Luka Doncic nutmegs LeBron James with pass of the year contender in Mavericks’ win over Lakers

Luka Doncic was not at his most efficient on Wednesday night in the Dallas Mavericks’ 104-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, which was much closer than it should have been thanks to a disastrous fourth quarter by Doncic and Co. His poor shooting stretch continued with a 10-of-26 outing, including 1 of 6 in the final frame.

He was, however, perhaps at his most spectacular en route to 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists — the fourth of which might go down as the assist of the season. Not just for Doncic, but the entire league.

Early in the second quarter, Doncic took a pass from Josh Green in the corner and began driving towards the middle of the floor. The Lakers sent multiple defenders his way, and he seemed to be stuck as he picked up his dribble near the elbow. Then, suddenly, he whipped the ball across the court to Green in the opposite corner, but did so by skipping it between LeBron James’ legs.

No one on the court save for Doncic could believe the pass. Not Green, who bobbled the ball and took a few seconds to recover. Nor the Lakers, who despite Green’s momentary lapse still did not chase him down in the corner to contest his shot.

Here’s a few alternate angles from the Mavericks’ broadcast, which show how precise Doncic had to be. The second one, in particular, is stunning.

More 📐 s#MFFL | @dallasmavs on @BallySportsSW 📺 pic.twitter.com/dKPy9OvRhn

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) November 23, 2023
Doncic’s pass would have gone down as an instant classic no matter who he nutmegged, but the fact that it was James makes it that much more memorable.

Even better for Doncic is that the Mavericks were able to hold on for the win despite blowing a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. With the victory, the Mavericks snapped a two-game skid and got their mini two-game road trip to Los Angeles off to a strong start. Now 10-5 on the season, the Mavs are tied for third place in the Western Conference with the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adrian Griffin brush off mid-game argument in loss to Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks’ five-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday with a 119-116 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Though the final score indicates a close game, the Bucks were down by as much as 21, and spent much of the night trailing by double digits before mounting a desperate comeback attempt.

It was a frustrating evening for everyone in the Milwaukee contingent, especially Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was limited to 21 points on 7 of 20 from the field. In addition to posting his worst shooting night of the season, he appeared to have an odd mid-game argument with head coach Adrian Griffin.

In the middle of the third quarter, Antetokounmpo was called for a palming violation, and Griffin subbed him out of the game. That seemed to upset the two-time MVP who never went to the bench, but instead sat at the scorer’s table having a contentious conversation with the first-year head coach. Antetokounmpo then checked back into the game at the next dead ball.

Post-game, Griffin downplayed the incident.

“He wanted to stay in, I wanted to give him a breather. That’s all it was,” Griffin said. “And then I told him to stay at the table for one possession, and he got right back out there.”

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, refused to discuss it.

“No,” was all Antetokounmpo offered when asked for his point of view.

In a vacuum this isn’t a big deal. Players and coaches have impassioned discussions and debates all the time throughout the course of a season, and the Bucks were in the middle of a difficult night.

It is probably worth filing this moment away, however, given Griffin’s tumultuous start with the Bucks and the pressure the team is under to compete for a championship this season. Veteran coach Terry Stotts quit during the preseason after an incident with Griffin during a shootaround, and the Bucks players had to have an intervention to convince Griffin to change his defensive scheme.

Despite the team’s 10-5 record, there have now been more than a few warning signs about Griffin’s ability to handle this responsibility.

Trae Young has scored 81 points in his last two games, but the Hawks have given up 302

Here’s the good news for the Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, who has struggled to find his 3-point shot for most of the season, might be starting to cook a little bit. Over his last two games, Young has posted 81 points while making 13-of-24 3-pointers.

After putting up 38 points against Indiana on Tuesday, Young hit the Nets for 43 on Wednesday. Over that span, the Hawks scored a total of 299 points.

The bad news is they gave up 302.

The net result was a 1-1 record: A 157-152 loss to the Pacers, and a 147-145 overtime victory against the Nets. You might not see two wilder games this season, and Atlanta played in them both, on back-to-back nights.

After hitting some huge shots down the stretch on Tuesday, Young again came up huge in clutch time on Wednesday. It was dicey; he missed his first free throw with one second to play and the Hawks down by one, but he managed to make the second to send it to overtime, where he scored 14 points that included the ultimate game-winner.

The winning sequence:

Trae’s step-back jumper followed by a clutch block by Big O pic.twitter.com/HfucH1M3yP

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 23, 2023
How about the stones to pull from the logo in a two-point game in overtime?

LOGOvertime TRAE 🥶 pic.twitter.com/EY7cJozJ3O

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 23, 2023
Here’s the full slate of Young’s buckets.

SEASON-HIGH POINTS FOR TRAE YOUNG 🗣️

43 PTS, 9 AST, 8 3PM

Hawks got the W in an OT thriller 🔥 pic.twitter.com/48IZFfdjyp

— NBA (@NBA) November 23, 2023
While Young was efficient from 3 against the Nets (8-for-16), he did require 31 shots to get his 43 points, which goes down as his season high. Along with Dejounte Murray, Atlanta’s backcourt pumped up 52 shots.

Hey, they’ll take it. The Hawks, now 7-7 on the season, are a water-treading team if you’ve ever seen one. Playing this kind of defense is not a sustainable model, but wins are wins in the short term. Long term, the hope is that Young stays hot from 3 for an extended stretch.

2023 NBA In-Season Tournament picks, Nov. 24 predictions from top model

We’ve got another exciting 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Memphis Grizzlies host the Phoenix Suns. Memphis is 3-11 overall and 0-6 at home, while Phoenix is 9-6 overall and 5-2 on the road. These teams split their four meetings last season, also splitting their two games played in Memphis. The Suns are 2-1 in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament standings, while the Grizzlies are 0-3.

Tip-off is at 5 p.m. ET at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Phoenix is favored by 7.5 points in the latest Suns vs. Grizzlies odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 222 points. Before entering any Grizzlies vs. Suns picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 82-46 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Grizzlies vs. Suns. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Suns vs. Grizzlies:

Grizzlies vs. Suns spread: Grizzlies +7.5
Grizzlies vs. Suns over/under: 222 points
Grizzlies vs. Suns money line: Grizzlies: +260, Suns: -333
Grizzlies vs. Suns picks: See picks here
What you need to know about the Grizzlies
On Wednesday, Memphis lost to Houston on the road by a decisive 111-91 margin. The Grizzlies have now taken an ‘L’ in back-to-back games. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the losing side with 23 points apiece, but the other three Memphis starters combined for just 18 points.

The Grizzlies have been decimated by injuries this year which is a big reason why they are the only winless team at home (0-6). Seven players are listed as out for Friday, while Bane (foot) is questionable. Memphis’ offense is among the worst in the league, ranking in the bottom three in field goal percentage, 2-point percentage, 3-point percentage, points per game and offensive rating. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Suns
Meanwhile, the Suns entered their tilt with the Warriors with four consecutive wins but they’ll enter their next game with five. Phoenix walked away with a 123-115 win over Golden State on Wednesday. The Suns’ success was spearheaded by the efforts of Kevin Durant, who scored 32 points along with eight rebounds, and Devin Booker, who dropped a double-double on 25 points and 10 assists.

Durant is averaging 31.4 PPG, which would be his highest average in a decade. Meanwhile, Booker has embraced the full-time move to point guard as he’s averaging 9.3 assists to go along with 28.1 points, both of which are career-highs. While Phoenix’s offense gets most of the attention, the team is also bringing it on the other end by leading the NBA with 7.0 blocks per game. Bradley Beal (back) remains out for Phoenix. See which team to pick here.

How to make Grizzlies vs. Suns picks
The model has simulated Grizzlies vs. Suns 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that hits almost 70% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

2023 NBA In-Season Tournament picks, Nov. 24 predictions from proven model

We’ve got another exciting NBA In-Season Tournament 2023 clash on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Miami Heat visit the New York Knicks. New York is 8-6 overall and 3-2 at home, while Miami is 10-5 overall and 6-4 on the road. The Heat defeated New York in six games in last season’s playoffs, but the Knicks have won four of the last five regular-season matchups. Miami sports a 2-0 record in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament standings, with New York at 1-1.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Knicks are favored by 5.5 points in the latest Heat vs. Knicks odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 212 points. Before entering any Knicks vs. Heat picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 82-46 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Heat. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Heat vs. Knicks:

Knicks vs. Heat spread: Knicks -5.5
Knicks vs. Heat over/under: 212 points
Knicks vs. Heat money line: Knicks: -224, Heat: +181
Knicks vs. Heat picks: See picks here
What you need to know about the Heat
On Wednesday, Miami made easy work of Cleveland and carried off a 129-96 victory, which made it back-to-back wins for the Heat. Kyle Lowry was the offensive standout of the match as he went 7 for 10 from beyond the arc en route to 28 points and three assists. It tied for the most points Lowry’s scored in a Heat uniform and his most since May 2021.

The Heat are 9-1 over their last 10 games, despite only having Tyler Herro (ankle) for the entirety of those first two games. Herro remains out while Bam Adebayo (hip) and Duncan Robinson (thumb) are questionable. However, Jimmy Butler, and his 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists, will be on the floor, as will UCLA rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. The No. 18 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft hasn’t had a steep learning curve in the pros as he’s averaging 13.4 points and 4.2 rebounds, while shooting 57% from the field and 50% on 3-point attempts during the last 10 games. See which team to pick here.

What you need to know about the Knicks
Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, the Knicks’ good fortune finally ran out on Monday. They took a hard 117-100 fall against Minnesota as New York found out winning isn’t easy when you don’t work as a unit and post 14 fewer assists than your opponent. Jalen Brunson put forth a good effort for the losing side as he scored 25 points along with six assists. Less helpful for the Knicks was Quentin Grimes’ abysmal 0-6 three-point shooting.

Outside shooting hasn’t been a big problem for the Knicks this season, but what they do inside the arc is a cause for concern. On offense, they rank last in the NBA in 2-point percentage (48.1%), and on defense, they also rank last in with 2.6 blocks per game. Despite the latter, New York still boasts the No. 2 scoring defense by allowing 105.8 PPG. Julius Randle is still finding his footing in the early season as he’s shooting just 37.8% from the field, which is the worst amongst 138 qualified players. See which team to pick here.

How to make Knicks vs. Heat picks
The model has simulated Knicks vs. Heat 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

Warriors’ Stephen Curry explains frustration with Chris Paul’s ejection by Scott Foster

Chris Paul was ejected from the Golden State Warriors loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday by Scott Foster in the latest incident in the long-running feud between the veteran point guard and referee. After the game, Paul said he had a “personal” problem with Foster related to something involving his son, though he would divulge no further details.

Paul was not the only one to have an issue with Foster on the night. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr received a technical foul during the game for complaining about Paul’s ejection, while Steph Curry had a conversation of his own with Foster in the aftermath. Following the game, Curry shared his thoughts on the matter.

Steph Curry reveals what he told Scott Foster after the Chris Paul ejection 👀 pic.twitter.com/F8Iz2JeB5i

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 23, 2023
“I mean, I think we were down double digits already. We obviously need [Chris Paul] and his leadership and the way he manages the game,” Curry said. “I don’t like and appreciate — I know there is history and all that, I know [Paul] talked about it, but when both the player and the ref engage in conversation, that has to kind of stay there. I told Scott [Foster] that after he ejected him.

“It’s like, there are certain situations where players overstep. That happens a lot. There’s times you kind of know you have to back off, but when both are engaging, I don’t like that. That’s the part that messed with me the most watching it. Just like two guys talking, speaking their truths. Let’s just play basketball.”

Foster is one of the league’s longest-serving referees, having started his career in 1994. Over nearly two decades, he has officiated 123 Warriors games, and the team is 60-63 in those contests, per Basketball Reference. But while there isn’t an issue between Foster and the Warriors, there is one between Foster and Paul.

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“It’s personal,” Paul said on Wednesday. “We had a situation some years ago, and it’s personal. The league knows, everybody knows, and it’s been a meeting and all that. It’s a situation with my son and so, yeah. I’m OK with a ref talking, saying whatever, just don’t use a tech to get your point across. I gotta do a better job making sure I stay on the floor for my teammates. But, yeah, that’s that.

Yeah. They know what it is, he know what it is too. I had a meeting with him, my dad, Doc Rivers, Bob Delaney and all that. [When I was with] the Clippers. It was a whole thing, man. It’s been a thing for a while. I ain’t saying nothing to get fined. It is what it is at this point.”

All-time, Paul is 2-17 in playoff games officiated by Foster, including a 13-game losing streak at one point.

Warriors’ Steve Kerr complains about ‘thumping techno club music’ in Suns’ Footprint Center after loss

The Golden State Warriors struggled to stop the Phoenix Suns in their 123-115 loss on Wednesday night, and Steve Kerr suggested it might have something to do with the in-arena entertainment. In his postgame press conference, Kerr complained that the music in the Footprint Center caused some issues on the court.

Kerr was discussing cohesion amongst the Warriors, and he noted that “communication” is a huge part of success on the floor. The only issue when playing in Phoenix, according to Kerr, is that no one can hear anything because the music is so loud.

“It’s playing with force,” Kerr said. “It’s playing downhill. It’s playing with great communication. You can hear everybody talking defensively. Although, in this building, you can’t hear anything because it’s like a club. It’s like a South Beach club out there. What are we doing? I’m being dead serious. I couldn’t hear anything. It’s thumping techno club music. Can we just have a basketball game anymore? What the hell? Sorry for the rant.”

Golden State allowed Phoenix to hit 44.7% of its shots from the floor, including 39.3% of its shots from beyond the arc. Suns superstar Kevin Durant led all scorers with 32 points, and teammate Devin Booker wasn’t too far behind him with 25 of his own.

Maybe the friendly confines of the Chase Center will provide a better environment for the Warriors when they take on the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

2023 NBA picks, Nov. 24 predictions from proven model

A pair of red hot teams meet in a 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Group C matchup when the Boston Celtics face the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Celtics (12-3, 2-0 Tournament), winners of seven of their past eight games, are 6-3 on the road in 2023-24. The Magic (10-5, 2-1 Tournament) are on a five-game winning streak, and are 5-2 on their home court. Orlando has won three games in a row against Boston, although this is the first meeting between the two this season. Jrue Holiday (ankle) is doubtful for Boston, while Markelle Fultz (knee) and Wendell Carter Jr. (hand) are out for Orlando.

The game from the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., will tip off at 2:30 p.m. ET. Boston is averaging 117.3 points per game, while Orlando averages 111.5. Boston is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Celtics vs. Magic odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 222.5. Before making any Magic vs. Celtics picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine’s proven model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 82-46 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Magic and locked in its NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Magic vs. Celtics:

Celtics vs. Magic spread: Celtics -5.5
Celtics vs. Magic over/under: 222.5 points
Celtics vs. Magic money line: Celtics -215, Magic +174
BOS: The Celtics have hit the third quarter game total over in 82 of their last 100 games (+62.25 units)
ORL: The Magic are 12-3 ATS this season
Celtics vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Celtics can cover
Center Kristaps Porzingis has been dominant at times this season, posting eight games of 20 or more points, including a season-high 30 in a win at New York on Oct. 25. He scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in a win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. He posted his first double-double of the season in a 108-105 win at Toronto on Nov. 17. In that game, he scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. For the season, he is averaging 19.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks.

Guard Derrick White fills up the box score on a nightly basis, averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. A 2022-23 All-Defensive selection, White ranks second amongst guards in blocks per game, only trailing teammate Holiday (1.0). White scored 27 points against Orlando in a game last year, which was his second-highest output of the season. See which team to pick here.

Why the Magic can cover
Power forward Paolo Banchero has registered three consecutive 20-plus point games, including a 23-point, four-assist, three-block and three-rebound performance in Wednesday’s win over the Nuggets. In 15 games, all starts, Banchero is averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He is connecting on 47.7% of his field goals, including 45.5% from 3-point range. He has posted two double-doubles, including a 26-point and 12-rebound effort in a 112-97 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 11.

Third-year veteran and small forward Franz Wagner has continued his strong play. In the win over Denver, he poured in a season-high 27 points, while dishing out four assists, grabbing three rebounds and blocking two shots. He has scored 20 or more points in seven games, including four in the past seven. In 15 games, all starts, Wagner is averaging 19 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.6 minutes. See which team to pick here.

How to make Magic vs. Celtics picks
The model has simulated Celtics vs. Magic 10,000 times and is leaning Under the total, projecting 221 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.

2023 NBA In-Season Tournament picks, Nov. 24 predictions from top model

The San Antonio Spurs (3-12) will try to snap their 10-game losing streak when they face the Golden State Warriors (7-9) on Friday night in the NBA In-Season Tournament 2023. San Antonio suffered its 10th consecutive loss on Wednesday, falling to the Clippers in a 109-102 final. The Spurs have already been eliminated from moving on past West Group C play, while the Warriors need wins over the Spurs and Kings (next week) to remain alive for a trip to the quarterfinals. Golden State beat Houston on Monday before falling to Phoenix on Wednesday.

Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET on Friday at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Golden State is favored by 10 points in the latest Warriors vs. Spurs odds, while the over/under is 234.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Spurs vs. Warriors picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 82-46 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Warriors vs. Spurs. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Spurs vs. Warriors:

Warriors vs. Spurs spread: Warriors -10
Warriors vs. Spurs over/under: 234.5 points
Warriors vs. Spurs money line: Warriors: -480, Spurs: +357
Warriors vs. Spurs picks: See picks here
Why the Warriors can cover
Golden State is in a must-win position in terms of its potential in-season tournament advancement, needing to win this game and a contest against Sacramento next week. This is the perfect spot for it to get the job done, as San Antonio is riding a 10-game losing skid and has already been eliminated from advancing in the inaugural event. The Spurs are the youngest team in the NBA, while the Warriors are loaded with veterans.

The last four meetings between these teams have been won by Golden State, including three wins by 15-plus points last season. Star guard Stephen Curry leads the Warriors with 29.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, hitting the 30-point mark three times in his last five games. The Spurs have only covered the spread once in their last six games, and they are 3-15 against the spread in their last 18 November games. See which team to pick here.

Why the Spurs can cover
San Antonio’s wins have all come against teams that are sitting ahead of Golden State in the standings, including a two-game sweep against Phoenix early in the season. The Warriors are playing without veteran Draymond Green (suspension) for the fifth straight game, and they have lost seven of their last eight games. San Antonio is led by young superstar Victor Wembanyama, who had a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with 22 points and three blocks against the Clippers on Wednesday.

He has scored 20 or more points and blocked at least three shots on six occasions this season. Wembanyama is averaging 18.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting guard Devin Vassell is adding 17.4 points and 3.6 rebounds. The Warriors have only covered the spread once in their last seven games, and they are 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games. See which team to pick here.

How to make Warriors vs. Spurs picks
The model has simulated Spurs vs. Warriors 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.