Ballin': The Heat Are Struggling! The Celtics Are Back!
By Jason McIntyre
Boston 91, Miami 72: Are the Celtics – 15-5 since the All-Star break! – contenders again? Why are the Heat in such a 2-week tailspin? Answers: Sort of and doesn’t matter. Rajon Rondo: 16 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds. Ray Allen missed his sixth game in a row (ankle), but they’re 5-1 without him. Chris Bosh shot 2-of-11 and LeBron had a -30, his worst of the season.
Minnesota 106, Portland 119: Aldridge scored 26, Batum added 24, and the Blazers passed the Timberwolves in the (futile?) race for the 8th playoff spot in the West. Kevin Love “only” scored 26 points and collected nine rebounds, and it was the first time since March 12th he didn’t have a double-double.
Denver 104, Orlando 101: No Dwight Howard (back injury – more later) resulted in the Magic’s third straight loss. At this rate, Orlando’s struggles plus Boston’s improvement means the Magic could slide to the 4th seed in the East. They only lead Boston by 1.5 games with 13 games to play.
Toronto 99, Washington 92: Jan Vesely … with authority. The Wizards aren’t tanking for Anthony Davis – they just suck. A Davis/Nene frontline next year would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Oklahoma City 92, Chicago 78: The Thunder dunked and dunked and rolled the Rose-less Bulls. Right now, it sure feels like the Thunder are the best team in the NBA.