NBA

• Wizards 120, Pistons 99
  • The Wizards are somewhat of an assortment of misfit pieces, but a 3-1 start is a 3-1 start. Kyle Kuzma has been especially effective thus far, averaging 21 PPG. If guys like Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis can maintain their respective levels of play, the Wizards should have no problem reaching the play-in.
  • It might be time for Detroit to pull the plug on Killian Hayes. Hayes was the No. 7 pick in 2020, but he’s a near zero on offense, especially as a scorer. Hayes went 0-6 from the floor in this game, and is shooting 12.5% from the field through four games.
• Pelicans 113, Mavericks 111
  • No Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson? No problem. New Orleans has developed Trey Murphy and Jose Alvarado into beyond competent rotation players, creating essential depth for the team.
  • This wasn’t a game in which Dallas should’ve lost. Yes, Tim Hardaway Jr. didn’t play, but the Mavericks just don’t have enough juice around Luka Doncic. Only Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood reached double-figures besides Doncic for Dallas last night.
• Thunder 108, Clippers 94
  • Coming into this year, the regular season expectations for the Clippers were too high. We all knew they would rest players quite often, so games like this one were certainly possible. The team is now 2-2, and isn’t getting much of anything from Reggie Jackson or Norman Powell. 48-34, not 58-24, feels right for LA.
• Suns 134, Warriors 105
  • The Warriors have a few good things going for them. Stephen Curry appears to still be the same guy as he’s been in the past at age 34, and the bench is getting a good amount of run and experience thus far. Unfortunately, the game of Klay Thompson is continuing to experience significant slippage. Thompson has posted numbers of 11.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG so far, while shooting just 35.6% from the field.