NBA scores 2018: Lonzo Ball is finally hitting 3s, Kobe won an Oscar and everything else you missed this weekend

The weather’s been trash, but basketball hasn’t. Here is everything you missed in the NBA this entire weekend. You’re welcome in advance.

The 76ers led by as many as 20 points in both the first and third quarters, but sloppy play opened the door for the Bucks to mount a massive comeback Sunday night. Philadelphia shot itself in the foot in the third quarter, turning the ball over seven times in the period’s final 5:14. The Sixers allowed Milwaukee to rattle off a 27-3 run to end that quarter.

Philly never bounced back.

The 76ers are a young team, and protecting the ball is part of their growing pains. They are currently the worst team in the NBA in the turnover category, averaging 17 giveaways a game. Philadelphia turned it over 27 times against Milwaukee.

There were still some bright moments. The Sixers were on the verge of a convincing wire-to-wire win over a potential playoff opponent before their third-quarter meltdown. Ben Simmons had eight assists in the first quarter alone, the most by a 76ers player in a quarter since Andre Iguodala in 2011. Dario Saric couldn’t miss; he shot 9-of-11 for 25 points and looked like a player who spent the second half of last season becoming a go-to guy in Philly. And the 76ers bench showed just how deep they are with every single player to enter the game recording a bucket.

The turnovers cost them this time, but it’s all part of a process. The 76ers will grow out of this. And when they do, watch out.

Here I present to you two pieces of information.

Exhibit A: The Greek Freak goes coast-to-coast

Exhibit B: The Greek Freak is petty

Kobe Bryant’s short film Dear Basketball, the same short film that played on the night the Lakers retired his jersey, won the Oscar award for best animated film on Sunday night.

Here was his award acceptance speech, in which he took a shot at Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who insinuated LeBron James should “shut up and dribble.”

Ah, and if you’ve got a moment, here’s the short animated film Kobe won an Oscar for.

OK, so it wasn’t an actual football tackle, but Teague’s bodycheck on Rubio was as close to NFL action on an NBA court as we’re gonna see this year. Teague was frustrated with the lack of a foul call, so he tracked down Rubio in the open court and shoulder tackled him into nearby courtside seats.

Boston actually led most of the game, including the entire second quarter, the majority of the third and almost the entire fourth quarter, too. But the game took a turn when Trevor Ariza came up huge with a clutch triple on one end, then a steal into a layup on the other.

The Celtics bench accounted for more than half of their total points, but it’s hard to compete with Eric Gordon, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year who pelted Boston for 29 points. It was an awesome game from start to finish.

If only it could be a seven-game series.

Hayward posted a video to Go90 on Friday of his newest progression back to the court from a gruesome injury in the season opener that ended with a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia. Yes, it looked as painful as it sounds.

But that’s a thing of the past. In a surprising update, Hayward is now doing dribbling drills and shooting jump shots. Why is shooting jump shots a massive step forward? For this entire time, Hayward couldn’t put much weight on that injured ankle.

It’s still unclear if Hayward will be able to return this season. Boston listed him as out for the season, and it wouldn’t be wise to rush a player of his caliber back from an injury as wild as that one. But Kyrie Irving did say the Celtics have an ace in their back pocket, and that ace is Hayward. Boston is poised to make a deep postseason run, and if they make it to the Eastern Conference Finals for what seems like an inevitable battle against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, it wouldn’t be too bad to have an All-Star available in the rotation.

We didn’t give Lonzo Ball a break when he couldn’t find the bucket at the beginning of the season. Hell, it wouldn’t how big he is or who his father is: anyone who had the shooting start Ball did would get chewed apart.

But since returning from a strained MCL that sidelined him more than a month, the No. 2 overall pick has been straight cash from downtown. Ball has made 14 of his last 22 three-point attempts. That’s 63.6 percent for the cool kids in the back.

On Saturday, the rookie guard became the first player in Lakers history — I repeat, the first player in decorated, illustrious Lakers history — to make six threes and dish out 11 assists in the same game. We don’t know if he’ll keep it up, but if he does. Watch out Ben Simmons, and watch your back Donovan Mitchell.

Only the Warriors and Rockets are safe. The other nine teams fighting for six playoff spots might as well get in the ring for a Hell In A Cell type brawl — grab the tables, ladders and chairs from under the canvass, and get it rocking.

The Western Conference is so wild, the San Antonio Spurs could miss the playoffs for the first time since Gregg Popovich’s very first season as coach in 1996-97. The Spurs’ tough remaining schedule doesn’t do them any favors, either, neither does Kawhi Leonard’s nagging quad injury nor LaMarcus Aldridge’s ankle sprain.

Here’s the playoff order excluding the Warriors and Rockets: Trail Blazers, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers and Jazz. Only four games separate Portland and Los Angeles. Everything is up for grabs.

Their opponents haven’t been too impressive — Nets, Mavericks, Lakers, Pistons, Heat and the injury-riddled Spurs to name a few — but New Orleans has positioned itself as the No. 4 seed in the West. During their streak, Anthony Davis is averaging 37.2 points per game.

Unbelievable.

And here’s the bottom of the East:

May the tank forever be in your favor. Unless you’re a Nets fan. In that case, I feel your pain.

Hawks 113, Suns 112

Raptors 103, Hornets 98

Pacers 98, Wizards 95

Pelicans 126, Mavericks 109

Bucks 118, 76ers 110

Clippers 123, Nets 120

Kings 102, Knicks 99

Friday’s NBA Scores

Saturday’s NBA Scores