Fuck Yea[h] NBA

Scores from last night:

There were 13 games last night, so 26 of the possible 30 teams in the NBA were playing around the country. If you’re wondering why your favorite player is either out with an injury, playing with an injury, or healthy (but you’re worried they’re injured or about to be injured), that’s because they’ve been playing at a hectic pace. If you want to read about the injuries in conjunction with the schedule, check out Ken Berger’s quarterly report, or Michael Wilbon’s article for ESPN. 

I’m breaking these recaps into two different posts. There’s simply too much for one post, even one of my long posts. 

• The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks last night 91-81 in Cleveland. It’s the 7th loss in the last 8 games for the struggling Knicks. Mike D’Antoni isn’t on the hot seat, he’s in a suana roasting, and must wake up every day expecting to see himself under a pithy Post headline claiming he’s been: Fired Because Fans Tired. Anyways, Amar’e had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Carmelo Anthony is still trying this whole passing thing, with 6 assists, but Antwan Jamison (!) and the Cavs were too much after the two teams went into the half tied up. The Cavs outscored the Knicks by 5 points in the 3rd quarter and the 4th. New York is close to panic mode with this team. [New York Times; Cleveland Plain Dealer]
• The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to roll after signing Russell Westbrook to a contract extension. They’ve won 10 of their last 11. They defeated the visiting New Orleans Hornets 101-91 behind some timely scores from Durant down the stretch, and some high percentage shooting and distribution from James Harden. The Thunder started the game 0-5 and started the second half 0-7, but shot 53% for the game, so everything efter those opening minutes of each half was just snapping the twine. Durant had 25 on 9/13 shooting, and James Harden was even better, scoring 18 on 4/5 shooting from the field. Jarret Jack led NOR with 20. [Oklahoman; Times-Picayune]
• DERON WILLIAMS SIGHTING! He poured in 34 points along with 11 assists, and Kris Humphries added 19 boards (6 offensive) as the visiting New Jersey Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-90 in overtime. The Sixers again had a balanced attack against New Jersey with five players in double figures (including two bench guys: Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young), but Williams was too much to overcome as he hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime with 26 seconds left. [Star-Ledger; Philadelphia Daily News]
• The Lakers aren’t ready to cede LA to the Clippers just yet. The Battle of LA continued last night as they went to work in the Staples Center. Technically, the Lakers were the “home” team for this one, and they made it count. Kobe had 24, Pau 23, Bynum had 19, and the Lakers won 96-91. Chris Paul was held to just 2 field goals, but still managed to pass his way to 12 assists. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 26 points and 9 rebounds (6 of them offensive). It wasn’t enough. The game was punctuated by tough play from both squads, and you can almost see a playoff match-up that will make the people of LA drunk off excitment (whether they deserve that excitement, is another story). Pau’s decision to rub CP3’s head like he was a little kid at the end of the game, will provide Chris Paul with plenty of enmity every time he matches up with that other LA team. I love that this is turning into a real rivalry—a word I hate-but it fits. [Los Angeles Times; Orange County Register]
• Nick Young and Andray Blatche gave rookie head coach Randy Whitmann a victory in his coaching debut, 92-75 in Washington against the lowly Charlotte Bobcats. Blatche had 17 and 10 for the Wizards, and Nick Young dropped 20 points on 7/18 shooting. John Wall had 12 points and 4 assists in only 26 minutes. The Bobcats got 17 points off 7-10 shooting from Matt Carroll, but that was the only bright spot in a game they were losing from the onset, down 31-17 after the first quarter and never making up the difference. Poor Rich Bonnell over at the Charlotte Observer is using doomsday Mayan language to describe this awful year for the Bobcats.  [Washington Post; Charlotte Observer]

PHOTOS: Associated Press VIA