Week 7 is in the books, and what a fun week it was. Of the five games played, four were within single digits, and for the first time in league history, two games played on the same day went to OT. Catch up on all of the action from Week 7 here!
12:30 pm - Bulls 74, Celtics 66
The Bulls defeated the Celtics by a score of 74-66 to kick off the day's action. Their three-man wrecking crew, consisting of Seth Johson, Bobby Crivokapich, and Benito Munoz, were responsible for a whopping 64 of the team's 74 points. Johnson led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Crivokapich had 22 points and 13 rebounds. Munoz also chipped in 18 points and hauled in 15 rebounds. The Celtics were led by Jonathan Townsend, who had a career high 17 points. Donald Ellis was back in the lineup on Sunday and had 15 points, while Jay Slone led the charge on the interior, where he had ten rebounds. One of the key differences in the game came on the glass, where the Bulls outrebounded the Celtics by a 50-38 margin. Despite leading in the final ten minutes of the game, the Celtics were unable to capitalize down the stretch, as the Bulls ended the game on a 21-12 run. The Bulls improve to 4-3 with the win, and will take on the Suns (0-7) next week at 1:30 pm. The Celtics fall to 2-7 with the loss, and will face the Mavericks (1-8) at 12:30 pm on Sunday.
1:30 pm - Warriors defeated Mavericks by Forfeit
The Warriors improved to 6-2 as the Mavericks were forced to forfeit, having only three players. The Mavericks fall to 0-8 with the loss. The Warriors will take on the Spurs (6-2) next Sunday at 3:30 pm in the Week 8 game of the week matchup.
2:30 pm - Mavericks 73, Suns 64
The Week 7 game of the week matchup did not disappoint, as both teams fought to the end in search of their first win. In the end, the Mavericks came roaring back from a 59-40 deficit to edge the Suns and pick up their first win of the season. Offense was the story in this one, as the Suns jumped out to a 40-31 lead at the half. Following a hot stretch on the offensive end of the court to start the second half, the Suns led the Mavericks by 19 points with eleven minutes remaining. A late substitution by big man Antwan Peterson, who has been nursing a groin injury, was the spark that the Mavericks needed, as they closed the game on a 33-5 run. Braijon Thomas was once again the leader for the Mavericks on the offensive end of the court, as he had 24 points and nine rebounds. Jamari Washington had 22 points, and Jamir Hinds had 16 points. Although the Suns lost for the seventh straight time this season, it was by far their most spirited performance, and one where they had four players score in double figures. Devonte Barnes had his best game of the year, scoring 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Michael Lonergan Jr. had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Ferra Johnson and Joey Mendoza each had twelve points. The Mavericks improve to 1-8 with the win, and will take on the Celtics (2-7) at 12:30 pm next Sunday. For the Suns, the loss pushes them to 0-7, and they will have two chances next Sunday to get win number one. They take on the Bulls (4-3) at 1:30 pm, followed by the Spurs (6-2) at 2:30 pm.
3:30 pm - Spurs 80, Lakers 73, F/OT
In one of the most fun matchups to date in the K1 League, two outstanding basketball teams gave us a fantastic 45 minutes of basketball on Sunday, culminating in a Spurs OT win by a score of 80-73. In a back and forth affair, Tone Brooks was followed with less than a second to go, putting him at the free throw line with the Lakers trailing 69-68. Brooks hit the front end of the one and one, but was just long on a second attempt, giving the Spurs a second chance. The Spurs would take advantage, outscoring the Lakers 11-4 in the extra period, along the way to an 80-73 win, avenging a three-point loss back in Week 1. Dennis Koger scored 25 points for the Spurs, on an efficient 9/13 from the field. Ryan Kvasnicka had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Ray Lawrence had fifteen points. Marty Bothwell was a machine on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds in limited minutes. For the Lakers, LJ Harris led the way with 21 points, while Brooks had 17 points. Rob Anderson and Robertson Jr. each had 12 points, while Quon Shaw added nine points. Shaw led the way on the glass for the Lakers with eleven rebounds. With the win, the Spurs improve to 6-2, and are now tied at the top of the West division with the Warriors, who are also 6-2. Those very two teams, the Spurs and the Warriors, will matchup next Sunday at 3:30 pm in what could likely be the deciding game in a crowded West division. Meanwhile for the Lakers, their record now sits at 6-3, as they face off against a Heat team (6-3) with an identical record next week at 5:30 pm in a potential playoff preview.
4:30 pm - Bucks 65, Heat 51
The Bucks continued to do on Sunday what they have done all season, and that was shut down the opposing team's best player, along the way to a methodical 65-51 victory. Holding the Heat's Terrell Hendrix to just 15 points on 7/23 shooting, the Bucks improved to 7-1 to take a two game lead in the East division. Darien Bosby was outstanding on Sunday for the Bucks, scoring a season-high 22 points. Jaquan Boxley and Jordan Logan each had eleven points, while Caleb Johnson and Christian Straw each chipped in eight points. Johnson led the way on the glass with ten rebounds. While the Bucks didn't light it up from the field, it was their defense that stood out. In their seven victories this year, the Bucks have allowed just 49.5 points per game, as their 53.1 ppg allowed ranks at the top of the K1 League. Hendrix's 15 points led the way for the Heat, as Trey Anthony's 12 points would be the only other player in double figures. Despite outrebounding the Bucks by a 42-29 margin, the Heat would finish the game shooting just 1/22 from the three point line, a season low for any team. The Bucks improve to 7-1 with the win, and will take on the Nets (3-5) next week at 4:30 pm. The Heat fall to 5-3 with the loss, and would be right back on the court against the Nets in a pivotal matchup for seeding in the East division.
5:30 pm - Heat 59, Nets 52, F/OT
Despite an ugly loss in the 4:30 pm game where seemingly nothing would fall for the Heat, they got right back on the saddle for a gutsy, 59-52 OT win against the Nets. In a game that was 22-21 at the half, the Heat were able to separate themselves from the Nets a little bit down the stretch. But just as they did in Week 1, the Nets wouldn't quit, as Ronnie Jackson hit a difficult, contested three-pointer in the final seconds of the game, to force OT. The Heat went on a 10-3 run in the extra period, as the Nets' star player Red Binion was ejected from the game following an altercation with an official. Although Binion led the way in scoring for the Nets with 18 points, along with Ronnie Jackson, he was only able to muster 7/25 from the field, including just 2/11 from behind the long line. KT Bobo's ability to defend Binion, paid dividends in the end, as the Heat were able to slow down the league's leading scorer. Octavius Jefferson had himself a huge game, scoring 16 points and grabbing ten rebounds. Terrell Hendrix had 14 points, while Ke'Sean Williams had 13 points. Outside of the 18-point performances from Binion and Jackson, the next highest scorer for the Nets was Maurice Terrell, who had seven points. The Nets fall to 3-5 with the loss, and will take on the Bucks (7-1) next week at 4:30 pm. The Heat meanwhile improve to 6-3 on the year, and will have a blockbuster matchup with the Lakers next week at 5:30 pm.