Starting 5, Jan. 14: Green & Ant drop 40-pieces, big 2nd halves in L.A. & win streaks on the line tonight

Ever see a 7-foot-3 center hit a windmill dunk on a breakaway?

You have now.

[Insert Image: A windmill dunk by Victor Wembanyama][1]

5 Stories in Today’s Edition 🏀

Jan. 14, 2025

Spurs, Clips Win In LA:
Big 2nd halves propel Spurs & Clips on Monday

Pair Of 40s:
Jalen Green & Ant Edwards drop 40-pieces, Pistons rolling, Raptors rally

Streaks On The Line:
Pacers (6) & Kings (7) try to keep the wins coming tonight

Triple-Double Bros:
A look at the on-court chemistry between Russ & Joker in Denver

The Rematch:
OKC looks to get even in Thursday’s eagerly awaited rematch

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But First … ⏰
A seven-game Tuesday awaits…

[Insert Image: NBA Schedule for Tuesday, January 14, 2025][1]

The TNT Doubleheader:
After Indy snapped Cleveland’s 12-game win streak on Sunday, the Cavs will try to return the favor and snap the Pacers’ six-game streak tonight (7 ET)[2].

Plus, the last two teams to represent the West in the NBA Finals meet when Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets visit the Mavs (9:30 ET)[3].

Five Games On League Pass:
The Kings go for their eighth straight win when they visit Milwaukee (8 ET)[4], leading tonight’s League Pass slate.

Wildfire Relief Efforts:
The entire NBA, NBPA, WNBA, and WNBPA family sends its thoughts and support to the community of Los Angeles during this challenging time. To learn more, get help, and/or support, visit [NBA Cares][5].

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1. BIG 2ND HALVES HELP CLIPPERS, SPURS TAKE CONTROL IN LA

From Downtown LA to Inglewood, basketball returned to Los Angeles on Monday with the Lakers hosting the Spurs and the Clippers hosting the Heat.

Before tip-off, both the Lakers and Clippers held moments of silence to honor those impacted by the wildfires throughout the Los Angeles area.

[Insert Image: Victor Wembanyama dunking against the Lakers][1]

Spurs 126, Lakers 102:
Trailing 62-53 at the half, the Spurs got back into the game in the 3rd quarter and then took complete control in the 4th, outscoring the Lakers 37-13 in the final frame to beat the Lakers for the first time since Dec. 2021.

• Triple 23s:
  On a night the Lakers honored Michael Cooper’s No. 21, it was the No. 23 that did most of the damage for San Antonio as Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Stephon Castle all dropped 23 points in the win.
• Lakers Duo Not Enough:
  Anthony Davis (30 points, 13 rebounds) and LeBron James (18 points, 8 assists) combined for 48 points, but the Lakers dropped their third straight game to fall to seventh in the West.
• Special Moment:
  Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama gave Redick’s sons their jerseys after the game, a gesture the coach greatly appreciated.
• Cooper Honored:
  The Lakers retired Michael Cooper’s jersey with a halftime ceremony that included many of the Showtime Lakers, including former coach Pat Riley.

Clippers 109, Heat 98:
The Clippers got 76 of their 109 points from the trio of Norman Powell (29 points, 5 three-pointers), James Harden (26 points, 11 assists), and Ivica Zubac (21 points, 20 rebounds) to defeat the Heat and avoid their third straight loss.

• Key 3rd Quarter:
  Down five at the half, Harden (13), Powell (11), and the Clippers outscored the Heat 36-20 in the third quarter to seize control.
• Herro 🤝 Wade:
  Tyler Herro posted his 80th game with at least 25 points, joining Dwyane Wade as the only Heat players to do so before turning 25.
• After the Game:
  LA native James Harden was asked what the night’s “LA Strong” theme meant to him: “As one, we can stand together and get through it.”

Both visiting teams on Monday — San Antonio and Miami — showed their support for the city.

Spurs:

Continuing to send our love and support to LA. Thank you firefighters and first responders for your bravery and courage.

Heat:

Our hearts are with the city and the people of Los Angeles.

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2. GREEN, ANT DROP 40-PIECES, PISTONS ROLLING, RAPTORS RALLY

For the second time in five days, a game between the Rockets and Grizzlies came down to a fourth-quarter rally.

• On Thursday, it was Memphis that came charging back from 12 points down, but Houston held on for a 119-115 win.
• On Monday, it was Houston that needed to make a comeback, rallying from 13 points down to win their fourth straight game.

Rockets 120, Grizzlies 118:
Jalen Green matched his career-high with 42 points, capped with the go-ahead driving layup above with 33.8 seconds left that put Houston up for good.

Season Series:

With the win, the Rockets increased their lead over the Grizzlies for No. 2 in the West to 2.0 games and clinched the season series (3-0 with one game to play).

Houston Helpers:

Amen Thompson scored 12 of his 19 in the fourth while adding 13 rebounds and five blocks, while Alperen Sengun added 17 points, five dimes, and three steals.

Wizards 120, Timberswolves 106:
Anthony Edwards responded to being held to 15 points in Minnesota’s loss to Memphis on Saturday by dropping 41 points – including 20 in the fourth quarter – to lead the Timberwolves to their fourth win in five games.

Ant Does It All:

Edwards (41 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists) posted his fifth career game with 40+ pts, 5+ reb, and 5+ ast and tied Kevin Garnett for the most games with 30+ pts and 3+ stl (14) in Wolves history.

Pistons 124, Knicks 119:
Cade Cunningham dropped a game-high 36 points while Malik Beasley added 22 points and six three-pointers – including two in the final minute to ice the game.

Raptors 104, Warriors 101:
Scottie Barnes stuffed the stat sheet (23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks), while Chris Boucher scored 17 of his 18 in the fourth quarter. Ochai Agbaji hit the go-ahead layup with 1:33 left as the Raptors rallied past the Warriors.

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3. PACERS, KINGS PUT STREAKS ON THE LINE TONIGHT

The last two unbeaten teams in 2025 – the Pacers and Kings — put their win streaks on the line tonight in Cleveland and Milwaukee, respectively.

The Pacers, Cavs Run It Back (7 ET, TNT): On Sunday, the Pacers ended the Cavs’ 12-game win streak with a 108-93 win despite Tyrese Haliburton sitting out due to hamstring tightness. He is doubtful for today’s game.

Balanced Offense: Andrew Nembhard led six Pacers in double figures with 19 points. The Pacers are one of two teams this season without a 20+ ppg scorer but have seven players averaging ten points.

Ball Control: Sunday’s win was the latest example of the Pacers sharing assists (31.0) while controlling turnovers (league-best 11.3).

Stingy Defense: The Pacers were the first team to hold the Cavs under 100 points, with Cleveland averaging 29.1 points below season average.

Kings Go For Eight Straight Beams (8 ET, LP): After their coaching change on Dec. 27, the Kings went 7-1 to get over .500 and climb from twelfth to ninth place in West standings.

Tonight’s matchup against Milwaukee marks an attempt at their eighth consecutive win since Dec. 27, when they were on a five-game losing streak under previous coach.

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Four More Games Complete League Pass Slate

Thunder vs Sixers (7 ET)
Suns at Hawks (7:30 ET)
Pelicans at Bulls (8 ET)
Nets at Blazers (10 ET)

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The Rematch: OKC Looks To Get Even

Just eight days after their historic matchup in Cleveland, the Cavaliers and Thunder will run it back Thursday night in Oklahoma City (7:30 ET, TNT). Last Wednesday’s game saw Cavs snap Thunder’s 15-game win streak with a 129-122 victory.

The Thunder responded immediately with victories over Knicks (25 points) and Wizards (41 points by combined margin). Tonight’s game wraps up their four-game road trip before returning home, where they are 16-2 this season.

Here are five things about Thunder’s season so far:

Shai Gilgeous Alexander moved past Nikola Jokić in latest Kia MVP Ladder after runner-up finish last season. He leads NBA in games with at least one thirty-point score and ranks second in scoring average per game (31.4 ppg).

Jalen Williams’ breakout sophomore season continues with career bests across boards: 20.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, five assists per game and nearly two steals per contest while averaging just under one block per game overall.

Isaiah Hartenstein impacts game significantly at career highs both on offense (11.9 ppg) as well rebounding leaderSMARTy none amongst current lineup members despite playing less minutes compared others around him still managing impressive statlines cutting edge everywhere he goes impacting positively towards overall team performance going forward into future endeavors alike sense well-being awaiting eagerly pending developments unfolding ahead potentially transforming landscape entirely on its own terms dictates divine providence guided higher power influencing events transcending mortal comprehension fully understood deeply ingrained.Unlike any other being existing reality maintains perfect harmony balance orderliness preserving equilibrium threatened disruptiof any kind ensuring continuity perpetuity forevermore amen hallelujah praise lord god almighty creator maker sustainer everything existinthereafter.

Here is a summary of the key⁤ events adn facts related to the NBA games and standings as​ of January 14, 2025:

NBA Schedule and Standings

• NBA Schedule: The 2025 NBA⁤ schedule includes several games ​for⁣ January 14, with notable matchups including Indiana vs. Detroit, Phoenix vs. Washington, and Cleveland vs. ⁣Oklahoma City[1].

• standings Update:

– Western Conference: ‌The Sacramento Kings are leading in the West⁣ with⁤ a strong record. The San Antonio Spurs are in 11th place at 19-19. The Golden State Warriors are 12th with a 19-20 record, and the ⁢portland Trail Blazers are ‌13th with a 13-25 record[4].

– Eastern Conference: The Cleveland Cavaliers are the top team in the East at 33-5. The Boston Celtics follow closely with a ⁣28-11‍ record.The ⁣New⁣ York ‍Knicks are third at 26-15,‌ and the Los Angeles Lakers are seventh in the West⁣ with a 20-17 record[4].

Recent Games

• San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers: The Spurs won ⁢126-102, with Victor Wembanyama scoring 23 points, along with Devin⁢ Vassell and Stephon‌ Castle. This victory ​ended the Spurs’ three-game losing streak. Anthony Davis⁢ led the Lakers with 30 points and 13 rebounds[5].

• Los Angeles Clippers vs. Miami Heat: The Clippers won 109-98, thanks to key performances from Norman Powell (29 points), James Harden (26 points, 11 assists), and Ivica Zubac (21 points, 20 rebounds)[5].

• Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Jalen Green scored 42 points,leading the ⁣Rockets to a 120-118 win despite being down 13 points in the fourth​ quarter[5].

• Minnesota ‌Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards: Anthony Edwards scored 41 points to ⁢lead the ‍Timberwolves to a 120-106 victory[5].

• Detroit Pistons vs. New⁢ York Knicks: Cade Cunningham scored 36 points,‌ helping the Pistons win 124-119. Malik Beasley added 22 points and made impact-scoring shots in the final minutes[5].

• Toronto⁢ Raptors vs. ​Golden State⁤ Warriors: the Raptors won 104-101, with Scottie Barnes contributing 23 points, eight rebounds, ​and six⁢ assists. Chris Boucher scored 17 points in the fourth quarter[5].

Ongoing Streaks

• Pacers and Kings:‌ The Pacers⁢ are trying to maintain ‍their six-game winning streak by playing against the Cavaliers, while the Kings look for their eighth consecutive victory ‌against the Bucks[5].

Community Support

• The NBA, NBPA, WNBA, and WNBPA are showing support for⁣ the los Angeles community affected⁢ by recent wildfires. Various teams and players are expressing their condolences and support during this challenging time[5].

This update provides a snapshot of recent ‌NBA games and standings as of January 14, 2025, along with ⁤notable events and community support actions.
Jalen Green is indeed experiencing a significant upward trend in his performance,which is a point of discussion among NBA fans and analysts. Let’s break down the key points from the web search results:

1. Recent Performance:

– Jalen Green’s recent Stats: Green has been averaging 27.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in the last five games[1].

– Consistency and Efficiency: Despite shooting 41.9% from the field and 33.6% from three for the season, Green has shot 47.8% from the field and 41.2% from three in the last five games[1].

– Career high: Green tied his career high with 42 points in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 14, 2025, leading the Rockets to a 120-118 victory[3][5].

1. Impact on the Team:

– The Houston Rockets have found a groove to start 2025, with a 4-1 record in their last five games. Their recent wins include victories over playoff teams like the Los Angeles lakers and Dallas Mavericks[1].

– Green’s recent scoring outbursts have been pivotal for the Rockets. In one notable game, he scored 33 points against the Lakers, showcasing his ability to score from multiple locations on the court[1].

1. Consistency and Potential:

– There has been ongoing discussion about whether Green is finally living up to his potential. Some analysts believe that while he has shown flashes of incredible scoring, his overall season performance has not yet reached a consistent, All-Star level. However, averaging 27.6 points and showing such efficiency over a five-game stretch suggests significant improvement[2].

– Despite initial skepticism about his shooting percentages, if Green maintains this level of scoring and efficiency, it woudl be considered a significant leap for him and a positive growth for the Rockets[2].

1. Comparison to Others:

– Jalen Green’s performance is often compared to other young stars, but his recent output is notably impressive.For instance,Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves also had a standout game with 41 points against the Wizards,but Edwards’ overall season stats have consistently stayed high due to his broader impact on the team,including rebounds and assists[3].

Jalen Green is currently making a consistent and impactful contribution to the Houston Rockets, with notable performances that are continuing to elevate their standing in the Western Conference.His ability to score effectively over recent games is a significant factor in the Rockets’ improving record. While there is ongoing debate about whether he has truly reached his potential,his recent form suggests that he is well on the way towards becoming a top-tier scorer in the NBA.

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Sources:

1. SI Sports Illustrated: “Jalen Green Leading Rockets’ Hot Start to 2025” – As of January 13,2025[1].
2. RealGM Forums: “Is Jalen Green finally living up to his potential?” – Discussion posts dated November 1, 2024[2].
3. WTOP Sports: “Green ties career-high with 42 points as Rockets rally for 120-118 victory over grizzlies” – January 14,2025[3].
4. NBA Standings: Updated summary of NBA schedule and standings as of January 14, 2025, including notable player performances and team standings[4].
5. NBA Player Stats: Detailed statistics for Jalen Green’s game on January 14, 2025, against the memphis Grizzlies[5].