NBA Cup play resumed on Friday, with 10 games across the Association. Notable results included the Cleveland Cavaliers losing their third game of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves snapping their four-game losing skid, and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulling away from the Lakers in the final minutes for a solid road victory.
The Atlanta Hawks may or may not indeed have the Cavaliers number, but their two consecutive victories over the team that as of now houses the league's best record (17-3) are nonetheless impressive. On Wednesday, the Hawks won by 11. On Friday, they were more decisive in a 117-101 win, fueled by a 39-23 third quarter. De'Andre Hunter was great on Wednesday (26 points) and scored 23 on Friday afternoon. He is averaging 18.2 points on 47 percent shooting this season. He was 5-for-9 from deep on Wednesday (9-for-16 overall) and 4-for-7 from deep (7-for-12 overall) on Friday.
Trae Young, who dished out 22 assists on Wednesday just four days after New Orleans Pelican Elfrid Payton offered 21, scored 21 points on an efficient 7-for-12 on Friday, along with 11 assists. While he has never been the most efficient player (39 percent shooting this season, 44 for his career) and forces the issue at times, his is one of the top guard playmakers in the game and his passing ability is benefits a 9-11 Hawk team that has some high quality young talent. Jalen Johnson was also key on Friday with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9-for-14 shooting.
On the Cavalier side of the things, Donovan Mitchell had an extremely poor outing, going just 5-for-23 for 12 points. Percentage wise, it was the 15th-worst shooting night of his career and the third-worst shooting night of his career when he has shot the ball at least 20 times (he was 5-for-26 on Dec. 19, 2018 against the Golden State Warriors and 3-for-21 on Nov. 7, 2017 against the Philadelphia 76ers; he had another 5-for-23 night on Nov. 18, 2019 vs. the Timberwolves).
Darius Garland was the Cavs' top performer on Friday with 29 points on 11-for-19 (5-for-8 from downtown) while Evan Mobley put up 24 points and 12 rebounds on 10-for-17 shooting.
The Hawks (3-1) are tops in Group C and have clinched their group, while the Cavaliers (1-2) are eliminated. The two teams will meet again on January 30 in Cleveland.
At home on Friday, the Timberwolves snuck by the Los Angeles Clippers 93-92 to end a short losing skid.
Anthony Edwards was just 7-for-21 for the now 9-10 Timberwolves but did connect on 4-of-9 from downtown. Mike Conley scored 13 points while Julius Randle (4-for-9) registered a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Rudy Gobert added 12 rebounds.
James Harden did not have his most efficient night (7-for-20), but played a complete game with 20 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals. Kevin Porter Jr. (6-for-10) added 17 points off the bench while Ivica Zubac posted 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Clippers are now 12-9 with the win (7-4 at home).
Both teams are eliminated from the NBA Cup.
The Lakers (11-8) were collectively outscored 62-48 in the first and fourth quarters in their 101-93 loss to the 15-4 Thunder, the visitors handing the Lakers just their third loss at home this season (the Lakers are 7-3 at home).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (36 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 13-for-28 shooting) led the Thunder, who are 7-2 on the road this season. Jalen Williams (8-for-19) scored 19 points while Isaiah Hartenstein in his fourth game of the season pulled down 18 rebounds to go along with 11 points and 5 assists. The 26-year-old has put up a double-double in each game he has played thus far. Lu Dort (14 points) shot the ball well from downtown, making four of his five attempts. The visitors went on a 9-2 run in the last 2:47 of the game.
Dalton Knecht led the Lakers with 20 points (7-for-17) on an off-night for LeBron James (12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 5-for-13 shooting, 0-for-4 from downtown) and in a game where Anthony Davis only took nine shots. Davis had an impactful all-around game though, with 15 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 7 assists and 4 blocks. D'Angelo Russell scored 17 off the bench (6-for-11, 4-for-9 from deep), but the Lakers once again needed Austin Reaves (3-for-11, 1-for-9 from downtown for 11 points) to step up and he did not. The Lakers turned the ball over 17 times while the Thunder did just nine times.
The Thunder, 2-1 in NBA Cup action, are second in their group while the Lakers (2-2) are eliminated and will not be repeating as Cup champions.
Around the League
Knicks 99 (11-8, 3-0 NBA Cup)
Hornets 98 (6-13, 0-3 NBA Cup)
Brunson: 31 PTS, 6 AST (9-for-18 FG, 4-for-6 3PT)
Towns: 19 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST (8-for-16 FG)
Miller: 20 PTS, 6 REB (7-for-25 FG, 2-for-11 3PT)
Ball: DNP (calf)
CHA: Led 23-15 after 1Q
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Grizzlies 120 (13-7, 1-2 NBA Cup)
Pelicans 109 (4-16, 1-3 NBA Cup)
Jackson Jr.: 23 PTS, 8 REB (9-for-18 FG)
Morant: 27 PTS, 7 AST (10-for-18 FG)
Aldama: 20 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST (8-for-9 FG)
McCollum: 30 PTS (11-for-19 FG)
Murray, Murphy III: 21 PTS
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Magic 123 (14-7, 3-0 NBA Cup)
Nets 100 (9-11, 1-3 NBA Cup)
Franz Wagner: 29 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB (12-for-20 FG)
Caldwell-Pope: 19 PTS (4-for-5 3PT)
Milton: 22 PTS (7-for-13 FG)
Johnson: 14 PTS (5-for-10 FG)
Schroder: DNP (personal)
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Pistons 130 (9-12, 3-0 NBA Cup)
Pacers 106 (9-11, 0-3 NBA Cup)
Cunningham: 24 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB (10-for-19 FG)
Beasley: 25 PTS (10-for-14 FG)
Ivey: 23 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB (8-for-13 FG)
Siakam: 21 PTS, 9 REB (9-for-19 FG)
Haliburton: 19 PTS, 5 AST (8-for-13 FG)
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Heat 121 (9-8, 2-2 NBA Cup)
Raptors 111 (5-15, 0-3 NBA Cup)
Butler: 26 PTS, 6 AST (8-for-14 FG)
Herro: 23 PTS (8-for-18 FG)
Barrett: 25 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB (10-for-18 FG)
Barnes: 24 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST (8-for-15 FG)
Poeltl: 24 PTS, 10 REB (10-for-11 FG)
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Celtics 138 (16-3, 3-1 NBA Cup)
Bulls 129 (8-13, 2-2 NBA Cup)
Tatum: 35 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST (12-for-18 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)
Pritchard: 29 PTS, 7 REB (10-for-16 FG, 7-for-11 3PT)
Porzingis, Brown: 21 PTS
Vucevic: 32 PTS, 11 REB (11-for-16 FG, 6-for-9 3PT)
LaVine: 29 PTS (11-for-22 FG)
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Trail Blazers 115 (8-12, 2-1 NBA Cup)
Kings 106 (9-11, 0-3 NBA Cup)
Ayton: 26 PTS, 9 REB (11-for-19 FG)
Simons: 21 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB (8-for-14 FG)
Avdija: 20 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST (7-for-15 FG)
Monk: 29 PTS, 9 AST (10-for-21 FG)
Fox: 22 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (8-for-18 FG)
Sabonis: 21 PTS, 14 REB, 11 AST (8-for-10 FG)
DeRozan: DNP (back)
BKN, CHA, MIA, TOR, IND, CHI, SAC, NOP: Eliminated from NBA Cup
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