NBA highlights on Jan. 27: Popovich receives 'birthday present'

World
Europe

The 2018-19 NBA regular season finished Sunday with nine games. The San Antonio Spurs took a big win of 132-119 at home against the Washington Wizards, making it a birthday present for the team's head coach Gregg Popovich who turned 70.

Another team from Texas, the Houston Rockets also received good news as Chris Paul returned from injury to help them defeat the Orlando Magic 103-98.

It's just another ordinary day for coach Pop

Gregg Popovich (R2), head coach of the San Antonio Spurs talks to his assistant coaches in the game they win against the Washington Wizards 132-119, January 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

How great is Gregg Popovich as a head coach? He has won the third most regular season games in NBA history, claimed the most victories with the same team (San Antonio), won the most road games, had five NBA championships and was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year.

None of these, however, seemed to change his attitude toward work. When Thomas Bryant scored two points for Washington with a dunk, Popovich immediately called a time-out-by the way, within seconds after the game started.

Like their head coach, the Spurs won the game again via teamwork. Seven of their players scored double digits while LaMarcus Aldridge dropped the highest 30 points. With remarkable field goal rate of 56.89 percent and 3-pt rate of 47.06 percent plus their huge advantage under the rim (49-32 in rebounding and 44-32 in points in the paint). San Antonio cashed the Wizards in the third quarter with a 29-17 and kept their lead till the end of the game.

Luka Doncic brings another surprise

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball in the game they lose to the Toronto Raptors 120-123, January 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Dallas Mavericks at home lost a close game to the Toronto Raptors 120-123. What should ease the pain for the Mavericks' fans was that their one-year rookie Luka Doncic set another record. By putting down a triple-double of 35 points, 12 rebounds and ten assists, he became the youngest player in NBA history (19 years and 333 days) to take a 30+point triple-double and the first player to have two triple-doubles under his name before turning 20.

Though the Raptors were seen as the better team by many, this win on Sunday did not come easy. Having led by 12 points after the first half (70-58), Toronto took a head-blow in the third quarter when Dallas regained the lead 88-85 with a 30-15. Fortunately, Toronto moved the ball better in the last quarter to make more easy shots, which brought them an outstanding FG rate of 65 percent, ten assists and 38 points in this quarter alone to finally leave the American Airlines Center with a victory.

OKC guard victory against Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots under defense in the game they lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-118, January 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Oklahoma City Thunder managed to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-112 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena thanks to their efforts in defense. OKC managed to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo, the "Greek Freak" from making any field goal in the first half, which never happened in the past two years. Though Antetokounmpo managed to find his target back in the second half to drop a double-double of 27 points and 18 rebounds, including sinking three three-pointers, it did not change the fact that he was blocked seven times, the most in one single game in his career.

Besides the effective throttling of Antetokounmpo, the Thunder did a good job in the offense. Paul George scored the court's 36 points and made eight of his 12 shots from the 3-pt line. When Milwaukee narrowed the score difference down to four points (104-108) with a 15-5 run in the fourth quarter, George stood out to sink a valuable three-pointer and finish a one-hand dunk over Antetokounmpo to help his team expand the lead again.

CP3 comes back to win

Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets penetrates in the game they win against the Orlando Magic 103-98, January 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Houston Rockets got revenge on the Orlando Magic 103-98 at home. What's even better than the victory for the Toyota Center was that the team's franchise player Chris Paul finally came back to the court from injury. In the 25 minutes he played, Paul put down 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals, including two straight three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

The Magic took their advantage in height from the beginning to focus on attacking the paint. The teams two first-lineup big men, Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon both dropped double-double and together scored 42 points and 27 rebounds, helping Orlando lead until the fourth quarter. However, James Harden again saved Houston with his 23rd 30+point game in a row by putting down 40 points, including scoring five key straight points in the last minute to expand their lead to 100-95 before the Rockets claimed the third consecutive win.

Other games included: (away teams come first)

Cleveland Cavaliers 104-101 Chicago Bulls

Sacramento Kings 108-122 Los Angeles Clippers

Utah Jazz 125-111 Minnesota Timberwolves

Miami Heat 106-97 New York Knicks

Phoenix Suns 102-116 Los Angeles Lakers