NBA NEWS - NBA PREVIEW for WEEK 8

THE CRUCIFIXION of KYRIE IRVING was excessive THE CRUCIFIXION of KYRIE IRVING

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain exemplified how to play the game without Showtime hot-dogging. The two battled for over a decade during the 60's. Since that time no NBA center could compare to their brute talent - (Library of Congress photo) NR's All-time NBA's GREATEST TEAM

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

Charles Barkley was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic Dream team BUT… he was never a member of an NBA title winning team ALL TIME NBA NEVER WON-NA TITLE TEAM

Los Angeles Lakers Anthony Davis is averaging 35.3 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.89 blocks while shooting 64.8% from the field in his last nine games - Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks: Lopez is averaging an NBA-leading 3.00 blocks per game and shooting 41.7% from three-point range, both of which would be career highs over a full season for the 15-year veteran - Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: The three-time NBA All-Star has scored at least 40 points in three of his last four games - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

Monday December 5. 2022

New York, New York USA

DOMINATE DAVIS

Forward Anthony Davis has been on a roll for the surging Los Angeles Lakers.

An eight-time NBA All-Star and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, Davis is averaging 35.3 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.89 blocks while shooting 64.8% from the field in his last nine games.

On Dec. 4, Davis posted 55 points, 17 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Lakers’ 130-119 win over the Washington Wizards. He joined Kevin McHale as the only players to have at least 55 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in a game since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season.

Behind Davis, the Lakers have won eight of their last 10 games after beginning the season 2-10. They are 2-0 on their current six-game road trip.

Los Angeles’ Week 8 schedule includes road games against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday (TNT) and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday (ESPN).

IN THE ZONE

New Orleans Pelicans:

New Orleans (15-8) has won four consecutive games and nine of its last 11 to move into second place in the Western Conference.

• Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks:

Lopez is averaging an NBA-leading 3.00 blocks per game and shooting 41.7% from three-point range, both of which would be career highs over a full season for the 15-year veteran.

• Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers:

Grant is averaging 32.2 points in his last six games.

• Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons:

The seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft is averaging 15.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.80 steals in his last five games.

• Sacramento Kings:

A three-game winning streak has raised the Kings’ record to 13-9 – the franchise’s best 22-game start since the 2004-05 season.

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns:

The three-time NBA All-Star has scored at least 40 points in three of his last four games

LOOKING AHEAD

• Finals Rematch: Week 8 will feature the first game between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics since the 2022 NBA Finals. The Warriors will host the Celtics on Saturday in the season premiere of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC.

• Mavs vs. MVPs: The Dallas Mavericks will face twotime Kia NBA MVPs in consecutive games when they visit Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday (TNT) and host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday (ESPN).

• Conference Leaders: The current conference leaders – Boston Celtics (East) and Phoenix Suns (West) – will meet on Wednesday (ESPN).

• NBA Mexico City Game: Next week, the Miami Heat will play the San Antonio Spurs in The NBA Mexico City Game 2022 on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. ET (NBA TV). This will be the first NBA Mexico City Game since 2019

OUTTA POCKET

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant fined

December 3, 2022

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been fined $35,000 for confronting and directing inappropriate language toward a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Morant was assessed a technical foul and ejected with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies’ 109-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 30 at Target Center.

Warriors’ Draymond Green fined

December 1, 2022

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been fined $25,000 for directing obscene language toward a fan, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The incident occurred with 11:20 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 116-113 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 29 at American Airlines Center.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 5, 1967 Walt Hazzard of Seattle scored 15 consecutive points in a 133-121 loss to San Francisco at Oakland, tying an NBA record held by Wilt Chamberlain.

December 5, 1987 The San Antonio Spurs retired the #44 jersey worn by George Gervin. December 5, 1991 Moses Malone of Milwaukee became only the sixth player in NBA history to score 26,000 career points, after he hit for 12 points in the Bucks’ 109-101 loss to New Jersey at the Bradley Center.

December 5, 1992 Detroit’s Bill Laimbeer grabbed 12 rebounds in the Pistons’ 112-88 win over visiting Philadelphia, helping him to reach the 10,000 career rebound mark.

December 5, 1996 Portland’s Jermaine O’Neal, who celebrated his 18th birthday on October 13, became the youngest player ever to participate in an NBA game.

December 5, 1997 Indiana's Mark Jackson moved past Bob Cousy (6,955) and into seventh place on the all-time assist chart.

December 5, 2000 Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz converted a finger roll in the lane for two points, moving past Wilt Chamberlain and into second place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Malone scored 31 points in Utah’s 98-84 win over Toronto, giving him 31,443 career points, 24 more than Chamberlain’s 31,419 points.

December 5, 2000 Don Nelson of the Dallas Mavericks notched his 938th career coaching win in Dallas’ 94-85 victory over New York, tying him with his Boston Celtics’ mentor Red Auerbach for fourth place on the all-time coaching victories list.

December 5, 2001 With an 98-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers extended their best-ver start to 16-1, landing them a spot among the top 11 starts in league annals.