SAS @ HOU: I was right about the Rockets being inspired, and the fast pace. Even without their star James Harden, who sat out with a sore right ankle, Houston scored 120 in regulation before falling in OT.
Jeremy Lin scored 38 points, matching his career best, hours after we were writing him off. While Carlos Delfino started in Harden’s spot and played 38 minutes, his shot wouldn’t fall (2-of-12) so Toney Douglas (17) got plenty of run off the bench. A Twitter follower informed me that ‘slumping’ Omer Asik had been playing with the flu the last couple of games, and that makes sense. He was healthy enough to score a career-high 21 and grab 10 rebounds. However, the Spurs know how to win, and Tony Parker (27 PTS, 12 REB, 12 AST had his first career triple-double, which is spelled the same in French but pronounced “treep-luh doob-luh.” His backcourt mate Gary Neal went off for a career-high 29, hitting key buckets in the fourth and OT, while Manu Ginobili (22 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST) led the bench brigade. Highly entertaining stuff, not to mention fantasy gold.
SAC @ DAL: When the Kings are bad, they are horrible. Francisco Garcia had a nice night (25 PTS) in another start for Tyreke Evans (knee) and DeMarcus Cousins scored 25, but DMC may face disciplinary action — again — for hitting O.J. Mayo below the belt. Mayo had ‘only’ 19 points, as no Dallas starter played 30 minutes in this laugher. Chris Kaman hit 9-of-13 for 18 points while resting his sore ankle for most of the second half. Derek Fisher (11 PTS, 6 AST) and Darren Collison (15) are sharing the PG role. Shawn Marion (groin) missed another game but won’t be out much longer; Dahntay Jones (11) started in his place and Jae Crowder (11) got 23 minutes off the bench.
TOR @ POR: Without Nicolas Batum (back) and Wesley Matthews (hip) the Blazers were terribly shorthanded, and rookie sensation Damian Lillard had a rare off-night (2-of-14 shooting) but they won anyway. LaMarcus Aldridge (30 PTS, 12 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK) was great, J.J. Hickson (16 PTS, 11 REB) was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor and Sasha Pavlovic (10 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST) was a very pleasant surprise.
Toronto has hit rock bottom. Kyle Lowry is becoming an injury magnet; he score just one point in 17 minutes before leaving with a triceps issue. Andrea Bargnani (2 PTS) lasted only 7:38 before falling on his elbow. There’s uncertainty at SF, where Mickael Pietrus and Linas Kleiza are both battling sore knees; Kleiza sat out last night and Pietrus missed ten of 13 shots. Amir Johnson expressed the frustration of every Raptor by chucking his mouthpiece at an official to earn an ejection and possible suspension.
December 11 Games
LAL @ CLE: The anticipated return of Kyrie Irving from a broken finger will certainly help the Cavaliers, though Dion Waiters (ankle) will probably miss another game. Don’t expect miracles from Kyrie, who has had just one full practice after missing 11 games, but he’ll make all his teammates a bit better. The battle in the paint between Anderson Varejao and Dwight Howard will be worth watching. The Lakers might get a key player back as well. Pau Gasol (knees) is on the trip after resting the last four games. The timetable for Steve Nash keeps shifting; his leg fracture is healed, but nerve irritation in the same limb is the latest problem. Look for Kobe Bryant to score 30 or so, and maybe Antawn Jamison will atone for that last clunker in his return to Cleveland.