Archive for May 7th, 2012

WATERCOOLER CHAT: KNICKS STAY ALIVE, SIXERS UP 3-1, LAKERS TAKE NIGHT

BASKETBALL

In the NBA, LeBron James and the Miami Heat were looking to sweep Carmelo and the Knicks.  But they would have to do it IN Madison Square Garden.   Fortunately for the Heat, they had an advantage:  Amare Stoudemire was in the game, but was still playing with a stitched up hand.  So, basically, he couldn’t go to his right hand.  Could the Heat capitalize?  At first, it looked that way.  LeBron James was scoring with ease, and finished the night with 27 points.  But, in the 4th quarter, the Knicks came surging back, behind a solid 41-point night from Carmelo Anthony.  The Knicks even found themselves with the lead late in the 4th.  The Heat had one more chance to tie the game, but couldn’t get a shot to drop, and the Knicks stay alive.  NY Knicks 89, Miami 87.

And, in Philadelphia, the #8 76ers suddenly found themselves up 2-1 on the Chicago Bulls, a team that was reliant on Derrick Rose, and now are sorely missing him.  The Bulls were also without their strong power forward Joakim Noah.  Not exactly a fortuitous situations for them.  Chicago held the lead for a while, but it’s very tough to stop the 76ers once they get rolling.  Plus, the 76ers may have an emerging superstar in young point guard Jrue Holiday.  He has been having an amazing post-season.  Holiday had 20 points, and 6 assists, and helped control the second half for the Sixers.  In the end, the Bulls had no answer for the Sixers squad and their young center Spencer Hawes — who had 22 points and 8 rebounds.  Now, the #8 76ers have a post-season life, up 3-1 on the Bulls.  Philadelphia 89, Chicago 82.

Finally, in Denver, the Nuggets were hoping to even the series with the Lakers at 2 a piece.  Denver seems to have finally found their stride this post-season, getting fantastic production from their young rookie Kenneth Faried, and mid-season acquisition JaVale McGee.  They had the edge on Kobe and the Lakers all night.  Danilo Gallinari had 20 points and 6 rebounds on the night, and it looked like the Nuggets might have a shot.  But the Lakers are a very tough team to close out, and they got fantastic support from role players Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions down the stretch.  Kobe can’t do it every night, right?   The Lakers took the game, and will have Ron Artest back in just a few games, in what looks to be a second round match-up against the Thunder.  LA Lakers 92, Denver 88.

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