If you haven’t noticed, the NBA has been magnificent in filling the football void these past few Sundays. The first Sunday of March was no different. The nine games on the NBA schedule did not disappoint, as we saw many came down to the final few seconds.
Kobe turned the clock back while LeBron made sure to remind everyone, especially the Knicks, that this is his time. Let’s take a quick look at what transpired in a frantic day around the NBA:
1. New York’s recipe for taking down the Heat is simple: shoot the lights out. But despite a torrid second quarter from the field, the Knicks fell to the Miami Heat 99-93 Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks shot 73.7 percent (14-19) from the field in the second quarter Sunday. That is the second-highest field goal percentage in any quarter for the Knicks this season. It was not enough to stop LeBron James though, as he continues to roll through any and everything in his path. James finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and one game-changing block on Tyson Chandler. The victory was Miami’s 14th in a row.
2. Good Westbrook, Bad Westbrook has been a topic discussed in the past here at SheridanHoops. Oklahoma City prevailed in a hard-fought 108-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday afternoon, in large part to the spectacular play of Westbrook down the stretch. Westbrook went 3-of-3 from the floor in crunch time Sunday (last 5 minutes, score within 5) and scored 8 points. According to ESPN Stats & Information, that’s his most makes without a miss in those situations this season and the 8 points tie his season-high. The rest of the Thunder scored 11 points in crunch time Sunday, with Kevin Durant scoring four points. The Thunder were previously 1-4 this season when Westbrook outscored Durant in crunch time. Westbrook finished with 29 points, 10 assists and six rebounds on 11-of-20 shooting. Good Westbrook.
3. Alas, good vibes in Laker-land. The Lakers pulled to an even 30-30 on the season Sunday night after a thrilling 99-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Kobe Bryant’s go-ahead basket with 9 seconds remaining was his first make on a potential go-ahead shot this season in the final minute of regulation or overtime (0-of-2 entering the game). Last season, Bryant was 7-of-14 with a chance to take the lead in the final minute of regulation or overtime. More important, however, is that the Lakers’ starting lineup outscored the Hawks 37-21 in 13 minutes together on the floor; all other lineups were outscored 77-62. LA has won 13-of-18 and remain 2.5 games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
4. One player made history Sunday night, and that player was Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets. In helping the Rockets beat the Mavericks 136-103, he became the first player since Larry Bird to score 30-plus points while shooting 92 percent in which at least five three-pointers were attempted. Bird did it March 13, 1986 by going 12-13 from the field, 4-5 from three with 33 points. Parsons finished with 32 points on 12-for-13 shooting, including 6-of-7 from 3-point range.
5. The Memphis Grizzlies stuffed the box score from every possible angle in Sunday nights 108-82 route of the Orlando Magic Sunday night, the Grizzlies’ ninth victory in 10 games. Six Memphis players scored in double figures and Marc Gasol had a career-high 11 assists. Tayshaun Prince led the Grizzlies with 14 points, and Ed Davis came off the bench with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Highlight of the night
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z9aTJCVUYE]
Ben Baroff is a sports journalist and marketing professional who blogs and writes columns for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.