Andrew Wiggins Sealing Up Rookie of the Year Race and Saturday NBA Takeaways
If there was a revenge game to be had Saturday night at Target Center, Kevin Love figured to be the bearer of retribution. After all, Love's return to the Land of 10,000 Lakes was the narrative that was supposed to consume the Cleveland Cavaliers' showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, Andrew Wiggins had other plans. Sure, Cleveland defeated Minnesota, 106-90, to capture a 10th straight win, but Wiggins' 33-point explosion sent a more profound message than any single addition to the win column could have.
By dropping a career high against the team that selected him No. 1 overall last June, Wiggins strengthened his Rookie of the Year credentials and started turning doubters into believers.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reinforced that notion midway through Wiggins' signature performance:
All told, Wiggins knocked down 14 of his 25 looks from the field (the exact same as James) and three of four attempts from distance. Not only was it the sort of efficient distribution that's come to define his game, but the high-profile outburst was a perfect send-off to Wiggins' January.
NBA TV rolled out a nice side-by-side comparison to provide some crucial context regarding Wiggins' and James' outings:
In fact, Wiggins attempted half of his shots inside the restricted area Saturday night, which points to the growth he's experienced as an off-the-dribble creator below the free-throw line of late:
Whether he's been operating out of the post, using his quick first step to blow by primary defenders or catching and shooting in rhythm, Wiggins' arsenal has expanded rapidly for a player who supposedly possessed a passive demeanor.
A second-quarter post-up that seamlessly transitioned into a gorgeous step-through against James was indicative of the strides Wiggins has made:
The rookie also told reporters that a marquee setting didn't faze him one iota, according to The Associated Press' Jon Krawczynski:
Through the first month of 2015, Wiggins shot 47.1 percent from the field and 34 percent from three, marks which indicated steady month-over-month increases for the 19-year-old.
In fact, he dropped at least 20 points nine times in January after doing so just seven times over the season's first 60 days.
| November | 12.3 | 39.9 | 41.7 | 91 |
| December | 14.6 | 40.9 | 33.3 | 95 |
| January | 19.8 | 47.1 | 34.0 | 108 |
"He's above where we thought he would be," head coach Flip Saunders said, according to Krawczynski. "There have not been very many rookies who have gone through a 15-game stretch where they're averaging 21 per game and been in a situation where they're taking the other team's best defensive player and playing both ends of the floor."
Those developments—combined with the lackluster offerings of an injury-ravaged rookie class—make Wiggins the unquestioned front-runner for some shiny new hardware moving forward.
Comparatively, two other first-year players averaged double figures in January. They were Langston Galloway (11.9 points) of the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic floor general Elfrid Payton (10.7 points). Among rookies who averaged more than 20 minutes per game last month, Wiggins also recorded the highest field-goal percentage. That includes big men like Nerlens Noel and Jusuf Nurkic who live within an arm's reach of the rim.
The official declaration may be months away, but Wiggins' superlative transformation should make all debates regarding the rookie ladder's top spot moot as the Timberwolves seek to extract silver linings out of the season's home stretch.
Around the Association
The Clippers' Stock Is Soaring
Losing to the New Orleans Pelicans without Anthony Davis before handling the San Antonio Spurs, 105-85, on the second night of a back-to-back? Yeah, the Los Angeles Clippers have encountered a strange two-day stretch.
But truth be told, the Clippers have hit a hot streak at the right time. Friday night's struggles aside, L.A. has won eight of its last 10 to slide into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, while Portland has dropped back to the No. 4 spot.
Blake Griffin led the way behind 31 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. His second 30-point, 10-rebound, five-assist outing tied him with DeMarcus Cousins and LeBron James for the league lead in such gaudy efforts, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Chris Paul was steady as well, totaling 20 points and six assists while shooting 9-of-16 from the field.
After a very brief stay in the No. 6 seed, San Antonio sits 1.5 games back of the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 7 seed. If we've learned anything this season, though, it's that seeds No. 3-8 out West are subject to rapid change.
Not-So-Happy Returns
Love (14 points, 17 rebounds) made his first appearance at Target Center as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Saunders had some pointed words regarding the team's in-arena acknowledgement of the three-time All-Star, according to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin:
Minnesota supporters seemed to affirm Saunders' sentiment by cascading boos down upon Love as he was introduced:
Elsewhere, Josh Smith returned to the Palace of Auburn Hills for the first time since being waived by the Detroit Pistons in late December.
As expected, he wasn't welcomed with a hearty round of applause from the Motor City faithful either:
Unfortunately for Smith (seven points, seven rebounds), Detroit got the last laugh, snapping a four-game losing streak by downing the Houston Rockets, 114-101. It's the Pistons' first win since Brandon Jennings ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Where's the Offense, Oklahoma City?
Kevin Durant returned from a two-game absence, but the Oklahoma City Thunder offense sputtered horribly against the feisty Memphis Grizzlies in an 85-74 defeat.
The Thunder have lost four of their last five and have failed to crack 100 points since a Jan. 21 overtime bout with the Washington Wizards.
For a unit boasting dynamic talents like Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, it's awfully concerning that OKC's offense ranks 23rd in efficiency, per NBA.com. To put that number in perspective, the Pistons, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have all churned out points at a higher clip per 100 possessions this season.
Since Oklahoma City's system hasn't been able to produce results equal to the sum of the roster's parts, serious doubt is being cast on the team's playoff hopes.
Here's a statistical look at the uphill battle the Thunder are facing moving forward, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Down Goes Rondo, Out Goes Dwight
The Dallas Mavericks crushed the Orlando Magic 108-93, but it may have come at a steep price. Just 90 seconds into the first quarter, point guard Rajon Rondo took a nasty knee to the cranium courtesy of Richard Jefferson:
Rondo did not return after being diagnosed with a head injury, according to The Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko:
For the first time in four games, Dallas cracked the 100-point threshold thanks to 25 points and 13 assists from Monta Ellis, while Tyson Chandler poured in 20 points on a clean 9-of-12 shooting.
Staying in the Southwest Division, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports Dwight Howard is in danger of missing more than a month due to a right knee injury:
"The Houston Rockets are bracing for the loss of Dwight Howard for at least a month due to persistent trouble with his right knee, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets, while confident that Howard has enough time to bounce back for the regular-season stretch run and playoffs, fear their defensive anchor will be lost for a period of "weeks" as opposed to days.
"
Houston has been 5.3 points worse per 100 possessions with Howard off the floor this season, per NBA.com, with the bulk of that hit coming on the defensive end. The good news for Houston is that Howard's projected timetable includes the weeklong All-Star break, which will give him an extended chance to rest with no risk of missing games.
Golden State Snaps Out of It
The Golden State Warriors will finish the week with a losing record (1-2), but they were able to salvage things by thrashing the Phoenix Suns, 106-87.
Following consecutive losses to the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, Golden State got back on track behind a resurgent defensive performance. While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson dropped 25 and 22 points, respectively, Phoenix shot a meager 36.3 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three.
The Warriors also turned 22 Phoenix turnovers into 21 points while outscoring their Pacific Division foes, 36-27, from beyond the arc.
Golden State now has two days off before playing four games in five days, including a Friday night showdown with the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.
Atlanta Survives a Major Scare
Make it 19 straight wins for the Hawks, who blew a 15-point halftime lead against the Philadelphia 76ers but still managed to escape with a 91-85 victory. According to The Washington Post's Michael Lee, the Hawks' victory made another bit of history:
Matched up against a surprisingly stingy Sixers defense that ranks one spot back of the Chicago Bulls in terms of efficiency, Atlanta shot just 43.6 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three. Conversely, the Sixers notched a season high by draining 14 triples and shooting 40 percent from deep against a Hawks team that's without perimeter stalwart Thabo Sefolosha for six to eight weeks due to a calf injury.
However, the clutch stylings of Al Horford (23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists) helped nudge Atlanta into the win column yet again after outscoring Philadelphia by a single point in the final frame.
Giannis Is Ready for the Dunk Contest
Zach LaVine may be the favorite leading up to the All-Star Saturday Night slam dunk proceedings, but the personification of wingspan—Giannis Antetokounmpo—is ready to put on a show. A transition windmill of epic proportions confirmed as much:
The Bucks went on to slay the Portland Trail Blazers 95-88, as Antetokounmpo recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Portland has lost eight of its last 10, including three straight.
Quote of the Night
Mid-level exception signees paid $23 million over four years are expected to play more than 16.8 minutes per game. That hasn't been the case for Spencer Hawes, who's currently seeing the fewest minutes since his rookie season while shooting a shade over 30 percent from three.
As a result, head coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of Hawes' play and pursuit of a more significant role prior to Saturday's contest, according to the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch:
To Hawes' credit, he did score 11 points (4-of-8 shooting) in 24 minutes off the bench while posting a team-best plus/minus rating of plus-22 against San Antonio.
