Scores and performances from around the NBA.
Last night in the NBA was interesting to say the least. LeBron James and the Miami Heat took a trip down to San Antonio and got a reality check from the defending Western Conference champs. The Phoenix Suns continue to attempt to make us believers as they picked up an impressive win at home over the best team in the West.
Check out our NBA Thursday recap.
Spurs 111, Heat 87
What’s that? King James is making excuses about his mask and the sleeved jerseys last night?
He might have a decent excuse about the sleeved jerseys. Those suck. But James can’t make any excuses for his 6-18 shooting last night in San Antonio as Kawhi Leonard played terrific defense on him. The Spurs came out firing on all cylinders and were prepared to make a statement from the opening tip.
The Spurs learned their lesson from last season and are on a mission to swipe the top spot out West from the Oklahoma City Thunder. San Antonio could have been the defending champions with one more game at home in the 2013 NBA Finals. With 21 games remaining for the Spurs, they have a shot to clinch the league’s best overall record if they continue the strong play down the stretch. On the other hand, Miami has lost a rare two straight games and they will have to pick up the play if they hope to finish on top in the East.
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Bosh finished with 24 points for the Heat.
The Spurs improve to 45-16 and the Heat fall to 43-16.
Suns 128, Thunder 122
In the best game of the night (which of course wasn’t nationally televised), the Phoenix Suns came out on top in a duel against the dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. On his seventh team in seven seasons, Suns guard Gerald Green looks like he has found a solid destination in the desert. Green was the hero of the game as he dropped a ridiculous 41 points, with 25 of his career-high coming in the third. The Thunder had no answer for him and took the loss last night in Phoenix.
Suns forward Markieff Morris added 24 points and Suns guard Goran Dragic put up 22 points in the victory. Westbrook and Durant also put on a show last night in the scoring showdown. Westbrook finished the game just shy of a triple double, with 36 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Durant finished the game with 34 points.
The Suns improve to 36-25 and the Thunder drop to 46-16.
Clippers 142, Lakers 94
Biggest win in Clippers history. Worst loss in Lakers history.
With all of the inexcusable losses that the New York Knicks have been racking up, people tend to look past the Lakers and their terrible season. Last night was another sign of the changing times as the team they share the Staples Center with destroyed them last night in Los Angeles by 48 points. With new additions Danny Granger and Big Baby Davis getting into the flow of the line up, the Clippers continue to prepare for the Western Conference gauntlet, also known as the playoffs.
Blake Griffin finished the game with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Pau Gasol led the lifeless Lakers with 21 points and seven rebounds.
The Clippers improve to 43-20 and the Lakers fall to 21-41.
-Patrick Hazel (@pattywack25)
