Happy Wednesday!
Your mission? Get through the day.
Because tonight, the best team in the West takes on the best team in the East.
On those rosters? Two of the remaining five players from the 2007 Draft class.
To get your day going, can you name the other three? Tap to see Mike Conley and Al Horford try in a new NBA Play challenge.
THE LINEUP 🏀
- 👀 Must-see from Tuesday
- 🌇 AD, Lakers outlast Raptors
- 🆚 Wednesday: 1 vs. 1 + ABC primetime game
- 🇫🇷 On the ground in Paris
- 🎤 Piétrus’ all-time French starting 5
📺 ABC/ESPN Doubleheader: NBA Wednesdays on ABC continues with the Warriors hosting the Pelicans (8:30 ET, ABC). Later, the Nuggets visit the Jazz (10 ET, ESPN) in a matchup of two hot teams, each winning eight of their last 10 games.
📲 No. 1 East vs. No. 1 West: The Celtics and Wolves meet in Boston (7 ET, NBA App) in a clash of conference leaders. We dive into this matchup in Section 3.
1. WEDNESDAY MORNING MUST-SEE
Top Buckets
- Karl-Anthony Towns with pick, roll, poster and scream
- David Roddy saw the open lane and took flight for the hammer
- Kyrie Irving with the drive and up-and-under and reverse finish (in slo-mo)
- LeBron showed his bully-ball game as he powered to the basket for the and-1 layup, then showed his range with a logo 3
Top Dishes
- Bojan Bogdanovic with the steal, the break and the beautiful drop-off pass to Jalen Duren for the two-hand slam
- Jalen Brunson had seven dimes on the night, none better than finding a cutting OG for the reverse slam
- Marcus Smart with the hustle to save the possession, then casually drops a behind-the-back dime
Top Moments
- #NBACelebRow was poppin’ at MSG. Stay for the photobomb on the final slide
- Stars on both coasts as Will Ferrell was in L.A. for Lakers-Raptors
- Now that’s a money ball! This Lakers fan hit a half-court shot for $100K
2. DAVIS, LAKERS OUTLAST RAPTORS
Anthony Davis scores 20 of his season-high 41 points in the 4th quarter to push the Lakers past the Raptors, 132-131.
🌇 Lakers 132, Raptors 131: Anthony Davis scored 20 of his season-high 41 points in the fourth – including clutch free throws down the stretch – to help the Lakers get their second straight win.
LeBron James added 22 points and 12 dimes, while Scottie Barnes (26) led four Toronto starters with 20+ points (Pascal Siakam 25, RJ Barrett 23 and Immanuel Quickley 21).
In a game that featured 23 lead changes and nine ties, it all came down to crunch time.
- LeBron’s pull-up 3 tied the game with under six minutes left
- Cam Reddish’s fourth 3 of the game gave L.A. the lead a minute later
- Davis hit the and-1 bucket and free throw to push the lead to five with 2:38 left
- Barnes with the big jam to cut the lead to three with nine seconds left before AD closed it at the line
👑 Kings 131, Pistons 110: The Kings became the sixth team in the past 25 years to trail by 20+ points, then come back and win by 20+ points. Domantas Sabonis (37 pts, 10 reb, 13 ast) posted his ninth triple-double of the season, Keegan Murray added 32 points and the Kings scored the second-most points in the paint (82) of any team this season.
- Jan. 9, 2024: SAC 131, DET 110 (down 20, won by 21)
- Apr. 2, 2023: CHI 128, MEM 107 (down 23, won by 21)
- Nov. 5, 2021: LAC 104, MIN 84 (down 20, won by 20)
- Nov. 1, 2015: MIA 109, HOU 89 (down 21, won by 20)
- Mar. 18, 2000: SAC 104, LAC 83 (down 23, won by 21)
- Dec. 11, 1999: GSW 104, MIN 76 (down 20, won by 28)
🗽 Knicks 112, Blazers 84: The Knicks remain undefeated (5-0) since acquiring OG Anunoby, who had a team-high 23 points. Since 1997-98, Anunoby has the highest plus/minus (+111) in a player’s first five games with a team:
- OG Anunoby, NYK: 111
- Quentin Richardson, PHX: 95
- Andre Iguodala, GSW: 86
- Kevin Garnett, BOS: 85
- James Harden, PHI: 81
🐻 Grizzlies 120, Mavs 103: Desmond Bane (32 pts, 9 reb) and Marcus Smart (23 pts, 4 3s) combined for 55 points to lead Memphis to its third straight win. Luke Kennard, Ziaire Williams and Xavier Tillman each added 14 to offset a combined 64 points from Kyrie (33) and Luka (31).
🐺 Wolves 113, Magic 92: KAT (28 pts, 5-5 on 3s) and Rudy Gobert (21 pts, 12 reb, 1 poster dunk) combined for 49 points in the Wolves’ wire-to-wire win over the Magic. Moritz Wagner (21), Jalen Suggs (20), and Paolo Banchero (18) combined for 59 for Orlando.
3. 1 VS. 1: CELTICS HOST WOLVES + ABC WEDNESDAY
The Wolves and Celtics meet tonight in Boston (7 ET, NBA App) as the No. 1 seeds in each conference for the first time since … ever.
While Boston (28-8) was penciled in as a title contender in the preseason, the Wolves (26-10) have been one of the biggest surprises of the season after receiving zero votes for a top-four finish in the West in the GM survey.
How They Got Here: Defense
- Minnesota (108.2) and Boston (110.4) rank 1-2 in defensive rating
- Minnesota (44.4%) and Boston (45.0%) rank top 3 in opponent field goal percentage
What’s On The Line: Boston’s 17-game home win streak
- A win would be the longest home streak in franchise history (currently tied with 1957-58)
- Boston is the fourth team in the last 20 years to start a season 17-0 or better at home: 2015 Spurs (39-0), 2015 Warriors (36-0), 2008 Cavaliers (23-0)
What Separates Them: Offense
- Boston ranks second in defense and offense (120.9), while Minnesota ranks 19th (113.8)
- Boston is one of two teams ranked in the top five on both sides, leading to a league-best net rating of 10.4 – nearly double Minnesota’s fifth-ranked 5.5
What They Have In Common: Star power
Both teams tout multiple All-Stars and have a top 10 MVP candidate on Michael C. Wright’s latest Kia MVP Ladder:
- No. 6 Jayson Tatum (Celtics): Best of his 2023-24 season so far
- No. 10 Anthony Edwards (Wolves): Best of his 2023-24 season so far
The Warriors host the Pelicans in the second of five straight Wednesdays of ABC primetime games (8:30 ET).
- Two Teams, Two Directions: The Pelicans have won five of their last six games, with three of those wins coming by 20+ points. The Warriors have lost five of their last seven games going back to Christmas Day
- Warriors Won Last Three: Golden State went 3-0 against New Orleans in 2023, including a 28-point win in their first meeting this season on Oct. 30 behind Steph Curry’s season-high 42 points and seven 3s in 30 minutes
- Draymond Working Back, CP3 Out: Reinstated from his 12-game suspension on Saturday, Green was back at practice on Sunday, with conditioning the key to his return according to Steve Kerr. He’s listed as out as of this morning. Meanwhile, Chris Paul will be out for at least three weeks after having surgery on a fractured left hand.
4. ON THE GROUND IN PARIS
Tune in on January 11 where the Nets take on the Cavaliers in Paris at Accor Arena for the 2024 NBA Paris Game.
The Nets and Cavs had a full day in Paris ahead of Thursday’s matchup (2 ET, NBA TV). We were with the teams for every stop on the agenda.
✅ Eiffel Tower Pics: You can’t come to Paris without checking out its most famous monument, even when it’s freezing outside.
- First check out the photos, then watch the all-access video, including Royce O’Neale doubling up on cameras
- Before we get to the Tower, we have to start with these Cavs Paris jackets. Ok, now hear from Donovan Mitchell and go behind the scenes from the photoshoot
- Isaac Okoro showed off his artistic talents with this Eiffel Tower rendering
✅ Practice Time: There is still a game to prepare for and the Nets and Cavs both hit the hardwood. Spida Mitchell … new country, same splash
✅ Sign Autographs: Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges met fans (including his No. 1 fan) at the Paris NBA Store
✅ Connect With Kids: The Cavs held a camp session with kids from Special Olympics, with plenty of buckets, high fives and memories created
✅ Play Some Games: Darius Garland and Dorian Finney-Smith played guess the legend (here’s a hint, he’s French)
5. MIKEAËL PIÉTRUS ON FRENCH HOOPS HISTORY & HIS STARTING 5s
From left to right: Joakim Noah, Mickaël Piétrus, Ronny Turiaf, Tony Parker
Twenty years ago, the 2003 NBA Draft changed the shape of the league — and, in many ways, the course of history (at least sports history).
LeBron went No. 1. Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh & Dwyane Wade all went top 5.
Also in the first round? Mickaël Piétrus at 11th and Boris Diaw at 21st, boosting the number of French players in the league from three to five.
Ever since then, France has led European countries in NBA players every single year, jumping to seven in 2006, 10 in 2009 and a record 14 this year.
We caught up with the 10-year NBA vet and former French National Team player in Paris to talk about growing the game in France … and the pride he feels when he sees it.
Tap in to hear the full interview from Paris.
What do you think was the turning point for French hoops? That made generations of rising athletes in France decide they could play in the NBA?
I think the turning point was [in 2001], when Tony Parker got drafted, and then we came in.
Myself, then Boris Diaw & Ronny Turiaf got drafted [in 2005].
I think the last 20 years French basketball really made a great impact in the NBA.
How important were those bonds with other French players as you were adjusting to the league?
I mean, we, we always wanted to be Michael Jordan.
So I think back then it was easy for us to focus on our game practice, get better and try to have an impact in the NBA.
And I think that’s what we did.
We were really trying to have an impact for the next generation.
And when you see that after 20 years, we finally get the first pick of the draft in Victor Wembanyama. I think it’s a big accomplishment for me and for the rest of the players.
What were some of your favorite stories together with the other French players in the league?
My favorite story was always – you know, we’d beat each other, play against each other – but sharing a meal, then sharing a drink together and talking about how the league is going, how we’re playing and how the team is going.
And obviously the French National team.
Who’s your French all-time Starting 5?
My French all-time Starting 5 … Tony Parker No. 1. Boris Diaw No. 2. Ronny Turiaf No. 3. I’m gonna put my brother (Florent Pietrus), and Nando de Colo. I’m not gonna put myself [laugh].
How about your all-time NBA Starting 5?
Shaq. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. And KG, I like Kevin Garnett.
That’s my top five.
