Welcome Back: Buffalo's Return to the Association | A Bigjdotcom01 Production

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ALL-STAR GAME - 2017-18 SEASON
West Too Much For East
Western Conference Runs to Early Lead, Then Cruises to Victory in Los Angeles

Kahwi Leonard earned the game's MVP with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists

2/18/18
Los Angeles, CA (AP) - The Western Conference All-Stars put on quite a show in Los Angeles on Sunday night, rolling up 142 points in a 142-134 victory over the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the 67th NBA All-Star Game held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard, of the San Antonio Spurs, earned the Mopst Valuable Player award, scoring 29 points, whiel grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out six assists.

Kevon Durant led the Western Conference with 34 points, making 5 of 9 from beyond the arc.

The West blew open a close game in the second quarter, opening the quarter on a 20-4 run and outscoring the East 40-25 to take a 74-60 lead into the break.

Giannis Antekounmpo, from Milwaukee, scored 21 of his game high 35 points in the first half.

Kevin Durant led the Western Conference All-Stars with 34 points on 12 of 22 shooting. He was on fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points in the final frame to help the West stave off any comeback hopes from the Eastern Conference. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento) had a big night for the West, scoring 16 points and pulling down 21 rebounds.

Paul George (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Lebron James (15 points, 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles for the East with Lebron just missing a triple-double. He had eight assists.

There were no representatives from the Buffalo Stallions in the game.

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GAME #23 - 2017-18 SEASON
Hawks Fly Past Stallions
Atlanta Uses Fourth Quarter Run to Extend Stallions Losing Streak

Dennis Schroder knocks down one of his three triples.

2/20/18
Atlanta, GA (AP) - The Buffalo Stallions saw their season long losing streak extended to four games on Tuesday evening as they dropped a 122-116 decision to the Atlanta Hawks at the Phillips Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Hawks pulled away late in a game that featured 12 lead changes with the final score being the largest lead held by either team the entire night.

The ageless Charlie Villanueva was an unstoppable force for the Hawks.

Atlanta (8-15) won for the sixth time in their last eight games after opening the season (2-13). Dennis Shroder led the Hawks with 23 points, going 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 12 assists to earn player of the game honors. The ageless Charlie Villanueva scored 22 points on 7 of 11 shooting. He was unguardable and picked the Stallions apart.

For the Stallions, Dwight Powell scored 22, while Michael Carter-Williams added 21 points and 13 assists.

Coach Kevin McHale was not pleased afterwards, "We need to learn to play some defense. I am pleased with our work ethic on the boards, but if we want to be a serious threat, we need to play better on the defensive end."

The NBA trade deadline is tomorrow, and the Stallions (12-11) will return to action next Tuesday night at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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New York, NY (AP) - While the trade front has been quiet, the Dallas Mavericks have dismissed head coach Rick Carlisle and replaced him with Luke Walton. The Mavericks were (6-16) this year after going (8-21) and finishing last in the Western Conference in 2016-17.

The National Basketball Association Trade Deadline has come and past with very few big moves. Here are the only trades that were made in February:

February 5: Pistons sent PF Jon Leuer and a 2019 2nd round pick (Rockets) to the Sonics in exchange for PG Auston Rivers.

February 6: Hawks sent PG Jerryd Bayless and SG Tim Hardaway Jr tp the Spurs in exchange for SG Danny Green and the Spurs 2020 1st round pick (Top 3 protected).

February 16: Mavericks send C A.J. Hammons to the Raptors in exchange for PF Bennie Boatwright

February 20: Knicks send SF Lance Thomas to the Timberwolves in exchange for C Al Jefferson.

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GAME #24 - 2017-18 SEASON
Stallions Outshoot Wolves
Buffalo Ends Four Game Skid With Red Hot Shooting Night

Alex Len scored a season high 26 points on Tuesday evening.

2/27/18
Buffalo, NY (AP) - The Buffalo Stallions used a red-hot shooting night to break a four game losing streak as they handed the Minnesota Timberwolves a 114-109 setback at the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. Michael Carter-Williams and Alex Len each scored a game high 26 points to lead the Stallions past a very good Timberwolves club.

Nik Stauskas makes one of Buffalo's 13 three pointers

Minnesota (13-8) came out hitting everything in the first quarter as they grabbed a 38-26 lead. But the STallions would turn teh tables in the second, clamping down defensively, and heating up at the other end, outscoring the Timberwolves 36-20 in the second to take a 62-58 lead into the break.

An 8-0 Buffalo run midway through the third gave the Stallions their biggest lead of the night at 78-64.

An Alex Len dunk, then a steal and three pointer from Nik Stauskas put the Stallions up 93-83 with 10:08 left in regulation. The Wolves would get as close as 104-100, before the Stallions were able to hold on and pick up the very big victory.

Andrew Wiggins led the Wolves with 22 points on 9 of 19 shooting. Rookie Harry Giles, the second overall pick in last summer's draft by the Heat, scored 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as he played a game high 42 minutes. Giles came over to the Wolves from Miami in a draft day trade for the Wolves' 2017 first round pick.

This was a strange game as the Timberwolves led by 12 in the first half, and Buffalo led by 14 in the second half. The Stallions outrebounded the Wolves 49-41, and shot an impressive 57% from the floor on 42 of 74 shooting including 13 of 25 from beyond the arc.

Buffalo will now have a very light schedule in March, playing just once between the 1st and 23rd with a game at league leading San Antonio on the 14th. They close out the month with three games in the final week all agianst Western Conference opponents, at home against Phoneix on the 24th, at Memphis on the 26th, and Utah on the 31st.

The Stallions have just seven game left in the regular season and currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division and in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, two game up on ninth place Detroit.

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New York, NY (AP) - The 2017-18 NBA season is winding down, with just six weeks left in the regular season.

The NBA's newest club, the expansion team awarded to Kansas City early in the month has revealed it's name and logo. The club will be known as the Kansas City Firebirds. The team colors are navy, orange and grey. The franchise will begin play next season at the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City and will play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.



Here is a look at the standings and league leaders through the end of February.

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GAME #25 - 2017-18 SEASON
Spurs Brush Aside Stallions
San Antonio Cruises to Easy Win

Kahwi Leonard looked a lot like an NBA MVP on Wednesday evening.

3/14/18
San Antonio, TX (AP) - The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the National Basketball Association. On Wednesday evening, the Spurs easily disposed of the expansion Buffalo Stallions 123-112 at the AT&T Center in downtown San Antonio. Kahwi Leonard scored a game high 36 points to pace the Spurs as the eased past the Stallions in a game in which they never trailed.

Kahwi Leonard blows by Otto Porter.

San Antonio (20-6) was coming off a loss to the Brooklyn Nets that broke a 10 game winning streak. This one was never in doubt as the Spurs ran out to a 30-13 lead less than nine minutes into the game. They led this one 59-45 at the break with Kahwi Leonard scoring 17 first half points.

The Stallions made it respectable late, but trailed for most of the night by at least 15.

Dwight Powell led the Stallions with 28 points and nine rebounds. Michael Carter-Williams scored 18 points and dished out a season high 14 assists. Otto Porter and Nik Stauskas added 16 points each.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and pulled down 12 boards for the Spurs. Tony Parker scored 13 and dished out 10 assists, whiel Pau Gasol scored 11 and grabbed a game high 17 boards.

The crowd broke into "M-V-P, M-V-P" chants as Kahwi Leonard attempted free throws with 1:47 left in the game. Leonard was just about unguardable by Buffalo's defense. He scored 36 on 15 of 26 shooting from the field. The Stallions are last in the league, allowing almost 107 point per game.

The Spurs led by as many as 23 in this one, and never trailed. They also outrebounded the Stallions 58-48. Buffalo held a 62-28 advantage in the paint, but the Spurs made 12 of 29 from beyond the arc.

Up next for Buffalo (13-12) is a home date with the struggling Phoenix Suns (9-17) next Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for noon at the KeyBank Center.

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GAME #26 - 2017-18 SEASON
Stallions Eclipse Suns
Buffalo Uses Big Second QUarter to Cruise to Easy Win

Alex Len came up big for the Stallions on Saturday evening.

3/24/18
Buffalo, NY (AP) - It was another typicla Buffalo spring day. The Stallions game against the Phoenix Suns was scheduled for a noon tipoff, but a freak late season snow storm moved the game back to 7:30 because the Suns did not arrive into town until Saturday morning due to the inability to get into Buffalo.

Michael Carter-WIlliams throws one down. He led all scorers with 25 points.

The travel wary Suns looked like a team that endured a long night of airports and travel as the Stallions cruised to an easy 118-98 win, moving them closer to a playoff berth in their inaugural NBA season. Michael Carter-Williams and Alex Len led the way as the Stallions improved to (14-12) on the year with five games left in the regular seaosn.

This one stayed close for the first quarter, with Buffalo holding a 26-23 lead at the end of one. That ended quickly as the Stallions exploded for 42 points in the second quarter and ran to a 68-45 halftime lead. They would extend the lead to as many as 31 early in the final quarter before the Stallions and Kevin McHale cleared their bench.

"This was a big win for us," said McHale afterwards. "It wasn't about the opponent. It was about our work ethic on the defensive end. We came out with a purpose and when we play like that, good things are going to happen."

Michael Carter-Williams led Buffalo with a game high 25 points. Otto Porter chipped in 18 and Nik Stauskas scored 15. Alex Len scored 11 points, but grabbed 14 boards and dished out a season high eight assists in the win.

The Suns were led by T.J. Warren's 19 points. Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe were held to just 11 and nine points respectively.

The Stallions will now head out on a three game road trip at Memphis, Utah and Boston. They retirn home to face Indiana before closing the season at New York.

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GAME #27 - 2017-18 SEASON
Stallions Run Away From Grizzlies
Buffalo Nevers Trails For Second Game in a Row

Otto Porter scored a season high 31 points.

3/26/18
Memphis, TN (AP) - The Buffalo Stallions opened a three game road trip with an impressive 115-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on Monday evening. Otto Porter scored a season high 31 points to help pace the Stallions to victory.

Michael Carter-Williams and the Stallions are closing in on an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Buffalo (15-12) won their second straight game and moved closer to clinching a playoff berth in their inaugural season. The win leaves the Stallions in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, 2 1/2 game clear of the Miami Heat, who sit in ninth. The Stallions have four games left, while Miami has just three remaining.

In this one, the Stallions got off to a red-hot start. They went on an 20-0 run in the first to go up 32-10 with 3:05 left in the opening quarter. Otto Porter hit three from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, scoring 11 points.

The Grizzlies (14-14), down 18 after one quarter, would not go away easily though. They fought back to get to within 57-53 at the half. A Mike Conley three pointer late in the third got the Grizzlies to within 77-75, but they could never get over the hump.

The Stallions pulled away in the fourth, thanks to a couple of big back-to-back three pointers from Cory Joseph and Dwight Powell to go up 96-86 with 9:21 left.

The Stallions got 24 points from Michael Carter-Williams, 16 points from Nik STauskas and 14 points with 13 rebounds from Dwight Powell. The Grizzlies were led by Marc Gasol who had a nice night. He scored 30 points, and grabbed 16 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals. Mike COnley scored 12 points and dished out 17 assists in the losing effort.

Buffalo will head to Utah (15-11) on Saturday night, then travel across country to face the Celtics (14-14) on Sunday evening.