Ballin': Kobe Keeps Scoring, Lakers Keep Losing
By Jason McIntyre
LA Clippers 102, Toronto 83: The Paper Clips won their 6th in a row as their reserves owned the 4th quarter (25-10). The Raptors are 4-17 and headed toward disaster. Eric Bledsoe had 14 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Jamal Crawford finally missed a free throw after making 58 straight.
LA Lakers 110, Utah 117: The Lakers can’t stop anyone these days, as the Jazz shot 54 percent and dropped LA to 1-9 when Kobe scores over 30 points (he finished with 34). How does a team with Dwight Howard get outscored 54-34 in the paint? The Lakers made 15 three-pointers and Pau Gasol didn’t play. Paul Millsap led six Jazz in double figures with 24 points.
Orlando 98, Phoenix 90: The Suns provided arguably the best highlight in Ballin’ … but lost their 7th straight. As the Michael Beasley turns: 15 minutes, two shots. Magic rookie Andrew Nicholson from St. Bonaventure continues to put up impressive numbers: 19 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. It was his 7th double-figure scoring game this season.
Brooklyn 88, Milwaukee 97: The Bucks let a 29-point lead get cut to six, but held on for a nice road victory. The Nets have lost four in a row, and it’s no surprise Brook Lopez has missed all of those games (foot).
Oklahoma City 104, Indiana 93: The Pacers shot 60 percent in the first half, but still lost. Nobody’s hotter than the Thunder, who have won eight in a row and have tied the Spurs for the best record in the NBA. Check out what Russell Westbrook did to Roy Hibbert.
New York 112, Denver 106: The Knicks are 15-5 after a strong 4th quarter beat the Nuggets. Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence to score 34 points against his former team. Interesting/odd stat – Melo and JR Smith (19 points) took exactly half of the team’s shots (43 of 86).