Anthony Davis is just ridiculous right now.
Like ... seriously, Anthony Davis?
We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
That is all.
The Pelicans have slipped into the No. 5 seed due to tiebreakers and their 6-game winning streak. Over that streak A.D. is now at 41-15-2-3-3 while shooting 54 percent.
Every time I mention The Brow’s dominance, I feel obliged to mention that James Harden is the presumptive MVP -- he’s averaging 31 and 9 on the season for the best team in the NBA. (The Rockets have won 13 straight!) But Davis is getting closer with every big night. There’s probably not enough runway to catch up. But if The Brow keeps doing this? Oh boy.
Scores Galore ...
LAL 123, ATL 104
MEM 98, BOS 109
CHI 87, BKN 104
GSW 125, NYK 111
DET 94, TOR 123
PHX 116, NOP 125
ORL 105, OKC 112
IND 103, DAL 109
HOU 96, UTA 85
MIN 118, SAC 100
... And So Much More
I wrote about the pervasive tanking epidemic striking the NBA this year. We’re on pace to have eight teams win fewer than 30 games, which has never happened in an 82-game season. Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst tackled the tanking problem too, focusing in on Dallas.
Speaking of which, all eight bottom teams were in action Monday. Six of them lost, several badly. Dallas beat the Pacers, and even played its starters in the fourth quarter! Brooklyn, who has no incentive to lose, beat one of the other awful teams (Chicago).
Speaking of that game, Jarrett Allen unleashed weaponized funk upon Lauri Markkanen. Yikesville.
It turns out Kawhi Leonard is back with the Spurs and might actually play in March after all. Take back that sigh of relief, rest of the Western Conference.
Brandon Ingram is good.
Amid its sexual harassment and domestic violence scandal, the Mavericks introduced their new interim CEO, Cynthia Marshall.
Good Twitter thread from NPR’s Gene Demby on the history of one-and-done and its intersection with race.
Marc Spears makes the case for elite prospects to head to the G League instead of college basketball. Being less likely to be ruled ineligible is a big factor for surefire one-and-done first-rounders.
Look, in the summer of 2016 Masai Ujiri landed Jakob Poeltl, Pascal Siakam, and Fred Van Vleet. He should at least share Executive of the Year with Sam Hinkie.
A Philadelphia-based company purchased billboard space in Cleveland to try to convince LeBron to join the Sixers this summer.
Jordan Bell’s Vegeta sneakers are awesome and honor the best Dragon Ball Z character do not @ me.
I have been exceedingly skeptical of FIBA’s new competition calendar, and I remain so. However, it’s pretty cool to see players like Damion Jones react to representing Team USA in official competition.
Here’s David Aldridge’s weekly column, leading with whether the Cavaliers have enough time to figure it out.
On the schedule Tuesday: we have a TNT doubleheader starring Wizards-Bucks at 8 p.m. ET and Clippers-Nuggets at 10:30. Sixers-Heat at 7:30 has IMPLICATIONS, too. Full schedule here.
And finally: one of the 17 victims of the Parkland shooting, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, was buried in a Dwyane Wade jersey. The Heat paid tribute to the victims on Sunday. Joaquin went by the nickname “Guac” and loved sports. He was born in Venezuela and recently became a naturalized U.S. citizen. His family left Venezuela when he was three to escape violence and turmoil. His parents wanted to give Joaquin an opportunity at a better life.
Be excellent to each other.
See More:
