Fuck Yea[h] NBA

Scores from last night:

• The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic in a low-scoring affair in Philadelphia 74-69. This type of game fits nicely with the spread the ball around offensive philosophy of Philly coach Doug Collins. The Magic shot 33.3% from the field and they limited Dwight Howard to 17 points and 11 boards. Iguodala led all starters with 14 points on the Philly end. [Phildelphia Daily News; Orlando Sentinel]
• The Chicago Bulls came back from their loss to Miami on Sunday by going to Washington DC and defeating the Wizards 98-88. Derrick Rose had 35 points and 8 assists, as his toe doesn’t seem to be an issue. John Wall had 20 points in the loss, but couldn’t slow down the MVP from 2011. [Chicago Tribune; Washington Post]
• Perhaps still aching from their playoff-level intensity in the game against Chicago, the Miami Heat started slow against the visiting New Orleans Hornets, down two points after the first period. By halftime they had the advantage, and never relinquished that lead for the remainder of the game. The Heat won 109-95. LeBron James was close to a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Jarret Jack and Carl Landry had 14 for NOR. Dwyane Wade added 22 points for Miami, as they ran away with the game late, in Miami. [Sun Sentinel; Times-Picayune]
• Michael “Mofo” Beasley, coming off the bench for the entertaining Timberwolves, scored 34 points on 10-14 shooting (including 2-3 on 3pointers), and Kevin Love had 29 points and 7 rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 18 points and 11 assists as the Timberwolves won in head coach Rick Adelman’s return back to Houston, 120-108. [Star-Tribune; Houston Chronicle]
• The Detroit Pistons continue to get stuck in the dirt when they went into Milwaukee and lost to Brandon Jennings and the Bucks 103-82. Jennings was 4-8 from beyond the arc on the way to 21 points and the victory. Detroit does not look good.[Journal-Sentinel; Detroit Free Press]
• The San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich are always competitive. Maybe you forgot they finished with the top record in the West last year. Last night they continued their steady march to the playoffs again with a “workmanlike victory” over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 83-73. Matt Bonner got hot from 3-point range, and the Spurs dealt the Grizzlies their 4th straight loss. The Grizz are missing Zach Randolph more than they missed Rudy Gay last year. [Express-News; Commercial Appeal: Ronald Tillery & Geoff Calkins]
• The Phoenix Suns played without their offensive instigator, Steve Nash, last night when Dallas came to town. Dallas ran right over them without Nash, winning 122-99 as Delonte West scored a season-high 25 points and Vince Carter poured in 21 points for the visiting Mavs off the bench. [Star-Telegram; Arizona Republic]
• The Portland Trail Blazers, once the sexy sleerp pick to come out of the west, lost again last night in Utah, 93-89. LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and Nicolas Batum had 15 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Utah’s balanced scoring (five players scored in double figures) and high-octane defense in the 3rd quarter when they went on a 13-0 run to take, and keep, the lead. [Salt Lake Tribune; Oregonian]
• The game of the night between OKC and the LAC featured a big moment when Blake Griffin got dunk nasty over Kendrick Perkins. Unfortunately, OKC wasn’t prepared to face the Clippers, and they got steamrolled from the outset; even though, the Thunder did try to make a game of it in the 4th. Kevin Durant had 36 points and Russell Westbrook had 31, and both shot above 50% from the field, but didn’t get any help from their supporting cast (James Harden was 2-10 in the starting line-up for injured guard Eric Maynor). It wasn’t enough to overcome the lead the Clippers had built over the first three quarters. The Clippers featured a more balanced attack then the Thunder; Caron Butler and Blake Griffin each had 22 points and DeAndre Jordan, Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams off the bench each scored in double figures. Chris Paul led the Clippers with 26 points (featuring Dirk-like shooting, 12-16 from the field) and 14 assists. Some observers will claim this makes the Clippers legitimate title contenders since the Thunder are the overwhelming favorites to come out of the West this year, but it’s just one game. [Orange County Regiser; Oklahoman]

PHOTOS: Associated Press VIA