Good morning. Let’s basketball.

The Beggars; Pieter Bruegel the Elder; 1568

Scores

Bulls 122, Pistons 112 — Every once in a while Zach LaVine does some things that make you want to reconsider everything you think you know about modern Zach LaVine. The combination of rim pressure and deep shooting is forever alluring.

Pacers 119, Raptors 130 — Your Indiana Pacers might have a case as one of the three most disappointing teams in the league this season. They:

a) made the Eastern Conference Finals, and

b) were in conversation with the Cavaliers and Magic as potential second tier teams that could catapult into the top three this season if the Sixers, Bucks and/or Knicks faltered.

The Cavaliers are 15-0. The Magic have won six straight without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner is playing as well as … ever. The Pacers are under .500, losing to the Raptors and have a bottom-8 defense and middle-of-the-pack offense. Tyrese Haliburton does not even look like an All-Star, let alone an All-NBA player. Yes, basically Indiana’s entire center depth is out. But holding a sub-.500 record within the East is really, really disappointing.

Meanwhile, R.J. Barrett is playing out of his damn mind right now.

Meanwhile, Jakob Poltl is destroying right now. Attention Pelicans, Thunder and perhaps Bucks.

Wizards 106, Knicks 134 — The Wizards, who once upon a time looked frisky, have lost nine in a row.

Sixers 89, Heat 106 — Philadelphia led by 19 and lost by 17. We call that A MAJOR OOF. As one of the world’s biggest Joel Embiid defenders, the dude does not look good. Eleven points in 31 minutes, the defense is somehow worse and the starters got run off the floor by a middling (to date) Miami team. He’s 12/37 from the floor since returning and -38 in 90 minutes.

Sure, Tyrese Maxey is out. But Jared McCain’s been playing very well and Paul George is out there (are you out there, Paul George?). This season started as a disaster and the speed at which it’s circling the drain is astonishing.

Rockets 100, Bucks 101 — Not sure which play in the final three possessions of this game is most amazing …

… the apex block by Giannis Antetokounmpo on Alperen Sengun to keep it a 1-point game?

… Damian Lillard taking Dillon Brooks to the watch shop for the lead?

… the Bucks completely blowing the defensive assignment on the SLOB only for Sengun to mishandle the ball wide open under the basket, ending the game? Sengun really saved Doc Rivers’ coaching staff’s night with that one.

Magic 109, Suns 99 — Franz Wagner over his last seven games (six of them wins): 28 points on 53% eFG. Orlando needs him to be a volume scorer, defenses is keying into him being a volume scorer and … he’s been a volume scorer, with the defense taking care of the rest. (The Magic are closing in on OKC for No. 1 in defense.)

The Suns are 8-1 without Kevin Durant this season and 1-5 without him. His calf strain will be re-evaluated soon. Soon enough?

Hawks 109, Kings 108 — Sacramento is still missing three of its top five players — none of the injuries are serious — and almost got another clutch win. Alas, after the Hawks missed some daggers, Dyson Daniels came up with Yet Another Steal (they credited it as a block) to ice the game.

Daniels might be first team All-Defense at this point?

The Kings defense played well enough to win and Keon Ellis hit nine threes. A tough loss to swallow.

Warriors 99, Clippers 102 — Again, the Los Angeles defense just keeps them in a ton of games, and they can often squeeze enough offense out of James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac in those low-scoring games to be competitive. It was Norm’s turn this time.

If the Warriors clean up the turnover issues a little, they appear to have a path to a top-5 offense, which — with that defense — makes them a legitimate contender.

Schedule

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All times Eastern.

EAST A
Hornets (0-1) at Nets (0-1), 7:30
Inactive: Magic (2-0), Knicks (2-0), Sixers (0-2)

EAST B
Inactive: Pistons (2-0), Bucks (1-0), Heat (1-1), Pacers (0-1), Raptors (0-2)

EAST C
Cavaliers (1-0) at Celtics (0-1), 7, TNT — GAME OF THE YEAR
Inactive: Hawks (2-0), Wizards (0-1), Bulls (0-1)

WEST A
Inactive: Rockets (1-0), Blazers (1-0), Timberwolves (1-1), Kings (0-1), Clippers (0-1)

WEST B
Thunder (1-0) at Spurs (0-1), 9:30, TNT
Jazz (0-1) at Lakers (1-0), 10:30
Inactive: Suns (1-1)

WEST C
Nuggets (0-1) at Grizzlies (0-1), 8
Pelicans (1-0) at Mavericks (0-1), 8:30
Inactive: Warriors (2-0)

Links

The NBA All-Star tournament idea is weird and could totally work … if there are stakes.

Great (as always) Marc Stein weekly roundup.

John Schuhmann notices everything and puts it all in his weekly Power Rankings.

Two pieces from Jared Dubin, someone hardcore NBA fans should definitely read: on Dereck Lively II’s next step (plus more) and a film breakdown of Peak Jayson Tatum.

Great Brian Windhorst deep dive on how Kenny Atkinson sped up the Cavaliers this offseason.

Dan Devine on the Warriors’ defensive renaissance.

Michael Pina on Karl-Anthony Towns’ defense hurting the Knicks.

Mike D. Sykes, II on the AE1, a basketball shoe, winning ComplexCon’s sneaker of the year.

Tom Haberstroh on the present and future of the Bucks.

NBA Big Board on divisive Chinese prospect Hansen Yang.

Kelly Dwyer on teams toward the bottom of the standings who are trying.

Katie Heindl on waiting. Just some beautiful writing and thinking here.

That’s Tuesday. Be excellent to each other.