It’s rare that a team makes the San Antonio Spurs look like they don’t even belong on the court. That’s what the Houston Rockets did on Monday: they beat S.A. 126-99, and it wasn’t that close. The Rockets hit 22 of 50 threes, and scored 90 points combined from behind the arc and the free-throw line. It was pure Moreyball in every sense. The Spurs’ own offense couldn’t get uncorked because they were taking the ball out of the net so frequently. (Also, LaMarcus Aldridge was completely invisible, except when he was getting torched. Then he was visible.)
The Rockets *crushed* the Spurs
Good morning. We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Rockets got the Spurs — the Spurs — flustered. Dewayne Dedmon became the first Spur ejected from a playoff game in 10 years. (Nene got ejected a few minutes prior for a bit of a throat grab. If there are indeed degrees of throat grabs.) But for all the damage, it was one game. The Rockets need to win three more in six games to claim the series. We know the Spurs will have something to say about that.
It’s hard to remember a more emphatic statement in a series like this, though ...
Playoff Scores ...
Raptors 105, Cavaliers 116 (CLE leads 1-0)
Rockets 126, Spurs 99 (HOU leads 1-0)
... And Links Galore
Surprise! The Raptors lost Game 1 of a series and looked completely devoid of hope throughout. We can cut Toronto some slack in this one, though: LeBron James and Cavaliers came out to embarrass the Raptors, and how they did. Kyrie Irving was going off the backboard to the King in the opening minutes! LeBron feinted taking a beer break! Even Iman Shumpert was destroying the rim! It’s just one game, but the Cavaliers look awfully frisky. Never count out a LeBron team in the regular season, I suppose.
Shout out to Dahntay Jones, who made $9,000 for joining the Cavaliers very, very late in the season, and then got fined $6,000 for two technicals and an ejection in his three minutes of work on Monday.
Tuesday’s schedule (all times ET):
Wizards at Celtics, 8 p.m., TNT (BOS leads 1-0)
Jazz at Warriors, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Paul Flannery on Paul Pierce, who always knew how much time he had. Many younger fans will remember Pierce as the legend who was SOOOO bad at the internet.
Adrian Wojnarowski will move to ESPN before the draft, reports Recode.
Do the Jazz and Warriors have beef? Well, of course! Some Warriors said they were rooting for the Clippers because Salt Lake City is really boring and Los Angeles is not. Look. When the other team is so confident they are complaining about the nightlife in your city, that is #disrespect. (Shout out to Joe Ingles for offering to get the Warriors a bus to Las Vegas. He either knows the struggle or is very cheeky. Possibly both.)
Lucas Hann at Clips Nation predicts what’s next for the cursed team. The price to keep the Clippers together: something like $300 million. YIKES. Here’s hotstepper Zito Madu on the front offices that have failed Chris Paul.
Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna already has a very Kobesque turnaround jumper.
Fascinating read from Yago Colas on why Nike’s new Fab 5 inspired sneakers branded with Michigan’s logo are so morally disgusting.
The Bulls are responding to their bizarre failure of a season with ... subtle changes to front office roles. Blog a Bull is pleased as punch.
Thunder GM Sam Presti acknowledges he’s going to try to give Russell Westbrook $200 million this summer.
Sam Amick talks to Ron Adams about the Warriors’ tight-knit staff lifting heavier during Steve Kerr’s health absence.
Ernie Johnson has another joke about a coworker’s weight. This time, it’s Shaq.
Harvey Araton on Kenny Anderson’s wild life and thirst to give back.
Some rare awesome news from ESPN: Rachel Nichols’ The Jump is going year-round.
See More:
