NBA Games Notes: Buzzer Beaters and Blowouts

It’s funny how NBA nights go sometimes, especially when there are a lot of games. Wednesday was split between blowouts in the early games and buzzer beaters in the late games.

Here’s what I saw on Wednesday!

Cleveland Cavaliers - 105 at Boston Celtics - 125

• Our general rule of thumb here is to not cover blowouts. You just don’t always learn a lot. But there were a few things I wanted to hit on from the Boston side, so here we are.

• Payton Pritchard has been tasked with picking up some of the scoring the Celtics lost with Jayson Tatum injured and Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford playing elsewhere. Pritchard has also stepped up as a playmaker too. He had 10 assists in this one. This was my favorite, because Pritchard got deep into the trees before kicking it out to Anfernee Simons:

• Jaylen Brown is doing a great job with his scoring. He’s been patient and mixing in drives, midrange shots and three-pointers. He’s easily been Boston’s best player so far this season.

• The no-dip, catch-and-shoot three is a thing in the NBA now. It’s all about speeding up the release to get the shot off. This is the most extreme version of that from Sam Hauser. This is catch and immediately let it rip:

• Neemias Queta seems to be settling into the starting center role for the Celtics. He’s looked better over the last couple of outings. In his one, Boston needed him to be big on the defensive glass and Queta held up. Celtics got some good minutes from Luka Garza too, as they continue to cobble together the center position.

• Anfernee Simons hasn’t had that “Wow!” game yet, but he’s been solid for Boston. Seems to have embraced the sixth man role.

• Josh Minott continues to be an awesome surprise. 15 rebounds? 10 defensive and five offense? The Celtics will take that all day long!

• Just one of those nights for the Cavs. They are very dependent on Donovan Mitchell to create offense, both for himself and others. They really need Darius Garland back.

• Good to see Jaylon Tyson put together a nice game. He fouled out, but not before putting up 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Los Angeles Lakers - 116 at Minnesota Timberwolves - 115

• The Lakers got it done again, despite having half of the roster out with injuries. Austin Reaves played the hero for Los Angeles, as he continues to shine this season. The scoring is certainly impressive, but Reaves has also leveled way up as a playmaker. This is the best basketball he’s played in his NBA career.

• Jake LaRavia had it going right from the start. He almost couldn’t miss all game. But LaRavia didn’t get crazy with his shot selection. He could have shot this one, but this was a nice job of staying patient, driving the closeout and getting the easy jumper in the paint:

• Almost every Laker who played was productive. Dalton Knecht hit shots. Deandre Ayton and Jarred Vanderbilt got on the glass. Rui Hachimura dropped in some points. Nick Smith Jr. had a couple of moments. Good night for the “other Lakers”.

• The Wolves bench really struggled in this one. When more than one or two reserves were on the court together, Minnesota couldn’t get stops. It’s been a slow start to the season Naz Reid, and a really slow start for Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. The Timberwolves need those guys to be good, because Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley don’t look like night-to-night contributors anymore.

• On the positive side, Julius Randle continues to be borderline dominant. And Jaden McDaniels is picking up for Anthony Edwards being out with more offense. This was a good job of the two forwards linking up for a transition three:

Memphis Grizzlies - 114 at Phoenix Suns - 113

• Ja Morant continues to be really special when he’s healthy. The Suns had no chance of stopping throughout this game. Morant got to his spots over and over, including for the game-winner. Big-time player doing big-time things.

• Speaking of big-time things…Cedric Coward has been so good to open this season! This play is a good example of Coward being way ahead of where a rookie usually is. Comes off the initial screen and it’s not there. He takes the handoff from Jock Landale, but Ryan Dunn is right on him. So, Coward pivots back to use the re-screen and hits the pullup going to his left. This is high-level stuff for a rookie:

• After a bit of a sluggish start to the season, Santi Aldama put together a nice all-around game off the bench. Memphis needs from him until frontcourt reinforcements arrive.

• Suns made a lineup change and went to Mark Williams at center. Williams put together a really strong game. His presence near the rim allowed Phoenix to be more aggressive on the perimeter, which resulted in 17 Memphis turnovers. Something to keep an eye on.

• More Collin Gillespie, please! He does a really nice job running the Suns offense. Plus…OSO!!!