We warned you — and the Knicks — that this might happen. John Wall (21 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB) is all the way back, playing 39 minutes, and Martell Webster (19 PTS) hit five 3-pointers, but the big surprise was Trevor Ariza also knocking down five triples in his best game of the season — 20 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST in 33 minutes off the bench. Nene (13 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK) added a double-double as the Wizards poured it on with a very impressive 36-point fourth quarter. Carmelo Anthony (31 PTS, 9 REB) and Amare Stoudemire (19 PTS, 6 REB) led New York, but J.R. Smith (13) wasn’t feeling well and starting wings Jason Kidd and Iman Shumpert shot a combined 2-for-12 for five points.
Other February 6 Game Recaps
BOS @ TOR: In the third quarter, Toronto played its best basketball of the season to open a 10-point lead. That inspired the Celtics to rally in the fourth and win their fifth straight game. Kevin Garnett had a season-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Paul Pierce (12 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST) missed nine of 11 shots but still contributed. Rudy Gay (25 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL) is the Raptors focal point; his good buddy Kyle Lowry was very sharp (17 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB, 4 STL) and Andrea Bargnani (13 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL) played 24 minutes off the bench after missing 26 games with an elbow injury.
CHA @ CLE: In this 27-point blowout, Kyrie Irving (22 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST) didn’t have to be superhuman. Dion Waiters (19 PTS, 5 AST in just 23:32) and Tristan Thompson (17 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 3 BLK in 24:20) were dominant in a 65-41 first half, then the benches took over. Marreese Speights (11 PTS, 10 REB) got his double-double in only 19 minutes and Wayne Ellington (16 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST) enjoyed his best game yet for Cleveland. For the Bobcats, Byron Mullens (15 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST in 18 minutes) was the lone bright spot. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (concussion) sat out, and Kemba Walker (5 PTS on 2-for-11 shooting) looked tired.
IND @ PHI: This game broke the box scores. Technical glitches seemed to make it ‘official’ at halftime on many websites. Even when that was eventually corrected, it showed just 69 points for Philadelphia. Without Thaddeus Young (hamstring) for the next three weeks, the Sixers will have trouble scoring. Jrue Holiday (19 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL) will need a lot more help from Spencer Hawes (6 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 3 BLK) and Evan Turner (2 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST) who missed 19 shots between them. Rookie Arnett Moultrie (12 PTS in 21 minutes) is worth a short-term add in deeper leagues. Kudos to the Pacers for determination in winning their third game in as many nights and to Roy Hibbert (18 PTS, 14 REB, 5 BLK) for using his size advantage.