Brooklyn came tumbling back down after the highs of their 45-point win over Milwaukee, losing 95-106 to Miami on Friday. There were a couple of encouraging runs from Brooklyn in this clash that made it look like this game was going to go down to the wire, but they weren’t able to mount a run in the fourth to get back in front, as the visitors held on for the win. Nic Claxton was Brooklyn’s best in this one, posting 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks, while Michael Porter Jr and Egor Demin were the only Brooklyn players to score in double figures. MPJ shot just 10/24 from the floor for 28 points, while Demin was even worse in terms of efficiency with a 5/18 night.
Toronto were comfortably outclassed by Boston 96-112 on Sunday to make it seven losses from their last 10 games. It’s been a bit of a rough run of form for Darko Rajaković’s side, who have struggled without RJ Barrett on the floor, and there were more signs of their weakened offence on Sunday, posting just a 104.3 offensive rating in the loss. Brandon Ingram did his work, putting up 24 points on 10/17 shooting, as well as dishing out seven assists, and Sandro Mamukelashvili impressed again, going 9/13 for 24 points. However, Scottie Barnes struggled, going just 5/15 from the field for 12 points but it was Immanuel Quickley who had the roughest run, with three points on 1/12 FGs.
Toronto’s offence has fallen off a cliff of late, being the second-worst in the league across their last 12 games, and on night two of a back-to-back, I don’t expect any improvements. Against a Brooklyn team that doesn’t exactly push the ball, we are set for a low-scoring affair. The under is a combined 15-5 in each of these team’s last 10 games and is the play here.
New York produced an ugly fourth quarter of hoops on Saturday to lose to Philadelphia 107-116. Their 20-point fourth quarter saw their offence nosedive and essentially handed the visitors the win, with their tired legs on night two of a back-to-back perhaps to blame. Mitchell Robinson was one of the players who rested the night prior and it paid off in a 21-point, 16-rebound, two-block performance. Karl-Anthony Towns also took the prior night off and had 22 points and 11 boards, but Jalen Brunson wasn’t up to the test, going 7/22 from the floor for 22 points and nine assists. Mikal Bridges added 22 points and 11 boards but it wasn’t enough, with another poor shooting performance from the team, as well as 18 turnovers, made for a sub-par offensive evening.
Miami similarly let the game get away from them in the fourth quarter against Boston on Saturday, losing 116-129. A 27-37 final period was the nail in the coffin, despite trailing by just three points after three Qs, as Boston went a bonkers 10/15 from deep to seal the dub. Kel’el Ware impressed for Miami with 24 points and 14 rebounds, but he was the only starter to have an efficient scoring night, in what was Miami’s worst shooting performance of the year. The team shot just 47.0% eFG%, Norman Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr being the worst of the bunch, combining for 12/36 shooting. Bam Adebayo had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists but with Andrew Wiggins, Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell all out, Miami simply didn’t have the class to come out on top.
Herro remains out, while Wiggins and Mitchell are questionable and that puts NY in a great spot here. Miami’s offensive woes of late have caused real concern, with their hot start to the season having really cooled off, and it’s hard to see them getting back on track on the road against perhaps the East’s best team. I expect the margin to be double digits here.
Minnesota became just the third team to beat Oklahoma City this season, triumphing 112-107 on Saturday. Anthony Edwards was excellent in his return from injury, drilling the dagger step back three en route to 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, including an important rejection on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander late on. Naz Reid provided his trademark energy off the bench with 15 points, three steals and two blocks and Donte DiVincenzo hit some important shots with 15 points. Julius Randle went just 2/10 from the floor but hit 12/16 free throws to finish the night with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists in what was an important contribution in the win.
Milwaukee come into this game off a 105-111 defeat to Toronto on Friday, making it four losses from their last five games. There was a rather strange change to Milwaukee’s lineup, seeing Jericho Sims start in the place of Ryan Rollins and it backfired for Doc Rivers, with Sims failing to make an impact on either end, as Toronto shot out to a 4-15 lead and stayed in front for most of the contest. Rollins, on the other hand, was one of Milwaukee’s best, with 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals in 28 minutes, while Kevin Porter Jr had 13 assists and 22 points on a shaky shooting night (7/18 FGs).
Minnesota should be too good on Monday but coming off a draining night against OKC, compared to Milwaukee’s two days of rest, the visitors will be more than up for this challenge. They also have some solid perimeter defenders to throw on Edwards and, with that, the 12.5 points that Milwaukee are getting is appealing.