Milwaukee’s win won’t do much for their
Playoff seeding, but it just threw a wrench into the Lakers’ campaign to lock
up eight spot in the West. Meanwhile, the Pacers remained the East’s second
seed while the Kings saw a rare inspired effort from DeMarcus Cousins.
Day’s
Best:
- Remember years ago when the only thing missing from Ben Wallace’s game was his offense? Well, our prayers are answered by way of Larry Sanders, who could end up as a much improved modern version of Wallace simply because he can score in more ways. Against the Lakers, Sanders dropped 21 points on 8-of-11 FG shooting to go with 13 rebounds and 2 blocks.
- We haven’t seen much from Paul George since the All-Star break, but his all-around production against the Mavs (24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) is a bright reminder of why Indiana is better than 13 other East teams right now.
- DeMarcus Cousins’s season-high 34 points to go along with 14 rebounds was mighty impressive. Now if he can just do it with more consistency.
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| Larry Sanders got the better of BOTH Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard in the Bucks' win over LAL. (image by Gary Dineen/Getty Image) |
Day’s
Worst:
- Phoenix has won just 6 games since the All-Star break. The implication? The Suns have the worst record in the West. The WORST. Yes, Hornets fans are jumping for joy. Yippee.
- Steve Nash sat the entire fourth quarter against Milwaukee. If this latest injury is serious, then the Lakers might as well hand eight seed to Al Jefferson’s Jazz.
- And here I thought the Mavericks were raring to shave. OJ Mayo, Vince Carter, and Elton Brand combined to shoot only 10-of-31 from the floor.
Final
Score: Milwaukee 113, LA Lakers 103
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Larry
Sanders led five Milwaukee starters in double-figures with 21 points and 13
rebounds, as the Bucks picked up a much- needed 113-103 victory over the Los
Angeles Lakers on Thursday at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Ersan Ilyasova and
Brandon Jennings each netted 20 points for the Bucks, who saw a four-game
losing skid come to an end. Monta Ellis filled out the stat sheet with 18
points, nine assists and seven boards and Marquis Daniels followed with 16
points in the victory. Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and is now four shy of tying
Wilt Chamberlain for 4th-most on the NBA career points list. The Lakers,
though, have lost four of their last five games. Steve Nash registered 16
points and with six helpers, while Dwight Howard had a double-double of 15
points and 15 rebounds in the setback.
Final
Score: Indiana 103, Dallas 78
Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Paul
George tallied 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and the Indiana
Pacers cooled off the red-hot Dallas Mavericks with a 103-78 victory at
American Airlines Center on Thursday. Indiana, winners in six of its last
seven, received 16 points and 11 rebounds from Roy Hibbert as well, while Tyler
Hansbrough and Orlando Johnson contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, off
the bench. The Pacers saw David West return to the lineup after missing six
games with a back injury, but found out before the game they will be without
former All- Star Danny Granger for the rest of the season, with the forward
undergoing season- ending knee surgery. West had seven points and seven boards.
Dallas' attempt to reach the .500 mark fell apart after halftime. Dirk Nowitzki
had 21 points and seven rebounds and Vince Carter followed with 14 points off
the bench for the Mavericks, who had won nine of 12 coming in.
Final
Score: Sacramento 117, Phoenix 103
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - DeMarcus
Cousins amassed 34 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes of play, and the
Sacramento Kings won their second road game in a row with a 117-103 decision
over the reeling Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Cousins had a double-double before
halftime and the Kings converted 53 percent from the field to notch their
fourth win in six games. Isaiah Thomas totaled 23 points with eight assists and
Patrick Patterson had a 10- point, 10-rebound double-double in the victory.
Luis Scola scored 25 points as the Suns dropped their fifth straight and ninth
contest in 10 games. P.J. Tucker followed with 18 and Wesley Johnson and
Michael Beasley each scored 14 in the defeat.
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| DeMarcus Cousins had one of his best career games against Phoenix. (image by Matt York/AP) |
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