Game 39: San Antonio Spurs 105 - Toronto Raptors 104

[Ebonhawke]

Knicks leading the Heat by 1 with a minute to go in the 4th

[slaw]

Knicks leading the Heat by 1 with a minute to go in the 4th

Refs trying to bail out the Heat.

[Ebonhawke]

Knicks leading the Heat by 1 with a minute to go in the 4th

Kncks up 123 to 121 over the Heat - Heat with the ball with 16" to play

[DanH]

That's awesome. They're starting Lowry-Norm-OG-Siakam-Ibaka. That's actually the starting lineup I would like to see Nurse try out even with everyone healthy (or at least get a look at mid games). The frontcourt trio of OG-Siakam-Ibaka can make it very difficult for anyone to score when they're dialed in. You add to that the length and speed of Powell and his switch-ability into opposing forwards (plus Lowry who also doesn't mind being switched into bigs), and this is a scary defensive lineup.

Should have no problem scoring either with Siakam back, Powell slashing to the rim and bombing 3's, OG spotting up with all the attention back to Siakam and the deadly Lowry-Ibaka pick and roll. There might be some rust individually and collectively, but it should be a fun game

But... Powell is a dramatically worse defender than FVV. And Ibaka is a dramatically worse defender than Gasol. It's a great lineup to start now, and to use sporadically for matchup purposes, but with FVV and Gasol available Powell and Ibaka shouldn't really be candidates to start.

Mostly I'm excited when we are at full health to have Powell's scoring off the bench again. He won't be crucial when rotations shrink in the playoffs but for the 82 game grind that scoring punch is a big help especially if we want to buy minutes for Lowry/Pascal.

[Ebonhawke]

No idea what Jimmy Butler was thinking on that - you're in the paint with Adebayo coming for rebounding position, and you pass it to Bam?

[007]

RJ missing a couple clutch free throws late 😬

At least he’s had a good game overall

[Ebonhawke]

Adebayo makes the prayer 3 .. except it's after the buzzer. Knicks win!

[slaw]

Heat weren’t going to keep winning all these close games. Starting to come back to Earth.

[bertarapsfan]

Glad we get pascal back. Enough time for him to start getting some All star votes when he has big games. He was barely behind embiid and he was not playing the whole time voting was on. Now with embiid injuried and him out he should be able to lock down a starting spot

[A.I]

Happy to see Pascal and Norm back.

[007]

We’re one game back of 2nd if we win today

[bertarapsfan]

pascal with the undershirt now? Looks weird

[Ebonhawke]

pascal with the undershirt now? Looks weird

Perhaps, since it's been awhile, he's wanting to get the sweat going a bit faster

[bertarapsfan]

Perhaps, since it's been awhile, he's wanting to get the sweat going a bit faster

Or him and Norm are coordinating clothes now. They did wear matching blazers a few games ago on the bench

[007]

pascal with the undershirt now? Looks weird

It’s to protect his groin