NBA Sunday Recap: Los Lakers Climb Back into the Eighth Seed, El Heat Win 18th Straight and More

Another day of NBA hoops action is officially in the books. Tonight we had nine games all around the league so without further ado, here’s your March. 10 2013 NBA recap!

• We start off in Oklahoma where the Thunder welcomed the visiting Boston Celtics. The Celtics played spectacular defence for three-quarters but the Thunder were able to cut through in the fourth, defeated the Celtics 91-71. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with a double-double 23 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and one steal. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with his own 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. Mike Cerra of Hardwood Houdini recaps the Celtics loss here. 

• Next up we have Los Lakers playing against Los Bulls during tonight’s Noche Latina. This game was important for many reasons. First, the Lakers needed this win so they can move up in western conference and make the playoffs. Second, the Bulls needed this win to win the two-game series against the Lakers. Theoretically, it matter more to the Lakers. Dwight Howard led the Lakers overall with 21 rebounds, one assist, one steal and 16 points. Kobe Bryant contributed with 19 points, nine assist and seven rebounds, while Steve Nash added four rebounds, two assists and 16 points as well. Nate Robinson led the Bulls with 19 points, four steals and eight assists but it wasn’t enough. Austin Wampler of Pippen Ain’t Easy recaps the Bulls’ loss here.

• We head up north now where the Toronto Raptors welcomed the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors, losing to the Lakers on Friday, came into the game desperate for a win to stay in contention in the hopes of a playoff seed. Tonight, that’s exactly what they did as they defeated the Cavs 100-96 without Rudy Gay. Raptors forward and guard, Alan Anderson, led the Raptors with 18 points, two assist and three rebounds. Amir Johnson also contributed with 17 points, two assists and 16 rebounds. While the loss was bad enough for the Cavs, they also received more bad news as Kyrie Irving collapsed to the ground with an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter. Dan Pilar of Right Down Euclid recaps both Cavalier losses here.

• Following that game, we have the Philadelphia 76ers against the Orlando Magic. With both teams without their star players, Magic without Hedo Türkoglu serving an NBA suspension and 76ers without Bynum who is still rehabbing, neither team had an advantage tonight. That said, it was the Magic who won as Jameer Nelson lifted the Magic with a double-double 24 points, 10 assists, one steal and five rebounds. Thaddeus Young scored 26 points for the 76ers, but it wasn’t enough. Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel recaps the game here.

• We take a break as we head over to King James Gospel from some league news. With the season at its midway point, Vytis Lasaitis recaps the 2012 NBA draft rookies and breaks down their rookie year to this point. Who do you think had the most impact thus far? Find out what Lasaitis thinks here. 

• We return to the games were we have the next game of the NBA’s Noche Latina month-long extravaganza. El Heat against the Indiana Pacers. This game is notable for various reasons. First, Both teams have met twice this season (Jan. 8 and Feb. 1). The Pacers won both of those games and during the loss in February, that was the last time the Heat lost this season thus far and ever since, they went on a 17 game streak. Would the Pacers snap Miami’s win streak again? Not a chance, nope. Miami defeated the Pacers for the first and final time this season, as Mario Chalmers led the Heat with 26 points,  two steals, two assists and seven rebounds. Chris Bosh contributed with 24 points while Dwayne Wade added 23 points. David West scored 24 points for the Pacers, but it wasn’t enough. The Heat now have an 18 game win streak. Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald reviews the game here.

• Next up, we have the Hornets against the Trailblazers. After a strong performance by Portland against San Antonio the other day, they couldn’t hang onto that momentum, as the Pelicans defeated the Blazers, 98-96. Ryan Anderson had a double-double 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Grevis Vasquez also added 20 points. Joe Freeman of The Oregonian  recaps the game here.

• Following that game we have the Mavericks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The T-Wolves, still injury-plagued, couldn’t dig up a win as the Mavericks won 100-77. Vince Carter led the Mavs with 22 points, while Dirk Nowitzki added 15. The lowly TWolves were led by Derrick Williams who had 18 but it still wasn’t enough. James Glenn of Dunking With Wolves recaps the game here.

• Next up, we have the Bucks against the Sacramento Kings. This game got a little crazy after a while. DeMarcus Cousins was ejected in the third quarter, as he got into a fight with Bucks’ Mike Dunleavy. It escalated and Cousins ended up elbowing Dunleavy in the back of the head. That’s his fourth ejected this season. First they were given both technicals than after officials reviewed it, they issue a flagrant two on Cousins, an automatic ejection. Bucks ended up winning 115-113 as Monta Ellis scored 29 points. four rebounds and nine assists. Before his ejection, Cousins led the Kings with a double-double 24 points, 10 rebounds, one assists and one steal. K L Chouinard recaps the game here.

• Onto the final game of the night, as we head over to Los Angeles. This game had hollywood written all over it. First we had Clippers’ guard Chris Paul passing to Blake Griffin for the alley-oop dunk, than we had the main highlight of the night. This posterization delivered by DeAndre Jordan onto Pistons’ guard, Brandon Knight. Looks like we have the dunk of the year, ladies and gentleman. Onto the game, and it was the Clippers defeating the Pistons 129-97. Blake Griffin led with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Chris Paul also added his double-double of 20 points and 14 assists as well. Jose Calderon led the Pistons with 18 points, but once again, it wasn’t enough. Dan Woike of The Orange County Register recaps the Clippers highlighted win here.