Ballin': Better Alley-Oop - Rudy Fernandez No-Look, Over-the-Head, or Chris Paul to Blake Griffin?
By Jason McIntyre
Denver 110, Sacramento 83: Will anyone throw a better alley-oop this season than the no-look, over-the-head lob from Rudy Fernandez to Kenneth Faried? It seems unlikely. Jimmer: 3-for-13. The Kings played no defense (again) and the 5-2 Nuggets shot 60 percent. You want balance? Twelve players took the court for the Nuggets. Everyone scored between 6 and 15 points.
LA Clippers 117, Houston 89: Blake Griffin scored 22, Chris Paul had 20, and this one wasn’t competitive in the second half.
Miami 118, Indiana 83: Dwyane Wade did not play (foot). They probably saved him for tonight’s game on TNT in Atlanta. You know the Heat want payback for the beating earlier this week. LeBron had 33 points and 13 assists before tweaking an ankle; he might not play tonight. The Pacers had 12 assists.
Orlando 103, Washington 85: Who will be the next Wizards’ coach? Ledell Eackles? Brandon Walsh? Kadeem Haridson? Dwight Howard had 28 points and 20 rebounds, Ryan Anderson went for 23-15, and the Wizards never drew within single digits after the first quarter. Good news for the Wiz – John Wall didn’t have a turnover in 33 minutes!
Memphis 90, Minnesota 86: The Wolves’ four losses are by a total of 13 points. Ricky Rubio’s line: 12 points, 10 assists in a season-high 31 minutes. He seems to be at the center of every comeback for the Wolves. He and Kevin Love (27 points and 14 assists) are a great foundation. If they could only package Beasley and Wesley Johnson (he went to Syracuse, has not really been the wing I thought he’d be) for a take-over shooting guard …
Philadelphia 101, New Orleans 93: Andre Iguodala only shot 2-of-10, but he did throw this down.
Charlotte 118, New York 110: How many times can I use the word “embarrassing” to describe the Knicks this season? First Toronto, now this? At home, no less? The Bobcats rolled into MSG, shot 55 percent, had 27 assists against just 13 turnovers, and snapped a four-game losing streak. Tubby Boris Diaw, who couldn’t stay out of foul trouble against Cleveland Tuesday, scored 27 points. Byron Mullens, who scored 39 points in the last two seasons, tallied 16. Mike D’Antoni had to deal with “We want Shum-pert” chants (he scored 18 points) in the 4th quarter. Hey Baron Davis, is that herniated dick improving?