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00:00Welcome back to Newswire here on SportsGrid. My producers, Luke, Frank, they're eating up.
00:05All my private time off the air with Dexter talking about cold weather, you know, it is.
00:10Like 60 here today in Florida, but that's fine.
00:12You know, I don't want to throw it in Dexter's face here.
00:15Craig, you just did. You literally just did.
00:17Yeah, well, you know, subtle.
00:20Sort of passive aggressive way there.
00:22Okay, so let's get last night to a guy.
00:25He used to play here in South Florida.
00:26That is LeBron James.
00:27He's seemingly, I don't know why.
00:30He's getting so much attention here.
00:31This must be a farewell tour if everybody's talking about it.
00:33He goes to Cleveland last night.
00:35And it was not a competitive game.
00:37Cleveland is now playing good basketball again.
00:40They beat the Magic a couple times.
00:41The Kings, the Hornets, now the Lakers.
00:43And so this is where we thought they were.
00:45They would be at the beginning of the season.
00:46They just took an odd route to get there.
00:48So, two-part question here.
00:49I guess.
00:50Let's start off with Cleveland being legit again for you, Dexter.
00:54We'll start there.
00:55And then I sort of, when I see these sort of things, it sort of makes me feel.
01:00Like, if LeBron is answering questions and he's sort of diving into this and they're making a big deal out of it, maybe.
01:05Indeed, this is his last run in Cleveland.
01:08So, I was wondering about this, right?
01:10Is it his last run in Cleveland or does he just know his time with the Lakers is limited?
01:15We know how much LeBron takes up a bunch of the cap.
01:17He is absolutely next season if he plays.
01:20He's going to absolutely take a reduction.
01:21And I'm not sure it'll be with the Lakers.
01:24So, it's going to be very.
01:25Very interesting to see what happens with LeBron going there.
01:29But you saw him get emotional.
01:30During that tribute video last night where they showed him scoring the 25 straight points.
01:35against Detroit back in the day.
01:37And so, he got very emotional.
01:39I think he just knows.
01:40A lot of things are coming to an end.
01:41I don't know if this is a finality as far as this season, Craig.
01:43But I think he understands.
01:45There's not that many games left.
01:47As far as the Cavs, look, you're right.
01:50A lot of people expected them to be at the top of the standings.
01:52So, it would be them in the Knicks.
01:53One, two in the East.
01:54They have.
01:55Not played in the same fashion.
01:57They have not played in the same way.
01:58But you mentioned the win.
01:59They've.
02:00That against lesser opponents.
02:01Lakers, a better opponent.
02:03Although they have their issues defensively.
02:05And the Cavs did what they were supposed to do.
02:06I think what was most impressive last night was what they were able to do.
02:10In the third quarter, where they put up 42 points.
02:12They were 17 of 25 from the field.
02:14Seven of 11.
02:15Seven from three.
02:16You like that offensive output.
02:18You like the balance that they had overall.
02:20And their scoring led by Donovan Mitchell.
02:21So, the Cavs seem to be playing some good basketball.
02:24I always thought they would.
02:25bounce back and get to the top of the standings.
02:27And now you're starting to see that.
02:28And they're stringing together some good wins.
02:30You know, I forgot.
02:31I shouldn't say, you know, the Kings and the Hornets, lower opponents.
02:33But the Magic, those were two.
02:35Good wins against the Magic Eastern Conference playoff team.
02:38Play-in team right now.
02:39So,
02:40the Cavs are starting to turn things around.
02:41It looks good for them.
02:42Yeah, definitely so.
02:43And I think right now.
02:45The Lakers are just looking to kind of get back on the right track.
02:47And certainly, they will before the end of the season.
02:50Probably by making some trades of some kind.
02:52Always involved in rumors and whatnot.
02:54Mm-hmm.
02:55Okay, so, Heat Magic here.
02:57You know, not surprising to me that this is a close game.
03:00Well, I mean, nine points, not as close, maybe, as I would have thought last night.
03:02I guess the shocking part about this, Dexter, is that the.
03:05Heat can't beat the Magic this season.
03:06They've lost all four times they've played.
03:08Paolo Bencaro had 31 points last.
03:10And, look, Heat has been up and down a little bit.
03:13Magic has been up and down.
03:15But I feel like probably Orlando finishes ahead of Miami in the standings here.
03:19But.
03:20And my confidence on either of these two teams going deep into the playoffs is minimal.
03:25But I would say both probably have a shot to get in.
03:27Yeah, I think you'd probably feel better about Orlando.
03:29You're.
03:30Right, Craig, they've had their number this season.
03:32You know, they also had a crazy game where they had.
03:35A game winner by Desmond Bain this year.
03:36So the games have been competitive.
03:38Orlando, the better defensive.
03:40Team, that's probably why I trust them a little bit more.
03:42This was a game of runs.
03:43You know, Miami, they were down.
03:4514 in the first half.
03:46They came back with a run.
03:48They took the lead.
03:49But then there was.
03:50It was a huge fourth quarter.
03:51You know, they had a 14-0 run.
03:53Orlando did in that one.
03:54They also.
03:55They also had a big.
03:55They doubled up Miami in the third quarter.
03:57It's funny.
03:58It's a very big theme last night.
03:59A lot.
04:00A lot of teams had big third and fourth quarters.
04:02We just talked about that with the Cavs.
04:03They doubled them up 40-20.
04:05In that third quarter.
04:06So the thing with Miami, you know, is that they're still.
04:10Trying to, I think, find their way defensively.
04:12Will they make moves at the deadline?
04:14Would they.
04:15Sell some of their pieces?
04:15You and I have talked all year long about will they trade Tyler Hero?
04:18Will they move on from him?
04:20Will they be involved in the Giannis sweepstakes?
04:21That's very interesting.
04:23Orlando, they know who they are defensively.
04:25Right, Craig?
04:25But offensively, they can be up and down.
04:28They showed a good offensive quarter.
04:30Third last night.
04:30And then we're able to finish in the fourth with another big 14-0 run.
04:33So, look.
04:35I think Orlando's a better team that could make some noise in the playoffs right now.
04:38Miami, I think they're still trying to find themselves.
04:40Nick's last night, take care of the Raptors, 119-92.
04:45I'm sure this was one of your focal points last night in the NBA.
04:49I heard.
04:50Mike Brown after the game saying that OG Ananobi had a big game for them.
04:53So, we can certainly acknowledge that.
04:55Look, the Knicks went through their little slump.
04:58It appears they're kind of getting...
05:00out of it right now, I would say, Dexter, which is a good reminder to fans out there
05:03not to freak out when your team loses 3-4.
05:05in a row in the middle of January.
05:07Yeah, they had a bad stretch in January.
05:09Two and nine.
05:10They had an 11-game stretch, and they'd lost four in a row, but now they've won four in a row.
05:13So, I...
05:15I think fans would have said, okay, I don't know if they're riding the ship, but I think
05:18this win was one of the Knicks...
05:20most impressive wins of the season.
05:21And here's why.
05:22Jalen Brunson played, but he was bad...
05:25battling an illness, so he was very limited.
05:27There was no Mitchell Robinson.
05:28There was no Deuce McBride in this one.
05:30You mentioned OG Ananobi, huge in this game.
05:3226 points, season-high six steals.
05:35Really changed the game in the third quarter, along with Mikkel Bridges, who scored 19 of
05:38his 30 in that...
05:40third quarter.
05:40It was a really good defensive performance.
05:43And in this four-game stretch, Craig...
05:45it's defense, again, for the Knicks.
05:46The defense has really stepped up, which is where they struggled during...
05:50that 11-game stretch, but in this four-game stretch, the Knicks have only had an opponent
05:54score...
05:55over 100 points once, and that was the Sixers who scored 109 points against them last Saturday.
06:00So, the defense has been really good.
06:01Guys seem to have bought in on that end.
06:03I think some guys maybe also...
06:05have been woken up a little bit by the fact that all the Giannis talk.
06:09So, you're right.
06:09It's...
06:10it's a long season.
06:10You can't get two down, but the Knicks are starting to play good basketball again, and
06:14they're going to look to...
06:15to see if they can build on it, because on Wednesday against the Kings, that started
06:18to stretch for them as they approach all...
06:20all-star break with 10 games in 16 days, with three back-to-backs.
06:23They just finished a back-to-back last night.
06:25So, it's a very important stretch for the Knicks as they approach the trade deadline and the
06:28all-star break.
06:30All right, so, speaking of hot teams, Atlanta Hawks playing good basketball lately.
06:33They've won a few in a row here, and...
06:35They're getting points tonight against Houston at home.
06:37Let me get your opinion on this game, Dexter.
06:388 p.m. tip, 220...
06:4025 is the total between the Rockets and Hawks, and seemingly things...
06:45continue to go well for the Hawks without Trey Young.
06:48Can they continue the momentum tonight?
06:49Yeah.
06:50Yeah, the Hawks, this is an interesting game.
06:52Houston, very good defensive team.
06:54Give up around...
06:55510 points a game.
06:56The Hawks, they can score the ball.
06:57They score about 117 points a game.
06:59So,
07:00something has to give here in this one.
07:02On the road, you know, I like Houston's defense.
07:05to travel, but I do think you might want to look at the over in this one.
07:10At 225, the Hawks just have an ability to put up points.
07:14Houston's the kind of...
07:15team, I could see their defense holds.
07:17They get up on them eight or nine late, but the Hawks are able to speak some...
07:20points out at the end.
07:21Look, the Hawks are a competitive team.
07:22They're going to play hard, well-coached by Quincy.
07:25Snyder, I don't love the line because I could see this getting a little bit close late.
07:30But I'm going to go with the over on the points.
07:32I think the Hawks are able to push this, and I'm going to go over the 225.
07:35In that over on the line for total points.
07:38Two good teams playing tonight in...
07:40In the desert, we've got the Detroit Pistons surging toward the playoffs.
07:43Phoenix, good basketball...
07:45Detroit, probably better on paper, but the line tells us four and a half points spread.
07:50Total 215 in a late start this evening.
07:54Does Phoenix have enough to...
07:55Yeah, I'd say no because no Devin Booker.
07:59Devin...
08:00Devin Booker out of this game.
08:01That total line shows you there with the 215.
08:04They're respecting both of these...
08:05Defenses in this one.
08:06I like Detroit to cover here on the road.
08:09They've won four straight on the...
08:10I think they can keep that alive once again.
08:12I'm going to go with Detroit to cover.
08:14I'd stay away from...
08:15From that line there.
08:16Jalen Duren, look at his over for rebounds in this one.
08:19I think this is going to be...
08:20A defensive slugfest.
08:21If you are going to play that line, I might actually be inclined to go with the under.
08:25But it's a stay away from me and I'm going to go with Detroit to cover here.
08:30All right, finally, great matchup tonight between Oklahoma City and Minnesota.
08:33The Thunder rarely any...
08:35Anything less than eight or nine point favorites.
08:36They are six tonight on the road at Minnesota.
08:39Total...
08:40225 and a half if OKC doesn't play San Antonio or...
08:45Houston or Denver in the finals in the West.
08:48Maybe it's Minnesota.
08:49Who knows?
08:49Maybe...
08:50Maybe this could be a preview.
08:51Yeah, it could be a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals.
08:53And look, I think Minnesota's going to...
08:55I think Minnesota's going to be motivated in this one.
08:56I really do.
08:57I would take Minnesota plus two points in this one.
09:00I think they're going to keep it close.
09:01I think it's going to be really competitive.
09:02I like how...
09:03They haven't been playing well lately, but this...
09:05This is a game they're going to circle on their calendar.
09:06This is one of those they can get up for, Craig.
09:09So give me Minnesota...
09:10I like Minnesota plus six in this one.
09:11I like them to be very competitive and keep it close.
09:14I think the guys will be most...
09:15motivated against OKC.
09:16All right, Dexter.
09:17Stay warm this weekend.
09:18Thanks again for coming on Newsweek.
09:20Well, you stay cool, Craig.
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