As consequential and pernicious of an NBA weekend as you will ever find in November

The NBA Cup tips off with only minor brain and eye injuries for viewers, plus LaMelo wins a game on defense and the Grizzlies finally grab a victory.

Good morning. This is one of those long Monday newsletters that won’t fit entirely in an email, so I recommend that if you are reading this in your inbox, click the headline to open it in a browser.

The School of Athens; Raphael; 1509-11

Let’s basketball.

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Scores

Friday In-Season Tournament Day 1!

Cavaliers 116, Pacers 121 | Full game highlights
Up one, Tyrese Haliburton takes a Mitch Richmond two with his toes on the line. The Cavaliers elect to go for a quick two on the other end. Myles Turner gives them a quick zero instead.

On the inbound Caris LeVert misses the tying shot.

Donovan Mitchell had 38 points on the night, shooting 13/21 from the floor and 4/7 from three. He also had nine assists and three turnovers. He did not touch the ball on that final possession with Aaron Nesmith guarding him — either the initial play for the quick two (in which Mitchell essentially did not move at all off the ball) or the baseline out-of-bounds set-up for the three. I don’t know. I feel like I would put the ball in his hands come hell or high water?

I’m getting nervous about Cleveland. This loss drops them to 2-4 on the season, and might dash their dreams of winning the inaugural NBA Cup, which I thought they could do.

The Pacers’ NBA Cup court:

Totally outrageous. Made more heavy by the theater lighting.

Knicks 105, Bucks 110 | Full game highlights
Getting concerned about the Knicks offense. No. 29 in the league, a splinter ahead of Portland.

The Bucks’ NBA cup court:

Light and airy.

Warriors 141, Thunder 139 | Full game highlights
This win moved Golden State to 5-1 on the season. Three of those wins were secured in the closing seconds. This time, Steph Curry’s turn … but not without some controversy.

I think it’s the right result, albeit with the wrong reasoning. Josh Giddey (who had a helluva fourth quarter) gets caught in the net and pulls down (inadvertently, it seems) before Draymond Green hits the rim (also inadvertently, it seems). But it doesn’t really matter: the ball was clearly falling in before either contact, and it goes in despite the contact.

Word to the OKC broadcast crew, though, who I first heard discussing this the next morning while re-watching the highlights. (I watched the second half on the BallerVision feed, where Kevin Durant held court with Quentin Richardson and Dorell Wright.)

“Obviously, as consequential and pernicious of a call as you will ever find on the floor.”

I mean … not really? Steph hit an absurd game-winning lay-up that could have potentially been called off on a technicality in a November game? I’d say that it’s far more consequential and pernicious to not send a second body at one of the 10 greatest players of all-time!

Earlier in the game, Curry made this consequential and pernicious pass to Gary Payton II. Sheesh!

By the way, Draymond has looked incredible to start the season. The Warriors matter in the West.

OKC’s NBA Cup court:

Consequential and pernicious.

Nets 109, Bulls 107 | Full game highlights
The biggest news from this game: Billy Donovan switched his starting five, inserting Torrey Craig over Patrick Williams. The Bulls’ closing line-up featured neither, though: Donovan had Alex Caruso out there with the other four starters. Chicago falls to 2-4 and might be careening toward a teardown.

The Nets are 3-2. It all … kinda works? Sort of?

Chicago’s NBA Cup court:

I’d prefer not, thanks.

Wizards 114, Heat 121 | Full game highlights

The Heat’s NBA Cup court:

Someone needs to investigate Adam Silver’s ties to the red paint industry.