Before we get to last night’s action, we must catch up on some news. First of all, as you know by now, Memphis fired coach David Fizdale just a day after Marc Gasol voiced his displeasure at a lack of playing time down the stretch of Sunday’s 98-88 loss to the Nets. While it’s been noted that Gasol and Fizdale did not see eye to eye, the move was still shocking. Fizdale is well respected as a coach, and had done some good things in Memphis. However, this season is starting to look like a lost season for them. Their myriad injury issues have finally caught up with them, and they’ve lost eight straight games.
“Nobody likes to be in the situation we’re in,” said Gasol. “And we were not finding a way to win collectively. We were breaking apart. Me and David didn’t see everything eye-to-eye all the time. But we both had the same intentions of making the team a collective, really strong unit. We couldn’t find a way to do that.”
As for whether or not Gasol asked ownership to fire Fizdale, the Grizzlies center explained, “I never try to accomplish anything like that. I always have (the coach’s) back… It’s shocking but it’s the nature of this business. Next time, it might be me. Next time it might be somebody else. The franchise is bigger than any player or coach. We’ve all got to be ready.”
JB Bickerstaff will step in as interim coach for the rest of the season, something he did back in Houston, when the Rockets fired Kevin McHale.
The Los Angeles Clippers, whose season was already entering a downward spiral thanks to a slew of injuries, received more bad news yesterday. Blake Griffin will miss the next two months with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Already without Patrick Beverley, Milos Teodosic and and Danillo Gallinari, the Clippers have been struggling to stay afloat, and suffered a nine game losing streak. Now, without their best player for the next couple of months, things are about to get significantly worse.
“Listen, you don’t want injuries,” said coach Doc Rivers. “And when you have them, you just got to pull within and see if you can steal each game. That’s where we’re at right now. Every game is a game that we have to try to get and that’s where we’re at.”
Even before Griffin’s injury, people had started to speculate whether or not Doc Rivers time in LA could be approaching its end. He’s not one for adversity or rebuilding, and with DeAndre Jordan trade rumors starting to surface, the Clippers might at least be exploring the rebuild option.
“It’s definitely tough, but I can’t give up on my teammates,” said Jordan to Bleacher Report. “I’ve got to stay positive, and hopefully it will turn around.”
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
LeBron James was ejected for the very first time in his career in the Cavs 108-97 victory over the Miami Heat.
As it turns out, LeBron was given just one technical, but whatever he said was enough for the ref to feel like he needed to toss him out out of the game.
“I got fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him, all the way until I got to the rim. I said what I had to say and then I moved on, but he decided I should get [ejected]. It is what it is. We got the win, and that’s what’s most important,” explained James, who finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals on 10-16 shooting.
Dwyane Wade (17 points, 5 rebounds off the bench) shared his two cents on the ejection, saying, “I mean, I just thought it was quick. I mean, a player like him, you give him the benefit of the doubt. He says something, you give him a tech, kind of walk away and let him calm down. That’s it. That’s all I got on that.”
Kevin Love led Cleveland with 38 points and 9 rebounds on 10-16 shooting and 14-17 from the free throw line. Most of that damage was done in the first half, where Cleveland built up a 75-49 halftime lead. Their big start made it possible for them to ensure survival without the ejected James, as Cleveland was outscored, 48-33, in the second half.
The Bulls were able to make things interesting after falling behind by 15 in the fourth quarter, but ultimately, they fell to the Phoenix Suns, 104-99. Justin Holliday had 25 points and 5 assists for Chicago, while Kris Dunn contributed 24 points, 8 assists and 4 steals. Devin Booker had 33 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Suns, and Alex Len came off the bench for 13 points and 18 rebounds.
The game was notable for the first appearance on the bench of Nikola Mirotic, who of course hasn’t been traveling with the team ever since he got his face broken by teammate Bobby Portis in a practice altercation right at the start of the season.
The Washington Wizards came back to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 92-89 road victory. Otto Porter gave them the lead with just 25.9 seconds to go, and the Timberwolves were unable to produce an answer. As I watched the game, it seemed like Minnesota was exhausted by the end, as their lack of depth caught up with them. Already without starter Jeff Teague and key reserve Nemanja Bjelica, the Wolves played each of their starters at least 37 minutes, and they simply seemed to run out of steam by the end. For instance, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns each played the entire fourth quarter, shooting a combined 3-12.
“It’s a bad taste in my mouth,” said Minnesota’s Taj Gibson (16 points, 11 rebounds). “I feel like we should have won that one, but we’ve got to look forward.”
Adding salt to the wound, the Wizards were playing without John Wall, and Bradley Beal had just 8 points and 6 assists on 2-11 shooting. Otto Porter stepped up with 22 points and 8 rebounds, including the go ahead shot down the stretch. Washington also got a good contribution from their bench, with Kelly Oubre (16), Mike Scott (12) and Jodie Meeks (12) all scoring in double digits. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 20 points and 17 rebounds.
The Bucks went out to Sacramento and took care of the Kings with a 112-87 victory. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals on 11-16 shooting.
Finishing off last night’s action, the Utah Jazz slaughtered the Denver Nuggets, 106-77, despite missing Rodney Hood and Rudy Gobert. The Nuggets were without Paul Millsap and Wilson Chandler. Derrick Favors led Utah with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists on 12-16 shooting.
THE NIGHT AHEAD
Game of the Night – Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets (8:00 pm, League Pass)
The Pacers have won six of their last seven games as they continue their impressive start to the season. Tonight, they’ll face another tough test down in Houston. The Rockets have won five in a row, and eleven of their last twelve, as they’ve maintained their lead atop the Western Conference standings. With the Warriors dealing with some nagging injuries, and at times not looking like themselves, can the Rockets sustain their momentum and fend them off for the top spot in the West? It’s probably still too early to talk that way, but a nice win over the plucky Pacers would be another step in that direction.
The Bonus 