DeMar DeRozan’s New Year’s resolution is to destroy everything
We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
DeMar DeRozan began 2018 with a bang. Actually, he did it with 52 bangs as he broke the Raptors franchise record for points scored in Toronto's overtime win against the Bucks. DeRozan had actually set a career high with 45 points a couple of weeks ago — that was a soft number for such a powerful scorer, so I'm glad we went after so quickly.
Not known as a deep shooter, DeRozan hit five threes (he'd hit a career high six in that 45-pointer a couple of weeks back) and got to the line a bunch. That's a beautiful recipe for the Raptors as they begin to think about how to beat the Celtics and Cavaliers in the playoffs. If DeRozan can hit outside shots and draw fouls consistently, Toronto is trouble.
We're up to six 50-point games on the season, with three from James Harden and not a single one from a member of the high-scoring Warriors.
Scores Galore ...
ORL 95, BKN 98
MIL 127, TOR 131 (OT)
POR 124, CHI 120 (OT)
LAL 96, MIN 114
... And So Much More
The prohibitive favorite for Dunk of the Year, ladies and gentlemen: Anthony Davis literally destroying Ron Baker.
(Russell Westbrook has a nice candidate on Thon Maker, though.)
Well, this is weird. Isaiah Thomas will make his season debut on Tuesday against the Blazers. But the Cavaliers won't let him play back-to-backs yet, so he won't play against the Celtics on Wednesday. I feel like we'd all understand if Cleveland decided to keep Isaiah out on Tuesday so he can play Wednesday.
James Harden, who has seemed to be sore in recent weeks (despite some crazy scoring exploits), is out two weeks with hamstring strain. This could cost him front-runner status in the MVP race. LeBron, five-time MVP? Hello.
Harden was injured late in a New Year's Eve thriller against the Lakers, by the way. Well, late in regulation -- the game ended up being a gonzo double-overtime thriller. Shout out to P.J. Tucker.
(P.J. Tucker got got by Alex Caruso, though.)
Wonderful story by Tom Haberstroh on the use of video games and virtual reality to heal the mental wounds suffered by Gordon Hayward.
LeBron turned 33 over the weekend. How is he playing so well this deep into his career? Plus, 33 unforgettable LeBron moments over the years.
The Thunder lost to the Bucks on Friday in part because the refs didn't notice Giannis Antetokounmpo stepping out of bounds on a baseline drive.
In this weekend's LMAO performance, Steph Curry returned from an injury layoff and casually hit 10 threes. He also did an extremely rude thing to Marc Gasol.
Whitney Medworth's B-Sides has much love for Carmelo Anthony's courtside son.
Elfrid Payton has got to cut his hair.
This is gratitude: Gerald Green signed a deal with the Rockets, then had his hair braided into the team's logo.
Milos Teodosic is the craziest passer in the league.
Zach Lowe's 10 things includes a nice appreciation of the ghost high fives on technical free throws.
Steve Kerr, still not sticking to sports.
Tuesday's NBA TV doubleheader has Isaiah's Cavs debut against the Blazers at 7 p.m. ET and Grizzlies-Clippers at 10:30. Full schedule here.
Be excellent to each other.