Houston Rockets @
Philadelphia 76ers
A team with a 100% record took on a side without a win so
far, so there was no surprise when the Rockets took a first quarter 32-19 lead.
This was mainly due to Trevor Ariza and his shooting form, scoring 14 points in
the first period. However a 19-5 run from the 76ers at the beginning of the
second put them right back into contention, with the Rockets’ lead being cut to
just one point at halftime. The third quarter was tight as well with James
Harden providing most of the offensive impetus for Houston, while Philly’s
center Nerlens Noel helped on the defensive end, making sure the Rockets didn’t
get too far away. But the Rockets held on till the end, their squad depth
compared to the 76ers being the pivotal factor. This win meant that the Rockets
have had their best start to an NBA season for 18 years.
Rockets 104 - 93
76ers
KEY PERFORMERS
James Harden - 35 points, 9 rebounds, 17-18 FT’s
Dwight Howard - 11 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks
Tony Wroten - 20 points, 5 steals, 5 rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 10 points, 6 steals, 5 assists
Oklahoma City Thunder
@ Brooklyn Nets
This game was shapely massively by injuries. Both Kevin
Durant and Russell Westbrook are missing from the Thunder’s squad, while
Brooklyn regained an injured star in Brook Lopez. The difference in the two
teams was clear from the beginning, the Nets playing better flowing basketball
to win the first half 59-40. Unfortunately for Oklahoma their injury situation
didn’t get any better during this game. First, center Steven Adams left the
court after diving for a loose ball, but soon returned after receiving some treatment.
One man who didn’t return though was Andre Roberson, who sprained his left
foot. This left the Thunder with eight players able to play for the rest of the
game. Lopez looked dominant in his first game back and was helped by the
fantastic passes he received from guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Alan
Anderson came off the bench to shoot 7-8 (including a perfect 4-4 from the
three point line) in a win that gives the Nets an early lead in the Atlantic
division.
Thunder 85 - Nets 116
KEY PERFORMERS
Serge Ibaka - 15 points, 9 rebounds
Sebastian Telfair - 16 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
Deron Williams - 17 points, 9 rebounds
Brook Lopez - 18 points, 6 rebounds
New Orleans Pelicans
@ Memphis Grizzlies
The score line may look close, but the Grizzlies were always
in control of this game. The biggest difference in the match was the way both
teams shot the ball. The Pelicans poor shooting form was summed up by sixth man
Ryan Anderson, who shot an appalling 2-14 from the field, including an 0-7
display from behind the line. Omer Asik and Eric Gordon didn’t help either,
shooting 1-7 and 4-14 respectively. Anthony Davis couldn’t be as effective as
usual after picking up three fouls early on in the game, which meant his
numbers were a bit down on the fantastic start he’s had to the season. Memphis
only let the lead slip once on their way to yet another victory, with all of
their starting five scoring double figures. This win for Memphis makes them one
of two teams in the league with a 4-0 record, joining the Rockets atop the
Western Conference.
Pelicans 81 - 93
Grizzlies
KEY PERFORMERS
Anthony Davis - 14 points, 8 rebounds
Tyreke Evans - 21 points, 7 rebounds
Tony Allen - 12 points, 11 rebounds
Marc Gasol - 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks
Zach Randolph - 15 points, 11 rebounds
Boston Celtics @
Dallas Mavericks
This game looked like it could have been finished after the
first quarter. The Boston Celtics had nine turnovers which helped the Dallas
Mavericks open up a 40-19 lead, as did Chandler Parsons’ 14 early points.
Things didn’t get better for the Celtics in the second quarter either, the Mavs
opening the lead up to 31 points just before the half. Boston were able to
fight back though. Led by Jeff Green and Avery Bradley - with assists coming
from Rajon Rondo - they won the third quarter by 14 points and continued this
dominance in the fourth. With 40 seconds left, Bradley was fouled on a three
pointer by Monta Ellis, giving the Celtics the chance to tie the game up.
However Boston’s shooting guard missed one of his free throws and Dallas then
re-extended their lead to three. Jeff Green missed a potentially game tying
three, with Chandler Parsons collecting the rebound with 20 seconds left on the
clock. Monta Ellis then converted his free throw chances to give the Mavs a
hard earned win.
Celtics 113 - 118 Mavericks
KEY PERFORMERS
Jeff Green - 35 points, 7 rebounds
Rajon Rondo - 7 points, 9 rebounds, 15 assists
Tyson Chandler - 10 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks
Dirk Nowitzki - 27 points, 7 rebounds
Sacramento Kings @
Denver Nuggets
A frantic game between two sides expected to be underdogs in
the West started off badly as with neither team being able to find the bottom
of the net. As the second quarter started however the teams started to make the
high percentages shots they were previously missing. The lead changed hands 13
times in this game, with the sides being tied an incredible 17 times. The teams
were close to the end with the Kings leading by 5 with just over a minute left.
JaVale McGee made a put back shot off Ty Lawson’s miss to make it a one
possession game but Randy Foye missed the three pointer on the next possession
giving the Kings the win. Out of the 24 players who suited up for this game, 12
of them scored in double figures; 5 for the Kings and 7 for the Nuggets. The
Kings are now 3-1 - a much better record than they would have expected.
Kings 110 - 105
Nuggets
KEY PERFORMERS
Darren Collison - 21 points, 6 assists
DeMarcus Cousins - 19 points, 5 assists
Kenneth Faried - 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
Ty Lawson - 9 points, 12 assists
Utah Jazz @ Los
Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul recorded his 12th
career triple double, and the first of the season, in this win over the Utah
Jazz. Paul - who was recently named the second best player in the NBA by ESPN -
was instrumental in his team’s victory, and was helped by Blake Griffin who put
in a great performance. In the first half it looked like plain sailing for LA,
they led by as many as 15, but Utah came back in the third. Gordon Hayward was
pivotal to this attempted resurgence, shooting 4-5 in the third period and
Dante Exum impressed from the bench. But it was short lived as Paul continued
his control on the game in the fourth quarter, closing out another win for his
team.
Jazz 101 - 107
Clippers
KEY PERFORMERS
Gordon Hayward - 27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Enes Kanter -17 points, 9 rebounds
Chris Paul - 13 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists
Blake Griffin - 31 points, 9 rebounds
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