HOU @ PHO: Perhaps the Rockets were a tad overconfident. Maybe they were just tired. James Harden (38 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST) hit seven 3-pointers, though he turned it over eight times. Carlos Delfino (21 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL) added five triples off the bench but it wasn’t enough, as the Suns got 55 points from their bench. Luis Scola (6 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL) was no match for Omer Asik (4 PTS, 16 REB, 2 BLK) so rarely-used Hamed Haddadi (6 PTS, 11 REB, 3 BLK) played 28 minutes. Recently demoted Jared Dudley (22 PTS, 7 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL) was terrific in relief of an ineffective Wes Johnson.
MIL @ GSW: Swelling from a knee contusion prevented David Lee from suiting up, but Carl Landry (18 PTS, 10 REB) filled in capably. It was the Golden State guards who got outplayed. Stephen Curry (16 PTS, 10 AST, 2 REB) missed 11 shots and committed four turnovers; Klay Thompson (18 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST) was 7-for-17 and neither could slow down the Milwaukee backcourt. Brandon Jennings (31 PTS, 10 AST, 3 REB) hit six 3-pointers and Monta Ellis (26 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL) stuck it to his former team. Mike Dunleavy (9 PTS, 8 REB) started for Ersan Ilyasova, a late scratch with a bruised knee.
Sunday Previews
IND @ MIA: If anyone can end Miami’s 17-game win streak, it’s the Pacers, who have beaten them twice already. However, both those games were in Indianapolis. With a 28-3 home record and revenge on their minds, the Heat will be hard to beat. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are both rolling, but the key might be how Chris Bosh fares against the much bigger Roy Hibbert. Indiana will also need strong games from Paul George and David West to pull off the upset.
BOS @ OKC: Spring forward, fall back. Daylight Savings Time has kicked in, so this 1:00 matinee may already have started by the time you read this. It would be a shame to leave Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook on your bench. The Thunder are trying to catch San Antonio — who they visit tomorrow — for top spot in the West. Boston has won five straight, Paul Pierce has been superb and Jeff Green might be motivated against his former team, but they are decided underdogs.
CHI @ LAL: Though they haven’t appeared dominant, the Lakers have won 15 of their last 21 to climb above .500 and can move into eighth place in the West with another victory. Dwight Howard vs. Joakim Noah is a heavyweight tilt up front, but the Bulls have several injuries in the backcourt and Kobe Bryant has been sensational for the last eight games, averaging 38 points. Jimmy Butler will be assigned to slow him down; good luck with that.
You don’t really believe Amare would only be out for 6 weeks? He had the same debridement before, and he was out for 8 weeks and slow to get PT.
However, the 8 weeks clock doesn’t start until after the surgery, which we don’t know when that will be.
May 15, is more like the earliest Amare will see game time play. Will the Knicks be sent Fishing by then? Knicks fans are known to be overly optimistic.