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You should get five points for hitting a shot off the scoreboard – 10 points on the road. (I have to scroll! )
Sotck exchange
All trends are bigger in Texas
Another NBA weekend is over, so we enter our penultimate week of the 2023-24 regular season. I know what you’re wondering: Which teams and/or players are hot on the NBA stock market? Buddy, I have a surprise for you!
The Dallas Mavericks (45-29, fifth in the West) have won seven straight games and are 11-1 in their last 12 games. During this last stretch, Luka Doncić averages 31 points, 9.9 assists and 9.9 rebounds. Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.1 points and 6.1 assists while making over 50% of his shots. Dallas is also fourth in offense and defense over the last 12 games. That the Mavericks defend well is pretty remarkable. In yesterday’s 125-107 win over the Rockets, Luka had 47 points quite easily and two unreal shots (more on those below).
🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/5HoHSois5E
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 1, 2024
Houston Rockets. The market is not discouraged by yesterday’s loss. The Rockets (38-36, 11th in the West) are still very much on the rise. However, the loss – combined with the Warriors’ victory against San Antonio – put Houston two games behind Golden State (40-34) for the final Play-In spot. The Mavericks will face the Warriors tomorrow and the Rockets will face the latter on Thursday. Houston must hope that Dallas continues on its winning path.
Raptors, Jazz and Blazers. If you still watch Toronto (23-51, 12th in the East), Utah (29-46, 12th in the West) or even Portland (19-55, 14th in the West) as a fan of these teams , I am sincerely concerned for your well-being. All three teams seem to be tanking pretty hard, Portland and Utah have both lost nine in a row. Toronto has lost 13 games in a row, tying the second-longest losing streak in franchise history and marking the team’s worst streak since 2011.
Cleveland Cavaliers are just 4-8 in their last 12 games and are just a half-game ahead of New York (44-30) for third place in the East. During this recession, ranking only 24th in defensive rankings since March 10, worse than Detroit (13th), Washington (20th) and Memphis (22nd) over this period.
The Los Angeles Lakers (42-33, ninth in the West) have won six of their last seven games and are pulling the lights out from deep during that stretch. D’Angelo Russell is shooting over 41 percent on nearly 10 3-point attempts per game. LeBron James is averaging 25 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists while shooting 57.1% from the field and 53.8% from deep. He went 9 of 10 from downtown to score 40 points in a win over Brooklyn yesterday – those nine triples tied his career high. Afterward, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer admitted that at age 39, he didn’t have much time left.
DIME. pic.twitter.com/DIFx9jg8Rx
-Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 31, 2024
YES.
SIR. pic.twitter.com/Ea0auYTwGJ-Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 31, 2024
“Kings and Suns avoid Play-In”. Dallas is advancing while Phoenix (43-31, eighth in the West) and Sacramento (43-31, seventh in the West) have struggled to keep pace. The latter two are now two games behind Dallas and New Orleans (45-29), respectively fifth and sixth in the West. Additionally, the Kings were hit with the bad news that Malik Monk will be out for about a month with a sprained MCL and that Kevin Huerter will be done for the year after shoulder surgery. The Kings and Suns are both only a game and a half ahead of the Lakers.
Golden State Warriors. With Houston charging and Golden State on the road, the Warriors managed to reel off four straight wins to avoid falling below the Rockets. Golden State went 4-1 on this road trip and has now improved to 22-15 away from Chase Center while just 18-19 at home.
30 ➡️ 32 @verizon || Reliable moments pic.twitter.com/3pNd6JiJJv
– Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 1, 2024
21 points | 6 RECs | 11 AST | 6STL
Dray was ELECTRIC in San Antonio pic.twitter.com/vmeuZ7uSdH
– Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 1, 2024
The latest news from Shams
Joel Embiid’s return looms
Sixers star Joel Embiid is close to making his return, possibly as early as Tuesday’s home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to league sources. Athleticism.
Embiid has been out since Jan. 30, when Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors inadvertently fell on his leg, just below the knee. Embiid had surgery on the lateral meniscus of his left knee in early February, and Athleticism said the center could be sidelined for up to two months, depending on his rehabilitation and recovery.
Embiid and the Sixers are still working to finalize his return date, but it is believed to be any day now. The reigning NBA MVP has had several five-on-five scrimmages in practice in recent days, league sources said. The Sixers, who have seven games remaining on their schedule, enter the week at 40-35, eighth place in the East and 1.5 games behind Miami for seventh place.
As the wolves turn
Incredible details about their battle for property
Last week we were faced with a messy attempt to purchase a majority stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Glen Taylor released a statement saying the partnership between Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez missed the deadline in the three-step process to acquire the team. Lore and A-Rod responded publicly stating that they had done what was necessary in time and were awaiting approval from the NBA to finalize the purchase.
So what’s going on in Minneapolis? Who owns the team? Shams Charania and Jon Krawcynzki released an incredible report with lots of commentary and bickering from both sides. You can read the whole thing, but here are my two favorite parts:
1. The ownership suite is a point of contention: Lore and Rodriguez built a new owners suite down the hall from the mudroom to conduct business and entertain people. Taylor typically had his pregame meals and appearances where the media and staff are located. He apparently thinks the new sequel is garish and unnecessary, saying Lore and A-Rod were more concerned about this piece than what they could trade it for.
Rodriguez responded to this comment by comparing Taylor, 82, to a teenager because of it: and not someone mature and astute. By the way, Taylor now considers them sponsors and will not let them into this new sequel. This pettiness deserves a boss’s kiss.
2. Taking credit for Anthony Edwards’ extension: Taylor had final say on the hiring process for executive Tim Connelly, extension Naz Reid and max extension Anthony Edwards. He said these were decisions he “had to make” and he continues to make them. Ah yes, the difficult decision to give all that money to a 22-year-old, two-time All-Star with All-NBA player and keep him for another five years.. It must have been tough for the guy who made Andrew Wiggins promise to try harder before giving him $150 million. I will have to make a difficult decision if Eva Mendes ever decides to leave Ryan Gosling for me.
There’s a lot more good stuff in the Wolves story, like Taylor saying Lore’s new business is keeping him away from the Timberwolves and Lore saying he has hundreds of millions of dollars he can spend/invest at any time.
Luka Magic
He took these two shots yesterday
We told you Luka had 47 points to end the Rockets’ 11-game winning streak yesterday, as the Mavericks continue their recent tear. We should have been informed earlier today that Luka might have one of the those games, starting with this pregame shot he took on the scoreboard at the Toyota Center.
Off the dash and into the bank. That would have beat Larry Bird and Michael Jordan for a Big Mac in an empty gym.
But whatever.
It didn’t matter because it’s not a real move in the game, is it? A lot of players do ridiculous trick shots in pre-match scenarios all the time, you know? It can cost a penny, so how impressive can this photo really be? Have I asked myself enough rhetorical questions? Just look at this 21-foot layup Dončić made:
This is fantastic defense from Jabari Smith Jr., but it didn’t matter because Luka launched a one-step scoop shot from inside the 3-point line. He must be beyond frustrating to try to defend.
LEARN MORE: The Mavericks’ new identity is paying off.
Bouncing passes
Does Victor Wembanyama have a case for Defensive Player of the Year?
Ice Cube and the Big3 league offered Caitlin Clark a $5 million contract to play.
Can any team scare Boston in the first round?
Screenplay (all times Eastern)
- Main screen: Iowa-LSU (7 p.m. ESPN). Bad list of NBA games but a great revenge from the Hawkeyes and Tigers. Clark and Angel Reese face off again!
- Second screen: Suns-Pelicans (8 p.m. NBA TV). This will be a very good game and it’s the best NBA game of the evening.
- League Pass Game of the Night: Falcons – Bulls (8 p.m.). This could settle the field in the Play-In game 9-10. Get excited! Full program here.
(Top photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images )