Yahoo SportsDaily NBA bubble primer: Spurs Culture and the art of not folding in the face of elimination
Until the end of the NBA’s seeding-game schedule on Aug. 14, Yahoo Sports NBA is delivering a daily bubble primer.
RotoworldLuka Doncic puts on a show in Orlando
Also of note on Saturday was T.J. Warren doing more T.J. Warren things, the Suns moving to 5-0 and Jamal Murray returning from a hamstring injury. (Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA.comNightly Notable: Luka Doncic - Aug. 8
Luka Doncic scores 36 points to go along with 19 assists and 14 rebounds as the Mavericks get the win over the Bucks.
NBC Sports BayAreaLuka Doncic's triple-double makes NBA history in Mavs' win over Bucks
Another game, another crazy triple-double from Luka Doncic.
NBC Sports BayAreaNBA rumors: Steph Curry, league stars unlikely to play in Tokyo Games
Steph Curry might not get the opportunity to win his first Olympic gold medal anytime soon.
NBA.comThe Fast Break | Best of August 8
Buckle up for the best of tonight's NBA action with the Fast Break.
NBA.comGAME RECAP: Mavericks 136, Bucks 132
Luka Doncic starred with 36 points and 19 assists in an overtime win for the Mavericks over the Bucks.
The Associated PressDoncic gets 17th triple-double, Mavs top Bucks 136-132 in OT
Luka Doncic scored 36 points in his NBA-leading 17th triple-double and the Dallas Mavericks scored the last seven points of regulation to force overtime, going on to a 136-132 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. ''He's getting better by the hour, by the day,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks before fouling out in the final seconds hours after the reigning MVP was named a finalist for the award along with LeBron James and James Harden.
NBA.comGAME RECAP: Suns 119, Heat 112
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 35 points in the Suns win over the Heat.
The Associated PressBooker's 35 points lead surprising Suns past Heat 119-112
Devin Booker scored 35 points and Jevon Carter added a season-high 20 points as the Phoenix Suns remained undefeated in the NBA restart, beating the Miami Heat 119-112 on Saturday night. Carter made six of eight 3-pointers as the Suns improved to 5-0 in the restart. ''I think this bubble opportunity was big for us and we're taking advantage of it,'' Booker said.
NBC SportsSuns keep winning, T.J. Warren keeps scoring, Nuggets outlast Jazz in 2OT
Just another day in the NBA bubble.
The Associated PressWarren scores 39, Pacers surge past Lakers late, 116-111
T.J. Warren is leading a litany of All-Stars in scoring inside the NBA bubble, and his Indiana Pacers are the only Eastern Conference team with four wins. Warren scored 39 points, including seven straight to put Indiana ahead in the final two minutes, and the Pacers beat Los Angeles 116-111 on Saturday. LeBron James had 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists after sitting out the first game since the Lakers clinched the top seed in the West.
NBA.comGAME RECAP: Pacers 116, Lakers 111
TJ Warren lead Indiana with 39 points in the Pacers win over the Lakers.
The Associated PressMcGruder's late 3 helps Clippers edge Trail Blazers 122-117
Clippers coach Doc Rivers rested Kawhi Leonard and sat Paul George for the final five minutes following Los Angeles' plan to restrict playing time. ''We still feel we should we win regardless of who's in the game,'' George said. Rodney McGruder hit a 3-pointer with 26.5 seconds left, and the Clippers beat the Trail Blazers 122-117 on Saturday.
LA TimesConspiracy theories flying as Lakers lose to Pacers in limping to playoffs
The Lakers, the West's top seed, lost 116-111 to the Pacers amid talk that other teams are trying to set L.A. up with a playoff matchup vs. Portland.
The Associated PressThe NBA MVP finalists: Antetokounmpo, James and Harden
This season's NBA MVP has won the award before. A trio of past winners of the award - reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, four-time MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2017-18 winner James Harden of the Houston Rockets - were announced Saturday as the finalists for this season's top NBA individual honor. James would join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (a six-time winner), Michael Jordan and Bill Russell as the NBA's only five-time MVPs.
NBA.comGAME RECAP: Nuggets 134, Jazz 132
Nikola Jokic led the way with 30 points and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets outlast the Jazz 134-132 in double overtime. Donovan Mitchell had 35 points for the Utah in the loss.
NBC Sports BayAreaEx-Warrior Kevin Durant responds to Twitter troll in amazing sequence
When are these keyboard warriors going to learn?
NBC Sports BayAreaWarriors' Draymond Green believes Kevin Durant NBA's best scorer ever
Draymond Green had high praise for his former teammate.
The Associated PressMurray returns to power Nuggets past Jazz 134-132 in 2 OTs
Jamal Murray scored 23 points in his first game of the NBA restart, including the tying and go-ahead baskets, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 134-132 in two overtimes Saturday. The Nuggets overcame Donovan Mitchell's 35 points for Utah, including a 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime. Murray, playing his first game since March 11 after missing four games with left hamstring tightness, sank a fallaway jumper for a 123-all tie and then beat the shot clock with a go-ahead 3-pointer.
NBC SportsDamian Lillard to Paul George on Instagram: ‘keep switching teams … running from the grind’
Damian Lillard missed a pair of clutch free throws in the Trail Blazers' loss to the Clippers today.
Headlines
- Nuggets outlast Jazz in wild 2 OT game despite Donovan Mitchell's big game
- Kawhi-less Clippers beat Blazers in blow to Portland's playoff push
- 76ers star Ben Simmons will have surgery to remove a loose body in his knee
- NBA considering regional hub sites for 2020-21 season if pandemic persists
- Giannis, LeBron and Harden finalists for NBA MVP; check out finalists for all awards
Yahoo Sports NBA Experts
| Eastern | W | L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 15 | .786 | 0.0 | |
| 49 | 19 | .721 | 5.0 | |
| 46 | 23 | .667 | 8.5 | |
| 43 | 27 | .614 | 12.0 | |
| 43 | 27 | .614 | 12.0 | |
| 42 | 27 | .609 | 12.5 | |
| 33 | 36 | .478 | 21.5 | |
| 32 | 38 | .457 | 23.0 | |
| 23 | 42 | .354 | 29.5 | |
| 24 | 45 | .348 | 30.5 | |
| 22 | 43 | .338 | 30.5 | |
| 21 | 45 | .318 | 32.0 | |
| 20 | 46 | .303 | 33.0 | |
| 20 | 47 | .299 | 33.5 | |
| 19 | 46 | .292 | 33.5 |
| Western | W | L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 18 | .739 | 3.5 | |
| 47 | 22 | .681 | 7.5 | |
| 46 | 24 | .657 | 9.0 | |
| 43 | 25 | .632 | 11.0 | |
| 42 | 26 | .618 | 12.0 | |
| 43 | 27 | .614 | 12.0 | |
| 42 | 30 | .583 | 14.0 | |
| 33 | 37 | .471 | 22.0 | |
| 32 | 39 | .451 | 23.5 | |
| 31 | 39 | .443 | 24.0 | |
| 30 | 38 | .441 | 24.0 | |
| 30 | 39 | .435 | 24.5 | |
| 29 | 40 | .420 | 25.5 | |
| 19 | 45 | .297 | 33.0 | |
| 15 | 50 | .231 | 37.5 |
- x
- - Clinched Playoff Spot
- y
- - Clinched Division
- z
- - Clinched Home Court