NBA Scores: Nikola Jokic constructing plain case for MVP 3-peat

It appeared unimaginable only a week or two in the past, however *cue announcer voice* the Boston Celtics have been unseated from the “best record in the NBA” throne following back-to-back losses to the Orlando Magic.

The solely staff hotter than Orlando? The New York Knicks, who’ve now gained seven straight after a 2-6 stretch left some calling for jobs and trades.

The solely entity in basketball hotter than New York? The league’s double-defending MVP, Nikola Jokic, who left jaws on the ground as soon as once more on Sunday. He’s engaging in statistical anomalies that haven’t been sniffed since Wilt Chamberlain and setting himself up nicely to be this century’s first MVP 3-peat.

Orlando upsets Boston, 95-92, for sixth straight win

Even with out Jayson Tatum, the Celtics shouldn’t have any bother with the Magic. They shouldn’t have had any bother with the Magic on Friday both when Orlando gained 117-109. The Magic as a substitute went 2-0 within the mini-series between squads as Boston couldn’t bounce again resulting from struggling mightily from the sphere with out their MVP candidate, taking pictures simply 34.8% from the sphere and 25.5% from deep.

Rookie of the Year candidate Paolo Banchero was the largest risk for Orlando, ending with practically a 3rd of his squad’s factors at 31, together with 6-7 from three. The Magic as a staff shot 41.4% from three (though simply 6-22 or 27.2% when you solely have a look at gamers not named Banchero), which was their greatest statistical benefit.

This one had some further gas on the hearth after Celtics broadcaster and former sharpshooter Eddie House talked a bunch of smack on Orlando after their first win towards Boston. The gamers responded after the win by tweeting a gif of House getting smacked by Magic guard Rafer Alston throughout a 2009 playoff sequence.

Knicks prolong successful streak to seven with 109-106 win over Pacers

Back and forth to the very finish, this one was determined on the free throw line the place New York (23-30) outshot Indiana (15-23) by quantity and effectivity. Four of the Knicks starters had large video games, together with double doubles from Julius Randle (25 factors and 14 rebounds) and Mitchell Robinson (10 and 13) whereas Jalen Brunson led them in scoring (30) and RJ Barrett scored 24 for his fifth straight 20+ level night time.

Kyrie, Durant an excessive amount of for Pistons as Nets win, 124-121

Brooklyn will get their sixth straight win, and nonetheless, each Nets field rating is similar. Kyrie Irving takes a 3rd of the scoring load, Kevin Durant takes a 3rd of the scoring load, and the remainder of the staff feasts on the ultimate third. In this specific occasion, the 2 stars mixed for 81 of Brooklyn’s 124 factors:

Poole, Warriors beat Raptors 126-110 in first Steph-less win of season

Golden State got here into this recreation 0-4 in video games with out the defending Finals MVP, shedding every contest by a mean of 16.75 factors per recreation. In these video games, nevertheless, Jordan Poole didn’t step as much as hold 40+ on the opponent like he did on this one. His 43 factors on 14-23 taking pictures in simply 35 minutes smashes his earlier career-best of 38 factors whereas he additionally tied for the team-leading six assists within the recreation.

The Raptors had been led – as they seemingly at all times are – in scoring by Pascal Siakam (27), Fred VanVleet (22), and Scottie Barnes (17), they usually have some choices to be remodeled the subsequent couple months earlier than the commerce deadline. Toronto presently sits simply 2.5 video games out from the fifth greatest draft odds, which might imply a 42.1% probability at a high 4 choose and a ten.5% probability on the high choose, in any other case generally known as Victor Wembanyama.

Wolves hold a crooked quantity on Bulls in 150-126 win

In phrases of needing to face the person within the mirror, the Bulls are in a good worse spot than the aforementioned Raptors. Chicago is a recreation and a half behind Toronto within the standings with some larger property to handle, like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. They account for 2 of the three 20+ level video games from the Bulls on Sunday, however scoring isn’t the largest challenge if you’re totaling 126 factors in regulation.

Minnesota took benefit of one of many higher Anthony Edwards video games of his profession, ending with 37 factors (13-25 FG), seven rebounds, and 11 assists together with two steals. One of seven Wolves in double figures, Nathan Knight posted a season-high 16 factors in his season-high 26 minutes. With the win, the Wolves hold the Warriors out of the play-in image and keep their spot at #10 within the West by simply half a recreation.

Jokic does his greatest Wilt impression as Nuggets high Hornets, 119-115

I’ve given up attempting to think about causes to not give Jokic his third MVP in a row. We’ve all heard that it hasn’t been completed since Larry Bird within the 80s, however Jokic’s season has a way of undeniability to this point, and Sunday night time was no completely different.

Over this current tear that the Joker is on, he’s averaging 34.4 factors, 14.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, and a pair of.4 steals over his previous 5 video games. By NBA Math’s whole factors added (TPA) method, Jokic has been the second-most impactful participant within the league behind solely Luka Doncic.

Lakers win first recreation of one other Davis absence, 119-117, over Wizards

As LA prepares for an additional “indefinite absence” from Anthony Davis, his alternative within the beginning lineup, Thomas Davis, appears as much as the problem, ending with a double double at 16 factors and 10 rebounds. LeBron performed all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, accounting for 22 of the Lakers’ 32 factors (scoring 13, 9 coming through help) within the body.

In the shedding effort that noticed the Wizards fall farther from the play-in group (2.5 video games from #10), Kyle Kuzma tallied 22 factors and 16 rebounds towards his previous (and perhaps future?) staff. They’re now 1-13 over their final 14 after beginning the season 7-6.