Every on occasion, one sports activities story dominates a night, for higher or for worse. And on Monday night time, the NBA was as far on the again burner as potential.
Typically, I’d make the most of the intro to this piece to wittily summarize the night time within the NBA. But right this moment, that feels completely inappropriate. As a Buffalo Bills fan, however primarily, as a human being, the one factor I may also help however give attention to is Damar Hamlin’s well being. In case you someway missed it, Hamlin tackled Cincinnati Bengals’ extensive receiver Tee Higgins late within the first quarter of Monday night time’s sport between the Bills and the Bengals, and moments after his sort out, Hamlin collapsed. He was administered CPR earlier than being rushed to the hospital at 9:25 p.m. EST. He was intubated and reported to be in essential situation; the sport was suspended with 5:58 remaining within the first quarter and finally postponed altogether. It was sickening within the second, within the aftermath, and continues to be sickening now.
I write in regards to the NBA, not the NFL. But to try to recap Monday night time within the NBA with out acknowledging what dominated the night in sports activities, for good motive, felt incorrect. God, I hope Damar Hamlin is okay. More than something — greater than Donovan Mitchell’s epic night time, greater than Brooklyn’s win streak, greater than LeBron James chasing historical past — that’s what issues. It’s the one factor that issues.
Now, someway, onto Monday’s NBA motion.
Historic efficiency from Mitchell pushes Cavs previous Bulls, 145-134
Never has a participant recorded a 70-point, 10-assist sport in NBA historical past, till Monday night time. Donovan Mitchell, with the third 70-point efficiency since 2000, led Cleveland to an additional time win over the Chicago Bulls. It’s the eighth-most factors scored in a sport in NBA historical past, and he could not have reached such a historic whole if not for his personal heroics in regulation — he grabbed his personal deliberately missed free throw and made a wild put-back layup with three seconds remaining to tie the sport at 130. That broke the Cavaliers’ franchise report of 58 factors in a sport and despatched the sport to additional time, the place Mitchell clearly shattered stated report and have become the Twelfth participant in NBA historical past to attain 70 factors in a sport.
Knicks get again on monitor, clobber Suns, 102-83
The Knicks gained 5 in a row, after which misplaced 5 in a row. The latter just isn’t precisely the streak you need to be on. Now, nevertheless, the Knicks have gained two in a row, and look like figuring it out… once more. They blew out Phoenix by 19 on Monday, led by Julius Randle’s 28 factors and 16 rebounds. The Spurs and Raptors, each beatable opponents, are up subsequent; nothing is assured, but when the Knicks can put collectively one other win streak, playoff rivalry is way from out of the query.
Lakers sneak by Hornets, 121-115
Forty-three factors for LeBron James in Los Angeles’ win over Charlotte, and he’s now 484 factors behind Kareem Abdul-Jabaar on the all-time factors leaderboard in NBA historical past. Naturally, although, he’s centered on the necessary issues.
Pacers rally previous Raptors, 122-114
Dominant night time from Embiid sees Sixers down Pelicans, 120-111
Joel Embiid’s 42-point outing (a “yawn”, per Liberty Ballers) makes headlines, however the story of the sport could be Zion Williamson’s hamstring harm. He got here up gingerly halfway by means of the third and exited quickly after.
Of course, you hope it’s nothing severe, particularly contemplating the season he’s had up to now. But it’s inconceivable to not surprise what his presence may have completed to this otherwise-close sport down the stretch. In any case, the Sixers eked it out behind Embiid’s MVP-level outing and James Harden’s 27 further factors.
Nets win Twelfth-straight, crush Spurs, 139-103
Brooklyn now has the longest win streak by any crew this season and is only one sport behind the Boston Celtics for the highest seed within the Eastern Conference. Had you been informed that one month in the past, you’d have cackled. This is an unthinkable turnaround; Jacque Vaughn, Kevin Durant, and sure, Kyrie Irving, deserve a outstanding little bit of credit score.
Timberwolves snap six-game skid, upset Nuggets, 124-111
It have to be acknowledged: NBA.com’s headline relating to this sport notes that Minnesota stored Nikola Jokic “in check” en path to their win over the Nuggets. Jokic, although, dropped 24 factors and added seven rebounds and 9 assists. Hey, kudos to the T-Wolves, but when that’s retaining Nikola Jokic in verify, what counts as retaining Luka Doncic in verify?
Mavericks win seventh-straight, eke previous Rockets, 111-106
Well… Does holding him to 39 rely? Given that it got here in a loss, I’d say no. But hey, Houston did what it may towards a participant who’s averaging 34.2 factors per sport this season and 45.6 over his final 5 video games. It’s unthinkable what Doncic is doing this season — if Dallas may win extra video games, the MVP dialog would already be over.
Trail Blazers throttle Pistons, 135-106
Heat stave off Clippers, 110-100
Warriors edge Hawks in 2OT thriller, 143-141
Kevon Looney tipped within the game-winner because the buzzer sounded…
… nevertheless it was Klay Thompson who was the star on the night time, dropping a season-best 54 factors in Golden State’s thrilling dub over the Hawks. He shot 21 for 39, draining 10 triples (one other season excessive), and was simply six factors off his career-best scoring outing of 60.
This makes it five-straight wins for the Warriors. All with out Stephen Curry. The defending champs may lastly be again on monitor.