Basketball Tips

Atlanta have won nine games in a row to find themselves with a 36-31 record, which is good for ninth in the East. Just 2.5 games back of the #5 seed Orlando — their opponents on Tuesday — this is a real chance to make some ground in the standings. A 122-99 beatdown of Milwaukee on Sunday was their latest win, dominating the game from the second quarter onwards, headlined by a 12-2 run in the third quarter that opened the floodgates. Jalen Johnson starred with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for another triple-double, while CJ McCollum top-scored…

Philadelphia did just enough to hold on to beat Brooklyn on Sunday, surviving what would have been the biggest comeback of the season from the visitors. After leading by 28 points early in the third quarter, Philly let their feet off the gas to see Brooklyn take an 86-87 lead with three minutes to play. However, the hosts upped the aggression from there, getting to the rim and to the free throw line in many of their possessions to win. With Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid out with injuries, it was Quentin Grimes who again led the team, finishing with…

This Florida showdown promises to have plenty of zing to it, with the two teams on near-identical records, with Miami occupying the #6 seed and Orlando in the #5 seed heading into Sunday’s clash. Miami are in fine form, having won seven consecutive games after a 112-105 triumph over Milwaukee on Friday. Pelle Larsson shot the lights out for a career-high 28 points, six rebounds and six assists to lead the way for the hosts, while Kasparas Jakučionis excelled with 18 points, seven boards, one steal and one block. Bam Adebayo followed up his historic 83-point game with 21 points…

Toronto have dropped four of their last five games after a 111-122 loss to New Orleans on Thursday. After a very tight first half, it was all New Orleans in the third quarter, with their 5-22 run opening up a lot of breathing room, and the visitors weren’t able to get back in the lead after that point. Immanuel Quickley was their best offensive player with 25 points, three assists and two assists, while Brandon Ingram had a rather inefficient 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Scottie Barnes had a poor 4/14 shooting night but found ways…

San Antonio’s win streak extended to five games on Wednesday, beating Boston 125-116 in a much-anticipated clash against Boston. As two of the league’s form teams locked horns, it was the hosts who came out on top thanks to a 39-32 third quarter and another good offensive night. The team’s 126.5 offensive rating was their fifth consecutive above 119.0 and it was Victor Wembanyama who led the effort again. The big man finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and six turnovers, while De’Aaron Fox was very efficient with his 25 points and nine assists on 11/14…

Orlando are riding a four-game win streak heading into Thursday’s game, with a 130-91 demolition of Milwaukee on Monday being their biggest of the lot. It was a straightforward win for the visitors, who dominated from the opening tip and held Milwaukee to just 15 points in both the first and third quarters, contributing to a strong 101.3 defensive rating, but it was their offence that really stood out. Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane led the charge on their way to an elite 139.7 offensive rating, shooting the lights out across the floor for a 66.7% eFG%. Banchero…

Houston were humiliated by San Antonio on Monday, losing to their Texas rivals 120-145. Houston’s defence had no answer for the hot shooting and the speed of San Antonio, giving up a 64.4% eFG% and a 136.3 offensive rating from the hosts. It was Victor Wembanyama who inflicted the most damage and even with solid nights from Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant, who both had 23 points, Houston never really looked close in the second half of this clash. Alperen Şengün’s slump in form continued, with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and five turnovers to be a -28, and…

Cleveland were well beaten by Boston on Monday, going down in a 98-109 defeat. Cleveland shot out of the gates for an 11-3 lead but it was a short-lived high for Kenny Atkinson’s team, as they trailed 26-35 by the end of the first quarter and never saw the lead from there. A terrible 10-21 second quarter was essentially the nail in the coffin for the hosts, contributing to another sub-par offensive game, even with Donovan Mitchell back in the team and providing a standout 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Evan Mobley had 24 points, eight…

Jayson Tatum is set to make his miraculous return from an Achilles tear on Saturday, less than 10 months after it happened in last year’s playoffs. He’ll be on a tight minutes restriction, but this is an excellent and impressive comeback story for Boston’s franchise player and it just so happens to come in a national TV game. It also comes after a crushing loss for Boston on Thursday, as they were completely outclassed against a rapidly rising Charlotte team in an 89-118 loss. It felt like a blowout was on the cards from early on, as Boston trailed 23-35…

Minnesota recorded their fourth successive win on Wednesday, beating Memphis 117-110. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the hosts, with Memphis taking an 11-point lead in the first quarter before maintaining a double-digit buffer for much of the second quarter. However, a 27-9 run in the third quarter ensured Minnesota took control from the game from there, and it was all easy going in the fourth quarter, with a late Memphis surge making the game look much closer than what it was down the stretch. Anthony Edwards was superb, recording 41 points, six rebounds, five steals and one block to…