by Peter Walsh / @goinginsquad
Warriors 108 (28-17), Cavs 95 (13-33)
With Steph Curry, Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes all sitting, Klay Thompson stepped up big time with a career-high 32 points to help the Warriors finish their four-game road trip with a win. The Warriors jumped out to an early 13-4 lead but the the Cavs came back and led by two in the second quarter. That would be the last time the game was close. Klay Thompson went off in the second quarter, hitting three three-pointers, a jumper and slamming it home to push the Warriors’ lead to 13-points on two different occasions. Golden State continued to pile it on and led by 16 heading into the fourth and cruised to another impressive victory. Jarrett Jack, who got the start in place of Curry, finished with 26 points and 12 dimes while David Lee tallied 20 points, 13 boards and 8 dimes. An under the weather Kyrie Irving scored 14 while teammates Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson each finished with 18 points to lead the Cavs.
Bucks 117 (24-19), Pistons 90 (17-28)
Brandon Jennings was having an unspectacular first half, but Young Money came out of the locker room for the second half like a man possessed. Jennings hit five three-pointers in the third quarter and went on a solo 16-0 run to make it an 85-56 game with under four minutes to go in the quarter. The potential All-Star replacement scored 20 of his 30 points in the quarter and took all the life out of the Pistons as the Bucks notched another win as they quietly climb the ranks in the East. Detroit rookie Andre Drummond finished with 18 points and 18 boards, becoming only the second teenager (Dwight Howard is the other) since 1985-’86 to have an 18-18 game.
Just ‘Cause:
Brandon Jennings’ High School BallisLife Mixtape:
Arguably the best BIL video ever. Dude was unreal as a teen.
Blazers 106 (23-22), Mavericks 104 (19-26)
One of the best power forwards to ever do it and one of the top power forwards in the game today went at it last night during a great ballgame. Dirk played his best game of the season so far as he finished with 26 points and helped the Mavs build a 21-point lead in the third quarter . The Blazers came back but the Mavs still held a seven-point edge with two minutes and change to go. Portland kept plugging away and two free throws from Wesley Matthews (17 points, 6 boards) made it a three point game with 52 seconds left. The Blazers didn’t allow a basket on the next possession and Nicolas Batum (10 points, 6 assists) came down and nailed a three to tie it up.
Never one to shy away from the big moment, Dirk came down and hit a three of his own to put Dallas back up three. With five seconds to go, LaMarcus Aldridge answered the bell and hit a three of his own to tie it up. On the next possession, O.J. Mayo (15 points, 9 dimes) was called for a charge giving the Blazers a chance to win with 1.5 ticks left. Wes Matthews inbounded the ball to LA and the power forward nailed a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to send the Rose Garden crowd into a frenzy and home happy with a win. Aldridge finished with 29 points and 13 boards. J.J. Hickson had a season-high 26 points and 15 boards.
Lakers 111 (20-25), Hornets 106 (15-30)
The Hornets gave it all they had but ran out of gas late and the Lakers hung on for their third straight win. The Hornets trailed by 18 midway through the fourth but ripped off a 16-2 run and got within a point after Greivis Vasquez (15 points, 15 dimes) hit a runner in the lane. On the next possession, Earl Clark (20 points, 12 boards) camped out in the lane and hit the layup and Steve Nash (12 points, 5 assists) followed that up with a three-pointer to seal the deal. Dwight Howard scored 24 points and Kobe Bryant finished with 14 points and 11 dimes. Eric Gordon scored 25 and Anthony Davis chipped in with 18.
