CLE @ DAL: After a road loss the night before, the Mavericks’ starters were exhausted but their bench came through for a much-needed victory. Little-used Rodrigue Beaubois (18 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB in 22 minutes) hit three triples to spark the second-half comeback. Dion Waiters (21 PTS, 2 REB, 3 STL) led the Cavaliers, who have nothing to play for, while Shaun Livingston (13 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL) offers good value to those who picked him up as a free agent. Dallas has a revolving door at C, where Brandon Wright (13 PTS, 5 REB, 1 BLK) got more minutes (26) than Chris Kaman and Elton Brand combined.
MIN @ HOU: The visitors came out with energy and built an 18-point halftime lead before James Harden (37 PTS, 8 AST, 7 REB, 5 3PTM) and Jeremy Lin (24 PTS, 8 AST, 4 STL) took over. That pair scored 42 of Houston’s 69 second-half points. Minnesota was led by Derrick Williams (19 PTS, 4 REB) and J.J. Barea (19 PTS, 3 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL) while Ricky Rubio (14 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL) continues to play well; they just couldn’t stop Harden when it mattered.
PHO @ ATL: That was an efficient, unspectacular win for Atlanta, with all five starters in double figures. Josh Smith (17 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL) returned after missing just one game with a sore knee. Jeff Teague (8 PTS, 4 AST, 2 STL) played just 23 minutes off the bench, so his ankle may not be 100%, but Devin Harris (15 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB) filled in capably. As you know, I was bullish on new Suns #1 C Jermaine O’Neal (18 PTS, 5 REB, 1 BLK) but wrong about PF, where Markieff Morris (15 PTS, 11 REB, 2 STL) kept his job and Luis Scola (6 PTS in 13 minutes) got demoted instead. Goran Dragic (21 PTS, 8 AST) led all scorers in the losing cause.
ORL @ OKC: What an entertaining source of fantasy goodies, as Jameer Nelson (26 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB) hit five 3-pointers, Nikola Vucevic (21 PTS, 14 REB) double-doubled and Tobias Harris (19 PTS, 6 REB, 3 STL) is for real, yet the Magic lost by 13. Russell Westbrook (23 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST) didn’t commit a turnover, Kevin Durant (26 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL) played 36 minutes and Serge Ibaka (20 PTS, 6 REB, 3 BLK) was a force. The Thunder bench outscored Orlando’s reserves 38-6 and the game was never in doubt after OKC exploded for 73 points in the first half.
MEM @ DEN: Content to let the Grizzlies slow down the game, the Nuggets won anyway. Kosta Koufos (18 PTS, 16 REB, 3 BLK) did a fantastic job against Marc Gasol (14 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 3 BLK) and Denver held Memphis to 35% shooting on the night. Zach Randolph (18 PTS, 18 REB) did all he could, but even he missed 8 of 14 FG attempts. There are rarely any fantasy standouts in a game that finishes 87-80; Danilo Gallinari (15 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST) was the next-highest scorer.
CHI @ GSW: That was a surprise. The Bulls had been awful and maybe the Warriors were overconfident. Stephen Curry (8 points on 2-13 shooting) had a horrible night and David Lee (15 PTS, 8 REB) was -30 as only Jarrett Jack (20 PTS, 4 REB) lived up to expectations in a must-win game. Luol Deng (23 PTS, 6 REB, 2 STL) and Carlos Boozer (21 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL) led Chicago, with Nate Robinson (20 PTS, 7 AST) hitting three triples and Joakim Noah (16 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST) going 7-of-8 from the floor.