KYLE LOWRY OVER EVERYTHING 
: Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors has been turning into more and more of a star over the last couple years. He's become the leader of the Raptors and one of the players you trust the most in tight situations. For the Raptors' matinee win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, it was the third quarter in which he kept pace with a good Clippers' team by scoring 11 points in the period. He finished with 25, overall, and Toronto pulled away from the Clippers in the fourth quarter to get the 12-point win.
It didn't matter what you needed from Lowry in this game; he gave it to the Raptors. He got steals to keep the Clippers from extending the lead in the first half:
During a big run by Lowry in the third quarter, he left Chris Paul looking like he was lost and needed directions back into his defensive assignment.
As the Raptors embark on a big road stretch, they need their leader and best player to continue to put out performances like this. He pulled it off against the Clippers.
THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE NOT THRIVING WITHOUT RONDO 
: At one point, Jae Crowder, who's been with Boston less than a week, ISO'd with time running down the clock and drove in the heart of the Wizards defense. You can guess how that worked out. On a later possession, Kris Humphries gave Kelly Olynyk the up-and-under move under the basket for the score.
Andre Miller blocked Phil Pressey. The Celtics shot 41 percent. Paul Pierce and Otto Porter were 12-of-17 from the field, and Pierce was plus-16 in 18 minutes.
Boston has evaporated into particles like the bad stuff that comes out of the guy's mouth in "The Green Mile." Wizards roll.
TURN DOWN FOR WALL : 360 layups are kind of Wall's things these days, and he dished out a fancy one on Saturday.
KRIS HUMPHRIES CAN ATTACK THE GLASS AND THE WIZARDS' BENCH KNOWS HOW TO CELEBRATE IT
: The tip-dunk was nice and powerful but these four stars are pretty much all going to the reaction of the Wizards' bench in this 101-88 drubbing.
KEMBA WALKER COULD NOT BE STOPPED: Charlotte Hornets' point guard Kemba Walker has been on a tear lately and he continued his play Saturday against the Orlando Magic. He scored 42 points on 15-of-31 shooting and the Magic perimeter defense just couldn't stop him. Whether it was getting to the line, knocking down 3's, or getting to the basket, Kemba just dominated. He also had seven assists. However, his career-high just wasn't enough to get the Hornets the win...
THE REST OF THE HORNETS COULD EASILY BE STOPPED
: The rest of the team was not very good. They combined for 21-of-55 from the field for 52 points. Al Jefferson was fine with 7-of-11 shooting for 14 points, but nobody else could get any rhythm offensively or score in double digits.
They also couldn't stop the Magic's frontcourt of Nikola Vucevic (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Tobias Harris (21 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks). Orlando had just six turnovers in the game and Charlotte's once impressive defense just couldn't figure out how to create havoc for the Magic.
THE BUTLER DID IT : Derrick Rose had a good game, with 19 points, but needed 18 points. But Jimmy Butler once again was the best player on the floor. 35 points for Butler, including 19 in the second half, five boards, two assists, and two steals. Just a monster game to overcome 29 from Anthony Davis.
The Pelicans scored, pretty well actually. They shot 47 percent from the field, got to the line, and did all the things offensively that you need to do to get a win vs. Chicago.
But they just cannot get any stops. Jrue Holiday was uncharacteristically slow and off defensively, and Omer Asik sometimes is more of a liability than an asset. The Pelicans would be a playoff team if they could defend, at all.
HERE'S THE LINE FOR YOU, BROOKLYN: Sure, Deron Williams is coming off an injury and the Brooklyn Nets are bringing him off the bench. And Brook Lopez is doing the same for them by coming off the bench as he tries to come back from an injury. Those are tough things for the Nets to overcome. That still doesn't mean it's acceptable to lose to a battered Indiana Pacers' team by 25 points at home.
Last year's Pacers? Sure. That was a pretty good team and they were an excellent team in the early months of the season. The Nets aren't good, but they shouldn't be so bad that they fail this immensely at home. I'm not sure if this is rock bottom but it's not far from it.
KEVIN GARNETT BLEW IN DAVID WEST'S EAR: I don't even know at this point but Kevin Garnett did this to David West.
As you can tell from the technical foul, West wasn't a fond of it.
David West on Kevin Garnett blowing in his face: "I didn't like it. It was too much."
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 28, 2014
MEMPHIS WAS ABLE TO RALLY AGAINST DWYANE WADE: Dwyane Wade had another really good game in which he showed that the tales of his demise were greatly exaggerated. He scored 25 points on 11-of-17 from the field with seven assists, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks. He's continued his incredible play when he's on the court. He needs more help than what he had from the Miami Heat tonight and Chris Bosh's absence was felt against the Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol.
Gasol had 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks, while Mike Conley led the team with 24 points. The Grizzlies lost a frustrating game to the Houston Rockets Friday night, so this is a nice bounce back victory for them on the second night of a back-to-back. They lived at the free throw line all night long.
JOHN HENSON HAD A BIG REJECTION:
STEPH CURRY DOING HIS REVERSE MAGIC AROUND THE RIM:
ARE YOU WONDERING WHY THE SIXERS SCORED JUST 71 POINTS? Well, you're probably not surprised by the fact that they scored just 71 points, but check out Michael Carter-Williams' shot chart anyway. He went 2-of-20 but it felt like 3-of-20:
But hey, that left wing!
CARMELO ANTHONY VS. THREE KINGS: Carmelo Anthony's defense once again left a lot to be desired, but he still racked up an impressive line of 36 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists on the road against the Kings. And yet, he didn't receive the necessary help needed to compete against more of a team effort. DeMarcus Cousins was a monster inside (39 points, 11 rebounds), Rudy Gay was as good of a scorer as Melo all night (29 points on 12-of-21), and Darren Collison had a big game (27 points, 10 assists).
The Knicks made a run at the end of regulation and actually forced overtime with a late flurry of scoring. But Cousins was just too much for this team in overtime. It didn't matter whom the Knicks threw at him. Cole Aldrich fouled out after a very good game. Samuel Dalembert kept getting tossed around. Jason Smith wrestled around with him and couldn't stop him. Cousins was just way too good.
You can kill Melo for a lot of stuff on the court, but he has no help. 90 percent of this Knicks' roster will be gone this summer and there just isn't much talent that matters trying to fit into this offense. I'd say something about fitting in with the defense, but it'd probably be more realistic to talk about the mating habits of unicorns.
