LeBron, Cavs Earn Win Over Westbrook, Thunder
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing like a rejuvenated team that's ready to run through the Eastern Conference since the trade deadline. They earned a marquee win on Tuesday night, as LeBron James scored 37 points in the Cavs' 120-112 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The win is their second straight since acquiring Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, and George Hill, and fourth in a row overall. Hill and Clarkson scored 14 points apiece, while Nance added 13 points and nine rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive glass on Tuesday night. The victory also helps Cleveland overcome an embarrassing 148-124 loss to the Thunder on their home floor back on January 20th. The Thunder got plenty of contribution in Tuesday's loss, including 25 points from Paul George, while Carmelo Anthony chipped in 24 to lead the way. Steven Adams added a double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds, as the Thunder returned both Anthony and Russell Westbrook, who each missed the previous two games with ankle injury. Westbrook had 21 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds on the night, The Cavaliers have one more game at home before the All-Star break, as they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. The Thunder hit the road on Wednesday to visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
Rockets Snap Timberwolves' Home Win Streak
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been unbeatable as of late on their home floor, but leave it to the Houston Rockets to find a way to take them down at the Target Center. The Rockets did just that on Tuesday night, as James Harden had 34 points, 13 assists, and six rebounds in the Rockets' 126-108 win over the Timberwolves. The win is Houston's ninth in a row overall, as they put an end to the Timberwolves' 13-game home win streak. The final 12 minutes of the game was the deciding factor, as Houston hit 10 three-pointers in the fourth quarter and outscored them, 42-28, in the frame to pull away for good. Ryan Anderson came off the bench and contributed 21 points for the Rockets, who pulled within a half game of the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference. They have won 16 of their past 18 games to improve their record to a stellar 43-13. The Timberwolves got 35 points and 12 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns, but dropped their first home game since December 16th against the Phoenix Suns. Jeff Teague added 25 points for Minnesota, who led by as many as 13 in the first quarter before blowing the lead. They will look to bounce back on their home floor on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets return home on Wednesday night to host the Sacramento Kings.
Texas Tech Gets Best of Young, Oklahoma
The Texas Tech Red Raiders continued the Oklahoma Sooners' bad trend of struggling in big, ranked matchups as of late. Keenan Evans had 26 points on Tuesday night, as the seventh-ranked Red Raiders got past No. 23 Oklahoma, 88-78, on their home floor. Sooners star, Trae Young, received a rude welcome home both from the crowd and the floor, as he had just 19 points and went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc in his first game back in his hometown. He was also booed off the court by the Red Raiders' faithful, and was the recipient of the horrible "f*** you Trae Young" chant. The loss was the Sooners' fourth in a row, as they are sure to fall out of the AP rankings next week. The Red Raiders, on the other hand, have now won seven in a row, tying the Sooners for the most AP-Top 25 wins this season at six. They maintain a one-game lead on the Kansas Jayhawks, who got past Iowa State on the road Tuesday night. The Jayhawks' 13-season regular season conference title streak is in jeopardy with just five games left in the regular season. The Red Raiders look to stay on top Saturday afternoon when they visit the upset-minded Baylor Bears. The Sooners will hope to bounce back at home in a Red River Rivalry matchup with the Texas Longhorns that same day.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing like a rejuvenated team that's ready to run through the Eastern Conference since the trade deadline. They earned a marquee win on Tuesday night, as LeBron James scored 37 points in the Cavs' 120-112 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The win is their second straight since acquiring Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, and George Hill, and fourth in a row overall. Hill and Clarkson scored 14 points apiece, while Nance added 13 points and nine rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive glass on Tuesday night. The victory also helps Cleveland overcome an embarrassing 148-124 loss to the Thunder on their home floor back on January 20th. The Thunder got plenty of contribution in Tuesday's loss, including 25 points from Paul George, while Carmelo Anthony chipped in 24 to lead the way. Steven Adams added a double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds, as the Thunder returned both Anthony and Russell Westbrook, who each missed the previous two games with ankle injury. Westbrook had 21 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds on the night, The Cavaliers have one more game at home before the All-Star break, as they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. The Thunder hit the road on Wednesday to visit the Memphis Grizzlies.
Rockets Snap Timberwolves' Home Win Streak
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been unbeatable as of late on their home floor, but leave it to the Houston Rockets to find a way to take them down at the Target Center. The Rockets did just that on Tuesday night, as James Harden had 34 points, 13 assists, and six rebounds in the Rockets' 126-108 win over the Timberwolves. The win is Houston's ninth in a row overall, as they put an end to the Timberwolves' 13-game home win streak. The final 12 minutes of the game was the deciding factor, as Houston hit 10 three-pointers in the fourth quarter and outscored them, 42-28, in the frame to pull away for good. Ryan Anderson came off the bench and contributed 21 points for the Rockets, who pulled within a half game of the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference. They have won 16 of their past 18 games to improve their record to a stellar 43-13. The Timberwolves got 35 points and 12 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns, but dropped their first home game since December 16th against the Phoenix Suns. Jeff Teague added 25 points for Minnesota, who led by as many as 13 in the first quarter before blowing the lead. They will look to bounce back on their home floor on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets return home on Wednesday night to host the Sacramento Kings.
Texas Tech Gets Best of Young, Oklahoma
The Texas Tech Red Raiders continued the Oklahoma Sooners' bad trend of struggling in big, ranked matchups as of late. Keenan Evans had 26 points on Tuesday night, as the seventh-ranked Red Raiders got past No. 23 Oklahoma, 88-78, on their home floor. Sooners star, Trae Young, received a rude welcome home both from the crowd and the floor, as he had just 19 points and went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc in his first game back in his hometown. He was also booed off the court by the Red Raiders' faithful, and was the recipient of the horrible "f*** you Trae Young" chant. The loss was the Sooners' fourth in a row, as they are sure to fall out of the AP rankings next week. The Red Raiders, on the other hand, have now won seven in a row, tying the Sooners for the most AP-Top 25 wins this season at six. They maintain a one-game lead on the Kansas Jayhawks, who got past Iowa State on the road Tuesday night. The Jayhawks' 13-season regular season conference title streak is in jeopardy with just five games left in the regular season. The Red Raiders look to stay on top Saturday afternoon when they visit the upset-minded Baylor Bears. The Sooners will hope to bounce back at home in a Red River Rivalry matchup with the Texas Longhorns that same day.
