Saturday Slam: Making sense of how coronavirus is affecting the hoops world

One of the main industries that has been affected by the coronavirus a.k.a. COVID-19, is sports. Especially sports that are in season. Basketball in particular has taken a hit as the NBA has suspended its season for 30 days while the NCAA Tournament has been canceled. What's been weird to see is how everything went from "we'll play the games and see how things play out" to "we'll play the games with no fans and only essential personnel" to "shut it down, let's go home" to borrow the words of Dirk Nowitzki.

I understand we need to take this virus seriously, wash our hands more often, stay inside if we feel sick, but what exactly accounts for the rapid change in approaches? Did the virus suddenly become more dangerous? Did the virus team up with the Black Plague? What happened? There's not really a good answer to that question.

The only thing that seems to have tipped everything is the news that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell both have the coronavirus. It was actually Gobert testing positive that set everything in motion. It wasn't until later that we also learned about Mitchell. As soon as Gobert tested positive, the Jazz-Thunder game at Oklahoma City was suspended and then the NBA immediately decided to suspend its season.

From there, the Pac-12, SEC, Big East, and other NCAA conferences made the decision to cancel their tournaments. After that, the NCAA decided to cancel the NCAA Tournament, ruining that one shining moment that every college basketball player dreams about. From there, the NHL made the decision to suspend their season and now we find ourselves in a world where every major sports league from golf to tennis to soccer to baseball is suspended indefinitely. On top of that, the schools are all shutting down, etc.

One has to wonder if Rudy Gobert hadn't tested positive if the NCAA Tournament would still be planned to be played in front of no fans. I'm not blaming Gobert. It's not his fault. But it is a fact that his positive test for coronavirus seems to have been the one singular event that tipped everything over the edge both in the world of sports and the world at large.

It's a little ironic in that earlier in the week Gobert was joking about how the whole virus was being blown out of proportion, touching microphones and all to prove a point. I sympathize with his feelings, but there's a lesson here. If you think something like this is absurd, keep it to yourself. Otherwise, your actions may come back to haunt you.

But anyways, moving on from Gobert, we now live in a world where the NBA has been suspended for at least 30 days while the NCAA Tournament has been canceled. As a basketball fan, it's incredibly frustrating. The NCAA Tournament in particular is a special event and to have it called off just feels wrong. It's like a big part of our year has been sucked down the drain and there's nothing we can do about it aside from voice our complaints and hope somebody more important than us takes our complaints seriously.

Personally, I wish the NCAA Tournament would instead plan to resume in May or something along those lines. The NBA can change the date of its draft to accommodate those that want to play in the tournament while the NCAA I think can make a one-time exception given these unique circumstances. Jay Bilas expressed frustration about this very point earlier in the week. Like, why cancel? Why not postpone? Why not at least leave the door open for the tournament to resume? If canceling is necessary, why is that the only option?

The NCAA needs to give us an answer because so far, they've handled this whole thing very poorly. To go from "we'll play with no fans" to  "we're not playing at all" thing is just silly. It shows nobody knows what's actually going on and everyone is just hopping on the bandwagon to cancel stuff because it's the only course of action they can think of or are willing to follow through with.

Anyways, I hope this all blows over sooner than later. People are being affected in a very real way by this. They're losing money, losing work, etc. We as a society need to come together to mitigate the damage as much as possible. That's why it's nice to see Zion Williamson, Kevin Love, and many NBA and NHL team owners volunteer to pay the expenses of those who work at these games while they're out of work. It's a very nice gesture and is the kind of gesture that's going to get us through this.

For those that are reading this, my final piece of advice to all of you is to stay calm. Don't chug bleach and freak out. Wash your hands more, stay inside if you are feeling sick, and keep a safe distance from people. That is a good place to start. But don't be afraid to go outside and maybe help a small business in your neighborhood by buying a cup of coffee or a sandwich. Sanity and calmness will get us through this. Panic and hysteria will only make things worse. Be part of the solution and not the problem. If you know people that are freaking out, don't make fun of them. Help them. Try to calm them down. Simple acts of kindness will go a long ways.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: How long can the San Antonio Spurs survive without Kawhi Leonard?

The San Antonio Spurs are 8-5 and currently 3rd place in the Western Conference. While this appears to be business as usual, the Spurs have had to make due without their superstar Kawhi Leonard, who is yet to play in a game this season due to a quadriceps injury. Even worse, he's expected to be out for a few more weeks, putting his return sometime in December at the earliest.

It's no secret that the Spurs are masters of making due with a shorthanded lineup. It is said that Gregg Popovich can grab any five guys off the street and get them to play team basketball. While this principle is certainly true, it would still be foolish to suggest that the Spurs can maintain long-term success without Leonard.

What makes Leonard such a valuable piece to this team is that he literally does everything. He defends both out on the perimeter and in the paint, he can score both inside and out, and he's absolutely lethal in transition due to his combination of size, speed, quickness, and athleticism. There are some who feel Leonard is the best player in the NBA and when you watch him do his thing on the court, it's hard to argue against that position. He is a jack-of-all-trades wing that continues to get better every season.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Fortunately for the Spurs, they have a really talented big man in LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging 21.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Aldridge is able to carry more of the scoring load in Leonard's absence and act as a legitimate number one option. In addition to Aldridge, the Spurs have a talented veteran wing in Rudy Gay, who has been averaging 13.0 points and 5.4 rebounds on 47.7% shooting from the field, 41.4% shooting from 3-point range, and 83.8% shooting from the foul line.

In addition to those guys, the Spurs have some quality role players in Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Patty Mills, and Pau Gasol. The Spurs are once again showing that they are a true team. When one guy goes down, even if it's their superstar, they know how to keep the ship afloat.

As for how long the Spurs can survive without Kawhi Leonard, I think the answer is that they can survive just fine so long as he does eventually come back. They can't win a title without him. That's pretty obvious. However, they can play above .500 basketball and keep themselves in the mix to get a top three or four seed in the Western Conference until he returns.

If you are the Spurs, the main thing you need to do is stay patient and make sure Leonard doesn't come back until he is 100% or very close to it. While it may seem tempting to rush him back a bit sooner, if you have been around the block as many times as the Spurs, you have the luxury to give Leonard all the time he needs. It looks like they are taking this approach and I expect it to pay off for them come April and May.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The San Antonio Spurs need Kawhi Leonard to stay healthy

Over the weekend, it was revealed that Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss the entire preseason as he continues to rehab from a right quadriceps injury. Last season, the San Antonio Spurs appeared to be on the verge of upsetting the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals until Leonard went down with a sprained ankle, keeping him out for the rest of the series.

While this is the preseason and not the playoffs, it is not good for the Spurs to start their season right where they left off, which is with an injured Kawhi Leonard. In order for them to come out of the Western Conference, they need to have Leonard playing his best basketball. If he isn't able to stay healthy, they have no chance at reaching the NBA Finals.

While this should be obvious to everyone who follows the NBA, it is still important to underscore this. With all the major moves that happened this offseason, it is easy to forget about the Spurs and just how dangerous they are. They were perhaps a healthy Kawhi Leonard away from winning the NBA Finals last season, which just goes to show how good Leonard is and how significant his health is to the fate of this NBA season.

Last season, Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on 48.5% shooting from the field, 38.0% shooting from three-point range, and 88.0% shooting from the foul line, establishing himself as one of the most multidimensional players in the league. He does so much for this Spurs team on both of the floor. With him, they can compete with any team in the league over the course of a seven game series. Without him, they're a playoff team that might win a first round series. His impact is that significant.

                                          (Getty Images) 

Hopefully, Leonard's absence in the preseason is just an indicator of the Spurs being extra cautious with him and nothing more than that. If he's ready to roll on opening night without any restrictions, it will be fair to wonder whether or not this blog post is an overreaction to what happened last season. At the same time, given what happened last season, it's hard to call this an overreaction after seeing what happened to the Spurs once Leonard went down.

It should be noted that the Spurs have other things to worry about in addition to Leonard's health. Tony Parker is recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon and it isn't yet clear when he'll be able to play. The Spurs can't afford to start the season with two of their best players unable to contribute. At the very least, they need to have Leonard ready to rock and hope that Parker is able to return sooner rather than later. As good as LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay are, they are a supplement to those two guys and aren't the pulse of this team. They'll play much better when they have those guys to lean on.

At this point, if you are the Spurs, you just have to hope that Leonard is able to go at the start of the regular season and that this quadriceps injury isn't anything too serious. The Spurs have the pieces to contend for a title this season, but they need to stay healthy and make sure they don't get themselves behind the eight ball early on. The Western Conference is simply too loaded for them to overcome a sluggish start to the season.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: What does Rudy Gay bring to the San Antonio Spurs?

While they didn't make the biggest splash in free agency, the San Antonio Spurs still found a way to get significantly better by signing Rudy Gay. Gay, who is entering his 12th season in the NBA, averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season with the Sacramento Kings. Those aren't bad numbers for a veteran swingman.

When looking at this move, there's a lot to like if you are the Spurs. First, you get a guy who can become your number two or number three scoring option behind Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 25.5 points per game last season. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged a very solid 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but after that, there was a bit of a drop off to Pau Gasol, who was the third scoring option on the team (12.4 points). It was clear that the Spurs needed more of a scoring punch in order to compete with a team like the Golden State Warriors and adding Gay certainly addresses this need.

In addition to giving the Spurs another scoring threat, Rudy Gay provides some veteran leadership. With Tim Duncan gone and Manu Ginobili entering what could be his final season, the Spurs could use another veteran leader to help them dig deep against a team like the Warriors. While the Spurs still have Tony Parker and a veteran head coach in Gregg Popovich, it won't hurt to have another veteran like Gay who is battle tested and hungry for a ring.

Lastly, Gay gives the Spurs another guy to match up against Kevin Durant. At 6'8", 230 pounds, Gay has the size and length to guard Durant and give him some trouble. At the moment, the only guy who the Spurs have that can really guard Durant is Kawhi Leonard. Adding a second swingman that can guard him will help take some of the defensive pressure off of Leonard and allow him to guard Durant more effectively when he is on him.

When looking at what Rudy Gay brings to the Spurs, it's pretty obvious why he's such a great addition for them. He provides scoring, leadership, and more versatility on defense. I don't know if this move pushes the Spurs over the top, but it makes them a lot better. When you consider the options that the Spurs had to work with in free agency, they really couldn't have asked to land a better player.

Tomahawk Tuesday is a weekly piece that focuses on the Western Conference. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Sacramento Kings could be on the verge of blowing everything up

The Sacramento Kings continue to be one of the weirdest teams in the NBA. They have a spanking new arena in downtown Sacramento that is absolutely incredible and yet amid all the joys that come with that, there are reports of them being willing to trade just about everyone on their roster, it feels like. During the past week and a half, I have heard Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, Rudy Gay, and even DeMarcus Cousins mentioned in trade rumors, which if you are doing in the math is nearly one-third of their roster. In the cases of Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, and Rudy Gay, it appears to be a situation where all three guys want to get the hell out of Sacramento and get a fresh start elsewhere. As for DeMarcus Cousins, this too might be the case, but I have to say that he does seem to be enjoying his time as a prominent figure in the Sacramento community.

What I want to address is whether moving any of these players makes sense. Personally, I don't think it really matters what happens to Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, or Rudy Gay. Those guys, even Rudy Gay, are complementary pieces around the franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins, who is currently averaging 27.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Kings could trade any of those guys and they would still more or less have their same identity, which is a team built around DeMarcus Cousins.

As for trading DeMarcus Cousins is concerned, this would be a big deal and does matter. Before the Sacramento Kings say sayonara to the man known as "Boogie", they better be sure moving him is really the right move. You don't just give away a 27 and 10 guy without giving it some serious thought. Especially when that guy is just 26 years old and has not yet reached his prime. Love him or hate him, DeMarcus Cousins delivers the goods night in and night out and has proven himself to be one of the best big men in the NBA. I know he gets criticized for his poor attitude and inability to lead, but I really think it's unfair to criticize him in these areas when he hasn't had a team around him to lead.

                                        (Credit: GAMEFACE-PHOTOS. Click here for source) 
                                   

To be more clear, DeMarcus Cousins' inability to "lead" the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs can't be put on his attitude or lack of commitment since the teams he's played on have not been very good. He's more or less been the only player Kings fans could get excited about since the days of Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac. He's been the only guy to give them any sort of hope at becoming relevant and competitive again. Ben McLemore hasn't been able to be that guy, Jimmer Fredette sure as hell wasn't that guy, and Rudy Gay was a nice addition, but not a guy who they could rely on to be the cornerstone of a championship contending team.

In addition to not having the right players, the Kings until this season have had all sorts of coaching problems. Most notably the addition of George Karl, who hated DeMarcus Cousins from the moment he set foot in Sacramento. Karl never gave Cousins a chance to lead or be "the man" on the Kings and Cousins suffered as a result. George Karl continued to pin it as a "George Karl vs. DeMarcus Cousins" kinda thing as if they were dueling each other as opposed to working with each other. DeMarcus Cousins has been mistreated by the Sacramento Kings for far too long and now that he finally has a competent head coach in Dave Joerger the Kings are starting to seriously consider moving him? It's time for him to move on? Get real.

The only time it's time to move on is if you've led your team to a championship and your team is now over the hill or you went as far as you could and reached your maximum potential. Neither is the case with DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento. In his case, the Kings haven't reached their max potential due to incompetent moves on their end. They've drafted the wrong supporting cast players around him, they've traded away the wrong people, and hired coaches that don't know how to work with him. DeMarcus Cousins hasn't been the problem in Sacramento, the Kings have been.

What's evidence of the Kings' dysfunction is the fact that they are the verge of blowing everything up before figuring out where they want to go. If the Kings sincerely believe that it is time for them to move on from DeMarcus Cousins, I suppose that's fine, but if they do, they better have a game plan of what to do next. Guys like DeMarcus Cousins don't grow on trees and if you trade him, you better be certain you are getting something very promising in return. Otherwise, you might as well keep him, continue to build around him, and actually get him the pieces that he needs in order to be successful. I personally believe that DeMarcus Cousins can be a legit franchise player in the NBA and I see no good reason to think that he can't be that guy in Sacramento provided the Kings get him the help he needs.

On a separate, but still Sacramento Kings related note, I got the chance to visit the Golden 1 Center, the Kings' new arena on Monday night on media assignment for GoldenBearReport.com, Cal's Rivals.com site.  It was a lot of fun to be a member of the media in an NBA arena. What I can say about my experience at the Golden 1 Center from an NBA standpoint is that it is truly a beautiful arena with an absolutely incredible screen above the court. The Kings definitely built themselves a state-of-the-art arena in downtown Sacramento. I was very impressed with the layout of the arena from the press room to the court itself. Excellent arena and an absolutely amazing place to watch a game. 

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Daily Dunks: 3/30-4/5

                                                 (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

This is my Daily Dunks page for March 30, 2015 through  April 5, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with the latest news and scores from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has undergone season-ending surgery on his left wrist (Click here for details).

#2. Texas center Myles Turner, Georgia State shooting guard R.J. Hunter, and  UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn are leaving for the NBA draft.

#3. Chris Mullin is leaving the Kings to take the head coaching job at St. John's (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has returned to full-contact practice. Still no timetable for when he plays in a game again (Click here for details).

#6. The Trail Blazers signed guard Tim Frazier for the remainder of the season (Click here for details).

#7. Kings forward Rudy Gay is out indefinitely with a concussion and won't play on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#8. The Trail Blazers have clinched a playoff spot.

#9. Andrew Wiggins and Rudy Gobert had some fun battles above the rim (Click here for a video)

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Nets center Brook Lopez won player of the week honors for last week (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 104 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 97 Kings 83. Lakers 113 76ers 111 (OT). Celtics 116 Hornets 104. Hawks 101 Bucks 88. Raptors 99 Rockets 96. Trail Blazers 109 Suns 86.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Suns signed shooting guard Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract and released point guard A.J. Price (Click here for details).

#2. The Bucks may have a new logo (Click here for details).

#3. Spurs guard Patty Mills has been warned for flopping against the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#4. Jazz rookie guard Rodney Hood has a concussion. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#5.The Grizzlies recalled Jarnell Stokes and Russ Smith from the D-League (Click here for details).

#6. Kevin Durant underwent successful bone graft surgery on his foot. His out 4-6 months (Click here for details).

#7. Anthony Davis says James Harden should be MVP (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson says Knicks fans should remain optimistic (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard has changed agencies (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin 40 points and 12 rebounds.

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 110 Clippers 106. Pistons 105 Hawks 95. Nets 111 Pacers 106. Spurs 95 Heat 81.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (knee) returned to the lineup. He had 17 points and 3 rebounds.

#2.The Kings signed center Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. Celtics shooting guard Evan Turner, Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins all had triple-doubles.

#4. Rockets shooting guard James Harden scored 51 points, a career high.

#5. The Lakers officially waived Steve Nash and signed Jabari Brown to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#6. David Blatt and Steve Kerr have won coach of the month honors for March (Click here for details).

#7. Heat point guard Shabazz Napier is done for the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery (Click here for details).

#8. The Mavericks have a ceiling when it comes to how much they'll pay Rajon Rondo to keep him around (Click here for details).

#9. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 30 points and 16 rebounds.

#10. 76ers point guard Ish Smith scored 23 points.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Raptors 113 Timberwolves 99. Jazz 98 Nuggets 84. Spurs 103 Magic 91. Wizards 106 76ers 93. Hornets 102 Pistons 78. Celtics 100 Pacers 87. Nets 100 Knicks 98. Rockets 115 Kings 111. Bucks 95 Bulls 91. Mavericks 135 Thunder 131. Clippers 126 Trail Blazers 122. Pelicans 113 Lakers 92.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic needs surgery on his Achilles (Click here for details).

#2. More details of the Bucks' new logo have emerged (Click here for details).

#3. Trail Blazers small forward Dorrell Wright is out indefinitely with a left hand fracture (Click here for details).

#4. The Lakers signed guard Dwight Buycks to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. The Lakers are expected to pick up power forward Jordan Hill's $9M option for next season (Click here for details).

#6. Talks of Billy Donovan leaving Florida for the NBA are heating up (Click here for details).

#7. Warriors small forward Harrison Barnes hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Suns (Click here for a video).

#8. Suns center Alex Len is out at least one week after undergoing surgery on his broken nose (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington is done for the season due to a separated shoulder (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets forward Josh Smith had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 107 Suns 106. Cavaliers 114 Heat 88. Rockets 108 Mavericks 101.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed forward Austin Daye for the rest of the season. It's a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#2. Trail Blazers forward Dorrell Wright (hand) is expected to be out 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#3. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (knee) is questionable for Saturday. Likely to go on Sunday (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford (calf) has returned to practice and is targeting a Tuesday return (Click here for details).

#5. Celtics forward Jared Sullinger made a surprise return. He played 3 minutes (Click here for details on his status).

#6. The Nuggets reportedly wanted to deal Ty Lawson at the deadline (Click here for details).

#7. Magic power forward Nikola Vucevic had 37 points and 17 rebounds.

#8. Grizzlies small forward Jeff Green had 22 points and 5 assists.

#9. Wizards small forward Otto Porter, Jr. had 17 points.

#10. Knicks guard Ricky Ledo had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Magic 97 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 100 Thunder 92. Pacers 93 Hornets 74. Wizards 101 Knicks 87. Bucks 110 Celtics 101. Nets 114 Raptors 109. Bulls 88 Pistons 82. Spurs 123 Nuggets 93. Pelicans 101 Kings 95. Trail Blazers 107 Lakers 77.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Paul George will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#2. The Hornets may shut down Al Jefferson (knee) for the season (Click here for details).

#3. Lakers shooting guard Nick Young is likely done for the season (Click here for details).

#4. Mark Jackson's MVP vote goes to James Harden. Stephen Curry is surprised (Click here for details).

#5. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#6. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Jazz rookie shooting guard Rodney Hood was cleared to play on Saturday after having a concussion (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has set the NBA record for most wins by a rookie head coach (Click here for details).

#9. Marcus Smart hit the game-winning shot for the Celtics in OT, giving the Celtics the #8 seed in the East for the moment (Click here for a video).

#10. Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick had 25 points.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 92 Grizzlies 83. Warriors 123 Mavericks 110. Suns 87 Jazz 85. Hornets 92 76ers 91. Hawks 131 Nets 99. Pistons 99 Heat 98. Celtics 117 Raptors 116 (OT). Magic 97 Bucks 90. Clippers 107 Nuggets 92. Trail Blazers 99 Pelicans 90.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Wizards are signing guard Will Bynum for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#2.The Nets signed Earl Clark to a two-year deal with a team option for next season (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose could return this upcoming week (Click here for details).

#4. In his return, Pacers forward Paul George had 13 points and 2 rebounds.

#5. Warriors guard Shaun Livingston was suspended for Sunday's game due to punching Dirk Nowitzki in the groin (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 41 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Thunder.

#7. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Rockets.

#8. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 21 points and 17 rebounds against the Rockets.

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Bulls.

#10. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Bulls.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Spurs 107 Warriors 92. Jazz 101 Kings 95. Rockets 115 Thunder 112. Cavaliers 99 Bulls 94. Pacers 112 Heat 89. Knicks 101 76ers 91. Clippers 106 Lakers 78.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news