Tag: Portland

No ‘Big Three:’ Hardly any chance to win

The Spurs rested Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in the same game again Monday night at Utah. The result was a 91-84 loss to the Jazz, snapping the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.

The trio have all been held out of the same game seven times in the nine-plus seasons they have played together.

Here’s a list of the games all of them have missed together.

April 16, 2007 — 101-91 loss at Memphis. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Bruce Bowen, Francisco Elson. Leading scorer – White, Michael Finley, 17. Leading rebounder – Butler, Matt Bonner 10. Leading assists – Beno Udrih 9.

April 18, 2007 — 100-77 loss to Denver. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Francisco Elson, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Beno Udrih 13. Leading rebounder – Butler 9. Leading assists – Udrih, Brent Barry 3.  

Feb. 3, 2009 – 104-96 loss at Denver. Starting lineup was George Hill, Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Mason 26. Leading rebounder – Bonner 8. Leading assists – Mason 6.

March 28, 2011 — 100-92 loss to Portland. Starting lineup was George Hill, Richard Jefferson, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, James Anderson. Leading scorer – Hill 27. Leading rebounder – Splitter 9. Leading assists – Hill 6. 

April 12, 2011 — 102-93 loss at Los Angeles Lakers. Starting lineup was Tiago Splitter, George Hill, Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Neal 16. Leading rebounder – Blair 11. Leading assists  – Chris Quinn 9.

Feb. 21, 2012 — 137-97 loss at Portland. Starting lineup was Kawhi Leonard, Cory Joseph, Danny Green, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Leonard 24. Leading rebounder – Leonard 10. Leading assists – Joseph, Jefferson, Gary Neal 3.   

April 9, 2012 — 91-84 loss at Utah. Starting lineup was Danny Green, Stephen Jackson, Patty Mills, DeJuan Blair, Boris Diaw. Leading scorer – Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter 14. Leading rebounder – Blair 8. Leading assists – Neal 5.

Westbrook erupts for 36 to lead Thursday’s S&Ds

Russell Westbrook didn’t let a slow start change his focus in a big game in his home area. 

Westbrook returned to Los Angeles and provided 36 points and six assists to lead Oklahoma City’s 102-93 triumph over the Lakers.

In the process, Westbrook turned around a sputtering start that saw him miss four of his first six shots in the first quarter.

“The game got out of whack. It was my job to pick it up,” Westbrook told the Associated Press. “We did a great job of defending and closing out the game.”

The victory enabled the Thunder to stretch their winning streak to five straight games as they moved three games ahead of the Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference.

He also earned some praise from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who unsuccessfully tried to keep him in check for most of the game.

“Russell Westbrook established the tempo in the third quarter and he changed the pace of the game for them,” Bryant told the AP. “He’s one of my favorites. He’s developed his outside shot a great deal, and he went to the post a little bit as well so he’s a problem.”

It enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top performers across the association.

STUDS

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Notched 36 points, six assists and two steals and was plus-5 in the Thunder’s victory at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Portland F LaMarcus Aldridge: Went for 25 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and was plus-4 in the Trail Blazers’ victory over New Orleans.

Indiana F Danny Granger: Tallied 25 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in the Pacers’ triumph over Washington.

Miami F Chris Bosh: Went for 19 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and was plus-26 in the Heat’s victory over Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Notched 25 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

DUDS

Dallas G Jason Terry: Clanked through a 1-for-10 shooting night with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-20 in the Mavericks’ loss at Miami.

Los Angeles Lakers G Ramon Sessions: Limited to seven points with five turnovers in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

Portland G Jamal Crawford: Missed all six shots from the field, including five 3-pointers, in the Trail Blazers’ victory over New Orleans. 

New Orleans G Xavier Henry: Went 1 for 7 from the field and was a team-worst minus-16 in the Hornets’ loss at Portland.

Los Angeles Lakers F Metta World Peace: Struggled through a 3-for-13 shooting night and was minus-5 in the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

Hurting LBJ leads Wednesday’s S&Ds

LeBron James was hurting after Miami’s victory over Oklahoma City Wednesday night.

During the course of the game, James twisted his left ankle, rejammed his left ring finger and was taken down by Russell Westbrook in a hard foul that helped  turned the game around.

“I need to find the best damn masseuse in Miami,” James groaned to ESPN.com’s Heat Index after the game.

Despite the physical toll, James came up with perhaps his best all-around effort to lead the Heat’s 98-93 victory over the Thunder — their 17th consecutive home victory.

James notched 34 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and four steals to lead the matchup between two of the league’s power teams.

The Westbrook play may have energized the Heat. James was driving for breakaway dunk when Westbrook pulled him off balance and sent him sprawling to the floor. 

“I don’t know, I’m not one to say it was a dirty play or not a dirty play, I’ll let you guys decide,” James told the Heat Index. “It’s a dangerous play. Just look at the other end, Russ being as athletic as he is going down the lane and someone tries that. It’s a fine line.”

It could have been a playoff preview that some NBA fans would savor.

But before that, James came up with another strong effort to lead Wednesday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet for 34 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, four steals and was a game-high plus-20 in the Heat’s triumph over  Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Notched 36 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and was a team-high plus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over the Clippers.

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 31 points, five rebounds, six assists and was plus-8 in the Lakers’ triumph over the Clippers.

Milwaukee G Monta Ellis: Notched 30 points, five rebounds, eight assists and was a game-high plus-10 in the Bucks’ triumph over Cleveland.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Went for 22 points, 16 assists and two rebounds in the Clippers’ loss to the Lakers.

DUDS

New Jersey F Gerald Wallace: Clanked through a 3-for-12 shooting effort with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-38 in the Nets’ loss at Portland.

Washington G John Wall: Clanked through a 4-for-15 shooting effort with five turnovers and was a game-worst minus-22 in the Wizards’ loss to Indiana.

New Jersey G Sundiata Gaines: Missed all five shots, had two turnovers and was minus-24 in the Nets’ loss at Portland.

Denver F Corey Brewer: Missed all seven shots with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-18 in the Nuggets’ loss at New Orleans.

Cleveland F Samardo Samuels: Missed both shots and was a game-worst minus-22 in only 15 minutes in the Cavaliers’ loss at Milwaukee.