Detroit 88, Philadelphia 81
Studs: Ben Gordon got in done on the offensive end with 23 points and Ben Wallace got it done on the defensive end with 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as Detroit held off the 76ers. Andre Iguodala led the way for Philadelphia with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals; and Marresse Speights (15 points on 7-for-9) and Willie Green (13 points on 6-for-10) were efficient off the bench in the loss.
Duds: Elton Brand was just 3-for-10 with 6 points, and may be in danger of losing even more playing time to Speights. Lou Williams was also 3-for-10 for the 76ers.
Game Notes: Neither team shot above 62.5% from the free throw line, as the teams combined for just 23 made field goals in only 37 attempts… The Pistons gathered a season-high 21 offensive rebounds, nearly matching Philadelphia's total of 25 defensive boards. Wallace led the way with 7 boards on the offensive end… The win moves the Pistons into soul possession of first place in the Central Division, which is all the more remarkable considering the absences of mainstays Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.
Phoenix 102, Washington 90
Studs: All five Suns' starters reached double figures, led by Jason Richardson with 22 points. The other four starters (Channing Frye, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, and Steve Nash) each recorded a double-double. Gilbert Arenas and Andray Blatche scored 20 apiece for Washington, which also got 19 from Caron Butler and 16 from Randy Foye.
Duds: The Suns' bench combined for just 21 points and the Wizards' only 24 (including 20 from Blatche). Arenas and Butler combined to shoot just 14-for-42 (33.3%).
Game Notes: Phoenix committed 16 first half turnovers, but just 4 after the intermission in their first afternoon game of the season… The Wizards have lost four straight and recorded at least as many turnovers as assists in each defeat… Hill now has 4 double-doubles this season, after accumulating just 5 all of last year.
Oklahoma City 102, Orlando 74
Studs: Kevin Durant was up to his old tricks, posting 28 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, as the Thunder shot 57.1% from the field, 56.3% from 3-point range, and 86.7% from the free throw line. Dwight Howard had team-highs with 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Duds: J.J. Redick was 2-for-11, Brandon Bass was 3-for-10, and the Magic really missed Ryan Anderson's 3-point stroke, shooting just 3-for-16 from behind the arc. They also shot just 61.8% from the line, including a 10-for-17 showing from Howard.
Game Notes: Anderson missed the game with a sprained ankle suffered against Detroit on Friday night… Krstic dislocated his pinkie in the first quarter, but returned to the game… Howard recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 blocks in his last visit to Oklahoma City.
Portland 116, Minnesota 93
Studs: Andre Miller got his second straight start and led the Blazers with 21 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds as Portland routed the Timberwolves. Minnesota was led by 16 points and 6 rebounds from their 12th man, Nathan Jawai. Al Jefferson recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Duds: No single player was especially terrible for the Timberwolves, but they shot 57.1% from the free throw line and Jefferson could only manage 4-for-11 from the field. Brandon Roy was just 1-for-6 for the Blazers.
Game Notes: Portland recorded 35 assists on their 41 made field goals and committed only 13 turnovers thanks to their new 3 guard starting lineup… Jawai saw more of the floor against Portland than he has the rest of the season combined, and he made the most of it, making a strong statement that he deserves an active roster spot when Kevin Love returns… Minnesota has now lost 6 straight after their opening night win against New Jersey.
Sacramento 120, Golden State 107
Studs: Sacramento put up some huge numbers in beating Golden State. The Kings had seven players in double figures, including all five starters, led by 23 points from rookie Tyreke Evans, who seems to be picking up the slack for injured gunner Kevin Martin. Donte Greene (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Omri Casspi (12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) also added solid performances off the bench. Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 21 points and Corey Maggette added 20 in the loss.
Duds: Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry combined for just 18 points and 11 assists, while committing 9 of the team's 14 turnovers. Ime Udoka was 1-for-6 for the Kings.
Game Notes: Golden State shot 50.6% from the field, but only 58.6% from the free throw line… The Warriors gave up 62 points in the paint, committed 28 fouls, and lost the rebounding battle 52-34… Evans scored 18 of his 23 in the second quarter… The Warriors are now allowing 114.8 points per game.
LA Lakers 104, New Orleans 88
Studs: Kobe Bryant did his thing yet again, scoring 28 points on 11-for-21 shooting, and D.J. Mbenga had another good game, posting 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks, as the Lakers pounded Chris Paul and the Hornets. Paul took only 8 shots, but tallied 15 points and 9 assists. Rookie Marcus Thornton came in late and knocked down two 3-pointers and contributed 8 points in 7 minutes.
Duds: The entire Hornets' team struggled, as the team shot just 36.5% from the field. Only the three players at the end of the bench- Devin Brown, Darren Collison, and Thornton, shot at or above 50% from the floor. Lamar Odom was 1-for-6 for the second straight game, and Josh Powell matched him miss-for-miss. Jordan Farmar (1-for-5) and Ron Artest (2-for-6) were only slightly better.
Game Notes: Bryant scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half after scoring 41 points in three of his last four games… Byron Scott said after the game that he intends to start Peja Stojakovic in place of Julian Wright starting on Monday… The Lakers play 12 of their next 14 games at the Staples Center.
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