SAC @ NOH: A solid effort by the Hornets, with Greivis Vasquez (12 PTS, 13 AST, 5 REB) and Eric Gordon (17 PTS, 8 AST) getting plenty of help up front. Anthony Davis (20 PTS, 8 REB) seemed healthy and Ryan Anderson (17 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST) made the most of 24 bench minutes.The Kings had six men in double figures led by John Salmons (18 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST), who connected on 6 of 7 from 3-point range, but they trailed all the way in their sixth straight loss. Not surprisingly, Keith Smart seemed to forget why they traded the #5 overall pick for Patrick Patterson (2 PTS in 2:25); Jason Thompson (16 PTS, 9 REB) might hang on to his job after all.
MEM @ BRK: If you like low-scoring games, there’s soccer, hockey and the Grizzlies. They held the Nets to 72 points in Brooklyn, with Deron Williams (24 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL) scoring a third of them. All five Memphis starters hit double figures, led by Zach Randolph (16 PTS, 14 REB) and Marc Gasol (14 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 4 BLK) as they made it seven consecutive wins. Tayshaun Prince (11 PTS) isn’t having a big fantasy impact, but Z-Bo is no longer pouting and team chemistry seems pretty good again.
PHI @ NYK: Honestly, I thought that would be much easier. Carmelo Anthony (29 PTS, 7 REB) missed 12 shots, and if not for Amare Stoudemire (22 PTS on 9-10 shooting, 5 REB, 2 STL) the underdog Sixers might have won. Jrue Holiday was brilliant (30 PTS, 5 AST, 5 REB) and Thaddeus Young must be a quick healer. Missing only six games (thanks to the All-Star break) with a severe hamstring strain, Thad (11 PTS, 10 REB, 4 STL) played 36 minutes. Evan Turner (21 PTS, 8 AST, 6 REB) was also a standout in the losing cause.
SAS @ PHO: Not many teams ever have a 9-game road trip. Damn few could go 7-2 like the Spurs. Tony Parker (arm) and Gary Neal (calf) didn’t play, so they dusted off Patrick Mills, who scored 16 off the bench in 22:33 and Kawhi Leonard (16 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL) also stepped up. Manu Ginobili (12 PTS, 6 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL) and Tim Duncan (10 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST) were a bit disappointing to those of us who keyed on them in DraftStreet leagues. The Suns got a double-double from previously slumping Marcin Gortat (21 PTS, 12 REB, 3 BLK) and not much else. Goran Dragic (10 PTS, 11 AST, 3 STL) was just 3-for-14 and turned it over five times.
BOS @ POR: It’s been a difficult trip out west for Boston, which dropped its third in four games and must play again tonight. Paul Pierce (23 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST) and Kevin Garnett (20 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL) did everything possible, but nobody else was quite good enough. Jeff Green was relatively quiet (11 PTS, 4 REB) in 31 minutes and four guards combined to shoot 7-for-22. All five Portland starters scored in double digits, led by Wesley Matthews (24 PTS, 3 AST) and Nicolas Batum (18 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST).
CHI @ OKC: It was all over by halftime, then things got worse for the Bulls. Russell Westbrook (23 PTS, 3 AST) and Kevin Durant (19 PTS, 16 REB, 6 AST, 2 BLK) did all their damage in less than 32 minutes; Serge Ibaka (17 PTS, 10 REB, 3 BLK) was active and everyone else on both teams had their stats affected by garbage time. Kirk Hinrich (elbow) missed another game and while Nate Robinson (13 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB, 3 STL) did a few things right, he went 2-for-14, “helping” Chicago shoot just 29% as a team.