Miami took on the Detroit Pistons with both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade sidelined with injuries. Lebron James, as he did so many times with Cleveland last year, put the team on his back and scored 39 points, had 8 rebounds and 9 assists and Eddie House hit two huge free throws in the final ten seconds to give the Heat an 88-87 win over the struggling Pistons. Miami shot just 5 of 24 from long range, but were able to avoid losing another close game. Ben Gordon led the Pistons with 21 points, and Tracy McGrady nearly had a triple double finishing with 14 points 8 rebounds and 10 assists.
The double-double train keeps on rolling for Kevin Love as he picked up his 32nd in a row with 22 points and 15 rebounds against the Jazz. It wasn't enough though as the Jazz beat Minnesota 108-100 dropping the Timberwolves to 10-36 on the year, with just 2 wins in 24 road games. The Jazz were without starting point guard Deron Williams, out with a wrist injury, but Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko and Earl Waton picked up the slack for Utah. Millsap had a game high 30 points and 8 rebounds while Kirilenko had a season high 27 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Watson, starting in place of Williams, had 10 points and 13 assists. Minnesota has now lost six in a row.
Speaking of losing, the Cleveland Cavaliers were in action tonight against the Denver Nuggets. And just as it's gone the last 18 games, so it went again in the 19th. Denver scored 70 points in the first half and went into the intermission up 20. The Cavs rallied late and cut the deficit down to 6 before the Nuggets pulled away to win by a final of 117-103. Cleveland has now lost 29 times in their last 30 games, they've tied the franchise record for consecutive losses in a single season, and they are closing in on the NBA record of 23 consecutive losses shared by the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. Now for a little trip down memory lane. Those Grizzlies were in their inaugural season and in addition to their epic 23 game losing streak, they also sustained a 19 game losing streak during that same season. Greg Anthony led the team in scoring at 14.0 a game, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves made the NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team, and Byron Scott came off the bench to score 13.3 a game. And let's not leave out the fact that the immortal Blue Edwards started all 82 games. The 1997-98 Nuggets finished 11-71 with a roster that had Bobby Jackson, Danny Fortson and Tony Battie. Back to the present. The Cavs next 5 games:
at Orlando - 1/30
at Miami - 1/31
vs Indiana - 2/2
at Memphis - 2/4 (ironic they could play the Grizzlies with a chance to tie their record)
vs Portland - 2/5
Russell Westbrook had his 3rd triple-double of the season and Kevin Durant had 40 points as Oklahoma City brought the Thunder and rallied to beat the Washington Wizards in double overtime 124-117. Westbrook finished with 35 points 13 rebounds and 13 assists. For Durant it was his second 40+ point game in a row and his 4th of the season.
Speaking of 40 point games, Dwight Howard put up 40 tonight in a losing effort against the Chicago Bulls. Howard added 15 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks, but it wasn't enough as the Bulls knocked off Orlando 99-90. Carlos Boozer had 16 points and 16 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 26 and ulcer-stricken Derrick Rose survived a rough shooting night (6/21) but still finished with 22 points and 12 assists. The Bulls are now 32-14. More bad news for the Magic in this one, Jameer Nelson left after 8 minutes with a knee injury and did not return.
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