Fans push for boom Aussie rookie to start; Pacers drop to 0-2 since blockbuster trade – NBA Wrap
Portland huge man Duop Reath was one of many lone vivid spots for the Trail Blazers of their 134-110 loss to the Lakers on Monday (AEDT).
Reath is within the prime ten amongst rookies in factors, rebounds and three pointers made this season, however he’s been particularly spectacular in January, averaging round 15 ppg and 7rpg.
His kind has pressured Trail Blazer followers to name for his promotion into the beginning aspect over Deandre Ayton, who has been cold and hot at greatest for the struggling franchise this season.
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With Portland sitting close to the underside of the Western Conference, it wouldn’t be the worst concept for coach Chauncy Billups to present extra minutes to a few of his youthful gamers like Reath.
0-2 SINCE BLOCKBUSTER TRADE, BUT SIGNS ARE THERE IT WAS RIGHT MOVE FOR PACERS
The Indiana Pacers have misplaced 4 of their 5 and are actually 0-2 since former Toronto Raptors ahead and All-Star Pascal Siakam joined the road up, with the most recent loss a 117-110 defeat by the hands of the Phoenix Suns.
The Pacers executed an enormous deal final week which noticed them half methods with three first spherical picks and the versatile Bruce Brown to amass Siakam – a two-time All Star and twin All-NBA staff choice.
Siakam had 18 factors and 7 assists within the loss to the Suns, which noticed the Pacers drop to seventh within the Eastern Conference with their 24-19 file.
Star level guard Tyrese Haliburton returned from a hamstring damage within the loss in opposition to the lowly Trail Blazers – Siakam’s first sport as a Pacer – however he was managed and didn’t go well with up for the Phoenix conflict.
While the commerce hasn’t had a right away impact, it’s clear Siakam’s sport is what this Pacers staff must go from being a great staff to an excellent staff.
Siakam has already proven he’s going to be an essential cog not solely offensively, however defensively as properly.
With the Pacers struggling mightily on that aspect of the ball, something Siakam can add both enjoying at energy ahead or centre will assist.
NETS’ SHOCK COLLAPSE AS RUSS EXPLODES
Russell Westbrook got here up huge to assist the LA Clippers pull off a shocking late comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets 125-114 at Crypto.com Arena.
Down by 15 going into the fourth quarter and trailing by 18 at one stage in the course of the interval, LA raced residence with a 41-15 remaining stanza together with holding the Nets scoreless within the remaining 5 and a half minutes in a wild collapse from the guests.
Westbrook racked up 23 factors on 10-of-16 capturing and 6 assists with a team-high 9 rebounds and as a team-high +22 plus/minus off the bench in one in every of his greatest outings for the season, notably because the Clippers acquired James Harden.
Harden had 24 factors and dished out 10 assists and Kawhi Leonard added 21 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, whereas Paul George’s shot was off, going 5-of-17 from the sphere for 12 factors.
With it, the Clippers improved to 27-14 general and 2-1 since Ivica Zubac’s damage as they navigate a tough interval with out their beginning centre from Croatia.
It additionally created better separation between the highest 4 seeds within the West – Minnesota (30-12), OKC (29-13), Denver (30-14) and the Clippers – to the remainder of the convention, with New Orleans (25-18) sitting three video games behind within the fifth seed.
Mikal Bridges top-scored for Brooklyn with 26 and Cam Thomas chipped in 20 factors and 6 assists off the bench.
The Nets, who had been coming off an enormous upset win over the Lakers, break up their journey to LA 1-1 to fall to 17-25 on the season.
Ben Simmons travelled with the staff on its three-game street journey in opposition to Portland and each LA groups because the Aussie slowly ramps up his return from a again damage that’s sidelined him since early November.
JOKER GOES OFF FOR 42 AND 12
Nikola Jokic stuffed the stat sheet with 42 factors and 12 rebounds because the Nuggets cruised to a 113-104 street win over the Washington Wizards.
Jokic, who had 26 factors within the first half alone, shot 15-of-20 from the sphere – regularly punishing the Wizards within the paint – and 12-of-14 from the free throw line and had eight assists, and remarkably, no turnovers.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr added 19 factors apiece for Denver, who improved to 20-14 to take a seat only a sport behind the Wolves within the first seed within the West.
It marked a fourth-straight loss for the Wizards, whose 7-35 file is the second-worst within the NBA solely to the Pistons.
ALL RESULTS
NETS 114 CLIPPERS 125
NUGGETS 113 WIZARDS 104
HEAT 87 MAGIC 105
CELTICS 116 – ROCKETS 107
PACERS 110 – 117 SUNS
TRAIL BLAZERS 110 – LAKERS 134
