BBNBA: The Trade Deadline is Upon Us

On3 imageby:Zack Geoghegan02/07/19

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[caption id="attachment_255768" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo via NBA.com/Nuggets | Kenneth St George)[/caption] Good morning, folks. The NBA trade deadline is only a few hours away and the excitement is still brewing. Let's talk NBA.

RECAP

[37-17] Nuggets - 130 @ [29-27] Nets - 135

  • Jamal Murray made his return to the court after missing the previous six games with an ankle injury. Murray put up a 19-point, 11-assist double-double on 8-17 shooting from the field, but his Nuggets squad could never overcome a massive second-half deficit. Brooklyn blew the game open with a 20-point lead to start the third quarter and Denver had to play catchup the rest of the night. They managed to knock it down to under 10 and make the game a bit interesting with about 3 or 4 minutes left, but D'Angelo Russell and the Nets were too much.
  • Trey Lyles continues his recent hot scoring stretch, posting 15 points and five rebounds on 5-10 shooting. Lyles is averaging 18 points per game over his last three, which is also how long Nuggets starting power forward Paul Millsap has been dealing with a slight ankle issue. Millsap missing time last season is what allowed Lyles to burst onto the scene in the first place and he's taking advantage of the opportunity once again (conveniently right before the trade deadline).
  • After spending the last two weeks in the G League following his NBA debut, Jarred Vanderbilt was brought up and activated on Wednesday night, playing about seven minutes thanks to the lopsided score. In his second ever NBA appearance, Vando pulled down seven rebounds to go along with a block and a steal. He was rushing himself on offense and it caused him to miss some shots at the rim, but there is no denying his motor and rebounding ability. He is a perennial ball hawk when a shot goes up.

[24-31] Pelicans - 125 @ [12-42] Bulls - 120

  • Anthony Davis has still not been traded - and it doesn't appear he will be by the 3 P.M. deadline - and sat out his ninth game in a row as the Pelicans front office figures out what the hell is going on. If he's not traded, Davis has said he wants to return and play the rest of the season - although the Pelicans should not let that happen - and he's been cleared for basketball activities. I'd bet he participates in the All-Star festivities next weekend, however.
  • Davis might have been out, but Julius Randle returned for the first time in six games, as he's also been dealing with a nagging ankle injury. It sure didn't seem to bother him though. Randle led the BBNBA in scoring with 31 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while shooting 10-18 from the field (4-6 from three) in 30 minutes. He scored 19 of his points in the fourth quarter alone to help drive the Pelicans victory. Darius Miller hit four threes for 12 points. He also dished out four assists in 29 minutes.

[32-22] Rockets - 127 @ [28-26] Kings - 101

  • The Houston Rockets absolutely blitzed the Sacramento Kings on their home floor Wednesday night, leading the game by 25-plus points from the second quarter on. De'Aaron Fox registered only six points and six assists on 3-8 shooting while Willie Cauley-Stein posted a mere three points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.
  • The blowout did allow Skal Labissiere to find himself some minutes, who posted three points and four rebounds in 12 minutes.
  • James Harden bumped his consecutive games of scoring at least 30 points to 28 after pouring in 36 for the game - 25 of them coming in the first half. Houston led by 31 at halftime and never let off the gas until the final buzzer.
  • In trade news, Brandon Knight was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal.

Other notes

  • Eric Bledsoe had a huge game for the Milwaukee Bucks in their 19-point beatdown of the Washington Wizards. Bledsoe recorded 22 points on 8-16 shooting (4-5 from three) to go along with six rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals in 26 minutes. It was the fifth straight win for the NBA-leading Bucks. Bledsoe also threw down an electric putback dunk off of a Giannis Antetokounmpo missed free throw.
  • ''He's amazing,'' Antetokounmpo said of Bledsoe. ''He's been amazing all year. He came in with a defensive mindset. He was in the passing lanes. He made Bradley Beal take tough shots. He gave us the extra energy and we were able to close the game.''
  • DeMarcus Cousins only played 15 minutes, but still put up 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists as his Golden State Warriors obliterated the San Antonio Spurs with a devastating third quarter scoring onslaught that resulted in a 39-point difference in the end.
  • Check out the full stat sheet below.

STATISTICS

[table id=280 /]

TONIGHT IN THE NBA

7:00: Clippers (Gilgeous-Alexander) @ Pacers 7:00: Timberwolves (Towns) @ Magic (Briscoe) 7:30: Raptors @ Hawks (Poythress) 8:00 (TNT): Lakers (Rondo) @ Celtics 8:00: Grizzlies @ Thunder (Diallo, Noel, Patterson) 10:30 (TNT): Spurs @ Trail Blazers
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