There are two questions worth asking about Gary Harris right now. Both are critical for the Denver Nuggets, and their climb towards the NBA title: “What happened?” and “What if he turns it around?”
All eyes were on Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez this evening as the duo made their return to Denver for the first time since being traded earlier this month. In the end, though, it was the Nuggets who would steal the spotlight, exerting their dominance in a 128-116 victory for the season sweep over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Trae Young went scorched earth on the Miami Heat for 50-points and eight assists in a surprising 129-124 Hawks’ victory.
San Antonio concluded its Rodeo Road Trip 2-6 and was unable to take the season series from Oklahoma City (2-2). Rudy Gay (14 points and 6 rebounds) paced the Spurs, while all eight OKC players contributed double digits points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22 points and 13 rebounds) and Steven Adams (21 points and 14 rebounds) helped the Thunder dominate at both ends from the second period on.
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a third-quarter letdown with a strong fourth quarter surge to beat the Memphis Grizzlies — a team they very well could play in the first round of the playoffs — 117-105.
The Lakers led by 19 points at halftime and appeared set to cruise to an easy victory, but a combination of the Grizzlies ratcheting up their intensity on defense and the Lakers coming out as flat as possible to start the third quarter allowed Memphis to cut their deficit to as little as five points in fourth frame.
James Harden has become one of the NBA’s most polarizing players as he’s grown into the best pure-scorer alive. While no one denies Harden’s numbers are incredible — he’s leading the NBA in scoring at 35.2 points per game, five points ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo — how he gets them has become a topic of national debate.
On the surface, the 2020 NBA title chase is three teams deep.
Five years ago, Kawhi Leonard’s defensive impact was explicit. As the first non-center to win consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards since Sidney Moncrief in 1983 and 1984, Leonard was a human fog machine Gregg Popovich would unleash on whoever the San Antonio Spurs wanted to fluster.
There’s an easy case to be made for Kevin Durant as the second-best basketball player of his generation. At his peak in Golden State, it felt like there was no one better. Durant is an unstoppable scorer with a tight handle, deft finishing touch, and unprecedented outside shooting ability for someone his size. He was also pretty damn good on defense, too.
