Overtime Bangers Tonight!

OKC Thunder Beat Indiana Pacers!

The Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Indiana Pacers, their finals rivals, in an exciting double overtime game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 50 points. He also had an impressive 26 free throw attempts, making 23. He ruled the court, forcing Aaron Nesmith and Benedict Mathurin to foul out. Shai kept the game intense, creating shots for himself with his crazy footwork. Also, he had many bright moments on the defensive end, making it hard for Indiana to score. Despite Shai having a crazy game, there were times when he looked gassed out there. In the fourth quarter, SGA failed to convert a free throw. That could have given them a three-point lead. They also missed a layup that would have secured a win in overtime. The former MVP was able to lead the team to a win and had a lot of help getting it.

Ajay Mitchell is shooting for the Sixth Man of the Year award because he had a crazy performance. Mitchell hit a lot of clutch shots, which kept this game within reach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. That sophomore jump is real, as he scored 13 in the fourth and overtime, finishing the game with 26 points. Ajay was good at being the second ball handler the team needed to win tonight. Becoming the second leading scorer as Jalen Williams recovers from his injury.

Aaron Wiggins once again saves basketball with a crazy performance! He was a sniper tonight, hitting two clutch 3s in double overtime. Wiggins was everywhere on the court, playing off Shai and Ajay. The way he has stepped up in the starting lineup has proven the value of this team and Aaron as a player. He is someone who is going to play on both ends of the court and hit some great shots. Wiggins is a player that is hard for defenders to overlook, as he is always ready to hit a wild one. The Thunder got a tough win, but they got it due to these three stepping up when it mattered.

The Oklahoma City Thunder missed key defenders. Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso were both out, which led to Benedict Mathurin going off. Chet Holmgren didn’t play as well against the Rockets this time. Still, he made a solid impact on defense along with getting 12 rebounds. Once Jalen Williams comes back, he will be able to be a huge help on both ends of the game. He will be huge in closing out the games, which the current Thunder has struggled at. Regardless, the Thunder look ready to win this season.

The Indiana Pacers' season started last night with a lot of players out. Tyrese Haliburton will not see the floor this season, and TJ McConnell is out until November. The Pacers have a weaker roster now. Longtime veteran Myles Turner has left the organization. Rick Carlisle has to figure out who will run point guard now with Andrew Nembhard being out due to an arm injury. Despite all those challenges, guys like Pascal Siakam and Benedict Mathurin were able to perform.

Pascal Siakam has continued to be one of the most underrated players in the league today. He outplayed Chet Holmgren, who was coming off a hot first game against the Houston Rockets. Siakam was comfortable taking on the first option role well along with setting players up to their spot. One of the best moments of the game was when Siakam hit the long 2-pointer to send the game to its first overtime. The Eastern Conference MVP's only major knock was his lack of free throws made, but despite that, he finished the game with 32 points and 14 rebounds.

With Tyrese Haliburton injured, Benedict Mathurin can now step up. He stepped up significantly, scoring 36 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, taking on the offensive responsibilities. Benedict was everywhere on the court, creating shots for himself and being able to play off the ball. This season he could be the most improved player of the year and leading scorer for the Pacers. The only knock on Mathurin was his fouls, as he fouled out in overtime, which led to the talent pool decreasing. Benedict Mathurin was one of the victims of the foul problem, as Aaron Nesmith also fouled out.

With Aaron Nesmith out, it has led to opportunities for Jarace Walker. The third-year player was a great spark, scoring 13 points off the bench. He also stood out on defense, and his ball handling and ability to get to the basket were great. The reverse layup he hit late in the game was cold. Obi Toppin was big for the offense, dropping 20 points, but the only knock is that he could not hit his threes. And Ben Sheppard was big, hitting 15 points. Indiana did a good job of filling in a lot of holes.

There are a lot of questions in regard to the Indiana Pacers. With Haliburton out, it will be interesting to see who will be the main ball handler. Who will bring up the ball consistently? With TJ and now Andrew Nembhard being out, it makes the guard pool small. It led to relying on rookie Taelon Peter, who had a solid game, but it will be interesting to see him carry it on in the future. The center rotation raises concerns. Isaiah Jackson, returning from a major injury, had a poor game. Tony Bradley is not someone who should get consistent starting minutes. Jay Huff is someone who can get some minutes, but the big man will be a big hurdle for the Pacers. But with all those problems, they had a great game!

The Warriors Beat the Nuggets!

The past two games the veteran Warriors have been incredible. Watching Steph Curry tear shit up was awesome in the second half. He seemed unguardable and made a legendary Aaron Gordon game forgettable. The future Hall of Famer was on one, shooting 50 percent behind the three. He put up a crazy 35 points in the second half plus OT, leading the Golden State Warriors to victory.

Draymond Green still makes a big impact. He leads the defense and helps with the offense. With his passing ability, he was able to open the floor up for the MVP to hit crucial shots needed to win tonight. His defense on Jamal Murray was exceptional, further proving his impact. His ability to switch to any position was shining bright last night. A very underrated player in yesterday's game.

Jimmy Butler had a good night all across the world, scoring 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists to finish the game. Butler has fit very well on this roster since the last trade deadline and has been perfect in moving the ball. Jonathan Kuminga hopes to become a full-time starter for the Golden State Warriors. He deserves this opportunity. The Golden State Warriors's window has been opening up as they keep getting wins.

The veteran Golden State Warriors know how to win. Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler might be an underrated duo, but they get the job done. Draymond as part of the starting five has worked this year with his ability to open up the floor and move the ball. Kuminga's redemption arc has been awesome and is proving the NBA world wrong. This was an awesome overtime game!

Aaron Gordon is one of the best role players in the league today. He put up his career-best games as he scored 50 points on 17-21 shooting, looking like a legend. Gordon was everywhere on the court, looking like the best player in the world. Aaron was flawless behind the three-point line, shooting 10-11 on the court. The new season started, and it seems like Gordon wants to be an all-star this season. And this 50-point game has started this discussion for him!

Nikola Jokic is gunning for another MVP, further pushing that he is the best player in the world. The offensive impact of The Joker is awesome, as he found Aaron Gordon in his spots. The second half was not pretty as he only scored 7 points as Al Horford made it hell for the MVP. Jokic did not have his best game but he was able to fill up the numbers.

The point guard Jamal Murray is back and looks healthy. The two-man game between him and Jokic is box office this year. Murray might have an All-Star season if he returns to his peak. He can beat players off the dribble, and his game looks much smoother. Shooting 11-20 to end the game, Jamal was able to keep the game competitive and keep this game close. The Nuggets did not have their ideal game, but Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray have been able to step up where it matters.

The Nuggets look like a good team this season, with Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray looking like studs. The bench mob, featuring Jonas Valanciunas and Bruce Brown, is making an impact on the court. The only downside is that newly paid Christian Braun did not take initiative for the team. Cam Johnson also struggled, scoring four points. The season started, and while the Nuggets lost, there are a lot of things to be optimistic over.

The Bucks Beat the Raptors!

 The Milwaukee Bucks have started the season hot with a 2-0 record. The Greek Freak is gunning for a healthy season to get his throne back. Tonight he was awesome, scoring 31 points, 20 rebounds, and 7 assists, only missing 3 shots last night. The Bucks' role players have shown to be a perfect fit for the former champion. The Bucks look like a scary team this season!

Man, Giannis was awesome tonight, finishing the game with 31 points with 11-14 shooting. The Raptors did everything to slow him down, but it was impossible. He was able to get his shots at will along with rebounds and find his teammates in their spots. The Greek Freak was unguardable despite the Raptors trying to throw three bodies on him. This is the most athletic team around him, and it has looked like they fit perfectly next to the former champion. The Bucks personnel around Giannis have played great around Giannis.

Cole Anthony was a huge spark plug off the bench and seemed unguardable, to say the least. Cole was able to find his spots around the basket and set up players off the drive, which was great. Anthony was active everywhere on the court. He is great playing next to Giannis, and it will be fun to see them together. Also, the way he was able to finish strong at the rim was exciting. Surrounding Giannis with solid role players was a great idea for Milwaukee.

After a comeback season with the Bucks, Gary Trent Jr. found himself a new contract. Gary excelled at moving off the ball. He cut to the basket and made quality spot-up three-pointers. One of the most underrated aspects of Gary's performance was some of the passes he made. From setting up Myles Turner for a shot in the first quarter to making the extra pass to Giannis in the third quarter. Gary Trent Jr. has shown he fits well with his superstar. He can open up the floor and cut to the basket for easy points.

The Milwaukee Bucks have built an athletic team around Giannis this season. There isn't a co-star on this team, but there are a lot of role players who can fit the team. Bobby Portis, the final role player from the 2021 championship, is still one of the top Sixth Men of this decade. Myles Turner is a huge addition. He’s a strong rim protector and can stretch the floor beside Giannis. And Tauren Prince is someone who plays with the right energy even if it doesn't show up on the stat sheet. The Bucks will always have players who can step up when needed next to Giannis. They could be one of those sneaky teams this season!

The Toronto Raptors look to be a competitive team this season. Brandon Ingram joined last season, showing Toronto's aim to become a playoff team. Toronto's offense was strong. RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram all played well. Toronto made a strong statement in their first game against the Hawks. They played well on both ends. But tonight they struggled on defense. Cole Anthony and Giannis had an amazing game. Toronto could be one of those sneaky teams to make the postseason.

Scottie Barnes has been underrated for a few years now. He’s made 2 All-Star selections and could make All-NBA this year. Scottie had an awesome moment last night flexing on Giannis after big-bodying him. Barnes was able to hold his own on the defensive end, being the toughest matchup for Giannis. One of the knocks on Scottie was that he attempted only one shot in the fourth, which is unacceptable. Scottie's highlight is his ability to show the strength he developed. This is key for a physical forward position.

The Toronto native, RJ Barrett, had a good game, scoring 20 points on 12 shots. RJ has continued to develop his three, along with his off-ball game. RJ was a great off-ball player. He opened the floor for Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes to operate. Barrett seems to be managing his fewer touches well. This has been a big topic this offseason. RJ and Scottie were able to be solid, but one guy who had some good moments was Brandon Ingram.

Brandon Ingram, once seen as stuck on the New Orleans Pelicans, had a standout game for the Toronto Raptors last night. He finished the night with 29 points, 3 assists, and 6 rebounds. BI played aggressively and scored key points to keep the game close. Brandon clearly stated he wants to return to the All-Star game this off-season. He can achieve that if he keeps playing like this. Brandon Ingram finished the game with 50 percent shooting and hit some good shots behind the arc. One of the best aspects of last night was his ability to be the floor general needed to win tonight. Brandon Ingram was the leader the Raptors needed for a while, and the Raptors are a team he needed for some time.

The Raptors faced challenges but also had bright spots. Brandon Ingram showed he can control the floor. RJ Barrett embraced a new role. Scottie Barnes displayed his strength. One of the knocks was the defense on Giannis, which was bad, and it led to Jakob Poeltl having a bad game. Immanuel Quickley had a bad game on both ends, on offense and defense. He shot some horrible floaters and did not bother to attempt a three. The worst was his bad defense on Cole Anthony. The Raptors went up against a top three player in the league, which was tough. But with its talent pool, they should have won that game.

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