Tag: Aaron Gordon

Joel Embiid reacts to Aaron Gordon getting robbed again in dunk contest

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid did not like Aaron Gordon getting robbed in the dunk contest.

It was All-Star Saturday night in the NBA and that means the ever-popular dunk contest was on display. Yes, some of the best dunkers in the NBA went at it and the final round came down to two of the best in the game.

It came down to Orlando Magic athlete Aaron Gordon and Miami Heat high flyer Derrick Jones Jr. in the final round. Both players were going at it as they both continued to get a score of 50 from the judges on all of their dunks. This led to a dunk off to see who would come out on top.

Gordon had been in this position before in 2016 when he lost the dunk off to Zach LaVine and he had his eyes set on the prize this team. After Jones Jt. finished with a score of 48 on his final attempt, Gordon decided to dunk over the 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall. It was not enough as he finished with a score of 47 and that upset Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid.

Gordon was robbed again in the dunk contest despite pulling this off in the final round.

Embiid will represent the Sixers in the All-Star game on Sunday in Chicago. [lawrence-related id=25863,25903,25856]

Aaron Gordon got absolutely robbed in the dunk contest… again

This ain’t right.

Listen, the 2020 dunk contest was absolutely amazing. It’s up there among the best ever. I’m talking Jordan and Wilkins in ’88 or LaVine and Gordon in ’16 good.

But, yet again, like in 2016, Aaron Gordon got absolutely ROBBED of a win.

It felt criminal to send either him or Derrick Jones, Jr. home without a trophy after all of the 50’s those dudes dropped. Not going to hold y’all, fam — I lost count after, like, the 4th one from Aaron Gordon.

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But somebody had to win, I guess? Man, all due respect to Derrick Jones, Jr., but they gave the trophy to the wrong guy tonight.

AARON GORDON DUNKED OVER TACKO FREAKING FALL. TACKO FALL, Y’ALL! LOOK!

This dunk SOMEHOW only amounted to a 47. A 47! Fam, they gave THIS from Dwight Howard a 49! What, did they drop him bonus points for being 56 years old or something? Come on?

Okay, okay. My bad, Dwight. Let me not take my anger out on him. It’s just that Gordon got robbed — AGAIN. Literally nobody can believe this happened.

Look at how Giannis Antetokounmpo felt after Gordon’s final score was announced. The crowd in the United Center booed relentlessly. Nobody can believe it!

Everyone is mad, yo. Nobody is happy with this result. They both should’ve gotten a trophy and we all know it.

Poor Aaron Gordon. He’s going to go down as the greatest dunker to never win a dunk contest.

This ain’t right. We know what happened here. The judges were just ready to go home. And, look, that’s just fine. Being out late sucks! But we have GOT to get things right. We didn’t tonight.

Aaron Gordon is the best dunker in the NBA and you can’t tell me otherwise.

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Report: Pat Connaughton To Participate in NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks will be participating in the annual Slam Dunk Contest

Notre Dame may only currently have one player on an active NBA roster but that one player will be in the spotlight this coming All-Star Weekend as Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks will be participating in the annual Slam Dunk Contest.

Shams Charania of The Athletic released that news on Monday:

A few of the responses are incredibly predictable:

LMFAOOO TRASH

You gotta be kidding me lol

white men can’t jump lmao

What?

Huh

Those that watched him at Notre Dame remember his athleticism but in case you’ve forgotten, here’s some of his best from 2018-2019:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjEDre8tyQY&w=560&h=315]

Connaughton averages 17.8 minutes per game for the league-best, 42-7 Bucks.  He’s averaged 4.9 points per game this season and over four rebounds per outing.

Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis and picks.

The Orlando Magic (21-28) stop by the Spectrum Center to play the Charlotte Hornets (16-33) at 7:00 p.m. ET . We analyze Magic-Hornets 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.

Magic at Hornets: Key injuries

MAGIC

  • SG Evan Fournier (back) questionable
  • SF Jonathan Issac (knee) out
  • PG D.J. Augustin (knee) out
  • SG Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

HORNETS

  • PF P.J. Washington (ankle) doubtful

Magic at Hornets: 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 12:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Magic 116, Hornets 98

Moneyline (ML)

This matchup pits the Hornets’ (+150) lowest-scoring offense in the NBA versus the Magic’s (-182) lowest-scoring defense, so the edge certainly goes to Orlando, who’s the eighth seed in the East. But, neither team has played well lately—the Magic have lost five straight, including four by double-digits, and the Hornets are 1-9 in their last 10 games—and neither team instills enough confidence to bet on. Charlotte won’t lose forever and is hosting a below .500 team in Orlando, but I don’t see the value on either side.

PASS ON THE MONEY LINE in Magic-Hornets.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Magic have won and covered in the last three games against the Hornets and the previous two wins were in Charlotte. In their last meeting, Nikola Vučević had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the Magic’s 106-83 victory over the Hornets. He should have an easier time controlling the paint with the Hornets rookie big man, Washington, listed as doubtful. Also, in that game, the Magic’s backcourt way outperformed the Hornets’, scoring 36 points on 15 of 26 shots compared to Charlotte’s 19 points on 5-23 shooting performance. Orlando excels against subpar competition, going 8-5 against the spread on the road versus below .500. Plus as an away favorite, the Magic are 4-2 ATS with a 6.5 margin of victory and Charlotte is 8-9 as a home ‘dog with a -5.8 margin of victory.

TAKE MAGIC -4.5 (-106).

Over/Under (O/U)

The pace should be ultra-slow in this one since the Hornets are ranked last and Magic 28th in pace of play. But the total is only 202.5, and in games projected to have a total of 200-209.5, this officiating crew has a combined 5-1 over/under record. And the Over cashed in three of the last four meetings between these two teams. The total is too low, BET 202.5 (-110).

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

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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Orlando Magic at Miami Heat odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Orlando Magic at Miami Heat sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and best bets.

The Orlando Magic (21-26) visit the Miami Heat (31-14) Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Magic-Heat 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.

Magic at Heat: Key injuries

Magic

  • PG D.J. Augustin (knee) out
  • SF Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
  • SF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

Heat

  • C Bam Adebayo (ankle) probable
  • SF Jimmy Butler (ankle) questionable
  • PG Kendrick Nunn (Achilles) questionable
  • PG Goran Dragic (calf) questionable
  • SF Justise Winslow (back) out

Magic at Heat: 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 1:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Magic 103, Heat 97

Moneyline (ML)

The Magic pasted the Heat 105-85 in their first meeting of the season, Jan. 3, and they have won three straight in Miami. C Nikola Vučević has killed the Heat winning eight of his last nine games with six double-doubles. The Heat are among the best home teams in the NBA, going 20-2 in Miami so far this year. Orlando is just 8-15 on the road, so it’s a longshot for the Magic to extend their Miami win streak to four games.

Also, the Heat are 9-1 straight up when playing with a rest advantage and the Magic are 1-6 outright in the second game of back-to-backs. The Magic (+190) aren’t getting a good enough price but there’s a good chance Orlando wins so the Heat (-238) is a no-go as well.

PASS ON THE MONEYLINE in favor of betting the spread in Magic-Heat.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Given the Magic’s success, plus the Heat’s current injury report, the Magic are the play. If Butler, Dragic and Nunn cannot play Monday then you’d be better off passing this game altogether. Butler has struggled in recent meetings with the Magic, as his teams have lost four of their previous five games and he has scored fewer than 15 points in three of those contests.

Despite their win/loss road struggles, the Magic have good ATS trends as it pertains to this matchup. Orlando is 12-10-1 ATS on the road and 4-4-1 ATS on the road against teams above .500. Finally, the Heat are 2-4-1 ATS when laying 5-7 points.

TAKE MAGIC (+4.5, +105) to stay within 4 points in a loss or win outright.

Over/Under (O/U)

I LEAN UNDER 212.5 (-129) since the Heat are banged up in their starting five and both teams are good defensively. The Magic aren’t a good offensive team—ranked 29th in points per game and field-goal percentage—and the Heat are an above-average defensive team, ranked 12th in opponent PPG, seventh in opponent field-goal percentage, and first in opponent 3-point percentage. Orlando allows the fewest points per game to opponents and Magic games have the highest Under percentage in the NBA with a 19-26-2 O/U record.

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

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

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LeBron James puts up career-high 19 assists in loss for first time

Los Angeles Laker star LeBron James has had high assist totals before, but it’s rare that such a performance comes in a loss.

LeBron James had a rare game on Wednesday night when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic, but it wasn’t just because the Lakers have been pummeling most of their opponents all season long.

Last night, LeBron reached a statistical milestone in a loss, something that hasn’t happened much this season. James tied a career-high in assists with 19 in Wednesday’s loss to the Magic, with the only other time James reached 19 assists coming in a win back in 2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A big reason why LeBron’s night didn’t go as planned aside from the assists was his shooting, as he was 7 for 19 from the field and just 2 for 9 from the 3-point line, something the Lakers could ill-afford without the efficient scoring presence of Anthony Davis.

With the way James is dishing assists this season, he might get another chance to set his career-high but do so in a win before the season is over. The Lakers set out on a five-game road trip starting this Saturday in Houston against a couple of guys who know how to dish assists in high numbers, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

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Magic hand Lakers first loss from sub-.500 squad behind Fultz triple-double

The Los Angeles Lakers saw a nine-game win-streak snapped thanks to a big game from Markelle Fultz on Wednesday night.

A rough start and a poor shooting night from their key scorers resulted in an unlikely loss on Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-118 to the Orlando Magic. The loss snapped a nine-game Lakers win-streak and also is their first loss this season to a team with a sub-.500 record. The Lakers were the last team in the NBA that had yet to lose to a team with a losing record.

LeBron James had a tough night shooting the ball, going 7 of 19 from the field and 2 for 9 from the 3-point line, but he matched his career-high in assists on Wednesday with 19 assists. A big reason why was the play of Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook off the Lakers bench as the two sharpshooting but seldom-used guards combined for 39 points off the Lakers bench. The Lakers needed every bit of the points as they had to claw back from 21 points down to make it a game.

For Orlando, Aaron Gordon made the huge highlight plays with a few dunks and solid defense on LeBron James, but Markelle Fultz stole the show down the stretch as he scored a difficult basket on LeBron to give the Magic a three-point lead. On the basket, Fultz did a slight variation on LeBron’s famous spin-move, while wearing a pair of LeBron 17s, by the way. Fultz ended with 21 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds.

On the following possession, James tried to tie the game but missed the 3-point attempt.

In addition to LeBron’s tough shooting night, Kyle Kuzma was also a measly 2 for 10 and the normally efficient Dwight Howard was 4 for 10. A lot of that credit should go to the Magic, who came into the game ranked No. 5 in defensive rating.

The Lakers are now heading out on a five-game road trip that will begin on Saturday night with a nationally televised game against James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and the Houston Rockets.

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LeBron James blocked by the rim in 4th quarter vs. Magic

LeBron James had a blooper in a season full of highlights in the fourth quarter of L.A.’s game against the Orlando Magic.

The Los Angeles Lakers unexpectedly found themselves in a difficult game on Wednesday night against a frisky Orlando Magic squad. The Lakers trailed by as many as 21 in the game and needed some hot shooting performances from unheralded reserves Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook to get back in the game and even take a lead. But LeBron James had a tough game on Wednesday, with one of his worst shooting performances of the season.

Perhaps no moment depicted how difficult it was for the Lakers to score on Wednesday night and how hard it was for James in particular than a baseline drive that LeBron biffed in the fourth quarter by coming up short.

Only a few moments later, the rim got another casualty when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also had a dunk attempt clank off the rim.

The Lakers were locked in a difficult game against the Magic, with Wednesday being the rare night that both LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma were unable to score.

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Report: Dwight Howard is participating in the 2020 dunk contest

With Dwight Howard back in the dunk contest, perhaps the event will regain some of its energy.

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard has an opportunity to steal the show at this season’s All-Star Saturday night during All-Star weekend.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Howard will be in the Slam Dunk Contest, one of the weekend’s most storied events. Howard was a staple in the dunk contest from 2007-2009, throwing down jams in each of those three seasons.

Howard won the dunk contest in 2008, slamming his iconic “Superman” jam. Howard’s charisma helped make the dunk contest must-watch television in the late 2000s.

During that time period, Howard was also one of the game’s biggest stars. As one of the best centers of his era, Howard was the league’s leading rebounder for the 2007-08 season. He averaged 20.7 points during that same season.

The dunk contest has usually had a lively aura, but in the past few seasons that energy hasn’t been present. The most recent memorable dunk contest was in 2016, when Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon battled in what’s arguably one of the best dunk contests ever.

With Howard returning to the dunk contest, perhaps one of the league’s most prized events can regain some of its mystique.

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