PHI @ ATL: Give the Sixers credit for not mailing this one in, though their season has been a nightmare. Al Horford (21 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST) and Jeff Teague (27 PTS, 11 AST) were just a little too good, and out of nowhere, Anthony Tolliver (21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 BLK) got hot off the Hawks bench, nailing five 3-pointers. The unlikely scoring leader for Philly was Damien Wilkins (21 PTS, 6 REB) and Dorell Wright (20 PTS, 9 REB, 3 STL) was also sharp off the bench, but they did most of that damage after the outcome was decided.
NYK @ DET: The Knicks can’t survive for long without Carmelo Anthony (knee) but for one night, Amare Stoudemire (22 PTS, 9 REB) was a pretty good replacement. Raymond Felton (26 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST) did commit seven turnovers, but hit four triples and was crucial to the road victory. Greg Monroe (ankle) didn’t play for Detroit; Jason Maxiell (14 PTS, 9 REB, 2 BLK) started at C and Jonas Jerebko (12 PTS, 4 REB) at PF. Jose Calderon (10 PTS, 16 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL) had a nice fantasy line in the losing cause and Brandon Knight scored 17 points.
WAS @ MIN: Well, it wasn’t pretty. Ricky Rubio (15 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB, 6 STL) led his wounded team to a rare win, just their fourth in 26 games. The Wizards committed 24 turnovers, six by John Wall (19 PTS, 7 AST, 3 STL) and seven by Nene (12 PTS, 8 REB) were most costly. For Minnesota, Derrick Williams (16 PTS, 8 REB) has become a more consistent and better player since being forced into a prominent role by all the injuries.
POR @ MEM: For a while, this looked like an upset. Zach Randolph (ankle) didn’t play, Ed Davis (3 PTS, 6 REB, 2 BLK) was ineffective in his place and Memphis had to rally from a 17-point deficit to pull it out. Marc Gasol (23 PTS, 12 REB) was heroic, and Mike Conley (20 PTS, 6 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK) was very good at both ends of the floor. Portland has now lost seven straight road games, seriously damaging their bid for a playoff berth.
HOU @ DAL: We knew Dallas would play better in the second half of this home-and-home. Dirk Nowitzki (22 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST) atoned for a poor performance in Houston and Shawn Marion (22 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL) raised his game but they were all-out to hold off the Rockets down the stretch. James Harden (28 PTS, 9 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL) was great until missing two big buckets in the final 30 seconds under intense pressure from the Matrix. Chandler Parsons (23 PTS, 4 REB) was also solid in defeat. Thomas Robinson (8 PTS, 4 REB in 28 minutes) is gradually taking over at PF for starter Donatas Motiejunas (7 PTS in 16 minutes).
TOR @ PHO: It was still close when Marcin Gortat (8 PTS, 4 REB in 11:25) left with an injured foot that might be serious. Marcus Morris (12 PTS, 4 REB) was the Suns’ leading scorer in a crushing defeat. Garbage time came early, so the Toronto scoring was spread out. Sebastian Telfair (13 PTS, 7 AST, 4 STL) played an inspired 26:38 against his former team as Rudy Gay (5 PTS, 5 REB, 2 BLK) was needed for less than 23 minutes, giving his sore back some extra rest in this meaningless contest.