Post Up: Who Gon Stop Us?

Magic 105 (8-12), Sixers 88 (4-16)

Aaron Gordon got buckets in this one, shooting a solid 9-14 for 20 points. Evan Fournier, Jeff Green and Serge Ibaka all had 16 for the Magic. As a team, Orlando shot 47% from the field and 13-26 from downtown. Joel Embiid had his fifth double-double of the year, finishing with 25 points and 10 ‘bounds. It wasn’t enough to overcome a deficit that grew to as much as 29.

Celtics 97 (11-8), Kings 92 (7-13)

Al Horford had 26 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks in this one, outlasting DeMarcus Cousins’ 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. The big men battled all night and the game was eventually decided when Cousins attempted to draw a foul against Horford with the Kings trailing 95-92 late in the fourth. When the refs didn’t call it, the C’s clinched the game with Horford’s free-throws.

Raptors 113 (13-6), Lakers 80 (10-11)

Kyle Lowry started out on fire. He was the spark for Toronto’s 41-point second quarter. They never looked back after that, getting a season-high 33 point win. Lowry hit 6 three-pointers, as many as the entire Lakers team. Norm Powell and DeMar DeRozan both scored 16 for the Raptors. LA shot only 34% for the game. Brandon Ingram set a career-high with 17 points.

Knicks 118 (10-9), Wolves 114 (5-14)

Karl-Anthony Towns went off for 47 points when these teams played each other a few days ago. And even though he was on fiya, the Knicks pulled out that W. KAT only had 20 tonight. Zach LaVine also had 23 for Minny, who put up a fight all game.

Without Joakim Noah, Queens native Kyle O’Quinn stepped up huge for the Knicks. He contributed 20 points, 13 rebounds and infectious energy and passion to the ‘Bockers. Carmelo Anthony had 29 and Derrick Rose added 24.

The Wolves grabbed a one-point lead with 6:33 left, but buckets from O’Quinn and Rose got the Knicks a 110-104 advantage with 2:11 remaining. They held on with free-throws from there on out.

Bulls 111 (11-7), Cavs 105 (13-5)

The Bulls got major stats from Jimmy Butler (28 points and 8 rebounds and 8 assists), a triple-double from Rajon Rondo (15 points, 11 boards and 12 dimes), 23 points and 11 (on 10-13 shooting) from Taj Gibson, and all their life from Dwyane Wade, who contributed way more than just his 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Wade continually went at LeBron James, establishing the Bulls’ attitude for the night. Chicago flipped a one-point Cavs lead at half to an eight-point Bulls advantage after three. They survived surges from Cleveland thanks to their 78 points-in-the-paint and 49-33 rebounding advantage.

The Cavs have now lost three in a row. LeBron James led Cleveland with 27 points and 13 assists (and 8 turnovers). After the game he said, “Last year is last year. After ring night is over with, now it’s a new season and everybody is gunning for us every night and we have to understand that. The honeymoon stage is over.”

Clippers 114 (16-5), Pelicans 96 (7-13)

The Clippers wrapped up their 10-day road trip with a 27 points and 10 rebounds from Blake Griffin and 17 points and 13 assists from Chris Paul. Even without JJ Redick (rest), Los Angeles just outworked the Pelicans. Anthony Davis hurt his right shoulder in the first. He came back to the game but couldn’t dominate enough to stop the Clippers. LA made 10 three’s, New Orleans made only 5.

Pistons 121 (11-10), Hawks 85 (10-10)

The Pistons tied a franchise-record with 17 three-pointers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope nailed 5 from distance, leading the team with 23 points. He was one of eight Pistons to score in double-figures. 10 of the 12 Pistons to get in the game scored.

This was a clinic on both ends. Detroit had 54 rebounds to Atlanta’s 32. The Hawks shot 6-24 from three, and just 36% overall. At one point, Detroit was up by 37.

Atlanta’s now dropped five straight. Dennis Schroder had 17 points and 11 assists. Dwight Howard had 2 points, 6 rebounds and 2 turnovers in 25 minutes.

Spurs 107 (16-4), Wizards 105 (6-12)

John Wall and Bradley Beal showed up big time for the Wizards. Beal had 23, shooting 5-5 from distance. John Wall had 17 points and 15 dimes, with only 3 turnovers. They both hit clutch shots and were in the game till the very end despite just 17 bench points.

In the end, though, Kawhi Leonard was like, “Nah, time for you to lose now, Washington.” The Klaw hit a Kobe-esque fadeaway with 6 seconds on the clock to win the game. Otto Porter missed a potential game-tying floater. Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge both scored 19 for the Spurs.

Rockets 128 (13-7), Nuggets 110 (7-12)

Less than 24 hours after playing double-overtime in Oakland, against the stacked Warriors, Houston scored 42 in the first quarter. It was over after that. Three’s were raining down from everywhere. On misses or makes, the Rockets were pushing the ball up the court. James Harden was the catalyst, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon were the backbreakers. Anderson scored 16 in the first half, Gordon drove the knife in, finishing the game with 18.

Then there was the play on Sam Dekker, Clint Capela and Montrezl Harrell, who were passing and playing defense like they were possessed. Dekker scored 17, Capela had 13 and Harrell’s 8 points don’t do him justice.

The Rockets shot 45-89 for the game, drilling 17 three’s. Denver just couldn’t keep up, losing the battle at the three-point stripe and free-throw line.