All 22 teams participating in the NBA Restart will play three scrimmages before game action officially tips off on July 30. The NBA will be using 10-minute quarters instead of the usual 12 minutes for each team’s first game. The second and third games for each team will feature regulation quarters of 12 minutes.
Previous Roundups: July 26 | July 25 | July 24 | July 23 | July 22
Below are game recaps from all games played on July 27:
- Los Angeles Lakers 123, Washington Wizards 116
- Sacramento Kings 106, LA Clippers 102
- Utah Jazz 112, Nets 107
- Orlando Magic 114, Nuggets 110
- New Orleans Pelicans 124. Bucks 103
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Lakers 123, Wizards 116
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Washington Wizards, 123-116, in a scrimmage from Orlando on Monday afternoon.
While there were five ties and five lead changes in the first quarter alone, Los Angeles held the lead for the final three quarters of action. However, the game stayed within a seven-point margin for all but a handful of minutes, with the Lakers riding a 37-30 third quarter to the victory. Los Angeles shot 49 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. The Lakers also out-rebounded the Wizards, 48-42, while recording 12 steals.
Rui Hachimura led the Wizards with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jerome Robinson paced the bench with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Ish Smith also provided 12 points, five rebounds and six assists off the pine.
With LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard resting, Alex Caruso led the Lakers’ starters with 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. J.R. Smith led the team in scoring, dropping 20 points off the bench and knocking down six of his seven attempts from three. Dion Waiters also came off the bench to tally 18 points, three rebounds and six assists.
This was the final scrimmage for both teams, which now turn their attention toward the eight seeding games, which begin Thursday night. The Lakers face the Clippers on Thursday, while Washington squares off against the Suns on Friday.
— By Joel Bartilotta, RotoWire
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Kings 106, Clippers 102
The Sacramento Kings rallied for a 106-102 comeback victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at Orlando on Thursday in the NBA Season Restart Scrimmage finale for both teams.
The Kings overcame a 21-point third-quarter deficit by outscoring the Clippers, 33-19, in the fourth quarter. The Kings didn’t take the lead for good until Nemanja Bjelica hit his only shot of the day — a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to go ahead 102-100, as Los Angeles led 40 of the first 44 minutes.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Kings with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists. De’Aaron Fox made his return from an ankle injury with 12 points, four rebounds and six assists, while Buddy Hield led the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Kings held the Clippers to just 36 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.
Paul George, who posted 19 points, four rebounds and three assists led the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard scored 17 points, and Marcus Morris finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Reggie Jackson added 11 points, four rebounds and five assists.
The Clippers open the restart regular-season Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, while the Kings play the San Antonio Spurs.
— By Joel Bartilotta, RotoWire
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Jazz 112, Nets 107
The Utah Jazz held off the Brooklyn Nets, 112-107, in the NBA Season Restart Scrimmage finale for both teams at Orlando on Monday.
The Jazz led almost the whole way, going ahead at the 7:27 mark of the first quarter, but the Nets made it a game in the fourth quarter. Trailing 84-72 entering the final period, the Nets cut the lead to two, 105-103, with 1:55 to play but could get no closer.
The Nets hurt themselves at the foul line where they went 13 for 27 (48.1 percent). Utah scored 23 points from the free-throw line (on 32 attempts, 71.9 percent) and held an advantage on the boards, 54-45.
Rudy Gobert led the way for the Jazz with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and a block. Mike Conley scored 18 points, and Donovan Mitchell finished with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Jordan Clarkson led the bench with 12 points, five rebounds and a steal.
Caris LeVert paced the Nets with 23 points and six assists. Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Rodions Kurucs produced a bench-leading 13 points and six rebounds, while Tyler Johnson scored 11 points in 17 minutes.
The Jazz open the restart regular season Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Nets play Friday against Orlando Magic.
— By Juan Carlos Blanco
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Magic 114, Nuggets 110
The Orlando Magic defeated the Denver Nuggets, 114-110, on Monday in a scrimmage from Orlando.
The score might have been extremely close, but it’s fair to say the Magic were in control of the game from start to finish. The Nuggets’ biggest edge was by just one point during the first quarter. Orlando built a big lead in the first half and didn’t take its foot off the gas after a 29-19 first quarter, outpacing Denver by as much as 21 points early in the second quarter.
The first half ended with an 11-point lead for the Magic, but Denver didn’t give up the rest of the way. They only reduced Orlando’s advantage late in the fourth quarter — although they did win the third quarter by a 32-29 score — but by that time, it was too late to turn things around. The Nuggets got as close as four points with a few seconds left in the fourth, but that’s the closest they’d get. The Magic closed things out and escaped with the win.
Six Orlando players scored in double digits, led by Gary Clark, who ended with 17 points. James Ennis III and Terrence Ross had 15 points apiece, while D.J. Augustin and Jonathan Isaac each chipped in with 13 points off the bench.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with a 23-point, four-rebound, four-assist performance, while Nikola Jokic went scoreless in his return to center. Paul Millsap notched 13 points with six boards and three dimes.
This game was the final scrimmage for both teams. The Magic will resume their regular-season campaign Friday against the Brooklyn Nets, while Denver will play Saturday against the Miami Heat.
— By Juan Aravena, RotoWire
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Pelicans 124, Bucks 103
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 124-103, on Monday in the NBA Season Restart Scrimmage finale for both teams at Orlando.
Trailing 53-50 at halftime, the Pelicans dominated the second half, outscoring the Bucks 40-28 in the third quarter and 34-22 in the fourth quarter to run away with it.
JJ Redick came up big for the Pelicans with 20 points, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range in 15 minutes off the bench. Jaxson Hayes added 17 points, and Frank Jackson totaled 16 points. The Pelicans shot 45 percent from the field, including 36 percent from deep.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Khris Middleton added 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Ersan Ilyasova added 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Bucks shot 39 percent from the field and 26 percent from long range.
The Bucks will restart the regular season with a matchup against the Boston Celtics on Friday, while the Pelicans restart their season against the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
— By Dan Bruno, RotoWire
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