This week, the Pacers and Heat came out on top in the East. The Pacers are doing great with 20 wins and 3 losses. They played well against the Bobcats on Friday, December 13th. Even though Paul George, one of their best players, was off his game, they were still able to pull off a victory. This really showcased how well Lance Stephenson and George Hill can play. Although it’s still early in the season, if this type of play continues, the Pacers will be contenders for the playoffs. The Heat are doing well with a 17 – 6 record. In a much anticipated game, they lost 94-80 to the Pacers. Paul George and Roy Hibbert of the Pacers came together to manage a victory. Throughout most of the game, James’s defense and the double teams were stopping George from scoring anything big. Eventually, he made three 3-pointers that pulled the Pacers into the lead, eventually winning. This may be a prediction of the playoffs, with the Pacers and Heat battling for the championship.
The Spurs and Trailblazers are again leading the West. The Trailblazers have a 20-4 record. The Blazers beat the Rockets 111-104, which was a necessary win for them, as they had lost previously in November. LaMarcus Aldridge scored big with 31 points and 25 rebounds. Behind them are the Spurs, with 19 wins and 4 losses. In a game against the Raptors, Aron Baynes was a key player. He scored a career high of 14 points, taking the place of Tiago Splitter, who is currently injured. Although the Spurs initially had problems with defense, they closed the gap in the second quarter and continued to lead from there.
Although not at the top, the Thunder is a team to look out for, with 18 wins and 4 losses. They have been playing well, and won a great game against Pacers, 118-94. Expected to be a tough game between top contenders, Oklahoma City crushed the Pacers easily. Durant scored 36 points and had 10 rebounds. Initially it was a match-up between Paul George and Durant, but Durant came out on top quickly, finishing the game.
