Amen Thompson is the Rockets' Not So Secret Weapon | HOOPS Daily, 1/28/2025
The Rockets are legit, Damian Lillard returns to Portland tonight, and more.
The Tip-Off: 3 Mac McClung Dunks to Get You Hyped for the Dunk Contest
1. This Insane Two-Handed Jam in the 2024 Dunk Contest
2. Reverse Jam vs. Denver (with the Lakers)
3. High School Dunk Contest Mixtape
Performances of the Night
Anthony Davis - 42pts/23r
The Lakers big man put up a double-double in one quarter for the first time in his career, tallying 21pts/11r and outscoring the Hornets himself (21-19). He didn’t slow down from there, attacking both ends of the floor to give the Lakers their fourth straight win.
Amen Thompson - 33pts/9r/4a
On Saturday, Amen Thompson had a career-high in points as the Rockets beat the Cavaliers for the second time this season. He followed that up Monday with a second career-high in as many games including a game winner to push the Rockets past another premiere Eastern Conference contender: the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Since Thompson has entered Houston’s starting lineup, the team has been close to unstoppable. Houston is 12-3 when he starts and his impact is undeniable. That this is just his second season adds even more to Houston’s suddenly wide open window.
The New York Knicks - 143pts
It’s hard to point out any one Knicks player in their 37pt drubbing of the Grizzlies so instead, let’s take a second to appreciate the 85-54 second-half advantage the Knicks had. Lately, defensively they’ve looked a lot more like last year’s team, thanks in large part to Josh Hart’s efforts, but overall, the team seems to be enjoying the same high-production depth that has helped them in recent years with seven players in double-digits tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo - 35pts/18r/7a/2stl & Damian Lillard - 35pts/8a
A win over the Jazz may not seem like huge news but it’s the fact that Milwaukee’s two stars seem to be rolling in sync right now after a bumpy start to their tandem last year and to start this season. Khris Middleton looks more comfortable coming off the bench every day and gives the Bucks the type of second unit firepower they’re goin to need to hang with some of the other top Eastern conference teams. Most importantly though, it feels like it’s finally as fun to watch Giannis and Dame play together as we all hoped it would be.
Klay Thompson - 23pts/4a, 7-12 3PT
Klay hit all seven of his threes in the first quarter, part of a 42-16 bludgeoning that put the game out of reach before Washington even knew what hit them. Klay ties the Mavs’ record for threes in a quarter1 and even though he doesn’t do it every night anymore, there’s still few things as exciting as a Klay Thompson heat-check run.
Nikola Jokic - 33pts/12r/14a
The Nuggets fell to the Chicago Bulls Monday but that doesn’t stop Nikola Jokic from being arguably the most must-see player in the NBA on a nightly basis. His triple-double tonight was his eighth in the last 12 Nuggets games. The man is a walking cheat code that seems to only be able to make the right decisions on the basketball court every single time he plays and it’s incredible to watch every night.
Tyler Herro - 30pts/12a/8r
The Heat needed every bit of Tyler Herro’s box score to help them survive OT vs. the Magic and he delivered despite an off shooting night (12-28 FG, 4-15 3pt). Herro’s level-up this season has come at a bit of an inopportune time considering all of the drama surrounding the team but if Miami is able to sort that out and he can continue this sustained level of play, they could find themselves right back in the mix.
Speaking of the Heat’s drama….
Heat Suspend Jimmy Butler Indefinitely
For the third time in 28 days of January, the Miami Heat have suspended F Jimmy Butler. This time the suspension comes after Butler reportedly walked out of practice upon hearing he’d be removed from the starting lineup going forward. The trade deadline is February 6th and at this point, something has to give between the team and its’ star.
That didn’t stop teammate Kevin Love for posting about the situation on his Instagram, which has become almost a daily occurrence. Except this time, Jimmy actually posted something on the situation as well:
If you aren’t following Kevin Love’s instagram, you’re missing out.
At the Buzzer
- Anthony Davis is hosting a prank show from the producers of Impractical Jokers
”It’s Impractical Jokers but with athletes” is an all-time one sentence summary
- Full Slam Dunk Contest lineup announced
Mac McClung will look for a three-peat vs. Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis, and Andre Jackson Jr.
- LaMelo Ball suffered sprained left ankle in Hornets’ loss vs. Lakers
- Report: Rookie Matas Buzelis is the only untouchable Bulls player, everyone else is available
- Shams: Isaiah Thomas signing with the Utah Jazz G-League affiliate in attempt of an another NBA return2
Watching Tonight
We may only have four games tonight but there’s at least one that’s going to be very worth watching if not flat-out must-see.
Rockets at Hawks
Lakers at 76ers
Jazz at Warriors
Bucks at Trail Blazers
DAMIAN LILLARD RETURNS TO PORTLAND TO PLAY THE BLAZERS FOR THE SECOND TIME AND HE AND GIANNIS ARE ABSOLUTELY ROLLING RIGHT NOW.3
Thank you guys for checking out today’s newsletter, I sincerely appreciate your time. Whether this is your first time seeing this or you check every day, I cannot thank you enough. I hope everyone reading this is doing okay and can enjoy the day and the rest of the week. Take care.
The other player with seven in a quarter is of course… Luka Doncic
He average 33pts in four games with them last year and was then called up by the Suns for a bit
I know this won’t be as much fanfare as the first time but Dame’s impact on Portland can’t really be overstated, he was a huge part of that city for so long that it’s impossible to not want to celebrate seeing him back there again