NBA Sunday Recap: Miami Heat tie franchise best 14 straight wins, Bradley Beal sprains ankle and more

What’s going on basketball fans? Tonight we had nine games all around a league, so without wasting anymore time, let’s get into the March 3. 2013 NBA recap!

• We begin in the big apple, where the New York Knicks welcomed the defending champions, Miami Heat. This was the first nationally televised game of the night. The big three of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 65 points as the Heat defeated the Knicks 99-93. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 32 points, shooting 13-of-14 from the free throw line. Jason Kidd light up the Garden shooting 3-of-4 three-pointers from downtown. Kidd finished with 14 points off the bench. Brad Rowland recaps the game here.

• We take a short break as we head over to Harwood Houdini. Current editor of Presto in the Paint and former Hardwood Houdini editor, Brett David Roberts, contributes a guest article. Roberts gives a sneak-peek at the Boston Celtics playoff runs and reports which teams the Celtics need to absolutely if they do indeed plan to make it in the conference finals. You can read his piece here.

• Following the Knicks, Heat game, we head over to the Staples Center where the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the third and final time this regular season. The young big three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka combined for 80 points as they defeated the Clippers 108-104. The Thunder completed season sweep of Clippers. There was a big play in this game. Thunder’ Serge Ibaka hit Clippers’ Blake Griffin in the groin. This raised questions whether or not Ibaka should’ve received a flagrant two and been ejected. He wasn’t, receiving just a  flagrant one and no ejection. If you ask me, it should’ve been a two. Somebody like Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins would’ve been ejected if he did that, no doubt. Been Beckeen reviews the game here.

• Back we go to Hardwood Houdini where Michael Sykes, II talks about the recent 7th annual Sloan Sports Conference at MIT. During one of the presentations, Sykes notes that there was a segment called ‘The Dwight Effect’ and explores it further. You can read his piece here. He links some interesting reading material so make sure to check it out.

• Back to the game recaps and this time we head over to Washington where the Wizards took on the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers, snapping their seven game losing streak yesterday defeating the Warriors weren’t able to continue winning as the Wizards won 90-87. Martell Webstar and John Wall had 19 points each. This isn’t an exciting win for the Wizards though, as Bradley Beal fell down with a sprained ankle. He’ll join Spurs’ Tony Parker who too has a sprain ankle. Beal would be out for a long time. Matthew Leland of Blue Man Hoop recaps the 76ers’ loss here here.

• Back to Hardwood Houdini we go where Mike Cerra breaks down the Boston Celtics remaining schedule from hereon out. In his ‘March Madness’ piece, Cerra points out that while the Celtics have a few easy games, most of them would be a difficult test. You can read his article here.

• Back to the recaps we go as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Orlando Magic. The Grizzlies, led by Taysaun Prince’s 14 points, defeating the Mavericks 108-82. Tony Allen and Mike Conley also contributed with 13 points of their own. John Hugar of Beale Street Bears recaps the game here. 

• Back to Hardwood Houdini we go for one final time. This time, it’s all about upcoming star Brandon Bass. Andrew Silva writes that Bass, one of the most influential and important players on this current Boston Celtics roster, should remain a starter from hereon out. You can read his piece here on determine whether you agree and disagree with him.

• Next up we have the Charlotte Bobcats against the Sacramento Kings. The Kings, glad to be home after a bad road trip (1 win, 4 losses on the road) came into this game to get a win streak going on. One of the games highlights was King’s guard Tyreke Evans hitting a buzzer beater at the end second quarter. The Kings’ led by John Salmons defeating the Bobcats in a blowout fashion, with a final score 119-83. Matthew Demarco of Roberto Gato reviews the Bobcat’s loss here.

• Following that game, we have the Dallas Mavericks against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets, lead by Chandler Parsons’ 32 points, defeated the lowly Mavericks with a final score 136-103. Jeremy Lin and James Harden contributed with 21 points of their own. Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reviews the Mavericks loss here.

• Next we have the San Antonio Spurs against the Detroit Pistons. The Tony Parker-less Spurs, led by Manu Ginobilli’s 17 points defeated the Pistons 114-75. Danny Green and Tim Duncan also contributed with 16 points of their own. Greg Monroe of the Pistons’ led with his own 16 points, but it wasn’t enough. Daniel Poarch of Life on Dumars recaps the Pistons’ loss here.

• Following that game, we have the Chicago Bulls against central division rivals, the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers came into the game trying to obtain their seventh win of eight games against the Bulls. The Pacers, led by David West’s 31 points defeated the Bulls 92-97. George Hill contributed with 21 points while Roy Hibbert added 19 of his own. Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and Marco Belinelli had 20 points each, while Luol Deng contributed with 15 of his own, however it wasn’t enough. Ashley Wijangco of Pippen Ain’t Easy reviews the Bulls loss here.

• Lastly, we have our final game of the day. Los Lakers taking on the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers, desperately needing a win to make the playoffs, ended up defeating the Hawks as Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and 4 assists. Steve Nash contributed with a double-double 15 points and 10 assists as Metta World Peace added 13 points of his own, shooting 2-of-4 from beyond three-point range. Lakers win 99-98 and are just above the .500 mark. Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times recaps the Lakers win here.