With 10 games slated for tonight, here is the wrap-up for the first five games played on Wednesday:

Mavs 117, Nets 101

History has been made ladies and gentlemen.  With tonight’s loss, the New Jersey Nets dropped to 0-18, the worst losing streak to start a season EVER.  The Nets next goal should be to beat the all-time longest losing streak held by the 1998 Denver Nuggets and the Vancouver Grizzlies’ during their inaugural season in 1995-1996 (23 game losing streak).  The Nets were able to stay with the Dallas Mavericks (14-5) in the first quarter, tying the game at 28.  From there, the Mavs dismantled the Nets.  The Mavs shot 58% from the field, but at one point in the third quarter they were 30-38 from the field!

Dirk led the Mavs with 24 points and Jason Kidd killed his former team.  He finished with 16 points, making 5-6 shots, dished out 10 assists, and recorded 8 rebounds.  If this game was closer going into the fourth quarter, Kidd may have been able to pull off the triple-double.

Chris Douglas-Roberts left his heart out on the floor and finished the game with 24 points.  I really feel bad for him.  He is trying to do anything possible to win.  When Douglas-Roberts was interviewed after the game you could tell how painful this streak has been for him.  Devin Harris looked like he was fully recovered from his groin injury scoring 17 points.

The Nets last win came last year in a victory against the Charlotte Bobcats.  Interestingly enough, they play against each other this Friday.  We will see what happens.

Hawks 146, Raptors 115

Where did the Toronto Raptors (7-13) defense run to?  The Atlanta Hawks (13-5) dominated at home, shooting 59% to earn the 146-115 win.  Nine Hawks finished in double figures and Maurice Evans finished one point shy of making it ten.  Al Horford led the Hawks with 24 points and 7 rebounds.  Jason Collins (the Basher’s favorite player) was the only player on the Hawks to not score.

Rookie DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 21 points.  Surprisingly Chris Bosh was in foul trouble early and finished only with 2 points and 5 rebounds.

Cavs 107, Suns 90

The Suns (14-5) lost their second straight game, this time falling behind early to the Cleveland Cavaliers (13-5).  Like Jason Kidd, LeBron James was two rebounds short of a triple-double.  James finished with 12 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds.  Shaquille O’Neal, formerly known as the Big Shaqtus, stuck it to his old him scoring 12 points and pulling down 9 rebounds.

The Suns struggled on offense, shooting 40%.  Channing Frye led all scored with 22 points, hitting 4 three pointers.  Amare Stoudemire finished with a double-double registering 14 points and 12 rebounds.

The Suns next chance to bounce back is home against a competitive Sacramento Kings club on Saturday.

Wizards 104, Bucks 102

Earl Boykins took advantage of rookie Brandon Jennings in crunch time.  Shortly after Jennings hit a pull up three pointer to tie the game at 102 with 10 seconds remaining, it was Boykins, and not Gilbert Arenas, who had the ball in his hands with the game on the line.  Boykins scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, but his last two were the most important.  With time running out Boykins drove right, pump faked, and drew contact with Jennings once he was in the air.  Boykins sank both free throws and Luke Ridnour’s errant three at the buzzer sealed the win.

Arenas led all scored with 22 points on 10-24 shooting.  Nick Young also had a solid game for this Wizards dropping 22 points.  Luke Ridnour and Hakim Warrick both had 20 points off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Magic 118, Knicks 104

Rashard Lewis hit three pointer, after three pointer, after three pointer to help the Magic (15-4) beat the Knicks (4-15).  Lewish finished 5-7 behind the arc to lead the Magic with 20 points.  Mickael Pietrus and Dwight Howard also pitched in the winning effort scoring 17 points and 19 points respectively.

Young guns Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari did their best to keep the Knicks in this game.  Chandler scored 24 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.  Gallinari threw in 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals.

-JB