The very good, bad and really uglyAfter the NBA’s top 10 teams, the rest of the league is sometimes tough to watch and always difficult to rank.
Mavs win streaks: 12 overall, 20 at home (AP)The Dallas Mavericks’ 20th consecutive home victory and 12th straight overall was the picture of precision. Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds and Jason Terry added 21 points as the Mavericks extended their club-record home winning streak by easing to a 110-87 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Ailing Bryant scores 35, Lakers top Jazz (AP)Kobe Bryant’s throat was sore and his back was tight. Good thing he was able to score most of his points standings still. Bryant made up for an off shooting night by making 21 free throws, scoring 35 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 102-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. After losing six straight, the Lakers have won three in a row and again got help from somebody other than…
Marbury lifts Knicks over Heat 99-93 (AP)Stephon Marbury made the most of 12 shots. Marbury scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Jamal Crawford hurt the Miami Heat again with a deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds to lift the New York Knicks to a 99-93 victory Monday night. The Knicks, who lost at New Jersey on Sunday while trying to gain ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race, shook off the defending NBA champions…
Wade to get second opinion on shoulder (AP)Heat guard Dwyane Wade will seek a second opinion early this week before deciding whether to rehabilitate his dislocated left shoulder or have season-ending surgery to repair the joint. “The sooner the better,” Miami coach and president Pat Riley said Sunday before the Heat beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 86-81, only their second win in nine games without Wade this season.
McGrady sits out, Rockets fall to Celts (AP)Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers got two important things out of Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets: a win and a teaching tool. Rivers was impressed with the maturity his young team showed in a 77-72 victory over the short-handed Rockets that broke a 12-game road losing streak. Paul Pierce scored 28 points to help the Celtics rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to avoid matching the…
Wizards’ Butler suffering back spasms (AP)Washington Wizards All-Star forward Caron Butler remained sidelined Monday with lower back spasms, while Antawn Jamison returned to practice for the first time since injuring his knee last month. Butler was unable to play in Sunday’s 98-94 loss at Minnesota, the first game he has missed this season, and his status is uncertain for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Nets.
