A quick
look at the 10-game NBA schedule for Friday, March 30, ranking games by
watchability (all times p.m. Eastern):
1. Brooklyn Nets (42-30) at Utah
Jazz (37-36), 9
2. Los Angeles Lakers (37-36) at
Sacramento Kings (27-46), 10
The Jazz
won the season series with the Lakers, which now seems like one of the most
important things in the NBA. These teams are tied for the No. 8 seed in the
Western Conference, with each having six home games and three road games left.
They also each play more five games against winning teams, with the Jazz
getting one tonight at home. Utah is dominant at home, with a 26-9 record in
the higher altitude. That, along with the tiebreaker, is part of why the Jazz
are the favorite to take the spot at this point, now that they have turned
around their season. But don't discount the Lakers, who are banged up and
have lost four of five but have the talent to turn things around.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (49-24)
at Houston Rockets (39-33), 8
For all
the high-flying dunks and long Chris Paul passes that make highlight reels, the
Clippers don't run very often. They are as efficient on the fast break as any
team in the league (applying the everyone-but-the-Miami Heat corollary), but
they average 91.2 possessions per 48 minutes, slightly below average. The
Rockets love to push tempo, hoping to expose opponents not used to it. They
easily run the fastest offense in the NBA, but that approach has led them to
struggle against elite opponents. Why? The Clippers choose not to run in order
to save energy for their aging roster. Force them to run, though, and Paul and
Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe and the rest will put on a
show. And that's what this game, between two teams that could use the win for
West playoff seeding purposes, will be: a show.
4. Chicago Bulls (39-31) at
Dallas Mavericks (35-37), 2
The
Mavericks are still alive in this bid for the West's No. 8 seed, but they would
love to see the Jazz and Lakers lose tonght. The Bulls
are coming off a big victory you may have heard about.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (33-39)
at Golden State Warriors (41-32), 10:30
The Blazers' playoff hopes collapsed along with them
as they have lost three in a rowafter showing signs of life. The Warriors are the seventh
current-playoff team the Blazers have played in a row, with three more after
that. Every opponent the rest of the way for the Blazers has a better record
than them.
6.
Memphis Grizzlies (48-24) at Minnesota Timberwolves (26-45), 8
The
Grizzlies have lost five consecutive road games. The
Timberwolves are playing as well as they have in the second half.
7.
Indiana Pacers (46-27) at Phoenix Suns (23-50), 10, NBATV
It would
have been interesting to be in the meeting where this game was put on national
TV.
8.
Orlando Magic (19-54) at Atlanta Hawks (40-33), 7
9.
Charlotte Bobcats (17-55) at Philadelphia 76ers (29-43), 8
If
you're watching these, it's to see the Magic and Bobcats try to one-up each
other out of the No. 1 pick. But the Suns had an interesting take on tanking:
This draft isn't worth it.
Iverson has accepted the Philadelphia 76ers' invitation to
return for his bobblehead night Saturday and will present the game ball before
they play Charlotte.
Sixers CEO Adam Aron says Iverson rearranged his schedule to
make the trip to Philadelphia. The Sixers will salute one of their greatest
players with a video tribute.
Iverson led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA finals and is firmly
cemented as one of the franchise's all-time greats. He is the franchise leader
in 40-point games (76), 3-pointers (885), and is second behind Hal Greer in
points (19,931). He had two stints with the Sixers and last played for them in
2009-10.
Aron says Iverson decided to return because "he loves
his fans and he loves Philadelphia."
Boston went on a run to start the third quarter, but
it was NY Knicks who had the killer instinct on Tuesday night.
Minnesota
Timberwolves 105-82 Detroit Pistons
Minnesota had a team record with 14 triples tonight,
including 5-of-7 from JJ Barea who had 21 points in 20 minutes. Rubio had 14
points and 9 assists tonight. Pekovic notched his 23rd double-double with 18
points and 11 rebounds.
LA
Clippers 102-109 Dallas Mavericks
WHAT A FINISH! Dirk did
work down the stretch as the Mavs close out the Clippers, 109-102. The Big
German poured in season-high 33 points, helping the Mavericks inch closer to
the eight seed in the West.
Without West (back),
Hill (groin), Granger (knee) and Stephenson (hip-flexor), the Pacers defeated
the Atlanta Hawks 100-94. 6 players finished in double-figures including 14
from Jeff Pendergraph.
Miami
Heat 108-94 Orlando Magic
Your Miami HEAT are now
winners of 27 consecutive games after tonight’s 108-94 victory over the Magic
in Orlando. LeBron James score 24 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds, Mario
Chalmers add 17 points (4-5 3PT FG) and 5 assists.
LA
Lakers 103-109 Golden State Warriors
Highly charged sellout
crowd saw the Warriors take down the visiting the Lakers 109-103 tonight at
Oracle Arena. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and David Lee and each tallied at
least 20 points for the Warriors, who held on for the win despite a late charge
from the Lakers.
Memphis
Grizzlies 94-107 Washington Wizards
John Wall score a
career high 47 points and the Wizards beat the Grizzlies at Verizon Center
107-84. Wall’s 47 came on 13/22 shooting and he added 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Okafor added 21 points and 9 rebounds.
Denver
Nuggets 86-110 New Orleans Hornets
Nuggets’
franchise-tying 15-game winning streak was snapped tonight in New Orleans.
Danilo Gallinari led Denver with 24 points.
Philadelphia
76ers 91-97 Utah Jazz
Sixers drop road trip
finale 97-91 to Jazz. Arnett Moultrie records a career-high 14 points.
Hawks start the road trip with a HUGE win in Milwaukee,
beating the Bucks 104-99! Al Horford scores 24 points to lead the way.
Charlotte Bobcats 77-109 Miami Heat
That’s 26 wins in a row for your Miami HEAT after tonight’s
109-77 victory over the Bobcats, LeBron James score 32 points (11-14 FG), 10 rebounds
and 8 assists
San Antonio Spurs 95-96 Houston Rockets
Rockets win! James Harden hits the game winner to beat Spurs
96-95! 29p/9r/6a for the Beard. Chandler Parsons added 20p/8r and Patrick
Beverley was great off the bench with 11 points.
Chicago Bulls 104-97 Minnesota Timberwolves
Nate Robinson recorded 22 points and 10 assists as the Bulls
collected a second win in as many nights, this one a 104-97 victory over the
host Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Jimmy Butler had 20 points and nine
rebounds, while Carlos Boozer finished with 19 and 12 for Chicago, now 38-31 on
the season.
Portland Trail Blazers 83-103 Oklahoma City Thunder
5 players in double figures, the Thunder outscored Portland
28-15 in Q4. OKC wins it 103-83. Thunder shoots nearly 70% in the final
quarter.
Utah Jazz 108-113 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs move into a tie for the nine spot in the West after
silencing the Jazz Sunday night. Seven players in double figures led by Mike
James, who had his best game of the season with 19 points and five dimes.
Brooklyn Nets 102-100 Phoenix Suns
The Nets finish with 65 bench points, including a 17 point,
8 rebound performance from Kris Humphries. Deron Williams finishes with 20
points and 11 assists. Brook Lopez also adds 21 to go with his 5 rebounds.
Philadelphia 76ers 117-103 Sacramento Kings
Sixers snap 15-game road losing skid as they record a
season-high points while topping Kings 117-103. Lavoy Allen records a
career-high 20 points.
Carmelo Anthony score 37 Pts, 6 Reb, 1 Ast and Kenyon Martin
19 points, 11 rebounds lead Knicks win, Raptors: Alan Anderson 35 Pts, 6 Reb, 3
Ast
Oklahoma City Thunder 97-89 Orlando Magic
Thunder 11 blocks (5
for Serge), 5 players in double figures, Thunder beats Magic 97-89. Here’s
Perk’s block that led to a Durant 3.
Milwaukee Bucks 78-102 Indiana Pacers
Tyler Hansbrough registers his 4th straight
double-double (22 points, 12 rebounds) and leads the Pacers to victory over the
Milwaukee Bucks. Final score: Pacers 102, Bucks 78
Detroit
Pistons 89-103 Miami Heat
Miami HEAT win streak is now at 25
consecutive games! LeBron James score 29 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists,
Dwyane Wade add 19 points. Mario Chalmers and Shane Battier 11 points each.
Norris Cole 10 points, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Portland Trail Blazers 104-93 Atlanta Hawks
Wesley Matthews came
up big! He scored 28 points, nailed 5-of-8 from three and pulled down 4 boards!
Cleveland Cavaliers 78-116 Houston Rockets
The Rockets made
quick work of the injury-ravaged Cavaliers, jumping on them early and never
letting up en route to recording a thoroughly dominating 116-78 win.
7 Rockets scored in double figures, led by James
Harden with 20 points. Omer Asik had yet another double double, notching 13
points and 11 boards.
Memphis Grizzlies 83-90 New Orleans Hornets
Hornets put together
a monster second quarter and never looked back, defeating the Grizzlies 90-83
at the Hive. Robin Lopez tallied a game-high 23 points, 10 rebounds and four
blocks while Anthony Davis finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Boston Celtics 94-104 Dallas Mavericks
Dirk and the Mavs
spoil Jason Terry’s return to Dallas as they close out the Celtics, 104-94!
Brandan Wright with a season high 23 points to lead the way
Utah Jazz 97-104 San Antonio Spurs
Tonight’s win marked the 900th career win for
Coach Pop. He becomes the 12th coach in NBA history to reach the 900 win
plateau. With his 3rd rebound of the game Tim Duncan moved past Shaq into 13th
place on the NBA all-time rebounding list with 13,100 career boards.
We played a hard fought game with playoff
intensity. It was a great game for us and a big win for a lot of reasons. –
Tony Parker
Minnesota Timberwolves 117-86 Phoenix Suns
Kirilenko made 20
points and Cunningham 18 points Timberwolves stun Suns 117-86. Phoeix are 2-7
without Gortat. Suns will finish with at least its ninth-worst record in the
team’s 43 seasons
Washington Wizards 103-100 LA Lakers
Wizards make huge 2nd half comeback
and shock the Lakers at Staples Center! John Wall leads team w 24 pts and 16
assists, Trevor Ariza scores 25 off bench making a career-high seven 3-pointers.
LeBron James scored
25 points as the Miami Heat overcame
a 27-point deficit in the third quarter and won their 24th straight game, 98-95
over the short-handed Cavaliers on Wednesday in Cleveland.
The Heat have the second-longest winning streak in NBA history and are within nine games of
matching the record of 33 straight held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
James and his teammates have insisted the record isn't one of their goals,
and for more than 30 minutes they seemed disinterested and on the verge of
losing for the first time since Feb. 1. Miami trailed 67-40 with 7:44 left in
the third quarter. But behind the irrepressible James, who added 12 rebounds
and 10 assists, the Heat inched closer to history by matching the biggest comeback
in the NBA this season.
"This was one of the most bizarre, unique days of my life with
everything that happened," said James, referring to a homecoming in which
a fan ran onto the floor and the opening tip was delayed 35 minutes by a
leaky scoreboard.
"It also was one of the best comebacks I've ever been a
part of."
The Cavs were missing All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and
Anderson Varejao - their top three scorers.
LeBron James and the Miami Heat escaped Boston with
their 23rd win in a row. All that's in front of them now is the NBA record for
consecutive victories.
Five years to the day after the Celtics snapped Houston's
winning streak at 22 games, James scored 37 points and made the go-ahead basket
with 10.5 seconds left in Miami's 105-103 victory on Monday night.
After overcoming the largest deficit they've faced during
their streak, the only team left for the Heat to catch is the 1971-72 Los
Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row.
