Today begins the third round of games in Group Play, and our first example of some scheduling quirks. Group D, who played yesterday, has home-and-home series scheduled where two teams are playing each other back to back (except the '88 Lakers, who have four days off with both of their byes falling here). I don't want those home-and-homes being played on consecutive days, so when I set up the schedule, I made sure the randomizer didn't force that on teams. Possibly as a result of that decision, Groups A, B, and C are all seeing action for the second day in a row, while Group H is back in action after taking the holiday off. Once again, all simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's check out today's results.
Group H
Milwaukee used a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take control of a tight game, while poor late shot selection by the Knicks helped the Bucks grab their first win of the tournament. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the way with a quadruple-nickel (quintuple if you count turnovers) of 35 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks. Jon McGlocklin added 15 points, and Oscar Robertson had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Bucks. Earl Monroe had 20 points to lead New York, Dave DeBusschere had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Walt Frazier and Bill Bradley each chipped in 16 points.
@ '59 Boston Celtics 113, '94 Houston Rockets 104
The Celtics shot just 39 percent from the floor, but made the most of many trips to the line and held Houston to a 2-16 day from beyond the arc. Bob Cousy was the hero, scoring 11 of Boston's final 15 points and 20 for the game to go with 11 assists. Bill Sharman added 22 points, Bill Russell had 11 points and 19 rebounds, and Tommy Heinsohn chipped in 16 and 12. Hakeem Olajuwon's 34 points and 13 rebounds weren't enough for the Rockets, nor were the 19 points and eight rebounds from Otis Thorpe. Robert Horry also added 12 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists for Houston.
'13 Miami Heat 117, @ '80 Los Angeles Lakers 97
Miami forced 17 turnovers and hit nine of their 21 threes to keep the Heat in first place. LeBron James was a huge reason for this with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Dwyane Wade added 24 points and Chris Bosh chipped in 14. Kareem led the Lakers with 20 points and nine rebounds, Jamaal Wilkes contributed 17 and eight, and Magic Johnson came off the bench for 14 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
@ '03 San Antonio Spurs 94, '10 Los Angeles Lakers 81
The Lakers managed just 35.4 percent shooting from the floor in their first loss of the tournament despite managing 14 steals and hitting seven of their 20 threes. San Antonio hit 51.3 percent of their shots, led by 30 points on 14 of 23 shooting by Tim Duncan, who also pulled down 12 rebounds. Malik Rose came off the bench to back him up by adding 12 points and seven rebounds, while Stephen Jackson added 11 more points off the bench. Kobe Bryant had 23 points, six rebounds, and five steals to lead the Lakers, while Andrew Bynum added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Group A
'14 San Antonio Spurs 105, @ '95 Houston Rockets 92
The Spurs jumped out to a 35-17 lead after one quarter and never looked back, getting to the line early and often to hand Houston its first loss. Tony Parker led the way with 23 points and six assists for San Antonio, Tim Duncan finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard added 10 points and 12 rebounds. Hakeem Olajuwon had 19 points and nine rebounds to pace the Rockets, Kenny Smith poured in 17 points, and Clyde Drexler put up 14 points and seven rebounds.
'72 Los Angeles Lakers 100, @ '91 Chicago Bulls 97
Chicago hit just one of seven threes and lost by three; you do the math. LA jumped out to a 12 point lead after one quarter, and Chicago spent the rest of the game playing catch up. They had no answer for Jerry West, who finished with 22 points, six rebounds, six assists, and five steals to pace the Lakers, while Wilt Chamberlain added 11 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 28 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, Scottie Pippen finished with 15, 11, and six, and Horace Grant added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Celtics shot just 31.5 percent from the floor and were annihilated on the glass in one of the larger blowouts of the tournament thus far. Julius Erving went off for 31 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, Moses Malone had 19 points and 23 rebounds, and Andrew Toney added 15 points for the Sixers. Bill Russell led Boston with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Sam Jones and John Havlicek each added 12 points.
@ '74 Boston Celtics 118, '70 Indiana Pacers 94
Boston shot over 50 percent from the floor, including a decent clip from three, and forced 22 Indiana turnovers to pick up the blowout victory. John Havlicek led the way for the Celtics with 23 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, Jo Jo White added 22 points and seven assists, and Dave Cowens contributed eight points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Bob Netolicky finished with 19 points to lead the Pacers, with Mel Daniels chipping in 16 points and 19 rebounds.
Group B
@ '90 Detroit Pistons 107, '87 Los Angeles Lakers 97
The Pistons shot 51.1 percent from the floor and controlled the glass to stay unbeaten and hand the Lakers their second loss of the tournament. Isiah Thomas had 26 points to pace Detroit's offense, but Joe Dumars was a force at both ends with 18 points, six assists, and five steals. Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 27 points, six rebounds, and eight assists, while Mychal Thompson added 17 points off the bench and James Worthy finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
@ '70 New York Knicks 117, '74 New York Nets 101
The Knicks win the First Battle of New York thanks to control of the boards and jumping out to a 32-20 lead after one quarter. The Nets came back in the second, but couldn't get over the hump for their first win. Willis Reed finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds, Walt Frazier added 22 points, and Dave DeBusschere chipped in 20 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Larry Kenon led the Nets with 19 points and eight rebounds, Julius Erving contributed 17 and 12, and Larry Paultz added 10 and 14.
The Bulls trailed by 16 early in the fourth, but used a 12-0 run to get back in the game. Horace Grant hit a go-ahead jumper with 3:33 to play, and Chicago never looked back. Michael Jordan logged 29 points and eight assists to help finish off the victory, Horace Grant broke out for 25 points and 19 rebounds, and Scottie Pippen added 14 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Rick Barry led the Warriors with 21 points and nine assists, Charles Johnson added 17 points, and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
@ '85 Los Angeles Lakers 134, '69 Oakland Oaks 102
I guess the Oaks have a ways to go to catch up to the NBA elites. The Lakers shot 52.8 percent from the field and hit 37 of 43 free throws to turn this one into a laugher. Magic Johnson led the way with 29 points and 11 assists, James Worthy added 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Michael Cooper finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Gary Bradds led the Oaks in scoring with 17 points, Rick Barry and Doug Moe each dropped 13 points, and Warren Jabali, Jim Eakins, and Henry Logan each scored 10.
Group C
The Celtics pulled away with a 38-20 fourth quarter edge to make this one seem like more of a laugher than it really was. Paul Pierce went off for 28 points to lead Boston, Ray Allen added 18, and Kevin Garnett put up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. Artis Gilmore paced Kentucky with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Louie Dampier added 16 points and nine assists.
@ '12 Miami Heat 115, '68 Pittsburgh Pipers 107
Miami went deeper into their roster with the back to back, but used an 8-17 day from beyond the arc to win their second straight. LeBron James had 23 points and six assists to lead the Heat, Dwyane Wade added 23 points, and Mario Chalmers chipped in 12 points. Art Heyman led the Pipers with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, Chico Vaughn chipped in 16 points, and Connie Hawkins finished with 15.
@ '05 San Antonio Spurs 118, '56 Philadelphia Warriors 104
San Antonio was also able to get away with lengthening their rotation on the back end of a back to back, shooting 53.9 percent and winning the rebounding battle. Manu Ginobili was incredibly efficient, notching 23 points in just 20 minutes to go with six assists, Tim Duncan added 15 point and eight rebounds, and Radoslav Nesterovic added 12 and nine. Joe Graboski had 19 points and eight rebounds to pace the Warriors, Paul Arizin contributed 17 and eight, and Tom Gola finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
'00 Los Angeles Lakers 104, @ '99 San Antonio Spurs 78
LA shot 52.6 percent for the game with both teams using longer benches and dealt the Spurs their third straight loss for their troubles. Shaquille O'Neal went bonkers with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in just 30 minutes, Kobe Bryant added 13 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, and Sam Jacobsen got some run time to get 11 points for the Lakers. Tim Duncan was held to 18 points and 10 rebounds, while David Robinson added 14 and 10 for the Spurs.
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