Category: NBA (Page 564 of 595)

Chicago 93, Miami 87 (series tied, 2-2)
More and more, it’s looking like the Bulls are the better team in this series. Chicago enjoyed great games from a group that is quickly becoming the team’s “Big 3” – Kirk Hinrich (21 points, nine assists), Ben Gordon (23 points, four three pointers) and Andres Nocioni (24 points, seven rebounds). They still don’t have anyone who can score with their back to the basket, but who needs that when you have these guys draining jumper after jumper? The trio shot a combined 23 of 47 (49%) from the field. The Bulls were also able to limit Dwayne Wade, who did amass 20 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, but only shot 35% from the floor. After a miserable Game 3, Shaquille O’Neal went for 16/8, but he was limited by foul trouble again and only managed to play 24 minutes.

LA Lakers 99, Phoenix 98 (Lakers lead the series, 3-1)
The Suns had this game won. Only, they didn’t do what they needed to do to win it. Phoenix was up, 90-85, with 0:12 remaining in regulation and made two critical mistakes to allow the Lakers to force an overtime. First, they allowed Smush Parker to hit a three with 0:07 to play. In all fairness, it was a very tough shot, so it’s hard to fault the Suns for that. But the ensuing play – Parker knocking the ball away from Steve Nash, ultimately leading to a game-tying raindrop from Kobe Bryant? Inexcusable. Still, the Suns were in position to win again in overtime, leading 98-95 with 0:49 to play. After another driving layup from Kobe, Nash dribbled into a double-team and seemingly tried to call a timeout before getting tied up with Luke Walton. Walton won the ensuing jump ball and Kobe hit a phenomenal game winner at the elbow. The Suns are capable of taking three in a row (two at home) from the Lakers, but this loss will be very difficult to get over. Lost in all the drama, Shawn Marion really got jobbed. He fouled out of the game with 2:37 in regulation and the last three fouls he was called for looked to be complete BS. I expect he’ll have a great Game 5.

Washington 106, Cleveland 96 (series tied, 2-2)
How did the Wizards turn a 13-point third quarter deficit into a 10-point victory. Two words: Gilbert Arenas. Washington’s All-Star turned in 26 points in the last 17 minutes (20 in the 4th quarter) to rally the Wizards past the Cavs. Arenas finished with 34 points, five rebounds and six assists. LeBron James started off hot, scoring 18 points in the first quarter, but went silent for long stretches in the second half, allowing Washington to get back into the game.

“They switched their defense up and started running Gilbert Arenas at me so I didn’t want to force anything,” James said. “I gave the ball up and we just missed some open shots.”

This is turning into an interesting series, as each team has already won on the other’s home court.

Sacramento 102, San Antonio 84 (series tied, 2-2)
That’s right, you read that score correctly. Here’s what I said about the Kings in my playoff preview:

The top of the West is not as dominant as it once was and I really think Sacramento, who has won 19 of their last 27, has a great shot to beat the Spurs. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are banged up and they will have their hands full with Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller.

Well, you can add another name to that list of Kings: Bonzi Wells. The guard went for 25/17, shooting 9 of 11 (82%) from the field. Five Kings scored in double figures, including Brad Miller’s 19 and Mike Bibby’s 16. Ron Artest also made his presence felt, shutting down Manu Ginobili. The whirling dervish only scored three points. For all intents and purposes, Sacramento should be leading the series, 3-1. Will the loss in Game 2 come back to haunt them? Only time will tell.

I realize that, for most, this is not news, but Bill Walton said something especially contradictory during the Heat/Bulls game. After labeling the game as a “must-win” for the Heat early in the first quarter, he later said, “Miami does not have to win today to win this series.”

Make up your mind, Bill.

There were some thrillers and some snoozers on Friday and Saturday – here’s what happened:

Cavaliers 97, Wizards 96 (Cleveland leads series, 2-1)
Maybe LeBron James is developing that killer instinct after all. The King scored 41 on 16 of 28 shooting, including the final bucket with 0:05 remaining, which gave Cleveland the lead for good. He clearly traveled on the play and then whined about not getting a foul call as he ran down court. But he scored the winning bucket, and that’s all that matters.

Sacramento 94, San Antonio 93 (San Antonio, 2-1)
I thought the Kings had a shot in this series and the last two games proved why. After losing a heartbreaker in Game 2, Sacramento kept fighting in Game 3, holding a lead for much of the game before finding themselves down, 93-92, with 0:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Mike Bibby stole the ball from Manu Ginobili with just four seconds to play and pushed the ball up to Kevin Martin, who made a circus layup to win the game at the buzzer.

LA Lakers 99, Phoenix 92 (Lakers, 2-1)
Which team is the #2 seed? The Lakers balanced attack proved to be too much (yet again) for the Suns, who haven’t looked particularly good in this series. Five Lakers scored in double figures, led by Smush Parker’s 18 points. Parker somehow managed to play almost 40 minutes without tallying a single rebound or assist. Lamar Odom has stepped up his game in the postseason, going for 15 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3. And you have to hand it to Luke Walton, who parlayed limited ability (and a NBA father) into a scholarship at Arizona, a starting assignment for the Lakers and 17 points and 10 rebounds on Friday night. Somehow, Walton attempted more shots than any other Laker, even Kobe. If this keeps up, Phoenix is in serious trouble.

New Jersey 97, Indiana 88 (series tied, 2-2)
New Jersey snatched back home court advantage with a win in Game 4. Vince Carter once again led the Nets with 28 points, six boards and seven assists. The Pacers were their own worst enemy, turning the ball over a brutal 22 times.

Dallas 94, Memphis 89 (OT) (Dallas, 3-0)
Poor Memphis. Had they lost a couple more games during the regular season, they would have been the #6 seed with home court advantage over the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Instead, they’re the #5 seed and get to face the Mavericks, one of the league’s elite teams. Dirk Nowitzki was the star again, dropping 36 points, including a difficult, overtime-forcing three at the end of regulation. He also tallied nine boards and five dimes. This series is all but over.

Milwaukee 124, Detroit 104 (Detroit, 2-1)
As a longtime Bucks fan, it feels so good to type this: Bucks rout the Pistons. Michael Redd filleted the Pistons defense for 40 points on a stellar 14 for 21 shooting. Redd scored in every manner imaginable, hitting long jumpers, driving to the hole and at the free throw line. Six Bucks scored in double figures, while T.J. Ford had a game-high 15 assists. Milwaukee’s 124 points was the most that the Pistons gave up all season. Expect Detroit to come out angry in Game 4.

LA Clippers 100, Denver 86 (Clippers, 3-1)
The Nuggets had no bounce in Game 4, and looked like a team that is about to go home for the summer. Seven Clippers scored in double figures, led by Corey Maggette’s 19 points off the bench. If you remember, Maggette was almost traded to the Pacers for Ron Artest, but Indiana backed out of the deal over worries about Maggette’s foot. Maggette has since resigned himself to the notion that he won’t be with the team next season, but I think he’s jumping the gun. Just because the Clippers tried to trade him for Artest doesn’t mean that they don’t think he’s a valuable asset. Anyway, expect this series to be over on Monday, with a possible “Hallway Series” in round two (as the Lakers and Clippers square off).