UTA @ HOU: Utah played hard, scored 116 points and lost, because the Rockets have become a multi-faceted offensive machine. James Harden (18 PTS, 7 AST) no longer is the focal point, just one among several threats. Chandler Parsons (19) and Patrick Patterson (20) are having career years, Jeremy Lin (19 PTS, 8 AST) has rediscovered his aggressiveness and3-point specialist Carlos Delfino (13) is back from his groin injury and was +17 in as many minutes. My man Omer Asik (14 PTS, 12 REB, 3 BLK) is still not the smoothest offensive player, but he anchors the middle for this underestimated team. For the Jazz, DeMarre Carroll started again for Marvin Williams (concussion) and Derrick Favors sat out with a sore foot. Gordon Hayward scored a team-high 21 off the bench.
BOS @ MIL: The Celtics sure could have used suspended Rajon Rondo. With Jason Terry (15 PTS, 11 AST, 3 STL) starting at PG and Courtney Lee (13) at SG, they lost by three. Jeff Green (18 PTS, 6 REB) was the only bench player to contribute.
The latest new lineup for the unpredictable Bucks saw Marquis Daniels start at SF and Ekpe Udoh at C, but Larry Sanders (18 PTS, 16 REB, 5 BLK) was again their best big man and played 33 minutes off the bench. Ersan Ilyasova (15 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST) was reinstated to the rotation, as former starters Samuel Dalembert and Tobias Harris took his place in Scott Skiles’ doghouse. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee) played his first 14 minutes of the season (8 PTS, 6 REB) so the frontcourt is even more crowded.
DET @ DAL: In his first start since March, Derek Fisher, finished with two points and missed 7-of-8 shots, but the Mavs won big anyway. Darren Collison played with a sprained finger and had just 5 PTS and 8 AST in 27 minutes off the bench. O.J. Mayo (27 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST) bounced back from a couple of poor games to key the easy win. The Pistons were tired, though Brandon Knight (20) did his best and Jason Maxiell had a strong game (10 PTS, 12 REB, 2 STL, 5 BLK). Greg Monroe shot an uncharacteristic 4-17 and had five of those attempts blocked.
IND @ GSW: The Pacers continue to get solid work from David West (23 PTS, 8 REB, 3 STL) and even Roy Hibbert had a big night (15 PTS, 7 REB, 5 BLK) but Paul George is mired in a terrible slump. He followed up a 4-point dud the night before by going scoreless in 29 minutes (0-for-7) and his confidence has disappeared. Golden State got a ‘quiet’ double-double from David Lee (13 & 12) but Stephen Curry was solid (20 PTS, 11 AST) and Klay Thompson (22 PTS, 7 REB) stayed hot. Fine work off the Warriors’ bench by Carl Landry (16) and Jarrett Jack (18 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST) was the ultimate difference.