Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Let’s have another dose of Cavaliers vs. Warriors
Good morning. We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL: There is a good deal of daytime basketball because Monday is a federal holiday, set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., of course. I find Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” particularly cogent these days: “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Want NBA news and analysis in your inbox every weekday?
Sign up for our NBA newsletter
THE RIVALRY: The Warriors and Cavaliers are hooking up in Oakland for an evening affair. Paul Flannery’s Sunday Shootaround focuses in on how this rivalry has thrived without hurting the league’s other major storylines. Though a third straight Warriors-Cavs finals feels inevitable, the league’s singular stars — now and future — aren’t withering in the shadows. Check it out.
HOLY SMOKES: UConn’s women’s team broke the NCAA record with its 91st straight win over the weekend. This is nuts!
WELPVILLE: Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are getting a wee bit punchy with each other. He has a no-trade clause, but things aren’t going well up there.
HUH: Adam Silver floats a potential midseason tournament in Mexico City. Maybe start with an All-Star Weekend there?
SCORES GALORE ...
Wolves 87, Mavericks 98
Knicks 101, Raptors 116
Bucks 98, Hawks 111
Rockets 137, Nets 112
Thunder 122, Kings 118
Bulls 108, Grizzlies 104
Pistons 102, Lakers 97
QUICK, PLAY THE LOTTERY: The Pistons hit buzzer-beaters to end the first, second, and third quarters against the Lakers. They won by five points.
BEEF: Isaiah Thomas and Dennis Schroder are fighting over alleged trash talk. I’m sorry guys, but no matter what you do we’re not going to care about the nonexistent Celtics-Hawks rivalry. Appreciate the effort, though.
GOT ‘EM: Nick Young, trolled with his own meme.
YOUR DAILY EMBIID: A dive into Joel Embiid’s social media stardom.
BIG DAY: There’s basketball on your television all day long as the league takes advantage of Martin Luther King Day. Here’s the TV schedule:
Hawks at Knicks, 1 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Magic at Nuggets, 5 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Cavaliers at Warriors, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Thunder at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Be excellent to each other.
See More:
