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NBA campus intel: Things are getting weird in the bubble

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 04 August 2020 19:26

Tuesday hasn't gone as anyone expected in Orlando, Florida. First, to start the day, the Brooklyn Nets pulled off the biggest point-spread upset in 27 years, beating the Milwaukee Bucks outright despite being 19-point underdogs. Then, after the Dallas Mavericks needed overtime to beat the Sacramento Kings, Devin Booker's incredible buzzer-beater lifted the Phoenix Suns -- who are 3-0 in the NBA restart -- to a win over the LA Clippers. We'll see if things get back to normal with Celtics-Heat and Rockets-Blazers tonight, but at this point, expect the unexpected.

Here's the latest on the standings, the games to watch Tuesday and Wednesday, and everything you need to know. Check back for highlights and updates throughout the day.

PAST BUBBLE INTEL: July 30 | July 31 | Aug. 1 | Aug. 2 | Aug. 3


Latest buzz

Grizzlies lose Jaren Jackson Jr. for the season

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Memphis Grizzlies were dealt a significant blow to their playoff hopes Tuesday, when promising young forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee. The Grizzlies are currently 0-3 inside the NBA's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that Jackson "experienced an unstable landing after making contact with an opposing player with contesting a shot" during Memphis' loss Monday to the New Orleans Pelicans, with further evaluation revealing the meniscus tear.

The team said Jackson is expected to make a full recovery. -- Tim Bontemps

MORE: How the Grizzlies' woes change the West

Kemba sinks half-court buzzer-beater

Kemba Walker sank a half-court buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.

No Jimmy, no problem

Jimmy Butler was a late scratch from Tuesday's game between the Celtics and Heat because of right ankle soreness, but Miami jumped to an early lead and hasn't let up through the first half. Tyler Herro is 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, including this one over Grant Williams.

Devin Booker's buzzer-beater downs Clippers

Tuesday's game-winning shot was Devin Booker's third career buzzer-beater. That ties him with LeBron James for the most in the NBA since Booker entered the league in 2015-16.

Many NBA players took notice, including Trae Young, Bradley Beal and Donovan Mitchell.

Booker's buzzer-beater was so special that it caught the attention of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

WNBA players to wear T-shirts opposing Kelly Loeffler

WNBA players are wearing "Vote Warnock" T-shirts to games this week to support Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is challenging Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for her Senate seat.

Last month, Loeffler wrote a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the league's promotion of Black Lives Matter -- which is painted on the courts at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the league is holding its return -- and advocating for teams to add American flags to jerseys. Full story

Luka Doncic posts historic stat line

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic finished with 34 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists to help the Mavs hold off the Sacramento Kings in overtime Tuesday. Doncic, who has 11 30-point triple-doubles this season, became just the fourth player since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to post a 30-20-10 game, becoming the youngest in NBA history to do so.

MORE: Why the Mavs are celebrating one of their ugliest wins of the season

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2:00

Doncic makes history with monstrous 34-20-12 triple-double

Luka Doncic becomes the youngest player in NBA history with a 30-20-10 triple-double, tallying 34 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Mavericks to their first bubble win vs. the Kings.

Memo to fans: Stop promising to get tattoos

First there was the fan who said he'd get a face tattoo if Deandre Ayton made a 3-pointer in the bubble (he made two in the Suns' first seeding game). Now we have the case of the fan who is on the hook for a Jarrett Allen back tattoo after the Nets pulled off the biggest upset since 1993.

Amazingly, that isn't the only Nets tattoo that is going to happen as a result of Tuesday's win.

Nets pull off historic upset

They're good dogs, NBA

The NBA's plan to put virtual fans on video boards at the games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has created some interesting moments. On Tuesday, there were a few guest appearances by man's best friend.

In addition to his cameo as a virtual fan with his dog, Nets guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored a season-high 26 points to help lead Brooklyn to a win over Milwaukee.

Giannis' son steals the show

NBA players can't have their families with them in the bubble until the second round of the playoffs, but that didn't stop Giannis Antetokounmpo's newborn son, Liam, from making an appearance on the video board as one of the Bucks' virtual fans Tuesday.

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0:26

Giannis' son makes an appearance as virtual fan during his dad's game

During the second quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo's son, Liam, makes an appearance as one of the virtual fans to show support for his dad.

Giannis not happy with Hall after shove

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0:47

Giannis not happy with Hall after shove

Giannis Antetokounmpo is shoved by Donta Hall. Giannis tries to confront him about it, but the officials and other players quickly step in.

Jamal Crawford debuts for Nets

After sitting out the Brooklyn Nets' first two seeding games, 40-year-old guard Jamal Crawford made his 2019-20 season debut Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Crawford hadn't played an NBA game since he scored 51 points for the Phoenix Suns on April 9, 2019. He played six minutes Tuesday, scoring five points before leaving with a left hamstring injury. The Bucks, meanwhile, got guards Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton back. Both will play limited minutes after missing Milwaukee's first two seeding games.

"We want to gradually build their conditioning," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. After the Bucks' loss, Budenholzer said they will remain on a minutes limit.


Tuesday's games

Full scoreboard for Tuesday


Play-in watch

Of the six games Tuesday, five involve at least one team fighting for a playoff spot. The Nets overtook the Magic for the No. 7 seed after the Nets beat the Bucks and the Magic fell to the Pacers.

The Blazers moved into the No. 9 seed after the Spurs' loss to the Sixers on Monday, but they'll need to beat the Rockets on Tuesday to maintain that positioning. That's a tall task, given that Houston is off to a 2-0 start with wins over the Mavericks and Bucks. The Suns upset the Clippers behind a Devin Booker buzzer-beater and moved within a half-game of the No. 11 Pelicans.

Eastern Conference

7. Brooklyn Nets | 32-35 (.478) | --

8. Orlando Magic | 32-36 (.471) | --
9. Washington Wizards | 24-43 (.358) | 8.0 GB

Western Conference

8. Memphis Grizzlies | 32-36 (.471) | --
9. Portland Trail Blazers | 30-38 (.441) | 2.0 GB
10. San Antonio Spurs | 29-37 (.439) | 2.0 GB
11. New Orleans Pelicans | 29-38 (.433) | 2.5 GB
12. Phoenix Suns | 29-39 (.426) | 3.0 GB
13. Sacramento Kings | 28-39 (.418) | 3.5 GB

Full standings | Playoff matchups


Wednesday's must-see games

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz | 2:30 p.m. ET

After losing their first three games inside the bubble, it's suddenly desperation time for the Grizzlies. Ja Morant might not have liked the idea of a play-in tournament when it looked like Memphis would be the No. 8 seed, but it seems likely his tune will change if the Grizzlies fall to No. 9. -- Bontemps

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers | 6:30 p.m. ET

The Thunder appeared to be on their way to a second straight victory, only for them to collapse and lose to the Nuggets in overtime Monday. They'll look to bounce back against the Lakers in what could be a Western Conference semifinals preview. -- Bontemps

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics | 9 p.m. ET

The Nets are going to sit Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris against Milwaukee on Tuesday, so they should likely play the second game of the back-to-back against the Celtics on Wednesday. Even with those players, though, Brooklyn is severely undermanned. Boston will also be playing the second game of a back-to-back, however, so it might also rest a few guys. -- Bontemps

Additional games

Full scoreboard for Wednesday

Don't have ESPN? Get instant access.


Analysis and intel

Real or not: Memphis' playoff chances, Tatum's trajectory and big restart questions

Our NBA experts weigh in on the biggest trends after the first weekend of basketball.

NBA Power Rankings: Lakers and Bucks both lose close games

The Raptors and Rockets both upset top teams, while the Spurs and Blazers fight for the No. 8 seed in the West.

Start considering the Raptors real NBA title contenders

Toronto remains horribly under the radar in this year's title race. That needs to change.

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