MIA @ PHI: A game-saving tip-in by Dwyane Wade (21 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST) clinched the Heat’s 20th consecutive win. LeBron James (27 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB) was the game’s high scorer, but Thaddeus Young (24 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST) and Jrue Holiday (21 PTS, 7 AST, 7 REB, 3 STL) were determined to pull off an upset, and nearly succeeded. The biggest test for Miami might come on Monday, when they play their third road game in four nights against the proud, stubborn Celtics.
TOR @ BOS: I mocked the Raptors here yesterday for listing Andrea Bargnani (elbow) as day-to-day and a few hours later they admitted he’s done for the season. Good riddance. Rudy Gay (19 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST) returned from his sore back and DeMar DeRozan (17 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST) was OK, but the Raptors faded badly in the second half. Jeff Green (20 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL) led seven Celtics in double figures as the second unit got heavy minutes; Paul Pierce (15 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST) played just 23:47 and Kevin Garnett (12 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL) did all that in 20 minutes.
PHO @ HOU: The banged-up Rockets cruised by 30, with Omer Asik (14 PTS, 7 REB) playing through a mild groin strain and James Harden (18 PTS, 4 AST, 2 REB) slowed by a sore foot. Their surprise leading scorer was Donatas Motiejunas (19 PTS, 5 REB) and fellow rookie Thomas Robinson (12 PTS, 7 REB) was one of several bench players to get a long look. I was one game too soon on Jermaine O’Neal (6 PTS, 3 REB, 2 BLK) becoming the #1 center; Wes Johnson (15 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST) was the Suns’ least-bad player in this embarrassing display.
UTA @ OKC: We’ve been talking about the NBA ‘silly season’ this week, when fantasy owners are frustrated by odd rotations and surprise scratches, but garbage time is also our enemy. Russell Westbrook (19 PTS, 9 AST, 7 REB) played just 28 minutes and Kevin Durant (23 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLK) got just 29 minutes because the Thunder was so far ahead after holding the Jazz to 28 in the entire first half. Paul Millsap (7 PTS, 7 REB, 3 STL) returned from his sore knee and Gordon Hayward (20 PTS, 3 AST) was the only Utah player who impressed.
MEM @ LAC: For a week or so after the big trade, things didn’t look good in Memphis. Now it’s all rosy, as they won their 14th game in 15 tries and Tayshaun Prince (18 PTS, 6 REB) was a big contributor. Marc Gasol (21 PTS, 4 REB, 5 STL) showed no sign of fatigue in the back-to-back and Mike Conley (17 PTS, 11 AST, 3 REB) held his own against the great Chris Paul. CP3 (24 PTS, 9 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL) and Blake Griffin (22 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST) led the Clippers, who slipped into fourth place in the West. Matt Barnes (14 PTS, 7 REB) started at SF for injured Caron Butler (elbow) so the L.A. bench wasn’t as dominant as usual; Jamal Crawford missed nine of ten shots in his return from a sore ankle.