BOS @ SAC: A clearly sub-par Rajon Rondo (hip) had 5 REB and 10 AST but went 1-for-6 from the floor and never got to the line. Isaiah Thomas burned him for a season-high 27 and should continue to start even when Aaron Brooks (ankle) returns, but you never know what Keith Smart is thinking, or why, or if he does at all. He definitely tells giant fibs every day about Tyreke Evans (knee) who missed a seventh straight game. The ever-unpredictable DeMarcus Cousins had a trip-dub (12 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST) as six Kings scored in double digits. Boston lost its third straight (by an average of 23 points!) despite 20 apiece from Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. They are 2-4 since Doc Rivers made Jason Collins a starter; the big fella has nine points and 24 personal fouls in that span, which is like playing a man short.
December 31 Games
MEM @ IND: Neither team cares much about scoring, but they are the two best in the league at playing defense. It turns out Mike Conley had food poisoning on Saturday, which certainly didn’t help his recent shooting slump. The key to this game is how (or if) Roy Hibbert responds to his absolute worst performance of a terrible season. If he plays with the same lack of confidence against Marc Gasol, the Pacers are in trouble. Rudy Gay vs. Paul George is another key matchup at both ends of the floor.
CHA @ CHI: In the card game cribbage, no combination of points adds up to 19, so when your hand is worth zero, you often throw it in disgustedly and say, “nineteen.” That’s what the Bobcats should do — stay home and concede a 19th consecutive defeat. They are the anti-Clippers, about to finish a winless December. Kemba Walker keeps playing well (career-high averages of 16.3 PTS and 6.1 REB) and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has his moments, but that’s about it. Hakim Warrick is the temporary PF with Byron Mullens (ankle) out for a while. For Chicago, Richard Hamilton (foot) and Luol Deng (ankle) aren’t 100%, so Marco Belinelli remains important off the bench. Derrick Rose (knee) is doing non-contact drills but remains unlikely to be back before the All-Star break.
MIA @ ORL: If Jameer Nelson (hip) and E’Twaun Moore (elbow) miss another game, Ish Smith will start at point guard for the Magic, who are winless since Glen Davis (shoulder) got injured. The Heat will be angry. They lost in Detroit without Dwyane Wade (1-game suspension) then ran out of gas in Milwaukee the next night. I’m hoping Andrew Nicholson has another good game, because he’s a good Canadian kid who I own in a couple of deep leagues. However, if he has to guard LeBron James, it will be a long night for the rookie.