Tag: Atlanta

Love’s big night spoils Mullin’s jersey retirement, leads S&Ds

Kevin Love prepared for his upcoming trip to San Antonio with another monster game to ruin Chris Mullin’s jersey retirement night.

Love muscled for  36 points and 17 rebounds to lead Minnesota to a 97-93 victory over Golden State as the Warriors honored one of their greatest players.

The All-Star Minnesota power forward had several late big plays, hitting a 16-foot jumper with 4 minutes left and then adding a critical tip-in late in the game to help the Timberwolves keep their  dimming postseason hopes alive.

“Down the stretch is where we won the game,” Love told the Associated Press. “We executed, got big stops and made plays.”

It enabled Minnesota to snap a three-game losing streak and pull within 1½ games of Houston for eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Love and the Timberwolves have their chance to spoil another jersey retirement Wednesday night in San Antonio when the Spurs raise Bruce Bowen’s uniform to the rafters. They will be gunning for a  season sweep against the Spurs after beating them twice already this season.

His big game Monday night led Studs and Duds across the NBA.

STUDS

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Muscled for 36 points and 17 rebounds and was a team-best plus-6 in the Timberwolves’ victory at Golden State.

Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: Erupted for 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in only 31 minutes and was a team-best plus-23 in the Mavericks’ victory at Denver.

Cleveland F Tristan Thompson: The rookie from Texas had 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds (eight offensive) in the Cavaliers’ victory at New Jersey.

Chicago F Carlos Boozer: Went for 24 points, 13 rebounds, four steals, two assists and was plus-19 in the Bulls’ victory at Orlando.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Produced 10 points, 13 assists, six steals, three rebounds and was plus-3 in the Celtics’ victory at Atlanta.

DUDS

Chicago G C.J. Watson: Went 0 for 8 from the field with two turnovers in the Bulls’ victory at Orlando.

Orlando G Jason Richardson: Struggled through a 1-for-7 shooting effort with two turnovers and was minus-13 in the Magic’s loss to Chicago. 

Atlanta G Joe  Johnson: Went for 25 points in the Hawks’ loss to Boston, but had seven turnovers and was minus-1.

Orlando G Jameer Nelson: Struggled through a 4-for-11 shooting effort with five turnovers and was minus-2 in the Magic’s loss to Chicago.

Denver F Danilo Gallinari: Limited to four points on 1-for-7 shooting with three turnovers and was minus-10 in the Nuggets’ loss to Dallas.

Love goes for 30 and 21 to lead Monday’s S&Ds

Kevin Love’s streak of monster games continued again Sunday night.

Only two days after a career-best 51-point scoring game, Love followed it up with 30 points and 21 rebounds to lead Minnesota’s 117-100 victory over Denver.

“I think we used to call him kind of a poor man’s Larry Bird,” Denver coach George Karl told the Associated Press. “I think you can take `poor man’s’ off that comparison now. His ability to rebound is incredible and his offensive tools and skills are growing.”

 It was Love’s seventh career 30-point, 20-rebound game. During his career, the feat has been accomplished only 11 times by the rest of the league, with Dwight Howard with three the next closest during that span.

And it was  Love’s ninth 30-15 effort this season. Joe Smith is the only other NBA player who has accomplished that feat more than once this season. Smith has done it twice.

“Just another night for him,” Minnesota forward Anthony Tolliver told the AP.

Love’s huge outburst was critical as the Timberwolves attempt to stay relevant in the Western Conference playoff race.

And in the process, his big effort enabled  his team to stay within 2½ games of Houston for the West’s final playoff spot as he led Sunday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Notched 30 points, 21 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, two steals and was a game-high plus-25 in the Timberwolves’ victory over  Denver.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Went for 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and was plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory over the Heat.

Atlanta G Joe Johnson: Erupted for 37 points, eight rebounds, two assists and was plus-7 in the Hawks’ quadruple-overtime victory over Utah.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Went for 30 points and was plus-4 in the Lakers’ loss  to Memphis.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Produced 28 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and was plus-1 in the Jazz’s wild loss at Atlanta.

DUDS

Cleveland F Antawn Jamison: Went 1 for 8 from the field with a turnover and was minus-17 in the Cavaliers’ loss to Phoenix. 

Portland G Jamal Crawford: Clanked through a 1-for-10 shooting effort with a turnover and was minus-8 in the Trail Blazers’ loss to Golden State.

Washington F Trevor Booker: Went 1 of 7 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-14 in the Wizards’ loss at Boston.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Clanked through a 4-for-16 shooting effort with four turnovers in the Thunder’s victory over Miami.

Miami’s “Big Three:” LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade combined for 15 turnovers and were a collective minus-41 in the Heat’s loss at Oklahoma City.

‘Masked Mamba’ crowns Kings for 38 to lead Friday’s S&Ds

 Kobe Bryant is becoming accustomed quite nicely to the mask protecting his broken nose, thank you.

Bryant has his second consecutive big game with the facewear, erupting for 38 points and eight rebounds in a 115-107 triumph Friday night over Sacramento.

The mask is courtesy of the broken nose he received in the All-Star Game, courtesy of an elbow from Miami guard Dwyane Wade.

Bryant wears it throughout the game, resulting in the protection making his face feel like “a sauna on my face.”

“The mask felt fine,” Bryant told the Associated Press after the game. “It felt fine last game, it felt fine tonight.”

It particularly didn’t bother him early Friday night as the NBA’s leading scorer went for 20 points in the first quarter. He slowed down as the game progressed  before scoring a pivotal 3-pointer with 2:43 left to ice the victory.

“We played well, (but) we didn’t come in with the right sense of urgency and focus in the fourth quarter, and it almost cost us,” Bryant told the AP.

He’ll have a chance to meet up again with Wade Sunday afternoon after a strong effort leading Friday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Erupted for 38 points, eight rebounds, three assists and was a team-best plus-13 in the Lakers’ triumph over  Sacramento.  

Atlanta F Josh Smith: Filled the stat sheet for 24 points, 19 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the Hawks’ victory over Milwaukee.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Produced 27 points, eight assists and was a team-best plus-25 in the Celtics’ victory over New Jersey.

Denver G Ty Lawson: Went for 22 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists, two steals and was a team-best plus-18 in the Nuggets’ victory at  Houston.

Miami F LeBron James: Produced 35 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and was a game-high plus-7 in the Heat’s loss at Utah.

Milwaukee G Brandon Jennings: Scored 34 points and dished off nine assists in the Bucks’ loss at Atlanta.

DUDS

Milwaukee F Carlos Delfino: Clanked through a 1-for-10 shooting night with two turnovers and was minus-11 in the Bucks’ loss at Atlanta.

Sacramento C Jason Thompson: Went 1 for 8 from the field with a turnover and was minus-5 in the Kings’ loss at the Lakers.

Dallas G Jason Terry: Struggled throuugh a 1-for-9 shooting effort with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-19 in the Mavericks’ loss at New Orleans.

Phoenix C Channing Frye: Clanked through a miserable 2-for-18 shooting effort in the Suns’ victory over the Clippers.

Miami G Mario Chalmers: Went 1 for 6 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-1 in the Heat’s loss at Utah.

Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: Struggled through a 7-for-19 shooting effort with six turnovers and was minus-5 in the Mavericks’ loss at New Orleans.