Nuggets Beat The OKC Thunder In OT (121-113) Behind MPJ’s Career High 37 Points

Nuggets Beat The OKC Thunder In OT (121-113) Behind MPJ’s Career High 37 Points

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by | Aug 4, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

The OKC Thunder were 1-0 coming into today’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Pregame Billy Donovan talked to the media letting us know that Dennis Schröder had left the bubble for personal reasons. Without Dennis, in the lineup, it was going to be a challenge to try to make up his points. Also to add to that news of not having Schröder the Thunder were without Terrence Ferguson as well. The Nuggets were shorthanded as well so both teams had to fight through the game equally. Denver has been without Jamal Murry, Gary Harris, and Will Barton who are very important pieces to their puzzle. This was a close game throughout as both teams needed players to step up to help the other starters. In this game, the OKC Thunder got a huge boost from Abdel Nader as he played very well off the bench. Nader had 13 points off the bench and was able to be the main source of points from the OKC Thunder bench tonight.

 

On the other side of things, Denver got a very huge boost from the 2nd year player Michael Porter Jr. who exploded for a career-high 37 points tonight. It seemed that MPJ was able to do anything tonight against the Thunder as he was able to use his youthful legs to go up for dunks and athletic plays. Porter Jr. had a very efficient day at the office as he shot 12/16 from the field and stepped up every time the Nuggets needed him. One aspect of his game that has grown is the improvement in his consistency on his jumper. It didn’t matter if there was a hand in his face or not tonight but everything he put up was nothing but net. If Michael Porter Jr can do this throughout the playoffs with the improvement of Bol Bol as well this team will be tough. Once the Denver Nuggets get the rest of the team back from injury they will be a tough out. This game went into overtime and it looked as though the only person that had energy or lift left was Jokic. The Joker finished with 30 points on the night which 8 of those points came in overtime. You can tell that Jokic is back and shape as he put on a show in that overtime against the Thunder. It’s always been a tough matchup with the length of Denver against the Thunder and it showed tonight. Jokic looked like he was in great shape and still had all the bag of tricks.

 

 

The OKC Thunder were in the game this whole time until the overtime period. It’s crazy because the OKC Thunder had a chance to take the lead in this one as Chris Paul missed a free throw that would have gave them the lead. Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had great games tonight. CP3 and Shai combined for 47 points against the Nuggets. If the Thunder want to be successful they will need to slow up on the turnovers and they will need to rebound better. This team will go as far as CP3 and Shai bring them especially with the absence of Dennis Schröder so look for them to take it to the next level. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got his 5th foul in the 3rd quarter midway so for him to finish with 24 points was impressive. The steps that Shai has taken in his game have been on full display and the OKC fans will be in for a great future moving forward. Chris Paul was upset about his missed free throw in that 4th quarter so look for his game to be a lot more aggressive against the Lakers on Wednesday. Steven Adams had a quiet game but he will need to get more aggressive in the game on Wednesday as well as the Thunder have to face the reality of Schröder being out extended time. Overall the Thunder were in this game the whole time until they looked a little gassed in the overtime but it took a career-high from Michael Porter Jr that wasn’t on the scouting report to beat them.

 

 

The OKC Thunder will be facing LeBron and the LA Lakers on Wednesday at 5:30 pm #ThunderUp

 

 

Aug 4, 2020 No Comments
NBA Coach Of The Year Honors Given To Thunder’s Billy Donovan, Bucks’ Mike Budenholzer

NBA Coach Of The Year Honors Given To Thunder’s Billy Donovan, Bucks’ Mike Budenholzer

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by | Aug 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA

As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, both Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer and Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan have been announced as winners of the National Basketball Coaches Association co-coaches of the year.

Additionally, Toronto Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse was a mere vote away from making it a three-way tie.

Among those who also received votes, sources said: Memphis’ Taylor Jenkins, Indiana’s Nate McMillan, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Boston’s Brad Stevens, and the Lakers’ Frank Vogel.

Both evidently deserving of the award, Mike Budenholzer has, for the second time in his career, has led his team to the best record in the NBA. For his second year with the Milwaukee Bucks, Budenholzer’s spacious system has promulgated his Bucks to not only topple various regular-season records this year but have them in the driver’s seat to compete for a championship this year with MVP frontrunner Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge.

“First, congrats to Billy Donovan for the outstanding job he and his staff have done with the Oklahoma City Thunder,” said Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. “Another great year of coaching by Billy and, again, another great year of work by all the Head Coaches in the NBA. Thank you all for your vote and support. Thank you to our dedicated players and staff in Milwaukee. The players are special, the staff is special and I’m beyond fortunate to coach this great team and for this great organization.”

At 54-13, the Bucks are atop the East with no discrepancy deterring them from losing their spot in the conference since they are a whole 7.5 games ahead of second-place Toronto.

As it goes for OKC, Billy Donovan is as equally as deserving of the award as he’s gotten his Thunder out of the speculation pit of a lottery pick year, now with the Thunder peaking at sixth in the tumultuous Western Conference at 41-24.

Many prognosticators kept the Thunder out of the postseason for not having an established superstar floor general the moment they traded Paul George to the powerhouse Los Angeles Clippers for developing future All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a bevy of first-round selections and sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul, but these resilient Thunder have been the talk of the league, not just by keeping afloat in such a difficult conference but by showing they belong.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by the Coaches, they are a great group of people that I admire and respect,” said Oklahoma City Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan. “Receiving the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award alongside such a terrific Coach like Bud makes it even more special. Individual honors to me have always been a reflection of good team dynamics, and I’m proud of the collective work that our players, coaching staff and the entire organization has put in this season. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in Orlando as we get back to basketball and using our platform for social justice.”

This is the second time the NBCA has had a tie, along with 2017 with Houston’s Mike D’Antoni and Miami’s Spoelstra.

The NBA also gives a coach of the year award — the Red Auerbach Trophy — based on a vote of the league’s media. That will be released at a later date.

Aug 3, 2020 No Comments
BREAKING: Magic Forward Jonathan Isaac Suffers Torn ACL, Out For Season

BREAKING: Magic Forward Jonathan Isaac Suffers Torn ACL, Out For Season

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by | Aug 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The Orlando Magic have confirmed that Magic forward Jonathan Isaac tore the ACL in his left knee during Sunday’s contest against the Sacramento Kings, the team announced.

In what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion and cleanup situation for Magic Head Coach Steve Clifford, shock and gloom would soon set over the aura of the bubble 9:19 seconds into the fourth quarter of Orlando’s second restart game.

Isaac was left in the game where some would debate he shouldn’t have been as the Magic were up by 28 points, and during a halfcourt set that saw Isaac set a down pick for fellow teammate Michael Carter-Williams that led to a dribble hand-off, Isaac received the ball in his shot pocket after a crisp right-handed zip pass from Carter-Williams and attacked DaQuan Jeffries’ closeout after MCW caused the Kings’ defense to collapse.

Isaac then took a simple hop step into the lane between two defenders, and his left leg visibly tweaked after it planted into the hardwood. All of his weight transferred into the lower part of his leg, causing him to lose the ball, collapse and writhe in pain.

As team doctors rushed to aid the second-year big man out of Florida State, Isaac had his head in his hands and was subsequently wheelchaired off the floor.

Multiple Magic teammates and personnel had an affect display of sheer dismay, visually unable to process the suffering of another crucial injury to their 6-foot-11, 210-pound teammate who had worked so hard to recover from his meniscus tear in the same knee sustained back on Jan. 1. against the Washington Wizards.

Now, a seminal part of the Magic’s core will not only have to sit out the rest of the restart in the bubble but presumably the 2020-21 season and beyond.

Isaac, who missed the rest of Sunday’s rout of the Kings, left the game with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 15 minutes.

“That was tough, man,” teammate Aaron Gordon said in a postgame press conference. “That one brought me to tears, and instantly — just because I know how good of a guy J.I. is and how hard he works and how hard he has worked to get back since hurting himself in D.C. That was tough.”

This comes as a huge blow to Steve Clifford, General Manager John Hammond, and the Orlando Magic organization, considering that Isaac was to be a centric piece of the Magic’s efforts to craft together a playoff-qualifying roster.

It’s unclear whether or not they reach that potential in the next year or so with Isaac’s career outlook now abruptly altered due to his sudden history of lingering knee issues.

Aug 3, 2020 No Comments
Latest of MLB’s 2020 COVID Catastrophe: After going AWOL, Yoenis Cespedes Opts out of the 2020 Season

Latest of MLB’s 2020 COVID Catastrophe: After going AWOL, Yoenis Cespedes Opts out of the 2020 Season

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by | Aug 3, 2020 | Featured, MLB

And just like that, Yoenis Cespedes‘ time as a New York Met is over. The 34-year-old slugger opted out of the 2020 season today, on his own terms.

Once a superstar, an icon, and a team leader. Yoenis Cespedes was a lot to New York Mets fans.

After being told he was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Cespedes did not report to the stadium for the game. The team tried to contact him and he was not responding. He decided to ghost the organization. There was actual fear in the organization that he might not be okay.

Eventually, Cespedes’ agent put out a statement that he was opting out of the remainder of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 related issues. This is a beyond disappointing end to his four-year contract. He was a New York Met since 2015, helping them reach the World Series in 2015 and the Wild Card Game in 2016. He made the 2016 NL All-Star team.

Weirdly, a few undisclosed New York Mets said they were approached by Cespedes on Saturday and he told them of his intentions to end his 2020 season.

He had served as the Mets’ designated hitter in eight games this season, going 5-for-31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts. 2020 Opening Day was his first game since July 20, 2018. He missed time due to a series of leg problems. He required surgery on both heels and broke an ankle after an incident on his Florida ranch with a wild boar. Yes, you read that correctly.

After this season, Cespedes’ four-year, $110 million contract, signed after the 2016 season, is over. It is unlikely that the Mets would bring him back. He played in five seasons in orange and blue after being acquired in 2015 from the Detroit Tigers. Since 2015, Cespedes has played in 316 games for the Mets, hitting 76 home runs, driving in 205 runs, and posting a .883 OPS.

Nobody blames Cespedes for opting out because MLB’s season is in jeopardy and there is an issue containing the spread of the Coronavirus from team to team. After the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies had breakouts throughout their organizations, the St. Louis Cardinals had a breakout as well.

Cespedes is the latest player in the MLB to opt-out. Milwaukee Brewers Gold Glove Center fielder Lorenzo Cain ended his season on Saturday because he wanted to do what was best for his wife and his three young sons.

The season could be over by the end of the week. If they can make it that far. Nobody knows if it can be pulled off. We’ll just have to enjoy the sport while we can.

 

 

 

 

Aug 3, 2020 No Comments
The OKC Thunder Dominate Utah (110-94) Behind The Play Of Shai & CP3

The OKC Thunder Dominate Utah (110-94) Behind The Play Of Shai & CP3

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by | Aug 2, 2020 | Featured, NBA

 

This is the first regular-season game for the OKC Thunder since March 11th and it happened to be against the Utah Jazz. The NBA postponed after Rudy Gobert was the first player to have a positive result for Covid-19. Everyone in the NBA was waiting for this game to come back around and it happened today 4 months later. Players and coaches have been waiting to get this game going because this is where it ended. Both teams kneeled during the National Anthem today and showcased their social injustice messages. The OKC Thunder came into this game 3-0 after the scrimmage games and they didn’t stop today. This Thunder team is playing with the utmost confidence and they looked unbeatable on both ends of the floor. Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder on their back early as they set the tone. Chris Paul looked really good out there as he was able to create offense for himself and others. CP3 put his leadership on full display as he was able to put up 18 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds on the night. CP3 pretty much had the Utah Jazz defenders on a string as he was able to get to his spots all day and it didn’t matter if Rudy Gobert was there or not. Chris Paul has shown that he’s still got a lot of game left in the tank and it’s clear that his vision/playmaking ability won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

 

One thing that’s for sure with CP3 is that he’s been rubbing off on his teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who’s been emerging as one of the best young talents in this league. This is Shai’s second season in the NBA but his game is as smooth as a veteran. Today the Utah Jazz were able to see the growth and maturity in Shai’s game as he finished with 19 points and 6 assists. Some of the moves that Shai put on display vs Utah were extremely smooth and he was able to get by Rudy Gobert a couple of times. The Thunder focused on attacking the paint and they went right at the DPOY Rudy Gobert all day. The Thunder are playing with a lot of confidence right now that allows them to play with a lot of chemistry. Steven Adams was the best big on the floor tonight as he finished with a double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds. Adams was able to defend at a high level and was able to help the Thunder dominate all phases of the game.

 

 

It was a full team effort against Utah and they were able to slow down Donovan Mitchell today. The defense of Lu Dort on Mitchell won’t be on the stat sheet but he was all over Mitchell from the tip as he held him to 13 points on 5/15 from the field. Dort wasn’t able to add too much on the offensive end but he made up for it with his job on Mitchell. It seemed that the Utah Jazz wasn’t ready for the Thunder rush that hit them from the jump. The Jazz did play against the Pelicans already so that was their second game but still this is the NBA so no excuses. The Jazz has been struggling since losing Bojan Bogdanović and they’re trying to find a true rhythm in the offense. The Thunder have a roster full of 3&D ballhawks who don’t really give you a chance to do anything without them being pests. The Jazz just didn’t have it and they were behind the Thunder from the tipoff and couldn’t get within 20 points throughout the game. Jordan Clarkson was an instant offense in the game against the Pelicans but he wasn’t able to do that today and that hurt them. This probably won’t be the last time these two teams meet up but if it is the Thunder have the tiebreaker and they’ve had the Utah Jazz’s number all season.

 

The OKC Thunder play against the Denver Nuggets on Monday at 3 pm as they look to move up in position. OKC’s undefeated in Orlando and they look to be playing with a lot of chemistry right now which isn’t good for the league.

Aug 2, 2020 No Comments