Bucks 97, Nets 77

Shooter we should have been there!

In a game where Shooter and I (JB) were supposed to go to, the Nets hung tough until the end of the third quarter.  The snowstorm that hit the Tri-State area caused many fans to stay home.  However there were about 1,000 fans who came to see the Nets lose again and did not come away disappointed.  The Nets contained Brandon Jennings who only scored eight points, but his back up, Luke Ridnour, went off for 17 points.  Andrew Bogut led the Bucks with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks as they were able to break a half-time tie by outscoring the Nets by twenty in the second half.  Devin Harris had a night that Nets’ fans have been expecting all season.  Harris finished with 27 points and 9 assists.  Courtney Lee (11 points) was the only other Net to finish in double figures.

Hornets 93, Celtics 85

Peja Stojakovic has found his stroke since Chris Paul has been injured.  Stojakovic found himself scoring at least 20 points in his second straight game hitting four of his eight three point shots.  Darren Collison, who has been exceptional while trying to fill Paul’s shoes, almost had a triple-double, but not in a good way.  Collison scored 25 points, dished out 9 assists, but had 10 turnovers!  Although he did turnover the ball a lot, Collison came up huge scoring 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Hornets came back outscoring the Celtics by twenty in the second half.  Pierce led the Celtics with 15 points while Kevin Garnett struggled shooting two for nine, finishing with 7 points.  It was good to see Marcus Thornton play in his first game since bruising his back.  Thornton had two points in nine minutes.

Heat 94, Hawks 76

I just do not understand the Hawks.  They win some big games and then lose by almost 20 at home against a decent, but not great team.  Dwayne Wade put up a double-double, posting 18 points and  11 assists.  For the people who do not think Al Horford should be an All-Star here is your evidence.  He let Jermaine O’Neal score 19 points on nine of thirteen shooting while he grabbed 10 rebounds.  Daequan Cook hit 3 three pointers tonight as he is getting ready to defend his title in the Three Point Shootout.  Josh Smith led the Hawks with 18 points and Joe Johnson had 16 albeit it on seven of twenty-one from the field.  The Hawks are really hurting without Jamal Crawford.  The Hawks bench managed just eight points on two of eight shooting.  Without a spark off the bench the Hawks will be in big trouble until Crawford returns.

In two other games played tonight…

Raptors 104, Sixers 93

Chris Bosh (23 points 12 rebounds) led the Raptors with his 38th double-double of the season.  Andrea Bargnani (16 points) and DeMar DeRozan (14 points) also did their part in the win.  He may not be able to play defense but 76ers Lou Williams led all scorers with 26 points on nine of thirteen from the field.  Thaddus Young also had 15 points off the bench as he waits to see if he will be the new starting small forward after the All-Star break.

Kings 103, Pistons 97

The Pistons are TERRIBLE, that is all I really have to say about this game.  Like I say in every recap I write for them, the Pistons are a team with a bunch of twenty point scorers that never score twenty.  Tayshaun Prince did 23 points but Villaneuva, Stuckey, Hamilton, and Gordon (0-8 from the field) combined to score  27 points on 13-47 shooting!  At least the “Small 4″ hit 17 of their 18 free throws.  Kevin Martin led all scorers with 26 and Beno Udrih had 22 points off the bench.