by: Holly MacKenzie / @stackmack
I feel like I could just run this on loop and it would be enough for the Post Up today:
The Suns won that game, by the way. It was close, but Monta missed a three at the buzzer after Nash and Hill were both unable to close the game out. I was hoping for OT in this one, but Phoenix took it, 133-131. Anthony Tolliver had 25 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, but he was on the wrong end of that Amare dunk. I don’t even want to call it a dunk. It was just, yes. Wow. I love the announcers reaction. I love Amare’s reaction. Perhaps, most of all, I love the look on JRich’s face.
Richardson had 34 points in the game as Amare scored 37 and the Suns outrebounded Golden State 50-35. Seriously, just go watch the dunk again.
And back to out regularly scheduled Post Up. Bucks. The Bucks are balling and last night was no different as they battled the Atlanta Hawks and came out on top in a 98-95 victory on their home floor. Once again, the hero was John Salmons. Scoring 32 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, it was Salmons who put the Bucks ahead with 21.8 seconds remaining, boosting their record to 15-2 since the trade deadline move that brought him to Milwaukee. As hot as Salmons was, it looked as though Joe Johnson might win it for the Hawks but he missed late and then a Jamal Crawford three at the buzzer fell short giving the Bucks the win. Salmons shot 13-19 from the floor while Carlos Delfino added 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Luke Ridnour added 18 off of the bench.
In New Orleans, Chris Paul returned and his team turned it on against the Mavs, using a 23-0 run –with Paul on the bench– to come back from a 16-point first quarter deficit to get the huge victory. Morris Peterson had a season-high 20 for New Orleans while rookie Marcus Thornton had 28 and David West scored 25 points to go with 10 assists, no typo. CP3 played 21 minutes and finished with 11 points, but his presence energized his team and propelled them to the win.
In Oklahoma City the Spurs escaped with a 99-96 win after Thabo Sefolosha’s 3-pointer rimmed in and out. That one hurt. I wanted the Thunder to get back on track after that awful loss to Indy on Sunday. George Hill led SA with 27 points while Manu added 21 and Tim Duncan scored 14 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Kevin Durant poured in 45 points for the Thunder in the loss on 15-24 shooting.
The Heat, Raptors and Bulls all won last night, so the playoff race in the eastern conference remains as blurry as ever.
The Celtics lost to the Jazz and Terrence Williams had nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a Nets loss against Miami before injuring his foot in the third quarter. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious.
Before I go, I leave you with a glimpse of my LA experience:
