Each time we checked in with the Hawks vs. Celtics it was like watching a different game. In the first half the Celtics were on cruise control and it almost looked as if Tommy Heinsohn could have stepped in because of Boston’s 27-point lead. Atlanta was going to old standbyes Al Horford and Josh Smith (17 points, 14 boards) inside, though not with much success. Once we flipped back the lead had dwindled but Rajon Rondo was still controlling the game’s tempo en route to his fifth triple-double of the season, with 16 points, 11 dimes and 10 boards. But after that, Kyle Korver took over the game. He hit eight three pointers after halftime and had 27 points for the game, getting the Hawks the win even after still being 10 down with four minutes left in regulation. Even after Jeff Teague (23 points) fouled out in the first OT and Paul Pierce couldn’t get a shot off on the dribble against Smith’s defense to end that first extra period, you’d think Boston would still get the dub because of their veteran savvy. But no, the wheels on Boston’s confidence had come off well before then and they allowed Atlanta to score the first 10 points of double OT in a 123-111 win. It was a back-to-back for Boston so there is some leniency due there, but still, it was a sixth straight loss, the most in a row in the KG era. … What threats can Doc Rivers throw out there after this dumpster fire of a loss? He already told everyone he’d trade them. … New Cavaliers Wayne Ellington and Marreese Speights got the Cavaliers’ home crowd in their corner in the fourth quarter of their win over Milwaukee when their buckets helped the Cavs come back from a 14-point hole to take a one-point lead halfway through. The 113-108 win couldn’t have happened without a sharp second unit. Without Cleveland’s starters on the floor, the Cavs got after it to knife into the Bucks’ lead, aided by a hail of turnovers, and eventually get up seven with four minutes left. … Not to diss Luke Walton but we didn’t expect the Cavs’ TV analyst scream “basketball at its best!” after a Walton-to-Shaun Livington give-and-go. … After a nasty dribble-drive breakdown move by Brandon Jennings got the Bucks within two after freezing Alonzo Gee, a mask-less Kyrie Irving (35 points) tried to one-up him with a Rondo-esque fake behind-the-back dime before converting the layup. Only problem was Ersan Ilyasova (30 points) took the charge. Still, it illustrated the point of how fun the Jennings-Irving matchup can be. … Friday night was a night of blowouts in the Association. In Miami after an early deficit, the Heat’s 26-4 run overlapping the second and third quarter neutered the Pistons’ power to score a South Beach upset in a 110-88 win. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James combined for 52 points and looked like a WWE tag team where one would take over for the other in stretches. … The best part was when Bron tackled a fan like Patrick Willis after sinking a $75K halfcourt shot at halftime with a hook shot. That fan might have a broken rib today and wouldn’t mind at all. Awesome shot, even better reaction. … Hit the jump to hear how Pau and Dwight made it look easy together. …
The statistics so far have backed up Mike D’Antoni’s move to keep Pau Gasol playing off the bench, but Friday night was that rare event this season where almost everything clicked right among all the Lakers’ lineups. That includes when Gasol was in with Dwight Howard and the two could play high-low ball against Utah in the Lakers’ 102-84 win. Normally with how brutal the Lakers’ front line has been and how big Utah’s centers can play (with Favors, Millsap, Jefferson and Kanter) we’d take the Jazz in this fight, but they were no match with Kobe Bryant (14 points, 14 dimes) playing distributor — Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap combined for 10-of-25 shooting. Howard seemed like he had about eight alley-oops in this game for his 17 points and 13 rebounds. He didn’t show any after effects from reinjuring his labrum injury this week, and L.A. gave an all-around effort that was one of the best of the entire season. … In John Wall‘s first start the Wizards smoked the perpetually banged-up Timberwolves, 114-101. Wall had 14 points. The roster is so thin for Minny that newly signed Michael Gelabale came off the bench for 15 points. … The Bulls were 103-87 winners over Golden State, thanks to a season-high 25 by Kirk Hinrich. … Seven Grizzlies scored in double figures in a pure rout of Brooklyn, 101-77. Even after trade talk dissipated around Rudy Gay, he did not look all that comfortable getting 5-of-13 shots to fall for 11 points. By less comfortable we mean less sure of himself to make a play when his team needed it. He was much more comfortable deferring. … In another blowout, the Rockets beat the Hornets 100-82 in New Orleans thanks to first-time All-Star James Harden‘s 30 points. … In a battle of once and (possibly) future Seattle teams, Oklahoma City trailed to the Kings by 10 early before Kevin Durant (24 points, 11 boards) started his own personal comeback rally. It was made complete with a nasty dunk on the break made possible by the hesitation move he used to split two defenders in the key. The Thunder would win 105-95 in Sac Town. … Tony Parker (23 points) did a Manny Pacquiao impression by getting hit over the eye by Elton Brand and falling limp to the floor in San Antonio’s 113-107 win over Dallas. It was the same eye he nearly lost in the Drake-Chris Brown club fight last summer, but after getting yanked off the floor by the refs as play resumed, he came back and dominated Dallas even without Gregg Popovich or Tim Duncan, both out, and Manu Ginobili didn’t even play in the second half but was said to not be injured. You want an All-Star performance? That was one. … This is NBA FIT Live Healthy Week, and one cool way to be involved is not just to mimic players’ moves but how they eat, too, with a spotlight on healthy eating. Guys like Wall, Wesley Matthews and Tyson Chandler are part of the initiative to get kids moving, among other players. … We’re out like Boston’s big lead.
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