NBA Wildcat Watch (March 2-5)

From Tuesday through Friday, each time a former Wildcat hits the court, we will recap how they did and include a few highlights (if available). On Tuesdays, we’ll also recap what happened over the weekend, so you don’t miss the action. This will also serve as a discussion board. We will try to keep it updated as soon as the games are over, so check back often!

There are just two Wildcats in action on Tuesday night, and they happen to be two important Jay Wright-era point guards—Ryan Arcidiacono (Chicago Bulls) and Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors). We’ll also get you caught up on the action from over the weekend, as well as Monday night.

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Ryan Arcidiacono

On Tuesday night, Arcidiacono came off the bench and accounted for 24 minutes of action. He finished with eight points (2-of-5 shooting), six rebounds, and two assists in the Bulls’ 105-96 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Earlier, on Sunday, the Bulls took on the Hawks once again—a rematch of their quadruple-overtime epic battle from just a few days before that. It wasn’t a marathon this time around, but it was still a closely contested game. The Hawks were able to avenge their loss, beating the Bulls, 123-118.

Arcidiacono had a productive outing in the loss, adding 13 points (5-of-9 shooting) through 23 minutes. He also had three boards, one assist, a steal, and a block.

Up Next: vs. Philadelphia on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Kyle Lowry

The Raptors fizzled out against James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. After a red-hot performance the game before, Lowry couldn’t muster the same success on Tuesday. He finished with eight points (4-of-16 shooting), six boards, six assists, and a sloppy five turnovers. Toronto lost, 107-95.

However, in the Raptors’ previous game versus the Detroit Pistons, Lowry had a solid all-around game. Unfortunately for Toronto, it lost, 112-107, in overtime, but Lowry was a bright spot. He scored the Raptors’ first seven points in overtime, but his effort wasn’t enough. He did finish with a season-high 35 points, including a 6-of-14 clip from long range. He also had seven boards and five assists.

Up Next: @ New Orleans on Friday, Mar. 8, at 8 p.m. ET

Mikal Bridges

The Suns picked up two quality wins against the Los Angeles Lakers (118-109) on Saturday, and then another one over the Milwaukee Bucks (114-105) on Monday.

Bridges had 12 points (4-of-8 shooting), five rebounds, two assists, one block, and a steal against the Lakers.

A couple of days later, in the Milwaukee game, he chipped in nine points (2-of-6 shooting), seven rebounds, one assist, and a pair of steals.

Up Next: vs. New York on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 9 p.m. ET

Jalen Brunson

After posting a season and career-high 24 points last week, Brunson cooled off over the weekend. As a matter of the fact, the entire Dallas Mavericks team did as well.

The Mavericks lost by 30-plus point margins against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday (111-81) and then again to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday (127-88).

Brunson struggled against the Grizzlies, finishing with just two points on 1-of-10 shooting. He did have four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

He was able to pick things back up against the Nets, when he had 10 points on a more efficient 4-of-5 shooting performance, with three boards and an assist to go along with it.

Up Next: @ Washington on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 7 p.m. ET

Dante Cunningham

Cunningham saw limited action in both of the San Antonio Spurs’ wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder (116-102) and the Denver Nuggets (104-103).

On Saturday, against the Thunder, Cunningham played just two minutes, finishing with one point and a rebound.

The following game, on Monday, he didn’t play.

Up Next: @ Atlanta on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET

Josh Hart

He’s been dealing with some knee tendinitis, but we got to see the Josh Hart we all know and love. Although it was a rough weekend for the Los Angeles Lakers, with losses to the Phoenix Suns (118-109) and the Los Angeles Clippers (113-105).

On Saturday, Hart logged eight points and three rebounds through 26 minutes of action.

A couple of days later, against the Clippers, we got to see Hart’s best showing in a couple of months. He has been in-and-out, as well as going through a bit of a slump, due to his nagging knee, but it didn’t look like anything was slowing him down on Monday night. Hart provided a nice spark off the bench, finishing with 17 points (6-of-11 shooting), four rebounds, and a block.

Up Next: vs. Denver on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Omari Spellman

Spellman appeared to have rolled his ankle in the four-overtime marathon against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. It turns out that it was pretty serious. He was inactive for the Hawks’ games against the Bulls and Miami Heat on Sunday and Monday night, and he will be reevaluated in four weeks.

Up Next: vs. San Antonio on Wednesday, Mar. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET

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Wednesday’s Slate

It’s an action packed Wednesday, with six Wildcats set to take the court—including a Dante Cunningham (San Antonio Spurs) vs. Omari Spellman (Atlanta Hawks) early in the lineup. Here’s who is playing, all times ET:

• Jalen Brunson: Dallas at Washington, 7 p.m.
• Dante Cunningham: San Antonio at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
• Omari Spellman: San Antonio at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
• Ryan Arcidiacono: Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
• Mikal Bridges: New York at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
• Josh Hart: Denver at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)