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Popular NBA Matchups by comments - Wednesday, Dec 12th
NBA Live News sorted by date
ESPN.com: The Clippers' bold plan to land Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant
The Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors play Wednesday night (ESPN, 10:30 ET) in a game this is sure to be closely watched ... by the LA Clippers.
The Clippers, it seems, closely watch every Raptors and Warriors game this season. Even though they are having a terrific season of their own -- experiencing the rare joy of expectation-free success in the NBA -- the Clippers are rather transparently obsessed with chasing Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in free agency next summer.
It's clear on their books.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: Report: Cavs' Tristan Thompson to Miss Two to Four Weeks With Sprained Foot
Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson is expected to miss two to four weeks with a sprained foot, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The 2016 NBA Champion exited Monday night's game against Milwaukee midway through the third period after he fell to the floor following an awkward landing on Bucks' Malcolm Brogdon's foot. Thompson did not return.
Thompson, 27, told reporters after the game that his left foot was "a little sore and swollen."
"I just fell forward on it, it'll be all right," Thompson said. "It happens when you're rebounding and the little guys are down there.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Three at 3: There Will Be Plenty of Points in Suns-Spurs
Despite a tough Monday evening, Three and 3 remains 9-6 with its picks over its last five nights in action. Here's what's on tap for Tuesday.
1. Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets (-6.5)
8:00 pm ET
This season has been an absolute grind for the Rockets, who have gone from winning 65 games a year ago to finding themselves battling just to earn a spot in the Western Conference playoffs. One of Houston's biggest problems is its defense, as the team is currently 26th in the league in defensive efficiency rating.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Sixers' Jimmy Butler Suffered No Structural Damage to Strained Groin
Jimmy Butler is doubtful for the Sixers' matchup against the Nets on Wednesday night, coach Brett Brown said on Tuesday.
Butler sat out Tuesday's practice after the All-Star guard suffered a strained groin in the first quarter of Monday's 116-102 win over Detroit. Butler left the floor with two minutes and 20 seconds left in the first quarter and did not return to the game.
MRI results on Butler's injury showed no structural damage, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.
"The MRI came back favorable, but we will list him as doubtful for tomorrow night," Brown said.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: NBA Draft
Strengths
- Will be one of the best athletes in the NBA right out of the gate. Dunk-contest candidate but also highly functional athleticism within games. Possesses a freakish combination of power, explosiveness, dexterity, coordination and body control.
- Has a very high basketball IQ and is far more skilled than he gets credit for. Good ball handler and passer. Intriguing option as a grab-and-go or pick-and-roll operator with his elite first step. Terrific footwork and ability to change speeds forcefully.
- Really impressive defender when he's locked in and operating at full intensity.- ESPN.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Tristan Thompson out 2-4 weeks with sprained foot
Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson is expected to miss two weeks to a month with a sprained left foot, league sources told ESPN.
Thompson left Monday night's loss to Milwaukee in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon's foot.
The Cavaliers are still without All-Star forward Kevin Love, who could be sidelined until January following toe surgery.
Thompson, 27, is averaging 12 points and 11.6 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers. Cleveland dropped to 6-21 with the loss to Milwaukee.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: NASA Invites Steph Curry for Tour After He Says Moon Landing Didn't Happen
Warriors superstar Steph Curry and teammate Andre Iguodala revealed their skepticism about the 1969 moon landing on Monday's episode of the Ringer's "Winging It" podcast hosted by Hawks teammates Vince Carter and Kent Bazemore-and NASA isn't having it.
Right before the 47-minute mark of the podcast, Curry asks the group: "We ever been to the moon?"
Two "no's" are floated before Golden State's All-Star responds and says, "They gonna come get us because I don't think so either."
After someone mentions moon landing conspiracy theories, Fineburg asks Curry, "You really don't think so?"
"Nuh-uh," Curry said, confirming his belief that the moon landing was staged.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Bulls Mutiny, Suns Misery, and the Power of Bad Ownership in the NBA
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Horrible losses, firings, and bad roster decisions: The Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns are at the top of the list when talking about dysfunctional teams in the NBA. So why have the owners remained completely immune to any kind of accountability?
On Monday morning I was talking to a friend who said, "The beauty of the NBA is that if you're a dysfunctional franchise, you're only going to get jokes for a couple of weeks because someone will outdo you.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Lopez: Bulls 'came out the better' for meetings
CHICAGO - The Bulls coaches and players agree on at least one thing: the team meetings that were held on Sunday instead of a scheduled practice were needed for the young team.
Players said that despite emotions running high on Sunday, shootaround on Monday ahead of the team's game against the Sacramento Kings was productive.
"I think we came out the better for it," Robin Lopez said of Sunday's meetings. "I think we're more understanding."
Coach Jim Boylen emphatically pushed back on the notion that the entire team did not want to practice Sunday.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: Watch: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade Face Off at Staples Center in Final Matchup
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade met for the 31st time as opponents on Monday night as the Lakers hosted the Heat at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The pair entered tied in their all-time head-to-head at 15-15, making what is expected to be their final matchup a rubber match.
Wade is expected to retire at the end of 2018-19. He announced his return to Miami on a one-year contract in September.
"I feel it's right to ask you guys to ask you to join me for one last dance, for one last season," Wade said in a video.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Report: Nuggets PF Paul Millsap to Miss 4-6 Weeks With Broken Big Toe
Nuggets forward Paul Millsap is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a broken big toe, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. Millsap injured his toe in a 113-107 loss to the Hornets on Dec. 7.
The four-time All-Star is averaging 13.6 points per game in 2018-19, his lowest mark since 2009-10. Millsap is in his second year with the Nuggets, signing a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver in July 2017.
The Nuggets have a team option for Millsap after this season.
Millsap's injury vs. Charlotte marks his second significant injury with the Nuggets.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Kobe Bryant on MJ vs. LeBron GOAT Debate: 'Regular People Ask Very Simple Questions'
Kobe Bryant believes fans still debating whether he, LeBron James or Michael Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all-time are asking "immature" questions.
In a conversation on Barstool Sports "The Corp" Podcast, Bryant was asked by Dan Katz (Big Cat) who he believed was better.
"See, that's the type of immature question people are asking," Bryant said laughing. "I know this is what regular fans talk about."
When Katz pressed and asked if his non-answer meant he believed he was the greatest, Bryant added, "What I'm saying is regular people asky really simple questions.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Report: Chicago Bulls Players Contacted NBPA About Jim Boylen's Tactics
Chicago Bulls players contacted the National Basketball Players Association on Sunday to express concern over "extreme tactics" used by head coach Jim Boylen, Vincent Goodwill and Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported.
According to the report, Bulls players filed a report with the NBPA after Boylen called for a lengthy practice following back-to-back games. Chicago is coming off the worst loss in franchise history: a 56-point pounding at the hands of the Celtics on Saturday.
Sunday's move is the culmination of growing divide between the players and their new coach, who has been at the helm for just one week after replacing fired coach Fred Hoiberg on Monday.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Report: NBA League Pass Will Be Available for Purchase by the Quarter
The NBA is set to announce plans to make NBA League Pass games available for purchase by the quarter, The Action Network's Darren Rovell reported on Monday.
According to Rovell, the league will start selling the final three quarters of any League Pass game for $4.99. The second half and fourth quarter will be priced at $2.99 and $1.99, respectively.
The NBA originally introduced the fourth-quarter-only option in September.
"We imagine a situation where a fan has dinner at 8 o'clock and only has 30 minutes and can choose to buy a half-hour of a game," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in September.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: 2018-19 NBA First-Quarter Awards: Giannis Antetokounmpo Leads MVP Race
It's around this time, with more than a quarter of the season in the books, that the NBA field begins to congeal into its eventual shape. Trends have faded or become real. Outlier performances have begun to wash out in the churn of the schedule. There is enough data on record to consider where the league stands, and within it, the players and teams who will come to define this season. With that, let's take stock of the NBA's various award races at the quarter-season mark, to get an initial sense of where things stand.
Runners-up: 2.
- SI.com: Full Article
NBA Bettor Insights sorted by time
There's potential here for a blowout! If the Spurs are able to get a good start they may not turn back and will put the lights out on the Suns. DeRozan and Aldridge should enjoy this matchup. Easy choice on this one....Spurs!
- Comment
- 1 Agree
The Rockets just havent been able to buy a win lately and melted down in the 4th quarter meltdown against the Mavericks on Sunday. The Trailblazers haven't played since Saturday's win over T-wolves so, even though a road trip, they should be relatively rested and full of confidence. These teams last met on Oct 30 and it was the Trailblazers who won by 104-85. I like the 6.5 points here tonight in what should be a closely contested game.
My Pick: Portland +6.5
- Comment
- 7 Agree
The Star: Wednesday NBA preview: Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors
ORACLE ARENA
TIPOFF: 10:30 p.m.
TV: TSN
RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The Fan
PROBABLE STARTERS
Toronto: Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka.
Golden State: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney.
KEY MATCHUP
Lowry vs. Curry
Might be one-sided.
- The Star: Full Article
Gritty > Pretty
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 11, 2018
The squad came alive down the stretch last night in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/0fXcr5DsnV- Comment
- 12 Agree
Let's stay hot in Houston.#RipCity pic.twitter.com/6imCRG3b5e
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 11, 2018- Comment
- 10 Agree
The spread is a toss up IMO. Both @Jay_Z and @SimonSays have valid points and the stats on these two teams basically wash each other out. The only signs of confidence I can find on this game is that both teams go Over more often than under so Im going to play the over on this one.
My Pick: Over 219
- Comment
- 21 Agree
Clips Nation: Clippers vs. Raptors Preview: Clips Take on Kawhi Leonard and NBA-Best Raptors
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to watch: NBA TV, Fox Sports Prime Ticket
<strong>Projected Starting Lineups:</strong> <strong>Injuries:</strong>Raptors: Norman Powell Out (shoulder)
Clippers: Luc Mbah a Moute Out (knee), Jerome Robinson Out (ankle), Lou Williams Questionable (hamstring)
<strong>The Big Picture:</strong>The Clippers narrowly avoided their first three game losing streak of the season last night with a 123-119 win over the tanking Phoenix Suns. After trading baskets with the Suns for much of the game, and then trailing by as many as 9 points late in the 4th, the Clippers were able to pull through with a small-ball lineup in overtime.
- Clips Nation: Full Article
Man this game is tough. I think Rockets take care of business because they have been playing horrendous past few games. 6.5 points is a lot for a team with Dame Dolla but the fact is, Blazers are not a good team on the road. I'm going with Rockets here
- Comment
- 12 Agree
Easy money here with the Spurs. I'm going with Under 218. Suns are playing back-to-back from an OT loss against the Clippers. This Over/Under is way too high imo
- @TWhitefordUnders and Phoenix to cover
Clippers come into this game on a back-to-back where they played in OT against the Suns lmao. #WeTheSecondRoundExit lost to the Bucks but I look for them to bounce back today. Plus Lou Williams is probably not playing and that's gonna hurt the Clippers. I'm going with Raptors .
- Comment
- 18 Agree
