Jazz 110, Bobcats 102

Despite the Bobcats being 9-3 prior to this loss at home it meant nothing to the Utah Jazz.  The Jazz and Bobcats were neck-and-neck for most of the game even though the Jazz are a much better team then the Bobcats.  Both teams shot the ball extremely well (Bobcats 49% and the Jazz 53%) but the real factor in this game was bench scoring.  The Bobcats bench combined for 33 points but the Jazz bench score 41 including 20 from CJ Miles and another 18 from Paul Millsap.  These two teams played equally as sloppy though with over 20 turnovers a piece.  Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams each had double-doubles but Williams also had 6 turnovers.  For the Bobcats Gerald Wallace continued his dominance on the defensive boards with 13.

Clown of the game: DeSangana Diop.  He played 6 minutes and had one rebound; he is an awful 7-footer.

Magic 92, Blazers 83

Rebound margin was the difference maker down in Orlando and it wasn’t even close.  The Magic outrebounded the now short Blazers by 19 rebounds.  Other than Brandon Roy, every Blazer pretty much sucked it up.  Roy finished the game with 33 points on 13-27 shooting but was 1-6 from 3-point range and the Blazers were just 3-18 all together from 3.  Dwight Howard alone almost rebounded the entire Blazers team; he had 20 boards and 12 points.  The leading scorer on the Magic was Lewis with 15 which just goes to show how poorly everyone else shot.  I would have made Vince Carter the clown of the game because he was 1-14 from the floor but the Blazers lost and Martell Webster was 1-11 on the night with 2 point and 0-6 from downtown!

Clown of the game: Martell Webster.  Read statement above.

Clippers 112, Sixers 107 (OT)

The Sixers are back to their losing ways while the Clippers are hanging in there out West showing they can win some games still without Griffin.  Chris Kaman had a monster game on the boards with 22 and Marcus Camby contributed 11 of his own.  Baron Davis had a double-double with 20 points, 13 assists and just 1 turnover.  The Clips had 26 assists on 46 makes and 14 turnovers but the Sixers only had 8 turnovers but still lost the game in overtime.  Lou Williams was back for the 1st time in a month and had a very quick recovery and he scored 6 points in 24 minutes of action.  The Sixers defense is just so poor allowing the Clippers to shoot over 50% at home nonetheless.

Clown of the game: Sam Dalembert.  He played 10 minutes and had 5 fouls.  What a joke, two years ago he averaged a double-double and 2 blocks.  What is his deal lately?

Bulls 101, Hawks 98 (OT)

In another OT game on Saturday night, the Bulls made a 4th quarter comeback to bring the game to OT and pull out the W.  Joe Johnson lit up the Bulls for 40 points but it just wasn’t enough as he missed his final shot of the game which would have tied the game at 101 as time expired in OT.  Derrick Rose was easily as good on the night with 32 points on 14-24 shooting and also had 6 assists and no turnovers.  Luol Deng also had a great game with 21 points, 12 boards and 6 assists.  The Bulls show resilence on this night and they are now 10-15 and are just percentage points from the 8th seed in the East.

Clown of the game: Josh Smith.  He was 2-12 on the night and had just 5 rebounds.  When he doesn’t produce, this team doesn’t win.

-The Basher