NBA Wrap - Melo steals the show, Garnet returns to Minnesota (sort of), Lakers are starting to come together
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Allen Iverson admitted that this was one of his easiest games ever. "I was out there watching,'' Iverson said after the Nuggets beat the Wizards last night 111-100 last night.
He had Carmelo Anthony to thank for the night off. Carmelo took his team on his shoulders last night and was all over the Wizards in the process. He finished the game with 49 points and he left the Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan so frustrated that he decided to double and triple team him in the final minutes of the game.
"I thought it was very classless to close the game out,'' Jordan said. "I have my opinion. I can say what I want to say. That's what I thought it was.''
Anthony took it all in stride though. He didn't feel that they disrespected anyone and that he also said that he felt that none of the Wizards players could guard him one on one, which was true last night.
Kevin Garnett comes back home
Even though Kevin Garnett couldn't play last night, his former hometown fans showed him a lot of love when he made his first trip back to Minnesota since being traded to the Celtics last summer. They gave him a standing ovation and signs thanking KG for all his hard work could be seen all over the stadium.
The main story of the game was not Kevin Garnett's return though. Surprisingly enough, this was a close game between the team with the best record in the league and the team with the worst record in the western conference. It came down to the wire but with some last second heroics by the Celtics they won 88-86.
The Timberwolves had the ball with the score tied 86-86 with 28 seconds left. Marko Jaric missed a 3-pointer and teammate Craig Smith rebounded the ball and tried to kick it back out.
But Ray Allen stepped in front and stole the pass and raced the other way with the clock ticking down. A frantic scramble under the basket ended with Powe putting back a miss just before the buzzer sounded. Crazy.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctr17fGI2J4]
Lakers bonding nicely
Kobe Bryant and newly acquired Pau Gasol are starting to play some good ball. Last night was Pau's third game with the Lakers but he ran the pick and roll so effectively with Kobe last night, you would've thought they'd been playing together for years.
Kobe finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists while Gasol complimented that with 30 points and 9 rebounds. That chemistry lifted the Lakers past the Magic in Orlando last night 117-113.
This is the kind of help that Kobe has been waiting for, for a long time. We are seeing a very happy Kobe right now.
Around the league
- Kevin Martin scored 27 points and the Sacramento Kings pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Utah 117-104, ending the Jazz's 10-game winning streak.
- Wally Szczerbiak called a timeout when Seattle had none remaining with 15.1 seconds to play, allowing the Phoenix Suns to pull out a 103-99 victory over the Sonics.
- Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points while also getting some rest and a lot of help in the Dallas Mavericks' 92-81 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, who played on the road for the first time without Pau Gasol.
- Chauncey Billups took advantage of Brandon Roy's absence, scoring 17 points in the first quarter to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers 91-82 for their seventh straight victory.
- LeBron James scored 26 points, Ira Newble added a season-best 18 and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 100-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
- Michael Finley made the tying 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in regulation and the Spurs dominated overtime in a 99-93 victory over the Knicks, who matched a season high with their eighth straight loss.
- Corey Maggette matched his season-high with 35 points, Cuttino Mobley had 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Toronto Raptors 102-98.
- Richard Jefferson scored 23 points as the Nets turned in a rare strong performance in beating the Bobcats 104-90.
