The AP reports: Jameer Nelson has elevated his play during the Orlando Magic’s five-game winning streak. Nelson scored 22 points and had seven assists to help the Orlando Magic rout the Golden State Warriors 113-81 on Monday night. Nelson, named NBA Player of the Week for the first time in his career earlier on Monday, was 9-for-9 from the field—including hitting four 3-pointers… Rashard Lewis scored 21 points and Dwight Howard added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who held Golden State to just 31.9 percent shooting for the game… Jamal Crawford led the Warriors with 18 points, but was 7-for-21 from the field. Anthony Morrow had 13 points and Marco Belinelli 12 for the Warriors, who lost for the sixth time in the last seven games.
Category: Games
Basketball games blog
Dec 21: Cavs 102, Thunder 91
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 31 points and Mo Williams provided the kind of scoring punch expected out of him when he was brought in to be LeBron’s sidekick as Cleveland finished a four-game road trip with a 102-91 win Sunday night over the Oklahoma City Thunder… Mo Williams, who was brought in this offseason to reinforce for LeBron in a three-team trade that also involved the Thunder, scored 20 points and Delonte West hit his first five shots and finished with 18 points against his former team. Kevin Durant scored 26 for the Thunder, who were playing for the first time since snapping a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak. Russell Westbrook added 24 points and matched his career-high with 11 assists and Jeff Green scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Dec 21: Celtics 124, Knicks 105
The AP reports: Rajon Rondo scored 18 of his 26 points in the quarter to help the Celtics tie a franchise record with their 18th straight win, beating the New York Knicks 124-105 Sunday night. The win improved Boston’s record to 26-2, matching the NBA mark for the best start by a team with two losses. The Celtics can break the record at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night… He was 12-of-14 from the floor for the game… Ray Allen had 18 points, Paul Pierce 17, Garnett 12 and Kendrick Perkins 12 for the Celtics… Quentin Richardson led the Knicks with 29 points and Nate Robinson had 23. Duhon added 20 with 10 assists… Celtics F Glen Davis was injured Sunday in an automobile accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike around 2:30 as he drove to the Garden.
Dec 21: Mavs 97, Wizards 86
The AP reports: On a night when Jason Kidd took over the game in the fourth quarter, the Wizards again imploded in the fourth. Kidd had 11 assists—six in the game’s final 6:05 as Dallas sent Washington to its sixth straight loss, 97-86 Sunday night… Jason Terry scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 23. Kidd, who is averaging 9.3 points, missed all seven of his field goals and had just a single point, but as the Wizards languished in the fourth quarter for the fourth straight game, it was Kidd’s game… Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 22 points—all in the first three periods—Butler had 18 and Mike James 17.
Dec 21: Hawks 85, Pistons 78
The AP reports: Mike Bibby wasn’t with the Hawks for any of those past losses to the Pistons, and the new point guard in the Atlanta lineup made an obvious difference, scoring a season-high 27 points in an 85-78 win against Detroit on Sunday… Bibby made 10 of 13 shots from the field, including each of his six 3-point shots… Joe Johnson had 19 points and seven assists. Al Horford added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Josh Smith also had 11 points for Atlanta… Rodney Stuckey and Wallace each had 20 points for Detroit. Richard Hamilton had 16 points for Detroit before he was ejected with 1:14 remaining and Atlanta leading 83-76.
Dec 19: Cavs 105, Nuggets 88
The AP reports: The showdown between Olympic teammates LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony quickly turned into more of a smackdown—and a statement. James said Cleveland’s 105-88 runaway win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night was a shout-out to the rest of the NBA and all those doubters out there who contend the Cavaliers’ record—now 22-4—was more a testament of their soft schedule than their championship caliber… In sweeping ‘Melo’s Nuggets for the first time in his career, James had 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He was 13-of-20 from the floor. Zydrunas Ilgauskas celebrated his return to the Cavaliers lineup for the first time since Dec. 10 by making nine of 14 shots for 23 points. He had missed three games with a sprained left ankle. Delonte West added 22 points.
Dec 19: Rockets 107, Kings 96
The AP reports: Now in his second season, Luis Scola is more comfortable in the NBA. It’s starting to show. The durable forward from Argentina had his seventh double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds to help the Rockets beat Sacramento 107-96 on Friday night… Yao Ming scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, Tracy McGrady scored 18 and Carl Landry added 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who’ve won six straight at home. John Salmons scored 26 and Brad Miller added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings. Sacramento has lost four of its last six and dropped to 1-2 since Kenny Natt replaced fired coach Reggie Theus on Monday… Yao went 11-for-13 from the field, and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line to reach 30 points for the second straight game.
Dec 19: Heat 89, Lakers 87
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade snapped out of a mild slump with 35 points, and the Heat defense stifled the high-powered Los Angeles Lakers’ in ways no opponent has managed this season on the way to an 89-87 victory over the reigning Western Conference champions. Miami held the Lakers to a season low in points, forced 21 turnovers—Los Angeles’ second-highest total of the year—and survived the final dagger that Bryant, the league’s MVP, could hoist their way. “It was going down, then just popped out,” said Bryant, who led the Lakers (21-4) with 28 points. “Happens sometimes.” … Daequan Cook scored 14 points and Shawn Marion had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Miami, which saw most of a 12-point lead entering the fourth disappear. Gasol had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who also got 13 points from Derek Fisher and 12 from Jordan Farmar.
Dec 19: Jazz 120, Pistons 114, 2OT
The AP reports: Deron Williams scored 29 points and Utah won its seventh straight over the Pistons, who extended the Jazz to double overtime before falling 120-114 Friday night… Mehmet Okur, who finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, is 8-1 against them since leaving Detroit after winning the 2004 NBA title… Paul Millsap added 24 points and 12 rebounds as Utah took advantage of a starting lineup that averaged 30 pounds heavier than Detroit’s new small-ball group… Allen Iverson led the Pistons with 38 points, and Richard Hamilton added 30.
Dec 19: Bobcats 112, Grizzlies 83
The AP reports: Boris Diaw slammed home a dunk off the opening tip, and Charlotte’s interior assault never let up until the game was well in hand. Diaw had a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Emeka Okafor added 25 points to help the Bobcats control the inside on the way to an easy 112-83 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. “We played great and passed the ball,” Charlotte coach Larry Brown said. “For three quarters, we probably played as well as we have all year. I don’t think our bigs missed any shots.” Gerald Wallace finished with 22 points, connecting on 9 of 11 shots for Charlotte, which set a franchise record by making 66 percent of its shots. Memphis rookie O.J. Mayo scored only 7 points, ending his streak of double-figure games at 25. He spent the final 5:09 on the bench.