The Hardwood Collection 🏀

November 9, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

NBA Download: Embiid Still MVP-Esque — Wemby\’s 1st Game at the Garden — Giannis Gets Tossed

Wednesday night in the NBA was nothing short of excellent. A total of 14 games hit the hardwood (28 teams), and it certainly feels like winter is coming. The nightly supply of regular-season ball can get a little repetitive throughout the year, so we’ll try to mix up the coverage night in and night out. Plenty of early-season storylines are emerging, but the two players accounting for the last three MVPs are still playing like juggernauts. Nikola Jokic has the Nuggets at 8-1, and Joel Embiid has the Sixers at 7-1. Embiid doesn’t seem to miss James Harden at all, and it shows. Trust the process! Let’s do some highlights from the hardwood collection.

Embiid Proves MVP Status in East Battle

Philly and Boston went head-to-head for a matchup of the top-two teams in the East last night. The Sixers held off a late Celtics rally, and Joel Embiid (27-10-4) is still playing like the reigning MVP. 76ers def. Celtics (106-103)

Wemby’s Growing Pains at MSG

The bright lights of Madison Square Garden showed some growing pains for rookie Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks ran over the Spurs and held Wemby to just 14 points on 4-for-14 shooting. Knicks def. Spurs (126-105)

Pacers Offense Pops Off Again

Jordan Clarkson went for 33 for the Jazz, but Utah couldn’t keep pace with the high-octane Pacers. Indiana kept their foot on the gas with their fourth game of 130-plus points. Pacers def. Jazz (134-118)

Suns Survive Bulls in OT

Bradley Beal (13) made his debut for the Suns last night, but it was Grayson Allen’s career-high six 3s (26 points) and a late winner from Jusuf Nurkic that pushed Phoenix over Chicago. Suns def. Bulls (116-115, OT)

Lakers Struggles Continue

The Lakers’ early-season slump has L.A. searching for answers again. Last night’s 34-point loss to the Rockets was their worst of the season, and LeBron’s boys are just 3-5 to start. Rockets def. Lakers (128-94)

SGA Ignites 43-Point Game for OKC

The Thunder rolled past the Cavs thanks to a league-high 43 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and OKC is now 5-3 after winning two straight. Thunder def. Cavaliers (128-120)

Last 2 Champions Go Toe-to-Toe

The Nuggets held off the Warriors in Denver as the last two NBA champs went head-to-head. Nikola Jokic had 35 points, and Klay Thompson’s game-tying 3 attempt at the buzzer slipped out of his hands. Nuggets def. Warriors (108-105)

Giannis Gets Tossed, Dame Drops 34

Milwaukee played a wild one at Fiserv Forum, watching Giannis Antetokounmpo get ejected before Damian Lillard (34) dropped 18 in the 4th to beat Detroit. Bucks def. Pistons (120-118)

Other NBA Scores & Highlights

Kings def. Blazers (121-118, OT)
Wizards def. Hornets (132-116)

Nets def. Clippers (100-93)

Heat def. Grizzlies (108-102)

Timberwolves def. Pelicans (122-101)

Raptors def. Mavericks (127-116)

Early NBA Stat Leaders

Scoring Leaders

1. Joel Embiid (PHI) — 31.7 ppg

2. Luka Doncic (DAL) — 31.5 ppg

3. Donovan Mitchell (CLE) — 30.7 ppg

4. Stephen Curry (GSW) — 30.0 ppg