CLE @ UTA: The way the Jazz won was somewhat surprising, as Al Jefferson (14 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST) didn’t exactly dominate Tyler Zeller (13 PTS, 14 REB, 3 BLK) but the Utah guards and bench players were outstanding. Randy Foye (20 PTS, 4 AST) hit four 3-pointers and Derrick Favors (19 PTS, 8 REB) did his damage in less than 25 minutes. Kyrie Irving (18 PTS, 9 AST, 3 REB) missed 13 FG attempts as the Cavs were held to 41% shooting; Dion Waiters had a game-high 23 off the bench in the losing cause.
HOU @ MIN: That’s a low point for the Rockets. Against a Minnesota team absolutely decimated by injury and illness, Houston shot 32% and Jeremy Lin (12 PTS) is in the coach’s doghouse. I loved Kevin McHale as a player and admire him as a man, but his habit of ruining the fantasy value of good players is really annoying. Last year it was Kevin Martin who resented McHale’s ‘psychology’ to the point of becoming irrelevant. Lin owners better hope this isn’t a sequel. The Wolves got 21 points and 11 boards from Andrei Kirilenko, Luke Ridnour (16) had another good game at SG and two emergency starters contributed off the bench. Mickael Gelebale (11 PTS in 21 minutes) and Chris Johnson (16 PTS, 6 REB in 18 minutes) were signed from France and the D-League, respectively.
MIL @ POR: What an exciting point guard battle, as Brandon Jennings (30 PTS, 8 AST, 3 STL) and Damian Lillard (26 PTS, 10 AST) led their teams in a wide-open affair. Owners of Ersan Ilyasova (27 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST) are being rewarded for their patience, and that of new Bucks coach Jim Boylan. The Larry Sanders show ended abruptly in the third when he got two technicals for arguing; the next episode should be explosive. LaMarcus Aldridge (20 PTS, 14 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK) was his reliable self for the Blazers, but Nicolas Batum (7 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST) was hampered by a sore wrist.
WAS @ LAC: It’s a good thing that Chris Paul (22 PTS, 11 AST, 4 REB) returned from a bruised kneecap, as the Wizards are suddenly a tough opponent since the return of John Wall. It’s rare for a player sidelined so long with such a serious leg injury to be so sharp immediately; Wall (24 PTS, 11 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK) is up to 31 minutes and ready to resume his starting role. Blake Griffin (17 PTS, 11 REB) helped the Clippers prevail despite shooting just 37% as a team and making this a closer game than anyone expected.