The Rockets missed 17 free throws (24-41 FT) and still somehow won.
Tari Eason missed his 11th straight game and this time, Ime Udoka didn't assign any sort of timeline. Think he’s tired of getting his hopes up.
"I wouldn't give it a game or a date, but nothing has changed as far as (when he might return). Same schedule- ramp up on the off days and see how he feels on game day. When he's ready, we'll know." - Ime Udoka on Tari Eason
No surprise but Dillon Brooks (5 points, 5 rebounds) was playing with a lot of physicality against his former team. The Memphis crowd showed Steven Adams a lot of love. Alperen Sengun had 31 points and 13 rebounds through the first three quarters.
Desmond Bane didn’t attempt one shot in the first half and finished with 16 points. Woulda had 19 had Taylor Jenkins not called a timeout before Bane made the game-tying three with 4 seconds left.
"We just gotta be better. I gotta be better." - Taylor Jenkins
The Rockers beat the Grizzlies 119-115.
SIX) 16-0
The Trailblazers were leading 109-99 with a little more than 4 minutes to go. Then the Mavs went on a 16-0 run and closed out the game with a win. Daniel Gafford (ankle) returned despite Jason Kidd saying he was “going to be out for some time” three days ago. I don’t know why Jaden Hardy isn’t starting yet cause he’s been playing out of his mind lately. He scored 18 in the first half and finished with 25 in 29 minutes. Dereck Lively II scored a season-high 21 points (9-13 FG) and pulled down a career-high-tying (game-high) 16 rebounds. Jason Kidd gave an update on Kyrie Irving…
" He looks great. Seems mentally in a great place. Physically, he looks great. I would say that, hopefully, soon he starts to do some basketball stuff and see how his back reacts to that."
Portland rested Robert Williams III. Scoot Henderson attempted a season-high 12 free throws, four more than the rest of the team combined (8).
“It’s so sad what’s taking place with Mother Nature in LA. We checked in with the guys this morning & afternoon to make sure the guys who are from LA that everything is alright. It seems like everything is alright so far.” - Jason Kidd on the LA fires
The Mavericks beat the Trailblazers 117-111.
SEVEN) Nurkic DNP-CD
That escalated quickly. Budenholzer went from benching Jusuf Nurkic to not playing him at all. Thought it was strange when Oso Ighodaro (25 minutes) was the first big to check in for Mason Plumlee (2 points, 10 rebounds). Was also weird when Josh Okogie subbed in ahead of Bradley Beal but he only played 4 minutes in the first half.
"Yeah, just went with Mason and Oso tonight. Again, just always trying to figure out what's best for the team and find the right combinations, the right group." - Mike Budenholzer on not playing Nurkic
He also said that it wasn’t a matchup decision. Nurk said that Budenholzer didn't have a discussion with him about this either. Devin Booker (20 points, 12 assists) has 10+ assists in three straight games for the first time in his career. Probably the most notable change since Bradley Beal (25 points) went to the bench. Beal’s been flourishing in that role, averaging 20.0 PPG since the change.
Vít Krejci (12 points, 6 assists, 26 minutes) started for Jalen Johnson (shoulder) again. Bogdan Bogdanovic (17 points, 77.3% TS) was downgraded to questionable because of right knee inflammation but still played.
The Suns beat the Hawks 123-115.
EIGHT) JJJ Coming On
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 78.4% TS) has really stepped up since the Jimmy Butler suspension. He’s a big reason why they’ve won two of three.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over His Last Three Games:
18.0 PTS
8.0 REB
6.0 AST
40.0% 3PT
62.4% TS
Tyler Herro (23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) has made at least one three-pointer in 70 straight games. New Heat record. They let JJJ (19.8% USG) and Jovic (22.5% USG) handle the ball a bit more. Terry Rozier had 0 points at the half (0-4 FG) and finished with 9 points.
Walker Kessler has been playing his best ball, averaging 13.5 PPG, 14.5 REB and 1.5 BLK over his last four games.
“We couldn’t get anything clean. So he just stepped out a little bit further. He has that ability of some of the great shooters in this game: like Curry and Lillard and now Tyler.” - Spoelstra comparing Tyler Herro's shooting to Steph/Dame
The Heat beat the Jazz 97-92.
NINE) Your Daily Jimmy Update
It’s now been reported that even though the Heat are trying to trade Jimmy Butler, there are no appealing offers. Shocker, right? Their plan at this point is for Jimmy to rejoin the team for the Denver game once the suspension is done.
Gonna be a lot harder to ‘quiet quit’ now.
TEN) Lakers/Hornets PPD
The NBA postponed the Lakers/Hornets game due to the raging wildfires out here in the LA area. The NFL also moved the Rams game to Arizona on Monday, ruining my plans but that’s a different story.
This was expected. Not gonna bore you with the details but I will say that it’s incredibly hard to breathe outside. There’s just smoke everywhere.
It was reported that JJ Redick also lost his home in the fires so yeah, we’re all in hell right now. My heart goes out to everyone affected. I don’t know what else to say or do. I feel helpless.