Miami Stays Undefeated At Home; Spurs Are Still Best In The West

The last time Miami played Brooklyn at home, the Nets got beatdown by 30. For one half last night, it seemed like things were changing. LeBron James wasn’t playing well. The Nets were killing it offensively. Even Jerry Stackhouse was turning back the clock. Alas, the Heat turned up the defense and allowed just 30 points in the second half in another double-digit win. Dwyane Wade missed just six shots in a 34-point performance, and Miami’s defense went to a place Brooklyn couldn’t counter in the second half. In the first game between these teams, Brook Lopez had just eight points, Deron Williams had seven turnovers, and Joe Johnson was virtually nonexistent. Ironically, it was Stackhouse doing his Deebo routine that got Miami going towards the end of the second quarter. Stack, known for not discriminating when it comes to handing out ass whoopings, was wrecking everyone who came into the lane. Finally, he picked the wrong guy to tussle with, and James went directly through him for a three-point play. From there, LeBron looked like LeBron rather than Josh Childress (LeBron has scored at least 20 in every game so far – that’s the first time he’s done that this late into any season) … Gerald Wallace didn’t play in the first meeting, and came out and immediately hit two long buckets for five quick points. The Nets jumped all over South Beach, 15-4. If it was LeBron’s plan to completely blend into the background, he was doing a great job of it, playing early on like it was Game 5 of the 2011 Finals all over again. He didn’t hit a shot until the second half of the second quarter. Maybe he was tired – Brian Windhorst reported he did take a 25-mile bike ride on Friday night … Seriously though, we should never have to watch Miami play in those all-whites every again. They look like our old church league unis after all the letters had fallen off. That’s exactly what these Miami joints look like … In double overtime, Portland survived Cleveland, 118-117, behind 24 and 11 from Damian Lillard, and Nic Batum (22 points). Honestly, Cleveland’s whole offense right now might just be throw a shot up at the rim and hope Anderson Varejao (19 points, 17 rebounds) runs down the rebound. Actually, take that back, because Dion Waiters (12 points, seven dimes) was balling last night. Looking every bit the mini D-Wade some pegged him as, he was carving Portland up in the first quarter off the screen-n-roll, and even had a double-pump smash down the middle of the lane where everyone in black wisely got out of the way … After ringing up all of two assists in the entire first half against Boston, Lillard had six dimes by himself through the first ten minutes … Russell Westbrook was all over Greivis Vasquez in the first quarter OKC’s blowout win over New Orleans, somehow forgetting it’s still only December and not the playoffs. Twice, he ripped the Hornets’ point guard in the backcourt, and ended up finishing with 18 points and ten dimes … Houston had seven different players score at least 13 points in their eight-point win over Utah. Patrick Patterson led the way with 20 points … Keep reading to hear about college basketball’s most improved player …

Behind 25 points, seven boards and seven assists from Luol Deng, Chicago held of Philly, 93-88 … We guess Gregg Popovich was right. In San Antonio, Memphis built a 15-point lead in the third quarter, and yet, the old Spurs had the legs to come all the way back to win by four in overtime. Tony Parker finished with 30 and Tim Duncan (27 points, 15 rebounds) actually outplayed Zach Randolph (17 points, 15 rebounds) … Boston jumped out 17-0 on the Bucks, and yet it didn’t matter, losing by three to Milwaukee. Larry Sanders (18 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks) had another incredible game … Behind 27 from O.J. Mayo, Dallas ran away from the streaking Pistons, 92-77 … Sacramento got blown out in L.A., losing to the Clippers by 35 … While Golden State beat Indiana, 103-92 as Steph Curry (20 points, 11 dimes) and Klay Thompson (22 points) did work … In college ball, is it officially panic time for Kentucky? They’re only 4-3, and for a team that prides itself on having spit-out-your-water incredible freshmen, 4-3 with two consecutive losses is causing celebrations among Coach Cal haters everywhere. After getting beatdown at Notre Dame, the Wildcats responded by getting pounded by Baylor, 64-55, to end a 55-game win streak at home. These aren’t the same Bears you’re probably accustomed to either. Baylor isn’t ranked, has already lost twice, and their best player is probably shorter than you (Pierre Jackson, who had 17 points and four steals). Kentucky just wasn’t any good, building brick houses against their zone defense … And Virginia Tech’s senior guard Erick Green might be the most improved player in the country. He sauteed No. 15 Oklahoma State for 28 points in 26 minutes as the Hokies pushed their record to 7-0 … And in some extremely sad news, it’s being reported that longtime coach Rick Majerus has died at the age of 64. We’ll never forget how he beat a loaded UNC team in ’98 with a chubby point guard (Andre Miller), a slow-footed, jump-shooting center (Michael Doleac), and some cat named Hanno … We’re out like Stackhouse’s retirement plan.