Around the NBA 2/7: Nets win lottery bowl; Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Buddy Hield all in action


As the Celtics were preparing to avoid the letdown scenario against the Kings tonight, there were 20 NBA teams in action last night. Here are 12 things you should know:

2016 DRAFT PICK WATCH

1. The Nets (13-39) lost to the 76ers last night. The Celtics own the Nets unconditional first-round draft pick. Brooklyn has the third-worst record in the NBA. As of today, the bottom of the league standings are as follows:

5. Timberwolves 16-36
4. Suns 14-38
3. Nets 13-39
2. Lakers 11-42
1. 76ers 8-43

2. The Celtics (30-22) were idle last night. They are currently projected to receive the 23rd pick in the NBA draft. As of this morning, their complete list of picks include 3, 19, 23, 31, 35, 49, 51 and 57.

3. The Mavericks (29-25) beat the Grizzlies in overtime last night. Dallas will convey their first-round pick to the Celtics only if it falls between 8-30. If Dallas' pick falls between 1-7, the conditional 2016 pick will become a 2017 first-round pick with the same conditions. This pick would be conveyed if the season ended today as they would be projected to receive the 19th pick in the draft.

ATLANTIC DIVISION WATCH

4. 76ers beat the Nets 103-98.

Atlantic Division Standings as of 2/7
Toronto 34-16
Boston 30-22
New York 23-30
Brooklyn 13-39
Philadelphia 8-43

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS WATCH

5. Winners: Cavaliers and Pacers
6. Losers: Pistons and Bulls

Eastern Conference Standings as of 2/7
1. Cavaliers 35-14
2. Raptors 34-16
3. Hawks 30-22
4. Celtics 30-22
5. Heat 29-22
6. Bulls 27-23
7. Pacers 27-24
8. Pistons 27-25

FORMER CELTICS

7. Tony Allen played 17 minutes in the Grizzlies loss to the Mavericks last night. He did not take a single shot and finished with 0 points and 4 rebounds. Jeff Green played 35 minutes off the bench, shot 4 of 14 from the field and finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

8. Brandon Bass played 26 minutes off the bench in the Lakers close loss to the Spurs last night. He finished 1 of 5 from the field and finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds.

BEN SIMMONS AND OTHER DRAFT PICK UPDATES

9. Ben Simmons played 37 minutes in LSU's 88-77 win over Mississippi State. He shot 7 of 11 from the field and finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. LSU is now atop the SEC standings.

10. Brandon Ingram played 32 minutes in Duke's win over NC State. He shot 3 of 10 from the field, 2 of 6 from three and 6 of 7 from the free throw line to finish with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

11. Buddy Hield finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in Oklahoma's upset loss to Kansas State.

12. Kris Dunn finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and 6 turnovers in Providence's loss to Villanova.

13. California was in action last night too, defeating Stanford, which means so were their two top-10 projected picks: Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown. Rabb finished 2 of 2 from the field, made 6 free throws and finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds, while Brown finished 4 of 12 from the field, made 8 free throws and finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

WHAT'S ON TONIGHT?

Kings @ Celtics
Nuggets @ Knicks
Hawks @ Magic
Clippers @ Heat

Photo Credit: Hilary Scheinuk of New Orleans Advocate

Follow Max Sandgrund on Twitter @SotoSpeakz