Monday night saw an eight-game slate in the league, with a budding young player continuing his high level of play, a veteran star leading his team in his comeback from injury, and a Canadian starring for his team in his homeland.
In Sacramento, Dyson Daniels scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 4 shots for the Atlanta Hawks in their 109-108 win over the Kings. None of Daniels’ rejections was bigger than the one he had on Kings’ star De’Aaron Fox to clinch the game. Fox, with the ball and spinning into the paint on the left side, elevated for a short jump shot. Daniels, with precise reaction time, knocked Fox’s attempt away with 1.8 seconds on the clock, retrieving the ball and keeping the clock running to preserve the win. De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks in the scoring column with 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting in 25 minutes, while Trae Young dished out 19 assists. Fox, with 28 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, was the top performer for the Kings (8-7).
The Hawks, who improved to 7-8, are one of the early surprises of the season, with Daniels, an offseason acquisition from New Orleans, making a name for himself. Daniels so far this season has the second most all-time steals plus blocks average, with his 4.5 trailing Michael Jordan’s 1987-1988 average of 4.8.
The Toronto Raptors (3-12) ended their seven-game losing streak with a 130-119 win over the Indiana Pacers (6-8). Led by R.J. Barrett’s 39 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists (13-for-21), the Raptors also received 30 points and 15 rebounds (13-for-18) from Jakob Poeltl. The 29-year-old center is averaging 17.1 points and 11.9 rebounds this season and has been a pleasant surprise. In his previous two games he had put up 35 points and 12 rebounds and 25 points and 18 rebounds.
Leading the now 6-8 Pacers on the evening was Montreal native Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting (four triples) along with 5 rebounds. Former Raptor Pascal Siakam put up 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Playing his first game in 10 days due to a previously sprained ankle, the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler scored 30 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had 5 assists on a super efficient 8-for-12 shooting in the Heat’s comfortable 106-89 win over the struggling Philadelphia 76ers. Bam Adebayo had 13 rebounds and Tyler Herro 18 points, but Herro struggled shooting going just 6-for-15 and 2-for-10 from downtown. The win brought the Heat to within one game of .500, at 6-7.
The 76ers continue to be disappointing at 2-11, a lone bright spot being rookie Jared McCain, who scored 20 points on 8-for-16 and four made threes. Paul George was just 5-for-13 for 18 points while Joel Embiid put up just 11 points and 8 rebounds.
George has yet to find a groove this season, averaging just 16.7 points on 40 percent shooting for the 76ers. Embiid is only putting up 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds on 32 percent shooting. The team needs Tyrese Maxey, who is still dealing with his hamstring injury.
Around the League
Bulls 122 (6-9)
Pistons 112 (7-9)
Vucevic: 29 PTS, 12 REB (11-for-18 FG, 6-for-8 3PT)
LaVine: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (7-for-14 3PT)
LaVine: 16 points in 4th quarter
Cunningham: 26 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB (8-for-17 FG)
Duren: 15 PTS, 22 REB (7-for-13 FG)
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Knicks 134 (8-6)
Wizards 106 (2-11)
Brunson: 26 PTS, 11 AST (9-for-15 FG)
Towns: 24 PTS, 12 REB (8-for-14 FG)
Carrington: 18 PTS, 4 REB (7-for-16 FG)
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Bucks 101 (5-9)
Rockets 100 (10-5)
Lopez: 27 PTS, 10 REB (11-for-15 FG)
Antetokounmpo: 20 PTS, 13 REB (9-for-17 FG)
Lillard: 18 PTS, 10 AST (6-for-18 FG, game-winning scoop layup)
VanVleet: 26 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST (9-for-23 FG)
Green: 21 PTS, 9 REB (9-for-24 FG)
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Magic 109 (9-6)
Suns 99 (9-6)
Franz Wagner: 32 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST (12-for-24 FG)
Anthony Black: 20 PTS, 9 AST off bench (5-for-10 FG)
Bitadze: 17 PTS, 8 REB (7-for-8 FG)
Magic: Six consecutive wins
Jones: 18 PTS, 8 AST (7-for-17 FG)
Booker: 17 PTS (5-for-14 FG, 1-for-7 3PT)
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Clippers 102 (8-7)
Warriors 99 (10-3)
Powell: 23 PTS (9-for-15 FG, 5-for-6 3PT)
Harden: 12 PTS, 16 AST, 6 REB (4-for-15 FG)
Zubac: 8 PTS, 17 REB
Curry: 26 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST (10-for-21 FG, 6-for-15 3PT)
Wiggins: 22 PTS (7-for-12 FG)
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Bulls Legend Bob Love Passes Away
Bob Love, a three-time all-star with the Chicago Bulls in the 1970s, passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. He was 81.
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