Carmelo Anthony got the best of LeBron James, again. Kobe Bryant’s win in Miami meant less this time because Shaquille O’Neal no longer plays there.
Bryant scored 33 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers used a 16-2 second-half run to pull away and beat the Heat 104-94 Sunday in Miami’s first home game of its post-O’Neal era.
In Cleveland, Anthony scored 27 points and improved to 8-2 in his pro career against his good friend as the Nuggets beat James and the Cavaliers 113-83.
“I know he hates losing to me,” Anthony said with a laugh.
The Lakers and Heat have been embroiled in a heated rivalry the past few years, mostly because of the well-publicized feud between former teammates Bryant and O’Neal. That rivalry cooled on Wednesday, when the Heat traded the veteran center to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
Bryant thinks the trade will help Miami – eventually.
long run it’s going to make them a better team.”
In other NBA games on Sunday, it was: Boston 98, San Antonio 90; New Jersey 101, Dallas 82; Detroit 113, Charlotte 87; Toronto 105, Minnesota 82; and Phoenix 108, Washington 107.
James scored 30 points – in three quarters – but got little help from a Cleveland team missing four key players, including two starters.
Denver led by 11 points after one quarter, 18 at halftime and pushed its advantage to 26 by the end of the third. At the end of that period, James stormed off the court, took a seat at the far end of Cleveland’s bench and didn’t take part in coach Mike Brown’s huddle before the fourth quarter began.
“It was definitely frustrating,” James said. “We know we can play better. It was one game. That’s something we can fix.”
As a displeased James sat alone on the bench and stared straight ahead, Cavaliers guard Damon Jones let his teammates know that their performance was unacceptable by yelling at all of them.
“I just think something had to be said at that point,” Jones said. “No big thing.”
Although he was looking in James’ direction, Jones said his comments were intended for everyone wearing white jerseys.
“In those situations you have to band together as a team. I wasn’t singling anybody out,” Jones said. “Everybody, including myself, we have to find ways to fight through situations like that.”
points and 13 assists and Marcus Camby had 17 rebounds for Denver, which shot 63 percent in the first quarter.
Marion had 15 points and 14 rebounds in his debut with the Heat, who’ve lost 22 of their last 23 games – something no Miami team had ever done. The Heat opened 1-21 in their expansion season.
“We showed good things and there were times that you could tell everyone was comfortable with everyone at the same time,” Marion said. “We left it all on the floor. That’s all you can ask. I think we just ran out of gas at the end there, and that’s what we have to build on.”
Mark Blount scored 22 points for Miami, Dwyane Wade finished with 19 points and nine assists, Dorell Wright scored 15 and Jason Williams added 10, meaning all five Miami starters hit double figures for the fourth time this season.
Didn’t matter. Bryant and the Lakers were too much.
Bryant shot 10-for-15 and Lamar Odom finished with 15 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has gone 5-2 on its nine-game road trip.
“This is the hump game and it was a good game to win,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “We didn’t play particularly well but we were able to win the game.”
Celtics 98, Spurs 90
Paul Pierce scored 35 points, Ray Allen had 19, and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists and 11 rebounds as host Boston improved to 5-2 since losing Kevin Garnett to an abdominal strain.
and six assists, and Manu Ginobili scored 21 for the Spurs, who lost for the first time in five games. San Antonio got within four points in the final minute, but twice Ginobili was forced to take off-balance 3s that weren’t even close.
Nets 101, Mavericks 82
Vince Carter scored 25 of his 29 points after nearly being knocked out by an elbow to the head, and inconsistent New Jersey ran off 21 straight points to stun visiting Dallas.
Richard Jefferson added 19 points and Jason Kidd put aside trade rumors once again to finish with 13 points, 14 assists and six rebounds, falling four rebounds shy of his 100th career triple-double.
Josh Boone and rookie Sean Williams, who had 15 points, did a great job of frustrating Dirk Nowitzki, limiting the All-Star forward to 21 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Pistons 113, Bobcats 87
Tayshaun Prince scored 14 of his 21 points in the first quarter and host Detroit won its eighth straight game.
Richard Hamilton added 18 for the Pistons, who had seven players with at least eight points.
Jason Richardson, playing 30 minutes south of his hometown, led all scorers with 27 points.
Suns 108, Wizards 107
Amare Stoudemire had 31 points, including two game-clinching free throws with 7.5 seconds to play, and Phoenix handed visiting Washington its seventh straight loss.
Antwan Jamison scored 28 points and Brendan Haywood a season-high 21 for the Wizards, who last lost seven in a row from March 5-16, 2004.
Raptors 105, Timberwolves 82
Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points and Jose Calderon had 15 points and 10 assists for his second consecutive double-double to help Toronto win at Minnesota.
All-Star Chris Bosh added 14 points for the Raptors, and T.J. Ford had seven points and 13 assists, his highest totals since returning to the lineup from injury Feb. 4.
Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 18 points.
Add A Comment
THIS IS NOT A GAMBLING SITE – If you think you have a gambling problem click here.
Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Individual users are responsible for the laws regarding accessing gambling information from their jurisdictions. Many countries around the world prohibit gambling, please check the laws in your location. Any use of this information that may violate any federal, state, local or international law is strictly prohibited.
Copyright: The information contained on TheSpread.com website is protected by international copyright and may not be reproduced, or redistributed in any way without expressed written consent.
About: TheSpread.com is the largest sports betting news site in the United States. We provide point spread news, odds, statistics and information to over 175 countries around the world each year. Our coverage includes all North American College and Professional Sports as well as entertainment, political and proposition wagering news.
©1999-2023 TheSpread.com