The three-star approach seems to be working for the Miami Heat. For the New York Knicks, not so much. The rivals meet Friday night in Miami, the best game on a schedule of 13. While the Heat may be getting back one of their stars, the Knicks will be without one of theirs. Miami’s lineup could include Dwyane Wade, who averaged 28 points vs. New York last season but has missed the last six games with a sprained left ankle. The Heat
// There’s just no other way to say it. It was as if the Boston Celtics were all wearing four-leaf clovers on their jerseys, instead of three. Or maybe the Celtics found Orlando’s kryptonite in…in E’Twaun Moore? The rookie from Perdue scored 16 points and hit all four of his 3-pointers as the Magic stumbled, shouted at the refs, and folded — losing all of a 27-point deficit in a stunning 91-83 loss to Boston. When 3:11 remained in the second quarter,
Wednesday’s best game features the offensively challenged Los Angeles Lakers hosting the L.A. Clippers, who are trying to win a season series against the Lakers for only the third time in franchise history. But don’t call it a rivalry, yet. Kobe Bryant had no problem scoring (42) in a losing effort against the Clippers in their first meeting this season. But despite Bryant leading the NBA with 30.5 points a game, the rest of the Lakers’ offense has been a box-office dud. Pau
The Memphis Grizzlies have found their rhythm at the right time and take a seven-game winning streak into Portland to face the Trail Blazers in Tuesday’s best NBA game. Saddled with expectations after a strong playoff run a year ago, the Grizzlies stumbled to a 2-3 start, then lost low-post monster Zach Randolph for eight weeks to a torn MCL. But Memphis has not panicked and now leads the Southwest Division with a 10-6 mark. The Grizzlies are coming off a 91-90
Glen “Big Baby” Davis returns to Boston in Monday’s best NBA game. No word yet as to whether he and the Orlando Magic will leave Celtics fans crying in their beer. A fan favorite and Kevin Garnett’s occasional whipping boy, Davis spent his first four seasons with Boston and was a member of the 2008 championship team. Prior to this season, he joined the Magic in a sign-and-trade for Brandon Bass. “He’s emotional. He might cry. We’ll make sure we bring a
Rookie sensation Ricky Rubio finally gets a national television audience and two of the NBA’s best power forwards clash when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers, which should be the best game on Friday’s schedule. A year ago, the idea of this game being televised by ESPN was ludicrous. Even with their recent resurgence, the Timberwolves (.238) and Clippers (.314) have the two worst winning percentages over the last four years. But the intrigue surrounding Rubio and the Clippers’ accumulation
On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. On Dec. 18, 2011, the last American troops withdrew. And during that entire time, the Los Angeles Clippers never won a game in Utah. The last time the Clippers won in Salt Lake City was Jan. 2003. They will be riding a 16-game road losing streak to the Jazz when they visit Wednesday night. LA doesn’t do too well vs. Utah at home, either. The Clippers have lost 10 of the last 11 meetings
Monday’s best game has the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Los Angeles Lakers in their first meeting since the Mavericks steamrolled the two-time defending champions in the playoffs – and went on to a title of their own. Both teams have recovered from sputtering starts that began with nationally televised losses on Christmas Day. This game also is nationally televised by TNT. Dallas has won five in a row and eight of 10 since losing its first three games. The Mavs appear to be figuring things