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Anthony Edwards is on fire as the new-look Timberwolves blow out Giannis and the Heat.
Timberwolves 131 - Heat 106
What happened?
Anthony Edwards just made his MVP case. 45 points in a 25-point blowout, as the underdogs. The Timberwolves are here, and they are here to win. Lamelo also balled out with 21 points and 6 assists, while Giannis did what he could to drag the lacking backcourt with 35 points and 6 rebounds. In fact, everyone on the Heat’s starting 5 had 10 or more points, but the Timberwolves’ star power on offense was just too much to handle.
What does it mean for the Timberwolves?
Could the Spurs and Thunder have some competition for the 1 seed in the West? My answer: it’s too early to tell, but my gut is telling me yes. Anthony Edwards is a top 6 player in the league, LaMelo Ball is an offensive catalyst and an all-star, and their defense is filled with athletic young talent and anchored by 4x DPOY winner Rudy Gobert. It’s looking good in Minnesota.
What does it mean for the Heat?
Time to overreact: No. Time to question the Heat’s backcourt: Yes. Defensively, the guards on the Timberwolves outscored the guards on the Heat, 96 to 26. Sure, the Timberwolves have more star power in that position, but when you are being beaten so badly in a specific position, it is hard for your team to win. That’s what happened today.
Walker Kessler and Luka lead the Lakers past the Warriors.
Lakers 127 - Warriors 105
What Happened?
Walker Kessler had a perfect Lakers debut, shooting 12-for-12 and finishing with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Have the Lakers finally found their franchise center? Luka was elite with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Steph Curry was the only player to score more than 15 for Golden State.
What does this mean for the Lakers?
Today the Lakers did exactly what they needed to do. They put away the LeBron noise and simply played good basketball. Walker Kessler was the standout player, giving the Lakers the exact offensive and defensive consistency that they couldn’t find with Deandre Ayton. The Lakers look threatening and the west is beginning to look like a war-zone at the top.
What does this mean for the Warriors?
To be completely honest, no one expects the Warriors to do anything this season, and that’s the problem. The Warriors franchise are wasting away Curry’s last years to try and get a good draft pick. That is unfair to their franchise’s greatest player. They have some decisions to make up in Golden State.
Daily Recap
NBA
Hawks 132 - 125 Magic. The Hawks had an offensive clinic with Nickeil Alexander-Walker going for 31 on their opening night.
Bucks 116 - 128 Wizards. New-look Wizards looked amazing. Anthony Davis had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Trae Young had 13 assists.
Hornets 110 - 103 Nets. Hornets win first game of the season without Lamelo.
Raptors 135 - 92 Bulls. Kawhi shines in Raptors blowout win.
Jazz 103 - 123 Grizzlies. TY JEROME 45-POINT GAME. What happened over there?
Pacers 123 - 120 Pelicans. Pacers get a narrow win in Haliburton’s return.
Mavericks 110 - 128 Rockets. Rockets win the battle of Texas.
Trailblazers 124 - 83 Suns. The new Trailblazers blow out the Suns.
Kings 96 - 121 Clippers. Clippers win the battle of the trash.
MLB
World Series starts on Friday night.
NFL
Bears vs. Patriots tonight on Thursday Night Football.
Looking Ahead
The World Series is Here!
The Milwaukee Brewers swept the back-to-back champion Dodgers in four games to get here — a franchise that last appeared in the World Series in 1982 and has never won it. The Tampa Bay Rays won 98 games this season, quietly, without much fuss, the way they always do. Neither team has a championship. One of them gets one. Game 1 is Friday, October 23rd, with Milwaukee having home field advantage after finishing the regular season with the better record at 103-59. The Brewers didn’t allow more than three runs in any of their regular season meetings against the Rays. Tampa Bay will have something to say about that when it actually matters.
Denver Nuggets vs OKC Thunder - 2:30 a.m. tip-off.
The Denver Nuggets will play their first game of the season against the Thunder. The Thunder are coming off a big win against the Spurs, so they should be favored, but in the NBA, anything can happen. Jokic and Murray's two-man game has never truly failed them, so an upset is likely if the Nuggets play good basketball and their stars shine brightly.
My prediction:
Thunder win.
The Crystal Ball
Yesterday I went 10/11 on my predictions, only failing to predict the Rockets beating the Mavericks. Hopefully I can keep that up with tonight’s predictions.
Cavaliers vs 76ers - 76ers
(NFL) Bears vs Patriots - Bears