Warriors crash Sixers party
Warriors 110, 76ers 90
The Philadelphia 76ers dream run had to end some time. No team can go 82-0. Much less one with the expectations that the Sixers had entering the season.
Golden State was the one to give Philadelphia a dose of reality Monday night.
The Warriors scored 98 points in the first three quarters and opened up a 33-point lead entering the final quarter. Andre Iguodala had 32 points, making 7 of his 11 3-point attempts, in his return to Philadelphia. Golden State made 15 3-pointers in all on the night.
Decidedly, this is much more in line with what people expected of the 76ers throughout the season. How Philadelphia responds tomorrow night will be more interesting. This is a young Sixers squad. Michael Carter-Williams was the revelation of the first week of the season — he posted 18 points on 4-for-17 shooting Monday night — and had his first really bad game of his rookie year.
Philadelphia will have to learn quickly what the NBA is about with another game. If the Sixers want to quiet all the preseason doubters, it starts with tomorrow night's game.
Clippers offense blasts Rockets
Clippers 137, Rockets 118
The Clippers put on an offensive clinic early on with 42 first-quarter points on 70 percent shooting. The Rockets were playing catch up as Dwight Howard sat on the bench saddled with foul trouble for much of the game. The Clippers raced past the Rockets with Chris Paul getting out on the open floor with 23 points and 17 assists. The Clippers fought off a few Rockets runs, but never led by more than 10 points for the entire second half.
Henry moves into starting lineup
Lakers vs. Mavericks, 8:30 p.m./NBATV
Xavier Henry has been one of the nice surprises of the early NBA season. There is no denying that Henry's 14.3 points per game in the first games of the season has been a complete surprise. So much of a surprise that Henry has already unseated big free agent signee Nick Young. Henry started at shooting guard in Sunday's win over the Hawks. It appears Mike D'Antoni will keep this move as the Lakers hit the road.
Jennings' return pushes KCP out
Pacers vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m.
Brandon Jennings returned to the Pistons lineup with a 14-point, 4-assists debut in about 30 minutes in their win over the Celtics. It has been good for Detroit to have their biggest acquisition back in the lineup. That is bad for top-10 draft pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Even with some of the Pistons' guards still out, Caldwell-Pope appears to be out of the rotation. It does not mean Maurice Cheeks will stick with this decision all year. Surely the Pistons want to see their rookie play. But for now, the rookie will have to learn by watching.
Grizzlies smother Celtics at the end
Grizzlies 95, Celtics 88
The Grizzlies were in another grind fest with the winless Celtics. When Memphis turned its defense on, Boston was the clear victim. Brad Stevens is still looking for his first win. The Grizzlies held off the Celtics in the fourth quarter with a 29-16 final 12 minutes, holding the Celtics to two points in the final two minutes of the game. It was a close one at that point with Zach Randolph and Jerryd Bayless' 15 points leading the way to the finish line.
Blatche says Nets in for tough season
Jazz vs. Nets, 7 p.m.
The Nets took a very rough defeat in Orlando on Sunday. The Magic outworked the Nets and grinded out the victory after struggling in the first half on offense. It left Brooklyn questioning itself a bit after getting blown out to last year's worst team. Andray Blatche is really sounding the alarm. Blatche told Tim Bontemps of the New York Post he believes this will be a tough season for the Nets because the team has the target on their back. They should be getting teams' A-game each time out. No more coasting for Brooklyn.
Cavs hand Wolves first loss
Cavs 93, Timberwolves 92
Kyrie Irving had a career-high nine turnovers. Kevin Love came into the game leading the league in scoring. And to make the topsy-turvy early part of the NBA season even more confusing, look at the final result to this game. Kevin Love's 3-pointer at the buzzer went no good as the Cavaliers defeated the Timberwolves to hand the Wolves their first loss. The Cavs withstood a crazed rally from the Wolves who cut into a 15-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to have the chance to win.
Amar'e, K-Mart get schedules
Bobcats vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
Aging forwards Kenyon Martin and Amar'e Stoudemire will know exactly when Mike Woodson plans to play them. That is because the Knicks will be giving them schedules for the rest of the month, Al Ianazzone of Newsday reports. Both Stoudemire and Martin have had knee issues the last several years and New York wants both of them able to play when the games really start mattering. Right now, managing minutes just seems to make sense.
Dragic out for road trip
Suns vs. Pelicans, 8 p.m.
Sungs guard Goran Dragic will miss the rest of the Suns road trip after spraining his ankle in Sunday's game against the Thunder. Dragic had previously injured the ankle during the preseason, forcing him to msis time. Phoenix will soldier on with Eric Bledsoe, but appears the hot start in the Valley of the Sun is setting.
Patty Mills receives flopping warning
Spurs vs. Nuggets, 9 p.m.
Spurs guard Patty Mills was among several players, including Minnesota's Kevin Love, to receive the first round of flop warnings from the NBA office. According to Dan McCarney of Spurs Nation, Mills flopped against the Lakers' Jordan Hill on Friday. The second offense will garner a $5,000 fine from the league office.
