Golden State 122, New York 117
A real heartbreaker for Knicks fans like yours truly. Led by Amar’e Stoudemire’s 33 points and 10 boards, New York caught up after falling behind big in the early third, but just couldn’t jump ahead and hold on for a victory. The guy the Knicks shipped off this summer, David Lee, went for 28 and 10, while Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry combined for 47. The roughest part of this one was easily the fact that the game was so winnable, but the home team didn’t make the needed late stops, and a pair of missed free throws by STAT late in the fourth certainly didn’t help. The Knicks have Minny on Friday, while GSW is in Chicago tonight.
This one became All Bucks Everything in the second, and Milwaukee never looked back. Corey Maggette came off the bench to drop 20, while Brandon Jennings scored 19 for the second straight night. Atlanta wasn’t terrible (they shot 49.3 percent from the field), but didn’t get a big game out of any of their guys and ultimately fell flat. The Hawks have now dropped three straight after a great 6-0 start. They’ll look to turn that around against Utah tomorrow.
He’s already made his presence known, but if a triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 13 dimes) isn’t John Wall’s official NBA introduction, I don’t know what would be. So here’s a Post Up welcome, dude. Andray Blatche and Al Thornton both dropped in 20, while Yi Jianlian scored 13 and blocked 4 shots. Unfortunately, Rockets center Yao Ming hobbled off in the first quarter and didn’t return, so here’s to the big fella getting back out there ASAP.
In the second half of a home-and-home, the Nets got revenge on the Cavs, jumping ahead in the fourth behind Devin Harris’s 31 points and Anthony Morrow’s 21 points and 5 threes. Mo Williams left in the third with a groin injury and didn’t return, so hopefully he can get back on the court ASAP. Why does it feel like I’m repeating myself?
This one was close to the end, and the Cats must’ve breathed a sigh of relief after downing the Raptors and avoiding a 1-7 start. Stephen Jackson scored 10 points in the fourth (20 total), Gerald Wallace went for 19 and 14, and Tyrus Thomas had 14 points, 5 blocks and hit four clutch free throws in the win. Toronto fell to 1-7 themselves, but got 23 and 9 outta stat machine Andrea Bargnani. They’re in Orlando tomorrow night.
Last night’s first nationally televised game certainly didn’t let viewers down. The Magic were up for the majority of the game, but Utah stormed back in the fourth behind Deron Williams (30 points, 14 assists), who put on a Paul-Millsap-against-Miami-like performance. Millsap and Al Jefferson combined for 44 points and 13 boards, while Dwight Howard was held to 14 and 9. No word on whether or not a Raja Bell speech between the third and fourth quarters was the difference maker.
Two important stats: A. The Mavs had 30 assists and 9 turnovers and B. The Mavs shot 54.1 percent on 46-85 from the field. So yeah, they won. Jason Terry led them with 25, while Dirk Nowitzki went for 20 and 10. Zach Randolph (23 and 9) seems to be back and healthy, which is cool, but the rest of the Grizz were quiet as they took an L.
Oklahoma City 109, Philadelphia 103
Not to be a huge downer or anything, but I’m consistently skeptical at just how good these Thunder are, specifically because of how good Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are in proportion to, well, everyone else on the team. It’s cool that these guys are becoming great before our eyes (which is happening—both had 31 in the win), but there’s gotta be better production outta the rest of the roster if we’re gonna consider them a serious contender. Just sayin’! Westbrook, specifically, was awesome last night, as his 31 came along with 12 dimes and 5 boards. Jrue Holiday dropped 17 points and distributed 11 assists before fouling out for the Sixers, who are now 2-6 and are in Dallas Friday night.
San Antonio 107, L.A. Clippers 95
I watched the majority of this game, then watched the highlights, then studied the box score, and to be completely honest, I have no angle to approach this mini-recap with. The Spurs were and are just a better team, and it showed. Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson each had 21 points, and, wait! Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and Baron Davis were all out with injuries for LAC, so that’s kind of a hook? No? OK, it’s getting late and I’m drifting off. Apologies. San Antonio is now 6-1, though nobody seems to be talking about them being a top team in the West this season. Should we start?
In your daily WTF?! moment, Michael Beasley scored 42 points in 42 minutes last night. Yeah, I don’t know. I didn’t see this game, and haven’t seen highlights yet either, but all of these online news sources are telling me it’s true. Is it wrong if I just don’t believe them? Well, I don’t. Click the above game score if you’d like to see some stats, though I’m pretty sure they’re all lies.
Performance of the Night: JW over Beasley, just because he did more across the board. So, John Wall: 19 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, 6 steals, 1 block and 1 fresh alley oop.
Moment of the Night: Gonna go with Deron putting Utah on his back and lifting them to a second straight ridiculous victory, this time over Orlando. The Heat then the Magic, in back-to-back nights? And with a sick performance from Williams, this really is proving to be the year of the point guard.
Back tomorrow, peeps.
