2015 NBA scores: Jazz get last word with Enes Kanter and 3 other things we learned

There have been several major homecomings in the NBA this season: LeBron James' debut in Cleveland, Rajon Rondo's first game back in Boston, Kevin Garnett's return to Minnesota. They are usually accompanied with social media hashtags, heart-touching fan reunions and tribute videos.

Except for Enes Kanter, who returned to Utah on Saturday for the first time since being traded and was booed into oblivion the entire game.

Utah fans were justified after Kanter trashed the Jazz before the game, saying he didn't miss anything about the franchise which he forced his way out of at the trade deadline. He smiled and egged on the crowd, who didn't miss a single opportunity to voice their displeasure -- when Kanter was announced as a starter, when he subbed in or out, when he shot free throws, when he was even just touching the ball on offense. And Utah also got the last laugh when their team roared back from down 16 to beat the Thunder 94-89.

If Kanter was the one who forced the trade, the Jazz really should be thanking him because they're better off without him. Since the trade, Utah is 13-7 and only allowing an incredibly stingy 93 points per 100 possessions. The next closest team, Golden State, allows over four points more in the same time period. Kanter is a slow-footed, unathletic defender and his absence has allowed the Jazz to give more minutes to Rudy Gobert, who is the NBA's Next Great Defender.

Westbrook has no chill and it's oddly depressing. On one hand, Russell Westbrook is ridiculous, absurd, playing like a dragon infused with Red Bull trained to breathe fire and make basketball shots with violent fury. He had 37 points on Saturday and it actually feels disappointing to realize he fell short of a triple double because he only grabbed eight rebounds and assisted six times.

But more and more, without even a glimmer of hope that Kevin Durant could return this season and with Serge Ibaka still sitting on the sidelines, Westbrook's performances feel empty. He's not rewriting history; he's only doing this because he's backed into a corner, fighting a losing battle against the unforgiving injuries of his co-stars. You realize that Westbrook took 29 shots on Saturday, and even worse, he turned the ball over nine times -- something he's done A LOT lately. In fact, he used 45 possessions during the game in total. It's not fair he has to take that many shots and it's a testament to how incredible he is that he has done so well. But really, I think we all just want to see the Thunder fully healthy. Nothing Westbrook does in the regular season's final breathe can fix that.

The Hawks lose without their starters, but Bud's system takes a W. We know Atlanta's success isn't about one individual player, but a team playing together. Saturday's game further drove home the point that Mike Budenholzer has installed a system that permeates the roster from spot one to 15. The Hawks rested their entire starting lineup and their bench unit just didn't have enough talent to pull out a win. But overall, despite some gaffes (twice in the first half, an Atlanta player swung the ball around the perimeter only to find no one was standing where they passed), the "Hawks" still looked like the Hawks. Look at plays like this one and tell me you don't see the starting five.

The Bucks actually could fall out of the top six. After a couple months well ahead of the Eastern Conference "scrum" at the No. 7 and 8 seed, Milwaukee has lost 14 of its last 19 games and dropped under .500 for the season. On Saturday, they were pegged by Golden State 108-95. The Bucks are not realistically going to beat the Warriors most nights, but now this loss starts to feel desperate with the way they've squandered their lead. Their lead over No. 7 Miami is currently 2.5 games, which should be enough nine games to go to avoid the first round deathmatch that is Cleveland and Atlanta. But even so, they've set up a nervous finish to the year for their fans.

The only time The Wave is good at sporting events is when bored players join in.

Hornets 115, Hawks 100 (At the Hive recap | Peachtree Hoops recap)

Bulls 111, Knicks 80 (Blog a Bull recap | Posting and Toasting recap)

Trail Blazers 120, Nuggets 114 (Blazer's Edge recap | Denver Stiffs recap)