Eight games were played in the NBA on Sunday, with the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors making history in a 3-point fest and LeBron James returning to the Los Angeles Lakers in their home win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
In San Francisco, the visiting Mavericks scored 143 points, including 46 in the opening quarter, on their way to a 10-point win over the Warriors. Luka Doncic, recording his 80th career triple-double (7th all-time) shot 16-for-23 from the field and 6-for-11 from downtown for 45 points, with 13 assists and 7 rebounds. Doncic also made 7-of-10 free-throws. Klay Thompson, facing his former team, got hot himself, making 7-for-11 from downtown for 29 points. Kyrie Irving added 21 points and 8 assists on 8-for-16 for a Maverick team that shot 21-for-41 from deep and 60 percent from the field.
The Warriors, meanwhile, were led by Andrew Wiggins’ 29 (11-for-20, 5-for-9 from deep) with Stephen Curry making 7-for-13 from downtown for 26 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. Draymond Green made 5-for-7 from deep for 21 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, for his highest output of the season. Jonathan Kuminga was 9-for-15 for 20 points.
Shooting 27-for-54 from deep, the Warriors combined with the Mavericks to make 48 triples, a record for most in a game between two clubs. With the win, the Mavericks got to 17-9, while the Warriors are 14-11.
LeBron James returned from a nine-day, two-game absence on Sunday in the Lakers’ 116-110 home win over Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. James, with 18-8-8 on 7-for-17 shooting, played Robin to Anthony Davis’ Batman, as James’ usual sidekick went for 40 points and 16 rebounds on 15-for-22 shooting. Davis was also 9-for-12 from the line. Austin Reaves was just 6-for-19 but scored 19 points (8 assists) to complement the Lakers’ star duo.
Morant had a difficult night, just 6-for-21 (20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) in a game where the team as a whole had trouble finding the basket, shooting a collective 39 percent. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 (9-for-13) and had 5 rebounds, and rookie Zach Edey (13 points, 10 rebounds, 6-for-8) played a solid game off the bench, while Marcus Smart was just 3-for-11. For Edey, it was his third career game of double-digit rebounds.
With the win, the Lakers are 14-12, while the Grizzlies, the two seed in the west, are 18-9.
Around the League
Knicks 100 (16-10)
Magic 91 (17-11)
Towns: 22 PTS, 22 REB, 5 AST (7-for-15 FG, 7-for-7 FT)
Brunson: 31 PTS, 5 AST (8-for-18 FG, 4-for-8 3PT, 11-for-14 FT)
Moritz Wagner: 32 PTS, 6 REB (10-for-15 FG, 4-for-7 3PT) in 26 mins off bench
da Silva: 20 PTS (9-for-17 FG, 2-for-5 3PT)
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Pacers 119 (12-15)
Pelicans 104 (5-22)
Siakam: 22 PTS, 5 REB (8-for-16 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)
Haliburton: 21 PTS, 10 AST (6-for-14 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)
Nembhard: 17 PTS, 7 AST (5-for-8 FG, 7-for-7 FT)
Boston Jr.: 20 PTS (7-for-15) in 31 mins off bench
Murray: 19 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST (8-for-15 FG)
Jones: 19 PTS, 5 REB (6-for-17 FG, 2-for-8 3PT)
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Celtics 112 (21-5)
Wizards 98 (3-21)
Tatum: 28 PTS, 12 REB (12-for-26)
Pritchard: 15 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST (5-for-10 3PT) in 37 mins off bench
White: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (5-for-10 FG)
Poole: 21 PTS, 7 AST (8-for-19 FG, 3-for-11 3PT)
Coulibaly: 19 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB (8-for-20 FG, 3-for-8 3PT)
Champagnie: 13 PTS, 14 REB (5-for-11 FG)
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Timberwolves 106 (14-11)
Spurs 92 (13-13)
Edwards: 26 PTS, 5 REB (10-for-21 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)
Alexander-Walker: 17 PTS (6-for-15 FG, 2-for-8 3PT)
McDaniels: 12 PTS, 11 REB (4-for-10 FG)
Wembanyama: 20 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST (8-for-20 FG, 1-for-7 3PT)
Sochan: 17 PTS, 15 REB, 4 AST (7-for-10 FG)
Barnes: 17 PTS (6-for-10 FG, 4-for-7 3PT)
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Suns 116 (14-11)
Trail Blazers 109 (8-18)
Booker: 28 PTS, 5 AST (7-for-14 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)
Durant: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST (9-for-23 FG, 1-for-9 3PT)
Jones: 19 PTS, 4 AST, 4 REB (8-for-9 FG)
Simons: 20 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB (7-for-15 FG, 4-for-10 3PT)
Grant: 17 PTS, 6 REB (6-for-16 FG, 4-for-11 3PT)
Avdija: 17 PTS, 7 REB (6-for-9 FG, 3-for-5 3PT) in 28 mins off bench
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On Sunday, Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer wrote that the New Orleans Pelicans are open to trades involving their big names, with a future core in mind of Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and Yves Missi.
The report comes off the heels of what has been a disastrous season for the Pelicans. Thought to be contenders coming into the year, they have been plagued by injuries and are 5-22. Zion Williamson remains out with his hamstring, and Brandon Ingram is currently out with an ankle injury. The team recently got C.J. McCollum, Dejounte Murray, and Jones back, but that has not helped them win games.
Frankly, the Pelicans would be right to in essence “blow it up” by trading their veteran players. It does not make sense to hold on to their bigger names if they are not winning, especially when those big names count a lot financially.
Williamson is making 36.7 million this season and is owed $39.4 million, $42.2 million, and $44.5 million through 2027-2028, until 2028-2029 when he is set to become a free agent.
The two-time all-star is great when healthy, one of the most physically imposing and dominant players in the game. However, he has played 190 games in his six seasons, so despite his great talent and skill set, his lack of availability makes it difficult for a team like the Pelicans to maintain any type of continuity and consistency.
Ingram could help a team in need of a scoring punch, as could McCollum. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season and $30.1 million next season. Murray is 28, and has been relatively healthy throughout his career with the exception of 2018-2019 which he lost due to injury. As a second year player in 2017-2018, he played 81 games and in his two seasons (2022-2023, 2023-2024) in Atlanta, played 74 and 78 games. His ability to play the defensive end of the floor and get steals is a great quality at the guard position. In his lone all-star season in San Antonio (2021-22) he averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. He has averaged 6.1 and 6.4 assists the last two seasons along with 5.3 rebounds in both years. He is a playmaking guard who could be an asset to any team that needs that from their lead guard position as well as perimeter defense.
Jones, one of the top wing defenders in the league, is no doubt a keeper for David Griffin, as is Murphy with his ability on both ends, particularly his shooting and athleticism. Missi, who turns 21 in May, is an active center who is averaging 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds this season. 11 times he has put up double-digit rebounds, and has 10 games of at least two blocks.
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