Gardner: This week in the NBA
TOP BUCKS PLAYER
Jabari Parker had his third 30-point game of the season on Wednesday in the Bucks’ 119-94 defeat of Detroit, scoring 31 and adding a season-high nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists. He finished with 20 points and six rebounds in the team’s 116-99 loss at Minnesota on Friday night. Earlier in the week, Parker posted 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 107-102 loss at Washington.
BUCKS LOOK AHEAD
The New Year starts with a bang as triple-double threat Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Milwaukee at 6 p.m. Monday. Then the Bucks play a back-to-back set with the New York Knicks, getting their first look at Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose in Knicks colors. The teams play at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday and at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Friday.
BUCKS QUOTE
Parker after the Bucks blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead in Washington: “"Not a single person was real positive and that's what led us to our loss. We panicked. We all looked at each other and pointed the finger. Collectively we weren't composed; we weren't motivated.”
NBA QUOTE
Bucks coach Jason Kidd on how he improved his three-point shooting late in his career and if Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio could do the same: “It was just practice and age. ... It takes time when you’re a pass-first guy. You have so many things going through your head. When you become a little more selfish and start thinking about yourself a little bit, that’s when your shooting tends to improve.”
TOP NBA PLAYER
Diminutive point guard Isaiah Thomas did something no player had done in the proud history of the Boston Celtics franchise. He scored 29 points in a quarter – and finished with 52 – in Boston’s 117-114 victory over Miami on Friday night at TD Garden. Thomas’ total was the fourth-highest in Celtics history and his 29 points in the fourth quarter broke the franchise record for points in a quarter (24) set by Larry Bird in 1983 and matched by Todd Day in 1995.
TOP NBA TEAM
Washington got off to such a slow start that people were wondering if it was a playoff team. But the Wizards have found the right formula while winning three straight and seven of their last nine to reach the .500 mark (16-16). They beat Milwaukee, Indiana and Brooklyn during a home stand last week as point guard John Wall took off. Wall had 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists against the Pacers and contributed 19 points and 14 assists against the Nets on Friday. He also had 18 and 16 against the Bucks. Bradley Beal sat out with an ankle injury Friday but Trey Burke scored 27 points off the bench.
NBA RANKINGS(through Friday)
Top 10: 1. Golden State, 2. Cleveland, 3. San Antonio, 4. Houston, 5. Toronto, 6. Boston, 7. Utah, 8. Oklahoma City, 9. Memphis, 10. Charlotte.
Middle 10: 11. Los Angeles Clippers, 12. Washington, 13. Atlanta, 14. Indiana, 15. Milwaukee, 16. Chicago, 17. New York Knicks, 18. Sacramento, 19. Orlando, 20. Denver.
Bottom 10: 21. New Orleans, 22. Portland, 23. Detroit, 24. Minnesota, 25. Los Angeles Lakers, 26. Philadelphia, 27. Dallas, 28. Miami, 29. Phoenix, 30. Brooklyn.
ONE MAN'S OPINION
The talk in Minnesota at Friday’s shootaround was about the struggles of reserve forward Shabazz Muhammad.
What struggles?
As soon as the Bucks hit the floor Friday night, Muhammad was a changed player. He hit 8 of 13 shots and 4 of 5 three-point attempts while scoring a season-high 22 points in 18 minutes.
The former UCLA player averaged 14.5 points against the Bucks in two games last season, including a 17-point showing in Milwaukee.
One Timberwolves insider said maybe Muhammad likes to play the Bucks because he was chosen 14th overall in the 2013 draft by Utah, one place before the Bucks selected Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Minnesota acquired Muhammad along with Gorgui Dieng in a draft-night trade in 2013 that sent Trey Burke to Utah.
Whatever the reason, Muhammad must wish the Bucks were in the Western Conference where he could play them more than twice a year.