Taking The Bet - the NBA lands in Las Vegas

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ALL STAR 2016 RECAP

Elites crush Rising Stars (120 - 84)

Curry confirmed 3 point king: wins 3 point contest

Contestants:
Stephen Curry
Brandon Knight
James Harden
Damian Lillard
Klay Thompson
Isaiah Thomas






Wiggins follows teammate LaVine as Dunk Champion

Contestants:
Zach LaVine
Andrew Wiggins
Shabazz Muhammad
Ben McLemore







KD wins MVP as West dominates East (131 - 114)

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February 20, 2016

It was a chilly evening in Las Vegas, Nevada. The setting sun left a stunning red glare along the cloudy skyline. Dan Quinn, majority owner of the Jokers franchise and stakeholder of the MGM financed Arena, lit up a cigarette and wandered the immer vivid Vegas Strip. A lingering hangover still plagued him a bit. It was quite the weekend.

Quinn had just flown in from Toronto with his private jet. Like every other notable person involved in this league, he spent the weekend North of the border for the 2016 NBA All Star game.

He stopped for a moment and admired the fountain spectacle in front of the incredible Bellagio Hotel. What an amazing sight, he tought. This was exactly what had him sold on this city when he first walked these streets years ago.

"People come here to have a good time and to be entertained. Night in, night out. That's the business I'm in, that's the business I love. It's my duty to give these people a show they won't easily forget ...", Quinn muttered to himself.

It made him think. As flashes of memories from past weekend's All Star festivities flashed before his eyes, there was one that left a strong, lasting impression on his mind.
Kevin Durant. The Durantula, The Slim Reaper, ...





Quinn hadn't forgotten how this guy single handedly crushed his own team in his glorious new Arena just days ago. That smirky grin on his face ... It was embarrassing. This guy was just a sensational scoring machine. He made it seem almost effortless. Things were no different in the All Star game this weekend. The Durantula put on a one man show like few others in this league could do.

The crowd was loving his every movement, and Quinn could see the excitement in their eyes . This was sports entertainment at it's very best. It gave Quinn a special feeling. That same feeling he now experienced, as he gazed at the Bellagio spectacle, enhanced by the beautiful sunset in the background. And this quy is about to become an unrestricted free agent?!

Quinn tossed away his burning cigarette and grabbed his cellphone. A woman's voice answered his call:

"Evening Dan, you're calling in late. Hope you had a safe flight."

"It was fine, thanks Rebecca. Schedule me a meeting with the team GM please. We need to talk, asap ..."

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Gortat, Jokers outduel Gasol, Celtics (106 - 90)

February 27, 2016
By: Ray Porter
NBA.com Reporter

GAME RECAP

Vegas came out swinging after the All Star break, as we're headed into the final stretch of the season. The end game for playoff seeding has begun. The West is still pretty much a free-for-all, with the Jokers currently in the 8th spot. They still have a shot at climbing up the ladder, but with the Mavs, Pelicans and - with a bit of luck on their side - the Wolves on their heels, they could still miss out on the playoffs.

The Jokers seemed to have found the right rythm and chemistry though. They are playing some beautiful, unselfish team ball lately. 6 players on the team ended up with double digits on the scoreboard again versus the Celtics.

They Celtics - without an injured I. Thomas - played a great game overall. Their newest superstar on the block, Marc Gasol, put up 25 points and was a major threat in the post. Jokers took home the win though, 106 - 90.

BOX SCORE

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Las Vegas Jokers @ Charlotte Hornets

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Wright scores season high 19 as Jokers blow past Hornets

March 23, 2016
By: Ray Porter
NBA.com Reporter

GAME RECAP

The Jokers took a bit of a gamble midway trough the season when they bought Dorell Wright out of his contract with the Beikong Fly Dragons in the CBA and signed him to a 1 YR/4,5 MILL deal. But so far, Wright has been well worth the money and helped the Jokers to instant playoff contention in their new Conference.

Wright had his best outing so far against the Hornets, scoring a season high 19 points, racking up 6 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists too. Las Vegas has a lot of cap space this coming summer, and Wright seems determined to stay in the NBA for a longer while and make some good money in the process.

The Hornets were close all game long, but gave it away in the 4th quarter. Las Vegas takes another victory on the road 89 - 100.

BOX SCORE

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Jokers @ Miami Heat

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Vintage Wade helps Heat sneak past Jokers (98 - 96)

March 25, 2016
By: Ray Porter
NBA.com reporter

GAME RECAP

Things haven't been easy for the Heat this season. What was expected to be a playoff bound team, quickly turned around when they lost Chris Bosh and Chris Anderson for the entire season, already early in the season. With little cap space to make some signings or trades, the Heat plummeted to the bottom of the standings and joined the race for Ben Simmons.

Every once in a while though, when D. Wade turns into Vintage Superstar Wade - like this game - the Heat are still a very dangerous team. Wade went off for 28 points as the Heat grabbed a big lead over the Jokers going into the fourth.

The Jokers mounted an amazing comeback in the final quarter, outscoring the Heat by 16 points (36-20), but it was too little, too late. The Heat managed to hang on as Wade shot a game winning jumper in the final seconds. Miami steals this game 98 - 96. Well played Miami, well played ...

BOX SCORE

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76ers @ Las Vegas

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Youthful Sixers stun Jokers in low post battle (107 - 101)

March 30, 2016
By: Ray Porter
NBA.com reporter

GAME RECAP

Apart from Wall and Beal (and Oubre, if you will), almost the entire Jokers squad is well in their thirties. A major handicap that got exposed against the talented kindergarten that is the 76ers.

Las Vegas really lacks a decent rim defender at the moment. Though Gortat and Drew Gooden are playing solid, they looked like two grandpa's going up against Okafor, Noël and Embiid in the post.

Vegas had no answer for these young guns in the paint, and to top things off, Robert Covington exploded for 24 points. He shot an unstoppable 6-11 from downtown. Wall (30 points) tried to keep the Jokers in the game, but to no avail. Sixers go on to win it 107 - 101 on the road. Vegas' 8th spot for the playoffs is in danger right now.

BOX SCORE

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Timberwolves @ Las Vegas

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Young Wolves finding their way, but fall short to Jokers (92 - 103)

April 5, 2016
By: Ray Porter
NBA.com reporter

GAME RECAP

KAT, Wiggins, Muhammad, LaVine, ... Minnesota is a future star-studded team that might be worrying a lot of rival GM's around the league right now. The two former number 1 draft picks, KAT and Wiggins, combined for 47 points in Vegas. Vegas however has one secret weapon: John Wall. The elite point guard badboy has been nothing but sensational this season and continues his dominance.

Wall carried the scoring load for Vegas, dropping 29 points. Credits where credits are due though: it was another showing of great team basketball that got Vegas the W in the end. Nothing but double digits in the box score's PTS column once again. The Jokers are sharing the rock beautifully and it's paying off. They'll look to keep up this level of play throughout the postseason.

BOX SCORE

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Lakers @ Las Vegas