The Wrap-Up: Bosh goes all ‘LeBron’ for a night
Keith Firmin brings you The Wrap-Up on all of last night’s NBA games including Griffin’s 40-point night, Antic’s big shot and Chris Bosh’s game-winner.
Cleveland @ Boston
The Cavaliers, minus a suspended Andrew Bynum, gave the Celtics a fourth quarter scare but ultimately came up short, losing 103-100. Kyrie Irving scored 12 of his game-high 32 points in the final period as the Cavs roared back from 19 down only to fall short and lose their fourth straight game. The Celtics saw six players score in double-digits, led by Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford who finished with 19 points apiece.
Brooklyn @ Indiana
Paul George was one of three Pacers starters scoring 20+ points in Indiana’s 105-91 over the Brooklyn Nets. George finished with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Lance Stephenson and George Hill combined for 44 points on 13-of-21 shooting. Coach Kidd’s Nets were outrebounded 41-28 as his position as Head Coach continues to look less secure with every defeat. The Nets now face the Spurs and Thunder to conclude their three-game road trip.
New York @ Toronto
The Knicks and Raptors faced each other for the second time in two days but the result was the same. The Raptors 115-100 win was in doubt in the fourth quarter as the visitors trimmed a 14-point deficit to just six before a five-point play by Kyle Lowry swung the momentum in favour of the hosts for the final time. Lowry finished with 32 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds and teammate, Terrence Ross, was 7-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Detroit @ Washington
The Pistons lost their second straight game to a team under .500 with a 106-82 defeat to the Wizards. Detroit has a chance to make amends on Monday night when the two sides face each other again. John Wall had a game-high 20 points and 11 assists in Washington’s 13th win of the season.
Charlotte @ Atlanta
The Hawks are 3-1 in overtime games this season thanks to their latest victory, a 118-116 win over the visiting Bobcats. In their first game after Al Horford’s season-ending injury, the Hawks forced overtime thanks to an off-balance Pero Antic three-pointer before Lou Williams sealed the win in the extra period with perfect shooting from the charity stripe. Paul Millsap ended the game with 33 points to lead all scorers while Al Jefferson had a monster 24 points and 23 rebounds for the ‘Cats.
Antic’s difficult shot to force OT:
Dallas @ Chicago
The Mavs beat the Bulls 105-83 thanks to Monta Ellis’ game-high 22 points. The Mavs shot 50% from three while the Bulls struggled, converting just 3-of-17 attempts as they slumped to defeat against West coast opposition for the eighth time this season.
New Orleans @ Houston
The Houston starters combined for 85% of their scoring output, led by Dwight Howard’s 24 points and 18 boards, as the Rockets beat the Pelicans, 107-98. Anthony Davis ended the game with 18 points and 16 rebounds in his first match-up against Howard.
Denver @ Memphis
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Nuggets have lost six games straight, the latest defeat coming against the Grizzlies, 120-99. The Nuggs were inferior on the boards and in distributing the ball as Memphis took control in the third period.
Minnesota @ Milwaukee
Kevin Love’s 33 points and 15 rebounds were the Timberwolves forward’s 27th double-double of the season and helped his team beat the Bucks, 117-95. Khris Middleton led the Bucks in scoring with 23 points.
Philadelphia @ Phoenix
After losing to the Warriors, the Suns returned to winning ways with a 115-101 win over the visiting 76ers. Miles Plumlee finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Suns to their 18th win of the year, just three wins behind the Division leading Clippers. Thaddeus Young led all scorers with 30 points in the Sixers loss.
Miami @ Portland
Playing without LeBron James, the Heat needed other players to step up, which is exactly what Chris Bosh did – scoring a season-high 37 points and sinking the game-winning three – to give the Heat a huge 108-107 win. LaMarcus Aldridge did have an opportunity to win the game for the Blazers at the buzzer but he couldn’t connect with 0.5 seconds remaining, condemning Portland to only their sixth loss of the season.
Bosh wins it for Miami:
Utah @ Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin’s game-high 40 points were also a season-high for the Clippers power forward as he helped LA overcome a pesky Jazz team, 98-90. Chris Paul finished one assist shy of a triple-double as the Clippers continue to struggle for consistency this season.
BG and CP3 go to work in win over Jazz: