Stephen Curry’s emotions over Draymond Green’s ejection, Kelly Oubre and Nick Nurse running wild, LeBron James’ showdown with his youngest player, Oklahoma’s impressive layup and more on the NBA pulse on March 28.
The pulse of the NBA on March 28
SET UP. Brandon Miller hit 7 of 13 three-pointers to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 118-111 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hornets are recovering from five straight losses, the last three of which were crushing: 92-112 against the Orlando Magic, 91-132 against the Atlanta Hawks and 92-115 against the Cavaliers.
Miller scored 31 points in 35 minutes (4/6 doubles, 7/13 triples, 2/2 free throws) and was four points short of his career high (35 points in February).
CRIED. Draymond Green played just 3 minutes and 36 seconds in the match against the Orlando Magic when he was ejected from the court for uncontrollable emotions.
After the referee called Andrew Wiggins a foul on Paolo Banchero, Green, who was nearby, began to appeal the decision and flocked to the referee.
The Golden State Warriors’ big man initially received one technical foul and, heading into the one-minute break, slapped the referee, who issued a second technical and ejection with 8 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first period.
Stephen Curry tried to calm Green down again, but it didn’t work either. The Warriors defender broke down emotionally after his teammate was sent off and couldn’t hold back the tears.
“All I can say is we need him,” Curry said after the 110-93 victory. “He and all of us understand that.” It’s hard to start the game like that, but I’m especially proud of each of us who stepped on the field and managed to react like that.”
Green has missed 16 games this season due to a suspension after hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. Psychological help was provided to the tall man who kept breaking out.
It was the Warriors forward’s fourth ejection this season.
“Unlucky, but Draymond deserved it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “But he’ll be back.”
BREAKTHROUGH. Curry’s emotions also came through late in the fourth quarter, when the Warriors guard nailed a 3-pointer to make it 101-93 with 33.8 seconds left in the game.
After the Magic called for a timeout, Curry sent the home Magic crowd to rest with his iconic gesture and kicked a chair as he approached the bench.
In 35 minutes, Curry scored 17 points (3/10 doubles, 3/8 triples, 2/2 penalties), made 10 assists and grabbed 4 balls.
AFTER 38. Jordan Poole scored 38 points for the Washington Wizards and Cam Thomas scored 38 points for the Brooklyn Nets in overtime.
Poole could have leveled at the end of overtime but missed from long range (119-122). Dorian Finney-Smith, who was fouled, had a chance to extend the Nets’ lead and close the game, but he missed either of his two free throws.
Wizards forward Deni Avdija eventually fouled out and the Nets pulled away from Brooklyn with a 122-119 victory.
EXTENDED. Dejounte Murray scored 30 points as the Atlanta Hawks handed the Portland Trail Blazers their eighth straight loss.
The “Trail Blazers” team, with 19 victories in 73 rounds, ranks in the penultimate, fourteenth place in the West. The Portland team, together with the NBA’s worst team, the Detroit Pistons (12-61), currently record the longest losing streak.
The injury-depleted Trail Blazers began their third straight game with a starting five composed entirely of rookies Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, Toumani Camara, Doup Reath and Ryan Rupert.
The team has lost Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Malcolm Brogdon and Anfernee Simons to injuries.
The Hawks were without three starting five players: Trae Young, Jalen Johnson and Saddiq Bey.
HE DID NOT CONTROL HIMSELF. Kawhi Leonard capped two consecutive drives against the Philadelphia 76ers with two foul shots, a final block and a 108-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
76ers manager Nick Nurse couldn’t handle the dramatic end of the game and attacked the referees after the final whistle along with Kelly Oubre.
The two appealed that in the last two drives, Oubre received contact from Clippers players, but was not fouled, unlike against Leonard.
“You bitch, you bitch and you bitch,” Oubre snapped at the umpires. “Your mother is a bitch, your father is a bitch, your grandmother is a bitch.”
After the game, the NBA announced the conclusion that the referees made a mistake and in the last attack of the 76ers, the referees should have recorded a foul on Paul George.
Leonard scored 17 points (7/19 from the field). George had 22 points (7/18 shooting), 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
James Harden has 16 points (6/15 shots), 14 assists and 5 rebounds.
WASHED. The New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 145-101 in Canada and achieved the biggest victory of the season (44 points).
Mitchell Robinson is back in the Knicks lineup after a broken ankle that has kept him out for 50 games since Dec. 8.
The center came off the bench and scored 8 points (3/3 doubles, 2/4 penalty) in 12 minutes.
MET. A symbolic NBA moment was recorded in Memphis – the oldest player in the league, LeBron James, met the youngest basketball player in the tournament, GG Jackson. They are both separated by 20 years.
39-year-old LeBron scored 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in 35 minutes. 19-year-old Jackson scored 10 points and 4 rebounds.
The Lakers won 136-124. Rui Hachimura had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the winners.
POWERFUL. The Houston Rockets rallied to beat the Oklahoma Thunder 132-126 in overtime for their 10th straight win. Ime Udoka’s team climbed to eleventh place in the West with 37 wins in 72 matches.
Jalen Green scored 37 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma was without leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
IMPRESSIVE. Isaiah Joe, who went on a fast attack, had the opportunity to throw the ball to a teammate, but he didn’t beat Jeff Green standing under the basket and made a fantastic layup over the Rockets’ tall man.
The Thunder bench and Gilgeous-Alexander, who was unable to compete, were speechless.
NOT WRONG. Josh Giddey tripped but didn’t lose the ball or fumble.
The Thunder’s Australian made a layup and scored two points that put Oklahoma ahead 103-102 with about four minutes left in the game.
Giddey had 31 points (12/17 doubles, 0/3 triples, 7/11 free), 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes.
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All of tonight’s results:
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