NBA Game Notes: Pistons and Rockets pick up big wins

Notes from: Pistons-Knicks, Rockets-Grizzlies, Raptors-Warriors and a Stephon Castle breakdown

Monday night the NBA delivered a few more terrific games. The Pistons-Knicks and Rockets-Grizzlies games were awesome. The Raptors-Warriors game was less awesome but was still a close one!

Here’s what I saw on Monday!

Detroit Pistons - 124 at New York Knicks - 119

• We’re going right to the end, because the Pistons process to get the game-clinching buckets was great!

  Part of Cade Cunningham’s growth this season is he’s an improved young player who keeps getting better. Part of it is better talent around Cunningham, which makes the game easier for him. And a big part is Cunningham trusting that talent.

  On both of these big plays, Cunningham draws and accepts the extra defender. Then, he’s very willing to get off the ball to open a shot for someone else. From there, on both plays, Tim Hardaway Jr. turns a good shot into a great one by making the extra pass to Malik Beasley. This is awesome offense from a young team, especially late in crunchtime.

• Ausar Thompson is a game-wrecking defensive force. To make the leap as a player, he has to knock down more shots. That’s why I love seeing him confidently stepping into his jumper like this:

• It’s great that as the Pistons have ascended, they are keeping player development in mind by continuing to play Ron Holland II. He’s really flashed some good stuff throughout the first half of his rookie season.

  First up here is a smartly-timed cut, and a nice drop-off pass from Jalen Duren. Then, Holland worked out of screen actions a couple of times to get downhill for a couple of buckets.

• The Knicks are always going to play through Jalen Brunson first, then Karl-Anthony Towns second. But on nights when other guys are making everything, New York needs to get more shots for those guys.

  In this one, that was Mikal Bridges. He’s run offenses before. New York could, and should, have given Bridges more on-ball reps. Detroit had no real answer for him.

• Count me in as worried about Karl-Anthony Towns’ right thumb injury. It was definitely bothering him throughout the game. It seemed to really impact his passing, as he seemed to be having trouble holding onto the ball.

• It’ll probably be something minor, given their issues with the second-apron hard cap, but expect the Knicks to do what they can to add some depth. They need another wing-sized player to give them at least 10-15 minutes per game in the second half of the season.

Memphis Grizzlies - 118 at Houston Rockets - 120

• Let’s start with hoping these two meet in the playoffs. These teams don’t care for each other, and that’s great! A playoff series between the two would be close, physical and contentious. After multiple games against each other in a two-week period, it’s a great bet that we’d see suspensions on both sides from fighting. Rivalries are a good thing for the NBA and this is a budding one!

• This was a big-time rally by the Rockets. And just when it looked like Memphis had snatched back control and was going to survive the comeback, Houston came up with a couple more big plays.

• Jalen Green was awesome all night. He’s had flashier highlights too. But this is one of my favorite plays he’s ever made. He was decisive and quick about getting to the rim, then absorbed the contact for the strong finish. Great stuff from Green here!

• Amen Thompson comes to the opponent’s party, gets loud, eats all their food, breaks a bunch of stuff and ruins their night. Then he goes home and laughs about it.

• Thought Steven Adams’ physicality played a part in Houston getting on track. Adams started tossing guys around a bit and the rest of the Rockets picked up their play.

• Another strong game from Cam Whitmore. They aren’t going to be able to take him out of the rotation when other forwards get back from injury. Whitmore is too good to not play.

• They didn’t win, but Jaylen Wells taking and making this no-hesitation three late in the game is big for him and the Grizzlies:

• I don’t know what Jake LaRavia’s future is with the Grizzlies, given they declined their rookie scale team option for next season. But LaRavia has proven he’s an NBA player and not just a dependent player either. He’s got a little bit of on-ball juice:

• The late-game moments from this one are a good example of why Memphis could use one more guy. The Cam Johnson rumors make a lot of sense. He’d inject some lineup versatility for the Grizzlies, while giving them another shot-maker.