The Good: The Hawks improved to 5-1 on the preseason behind a strong team shooting performance. The team tallied 57.1% from the field, paced by 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists from Joe Johnson, and 12 points and 10 rebounds from Al Horford. Miami was led by 20 points from reserve Daequan Cook.
The Bad: Miami shot only 36.8% from the floor, including a 1-for-9 effort by second-year point guard Mario Chalmers. Atlanta looked sluggish as well, equaling their field goal output with a 57.1% showing from the charity stripe. The Hawks also committed 20 turnovers as a team.
The Ugly: Fantasy owners beware, Josh Smith is on the loose again. Smith converted just 1-of-10 free throw attempts.
Minnesota 122, Detroit 114
The Good: Minnesota got a big come-from-behind win over Detroit due to 34 points in the second quarter and 32 in the third. The Timberwolves got strong performances from four starters, as Corey Brewer scored 21, Oleksiy Pecherov notched a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ryan Gomes shot 8-of-10 on his way to 19 points, and rookie Jonny Flynn added 18 points and 6 assists. Minnesota shot over 50% from the field and the 3-point line, and over 80% from the charity stripe. The Pistons shot 58.6% from the field and 90.3% from the free throw line and had six players in double figures, led by Rodney Stuckey with 25 and Richard Hamilton with 21.
The Bad: The Pistons have undergone quite a transformation from a team that won a championship with their defense in 2004 to the team that gives up 122 points to an undermanned Minnesota team. Detroit collected only 4 steals and 1 block and forced only 9 team turnovers from a team with a rookie point guard. They also committed 36 fouls to Minnesota's 22.
Sacramento 104, Oklahoma City 89
The Good: Sacramento beat Oklahoma City behind 19 points from Andres Nocioni and 15 points from Jason Thompson. The Kings also got strong showings from a couple of newcomers as rookie Omri Casspi started and scored 17 and former Blazer Sergio Rodriguez added 7 points and 11 assists off the bench. Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 15 points in only 26 minutes and rookie James Harden added 14 points and 5 steals off the bench.
The Bad: Oklahoma City committed 19 turnovers to only 12 team assists and allowed Sacramento to shoot 52.5% from the field.
The Ugly: This game featured two starting off-guards having terrible preseasons. Thabo Sefolosha and Desmond Mason continued to have trouble, shooting 1-for-9 and 2-for-7, respectively.
LA Lakers 106, Denver 89
The Good: Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23 points, and added 6 rebounds and 2 steals as the Lakers beat Denver in front of a national television audience. Lamar Odom stepped into the starting lineup for Andrew Bynum, who missed the game with a shoulder strain, and played well, posting 17 points and 9 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony shinned on the big stage for Denver, tallying a game-high 28 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Bad: Kenyon Martin and Nene combined to shoot just 3-for-16 for Denver, and the Nuggets committed 26 turnovers as a team, including 6 by Aaron Afflalo and 5 by Carmelo Anthony.
The Ugly: Anthony Carter's line for the game: 11 minutes, 1 missed shot, 1 assist, 5 turnovers. Ouch.
Portland 113, Phoenix 93
The Good: Portland's starters jumped out to a big lead over Phoenix and the bench was able to keep them rested. Brandon Roy posted 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 22 minutes, and LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw added 17 points apiece. Steve Nash led the Suns with 14 points and 7 assists in 24 minutes of action.
The Bad: The Blazers' Martell Webster missed three 2-pointers and three 3-pointers on his way to an 0-for-6 night. Phoenix struggled again defensively, allowing 113 points. Besides reserve Jared Dudley (3 steals), the Suns only collected 2 steals in the game.
The Ugly: Phoenix was out-rebounded by an astounding 50-28 margin.
Golden State 126, New Orleans 92
The Good: The Warriors played only eight players in their final preseason contest, as 6 players missed the game with injury or illness. Anthony Morrow led the way for Golden State with 34 points on 13-of-19 shooting. Corey Maggette added 23 points and Stephen Curry filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals, and 2 made 3-pointers, as the Warriors shot a remarkable 62.5% from the field. The undermanned Hornets were without Chris Paul, David West, and Emeka Okafor. Rookie Darren Collison led the way with 17 points and 5 assists off the New Orleans' bench.
The Bad: New Orleans shot just 39.8% as a team and made only 4-of-26 3-point attempts, while committing 20 turnovers in the loss. Starters Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson combined to shoot 4-for-16 from the field.
The Ugly: Golden State outscored New Orleans 71-39 in the second half.
The Bad: Oklahoma City committed 19 turnovers to only 12 team assists and allowed Sacramento to shoot 52.5% from the field.
The Ugly: This game featured two starting off-guards having terrible preseasons. Thabo Sefolosha and Desmond Mason continued to have trouble, shooting 1-for-9 and 2-for-7, respectively.
LA Lakers 106, Denver 89
The Good: Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23 points, and added 6 rebounds and 2 steals as the Lakers beat Denver in front of a national television audience. Lamar Odom stepped into the starting lineup for Andrew Bynum, who missed the game with a shoulder strain, and played well, posting 17 points and 9 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony shinned on the big stage for Denver, tallying a game-high 28 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Bad: Kenyon Martin and Nene combined to shoot just 3-for-16 for Denver, and the Nuggets committed 26 turnovers as a team, including 6 by Aaron Afflalo and 5 by Carmelo Anthony.
The Ugly: Anthony Carter's line for the game: 11 minutes, 1 missed shot, 1 assist, 5 turnovers. Ouch.
Portland 113, Phoenix 93
The Good: Portland's starters jumped out to a big lead over Phoenix and the bench was able to keep them rested. Brandon Roy posted 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 22 minutes, and LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw added 17 points apiece. Steve Nash led the Suns with 14 points and 7 assists in 24 minutes of action.
The Bad: The Blazers' Martell Webster missed three 2-pointers and three 3-pointers on his way to an 0-for-6 night. Phoenix struggled again defensively, allowing 113 points. Besides reserve Jared Dudley (3 steals), the Suns only collected 2 steals in the game.
The Ugly: Phoenix was out-rebounded by an astounding 50-28 margin.
Golden State 126, New Orleans 92
The Good: The Warriors played only eight players in their final preseason contest, as 6 players missed the game with injury or illness. Anthony Morrow led the way for Golden State with 34 points on 13-of-19 shooting. Corey Maggette added 23 points and Stephen Curry filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals, and 2 made 3-pointers, as the Warriors shot a remarkable 62.5% from the field. The undermanned Hornets were without Chris Paul, David West, and Emeka Okafor. Rookie Darren Collison led the way with 17 points and 5 assists off the New Orleans' bench.
The Bad: New Orleans shot just 39.8% as a team and made only 4-of-26 3-point attempts, while committing 20 turnovers in the loss. Starters Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson combined to shoot 4-for-16 from the field.
The Ugly: Golden State outscored New Orleans 71-39 in the second half.
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