Monday Night in The NBA
On a night that was dominated by a big time trade between the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA saw 11 games being played that featured one teams first home win, a big blowout in northern California and an overtime thriller in Brooklyn capped off by a player moving up the all-time scoring list.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers. Sixers beat Cavs 95-92.
If you told any of the ‘experts’ back in November that the Philadelphia 76ers would get their first home win of the 2014-15 season in January of 2015, most of them would believe you. If you told them their first home win of the season during the first week of January in 2015 was against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they might smack you.
The Sixers and their fans might need to get smacked, because this isn’t a dream, the Philadelphia 76ers achieved their first home win of the season by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.
This might be a perfect storm for Philly. A ‘right place, right time’ type of deal for the Sixers. LeBron James is out, Kyrie Irving didn’t make the trip to Philly and before the game, the Cavs shipped off 3 players including Dion Waiters in a trade. The Sixers capitalized.
Michael Carter-Williams led the way for Philly by scoring 18 points handing out 13 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds for the Sixers. Robert Covington scored 16 points and pulled down 6 rebounds for Philly while shooting 4-7 from 3-point range. Henry Sims and K.J. McDaniels scored 12 points each with Sims getting 7 rebounds. The star of the night though was Tony Wroten who came off the bench to score 20 points and hand out 8 assists.
Kevin Love felt like it was his old Timberwolves days again. Kevin and ‘The Love’s’ struggled against Philly. Love led the way for the Cavs scoring 28 points and grabbing 19 rebounds on the night. Tristan Thompson helped Love as much as he could scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds and the rookie Joe Harris scored 16 points but those were the only 3 Cavs being major contributors for the team.
Philadelphia 76ers are 5-28. Cleveland Cavaliers are 19-16.
Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics. Hornets defeat Celtics 104-95.
Kemba Walker had his second consecutive 30 point game as he led the Hornets to victory. Walker scored 33 points and dished out 5 assists along with 5 rebounds. Cody Zeller scored 20 points and pulled down 7 rebounds and Gerald Henderson scored 13 points while handing out 8 assists. Marvin Williams came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 8 rebounds.
Jared Sullinger led the Celtics by scoring 22 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Jae Crowder and James Young came off the bench to score 13 points each for the Celtics.
Charlotte Hornets are 12-24. Boston Celtics are 11-21.
Dallas Mavericks at Brooklyn Nets. Mavs beat Nets in Overtime, 96-88.
Monta Ellis led the Mavericks in scoring with 19 points but Dirk Nowitzki was the star of the night scoring 15 points, and moving up to seventh on the all-time scoring list in the process with a late 3 that sealed the game for the Mavs while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 13 rebounds on the night and Rajon Rondo struggled scoring only 2 points, shooting 1-13 from the field but had 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Richard Jefferson came off the bench to score 10 for the Mavs.
Brook Lopez scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on the night for the Nets. Jarrett Jack scored 20 points, handed out 10 assists, Joe Johnson scored 18 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and Sergey Karasev had 10 points on the night.
Dallas Mavericks are 26-10. Brooklyn Nets are 16-18.
Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls. Bulls bash Rockets 114-105.
Pau Gasol popped off again for the Bulls scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds on the night. Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, Derrick Rose dropped 19 and Kirk Hinrich had 10 points while Joakim Noah scored 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Nikola Mirotic came off the bench for Chicago to score 17 points and grab 8 rebounds.
Josh Smith came off the bench to lead the Rockets in scoring with 21 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. James Harden had 20 points on the night, Donatas Motiejunas scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, Patrick Beverley dropped 14 points with 6 assists, 6 rebounds on the night and Dwight Howard scored 12 points while pulling down 14 rebounds.
Chicago Bulls are 25-10. Houston Rockets are 23-11.
New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies. Grizzlies beat Knicks 105-83.
The shorthanded Knicks continue to stink it up. This time, courtesy of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mike Conley scored 22 points with 7 assists, 7 rebounds on the night with Marc Gasol and Tony Allen scoring 14 points each with Gasol grabbing 8 rebounds and Allen swiping 7 steals on the night. Courtney Lee scored 11 points to help the Grizzlies.
Quincy Acy came off the bench to lead the Knicks scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Jose Calderon had 13 points while handing out 6 assists, Tim Hardaway Jr scored 12 points on the night and Jason Smith scored 10 points. The Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire due to injury and they were also missing Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith due to the trade right before the game. The Knicks also waived opening day starting center Samuel Dalembert.
Memphis Grizzlies are 25-9. New York Knicks are 5-32.
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves. Nuggets defeat T-Wolves 110-101.
A big night from Arron Afflalo helped the Nuggets defeat the T-Wolves. Afflalo scored 34 points on the night while Kenneth Faired scored 15 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and Ty Lawson scored 8 points while dishing out 12 assists. The Nuggets bench held strong with J.J. Hickson scoring 16 points while pulling down 11 rebounds. Jusuf Nurkic had 14 points, pulling down 6 of his own rebounds and Nate Robinson scored 12 points.
The starters for the T-Wolves were what kept Minnesota fighting until the end. Gorgui Dieng led the Wolves scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Shabazz Muhammad had 19 points and 6 rebounds on the night for the Wolves and Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points along with along with 7 rebounds. Mo Williams scored 17 with 7 assists and and Thaddeus Young scored 13 points.
Denver Nuggets are 15-20. Minnesota Timberwolves are 5-28.
Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans. Wizards beat Pelicans 92-85.
John Wall led the Wizards scoring 15 points while dishing out 12 assists, Paul Pierce had 14 points and Marcin Gortat scored 10 points. Andre Miller came off the bench to score 12 points with Kris Humphries joining him off the bench to score 10 points.
Anthony Davis dropped 21 points for the Pelicans while grabbing 10 rebounds and Jrue Holiday scored 13 points for New Orleans. Tyreke Evans came off the bench to score 21 points Ryan Anderson joined him off the bench to score 14.
Washington Wizards are 23-11. New Orleans Pelicans are 17-17.
Indiana Pacers at Utah Jazz. Pacers defeat Jazz 105-101.
Roy Hibbert had an emotional game in Utah, for no reason at all. He scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds on the night while Rodney Stuckey scored 13 points, Solomon Hill scored 11 and David West dropped 10 points and dished out 6 assists on the night. Luis Scola came off the bench to score 16 points and C.J. Miles dropped 13 points while grabbing 6 rebounds for the Pacers.
Derrick Favors scored 27 points while pulling down 11 rebounds for the Jazz and Gordon Hayward dropped 24 points while grabbing 7 rebounds. Dante Exum scored 13 points and Rudy Gobert had 11 points with Trevor Booker coming off the bench to score 12 points.
Indiana Pacers are 14-22. Utah Jazz are 12-23.
Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers. Blazers beat Lakers 98-94.
Damian Lillard snapped for 39 points to lead the Blazers on the night to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 8 rebounds on the night for the Blazers while Meyers Leonard came off the bench to score 12 points and grab 12 rebounds for his second double-double in his career.
Jordan Hill led the Lakers scoring 23 points, pulling down 14 points, Wayne Ellington scored 13 points and Ronnie Price scored 11 points while handing out 8 assists. Jeremy Lin scored 14 points off the bench and Nick Young struggled on the night, shooting 3-13 and only scoring 11 points. Kobe Bryant missed this game to rest and it was announced that Bryant will miss the second game of back-to-backs.
Portland Trail Blazers are 27-8. Los Angeles Lakers are 11-24.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors. Warriors wash Thunder 117-91.
In what was the most anticipated game of the night, the Warriors turned this game into a ‘laugher’ against the Thunder early on.
A 20 point halftime lead turned into a 26 points victory when it was all said and done. Harrison Barnes led the charge in scoring with 23 points and 7 rebounds for the Warriors but it was the Splash brothers that did damage early on to seal the victory. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson scored 19 points each with Curry grabbing 9 rebounds and handing out 6 assists. Draymond Green scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds on the night with Justin Holiday scoring 12 points off the bench.
Russell Westbrook scored 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds on the night with 5 assists. Kevin Durant struggled on the night shooting 3-16 on the night scoring only 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds coming off Durant’s last performance against the Warriors in which he scored 30 points in the first half alone. Steven Adams scored 10 points on the night while grabbing 9 rebounds and Anthony Morrow came off the bench to score 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Golden State Warriors are 27-5. Oklahoma City Thunder are 17-18.
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Clippers. Hawks Beat Clippers 107-98.
The number 1 team in the Eastern Conference held strong with that title by handing another loss out to one of the NBA’s top teams. This time the Los Angeles Clippers were the victims, for the second time this season, sweeping the season series. Paul Millsap dropped 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds on the night for the Hawks. Jeff Teague scored 20 points, handed out 9 assists and DeMarre Carroll scored 17 points with Al Horford scoring 16 points of his own. Pero Antic came off the bench to score 13 points for the Hawks.
Blake Griffin scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while handing out 6 assists on the night for the Clippers. DeAndre Jordan scored 15 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, J.J. Redick scored 14 points and Matt Barnes scored 12 points for Los Angeles. Chris Paul had 10 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds on the night but he fouled out for the seventh time in his career. Jamal Crawford came off the bench for the Clippers scoring 10 points.
Atlanta Hawks are 26-8. Los Angeles Clippers are 23-13.
