We have that and more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
Having seen their forbidden love rejected by society and those who control them, Anthony Davis and the Lakers could each have found the strength to move on and fight another day. Or they could just curl up and die. On Tuesday, they picked the latter.
Anthony Davis had the worst game of his NBA career, going 1-9 from the floor for 3 points in 24 minutes. He was a -16 and the Pelicans lost by 30 at home to the Magic, who came into the game with the same record as New Orleans.
The Lakers, meanwhile, lost to the Atlanta Hawks, who came into the game 20 games under .500. The loss put L.A. a game under .500 and 2.5 games out of the No. 8 seed in the West. LeBron James had a 28-point triple-double in 43 minutes, but the Lakers only broke even with him on the court and lost the five minutes he sat by four points, which was the final margin.
Luke Walton could be out of a job any day now. Alvin Gentry and Dell Demps could be out of jobs any day now. No one on either team is happy. Neither fanbase is happy. Joy has been sucked from these star-crossed sinners and spat into a sea of despair. This is not fun.
Scores
Lakers 113, Hawks 117
Celtics 112, Sixers 109
Spurs 108, Grizzlies 107
Magic 118, Pelicans 88
Jazz 108, Warriors 115
Schedule
All times Eastern. Games on League Pass unless otherwise noted.
Nets at Cavaliers, 7
Bucks at Pacers, 7
Pistons at Celtics, 7:30
Sixers at Knicks, 7:30
Wizards at Raptors, 7:30
Grizzlies at Bulls, 8
Rockets at Timberwolves, 8, ESPN
Heat at Mavericks, 8:30
Kings at Nuggets, 9
Warriors at Blazers, 10:30, ESPN
Suns at Clippers, 10:30
Links
Paul Flannery asks whether the Celtics can get it together and other questions whose answers will define the rest of the NBA season.
How Stephen Curry made his shooting stroke unstoppable and changed basketball forever.
NBA referees actually took to Twitter to defend the no-call on Bradley Beal’s five-step travel by claiming that he bobbled the ball, which he might have, but STILL, read the room, y’all. The league actually went to the trouble of saying that the refs blew the call.
Dan Devine on Paul George’s new powers.
Your guide to All-Star apparel.
How Marc Gasol is already changing the Raptors.
Jayson Tatum and the art of drawing fouls.
Interesting piece by Ben Falk on possibility vs. certainty in NBA decision-making.
The Bulls’ artist hat series is really cool.
Tracking all the sneakers dropping All-Star Weekend.
And finally: Giannis Antetokounpo is also amazing at airline safety videos.
Be excellent to each other.