IND @ NOH: It sure wasn’t pretty, but the Pacers will take it. David West (25 PTS, 7 REB) and Paul George (17 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL) accounted for more than half of the scoring. Robin Lopez (24 PTS, 11 REB, 6 BLK) became the latest C to outplay Roy Hibbert (6 PTS, 9 REB, 5 BLK) but only Greivis Vasquez (14 PTS, 8 AST, 4 REB) did much else for the Hornets. Ryan Anderson has now turned in three horrible performances in a row, shooting 9-for-37 in that span. He’s averaging three rebounds per game since losing his starting job, and looks like a man who wants to be traded. On a positive note, Eric Gordon (knee) has been cleared for contact practice and could return next week.
PHO @ POR: The Blazers welcomed back LaMarcus Aldridge (17 PTS, 9 REB, 2 BLK) . but his presence didn’t stop J.J. Hickson (19 PTS, 15 REB) from racking up his seventh straight double-double. Damian Lillard (25 PTS, 7 AST) was also very good, but Wesley Matthews (hip) left after ten scoreless minutes. For the Suns, Marcin Gortat (18 PTS, 9 REB) seems to be coming out of his funk, and Jermaine O’Neal (13 PTS, 5 REB) was sharp in 18 minutes off the bench, but they are not the same team on the road.
CLE @ MIL: You just never know in back-to-back situations. Monta Ellis scored 37 points, but the rest of the Bucks combined to go 16-for-52 (an ice-cold 30%) as they got run out of their own gym. Cleveland was just as tired and without Anderson Varejao (knee) but all five starters and backup C.J. Miles scored in double figures. Tristan Thompson (14 PTS, 14 REB, +25) was the best big man on the floor; Milwaukee’s Larry Sanders (12 REB, 5 BLK) scored two points and was a -20 on the night.
MEM @ HOU: It’s definitely a good idea to use all your Rockets in every home game, even against a superior defensive team. James Harden (31 PTS, 8 AST) led a 121-point assault and the Grizzlies couldn’t keep up after the first quarter. Jeremy Lin (15 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL) and Omer Asik (14 PTS, 12 REB) both double-doubled and Marcus Morris (16 PTS) is locked in as the starting PF for as long as Patrick Patterson (foot) is sidelined. Although Rudy Gay (6 PTS, 4 TO) didn’t show up at all for Memphis, he wasn’t entirely to blame.
CHA @ DEN: The lopsided result was no surprise, and almost the entire second half was garbage time. Andre Iguodala (15 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST) excelled in less than 29 minutes. The news wasn’t all good for Denver, as Ty Lawson was scoreless in less than 17 minutes, then left with a sore Achilles. Whether that was entirely precautionary (and his status for Christmas Day) we don’t know for sure. Byron Mullens (16 PTS, 14 REB) had a much better game, but hurt his ankle late. Gerald Henderson (shin) didn’t appear, so Ramon Sessions (23) had a big game off the bench.