IND @ MIN: The Timberwolves pulled out a W with a great effort by three bench players. Chase Budinger was their top scorer with 16, Alexey Shved added 11 points and 7 assists as J.J. Barea (foot) didn’t play, and Dante Cunningham (11 PTS, 4 REB) capably backed up Derrick Williams (15) at PF. It was mostly George Hill for the Pacers, with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, though David West (19 PTS, 13 REB, 2 BLK) had another big night. Brandon Roy (knee) left early but it’s a bruise, not severe structural damage.
CHA @ NOH: Sure, the Hornets make a lot of opponents’ big men look better than they are. Still, that was an impressive return from a concussion for Anthony Davis. The rookie scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 5 shots in a team-high 36:30. He also allowed Ryan Anderson (25 PTS) to return to a sixth-man role and hit five 3-pointers. Greivis Vasquez had an awful night (4 PTS on 1-10 shooting) but Brian Roberts (16 PTS, 8 AST) picked him up. It was a one-man show for Charlotte; Ben Gordon scored 34 while his teammates looked on.
HOU @ MEM: Guarded closely by Tony Allen, James Harden (18 PTS) missed 14 of 18 shots and turned it over five times. C Omer Asik had another double-double (10 PTS, 13 REB) while holding Marc Gasol (who had starred in every other game) to just six points. But the Grizzlies prevailed, thanks to Zach Randolph (15 PTS, 14 REB, 3 BLK) and 21 points by Rudy Gay.
DET @ OKC: One of the few things I got right in yesterday’s previews was a quiet night for Russell Westbrook (10 PTS) and more time for Eric Maynor (13) off the bench. Kevin Durant (25 PTS, 13 AST) and Serge Ibaka (25 PTS, 7 REB, 3 BLK) did the heavy lifting. For the Pistons, exciting rookie Andre Drummond had 22 points and 8 rebounds, splitting time evenly with an overmatched Jason Maxiell (one point in 20 minutes) in what may be a preview of things to come.
CLE @ PHO: A 26-point explosion by Goran Dragic led the Suns to a narrow home win. Marcin Gortat had another great line (12 PTS, 8 REB, 5 BLK, 3 STL) and though Jared Dudley (8 PTS) stayed cold, Shannon Brown (22) got hot off the bench. A gimpy Dion Waiters led the Cavs in scoring with 23, Daniel Gibson added 19 off the bench and Anderson Varejao double-doubled (14 & 10) but they came up short.