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Source: Fox News
Summary
168 NBA players sat out games Friday night due to injury or illness. Reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said his stars “earned the right to sit” after clinching the top seed in the Western Conference. LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama were among the stars who played despite injuries. The Boston Celtics made 29 3-pointers, tying an NBA record. All 30 NBA teams played in their 81st games Friday and will play in their 82nd and final games of the regular season Sunday.
Our Reading
The game followed a familiar script.
Stars sitting out, citing injuries and fatigue. Coaches preaching caution, citing the importance of managing their players’ bodies. The usual suspects – LeBron, Jokic, and others – playing through their ailments, because they’re “earned the right” to do so.
Meanwhile, teams like the Boston Celtics are breaking records, making 29 3-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans. But in the end, it’s all about the stars and their availability.
This one felt recognizable early, as the usual suspects took the floor and the ones who didn’t were given the night off.
Original observation: The NBA season has officially become a marathon, with teams and players taking it one game at a time, always looking for ways to manage their workload and maximize their chances of success.
Author: Evan Null
