Daily NBA Fix 11-12-13: Derrick Rose Injured, Perfect Pacers, Rockets In 2OT
Another full slate of NBA games for us to dissect here on the Daily NBA Fix. We’re here Monday through Friday, providing you with all you need to satisfy your NBA cravings. We’ve got results, game capsules, highlights, the top and bottom five players of the day, random tidbits, gambling lines and predictions!
Monday’s Results (home team in CAPS)
BOSTON CELTICS 120, Orlando Magic 105
Twice As Nice – The Celtics defeated the Magic for the second time in a week, this time behind Avery Bradley‘s 24 points and three steals. Jordan Crawford played distributor, scoring 16 and dishing out 10 dimes. Every starter for both sides scored in double digits, with Arron Afflalo leading the Magic with 18 points and seven assists. Nikola Vucevic chipped in 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and a block.
Atlanta Hawks 103, CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 94
Halftime Hangover – After trailing by eight at halftime, the Hawks used an 18-point third quarter advantage to pull away behind 24 point from Al Horford. Jeff Teague had an off shooting night (4-for-14) but scored 14 points with 12 assists and two steals. The Bobcats were led by Josh McRoberts and his horrible hair, as he scored 19 points with six rebounds and seven assists.
CHICAGO BULLS 96, Cleveland Cavaliers 81
Not This Again – Derrick Rose shot just 8-for-21 from the field and didn’t go to the free-throw line before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. He finished with 16 points and seven assists. Carlos Boozer picked up the slack, with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks. The Cavs leading scorer was Kyrie Irving with 16, but he couldn’t throw it in the ocean and finished making 5-of-19 shots.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 110, Toronto Raptors 104 (2 OT)
A Foul Performance – The Rockets took 47 trips to the free-throw line, making just 29, in a double-overtime victory over the Raptors, who had four different players foul out. Dwight Howard scored 18 with 24 rebounds and five blocks, James Harden scored 26 with 10 assists and three steals, while Jeremy Lin scored 31 off the bench. Rudy Gay “led” the Raptors with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four steals, but he shot just 11-for-37.
INDIANA PACERS 95, Memphis Grizzlies 79
Perfect Pacers x8 – Only 74 more until a perfect season. The Pacers played another terrific game, including getting a triple-double from Lance Stephenson (13 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists). Paul George led the team in scoring with 23. The Grizzlies continue to sleepwalk through games, as Marc Gasol was the only player to score more than 12 points (he had 15).
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 107
Just The Tip – Kevin Love missed a tip-in just before the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime. Blake Griffin scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and five assists (including 3-for-4 from the FT line!). Chris Paul continued his great start, with 21 points, 11 assists and four steals. Kevin Martin led the Wolves with 30 points and Love had a big game, with 23 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists.
San Antonio Spurs 109, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 85
Philly Gets Rocked – No Tim Duncan? No problem. The Spurs raced out to an 18-point first quarter lead and never looked back. Danny Green scored 18 points on 5-for-7 from the 3-point line and Tony Parker scored 14 with nine assists in 29 minutes. Marco Belinelli scored 12 off the bench. Evan Turner led the Sixers with 20 points.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 109, Detroit Pistons 103
Straight Shooting – The Blazers as a team had an impressive shooting line of .512/.478/.933, with Damian Lillard scoring 25 to lead the team. LaMarcus Aldridge (18-12) and Robin Lopez (17-10) held their own with double doubles against the Pistons’ formidable frontline. Brandon Jennings scored 28 in the loss and Andre Drummond put up 16 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and a block.
Denver Nuggets 100, UTAH JAZZ 81
Denver Dominates Glass, Game – The Nuggets used a 52-35 rebounding edge to turn a two-point game heading to the fourth quarter into a laugher at the end. Ty Lawson scored 17 points and handed out 10 assists, Kenneth Faried added 15 points and 13 rebounds and Andre Miller scored 15 off the bench. Utah got 22 from Gordon Hayward and 21 and 13 rebounds from Derrick Favors.
Monday’s Top Five
When Pekovic wants to be the star of the night, he’s the star of the night. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Pekovic | @ | LAC | L | 35:32 | 11 | 15 | .733 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | .750 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 25 | |
| Andre Drummond | @ | POR | L | 42:27 | 8 | 9 | .889 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | |
| Brandon Jennings | @ | POR | L | 31:38 | 11 | 24 | .458 | 1 | 4 | .250 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 28 |
| Kevin Love | @ | LAC | L | 38:48 | 8 | 19 | .421 | 4 | 8 | .500 | 3 | 4 | .750 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Chris Paul | MIN | W | 34:36 | 7 | 14 | .500 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 7 | 8 | .875 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 21 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/12/2013.
Monday’s Bottom Five
Good try, good effort. Consistency is key, but not this man’s strength. (NBA.com photo)
| Player | Opp | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Beverley | TOR | W | 24:22 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 0 | 4 | .000 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
| Solomon Hill | MEM | W | 13:37 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Alexey Shved | @ | LAC | L | 11:08 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Landry Fields | @ | HOU | L | 15:09 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .500 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Jarrett Jack | @ | CHI | L | 25:12 | 0 | 6 | .000 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/12/2013.
Circling The Drain
30. Utah Jazz (0-8)
29. Sacramento Kings (1-5)
28. Washington Wizards (2-4)
27. Milwaukee Bucks (2-3)
26. Denver Nuggets (2-4)
Random Tidbits and News
DeAndre Jordan went 0-for-6 from the free-throw line to drop his season average to just 37.8 percent…If the Rockets can get Lin and Beverley to play well at the same time, they’d be in great shape…Speaking of the Rockets, Harden was fined $5,000 for flopping…Rose didn’t go to the free-throw line one time in 34 minutes (the 23rd time of his career).
Tuesday’s Schedule and Lines
Bucks at Heat (-12.5 o/u 199)
Wizards at Mavericks (-6.5 o/u 212.5)
Pistons at Warriors (-10 o/u 205.5)
Pelicans (-2) at Lakers (o/u 203.5)
Your Best Bets*
Heat -12.5
Heat vs. Bucks under 199
Friday’s Best Bets
Cavs +10.5 (LOSS)
Nuggets +1.5 (WIN)
Clippers -7.5 (LOSS)
Season Record: 8-6
*you know, if gambling were legal where you are and you’re of age and you do it responsibly