NBA is back to action on Thursday with a TNT double header thriller inside Disney World NBA bubble, where both Lakers and Jazz pick up win with just 2 point margin.
After nearly more than four months of forced break due to COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-20 NBA season resumed on Thursday night with a pair of seeding games, Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Pelicans, followed by Los Angeles Lakers vs Los Angeles Clippers.
NBA took this opportunity to show their support for BLACK LIVES MATTER movement. NBA released a video titled “We will make change”, the video describes how NBA players contributing to the current social injustice rocking the world.
Clippers and Lakers players , coaches kneeling during National Anthem
Game1: Jazz beat Pelicans 106-104
Donovan Mitchell and Jazz took care of business against Zion Williamson and Pelicans on Thursday night with a 106-104 win.
All-star duo, Mitchell (20 PTS, 5 AST,5 RED,3 STL) and Conley (20 PTS, 4 AST) help Jazz to register first win of the seeding game.Ex-Laker Jordan Clarkson scored game high 23 Points off the bench for Jazz,while France star Rudy Gobert picked up another double-double with 14 PTS & 12 REB.
Many across the League tipped New Orleans Pelicans, for final play-off spot in a tight Western conference, to continue JJ Redick’s play-off streak,Pelicans need to win majority of their 8 seed games.
Unfortunately their Season resumed with a hard fought loss in the hands of Jazz.Pelicans led game for three quarters before Jazz defense silenced young Pelicans in fourth quarter. New Orleans hold 60-48 advantage heading into half-time break,before Utah reduced their 12 PTS half-time deficit to 8 at the conclusion of Third Quarter.
Pelicans managed to score only 17 points in the final 12 minutes of play. first time all-star Brandon Ingram lead all scorers with 23 Points , 7-20 shooting for Pelicans. Zion Williamson scored 13 PTS, 0 REB in his 15 minutes of play.
Jazz will play against OKC Thunder on Saturday Aug 1st,in their second seed game .While Pelicans will play against another tough opponent in Clippers on Saturday Aug 1st.
Game2: Lakers beat Clippers 103-101 in LA battle
Lakers sent a strong message to their cross locker room rival with a 103-101 win on opening night of NBA season restart. With tonight’s win, Lakers tightened their grip on Western-conference No.1 seed.It’s up to Clippers to clinch either 2 or 3 seed to avoid Lakers before conference-finals in playoffs.
Both star studded LA teams are favorites to play in Western-conference final come play-offs.Their 2-2 regular season series tie shows ,nothing much to differentiate between both teams.
Anthony Davis led both teams in scoring with game high 34 PTS on 8-19 shooting along with 8 Rebounds for Lakers. LeBron James finished game just 3 Assists shy of another triple-double with 16 PTS,11 REB, 7 AST.
Kyle Kuzma (16 PTS & 7 REB) and new Addition Dion Waiters (11 PTS & 3 REB) provided much needed scoring off the bench for Lakers. Alex Caurso’s impressed once again with hustle play and tough defense in crucial final minutes of the game.
Clippers came to this game without their sixth-man Lou Williams and energetic Montrezl Harrell, still they were able to trouble Lakers for much of the game. PG13 leads Clippers in scoring with 30 points and he missed final shot of the game, with chance to tie or win it for Clippers.He finished game with 30 PTS & 5 REB on 11-17 shooting.
Another super-star Kawhi Leonard, finished game with 28 PTS ,3 REB, 4 AST, 2 BLK, 2 STL. But his defense on LeBron is vital for Clippers to stay in the much of the game.
One cannot wait to watch these two teams again going head-to-head, in a 7 match playoff series with full squad.
