BBNBA: Booker Scores 38, Davis Fined $50k

On3 imageby:Zack Geoghegan01/30/19

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[caption id="attachment_255291" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption] Good afternoon, folks. Anthony Davis was fined the poor person equivalent of a University of Kentucky parking ticket because sometimes the league rules are weak for no reason. Let's talk NBA.

RECAP

  • On Tuesday morning, it was announced by the NBA that the league has fined New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis $50,000 for comments his agent made regarding the recent public trade request. This is like the government banging on my door and demanding all of the loose change in between my couch cushions. I know there's always at least a couple quarters wedge into the back, but I don't bother to look because it isn't worth my time. That's how I imagine Davis felt when the NBA sent out that press release. Players (and agents) aren't allowed to publically demand a trade - despite the fact that, like, five All-Stars have subtly done so in the previous three seasons - so Davis was hit with the minimum fine by the league that he legally couldn't fight back against. It's stupid, but whatever. I'm sure Davis' agent wrote the check before even demanding the trade for his client.

[23-28] Pelicans - 121 @ [29-21] Rockets - 116

  • Speaking of Davis, he missed his fifth straight game on Tuesday, as his Pelicans went to Houston to take on James Harden and the Rockets. Julius Randle also sat out his third consecutive game with a bum ankle. So, naturally, the Pelicans won despite Harden dropping another 30-point performance (37, to be exact, and his 24th straight game with at least 30. And by the looks of it, Harden is getting physically drained rather quickly as each game passes by).
  • Darius Miller continues to excel in the absence of his fellow Kentucky alums, as he scored 14 points on 5-13 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three steals in 40 minutes - a new season-high for him. Over the last four games, Miller is averaging 13.8 points in over 33 minutes per game. He's connected on 34 percent of his 38 three-point attempts in that span. Miller is shooting nearly 10 threes per game over the last week and a half.
  • To give you a better idea of how weird this game truly was, Jahlil Okafor - yes, the very one - led the Pelicans in scoring with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
  • So now I think a reasonable question to ask is when - or if - Davis will return to game action. I've seen some basketballs minds I trust across social media suggest that Davis has already played his last game as a Pelican, which is hard to argue against. There is hardly any incentive for either Davis or the front office if he plays another minute. Davis' value is already insanely high and nothing he could do in the next few months would alter that, except for a dramatic injury. I personally believe Davis will come back when he's healthy, just because I think he truly wants to play (unless he's traded by the Feb. 7 deadline, which I also think is unlikely). And if the Pelicans were smart, they'd begin to tear things down right now. They've already made Randle and Mirotic available in trade talks and are just far enough out of the playoff picture that it's ultimately not worth it to make another half-assed run. So if Davis has played his last game in New Orleans, I wouldn't be surprised, and it's probably best for both sides if he doesn't.

[32-18] Thunder - 126 @ [20-31] Magic - 117

  • There was a bit of a switch up in the regular starting lineup for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it came with some familiar faces. Hamidou Diallo and Nerlens Noel both started on Monday against the Magic in place of Terrance Ferguson and Steven Adams, who were both sidelined with minor injuries.
  • Diallo scored seven points on 3-5 shooting in his 17 minutes while Noel played a season-high 34 minutes in only his second start of the year. Noel scored 12 points on 6-10 shooting and also contributed seven rebounds and five blocks.
  • Patrick Patterson was held scoreless in 18 minutes.
  • For Orlando, Isaiah Briscoe was available to play after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury but was held out for precautionary reasons.

Other notes

  • Devin Booker once again led the BBNBA in scoring, dropping 38 points on an impressive 14-19 shooting (including 3-6 from three) in addition to his five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, but couldn't steal the win on the road in the end. The Suns fell to the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 124-126 despite Booker's efforts, which included a clutch steal with his team down two and under 20 seconds remaining that led to a Josh Jackson layup to tie things up. However, a contested jumper by Rudy Gay at the buzzer went right through the net to seal the win for the Spurs.
  • The Milwaukee Bucks were able to go on the road and take down the Detroit Pistons thanks to an excellent performance from Eric Bledsoe. The former Kentucky guard dropped in 20 points on 8-15 shooting and stuffed the stat sheet elsewhere, bringing in five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and - most impressively - zero turnovers in 30 minutes.
  • And finally, Rajon Rondo posted five points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers as they fell to the Philadelphia 76ers by a score of 105-121.

ICYMI

STATISTICS

[table id=273 /]

TONIGHT IN THE NBA

7:30: Hornets (Kidd-Gilchrist, Monk) @ Celtics 7:30: Bulls @ Heat (Adebayo) 7:30: Mavericks @ Knicks (Kanter, Knox) 8:00 (ESPN): Pacers @ Wizards (Wall) 8:00: Grizzlies @ Timberwolves (Towns) 8:00: Nuggets (Lyles, Murray-out, Vanderbilt) @ Pelicans (Davis-out, Miller, Randle-questionable) 10:00: Hawks (Poythress-G League) @ Kings (Cauley-Stein, Fox, Labissiere) 10:30 (ESPN): Jazz @ Trail Blazers
Follow me on Twitter: @ZackGeoghegan

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