NBA stars shine in Sunday spectacular
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Mar 2012
IT was just another Sunday, another day in the NBA when eight regular season games were in the calendar.
But this one went for the ages, one that will go in the books as perhaps the finest of them all as All-Stars and future Hall-of-Famers from both the East and the West flaunted the stuff that shows exactly why the NBA is the premiere pro basketball league in the planet.
The day began with Boston versus New York, a match-up that made fans giddy over the anticipation of a point guard battle royale pitting Celtic Rajon Rondo and Knick sensation Jeremy Lin, the Harvard alum who launched the Linsanity craze.
That duel proved to be gigantic mismatch as Lin struggled with only 14 points to go with his 5 assists and 6 turnovers while Rondo pocketed his 11th career triple-double with a memorable 18-point, 20-assist and 17-rebound performance to lead the Celtics over the Knicks in overtime, 115-111.
In the second offering of the day, Kobe Bryant ignored both a broken nose and a tough Miami defense, scoring 33 points as the Lakers beat the Heat 93-83 at the Staples Centers in Los Angeles.
Kobe, who is playing with torn ligaments in his wrist, made 14 of 23 shots. He jumpstarted the Lakers to an early lead by scoring 16 points in the first quarter and going 8-of-10 from the field.
LeBron James led the vanquished Heat with 25 points, 13 reboounds and 7 assists. Dwyane Wade, the other Heat superstar, fouled out with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Chris Bosh, the last piece of Miami's Big 3, skipped the game to attend his grandmother's funeral.
THE Chicago Bulls showcased their own star power in the early evening hours when Derrick Rose and company traveled to Philadelphia to face the Atlantic Division leading Sixers of coach Doug Collins.
Derrick Rose came through on this one, lighting up for 35 points as the Bulls escaped with a 96-91 triumph. The best team in the NBA record-wise, the Bulls are now 31-8 while the Oklahoma City Thunder of the West are a nose behind at 29-8.
In a see-saw fourth quarter which saw the Bulls' 13-point lead melt down to 2, Rose connected on an off-balance, running jumper that gave Chicago a 93-89 bubble with 20.2 seconds to go.
Rondo, Kobe and Rose all had awe-inspiring performances. But on that spectacular Sunday, New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams took the cake with an incredible season-high mass production of 57 points as the Nets edged the Bobcats, 104-101, at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.
The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Williams sank 16 of 29 shots. The 3-time All-Star went perfect from the free throw line, 21 of 21, and converted 4 of 11 triples. The 27-old Williams also had 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Healthier now after injuries plagued the team to open the season, the Nets improved to 12-26. But they have a long way to go for a playoffs spot in the tough East.
The Bobcats, meanwhile, continue to linger in the bottom of the standings with a woeful 4-31 slate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions
Sun, 21 Dec 2025Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 21 Dec 2025Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 20 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Hails RP Blu Boys’ Golden Triumph at the SEA Games
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 20 Dec 2025ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 19 Dec 2025January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 19 Dec 2025Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Dec 2025RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025