NBA Games Recap 3/29/09
First up there was no upset in Cleveland as LeBron and the Cavs won their 12th straight game – a franchise best – thanks to LeBron James’ 24 points and 12 assists and Cleveland’s defense in the second half. At the end of the first quarter Cleveland were down by 10 and at half time were still now by 2 before limiting Dallas to 25 points in the second half. They eventually won 102-74 and Joe Smith came off the bench to collect a double double (12-13rebounds). Cleveland are the 61st team in league history to win 60 games in the regular season.
L.A went into Atlanta with a fight for home court advantage throughout the play-offs with Cleveland and Cleveland were winning by a game. They’re now winning by two games after the Hawks held the Lakers to their lowest points total of the season, 76. Whilst allowed to have an off night some of the time last night really was when Kobe Bryant needed to have an on night. He only scored 17 points, shooting 7 of 19 from the field and while someone else usually steps up to win the game for L.A on a Kobe off night last night was the case. Only one player apart from Kobe got into double figures (Pau Gasol (21-11rebounds) while the rest were shutout by the Hawks effective defense to see the Hawks prevail 86-76.
New Jersey’s slim play-off hopes all but evaporated in Minnesota when the short handed Timberwolves handed the Nets their 43rd loss of the season and leave them 5 and a half games behind Detroit and Chicago for the 8th seed in the East with 9 games to play. Vince Carter led the Nets as usual with 36 points but apart from that no one turned up and Minnesota were able to ground out a win without Randy Foye and Al Jefferson to snap a 7 game losing streak, this one ended 108-99.
Toronto blew a 17 point lead to take the game to overtime before finally finishing off the Chicago Bulls at the Air Canada Centre in a performance that Raptors fans will hope to galvanise their team onto some kind amazing streak that would see them into the play-offs. Toronto are 7 games off of 8th place with 9 to play so will probably need some slip ups by other teams but they did their hopes the world of good by beating Chicago, who are in 8th place themselves. Chris Bosh had 31 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Raptors while Andrea Bargnani was next with 28. The Raptors will hope that their team can win games without blowing double digit leads if they are to get anywhere near 8th spot in the East.
Detroit moved back into the 7th spot that they vacated a couple of days ago by beating 76ers at home. Bolstered by the return of Allen Iverson the Pistons ground out a win in a game where the lead changed hands 19 times in the first 3 quarters before Detroit went on a 10-0 run in the 4th quarter to nullify a 6 point Sixers lead and give them the win, 101-97. Tayshaun Prince top scored for the Pistons with 21 points.
The Boston Celtics had to wait a while before their cream rose to the top at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder had a lead of 9 at one point in the 1st half before Boston woke up and levelled the game up at 45 by half time; they then out scored the Thunder by 19 in the second half to win 103-84. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 27 while Glen Davis had a double double (19-10rebounds).
The Indiana Pacers kept their own play-off push on track after a win at home to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards, who were close to beating Detroit on Saturday night thanks to the return of Gilbert Arenas, didn’t have Arenas at Conseco Fieldhouse last night due to Ed Tapscott deciding to rest him but still came close to beating the Pacers. Caron Butler had 31 points and Antawn Jamison dropped 29 but they couldn’t beat Granger and co. who shot 51 percent from the field and won 124-115.
In New Orleans Chris Paul won the game for the Hornets with an audacious play with seconds to go at home to San Antonio. Leading 87-86 with possession Paul split two defenders before being fouled by Manu Ginobili but in the process made sure he got a shot away to send him to the stripe for 3 foul shots. He made each of them and sent the Hornets to their 45th win of the season, a win they dearly needed as they’re currently 7th in the West where only 2 and a half games separate 2nd from 7th. Paul led New Orleans with 26 while David West was next with 23 and 16 rebounds for a double double to see the Spurs off 90-86.
Finally Phoenix’s assault on the 8th seed Dallas in the West looks to be over after their third straight road loss, this time to Sacramento. Fatigue seemed to play a part in this game as Phoenix, who were playing their fourth game in five days, gave up 126 points against a team that’s averaged only 100 points a game. This loss leaves them 3 and a half games off of Dallas with only 8 games left to play and worse for the Suns is that whenever they have won Dallas has matched them. It looks like Shaq will be out of the play-offs for the first time since 1993.
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