Tag: Toronto

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.

KD’s 36 leads OKC’s victory, tops Friday’s S&Ds

Kevin Durant’s confidence never wavered.

Even as he misfired on his first five 3-pointers Friday night, Oklahoma City’s leading scorer was determined to keep shooting.

Durant hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 53 seconds left to give the Thunder the lead for good in a 101-94 victory over Memphis. 

It was part of a mammoth 36-point, 10-rebound effort for Durant, who scored the game’s final seven points to allow the Thunder to pull away for the victory.

“The 3s I was shooting looked good but I was missing,” Durant told the Associated Press. “It was just a matter of time before one was going to go down for me. I shot the ball right and it was able to go in.”

The Thunder trailed by 10 points late in the third quarter. Durant’s big finish enabled them to post a 32-17 edge in the fourth quarter as they claimed their sixth victory in their last seven games heading into their big matchup with the Spurs Saturday night.

And it also enabled him to lead Friday’s Studs and Duds.  

STUDS

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Erupted for 36 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, two steals and was a team-best plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory over Memphis.

Indiana F Paul George: Notched 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and was plus-16 in the Pacers’ win at Dallas. 

Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic: Muscled for 27 points, 11 rebounds and was a team-best plus-11 in  the Timberwolves’ triumph at New Jersey.

Miami F LeBron James: Went for 19 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and was plus-19 in the Heat’s victory at Philadelphia.

New Jersey G Anthony Morrow: Notched 42 points, four rebounds, two assists and was plus-7 in the Nets’ loss to Minnesota.

DUDS

Cleveland G Mychel Thompson: Missed all six shots and was minus-16 in the Cavaliers’ loss at Orlando.

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Went 5 for 18 from the field with six turnovers and was a team-worst minus-10 in the Nets’ loss to Minnesota.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Went 3 for 8 from the field with five turnovers and was a team-worst minus-8 in the Celtics’ victory over New York.

Denver F Danilo Gallinari: Clanked through a 1-for-9 shooting effort with a turnover and was minus-1 in the Nuggets’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Washington G Jordan Crawford: Struggled witha 4-for-13 shooting night with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Wizards’ loss at Toronto.

Johnson’s big game helps Hawks punctuate long road trip

Joe Johnson didn’t need much time to get started Tuesday night.

Johnson matched his season high with 30 points despite playing in only three quarters in Atlanta’s convincing 100-77 victory at Toronto.

“That’s the type of player he is,” Atlanta teammate Tracy McGrady told the Associated Press of Johnson, who made 13 of his 18 field-goal attempts. “Once he gets that feeling, he can run off 10 or 12 points in a hurry.”

The Hawks’ victory punctuated the most successful five-game road trip in more than four decades. After losing their opener against the Spurs last week, they notched victories at Milwaukee, Detroit, New Orleans and Toronto in the trip.

Johnson’s big game was a major reason why they were able to finish strongly Tuesday night.

STUDS

Atlanta G Joe Johnson: Torched the Raptors for 30 points and four assists and was a team-best plus-18 in the Hawks’ victory.

Indiana G Danny Granger: Produced 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and shared team honors at plus-13 in the Pacers’ victory over the Nets.  

Memphis F Rudy Gay: Rebounded from his struggles against the Spurs  to notch 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks and was a  game-best plus-15 in the Grizzlies’ overtime victory over the Nuggets.

Cleveland F Anderson Varejao: Notched 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in the Cavaliers’ loss to the Celtics. He became the fifth player in the league to accomplish the feat this season.

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Went for 34 points and seven assists in the Nets’ loss at the Pacers.

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Filled the stat sheet for 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block and was plus-3 in the Kings’ loss to the Warriors.

DUDS

Toronto G Leandro Barbosa: Went 2 for 8 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-11 in the Raptors’ loss to the Hawks.

Charlotte G Cory Higgins: Missed all six shots and was minus-16 in the Bobcats’ loss to the Lakers — their ninth straight defeat.

Denver C Timofey Mozgov: Missed all three shots, was minus-8 and had three turnovers in the Nuggets’ loss at the Grizzlies.  

Denver F Danilo Gallinari: The Nuggets’ leading scorer went 1 for 10 from the field with a turnover in their loss at the Grizzlies.

Golden State G Klay Thompson: The rookie struggled through a 2-for-10 shooting night, was minus-1 and scored only four points in the Warriors’ victory over the Kings.