The Warriors dropped 131 on a top-5 defense

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

GRINDIN’ UPWARD: We’re at $3,400 in the big foster kids fundraiser. Thank you to Tuesday donors Jeff Calligan, Tim Dearlove, Mike Prada, Andrew Won, Rees Curtis, Jacob Miller, Aaron Barzilai, David Roth, Mike Skinkis and six more anonymous heroes. You’re all champions of the highest order. LET’S KEEP IT GOING.

GRINDIN’ UPWARD II: 23-0. The Warriors put 131 on the Pacers. Klay Thompson had 10 threes for the second time in his career, leading to this incredible infographic. Your boy Andre Iguodala is celebrating on the court while teammates’ shots are going up instead of going in for a rebound because LOL rebound?! They’d have to miss for one of those to be available. Golden State is off two days before taking on the Celtics. Thompson also sprained his ankle. Steph Curry is tossing no-look, behind-the-head alley-oops. And finally there’s a minor controversy about whether the Warriors’ streak should incorporate the four straight games they won at the end of the last regular season. I mean, of course not? But what a boring thing to argue about. Unless we’re aiming at the Harlem Globetrotters’ streak, that is ...

SCORES SCORES SCORES ...

POR 100, CLE 105
GSW 131, IND 123
HOU 105, BKN 110
OKC 125, MEM 88 (YO!)
ORL 85, DEN 74
UTA 106, SAC 114

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT RONDO: But first, let’s watch this jaw-dropping, open-court dribble move and pass like 1,000 more times. (Seriously, I just watched it a legit two dozen times despite watching it a ton of times last night.)

VICE MVP: Paul George would be getting MVP love in any year in which Steph wasn’t running away with the award.

ON REBUILDING: I wrote about the problem of NBA team owners meddling in the affairs of individual teams -- like the Sixers -- while refusing to change the policy that created the Sixers. Also, Flanns and I talked about optimal rebuilds and the vagaries of the new cap system when it comes to tearing it down.

SNOW KOBE.

ROTATION ISSUES: Zach Lowe looks at some interesting/odd rotation concerns around the league.

YEAP: A beer is way more expensive than second-hand Sixers tickets these days.

TEST PREP: My man Kevin Broom deflates that idea that coaches are “drawing up” plays in critical timeouts toward the end of games. They are actually reminding players what they are supposed to do on plays they should already know well.

THE GLASS IS HALF FULTZ: Ricky O’Donnell introduces you to top prep point guard Markelle Fultz, who has committed to Washington and is a big deal despite being on the JV team two years ago.

TONIGHT TONIGHT: ESPN’s doubleheader features Bulls at Celtics followed by Hawks at Mavericks. Heat-Hornets and Spurs-Raptors are worth taking in, too.

Happy Wednesday. See you next time.