So to kick off the second half of this stage of the tournament, Groups D and G are finishing off the back end of games on two straight days, while Groups A and C return from a one day layover. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's head courtside.
Group C
@ '08 Boston Celtics 102, '05 San Antonio Spurs 86
Both teams took great care of the ball, but the Spurs shot just 35.8 percent for the game as the Celtics moved into a tie with the Heat for first place, though Miami maintains the tiebreaker for now. Kevin Garnett had 21 points and eight rebounds to pace Boston, Paul Pierce scored 19 points, and Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe each added 12 points. Manu Ginobili paced the Spurs with 22 points, Tim Duncan chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds, and Nazr Mohammed pitched in nine points and 13 rebounds.
The Celtics make it a 2-0 day against the Spurs after going 32-41 from the line while San Antonio only shot 22 freebies on the day. Robert Parish put up 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, Larry Bird added 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Kevin McHale chipped in 18 and six for Boston. Six Spurs scored in double figures, led by David Robinson, who had 17 points and six assists before fouling out, while Sean Elliott added 16 points and five rebounds, and Tim Duncan contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and four blocks.
'00 Los Angeles Lakers 119, @ '75 Kentucky Colonels 95
The Lakers grab their sixth win in 10 tries behind 51 percent shooting and used a 16-0 third quarter run to turn the momentum of the game completely in their favor. Kentucky had no answer for Shaquille O'Neal's 35 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, while Kobe Bryant had a near triple-double of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, and Travis Knight had nine points and 10 rebounds off the bench for Los Angeles. Artis Gilmore paced the Colonels with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks, Bird Averitt scored 16 points, and Louie Dampier chipped in 10 points and 10 assists.
'56 Philadelphia Warriors 118, @ '68 Pittsburgh Pipers 102
The Pipers hit just three of 17 threes and turned the ball over 24 times in dropping their seventh game of the tournament, keeping them in last place in Group C. Tom Gola had just 11 points to pace the Warriors, but pulled down 14 rebounds and dished out seven assists in Philly's fourth win, Neil Johnston added 23 points and eight rebounds, Joe Graboski chipped in 20 and nine, and Paul Arizin contributed 20 and five. Art Heyman paced Pittsburgh with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, Connie Hawkins added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Charlie Williams poured in 17 points.
Group A
@ '95 Houston Rockets 125, '70 Indiana Pacers 101
The Rockets held Indiana to just 13 second quarter points and turned a tie game after one quarter into a laugher, giving Houston a key fifth win to stay in the mix. Hakeem Olajuwon led the way with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, Otis Thorpe finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, Clyde Drexler added 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Vernon Maxwell scored 17 points off the bench for the Rockets. Bob Netolicky had 20 points and eight rebounds, Mel Daniels added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Roger A. Brown finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and nine assists for the Pacers.
@ '83 Philadelphia 76ers 113, '06 Miami Heat 106
The Sixers shot 54.4 percent from the floor to grab a crucial win and stay half a game ahead of the Rockets for fourth place while the Heat drop their fifth game and find themselves in a tough spot with eight games to play. Moses Malone went off for 27 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Sixers, Maurice Cheeks added 17 points and eight assists, and Julius Erving chipped in 16 points, six rebounds, and five blocks. Dwyane Wade had 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for Miami, but turned the ball over eight times, while Shaquille O'Neal contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, and James Posey finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
@ '14 San Antonio Spurs 108, '74 Boston Celtics 82
San Antonio moves into a tie for first place behind a strong performance at both ends of the floor, shooting 34.6 percent from beyond the arc while holding Boston to 35.1 percent shooting from the field. Tim Duncan put up 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard added 18 and eight, and Tony Parker chipped in 11 points and 10 assists. Dave Cowens led the Celtics with 19 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, Jo Jo White scored 13 points, Paul Silas had eight points and 14 rebounds, and Don Nelson came off the bench to add 12 points.
The Celtics remain winless while the Bulls make it a three-way tie atop the Group A standings. Chicago shot 53.8 percent from the floor. Boston had no answer for Michael Jordan, who torched Boston's defense to the tune of 43 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Scottie Pippen added 10 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists, Horace Grant finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Bill Cartwright chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls. Sam Jones had 26 points and seven rebounds to pace the Celtics, Bill Russell added 16 points, 19 rebounds, and five blocks, and Willie Naulls scored 15 points.
Group D
'16 Cleveland Cavaliers 116, @ '63 Boston Celtics 104
The Cavs forced 21 turnovers and hit 10 of 33 threes to remain in first place. LeBron James went off for 37 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Kyrie Irving exploded for 32 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists, and Kevin Love chipped in nine points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Bill Russell paced Boston with eight points and 22 rebounds, Tommy Heinsohn added 22 and six, and John Havlicek finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
@ '76 Boston Celtics 98, '96 Chicago Bulls 92
I don't know what's going on anymore. The Bulls missed 18 of 25 threes and shot just 40.4 percent for the game in falling back to .500 on the tournament. Ultimately, the Bulls had some struggles on the glass, as Dave Cowens led the way with 19 points and 18 rebounds for the Celtics, Paul Silas added 17 and 16, and Jo Jo White finished with 23 points. Michael Jordan had 22 points and seven assists for the Bulls, Scottie Pippen added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr combined for 33 points off the Chicago bench.
Tim Duncan's bucket with 29 seconds to go was answered by a Magic Johnson 17 footer with 20 ticks to go. The Spurs then worked the clock down, and Tony Parker buried a shot from the right block with one second left, and Magic's desperation shot from the left block missed at the buzzer. Parker finished with just 14 points and five assists, while Duncan logged 19 points an 11 rebounds, and Fabricio Oberto chipped in seven points and 11 boards for San Antonio. Magic finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and 15 assists, James Worthy recorded 16 points and nine rebounds, and Mychal Thompson finished with 11 and eight off the bench for the Lakers.
@ '78 Washington Bullets 123, '62 Boston Celtics 102
Washington held the Celtics to 37.3 percent shooting and won their second straight game to try and get back in the mix. Seven Bullets scored in double figures, led by 19 points and nine rebounds from Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, Wes Unseld notched 14 points and 20 rebounds, and Mitch Kupchak added 16 and 10 off the bench for Washington. Bill Russell had 12 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks to lead the Celtics, Tommy Heinsohn and Sam Jones each scored 18 points, and Frank Ramsey scored 14 points off the bench.
Group G
'11 Dallas Mavericks 107, @ '76 New York Nets 92
Dallas knocks the Nets out of first place and creates a nice little log jam with its sixth win of the tournament. New York shot just 38.8 percent from the floor in only their third loss of Group Play. Dirk Nowitzki put up 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Mavericks, Shawn Marion had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Tyson Chandler chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds. They spoiled a 20 point, 12 rebound, seven assist night for Julius Erving, while Brian Taylor added 15 points and six assists, and Rich Jones scored 12 points for New York.
The Sixers have the high score for the tournament despite shooting only 50.5 percent, but they also went 31-37 at the free throw line and topped 30 points in every quarter to get back to .500. Seven Sixers hit double figures, led by 19 points, 25 rebounds, and seven assists from Wilt Chamberlain. Billy Cunningham recorded 22 points and nine rebounds, Hal Greer added 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Luke Jackson contributed 20 points and six rebounds for Philadelphia. Sam Jones paced the Celtics with 20 points and five rebounds, John Havlicek scored 18 points, Tommy Heinsohn had 17, and Bill Russell finished with 13 points and 25 rebounds.
@ '97 Chicago Bulls 123, '58 St. Louis Hawks 82
The Bulls take over first place in Group G after holding the Hawks to just 37.1 percent shooting for the game and have them nearing elimination. Michael Jordan had 29 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Bulls to their seventh win, Toni Kukoc added 20, seven, and six, Scottie Pippen had 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, and four steals, and Dennis Rodman put up 12 points and 20 rebounds. Bob Pettit had 28 points and 19 rebounds to lead St. Louis, Cliff Hagan added 19 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and Chuck Share finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
'02 Los Angeles Lakers 112, @ '66 Boston Celtics 108
The Lakers survived a poor three point and free throw shooting day by taking care of the ball and forcing 15 Celtic turnovers, while Boston missed 13 free throws and a golden opportunity to join the logjam in second place. Kobe Bryant went off for 35 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists to lead Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal added 22 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks, and Robert Horry contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds. Sam Jones had 21 points and seven rebounds to pace Boston, John Havlicek scored 19 points, K.C. Jones had seven points, six rebounds, and six assists, and Bill Russell finished with five points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
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