For shame, father The Mavericks and Trailblazers play game No. 3 tonight at the Rose Garden. If the Mavs are serious about closing this thing out, I think it would behoove them to win tonight. Really fight. Don't give 100 percent in the first 12 minutes and if it's not working, close shop and try another day.
Remember 2006. Don't give them game No. 3. Put your foot on the throat and press down. Suffocate. Sap all the energy and hope from them. Like a Dementor.
Oklahoma City Thunder 106, Denver Nuggets 89
The Nuggets are showing their stripes. A young, ornery team that lacks a superstar (or two) and is looking like a team that could use Carmelo Anthony, honestly. The Thunder, meanwhile, look tough. The frontcourt of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins scares me as it should scare every other team in the league considering those two aren't even close to being the Thunder's two best players. And we know who they are.
San Antonio Spurs 93, Memphis Grizzlies 87
This is closer than it might appear. The Grizzlies got their one win on the road and could've stole a second had their bench (O.J. Mayo and Shane Battier went 3-18) done anything. Spurs can't be thrilled about going on the road now. Do the Grizz have the stomach for the fight? Do they know how to win this series?
Los Angeles Lakers 87, New Orleans Hornets 78
Frankly, Chris Paul needs to go apeshit on the Lakers if the Hornet have any chance. Eleven shot attempts, nine assists and 20 points is not going to cut it. Maybe the bigger story is that the Lakers have looked like crap for their home games here. Yes, they won. They should win. Most importantly, they should look good doing it. The starting five shot 21-54 from the floor. If not for Andy Bynum and Lamar Odom and the Hornets' free-throw shooting (20-32 ... cripes!), the Lakers are probably down 0-2.
