Our game recaps from Saturday, or what you missed while wondering why anyone would shoot a man in a chicken suit...
Suns 113, Pacers 105: Who knew the Pacers had any fight in them? Earl Watson kept pushing Channing Frye in the third quarter and finally Frye had had enough and one of those NBA “fights” broke out. It’s not exactly a Baylor women’s game, but by NBA standards this was a decent little fracas, with Danny Granger and Frye taking swings that missed everything. Frye got tossed, other guys picked up techs, and it was over.
As for the game, the Pacers want to run but the Suns are much better at it. Better shooters, better finishers. Ballgame.
Heat 100, Hawks 94: One of the symptoms of tired legs is a team willing to shoot jumpers rather than drive the lane. That was particularly noticeable with Atlanta -- second night of a back-to-back and a team that usually attacks the rim with ferocity didn’t venture near the paint (and that was even with Jermaine O’Neal leaving the game late in the fist quarter with a knee injury). The Heat really took over late (again signs of a tired Atlanta team) and pulled away for the win.
For Miami, back-to-back wins against the Lakers and Hawks should help them in the fight for that final playoff spot in the East.
Bobcats 101, Warriors 90: It’s a sentence I could just cut and past from every Warriors game recap and just change out the opposing team’s name: The Bobcats dominated the Warriors inside, grabbing 44% of their missed shots on the offensive glass and outscoring Golden State by 34 points in the paint. The Warriors tried to shoot their way back into it from three, but until they get some interior defense that last sentence will be valid. Good win for the Bobcats on the back-to-back.
Nets 113, Knicks 93: The Knicks made history Saturday -- they were 0 for 18 from three point range, a new NBA record for attempts without a make in league history. Meanwhile the Nets hit 14 of 24 (58.3%). Ballgame.
Mavericks 122, Bulls 116: Everything Rick Carlisle touches right now is gold, which happens when you win 11 in a row. He decides to start talented rookie Rodriguez Beaubois, at the two, and he goes off for a career high 24, and brings some real athleticism to the Dallas starting unit. The Maverick’s defense was not great, but the Bulls defense has gone into the tank -- Tyrus Thomas is in Charlotte and Joakim Noah is out, throw in some assorted other guys playing through bumps and bruises and the Bulls are just not stopping anyone. Derrick Rose tried to lead a furious comeback in the fourth, but the Bulls didn’t get any stops.
Rockets 112, Timberwolves 98: The Rockets were just more physical, more organized and shooting better from the outset. The NBA is often described as a game of runs, but this was just more of a slow, steady beat down. Houston just was flat out better. Props to Luis Scola for the 25 and 21 on the night as he controlled the paint for Houston.
Spurs 102, Grizzlies 92: Give this win to the Spurs bench, which was the best unit on the court last night. San Antonio just got 36 points from their starters, and they lost Tony Parker. Nice win for the Spurs on a night the rest of their season seemed to just go down the toilet.
Bucks 92, Cavaliers 85: Here’s a news flash: Cleveland isn’t a very good team without that LeBron guy. Don’t worry, Mo Williams is there to pick up the backcourt slack... wait, he went 3 for 17? You get the picture. Brandon Jennings found his three-point shooting touch hitting 5 of 7 from deep and he attacked and got to the line nine times as well. (Don’t tell me he got his shooting touch back, however, as he was 1 of 7 inside the arc.) Bottom line for a Bucks team trying to make the playoffs -- you beat the top seed in the East. Doesn’t matter who played when they put the mark in the win column.
Jazz 107, Clippers 85: The Clippers have a 2.5% winning percentage in Utah in the last two decades (one win there in 20 years), and this time had to go there on the second game of a back-to-back. How did you think this was going to end?