Tag: Memphis

Westbrook, Durant lead Monday’s S&Ds efforts

Oklahoma City’s dynamic duo took advantage of a questonable late officiating call that helped boost them to a wild overtime victory over  Portland.

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant came up with monster games Monday to pace the Thunder’s 111-107 triumph over the Trail Blazers.

Westbrook went for 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Durant provided 33 points, seven rebounds and five assists, including a key dunk with 2.9 seconds in overtime to ice the victory.

“I’m just glad we got the win, man,” Durant . “It was one of those wins where we come back in the locker room a little bit emotional.”

STUDS

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and was plus-1 in the Thunder’s overtime victory at Portland.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Notched 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists and was plus-3 in the Thunder’s triumph at Portland.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Filled the stat sheet with 29 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals in the Clippers’ victory at Orlando.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Muscled for 28 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and was plus-8 in the Kings’ triumph at New Orleans.

San Antonio F Tim Duncan: Went for 19 points, 17 rebounds, five blocked shots, three assists, two steals and was plus-6 in the Spurs’ comback victory at Memphis.

Portland F LaMarcus Aldridge: Notched a season-high 39 points, six rebounds and three rebounds in the Trail Blazers’ overtime loss to Oklahoma City. 

Orlando C Dwight Howard: Produced 33 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and was plus-8 in the Magic’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.  

DUDS

Utah G Earl Watson: Missed all four shots with two turnovers and was minus-11 in the Jazz’s loss at New York.

Orlando F Hedo Turkoglu: Missed all six shots with a turnover in the Magic’s loss to the Los Angeles  Clippers.

Utah F Paul Millsap: Went 3 for 10 from the field with five turnovers in the Jazz’s loss at New York.

Denver F Al Harrington: Clanked through a 5-for-16 shooting effort with four turnovers and was minus-8 in the Nuggets’ loss  to Houston.

Memphis F Rudy Gay: Scored 18 points against the  Spurs, but needed 26 shots to get them, along with four turnovers and was minus-4 in the Grizzlies’ loss to San Antonio.

Houston G Kevin Martin: Struggled through a 1-for-9 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-1 in the Rockets’ victory at Denver.  

Memphis G O.J. Mayo: Went 3 for 15 from the field with a turnover in the Grizzlies’ loss to the Spurs.

Rondo provides triple-double S&D effort, but is silent afterwards

Rajon Rondo didn’t have to face the formidable challenge of matching with reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose Sunday afternoon.

Rose’s absence likely helped contribute to Rondo’s 15th career triple-double, as the Boston point guard sliced through Boston for 32 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in the Celtics’ 95-91 victory.

It was a big turnaround after Rondo’s struggles Friday night against Toronto, when he matched his season low with five points.

Rondo didn’t share any thoughts about his big game or his struggles in the previous game as he chose not to speak with the media after the victory against Chicago.

Boston coach Doc Rivers gave a small glimpse  of why he thought his point guard rebounded like he did from the poor previous game.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m going to let you guys be that deep. I wish I could get in someone’s head that deep,” Rivers said. “I just think he wanted to win.”

Boston forward Paul Pierce added to the praise for  Rondo.

“When he’s assertive, aggressive, the way he plays, we’re a tough team to stop,” Pierce told reporters after  the game. “When he’s out in transition, pushing the ball, taking the shots right there, rebounding, he’s just all energy. He just did it all. He was great to watch.”

Whatever the reason, Rondo came up big when his team needed him to, leading Sunday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Produced his 15th career triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists and was plus-8 in the Celtics’ victory over Chicago.

Golden State G Monta Ellis: Went for 33 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, a block and was plus-10 in the Warriors’ victory over Houston. 

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Hit the game-winning shot to win at Toronto, notching 27 points and was plus-7 in the triumph over the Raptors.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Produced 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and was plus-8 in the Jazz’s victory at Memphis.

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet with 23 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and was a team-best plus-26 in the Heat’s victory at Atlanta.

DUDS

Detroit G Brandon Knight: Went 1 for 9 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-17 in the Pistons’ loss to Washington.

Washington G Jordan Crawford: Clanked through a 2-for-12 shooting effort in the Wizards’ victory over Detroit.

Toronto G DeMar DeRozan: Went 2 of 13 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-4 in the Raptors’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chicago F Luol Deng: Struggled through a 3-for-12 shooting effort with two turnovers and was minus-4 in the Bulls’ loss at Boston.

Detroit F Jonas Jerebko: Hit 3 for 8 from the field with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-28 in the Pistons’ loss to Washington.

Rose bounces back for 35 to lead Monday’s S&Ds

NBA reigning MVP Derrick Rose couldn’t wait to put an embarrassing performance behind him as quickly as he could. 

Only a day after his two missed free throws and a missed late shot led to a loss, Rose erupted for a season-best 35 points Monday to lead Chicago to a 95-85 victory over Washington.

Rose scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Bulls jumped ahead early and never trailed in the victory.

“I just played my game—and that’s me being aggressive,” Rose told the Associated Press.

Before the game, Rose vowed never to repeat his late crumble against Miami on Sunday. 

“If I ever get in that position again, I know it will be totally different. Yesterday isn’t going to do anything but make me stronger as a player,” Rose said.

It helped catapult him to the top of Monday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Chicago G Derrick Rose: Went for 35 points, eight assists, three blocked shots, two steals and was plus-13 in the Bulls’ triumph at Washington.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Went for 26 points, 14 assists, two steals and was plus-10 in the Clippers’ victory over the Thunder.

Minnesota F Michael Beasley: Came off the bench to score 34 points on 10-for-14 shooting and was plus-4 in the Timberwolves’ victory at the Rockets.  

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet for 22 points, 11 rebounds, eight rebounds and was a team-best plus-29 in the Heat’s victory over New Orleans.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Notched  36 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Thunder’s loss at the Clippers.

DUDS

Memphis F Rudy Gay: Limited to one point as he missed all seven shots from the field for his lowest scoring effort since his rookie season in 2006-07. For good measure, he picked up a technical and was minus-11 in the Grizzlies’ loss to the Spurs.

Minnesota F Wesley Johnson: Went 2 for 7 from the field with six turnovers in the Timberwolves’ victory over the Rockets.

Detroit G Brandon Knight: Clanked through an 0-for-4 shooting night with four turnovers and was minus-20 in the Pistons’ loss at the Bucks.

Orlando F Hedo Turkoglu: Went 1 for 9 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Magic’s loss at the 76ers.

Oklahoma City F James Harden: Clanked through a 2-for-10 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-11 in the Thunder’s loss to the Clippers.