Rockets' James Harden Says He Has 'Nothing to Prove to Anybody' on Defense
Aug 3, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Robin Lopez moves around Houston Rockets' James Harden during an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
There has long been a narrative that James Harden is a poor defender.
NBA Twitter users have seen the memes and jokes. There have been highlights of missed assignments. And yet, his offensive numbers usually help account for any perceived struggles on the defensive end.
However, it was his defense that shined in crunch time of the Houston Rockets' 120-116 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Harden helped lock down Giannis in the closing stretch as the Rockets overcame an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes.
He wasn't exactly in a talkative mood when it came to the individual matchup, although he added "I don't have nothing to prove to anybody" when it comes to his defense:
James Harden on whether his defense on Giannis should prove a point to those who doubt his ability on that end:
That the defensive performance came against Antetokounmpo made it all the more memorable. After all, the two have a long history oftaking jabsat each other, and Giannis famouslysaidhis team targeted whichever man Harden guarded near the end of the All-Star Game.
The last two MVPs were critical parts of Sunday's matchup. Harden finished with 24 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and six steals, and Antetokounmpo countered with 36 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists.
However, Russell Westbrook played the role of offensive hero for the Rockets, scoring or assisting on 11 of his team's 16 points in those last three minutes and drilling four clutch free throws in the final minute after the Bucks retook the lead multiple times.
The point guard consistently attacked the basket, pulled up from mid-range or found teammates for corner threes when double teams came, spearheading an offensive effort that saw the Rockets attempt 61 three-pointers in all.
The cliche "live by the three, die by the three" may come to fruition for the Rockets during the playoffs, but playing lockdown defense can help make up for a poor shooting day.
Harden proved he can do just that against the league's reigning MVP, even if he doesn't believe he had to prove it to anyone.
NBA's Top Stats, Best Highlights, Updated Playoff Picture from Aug. 2 Results
Aug 2, 2020
Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook moves the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
If your only plan for Sunday was to watch the latest crop of NBA games in Orlando, Florida, congratulations on an excellent choice. Five of the six games on tap for Aug. 2 were decided by single digits, and not a single team scored under 100 points. There were inspiring rallies, thwarted comebacks, clutch plays and much, much more.
Sunday's slate of games also provided a bit more clarity for the playoff picture, with one team clinching its spot in the postseason.
Here's a rundown of the top performers, plays and more as the first weekend of NBA action in the bubble came to a close.
August 2 Scores, Stats & Highlights
Nets 118, Wizards 110
Caris LeVert (BKN): 34 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST
Joe Harris (BKN): 27 PTS, 7 REB
Jarrett Allen (BKN: 22 PTS, 15 REB
Thomas Bryant (WAS): 30 PTS, 13 REB
Troy Brown Jr. (WAS): 22 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST
The Brooklyn Nets took a big step toward making the playoffs with a 118-110 over the Wizards to start off Sunday's action.
Both teams were playing without their biggest stars. No Bradley Beal, John Wall or Davis Bertans for the Wizards, while Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan (among others) were not available for the Nets.
Despite all the talent off the court, the product on it was excellent. Washington jumped out to an early 11-2 lead, but the Nets woke up shortly after that. The two teams then traded buckets and kept the score close right up until the final couple minutes in a free-flowing, back-and-forth affair.
Caris LeVert, who was an unsolvable riddle for the Wizards with a game-high 34 points, took over at the end of the game, scoring eight points in the final three minutes to give the Nets the breathing room they needed to secure the win.
While LeVert, Joe Harris and Jarrett Allen did the heavy lifting with the scoring, they weren't the only reasons the Nets were able to pull out a win. Chris Chiozza clearly brought his bag of tricks with him to Orlando:
In a tough loss, Thomas Bryant was a bright spot for the Wizards. The 23-year-old center scored 30 points on 60 percent shooting from the floor. He also knocked down four three-pointers in the first half.
The Wizards are back in action Monday against the Indiana Pacers and will need to get hot quickly in order to force a play-in game against the Nets for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Boston Celtics may have won this high-scoring contest against the Portland Trail Blazers, but they could have made it much easier on themselves.
The Celtics were hot right from the start, racing out to a 37-24 lead by the end of the first quarter. Thanks to sublime shooting from Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown, they maintained a comfortable advantage and were up by 20 points deep into the third quarter.
When a guy like Tatum is in this deep of a groove, there's not much you can do as a defense:
The Blazers finally started to claw their way back late in the third, with the comeback effort getting a spark from this absurd shot by Damian Lillard:
Portland took a 101-98 lead with about nine minutes left in the first quarter, the team's first lead since the opening seconds of the game. The game was a fierce battle from that point on, but a clutch shot from Brown helped the Celtics maintain a slim advantage late.
The Blazers would cut the Celtics' lead to one with 3.4 seconds remaining, but Gordon Hayward hit two free throws and then Jusuf Nurkic's ensuing inbound pass went out of bounds, sealing their fate.
The Celtics as a team shot 60 percent from three-point range, with Tatum, Brown, and Hayward combining to go 15-of-21 from deep. Tatum's all-around effort has to make Boston feel good about its chances in the playoffs.
The Blazers got another big game out of Lillard, and Nurkic's play is also encouraging. They're on the edge of playoff contention and have a pivotal contest coming up on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.
Spurs 108, Grizzlies 106
Dejounte Murray (SAS): 21 PTS, 10 REB
Derrick White (SAS): 16 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST
Ja Morant (MEM): 25 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST
The Spurs won a nail-biter against the Grizzlies on Sunday, a result that had big implications for four teams.
Memphis' loss not only allowed the Blazers and Spurs to stay within striking range of the eighth spot in the West, but it also secured a playoff spot for the Dallas Mavericks. Per ESPN.com's Tim McMahon, the Mavs can finish no lower than seventh in the West, avoiding a possible play-in game.
The Spurs, playing without LaMarcus Aldridge, got the win thanks to a balanced team effort. Six players scored in double figures, led by Dejounte Murray's 21 points (he also led the team with 10 rebounds).
Despite shooting just 23.3 percent from three-point range, the Grizzlies never really let the game get away from them. Just as he has been all season, rookie Ja Morant was a constant source of inspiration. He led the team with 25 points and dazzled as a distributor as well.
The Spurs had an 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies kept their cool and closed the gap late. In the end, it was veteran DeMar DeRozan who came to the Spurs' rescue.
This clip shows the two clutch buckets he made late, including one of his patented mid-range jumpers.
With 10 seconds left, the Grizzlies tied the game at 106 thanks to a Jaren Jackson Jr. three-pointer, but DeRozan was not done playing hero, sinking two clutch free throws with one second left in the game to give the Spurs the win.
While they're still on the outside looking in, the Spurs have a chance to extend their 22-season playoff streak if they keep up the clutch play. Their next game is Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Memphis will look to bounce back Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Magic 132, Kings 116
Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 23 PTS, 11 REB, 2 STL
Aaron Gordon (ORL): 22 PTS, 5 REB
Terrence Ross (ORL): 25 PTS
Harry Giles III (SAC): 23 PTS, 8 REB
Not every game can be a thriller. The Orlando Magic were feeling it on the offensive end of the floor from the first minute to the last and ended up cruising to a 132-116 win over the Sacramento Kings as a result.
A long-range buzzer beater from Markelle Fultz was a perfect capstone to a first quarter that saw the Magic score an eye-popping 44 points:
Aaron Gordon was a big part of the early onslaught, as he scored 19 of his 22 points in the first half. The team kept the good times rolling right on into the second half. This assist from D.J. Augustin was particularly slick:
There wasn't a whole lot for Kings fans to love about this game, although Harry Giles III had a nice game coming off the bench, scoring 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Maybe it's the fact that they're the only team playing in their hometown, but the Magic look like they are completely in sync in the bubble. They can't afford to get comfortable, though, as they are seventh in the East and just half a game ahead of the Nets.
Orlando did suffer a blow during this game, when Jonathan Isaac landed awkwardly on his leg early in the fourth quarter and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair, per SportsCenter. Hopefully, it isn't too serious.
The game with the most star power on Sunday did not disappoint. The three most recent MVPs—Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Russell Westbrook—all had big games, and the Milwaukee Bucks also a couple of great performances from Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez in a contest that went down to the wire.
While the individual showings were great, the Rockets made history as a team. Per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen, Houston matched the NBA regulation record for three-point attempts with 61 (they made 21 of them). Harden and PJ Tucker were the main culprits, with both of them going 3-for-12 from distance.
Harden had a tough night shooting, but he still managed 24 points. His best work actually came on defense, where he had six steals. The one in the following clip was the most important, as it helped cap off a 9-0 run that saw Houston take a 113-112 lead with just under two minutes left in the game.
That heroic stand was made all the more impressive by the fact that The Greek Freak had a game-high 36 points and looked almost impossible to defend on several occasions earlier in the game.
The Rockets were able to hold onto the win late thanks to clutch free-throw shooting from Westbrook and Danuel House Jr. The win pushes them into fifth in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With the loss, Milwaukee missed out on clinching top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Suns 117, Mavericks 115
Devin Booker (PHX): 30 PTS, 4 AST
Ricky Rubio (PHX): 20 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST
Cameron Johnson (PHX): 19 PTS, 12 REB
Luka Doncic (DAL): 40 PTS, 8 REB, 11 AST
Kristaps Porzingis (DAL): 30 PTS, 8 REB, 4 BLK
The Dallas Mavericks got massive performances from Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis on Sunday, but it was the Phoenix Suns who came away with the win, their second in Orlando.
The Mavericks were in control early on thanks to Doncic and Porzingis. They had a double-digit lead by the tail end of the first quarter and played the Suns about even in the second frame.
One of the better plays came early in the second quarter, when Boban Marjanovic got a wide-open lane and dunked over a helpless Ricky Rubio.
Rubio was on the wrong end of that highlight, but he created a few of his own on a night that saw him score 20 points and get within striking range of a triple-double.
The veteran point guard's best moments saw him get very crafty. Here he is making a great nutmeg pass in one clip and then creating a little alley for himself in the paint with a good ball fake.
Porzingis and Doncic combined for 70 points in this one, and their two-man game was excellent. Their chemistry was on full display with this alley-oop in the third quarter:
Eventually, Phoenix climbed all the way back. Booker showed off his brilliance throughout the game, making a number of tough shots. The Suns took a slim lead early in the fourth quarter and kept the high-wire act going until the end of the game. Doncic tried to rally the Mavs late with six points in the final two minutes, but it wasn't enough.
A big part of the Mavericks' problem was three-point shooting. As a team, they knocked down just six of their 31 attempts from beyond the arc. The Suns weren't much better from downtown with a 36.4 percent rate, but it was enough to get the job done.
It's a tough loss for the Mavericks, but the result isn't as disappointing as it might have been. They have already clinched a playoff spot, and fighting for a higher seed isn't as big of a deal without a true home-court advantage at stake.
Updated Playoff Picture
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks (54-13)
2. Toronto Raptors (47-18)
3. Boston Celtics (44-22)
4. Miami Heat (42-24)
5. Indiana Pacers (40-26)
6. Philadelphia 76ers (39-27)
7. Orlando Magic (32-35)
8. Brooklyn Nets (31-35)
9. Washington Wizards (24-42)
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers (50-15)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (45-21)
3. Denver Nuggets (43-23)
4. Utah Jazz (42-24)
5. Houston Rockets (42-24)
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-24)
7. Dallas Mavericks (40-29)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (32-35)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (30-38)
10. San Antonio Spurs (29-36)
11. Sacramento Kings (28-38)
12. New Orleans Pelicans (28-38)
13. Phoenix Suns (28-39)
Russell Westbrook's Late FTs Lead James Harden, Rockets Past Giannis, Bucks
Aug 2, 2020
Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook goes up for a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks during an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks aren't quite locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed yet.
The Houston Rockets defeated Milwaukee 120-116 on Sunday at Walt Disney World Resort, enacting some revenge for their October loss in the only other regular-season matchup between the two teams and preventing the Bucks from clinching that top spot. Houston has won both its seeding games in the league's campus-like environment in Florida.
Russell Westbrook spearheaded the comeback down the stretch as his team overcame an eight-point deficit with three minutes remaining.
He answered baskets from Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final minute with free throws to put Houston ahead each time before Khris Middleton missed two potential game-tying threes in the final seconds.
The last three seasons have ended with either Westbrook, Harden or Antetokounmpo holding the MVP trophy.
What's more, Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and likely to win the award again this season despite a late push from LeBron James before play was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He and Harden have also rarely hesitated totake jabsat each other when the opportunity presents itself.
Giannis had individual bragging rights early when Milwaukee's defense that is tops in the league, perNBA.com, frustrated Harden and held him to 1-of-8 from deep in the first half. That frustration mounted when George Hill drew an offensive foul on the eight-time All-Star, giving him four fouls before halftime.
At least that one triple moved No. 13 into elite company:
In theory, the Bucks should have pulled away from Houston with Harden dealing with foul trouble given their status as the team with the league's best record.
The UCLA product showed touch from mid-range, steamrolled to the basket, found teammates for corner threes when Milwaukee collapsed, pushed the tempo in transition and handled much of the ball-handling duty for stretches with Harden dealing with fouls.
His individual play and facilitating to open shooters gave Houston a double-digit lead in the third quarter, and he took over down the stretch. The Rockets scored 16 points in the final three minutes, and Westbrook scored or assisted on 11 of them in a clutch performance on a marquee stage.
Team Effort Falls Short for Bucks
BR Video
If Antetokounmpo becomes a more consistent shooter beyond the arc, it won't be fair for defenses.
The only chance to stop him is playing off and creating a wall in the lane to cut off penetration, but on this night the 30.7 percent three-point shooter countered with two triples. He also broke free in transition on a number occasions, overpowering whichever singular defender was in his way, and dominated on the glass.
It wasn't just him, though, as Middleton and Lopez mixed in double-doubles of their own while trying to counter Houston's stunning 61 three-point attempts. Lopez consistently flashed into open space around the rim and scored on the blocks while Middleton took advantage of the openings created by Antetokounmpo from outside and inside the arc.
Still, not even that and key baskets from Giannis and Lopez in the last minute was enough when Harden and the Rockets tightened their defense in crunch time and let Westbrook take over on the offensive end with the game on the line.
What's Next?
Both teams are in action again Tuesday when the Rockets face the Portland Trail Blazers and the Bucks play the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Playoff Standings 2020: Updated Team Records, Seedings and More
Aug 1, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard (0) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
The Portland Trail Blazers gained the first advantage in the hunt for the Western Conference's No. 8 seed Friday.
Portland moved within 2.5 games of the Memphis Grizzlies by way of a head-to-head victory, but it still has a long way to go to either clinch that position outright or land in the play-in series.
San Antonio and Phoenix picked up victories Friday, while Sacramento dropped back level with New Orleans.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic pulled ahead in the fight for the No. 7 seed by beating the Brooklyn Nets, who they face once more in their final seven seeding games.
The complexion of the East standings could change more Saturday, as Miami, Philadelphia and Indiana take to the floor for the first time.
Updated NBA Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee (54-12)
2. Toronto (46-18)
3. Boston (43-22)
4. Miami (41-24)
5. Indiana (39-26)
6. Philadelphia (39-26)
7. Orlando (31-35)
8. Brooklyn (30-35)
9. Washington (24-41)
All Milwaukee needs to lock up the No. 1 seed is one more victory or one loss from Toronto.
Friday's seven-point win over Boston was powered by 36 points and 15 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With the top seed close to secured, the Bucks can worry about sharpening their form while not dealing with the stress of a seeding race.
The Celtics will enter Saturday with a two-game advantage on Miami, and they are four games in front of the Pacers and Sixers.
Since Miami plays Denver and Indiana faces Philadelphia, Boston may not give up any ground after the first full set of games.
Orlando's win over Brooklyn meant the most in the playoff picture because it moved the Magic out of a potential first-round meeting with the Bucks for now.
The Magic could remain in that position if they benefit from their second head-to-head meeting with Brooklyn August 11 and win a few more contests.
The Nets are still in decent shape to avoid a play-in series with Washington, who fell to Phoenix Friday.
Brooklyn holds a six-game buffer between itself and Washington, and as long as Washington does not get within four games, it will qualify as the No. 8 seed.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers (50-14)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (44-21)
3. Denver (43-22)
4. Utah (42-23)
5. Houston (41-24)
6. Oklahoma City (40-24)
7. Dallas (40-28)
8. Memphis (32-34)
9. Portland (30-37)
10. San Antonio (28-36)
11. New Orleans (28-37)
12. Sacramento (28-37)
13. Phoenix (27-39)
Portland's overtime triumph over Memphis may have altered the balance of power in the race for the No. 8 seed.
The Trail Blazers were reinvigorated by the return of Jusuf Nurkic, who posted 18 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, five assists and two steals, and they received a pair of massive three-point shots from Carmelo Anthony at the end of regulation.
With Nurkic and Zach Collins in front of Hassan Whiteside on the depth chart, the Blazers could match up with any of their opponents in the paint.
Portland will need the big men to support Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum moving forward since it faces a tricky schedule in Orlando.
The Blazers take on Boston Sunday and then face Houston, Denver the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia before closing with Dallas and Brooklyn.
If they can get to the final two games within striking distance of the No. 8 seed, the Blazers should finish eighth or ninth.
Memphis could be pulled back to the pack of five chasing teams if it does not rebound from Friday's loss.
Ja Morant and Co. take on San Antonio and New Orleans in back-to-back days, and if they lose both, their advantage could be as small as a half-game.
San Antonio's best chance to make up ground on Memphis and Portland in the next week comes from Sunday's meeting with the Grizzlies. After that, the Spurs have to play Denver, Houston, Philadelphia and then Utah on two occasions.
New Orleans' schedule goes in the opposite direction after a Saturday clash with the Clippers. The Pelicans play their final six games against teams seeded seventh or worse in their respective conferences.
If Memphis, Portland and San Antonio want to hold off the Pelicans, they need to win whichever head-to-head meetings remain and pick up another victory or two at least.
NBA's Top Stats, Best Highlights, Updated Playoff Picture from July 31 Results
Aug 1, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, heads to the basket as Boston Celtics' Daniel Theis defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
After LeBron James and Zion Williamson kicked off the NBA's restart Thursday, Giannis Antetokounmpo and other top stars kept the momentum going over a six-game slate Friday night.
The Eastern Conference resumed play, and one of the day's opening contests from the bubble in Orlando, Florida, went to overtime as the Portland Trail Blazers slipped past the Memphis Grizzlies.
Antetokounmpo later sent a message to the rest of the bubble participants with a monster show, while the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks closed out proceedings with a nail-biting overtime classic with big implications on the playoff race.
Here's a look at some of the best stats, highlights and playoff fallout from Friday night.
The Orlando Magic looked right at home Friday night, blowing away the Brooklyn Nets in a game wherein the latter took the lead into the second quarter, only for things to get ugly from there.
Ugly, as in a 75-43 differential over the second and third quarters as Evan Fournier went an efficient 10-of-15 from the floor, tying for the game high at 24 points. Jonathan Isaac came off the bench to add 16.
Brooklyn entered at a disadvantage besides technically being the away team. The Nets obviously didn't have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but they were also missing Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot tried to do it all himself via 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
The win makes it four in a row for the Magic, and they leapfrog the Nets for seventh placein the Eastern Conference before playing the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Memphis at Portland
A high-scoring game with plenty of pauses for free throws, it isn't a shocker to hear CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard teamed up in overtime to score 11 of Portland's 16 points to put away Memphis.
McCollum ended up putting up 33 points alongside Lillard's 29, yet 36 fouls meant 50 free-throw attempts for a Grizzlies team that stormed back from a 13-point deficit to go up by 11.
The give-and-take nature of the contest flipped plenty of times, though it was a late three-pointer from Carmelo Anthony that sent things to overtime before Portland's dynamic duo ran away with it. Somewhat expectedly, McCollum was a highlight reel:
Despite the win, Portland is still on the outside looking in at the Western Conference, where Memphis holds the eighth seed. The Trailblazers next get the Eastern Conference powerhouse Boston Celtics, while the Grizzlies look to rebound against the San Antonio Spurs.
Phoenix at Washington
Long-shot ambitions were furthered for the Phoenix Suns as Devin Booker poured in 27 points against a struggling Washington Wizards team to get the win Friday night.
Deandre Ayton added 24 to Booker's output for good measure in a game that saw the Suns take the lead 38-31 after one frame and never look back, largely because they shot 52.5 percent from the floor.
With the win, Phoenix sits within five games of eighth-seeded Memphis and next has to overcome Dallas—seventh in the Western Conference—to keep the dream alive. Washington, the only unseeded team not yet eliminated, is six games out of eighth place behind 30-win Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference.
Boston at Milwaukee
Antetokounmpo didn't just stuff the stat sheet Friday—he converted a three-point play on an overturned call to push his Bucks to a 54-12 record to move to within one win of clinching the Eastern Conference's top seed.
Tied at 107 late, Antetokounmpo got called for a foul that was then reversed upon review. He hit a free throw and capped off a 36-point performance by adding 15 rebounds and seven assists for good measure, never mind all the highlights:
The Celtics just didn't have an answer, as only two players breached the 20-point mark. Jayson Tatum struggled to just five points on 2-of-18 shooting, dipping Boston's record to 3-8 against the Bucks over the past two seasons. They are still sitting third in the standings three games behind the Toronto Raptors and get Portland next.
One game from clinching the No. 1 seed, Milwaukee next gets the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Sacramento at San Antonio
The Spurs jumped out to a commanding 43-30 lead after one frame, only for the Sacramento Kings to yo-yo it back the other direction to make it a one-point game by halftime.
But San Antonio taking the second-to-last game of the night was seemingly inevitable with the team shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 44 percent from deep. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 27 points, while Derrick White added 26.
Impressive as the Spurs were team-wise, the spotlight belonged to Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox and his game-high 39 points and six assists:
With the win, the Spurs sit four games off the eighth seed, which belongs to Memphis, and next up is a critical game with conference-wide implications against those Grizzlies on Sunday.
Sacramento is also technically four games out, and next up is a game against the streaking Magic from the East.
Houston at Dallas
James Harden always seemed destined to put on one of the best shows of the opening weekend in Orlando.
He made good on the expectations early, sprinting to a 5-of-5 shooting mark with 20 points in the opening quarter of a track meet that had an 85-75 total at halftime favoring Dallas.
The fireworks show didn't slow in the second half, and Harden played a pivotal role in pushing things to overtime. He did whatever he wanted and finished his night's shooting with 49 points on just 20 shots from the floor. Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, added 31 of his own.
Both teams continue to jockey for position around the sixth seed. Houston moves to the fifth seed at 41 wins, while Dallas dips to seventh while boasting 40 wins, as many as sixth-seeded Oklahoma City.
Things don't exactly get easier for Harden and the Rockets exiting Friday, not with Sunday standing as a date against Giannis and the Bucks. Dallas has it a little easier that same day against Phoenix.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks Are Built for the Bubble
Jul 31, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, heads to the basket past Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Obviously, no organization constructs a roster and installs a system made to thrive in a 22-team, neutral-site bubble during a pandemic. That's not a scenario anyone plans for. But Milwaukee's confidence in its own identity delivered a 119-112 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday at HP Field House.
Antetokounmpo's overwhelming talent also had a hand in the result.
The prohibitive favorite to repeat as MVP finished with 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes, hitting 14 of his 20 shots from the field. He ran over the Celtics early, as he and the Bucks adhered to the blueprint that has produced the league's highest win total two years running: Defend the rim, secure the ball, sprint the other way and trust that if the rock finds Giannis on the move, points are practically assured.
Milwaukee followed that familiar formula to a 17-2 first-quarter lead, an advantage that was even more dominant than it appeared, as the Celtics' two points came via a Bucks "own goal".
The game's opening minutes saw Brook Lopez repeatedly swallow up Jayson Tatum's driving layup attempts, allowing Antetokounmpo to thunder up and down the floor, mostly unimpeded. The Celtics All-Star appeared out of rhythm (can we just say shook?) all night, due in no small part to Lopez's early denials.
Milwaukee hit the ground at full speed. Boston, in what may become a metaphor for the rest of the East's attempts to keep up, found itself eating dust.
Aided by an uncharacteristic 17 first-half Milwaukee fouls—the Bucks averaged 19.2 per game prior to the shutdown—and some inspiring bench play from Grade-A chaos agent Marcus Smart, Boston impressively cut the Bucks' lead to six by halftime and kept things close throughout the third and fourth quarters. Smart led the Celtics with 23 points, dramatically outplaying Tatum and his 2-of-18 effort.
Boston is among the league's best prepared and most tactically sound teams, and it adjusted well. Head coach Brad Stevens tired of Daniel Theis passing up the threes Lopez kept daring him to shoot and tinkered with an centerless lineup that had an easier time scoring against a packed-in defense. Stevens also had Boston in a zone, albeit briefly, in the second half.
More broadly, the Celtics made a game of it by sticking to the widely read book on how to slow down the Milwaukee juggernaut. After allowing that rout of a start, the C's limited the Bucks' transition chances and made sure to station multiple large humans between Antetokounmpo and the basket. Milwaukee finished with 16 fast-break points and 48 points in the paint, a hair below its season averages in both categories.
In the end, Milwaukee didn't so much counter Boston's adjustments as redouble its own efforts to dictate the terms of the game. That self-assuredness is practically a superpower; it immunizes the Bucks against panic when the opponent seems to be winning the strategic battle. They know that rather than changing plans, they need only commit more fully to the ones that have delivered them so many wins.
So the Bucks closed the game out with the same deflating (for Boston) stops and unyielding attacks on the rim with which they began it.
Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors took four straight games from Milwaukee in last year's playoffs, eliminating Antetokounmpo and branding the Bucks with the stigma of being dominant yet solvable. It has to be encouraging, then, for the Bucks to restart the season with a win that saw them simply reject a similar Boston "solution."
This Celtics squad is a cut below those champion Raptors, but the Bucks nonetheless proved that no matter how effectively opponents muck up the middle of a game, they can trust in their principles to get them over the top in the end.
It'll take a ring to kill the solvable narrative for good, and to avoid the same fate they suffered against the Raptors last year, the Bucks need to prove that while the same system still works, some of the components can work better. Khris Middleton was a no-show in two pivotal playoff games against Toronto, and Eric Bledsoe, who didn't play against Boston, has repeatedly disappeared in the postseason.
Middleton didn't play well throughout Friday's win, but he was integral in the Bucks' early surge and closing burst. Milwaukee kept its devastating Antetokounmpo-Middleton pick-and-roll combo under wraps until it was absolutely necessary, at which point it all but sealed the win.
For those still concerned about the Bucks being a little too predictable, the late unveiling of that unstoppable set suggests a system team can still hide a trick or two up its sleeve.
We're early enough in the Orlando experiment to talk ourselves into a lot of teams as legitimate title threats. The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers are talent-laden and led by a pair of superstar wings who've already piloted multiple teams to championships. The Raptors match up with everyone, are exceptionally well-coached and have improved their winning percentage without Leonard. Even Boston deserves some dark-horse love.
It's certainly not a hot take to say the Bucks are very good or even that they deserve to be title favorites. But it does feel novel to say that Milwaukee's relatively rigid adherence to a system approach, viewed by many as a weakness, might actually be a strength.
Especially in Orlando.
Every team is coping with unprecedented circumstances in the bubble. The pandemic, the long layoff, the surreality of the whole quarantine experience. This restart is defined by a departure from comfort and simplicity. It's all one big adjustment.
The players are also focused on social justice.
On the floor, Giannis and the Bucks have the advantage of knowing (and trusting) exactly who they are. They proved against Boston that their identity is secure. In a time of so much uncertainty, the Bucks' well-earned self-assurance will make a difference.
Giannis' Dominance Powers Bucks Past Struggling Jayson Tatum, Celtics in Win
Jul 31, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass around Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The Milwaukee Bucks proved why they're atop the league standings in their first game back from the NBA's hiatus, taking down the Boston Celtics, 119-112, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The Bucks were playing without guards Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton as they continue to work back into game shape after they tested positive for the coronavirus earlier in July. Forward Marvin Williams was a late addition to the injury report with a left groin strain that isn't expected to sideline him for long.
Friday marked the first time in more than 140 days that either team played in an official game.
The 22 teams inside the NBA bubble will each participate in eight seeding games before the postseason begins. All contests are taking place on the Disney World campus.
Daniel Theis, C, Boston Celtics: 13 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists
Marcus Smart, PG, Boston Celtics: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Giannis in MVP Mode
When the NBA first went on hiatus in mid-March, Giannis Antetokounmpo made headlines by admitting he didn't have a basketball hoop at his house and wouldn't be able to practice. For a brief moment in time, it seemed like that meant the league might be able to catch up to the reigning MVP.
Of course, Antetokounmpo later admitted that was a lie. He was working out constantly—the fib was "to try to get a little bit ahead of the competition."
It's clear he was telling the truth this time. No one was able to contain him on Friday night. The Celtics threw Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown at Giannis on the first possession and he was still able to maneuver around them, helping the Bucks open up a 15-2 lead in nine minutes into the game. The only Celtics bucket during that run came via an accidental Milwaukee tip-in.
Within the first ten minutes Antetokounmpo had recorded 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists while shooting five-of-six from the floor. He'd finish off his double-double by halftime and came just three assists from a triple double.
Antetokounmpo started piling up highlight dunks within minutes after the tip off as the Bucks held onto the lead from the opening bucket until Boston finally took a one-point lead with 6:50 left in regulation.
Milwaukee entered the hiatus as the best team in the NBA. They returned looking like a team trying to remind the league nothing has changed.
Boston's Up and Down Offense
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens knew point guard Kemba Walker would be eased back into action over the next few games.
He likely didn't think the rest of the backcourt would need time to warm up as well.
With Walker working back from a knee injury, Stevens capped his minutes at no more than 20 for the evening. Most of those were spent on the first half where Walker posted 10 points, one rebound and one assist in 13 minutes.
Kemba Walker checks out with 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting -- including 3-for-6 from 3-point range -- in 19 minutes. He should be done for the night. Easily the most encouraging thing about this game from Boston's perspective.
It was a mix of mostly good, with some bad. The guard shot three-for-six and seemed to keep the ball moving through the offense. He also got burned on defense with a crossover from Donte DiVincenzo that'll end up on plenty of highlight reels.
Yet whatever Walker was able to produce was weighed down by the off-start from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Tatum, in particular, was unable to get going on offense, seemingly missing from all areas of the floor to finish two-for-18on the night while Brown picked up his fifth foul by early in the third quarter.
The Celtics have already clinched a playoff spot and are mostly playing for seeding at this point. More than anything, they need time to regain their full rhythm.
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