Around the NBA: Week 8
The NBA regular season keeps steamrolling ahead with not only tough matchups, but also trades this week.
Here’s your NBA crash course for Week 8:
Phoenix at Dallas - 12/5
After being a top team in the league nearly all season, the Suns are recently struggling. They lost to the number one team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics, on Sunday, and fell once again on Monday to the Mavericks.
Dallas won the game 130-111 and dropped the Suns from first place in the West to second. After the rest of the week of games, the Suns fell even further and are now one and a half games out of first.
In spite of the Suns being a favorite in the standings, Dallas had the edge when it came to home and away records. The Mavericks were the host, with an impressive 10-3 home record while the Suns consistently struggle away at only 4-6.
With this win, Dallas broke their 10-game losing streak with a big game by Luka Dončić and Spencer Dinwiddie. Dončić recorded 33 points, while Dinwiddie scored 21.
The Suns currently sit in fourth place being 16-10, while the Mavericks are in tenth with a 13-13 record.
Dallas at Denver - 12/6
This head-to-head game was less about winning and more about proving which side has the leader in the early MVP race. Who would outscore the other: Nikola Jokic for Denver or Luka Dončić for Dallas?
It came all the way down to the end, with the Mavericks just barely squeaking out in a 116-115 win over the Nuggets. As expected, it was back-and-forth all game.
But what is surprising is who were the big names for this matchup. While Jokic had a chance to tie the game from the free throw line with 12 seconds left, he missed. Tim Hardaway Jr. actually led Dallas with 29 points, while Aaron Gordon answered for the Nuggets with 27 of his own.
Although Dallas took a 111-101 lead with four minutes remaining, the Nuggets scored 11 straight points to put themselves back in close position to try to win. Ultimately, Dorian Finney-Smith shot a late 3-pointer to give the Mavericks the edge.
The Nuggets take on the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, while the Mavericks will be home on Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Atlanta at New York - 12/7
The Knicks dominated the Hawks at the Garden to get the 113-89 win. This was New York’s second straight win at home.
When one player catches fire and the other team doesn't bring an extinguisher, they’re hard to beat. This was the case with New York’s Julius Randle who dropped 34 points and 17 rebounds on the night. This included six threes and five assists.
The Hawks went head into the game plagued with injuries. They were without starting forwards John Collins and De’Andre Hunter and lost on Wednesday for their fifth time in seven games.
Not only were they missing key players, but their 3-point game was off as well. The Hawks shot 6-for-36 from beyond the arc.
The Knicks currently sit at eighth in the East with the Hawks right above them in seventh, while both teams are .500 with records of 13-13.
Around the League
In the Celtics versus Warriors rematch of the 2022 Finals, Golden State won 123-107.
Jazz guard Collin Sexton will sit out for at least a week after sustaining a mild hamstring strain.
WNBA news: Brittney Griner was freed from Russian prison after being detained for 294 days.
Allie Wenskoski is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amw7637@psu.edu.
