by Holly MacKenzie / @stackmack
And it feels so good. Beating the Clippers, I mean. Yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a locker room so happy after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers before. The Raptors were happy. Happy to snap a three-game home losing streak (including back-to-back 26-point home losses), the Raptors were relieved to get the W and didn’t really care that it wasn’t against a playoff-bound team.
22 point victory against anyone is a good night. Chris Bosh had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Andrea Bargnani had 21 points and Sonny Weems was 8-for-8 from the floor for his 17 points. Weems was awesome and he’s still starting. Who would have thought? You know how I feel about underdogs, rookies and D-League guys and Weems is almost all of these. Having not played last year, he’s a rookie in my mind and he’s been in and out of the D-League and he puts his time in, coming in every night to get extra work in and it’s paid off. THAT makes me happy.
Also: He is starting over Hedo Turkoglu. Who saw that happening? Not this girl.
In Boston: Kevin Garnett had a little tantrum after the game saying, “I thought we were playing Michael (expletive) Jordan the way he was getting the whistle. Durant damn near shot more free throws than our whole team.” this about Kevin Durant who shot and made 15 free throws in the Thunder’s 109-104 road win against the Celtics. KD had 37, Russ West had 21 and 10 assists and Jeff Green added 17. Rondo led the Celtics with 16 points and 11 assists while Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace added 18 points apiece in the loss.
30 points on 11-15 shooting for George Hill in a Spurs 119-102 victory over the Rockets. Rookie DeJuan Blair had 10 points and nine rebounds, five of them offensive, in his 17 minutes of play. That’s pretty awesome.
In Atlanta, the Hawks got the Lakers, blowing them out, 109-92. Losing all four quarters, the Lakers couldn’t contain the Hawks, giving up 54 percent shooting as Atlanta turned the ball over just five times and had seven players in double-figures. Joe Johnson scored 25 points, Maurice Evans had 18 off of the bench and Zaza Pachulia had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double off of the bench as well. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 28 points as Pau Gasol scored 16 points to go with 11 rebounds.
24 points, 14 assists for Steve Nash in a Suns, 116-105 victory over the Nets.
The Bucks were finally stopped as they faced the Cavs and dropped the 101-98 decision. John Salmons had 28 points and seven assists in the loss as Andrew Bogut added 19 points and 12 rebounds and Luke Rudnour had 11 points and assists off of the bench. LeBron Watch: 23 pts, nine rebounds, seven assists. Mo Williams scored 21 points, Antawn Jamison had a 12-point, 12-rebound performance and JJ Hickson added 14 points. Williams clinched the game by hitting four free throws in the final seconds and the Cavs got a boost from the free throw line as they attempted 45 free throws to the Bucks nine. Yes, nine. I didn’t see the game, but please do tell, fair officiating or no?
The Wizards snapped their 16-game losing streak by taking down the Hornets, 96-91. Mike Miller scored a season-high 27 points, Shaun Livingston had 18 points on 8-for-10 field goals and Andray Blatche added 23 points (and hopefully, no whining), in the victory. The Wiz shot 56 percent for the game, while Chris Paul was held to just eight points and nine assists for New Orleans.
ROY-Watch: 20 points, seven boards, 13 assists, three steals. Tyreke Evans, of course. Kings fell to the TWolves, though, 108-99. Jonny Flynn had a great game with 18 points and eight assists for Minnesota in the win to snap their 16-game skid. Darko Milicic had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Al Jefferson added 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Oh yes, the Blazers clinched a playoff spot tonight. I think that’s all I’ve got. The Knicks lost badly. The Pistons lost again. Man, tonight was jam-packed. Mavs in OT. Warriors fell in Utah, again. Only eight players in uniform, again. Who is your favorite non-playoff team to watch? Mine is definitely Golden State. I just love their guys.
I still can’t get over that KG quote. Looking forward to hearing/seeing the clip tomorrow.
