All the need-to-know info from Monday’s slate.
Watching Jeff Teague Deteriorate in Real Time
However and whenever you run into an old ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend or ex-landlord, I hope it goes better for you than it did for Jeff Teague. (Some additional consolation: I’m not sure it could go worse.)
The nice part about no longer being on a bad team (the Hawks, whom Teague last played for in 2015-16, were 14-35 entering Monday’s contest) and currently starring on a good team (the Wolves were 31-21) is the likelihood of beating said bad, erstwhile team.
But Minnesota lost to Atlanta in embarrassing, uncoordinated fashion, 105-100. Teague was a 35-minute choke job. He finished with 10 assists and four steals, but little else. Teague shot 1-for-12, and contributed the fewest points (two) of anyone, on either side, who got on the board. (He almost had four, but a fourth-quarter floater was called a charge, which he argued into a technical foul.)
With 1:27 left in the game, up 99-98, Teague’s former teammate Kent Bazemore blocked the betrayal out of him:
Not a minute later, now down 101-100, Teague threw the ball away on a careless pass.
Yikes, right? But Dennis Schröder missed the jumper on the other end. Whew! Minnesota called a timeout with 14.5 seconds left. Teague, now armed with a play in mind and the ball, was then called for a five-second violation after attempting to call a timeout that the Wolves did not have.
Here’s a thing that Minnesota’s success has largely masked: Teague has not been the significant Ricky Rubio upgrade that Tom Thibodeau signed him to be. The 29-year-old has dipped in every category since last season except steals. His shot is worse, he isn’t drawing as many fouls, the offense is statistically better with Tyus Jones manning the point instead, and yes, Minny’s already half-baked defense is worse with Teague on the floor. (To be fair, he is mostly defending against starting units.)
Ask your friendly Minnesota fan what they’re more hopeful for: a Teague turnaround, or a Teague trade.
Lance a Make Her Dance
Can we get a replay of that?
Thanks, Dipo.
Myles Turner Update
In his second game back from an elbow injury, Turner took his limited minutes and made lemonade: 22 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 21 minutes.
He put miles on that right elbow, too. The Pacers center snuck in a season-high four 3-pointers during Indiana’s 105-96 win against Charlotte.
Turner, who leads his team in blocks (2.2 per game) and had the seventh-most in the league this season with 74 entering Monday’s slate, also swatted Dwight Howard in the third quarter. It was not the best Dwight denial in the game.
Once again—Dipo, thank you.
What Comes Around Doesn’t Go Around, It Gets Blocked
Jarell Martin responded to Tyler Ulis picking off his bad pass by snatching his soul on the other end. Both Martin and Marc Gasol finished with three blocks apiece in Memphis’s 120-109 win over Phoenix.
Tyreke Evans—whose hypothetical trade value has become the pet project of every NBA head of late—continued to up his stock, dropping 27 points in 26 minutes off the bench.
TFW You Should’ve Stuck With Mild Sauce
Atlanta wins Best Halftime Show (Red Panda, I am truly sorry): Pulling fans who attempt to D up AND1 Mixtape star Philip “Hot Sauce” Champion.
Jabari Back!
No, not yet—but he’ll be back this Friday against the Knicks, the Bucks’ perpetually injured forward announced Monday.
Doesn’t he look … excited?
It’s been almost a year since Parker’s heartbreaking ACL tear, his second in three seasons.
Philly Loves the Perimeter; the Perimeter Does Not Love Philly Back
It took 33 minutes for the Sixers to make a 3-pointer against Milwaukee, one of the league’s sorriest perimeter occupants.
Before James Young hit that third-quarter shot, Philadelphia had gone 0-for-17; the team finished 2-for-26. Only once this season has a team shot worse from deep (7.7 percent) than the Sixers did in Monday’s 107-95 loss.
It was Indiana. (I guess we shouldn’t thank Dipo here.)
Give the Kuz What He Wants
That’s how Kyle Kuzma reacted to the Blake Griffin trade news; this is how The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reacted:
What Can Brown Do for You?
Jaylen Brown missed four of the five 3s he took against the Nuggets, but picked the right time to get his groove back:
After starting 0-for-4 from deep, Al Horford dished to Brown in the corner with the game tied and 34 seconds left.
It was the go-ahead shot that would ultimately win the game, 111-110.
The Nuggets took a high volume of shots against Boston, pushing well ahead of their average shot total with 93 total. Every Denver player with 15 or more minutes had at least 10 tries; Emmanuel Mudiay, who played just 12 minutes, finished with seven shot attempts. The Celtics kept up, taking 91 field goals, including this, which deserves its own category:
Monday marks Boston’s second win in seven games, an uncharacteristic Stevens slump, and snapped Denver’s three-win streak. The Nuggets have yet to push beyond three straight wins all season.
[Counts Down Days, Hours, Seconds to Dunk Contest]
Nikola Jokic Would OWN a Runway, Honey
Look at that dramatic turn!