What you missed while wondering why you were watching highlights of Super Bowl media day….
Hornets 97, Wizards 89: For the first time in 306 games Emeka Okafor has to sit one out, and Jason Smith steps in and tries to Wally Pip him. Smith had 20 points on 11 shots, established himself early (10 first quarter points) and helped the Hornets pull away in the second quarter (with help from David West and Willie Green).
This loss makes it 0-25 on the road for the Wizards. Circle the calendar now, their next road game: Feb. 13 at Cleveland. It’s this season’s “Toilet Bowl.” Somebody has to win. Right?
Celtics 95, Kings 90: The Kings got out in transition in the first half and put up 54 points on the Celtics. But in the second half Boston slowed the tempo and the Kings do not have the players to score against the Celtics defense when it gets set (not many teams do). Hence the 36 second half points. And the loss.
The win makes Doc Rivers the coach of the East for the All-Star Game. He’s probably not thrilled, but he’s still probably happier about having to do it than Gregg Popovich.
Trail Blazers 99, Spurs 86: THAT LaMarcus Aldridge is an All-Star. We haven’t seen that version of Aldridge consistently over the last few weeks but he absolutely dominated the Spurs front line with 40 points (on 23 shots) and had 11 boards. The other key for the Blazers — and a sign of how much more aggressive they were — was that San Antonio only got to the free throw line 15 times and hit just 8, while Portland was 21 of 24 from the line.
I remember when I thought Tiago Splitter was going to be a difference maker this season. Missed on that one.
Lakers 114, Rockets 106 (OT): No Andrew Bynum for the Lakers and you saw how much they missed him on the final play of regulation, when Pau Gasol drifted away from the paint, Lamar Odom didn’t cover and Luis Scola tied it with an uncontested layup. The Lakers need Bynum’s defense. That and you end up with Gasol playing 47 minutes and Odom 49. The Lakers looked more focused and played better basketball in spurts, but these Rockets always give the Lakers fits (remember in 2009 when without Yao Ming they still pushed the Lakers seven games in the playoffs). Kevin Martin had 30, Kobe Bryant had 32.
