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LA Lakers defeat Indiana Pacers 118-96. Things looked dicey for the champs on their Grammy tour in the first half. The Pacers came out with a small lineup and really pushed the tempo. Either that or the Lakers were feeling a bit sluggish after their dismantling of the Washington Wizards the previous night. Either way they went into the locker room at half time with only a three point advantage. But the boys woke up in the second half with a huge dose of Andrew Bynum. Bynum scored 27 points while grabbing 12 boards. Even Kobe Bryant who had 29 points seemed to defer to Bynum at times. Pau Gasol added 21 points and 13 rebounds while Lamar Odom rounded out with 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers now head over to Philly on Friday for a warmup to their mondo mega death match against the Boston Celtics.
New Jersey Nets defeat LA Clippers 103-87. I don’t know what was a bigger mess to watch: this game, Obama’s state of the union address or the Republican’s response to the SOTU. Mind you this is a Clippers team that beat the Lakers and Celtics and were a Baron Davis jumper from beating the Cavaliers. Everyone figured the Clippers would have to win this one especially with Devin Harris and Courtney Lee out of the lineup with injuries. But in front of a crowd of 9,220 the Clippers put out a lackadaisical effort allowing the Nets to be the aggressor the whole time. Chris Kaman had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Eric Gordon added 12 points and seven rebounds in his first game back from missing three games with a sprained big toe. But Baron Davis was remarkably absent throughout the proceedings. They now lick their wounds and head up to Minnesota.
Washington Capitals defeat Anaheim Ducks 5-1. Well this was what most people expected from the best team in the NHL and the best player in the NHL. Seemingly toying with the Ducks for two periods, the Caps broke the 1-1 tie in the third period in stunning fashion. Shaone Morrisonn, Mike Knuble and Alexander Semin scored on consecutive shots in a 2 ½ minute span to put the game away early in the third period. Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal in the opening minute of the game and assisted on Knuble’s goal in the third period. Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere had to endure 49 shots from the Caps.
Notable Notes
It is not disputed that, following an argument on the team's flight home from a game in Phoenix, both Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton brought guns to the Verizon Center locker room and -- with other players and team personnel present or nearby -- displayed them to one another in a continuation of their dispute. The players engaged in this conduct despite a specific rule set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Players Association prohibiting players from possessing a weapon at an NBA facility, and reminders of this prohibition given annually by the NBA to players both in writing and in person. The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.
Tonight’s Action
LA Kings at Columbus Blue Jackets. 4:00 pm FSWest, AM 1150 KTLK.
USC Trojans at Oregon State Beavers. 5:30 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 710 KSPN.
UCLA Bruins at Oregon Ducks. 7:30 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 570 KLAC.
