Tag: Phoenix

Gasol’s big game, late block boosts him to top of Thursday’s S&Ds

Pau Gasol missed out on an All-Star Game selection Thursday for the first time in three seasons.

He didn’t let that momentary disappointment affect his playing later that evening.

Gasol provided 25 points and 14 rebounds and delivered a game-saving block at the overtime buzzer that sealed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 88-87 victory at Boston.

His block of Ray Allen’s shot at the buzzer enabled the Lakers to escape with a victory, only their second win in the last eight road games.  

“I’ve been in situations before in my career where you freeze … catch yourself looking at the ball and end up losing the game,” Gasol told  the Asssociated Press.

Allen said he was stunned that Gasol was in position for his late play.

“I was in the perfect position,” Allen told the AP, “and he came out of nowhere.”

Lakers coach Mike Brown was just happy that Gasol was in place when he needed him.

“That shot that Ray Allen took was good, in my opinion,” Brown told the AP. “But Pau did not stop playing until he heard the horn, and he came up with the big block.”

That clutch play enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top players across the association.

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Notched 25 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Lakers’ overtime victory at Boston. Gasol’s key block at the end of overtime preserved the triumph.

Golden State G Stephen Curry: Erupted for  36 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and was plus-15 in the Warriors’ victory at Denver.

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ victory at Boston.

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Filled the stat sheet with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and was plus-7 in the Kings’ triumph over Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Produced 33 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Houston’s bench: All five substitutes scored in double figures as they outscored Phoenix’s bench, 57-13, in the Rockets’ triumph over the Suns.

DUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Derek Fisher: Missed all seven shots from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over Boston.

Phoenix G Sebastian Telfair: Missed all four shots with a turnover and was minus-19 in the Suns’ loss to Houston.

Denver G Rudy Fernandez: Went 4 for 13 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Nuggets’ loss to Golden State.

Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins: Was limited to five points on 1-for-4 shooting, had three turnovers and was minus-1 in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.

Boston F Kevin Garnett: Clanked through a 6-for-23 shooting effort with a turnover in the Celtics’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant’s big game trumps Ellis’ 48, Lee’s triple-double

“I don’t think he called bank,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson told reporters after the game.

The most surprised person about the basket might have been Durant, who notched 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. It helped lead the Thunder to their second tight victory in as many nights after a stirring overtime triumph at Portland Monday night.

“It’s one of those things where you shoot it and you’re like, ‘Aw, that’s a terrible shot,’ ” Durant told the Associated Press of his game winner. “When it went in, I was kind of surprised.”

It was Ellis’ ninth career 40-point performance and matched the NBA’s highest-scoring game this season, set by Kobe Bryant against Phoenix on Jan. 10.

“We have to break that cycle,” Ellis told the AP of the Warriors’ loss, their sixth in their last nine games. “The games we should win, we’ve got to start winning. And the games like this, we should go out and compete and give ourselves a chance to win.”

STUDS

Golden State G Monta Ellis: Ripped Oklahoma City for 48 points, seven rebounds, two assists and was plus-5 in the Warriors’ loss to the Thunder.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Went for 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the Thunder’s victory at Golden State.

Miami G Dwyane Wade: Went for 26 points, four rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block and was plus-2 in the Heat’s victory over Cleveland.

Indiana F Darren Collison: Notched 25 points, four rebounds, five assists and was plus-8 in the Pacers’ victory over Utah.

Phoenix G Steve Nash: Celebrated his birthday with a game-winning shot to cap an 18-point, 11-assist effort in the Suns’ victory at Milwaukee. Nash was plus-14 in the victory.

Golden State F David Lee: Notched his second career triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and was plus-12 in the Warriors’ loss to Oklahoma City.

DUDS

Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins: Shut out in 19 minutes with four turnovers and was minus-14 in the Thunder’s victory over Golden State.

Cleveland F Luke Harangody: Went 1 of 9 from the field with two points and was minus-22 in the Cavaliers’ loss at Miami.

Sacramento G Isaiah Thomas: Missed all five shots and had a turnover in the Kings’ loss at Minnesota.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Went 3 for 13 from the field with two turnovers in the Kings’ loss at Minnesota.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Notched 31 points and seven assists, but had nine turnovers and was minus-7 in the Thunder’s victory over Golden State.

Cleveland G Ramon Sessions: Went 2 for 8 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-24 in the Cavaliers’ loss at Miami.

Bargnani returns with S&D effort in Raptors’ victory

Andrea Bargnani made the most of his return to the lineup Tuesday night.

It helped the Toronto Raptors bust several streaks along the way.

Bargnani scored 27 of his game-high 36 points in the second half to help the Raptors snap an eight-game losing streak with a 99-96 victory over Phoenix.

It was his first game back after missing the Raptors’ last six games with a left calf strain.

That return helped explain a slow start that turned around when he erupted for 18 points in the third quarter.

“I didn’t do anything different from the first quarter because I was pretty aggressive in the first quarter too, I just didn’t score,” Bargnani told the Associated Press. “Jose (Calderon) told me to shoot from the outside because I was just driving the ball and everybody was waiting for me. They found me open and they went in. It was all good.”

It certainly was for the Raptors, who claimed their first victory over the Suns in eight years.

And it was for Bargnani, who hit all 12 foul shots included two critical ones with 22.9 seconds left to seal the victory.

“Andrea coming back makes everything easier for everbody else,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey told  the AP. “He is kind of the hub for everybody to play off of.”

STUDS

Toronto F Andrea Bargnani: Returned to the lineup for the first time in two weeks with 36 points and six rebounds and was plus-1 in the Raptors’ victory over  the Suns. It helped snap Toronto’s eight-game losing streak.

Miami F Chris Bosh: Scored 35 points and grabbed seven rebounds and was plus-5 in the Heat’s victory over the Cavaliers.

Orlando F Ryan Anderson: Went for 24 points, including five 3-pointers, grabbed eight rebounds and was plus-11 in the Magic’s victory at Indiana.

New York C Tyson Chandler: Notched 20 points and 17 rebounds in only 29 minutes and was plus-13 in the Knicks’ victory at the Bobcats.

Portland C Marcus Camby: Scored only three points, but was a force inside with 22 rebounds, five blocked shots and was a game-best plus-29 in the Trail Blazers’ victory over the Grizzlies.

DUDS

New York F Carmelo Anthony: Produced a career-low one point in 30 minutes on 0-for-7 shooting in the Knicks’ victory over the Bobcats.

Miami F LeBron James: Didn’t get up for his old teammates as much as usual as he was 8 for 21 from the field with five turnovers in the Heat’s victory over  the Cavaliers.

Charlotte G Kemba Walker: Went 7 for 17 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-23 in the Bobcats’ loss to the Knicks. 

Indiana C Roy Hibbert: His recent broken nose must have affected his shooting form as he clanked through a 5-for-16 effort with two turnovers and was minus-19 in the Pacers’ loss to the Magic.

Charlotte F Tyrus Thomas: Went 1 for 9 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-16 in the Bobcats’ loss to the Knicks.