What the heck happened with the bizarre James Harden dunk that somehow didn’t count?

We explain it all for you.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world.

On Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets lost 135-133 to the San Antonio Spurs in double overtime. There’s nothing too out of the ordinary about that … except for the play that happened with 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

James Harden ended up with a steal and nobody with him, so he casually dribbled the length of the court and slammed home the ball.

Except the ball bizarrely appeared to go in and out of hoop and eventually out of bounds. Replays showed it absolutely 100 percent went through, but it got caught up in the netting after, which created an optical illusion in real time.

But it didn’t end up counting. Why? We’ll break it down.

What did the play look like?

Wait, THAT didn’t count?

Nope!

Don’t they have instant replay in the NBA now?

They do.

So didn’t Mike D’Antoni ask for a replay?

He said he did.

And he didn’t get it?

That’s part of a whole other complicated answer. Crew Chief James Capers told a reporter that it’s a reviewable play, but that D’Antoni missed the “window” in which he was allowed to challenge during a timeout.

Is that what D’Antoni said happened?

No. From the Houston Chronicle:

ā€œThey said the ball hit James and went back through, so it was goaltending on James,ā€ coach Mike Dā€™Antoni said. ā€œSo, I said, ā€˜I challenge that.ā€™ Then, I didnā€™t get a response. Then, another guy said it wasnā€™t a goaltending. It went out of bounds on us, so I said, ā€˜Iā€™ll challenge that.ā€™ I didnā€™t get an explanation. I got nothing.”

So what are the Rockets going to do now?

The Chronicle reports the Rockets are “weighing protesting” the game.

What might the result be there?

Hard to say! The NBA could rewind the game back to that 7:50 mark and replay the end of the contest from there. The league could overturn the Spurs win, or just say that it was official error, a mistake was made and unfortunately, that’s how it is. But in a tight Western Conference, there’s a scenario in which that might be the one game that perhaps cost the Rockets playoff seeding.

[jwplayer rfrVUksM-q2aasYxh]

James Harden had a perfect response to fan who yelled at him about free throws

James Harden had a quick response to a fan sitting courtside.

James Harden is one of the best scorers to ever play the game of basketball, just look at the 60 points he had the other night in only three quarters.

His style of scoring can, however, be a little hard to watch at times as his ability to draw fouls and get to the line a million times a game can get old. But it obviously works for him and the Rockets, so who are we to question how he gets the job done?

Well, a fan at Tuesday night’s Rockets-Spurs game in San Antonio voiced his displeasure with Harden after the guard picked up a foul and headed to the foul line. And Harden fired right back at him.

Fan: “No one wants to see a free throw shooting contest!”

Harden: “Nobody wants to see fouls either, goddammit!”

Check this out:

That was such a quick response from Harden.

While I also get annoyed with all the fouls he picks up, I think his reply is hilarious and great.

[jwplayer rfrVUksM-q2aasYxh]

Kevin Garnett thinks Kyrie Irving didn’t have the ‘cojones’ to play in Boston

Kevin Garnett didn’t think Kyrie Irving was built for Boston.

Kevin Garnett had a legendary NBA career which included winning a championship during his six years with the Boston Celtics.

KG loved his time playing for the Celtics, who are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, and will always be remembered in Boston for the passion that he played with every time he took the floor.

The same can’t be said for Kyrie Irving, who lasted just two years in Boston before leaving town last summer to join the Brooklyn Nets. Irving’s time with the Celtics didn’t come to a great end, as he often seemed bothered with media attention and discussions about his future.

Garnett weighed in on Irving’s time with the Celtics during an appearance to promote a movie on Tuesday, and he didn’t hold back when asked if he was surprised that Irving left.

From the New York Daily News:

ā€œNo,ā€ he said flatly, before implying that Irving, the Nets point guard, didnā€™t have the mental makeup for Beantown.

ā€œBostonā€™s a tough town, dawg. You have to have some major cojones to be there,ā€ Garnett said. ā€œYou got to want that. The people want it for you. Thatā€™s why Paul (Pierce) is perfect for it. Paul wants the shot every time. Like, ā€˜Youā€™re 0-for-14.ā€™ And heā€™s like, ā€˜I know, but they WANT it.’ā€

He also said that Irving and Kevin Durant should have gone to the Knicks:

ā€œIf they did the Nets, I thought they should have done the Knicks, if Iā€™m being honest.ā€ Garnett said. ā€œIā€™m not a Knick fan by far. But if they come to the city and dominate, man. ā€¦The first superstar to hit New York and be vibing is going to be bigger than life. Remember I said that. Any piece of hope in this city is going to skyrocket. People are waiting.ā€

Knicks fans are definitely waiting to finally have a winner, that is for sure. But we’ll have to wait and see how things go in Brooklyn once a healthy Kyrie and KD play together.

As for Kyrie’s time in Boston? Yeah, that wasn’t great.

[jwplayer rfrVUksM-q2aasYxh]

The highest paid NBA players of 2019-20

The top 20 highest paid players in the NBA all make at least $30 million.

It’s a great time to be a professional basketball player. If you were thinking of putting your kid in sports soon, definitely have them pick up a basketball.

We knew the league’s salary cap was blowing up a while ago, but I’m not sure anybody imagined it being like this. The NBA is flush with cash right now. The 20 highest paid players in the NBA will all make at least $30 million this season.

It’s not just the LeBron Jameses and Kevin Durants of the world either ā€” there are legitimate non-All-Star players who are jumping into the NBA’s top tax bracket.

You can see the full salaries at HoopsHype.

20. Paul Millsap ā€” $30,000,000

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

19. Khris Middleton ā€” $30,603,448

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

18. Kyrie Irving ā€” $31,742,000

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

17. Mike Conley ā€” $32,511,623

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

16. Gordon Hayward ā€” $32,700,690

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

T-11. Tobias Harris ā€” $32,742,000

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

T-11. Jimmy Butler ā€” $32,742,000

(Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports)

T-11. Kawhi Leonard ā€” $32,742,000

(Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

T-11. Kemba Walker ā€” $32,742,000

(AP Photo/Sarah Stier)

T-11. Klay Thompson ā€” $32,742,000

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

10. Paul George ā€” $33,005,556

(Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

9. Kyle Lowry ā€” $33,296,296

(Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

8. Blake Griffin ā€” $34,449,964

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

7. Kevin Durant ā€” $37,199,000

(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

6. LeBron James ā€” $37,436,858

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

T-4. John WallĀ  ā€” $38,199,000

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

T-4. James HardenĀ  ā€” $38,199,000

(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

T-2. Chris Paul ā€” $38,506,482

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

T-2. Russell Westbrook ā€” $38,506,482

(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

1. Stephen Curry ā€” $40,231,758

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and bets.

The Los Angeles Clippers (15-6) host the Portland Trail Blazers (8-12) Tuesday with tip-off coming just after 10 p.m. ET at Staples Center. We analyze the Trail Blazers-Clippers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Trail Blazers at Clippers: Key injuries

Trail Blazers

  • SG Gary Trent Jr.Ā (hamstring) probable

Clippers

  • PF JaMychal Green (back) questionable
  • SG Rodney McGruder (hamstring) out
  • SG Landry ShametĀ (ankle) out

Trail Blazers at Clippers: Odds, lines, picks, and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Clippers 115, Trail Blazers 103

Moneyline (ML)

The Clippers have won 12 of their first 13 games at home which is second-best in the NBA to theĀ Philadelphia 76ersĀ (10-0).

The Trail Blazers are 8-12 overall on the season and 5-8 on the road.

Los Angeles is too chalky the the -500 odds representing only a 20 percent profit on the moneyline.Ā AVOID.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Los Angeles to win outright would profit just $2.00.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Clippers are fourth-best against the spread at home with a mark of 9-4 and come in 5.8 points per game above the cover line. Portland is 7-6 on the road against the spread but comes in 1.1 points per game below the cover line.

BackĀ LOS ANGELESĀ (-9.5, -106) to win by 10 or more points Tuesday. It delivers a much more enticing $9.43 profit.

Over/Under (O/U)

The projected total is set at 231.5 (Over: -106, Under: -115). Los Angeles averages 115.4 points per game and Portland averages 113.6 per contest. These are two of the higher-paced teams, with Los Angeles ranking seventh at 103 possessions per game and Portland eighth at 102.8.

Take the UNDER 231.5 (-115).

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @ChrisWasselDFSĀ and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.Ā  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

TheĀ Houston RocketsĀ (13-6) face theĀ San Antonio SpursĀ (7-14) Tuesday at AT&T Center. Tip-off is scheduled for shortly after 8:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Rockets-Spurs odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Rockets at Spurs: Key injuries

Rockets

  • SGĀ Eric GordonĀ (knee) out

Spurs

  • PFĀ LaMarcus AldridgeĀ (thigh) questionable

Rockets at Spurs: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Rockets 143, Spurs 119

Moneyline (ML)

TheĀ ROCKETS (-250) are road favorites over the Spurs (+200). The fifth-place team in the Western Conference is coming off a 2-1 homestand, which ended with a 158-111 rout of the Atlanta Hawks Saturday. They’ve won 10 of their last 13 games but are just 5-4 on the road. The Spurs lost 132-98 on the road against the Detroit Pistons Sunday, and they dropped eight of their last 10 outings.

The Rockets outscore the opposition by an average of 5.8 points per game while ranking second in the association with 120.3 points for per game. The Spurs rank in the bottom half of the conference in both points for (110.9) and points against (115.1), and they’re outscored by 4.2 PPG on average. Back the visitors.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The two Texas rivals haven’t met yet this season but will play again in Houston Dec. 16. The Spurs (+5.5, -105) are spotted a pair of possessions as the home dogs. They’re a woeful 5-16 against the spread overall and just 2-9 ATS at home. The ROCKETS (-5.5, -115) offer greater value on the spread than the moneyline. They’re 10-9 ATS overall and 4-5 on the road.

After Houston’s first three wins of the season were all decided by five or fewer points, each of proceeding 10 victories was decided by six or more points. Each of San Antonio’s last six losses was by a minimum of six points.

Over/Under (O/U)

San Antonio is 12-9 against the Over/Under while playing to an average of 4.0 points above the projected total, largely due to inadequate defense. Houston is 8-11 against the projected totals but tops the number by an average of 2.7 points, due to the occasional barnburner.

Take theĀ OVER 230.5 (-128). The Rockets will be able to take full advantage of the Spurs’ porous defense and could approach their 158-point output from Saturday.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 56-51

FollowĀ @EstenMcLarenĀ andĀ @SportsbookWireĀ on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.Ā  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

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The HoopsHype Daily: The Jazz are looking more like a fringe playoff team than a dark horse contender lately

The Jazz have lost their last four games against playoff teams. At what point do we start to worry about them?

PANIC TIME IN UTAH? The Utah Jazz, once thought of as a dark horse title contender, are 1-4 in their last five games (all on the road) and have the NBA’s seventh-worst net rating in that stretch, behind “powerhouses” like Chicago, Golden State and Memphis. Things have gotten so bad recently that Utah trailed the Raptors by 40 (FORTY!) points at halftime of their game on Sunday. Even if we look at their season as a whole, however, and forget about their recent road trip, Utah has disappointed overall this season. For the year, they’re 12-9 and have a mediocre +1.2 net rating, the No. 13 mark in the league.Ā 

Particularly concerning has to be the play of their big acquisition from this past summer, Mike Conley. The former Grizzlies point guard is averaging 13.9 points per game, down from 21.1 last year, and shooting a paltry 36.9 percent from the floor, the third-worst mark in the league among players with at least 200 field-goal attempts.

šŸ¦Ā  Considering Conley is the 17th-highest paid player in the league, that level of production is unacceptable if the Jazz are going to make their usual second-half run this season. It’s unlikely Utah decides to do anything drastic (i.e., a major trade), at least not anytime soon, but if they continue down this path, they might need to do something to shake things up and find their previous years’ form.

LAST NIGHT IN THE ASSOCIATION: A 10-game losing streak ended last night while an 11-game win streak was extended.

šŸ˜Œ The Atlanta Hawks, losers of their 10 previous outings, finally got off the schneid last night, beating the lowly Warriors 104-79. Trae Young led the way for Atlanta with 24 points and seven assists.

šŸ¦Œ Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks won their 12th game in a row, downing the Knicks 132-88. Yes, you read that scoreline correctly. The highlight of the night belonged to Giannis, who threw down this absurd dunk on Julius Randle. Antetokounmpo finished the contest with 29 points, 15 rebounds and three assists, so, all around, a pretty quiet game for him by his usual standards.

MAX FVV? ESPN’s Bobby Marks says a team told him they could see impending free agent Fred VanVleet landing a deal worth between $25 million and $30 million this summer. By the way, he meant that figure as an annual amount, not as the total worth of the deal, which is insane. VanVleet is an underrated floor general enjoying his best career campaign, averaging 18.6 points and 7.5 assists per game, but still… that’s a pretty rich deal for a player of his caliber.

šŸ“ At the same time, it’s a very weak free agent class coming up, so players like VanVleet are going to get overpaid, there’s no doubt about it. On our end, we have the Raptors point guard ranked as the 14th-best free agent of 2020.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Giannis Antetokounmpo won Player of the Week for the East yesterday. Unsurprising. The winner out of the West, though, was a good bit more shocking, since the honor went to Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 triples last week. Pretty great comeback story so far for the future Hall-of-Famer.

THE WIGGINS RESURGENCE: Andrew Wiggins is having the best season of his career, and he credits Ryan Saunders, his head coach, for believing in him, as well as wanting to prove the naysayers on TV and social media wrong.

GEM UNLOCKED: The Miami Herald goes in depth on how the Heat were able to discover Kendrick Nunn, their current second-leading scorer, last year while he was coming off the bench for the Warriors’ G League team.

FRESH POD: Our very own Alex Kennedy is joined by NBC’s Tommy Beer to discuss the NBA’s ratings being down, the midseason-tourney idea, the Knicks’ struggles and Carmelo Anthony’s return.

PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS: Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins has started a program called Assists for Education, where for every assist his team makes this season, he’s donating $10 to help provide school supplies and clothing to area students.

RELATIONSHIP MENDED? Enes Kanter, formerly Knick owner James Dolan’s biggest hater, is now… defending his former boss. Kanter says they’re buddies now, that they text occasionally and that it’s wrong when people constantly blame Dolan for the Knicks’ troubles. Whatever you say, Enes.

RECORD-SETTER: Curious about what records LeBron James is set to break this season? Read all about it here.

AIR GIANNIS: Nike has huge plans for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, and with good reason, too, as the Greek Freak is a major international superstar.

AWKWARD SNEAKERS: Thunder point guard Dennis Schroeder got bullied by multiple teammates, including former MVP Russell Westbrook, into changing the sneakers he wore for games. The sneakers in questions? Well, they were Kevin Durant XI’s, so… yeah. Makes sense.

SALARY QUIZ: WHO’S THIS NBA PLAYER? šŸ¤”

Click here for the answer.

Feel super free to forward this newsletter to your friends. Subscribe here.

NBA MVP Race: Giannis going for the repeat

Each week, HoopsHypeā€™s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. Which stars have stood out thus far?

Each week, HoopsHypeā€™s staff gives our Top 10 candidates for this year’s Most Valuable Player award. This list highlights stars who are in the mix for the 2019-20 MVP award due to their impressive play.

Which stars have stood out? Here are our latest MVP rankings:

James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

10. JOEL EMBIID, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

STATS: 22.4 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 3PG, 45.4 FG%

Joel Embiid creeps into our MVP rankings for the first time, as he has led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 15-6 record, and four straight victories. It’s interesting that this is finally the week Embiid has broken into our weekly ranking series, considering the fact that last Monday, he started the week off with the worst game of his career, going scoreless against the Toronto Raptors on 0-for-11 shooting. However, in the three games after that horrific performance, Embiid has averaged 30.7 points, 14.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while attempting nearly 15 free throws per contest. Perhaps his horrid showing against Toronto was the best thing that could have happened for Embiid/Philadelphia, since it has unlocked a new level of aggression from the supremely talented center. If he can maintain that level of play, he’ll continue to creep up our rankings as the season progresses, as well as help the Sixers win a whole lot of games.

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

9. KEMBA WALKER, BOSTON CELTICS

STATS: 21.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.4 3PG, 38.6 3PT%

After suffering a scary next injury last weekend,Ā Kemba Walker bounced back wonderfully this week, dropping 39 points against the Brooklyn Nets in his first game back on Wednesday, and averaging 24.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists in the three outings since his return. Walker has helped push Boston to a 14-5 record this season not just with his All-Star-level play, but by being such a positive locker-room presence in the stead of the now-departed Kyrie Irving. Walker’s leadership has been huge for the Celtics, and head coach Brad Stevens has taken notice:

Boston has two big games coming up this week, facing the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets, two teams near the top of their respective conferences, and with a couple of big performances, Walker could shoot his way up this ranking ahead of next week.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

8. DAMIAN LILLARD, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

STATS: 27.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 3.3 3PG, 44.7 FG%

It appears that after a worryingly slow start, the Portland Trail Blazers have finally turned things around, and a lot of that has to do with the consistently awesome level of play they’re getting out ofĀ Damian Lillard. The 29-year-old is averaging career-highs in points, assists and free-throw percentage this season, and with the addition of a motivatedĀ Carmelo Anthony (who just won Player of the Week in the Western Conference, by the way), Lillard should be able to help lead Portland right back into the thick of the cutthroat playoff race out west. Lillard ranks seventh in Value Over Replacement Player, sixth in Win Shares and 10th in Player Efficiency Rating in 2019-20.

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

7. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

STATS: 25.9 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, 3.8 3PG, 50.2 FG%

According to most advanced metrics,Ā Karl-Anthony Towns has hovered around Top-5 player status this season, and just by looking at his raw averages, it’s easy to see why. Towns is distributing the basketball better than ever before this year (career-high 22.1 percent assist rate) while continuing to protect the rim and knock down threes at ridiculous paces (he’s launching nearly nine threes nightly and making them at a 42.1 percent clip, the ninth-most accurate mark in the league). Most importantly, Towns’ play has pushed the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 10-9 record, placing them 7th in the Western Conference playoff race. The Wolves will need Towns to maintain his level of form in order to reach the postseason with how loaded the West is, but considering how easy Towns is making it look, that shouldn’t be a problem for the big man.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

6. PASCAL SIAKAM, TORONTO RAPTORS

STATS: 25.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.5 3PG, 47.0 FG%

Raptors swingmanĀ Pascal Siakam is playing at such an insane level that there’s actual talk out there that he might deserve to take home Most Improved Player honors for the second year in a row. Siakam is shooting 6.5 threes per game (up from his previous career-best of 2.7) and knocking them down at the most accurate rate of his career, a healthy 39 percent. The 25-year-old is one of the most impactful two-way wings in basketball, capable of doing a multitude of things, including make plays for others, throw it down in transition and knock down open threes, all while being a multi-positional defender on the other end of the floor. Siakam has been so good that even without team leader Kyle Lowry around due to injury for the last few weeks, he still has Toronto, who have won seven games in a row, absolutely humming. The trajectory Siakam is presently on is downright scary.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

5. ANTHONY DAVIS, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 47.9 FG%

The No. 2 option on the best team in the league (by record, at least), Anthony Davis is performing at a ridiculous level considering it’s his first time suiting up for a team with championship expectations. Davis ranks eighth league-wide in nightly scoring and is tied in first in blocks per game, which just goes to show how much of an impact he makes on both ends of the floor on a nightly basis. The Los Angeles Lakers will want him to improve his three-point shooting a bit (34.4 percent for the year), but other than that, it’s been smooth sailing for Davis, who set the record last week for highest scoring performance in a player’s first game against their former team, when he dropped 41 on the New Orleans Pelicans.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

4. LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS

STATS: 25.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 10.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 50.1 FG%

Davis’ super teammate, LeBron James, also had a great week, averaging 27.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 11.0 assists over four games. James currently leads the league in nightly assists while ranking 11th in points per game. It’s crazy to see how productive he remains despite being in Year-16, not just statistically, but with his ability to much such a strong impact on winning. This upcoming week will be a big one for LeBron and Co., as, after a relatively soft schedule in November, they’re set to face the Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers and Timberwolves, giving them the chance to silence those who believe their 17-3 record is mostly a byproduct of a weak strength of schedule.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

3. LUKA DONCIC, DALLAS MAVERICKS

STATS: 30.6 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 9.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 48.3 FG%

Posting one of the greatest statistical second-year campaigns of all time,Ā Luka Doncic has absolutely exploded as a sophomore. Even Dallas Mavericks legendĀ Dirk Nowitzki admitted to being surprised by how quickly Doncic has acclimated to the NBA game, and with good reason; 20-year-olds shouldn’t be as productive as Doncic has been. Doncic currently ranks third in the league in scoring, 17th in rebounds and second in assists while guiding (carrying, really), the Mavericks to a 13-6 record, including a huge road win against the Lakers on Sunday. The contest featured a near Doncic triple-double and a step-back three over LeBron that will be featured in Doncic’s 2019-20 highlight tape for eternity.

If Doncic keeps up this level of play, he’ll become the fifth-youngest player in league history to receive MVP votes. Not bad.

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

2. JAMES HARDEN, HOUSTON ROCKETS

STATS: 38.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 44.6 FG%

James Harden’s scoring has been so otherworldly that he dropped 60 points on Saturday and didn’t even win Player of the Week for the Western Conference. His game may not be the prettiest (he currently has the second-highest nightly free-throw attempt average… ever), but there’s no doubt he’s a maestro when it comes to putting the ball in the hoop. The only thing preventing Harden from ranking higher on this list is the fact that the Houston Rockets have a worse record and a lower net rating than those of the No. 1 ranked player’s team. Even so, barring injury or an unpredictable drop in form, Harden will be one of the top finalists for MVP come the end of the season.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

1. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO, MILWAUKEE BUCKS

STATS: 30.9 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 56.0 FG%

A destructive force on both ends of the floor,Ā Giannis Antetokounmpo is an early frontrunner to win his second MVP trophy in a row. Over four games last week, the Greek Freak averaged 34.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. The Milwaukee Bucks won all four games by a total of 63 points. And that’s why we rank Giannis No. 1 in this week’s ranking: Not only is he putting up insane numbers while defending at an extremely high level – he’s also the best player on the best team in the league. Milwaukee is tied with L.A. in record at 17-3, but is first in net rating by a long shot at +10.3. The next closest team in net rating are the Raptors, who are at +8.8. What’s more, the Bucks are 10.7 points per 100 possessions better with Antetokounmpo on the floor, proving his importance to the squad. Giannis is a force of nature, and if he keeps this up, he’ll be adding a second MVP trophy to his mantle.

You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.

Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

TheĀ Dallas MavericksĀ (13-6) visit theĀ New Orleans PelicansĀ (6-14) Tuesday at Smoothie King Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Mavericks-Pelicans odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Mavericks at Pelicans: Key injuries

Pelicans

  • PFĀ Derrick FavorsĀ (personal) out
  • PFĀ Zion WilliamsonĀ (knee) out

Mavericks at Pelicans: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Mavericks 124, Pelicans 105

Moneyline (ML)

TheĀ MAVERICKS (-167)Ā roll into New Orleans having won two straight games and seven of their past 10. They’re 7-2 on the road this season and 8-3 against the Western Conference as they hold down fourth place. The Pelicans (+140) enter Tuesday with five straight losses and a home record of just 4-6.

Each of the Pelicans’ last three losses were decided by five or fewer points, while the Mavericks’ last five victories each came by at least 10 points. Dallas is outscoring the opposition by an average of 8.0 points per game (117.8-109.8) while New Orleans is outscored by 4.4 PPG (114.5-118.9). Back the road favorites with a high degree of confidence.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Mavericks to win outright returns a profit of $6.

Against the Spread (ATS)

As noted above, the MAVERICKS (-3.5, -115) have been winning by convincing scores of late, including Sunday’s 14-point win over the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers and two wins by 40-plus points two weeks ago. They’re 11-8 against the spread overall but 7-2 on the road. The Pelicans are 9-11 ATS overall and 6-4 at home, but they stayed within four points in a loss just twice this year.

Increase your profit margin by backing Dallas to win by at least four points. The same $10 wager fetches a profit of $8.70.

Over/Under (O/U)

The two teams combine to average 232.3 points per game while the Pelicans surrender 118.9 on the defensive end to the Mavericks’ 109.8 points allowed per game. Take the UNDER 231.5 (+105), as the Mavericks’ team defense will limit the output for the hosts en route to a convincing victory.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NBA betting record: 56-51

FollowĀ @EstenMcLarenĀ andĀ @SportsbookWireĀ on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.Ā  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Pistons (7-13) and Cleveland Cavaliers (5-14) tip it up at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Pistons-Cavaliers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Pistons at Cavaliers: Key injuries

Pistons: SG Svi Mykhailiuk (knee) is expected to play, while SG Khyri Thomas (foot) is likely out a few more weeks. PG Reggie Jackson (spine) is also out until at least early January.

Cavaliers: SF Cedi Osman (back) and SF John Henson (hamstring) are each questionable, while SG Dylan Windler (shin) might be on the shelf another week.

Pistons at Cavaliers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cavaliers 105, Pistons 101

Moneyline (ML)

The CAVALIERS (+120) are a nice value at home as short dogs. Neither of these teams has been very hot lately, and the Pistons (-143) are a much bigger risk on the road, where they have been even worse.

New to sports betting? Every $1 wagered on a Cleveland win profits $1.20 if the Cavs prevail. (Ex: Bet $10 to win $12.00, $20 to win $24.00, $4.55 to win $10).

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Take the CAVALIERS (+2.5, –106) at home against the visiting Pistons (-2.5, -115). For whatever reason, Detroit has had a difficult time on the road against its Lake Erie rivals in Cleveland, going 1-6 against the spread in the past seven trips to C-Town. The home team is also 10-3 ATS in the previous 13 meetings in this series.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Over might be the trend if you look at past results in this series, but the UNDER 212.5 (+105) is the play lately for both teams. The Under is 4-0 in the past four road games for the Pistons, and 5-1 in the past six at home for the Cavaliers. The Under is also 5-2 in Detroit’s past seven against Eastern Conference opponents, while Cleveland has hit the Under in seven of its last 10 games within the conference.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.Ā  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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