New on Sports Illustrated: Lakers, Blazers ready for playoff rematch

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/game/2292228"> <p>In a first-round rematch of last season's Western Conference playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers visit the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.</p> <p>It's the first meeting between the clubs since Los Angeles claimed a 4-1 series win in the opening round in August.</p> <p>The Blazers' start this season began with a thud. They lost 120-100 at home Wednesday to the Utah Jazz. They also were forced to overcome a slow start to beat the short-handed Houston Rockets 128-126 in overtime Saturday.</p> <p>CJ McCollum scored 44 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer, and had eight assists for Portland in the win over Houston. McCollum converted 17 of 30 shots from the field and hit a career-best nine 3-pointers on 16 attempts. Damian Lillard contributed 32 points and nine assists and Jusuf Nurkic added 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.</p> <p>The Blazers trailed by as many as 16 in the first half before rallying. McCollum sparked a third-quarter surge by scoring 14 points, 12 via four 3-pointers.</p> <p>"CJ obviously had an outstanding second half offensively," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "He made some big shots for us, he got us back into it, especially in the third quarter."</p> <p>Lillard said he was encouraged to see the Blazers respond after the lackluster beginning.</p> <p>"I thought we got some life in us and we started to defend and play with more energy in that second quarter and got ourselves back in the game," Lillard said. "And then coming out of the locker room (at halftime) we just basically told ourselves, and our coaches said it as well, it (doesn't) matter if we did it for five minutes if we come out in the third quarter and we can't sustain it, we can't continue it. I thought that third quarter was the difference in the game for us."</p> <p>Portland will be without forward Carmelo Anthony, who didn't travel to Los Angeles because of "health and safety" protocols, the club announced Sunday.</p> <p>The Lakers were without Anthony Davis (right-calf strain) on Sunday, but they still pounded the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-91 in Los Angeles. Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a dislocated left wrist in Saturday's win at the Utah Jazz, did not play.</p> <p>Davis was injured in the opening-night loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and apparently aggravated it in the Christmas Day blowout of the Dallas Mavericks. Lakers coach Frank Vogel seemed optimistic Davis might play Monday.</p> <p>"We hope he'll be available tomorrow, but we have to see how he feels tomorrow," Vogel said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's kind of a day-to-day. See how he responds tomorrow with treatment. But we're hopeful that he'll play tomorrow."</p> <p>Against the Timberwolves, Kyle Kuzma, who started in Davis' place, scored all 20 of his points in the first half. He hit 8 of 12 shots, including 4 of 6 3-pointers.</p> <p>"Kuz has really become a helluva player," Vogel said.</p> <p>LeBron James, who continued to play after tweaking an ankle, contributed 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Vogel said James was questionable for the Portland game.</p> <p>Marc Gasol delivered a solid performance, finishing with 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four of the Lakers' 14 blocks.</p> <p>--Field Level Media</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Lakers, Blazers ready for playoff rematch

In a first-round rematch of last season's Western Conference playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers visit the defending champion Los Ange...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Nuggets hope visit from roster-thin Rockets leads to first win

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/game/2292123"> <p>The Houston Rockets are battling a coronavirus crisis, while the Denver Nuggets are battling a crisis of confidence.</p> <p>Neither team is at its best early in the season, but something will give when they meet Monday night.</p> <p>The Rockets visit Denver with four players in quarantine after a tumultuous opening week. Trade rumors surrounding star James Harden -- one including the Nuggets that was quickly quashed -- and his violation of league COVID-19 rules and regulations have made it a tough start for new coach Stephen Silas.</p> <p>Houston had its opener postponed before nearly beating the Portland Trail Blazers on the road in their first game Saturday night. Harden scored 44 points in the overtime loss and wasn't surprised at his performance even with the off-the-court issues.</p> <p>"I didn't surprise myself at all," Harden said after the game. "I know what I'm capable of."</p> <p>The Rockets will need more of that from Harden without key rotation players. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon and Mason Jones are being quarantined until Wednesday because the four were considered close contacts under the NBA's COVID-19 protocols.</p> <p>Houston got a big lift Saturday from Christian Wood, who finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 44 minutes, and rookie Jae'Sean Tate, who scored 13 points off the bench.</p> <p>"He made me look good tonight," Harden said of Wood.</p> <p>The Nuggets haven't looked good in their two home losses to open the season. On Wednesday they rallied against Sacramento but mistakes in the final seconds of overtime cost them the game. A slow first half against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday ended in another loss.</p> <p>Denver is fighting expectations after its run to the Western Conference finals to finish off the 2019-20 season, despite having significant roster turnover. One of the biggest additions, JaMychal Green, has yet to play because of a left calf strain.</p> <p>"This is a new season, a new team and new challenges. The bottom line is, I guess my job as a coach is to find a group that is going to compete and give ourselves a chance," coach Michael Malone said. "We are 0-2, so hopefully we will find a way against Houston to come out from the get-go and sustain it. That was my big message to our group. You can't win in this league playing three quarters."</p> <p>The Nuggets have received two strong outings from Nikola Jokic. He had a triple-double in the loss to the Kings and was a rebound shy of another on Christmas night.</p> <p>Another ray of hope is Jamal Murray found his stroke in the second half against the Clippers. He fouled out after scoring just nine points Wednesday but had 19 of his 23 points in the second half, with 13 coming in the fourth quarter, when Denver trimmed a 24-point deficit to 11 on Friday.</p> <p>Despite the 0-2 start the Nuggets aren't panicking.</p> <p>"It's very early, man," Monte Morris said. "Short training camp. I'm not trying to make excuses or nothing. We're still trying to figure it out. ... It's not panic mode."</p> <p>--Field Level Media</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Nuggets hope visit from roster-thin Rockets leads to first win

The Houston Rockets are battling a coronavirus crisis, while the Denver Nuggets are battling a crisis of confidence. Neither team is at it...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Magic defeat Wizards 120-113 as Westbrook sits

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/game/2292437"> <p>WASHINGTON (AP) Timing can be everything and right now the Orlando Magic have been the better team in the all important fourth quarter to start the season.</p> <p>Markelle Fultz and Terrence Ross each scored 26 points as the Orlando Magic mounted a big fourth quarter comeback and beat the Washington Wizards 120-113 on Sunday night to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2009-10.</p> <p>Nikola Vucevic scored in the post to give Orlando the lead for good at 114-113 with 25.1 seconds left as the Magic scored the final 10 points of the game in defeating the Wizards for the sixth straight time.</p> <p>''We've played three good fourth quarters,'' said Magic coach Steve Clifford.</p> <p>''We could easily be 0-3 right now. All three games that we've played, the deciding quarter's been the fourth quarter. How you win can build confidence..I think it's good to win this way.''</p> <p>Vucevic finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while Evan Fournier added 19 as the Magic outscored the Wizards 43-19 in the fourth quarter making it the third largest fourth quarter comeback in team history.</p> <p>Bradley Beal had 29 points and seven assists but was just 10 for 29 from the field while Russell Westbrook was held out for rest as Washington dropped to 0-3 for the first time since 2016-17.</p> <p>''It's not where we wanted to be but it's where we are,'' said Wizards coach Scott Brooks. ''We've got to get the first win first before we get anything else.''</p> <p>While it will become more commonplace throughout this unique season, Washington and Orlando became the first teams to play a back-to-back in the same venue since Jan. 24-25, 1988 when Washington hosted Philadelphia.</p> <p>''Any time you can get a win on the road, it's big,'' said Fultz, who played his high school basketball in the DC area. ''To be able to go 2-0 here is a huge. I think it's a big confidence booster for us to show us what we can do. I still think we've got to start out a little better.''</p> <p>Brooks rested Westbrook in the second game of a back-to-back. Raul Neto, who started three games last season with Philadelphia, replaced the former MVP in the starting line-up and finished with 22 points and five assists.</p> <p>Orlando trailed 94-77 entering the fourth quarter after scoring just 15 points in third.</p> <p>Thomas Bryant had 16 points and seven rebounds while Troy Brown added 12 points off the bench for Washington.</p> <p>TIP-INS</p> <p>Magic: Orlando is 3-0 for the fourth time in team history.Clifford said pregame that he was going to watch Aaron Gordon's minutes. Gordon played 20 minutes and scored four points ... Orlando's bench outscored Washington 50-31 behind another big night from Ross while rookie Cole Anthony added 12.</p> <p>Wizards: Neto made his first three shots to run his consecutive streak up to seven after going 4 for 4 in Saturday's loss to the Magic. ... Beal, who had averaged 35.5 points per game in the previous four meetings with Orlando, missed two shots in the final 19 seconds.</p> <p>NO OFF DAYS</p> <p>While technically out on rest, Westbrook was not taking it easy at all. The two-time scoring champ and nine-time all-star stood for most of the game while shouting encouragement to his new teammates and letting the referees know he was still in the building. Westbrook often greeted the players with high-fives and chest bumps during time-outs.</p> <p>FOOTBALL SUNDAY</p> <p>Vucevic was called for two fouls in the first quarter, both while guarding Bradley Beal. After the second foul, Vucevic appeared frustrated and mimicked a punting motion while holding the ball. Orlando was issued a delay of game warning.</p> <p>UP NEXT</p> <p>Magic: Travels to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday.</p> <p>Wizards: Continues a four-game homestand by hosting Chicago on Tuesday.</p> <p>---</p> <p>More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Magic defeat Wizards 120-113 as Westbrook sits

WASHINGTON (AP) Timing can be everything and right now the Orlando Magic have been the better team in the all important fourth quarter to s...

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