You probably remember where you were when those emojis started flying around Twitter, don't you? When the reports came through that DeAndre Jordan was being held "hostage" by his own Clippers teammates? When it was revealed Raising Cane's was the dinner of choice for the evening? When it finally sunk in: Jordan, three days into his Mavericks verbal commitment, was pulling the biggest flip flop in NBA history and returning to Los Angeles.
NBA scores 2015: Clippers and Mavericks hate each other, alright
Even with the Mavericks playing a depleted lineup, there was plenty of ammunition to prepare for DeAndre Jordan’s return to Dallas.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
On Thursday, the two franchises involved reunited on the floor of the Staples Center. The game itself was boring -- there were some neat Blake Griffin to Jordan alley oops, Dirk Nowitzki buried his typically impossible jumpers and the Mavericks hung along for longer than expected until Los Angeles decided they'd had enough and blew them out. But everything surrounding the game -- on a home court that was actually friendly to Jordan, mind you -- completely lived up to expectations.
Mark Cuban's mudslinging appropriately kicked it off, saying he "doesn't give a shit" about the Clippers and that they're the same team they've been for 30 years no matter who the owner or players are. There was an awkward Kiss Cam connection between Cuban and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, because, like, what even was that. Then the on-court sniping actually started.
Before Thursday, there were reasons to believe that the Clippers and the Mavericks wouldn't really be a rivalry. There's only one player in Dallas who truly feels hurt by the DeAndre debacle, and that's Chandler Parsons, who recruited him but has yet to make his season debut after knee surgery last spring. Nowitzki is too kind to hold a vendetta, Devin Harris too small of a player. Almost all of the roster besides those players were signed during or after the NBA's EmojiGate.
But no. These teams hate each other. At the very least, it’s a mutual dislike. Jordan shot 2-of-8 from the free throw line as the Mavericks employed hack-a-DeAndre and that’s without the din of an entire arena booing him. But in every sense -- both in the limited lineup the Mavericks sent out there and the home court factor -- this game was a warmup for Nov. 11, when Jordan gets to face the music at the American Airlines Center in front of all of Dallas. If this was chippy, just wait for what the two teams will do to each other then.
Maybe the person who summed it up best was J.J. Redick.
Asked what emoji he'd use to describe tonight's game, J.J. Redick said
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 30, 2015 As in, just wait to see what comes next.
3 things we learned
The Pacers have flipped the script. Despite a slow start from Monta Ellis (6-of-23 shooting so far), the offense Indiana focused on this summer looks sharper than before, rattling off 99 and 103 points with 21 made 3-pointers in the two games so far. That's all fine and good, but the Pacers are 0-2, falling to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Thursday. In those two games, they've allowed 45- and 50-percent shooting.
Shifting the focus to offense is certainly fine and there's reason to believe the Pacers will start clicking even more with better performances from Ellis and Paul George. Memphis did a good job throughout the game pushing Indiana away from their preferred small ball lineups. Still, without some semblance of the defense that has been their identity for the past few seasons, Indiana will struggle to push for a playoff berth they emphatically believe they can earn this season.
On the other hand, don't worry about the Grizzlies. If that home beat down by the Cavaliers was a concern to you, then just let it go now. Matt Barnes is fitting in off the bench because somehow, someway, he always finds a way to do so. Mike Conley recorded a double-double. Memphis is still the grindhouse.
Carmelo's still not getting things right. While he put up 25 points, it came at the expense of 10-of-27 shooting at New York fell to the Hawks. The Knicks, fresh off an impressive win against Milwaukee, struggled against last year's Eastern Conference champions, shooting 41 percent but just 6-of-29 on their three-pointers and committing 21 turnovers. It's only been two games so Anthony's poor shooting isn't something to freak out about, but it's worth noting he managed only a 4-of-16 night against the Bucks on Wednesday, even in the win.
Play of the night
5 other fun things
Austin Rivers threw a ... seat cushion into the stands? Why? Seriously, it's a seat cushion? Why would you throw it into the stands? Austin. Is this what your dad taught you? A seat cushion? It's literally a cushion!? Give me one single reason why you would throw a SEAT CUSHION INTO THE STANDS.
Anyway, the point is, Rivers got fined for it.
WHAT THE F*** is the best Grizzlies play ever
Pacers fans did Matt Barnes DIRTY by chanting “Derek Fisher.”
Steve Ballmer and Mark Cuban shared the strangest Kiss Cam moment we’ve ever seen.
Final scores
Hawks 112, Knicks 101 (Peachtree Hoops recap | Posting and Toasting recap)
Grizzlies 112, Pacers 103 (Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
Clippers 104, Mavericks 88 (Clips Nation recap | Mavs Moneyball recap)
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