Westbrook's Triple-Double Leads Thunder Past Cousins, Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are getting plenty of more offense since acquiring DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. Problem is, the struggles on the defensive side of the ball haven't gotten any better. Russell Westbrook went off for 41 points in his 29th triple-double of the year, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Pelicans, 118-110, on Sunday night. Westbrook added 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his 66th career triple-double, and went off 21 fourth-quarter points. After shooting 7 of 19 in the first three quarters, he shot 7 of 10 in the final 12 minutes. Enes Kanter added 20 points and nine rebounds, as OKC won their third in a row. For the Pelicans, Cousins fouled out, playing in just 22 minutes, but put up 31 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. His big man sidekick, Anthony Davis, had 38 points, but New Orleans fell to 0-3 since the big trade at the All-Star break.
Wisconsin's Struggles Continue With Loss to Michigan State
The Wisconsin Badgers have hit a rough patch at the wrong time in their season, as the regular season nears its end. The Badgers dropped their fourth in five games on Sunday afternoon, 84-74, against Michigan State. The Spartans were led by Miles Bridges' 17 points, as well as Matt McQuaid's season-high 15, as they pulled into a third-place tie at 10-6 in Big Ten play. MSU won for a sixth time in eight games, as they look to make their 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Spartans led by as many as 13 in the game, and went on an 11-1 second half run to pull away for good. The Badgers fell to 11-5, missing out at a chance to pull into a first-place tie with Purdue. Nigel Hayes had 22 points, Bronson Koenig added 17, and Zach Showalter 15 points in the loss for the Badgers. It was a touching moment on Senior Day in East Lansing late in the game, as the injured senior, Eron Harris, was checked into the game, just to join the tradition, and kiss the Spartan logo at midcourt one final time.
Kings Acquire Ben Bishop From Lightning
The Los Angeles Kings have struggled for most of the season, but their recent surge has them with high hopes to slip into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. They may have increased those chances on Sunday by acquiring star goalie, Ben Bishop, from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Los Angeles sent goalie, Peter Budaj, and draft picks to Tampa Bay in the deal. The Kings just got Jonathan Quick back, as he returned from a serious groin injury on Saturday after he missed 59 games. The team claims that they do not want to overwork Quick during this crucial playoff stretch. The Kings came into play Sunday just three points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Lightning are not officially out of playoff contention, sitting seven points out in the Eastern Conference. Although, L.A. needed another star to pair with Quick during their upcoming stretch of 15 games in 31 days, which begins Monday against the first-place Minnesota Wild. The newly-acquired Bishop is a free agent come the summer.
The New Orleans Pelicans are getting plenty of more offense since acquiring DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. Problem is, the struggles on the defensive side of the ball haven't gotten any better. Russell Westbrook went off for 41 points in his 29th triple-double of the year, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Pelicans, 118-110, on Sunday night. Westbrook added 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his 66th career triple-double, and went off 21 fourth-quarter points. After shooting 7 of 19 in the first three quarters, he shot 7 of 10 in the final 12 minutes. Enes Kanter added 20 points and nine rebounds, as OKC won their third in a row. For the Pelicans, Cousins fouled out, playing in just 22 minutes, but put up 31 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. His big man sidekick, Anthony Davis, had 38 points, but New Orleans fell to 0-3 since the big trade at the All-Star break.
Wisconsin's Struggles Continue With Loss to Michigan State
The Wisconsin Badgers have hit a rough patch at the wrong time in their season, as the regular season nears its end. The Badgers dropped their fourth in five games on Sunday afternoon, 84-74, against Michigan State. The Spartans were led by Miles Bridges' 17 points, as well as Matt McQuaid's season-high 15, as they pulled into a third-place tie at 10-6 in Big Ten play. MSU won for a sixth time in eight games, as they look to make their 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament. The Spartans led by as many as 13 in the game, and went on an 11-1 second half run to pull away for good. The Badgers fell to 11-5, missing out at a chance to pull into a first-place tie with Purdue. Nigel Hayes had 22 points, Bronson Koenig added 17, and Zach Showalter 15 points in the loss for the Badgers. It was a touching moment on Senior Day in East Lansing late in the game, as the injured senior, Eron Harris, was checked into the game, just to join the tradition, and kiss the Spartan logo at midcourt one final time.
Kings Acquire Ben Bishop From Lightning
The Los Angeles Kings have struggled for most of the season, but their recent surge has them with high hopes to slip into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. They may have increased those chances on Sunday by acquiring star goalie, Ben Bishop, from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Los Angeles sent goalie, Peter Budaj, and draft picks to Tampa Bay in the deal. The Kings just got Jonathan Quick back, as he returned from a serious groin injury on Saturday after he missed 59 games. The team claims that they do not want to overwork Quick during this crucial playoff stretch. The Kings came into play Sunday just three points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Lightning are not officially out of playoff contention, sitting seven points out in the Eastern Conference. Although, L.A. needed another star to pair with Quick during their upcoming stretch of 15 games in 31 days, which begins Monday against the first-place Minnesota Wild. The newly-acquired Bishop is a free agent come the summer.
