In our quest to be a better basketball site, as our motto states, this is the newest feature on SheridanHoops.com, and it will present the five most interesting and fun facts from the previous day’s games.
Yesterday, the NBA celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday with nine games around the league. A rivalry grew in New York, two “other” California teams continued to state their claim to be the best in the west, and a losing streak ended and continued in Charlotte. Bartender…JACK!!!!
- At Madison Square Garden, a place where history was made 23 years ago on this holiday, the New York Knicks committed a season-low five turnovers in their 88-85 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. For the Knicks, it was only the second time since turnovers became official in 1970-71 that they lost a game when committing 5 or fewer turnovers (April 8, 2009 vs Pistons was the other instance). After starting the season 10-0 at MSG, the Knicks have now lost six of their last 10 games there.
- Staying at MSG, Deron Williams’ streak of 52 consecutive free throws made ended with a chance for him to ice the game with 5.7 seconds left. New York got off a last second 3-point shot, but J.R. Smith just missed banking in a shot that would have sent the game into O.T.
- An offseason of promise has turned into lies for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they continue to struggle and reach new lows as time is running out to find answers. Following their 12-point loss to the Chicago Bulls yesterday, the Lakers are 17-24 at the halfway point of the season. It’s the team’s worst record after 41 games in the Kobe Bryant era (since 1996-97) and tied for their second worst since the 1976-77 merger.
- In Charlotte, the Houston Rockets snapped their seven-game losing streak, while the Bobcats lost their 15th straight at home. Charlotte’s home losing streak is the longest in the NBA since the Dallas Mavericks lost 19 straight during the 1993-94 season.
- In Oakland, the Golden St. Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers continued their quest to replace the Lakers as California’s most dangerous team. Jarrett Jack came off the bench to score 18 points and hand out 10 assists, the fourth time this season that he’s had a 15/10 (points/assists) game as a reserve. All other NBA players have combined for three such games in 2012-13, as Jack continues to rise among the best sixth men in the league. The Warriors’ 106-99 win put their record at 25-15, their best 40-game start since the 1991-92 season when they were 27-13.
Stat Mann is the nom de guerre of our research statistician, who spends a lot of time watching basketball in central Connecticut. Someone would be angry if they discovered he was moonlighting here.