NBA Roundup Part II
Toronto Raptors 120 - Detroit Pistons 116
The Toronto Raptors had another good game at the Palace of Auburn Hills, this time against the Detroit Pistons. It was a complete team effort by the Raptors, who beat Detroit 120-116 for their ninth victory of the season.
Toronto point-guard Jerryd Bayless scored a career-high 31 points for the Raptors to snap a four-game losing streak. Leandro Barbosa and Andrea Bargnani also scored 22 points apiece for the Raptors.
Ben Wallace scored a career-high 23 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, while Rodney Stuckey scored 23 points, and matched a career high 12 assists for the Pistons in the defeat.
The Raptor’s 14 giveaways were converted into 29 points in the first half of the game, while Toronto made just one turnover during that time.
The second half was almost in complete contrast to the first one. Toronto converted 12 Detroit turnovers into 20 points, while making just four turnovers of their own.
With slightly over a minute left in the game, Jerryd Bayless hit a go-ahead three- pointer, as the Toronto Raptors overcame a 25-point deficit to seal the win.
While talking about the Raptors record comeback, guard DeMar DeRozan said, "Everybody spoke up and said that we were frustrated and we came to our senses out there. We said that we did not want to be embarrassed and then we responded and got on a roll
and won the game.”
Chicago Bulls 113 - Minnesota Timberwolves 82
The Chicago Bulls trounced the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 113-82 at United Center, for their season-best fifth straight victory.
Chicago Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game, "Our energy was good the whole game and our rebounding were terrific."
Derrick Rose shouldered the responsibility for Bulls, posting a team-high 21 points, seven assists, and three rebounds. While forward Luol Deng provided 19 points and four rebounds.
Kevin Love did all he could for the Wolves, scoring a game-high 23 points, and grabbing 15 rebounds in the defeat. Michael Beasley played well and joined him in double figures with 16 points.
The Bulls’ dominance was prominent throughout the game, as they converted 21 Minnesota turnovers for 27 points.
Chicago led 58-37 at the break, holding Minnesota to 35.6 percent shooting during the first two quarters of the game.
Chicago was leading the game with 21 points at half time and led by as many as 34 in the second half.
Kelvin Love was the hero of the game, even though he ended up on the losing side, as he has scored at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in each of Minnesota's six consecutive games. This is one of the longest ‘double-double’ streaks in the National Basketball
Association (NBA) for 21 years.
When Kelvin was informed about his achievement, he smiled and said, "I didn't know that," "It's very flattering. I just go out and play hard. It's bittersweet, because I want to win."
Dallas Mavericks 103 - Utah Jazz 97
The Dallas Mavericks won their 12th straight game, beating the visiting Utah Jazz 103-97 at the American Airlines Center.
Dirk Nowitzki netted a team-high 31 points and pulled down 15 rebounds for Dallas. DeShawn Stevenson (17 points), Caron Butler (16 points), and Jason Terry (14 points) joined Nowitzki in double figures.
Point guard Deron Williams had a game high 34 points for the Jazz, while Paul Millsap chipped in with 16 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game, "I'm happy that we won. I love that we were able to get off to that kind of a hot start.”
The Jazz had a tough time in the first three periods of the game, as they faced an 11-point deficit at 81-70, but made a push in the fourth.
With over two and a half minutes to go, Dallas were leading by 96-95 with Nowitzki hitting a driving lay-up and drawing the foul from Jazz forward Paul Millsap for a three-point play, to put the Mavericks up by four.
Terry hit his second three-pointer of the fourth quarter to put away the 19th game of the season for Mavericks.
Nowitzki had his second consecutive ‘double-double’ and eighth this season; the 350th of his career.
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