NBA Daily Blog: Rockets drop their 5th straight game in a loss vs the Mavericks in Dallas 110-117.

 

 Vince Carter drives over Marcus Camby

Photo ©NBA/Rockets.com

 

The Houston Rockets suffer another setback to their playoff aspirations as they lost to their I-45 rivals the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center 110-117. The Mavericks outscored the Rockets 39-26 in the 4th quarter. The Rockets with the loss drop to 32-30 trying to hold on to their chances of making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. While the Mavericks improve to 34-28.

The Rockets were led by Goran Dragic with a double-double 20 points and 10 assists with 2 steals. Luis Scola added 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Courtney Lee added 16 points and 2 steals. Chase Budinger scored 14 off the bench. Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 12. Marcus Camby also finished with a double-double 11 points and 17 rebounds. Kyle Lowry added 11 points and 5 assists.

The Mavericks were led by Dirk Nowitzki with 35 points and 5 rebounds. Vince Carter off the bench scored 23. Jason Terry scored 19. Jason Kidd added 12 points and 8 assists. Delonte West scored 11.

In Washington, DC, the Washington Wizards disrupt the Milwaukee Bucks playoff aspirations with a big victory at the Verizon Center 121-112. Jordan Crawford led the Wizards with 32 points. John Wall finished with a double-double 14 points and 10 assists. Nene and Kevin Seraphin each scored 14. James Singleton added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Rookie Chris Singleton scored 10. Another rookie Jan Vesely pulled-down 10 rebounds with 8 points. Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 31 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. Brandon Jennings added 25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Drew Gooden finished with a double-double 21 points and 12 rebounds with 6 assists and 2 steals. Ersan Ilyasova also finished with a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds.

In Charlotte, the Chicago Bulls without all-stars Derrick Rose and Luol Deng rout the Charlotte Bobcats who have now lost their 18th consecutive game at the Time Warner Cable Arena 100-68. Richard Hamilton led the Bulls with 22 points and 6 assists. Joakim Noah and John Lucas III each scored 12 points. Carlos Boozer added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Omer Asik pulled down 15 rebounds with 9 points off the bench. Taj Gibson pulled down 12 rebounds with 9 points. Rookie Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Derrick Brown scored 14. Gerald Henderson scored 13. Another rookie Bismack Biyombo pulled down 13 rebounds with 7 points.

In Cleveland, the Philadelphia 76ers win by 16 points over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena 103-87. Jrue Holiday led the 76ers with 24 points and 5 assists. Andre Iguodala finished with a double-double 19 points and 13 rebounds with 7 assists and 2 steals. Elton Brand scored 12. Thaddeus Young off the bench also scored 12. Evan Turner scored 10. Lester Hudson and Samardo Samuels led the Cavaliers with each scoring 15 points. Rookie Tristan Thompson added 12 points and 5 rebounds. Antawn Jamison scored 11.

In Newark, the New York Knicks pick up the win over the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center 104-95. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 33 points and 7 rebounds. Tyson Chandler finished with a double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds with 2 blocks. J.R. Smith added 15 points and 8 rebounds. Gerald Wallace led the Nets with 21 points and 5 rebounds. Sundiata Gaines added 18 points and 6 assists. Gerald Green added 12 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony Morrow scored 10. Kris Humphries pulled down 15 rebounds with 8 points.

In Atlanta, the Atlanta Hawks win in a blowout against the Detroit Pistons at Philips Arena 116-84. Veteran Tracy McGrady off the bench led the Hawks with 17 points. Rookie Ivan Johnson finished with a double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds. Joe Johnson scored 13. Josh Smith added 12 points and 9 rebounds. Marvin Williams added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Willie Green also scored 10. Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 17 points and 5 rebounds. D-League call-up Walker Russell scored 15 off the bench. Charlie Villanueva added 14 points and 6 rebounds.

In Miami, the Miami Heat without Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh defeat the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Arena 92-76. LeBron James led the Heat with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Mike Miller off the bench added 13 points and 6 assists. Udonis Haslem added 10 points and 7 rebounds. James Johnson off the bench led the Raptors with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Alan Anderson scored 15. DeMar DeRozan scored 12.

In Boston, the Boston Celtics clinch their 5th straight Atlantic Division title without Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen with a thrilling victory over the Orlando Magic at the TD Garden 102-98. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with a double-double 29 points and 14 assists with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Avery Bradley scored 23. Former Magic player Brandon Bass scored 21. Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 9 rebounds. Former Celtics player Glen Davis led the Magic with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Jameer Nelson added 21 points and 9 assists. J.J. Redick added 13 points and 5 assists. Ryan Anderson added 12 points and 9 rebounds. Jason Richardson added 11 points and 6 rebounds.

In Memphis, the Memphis Grizzlies clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the New Orleans Hornets at the FedExForum 103-91. Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 26 points and 5 rebounds. Mike Conley added 20 points and 5 assists. O.J. Mayo scored 15 off the bench. Zach Randolph added 10 points and 6 rebounds. D-League call-up Jerome Dyson off the bench led the Hornets with 24 points and 3 steals. Marco Belinelli and Carl Landry each scored 16. Jason Smith scored 12. Former Grizzlies player Greivis Vasquez dished out 9 assists with 9 points.

In Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers are still on the hunt for the Pacific Division crown with a win over the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center 104-98. Chris Paul led the Clippers with 21 points, 8 assists and 3 steals. Mo Williams scored 19 off the bench. Caron Butler scored 14. Nick Young scored 13. Blake Griffin added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Randy Foye also scored 12. Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 24 points and 6 assists. Al Harrington added 14 points and 8 rebounds. Arron Afflalo, Andre Miller, rookie Kenneth Faried and Kosta Koufos each scored 12.

In Phoenix, the Oklahoma City Thunder are still on the hunt for reclaiming the top seed out West with a win over the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center 109-97. James Harden off the bench led the Thunder with 40 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Kevin Durant finished with a double-double 29 points and 11 rebounds with 5 assists. Russell Westbrook added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Jared Dudley led the Suns with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Channing Frye added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Steve Nash scored 12. Robin Lopez scored 11 off the bench. Marcin Gortat pulled down 12 rebounds with 9 points.

In Sacramento, the San Antonio Spurs maintain their hold of 1st place out West with a win over the Sacramento Kings at the Power Balance Pavilion 127-102. Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter both coming off the bench led the Spurs with each scoring 17 points. Tony Parker added 15 points and 8 assists. Manu Ginobili, Stephen Jackson and rookie Kawhi Leonard each scored 13. Danny Green scored 11. Rookie Isaiah Thomas led the Kings with 21 points and 8 assists. Marcus Thornton scored 20. DeMarcus Cousins added 18 points and 9 rebounds. Jason Thompson added 10 points and 6 rebounds.

In Portland, the Utah Jazz take the 8th seed out West with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden 112-91. Devin Harris led the Jazz with 27 points. Gordon Hayward scored 23. Rookie Alec Burks scored 17 off the bench. Al Jefferson finished with a double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds. Another rookie Enes Kanter scored 10. Wesley Matthews led the Trail Blazers with 21 points. J.J. Hickson added 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Rookie Nolan Smith and Luke Babbitt also scored 16. Jonny Flynn added 11 points and 7 assists.

In Oakland, the Los Angeles Lakers maintain their hold on the 3rd seed out West with a win over the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena 99-87. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 31 points and 9 rebounds. Pau Gasol finished with a triple-double 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists with 3 blocks. Metta World Peace added 18 points and 9 assists. Rookie Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 17 points and 5 assists. Another rookie Jeremy Tyler added 15 points and 6 assists. Dorell Wright added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Brandon Rush scored 10. Rookie Charles Jenkins dished out 11 assists.

STANDINGS AS OF 4/19/12 (13:19 PHT)

WEST:

1. Spurs (sw) 45-16, 2. Thunder (nw) 45-17, 3. Lakers (x) 40-23, 4. Clippers (x) 39-23, 5. Grizzlies (x) 37-25, 6. Mavericks 35-28, 7. Nuggets 34-28, 8. Jazz 33-30, 9. Suns 32-30, 10. Rockets 32-30, 11. Trail Blazers (o) 28-35, 12. Timberwolves (o) 25-38, 13. Warriors (o) 22-39, 14. Kings (o) 20-42, 15. Hornets (o) 19-43

EAST:

1. Bulls (c) 47-15, 2. Heat (se) 44-17, 3. Pacers (x) 40-22, 4. Celtics (a) 37-26, 5. Hawks (x) 37-25, 6. Magic (x) 36-26, 7. Knicks 33-29, 8. 76ers 32-30, 9. Bucks 29-32, 10. Pistons (o) 23-39, 11. Nets (o) 22-41, 12. Raptors (o) 22-41, 13. Cavaliers (o) 20-41, 14. Wizards (o) 16-46, 15. Bobcats (o) 7-54

K-Smoove