The Basketball Diaries

Chicago Bulls 96 Minnesota Timberwolves 85

If you weren't sure there was a God, you have to be convinced now because how else can you explain the gift He has given us by scheduling a home-and-home on consecutive days between the Bulls and Timberwolves. Thank you, Jesus!! Kirk Hinrich had another strong effort in the absence of Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, scoring 27 points and handing out 6 assists. "I felt like I was getting good looks, being aggressive," Hinrich said. "I just wasn't quite getting my legs underneath me on my shots and on my drives. So I was just trying to make a conscious effort of playing through fatigue and trying to get the job done." I'd also like to thank the Timberwolves for their insistence on firing up three-pointer after three-pointer, even though they only made one of the 14 they attempted. Seriously, you guys are awesome.

Seattle Sonics 88 San Antonio Spurs 85

Is it okay to be concerned about the Spurs? I know that they're the defending champions and that we shouldn't take January games to seriously, but what the hell? They've lost three in a row now, and in their last win they were barely able to get by the Heat. A Heat team that had lost 13 in a row at that point, much like the Sonics team that had lost 14 in a row before taking the Spurs down on Tuesday night. After starting the season at 17-3, the Spurs have gone 11-13 in their last 24 games. Kevin Durant had 26 points for the Sonics, the two most important coming on a go ahead jumper with 26 seconds left.

Washington Wizards 108 Toronto Raptors 104 OT

Caron Butler? The Wizards don't need no stinkin' Caron Butler! They have Andray Blatche! (And a collective "Who?" echoes throughout the country.) Blatche took over the injured Butler's spot in the starting lineup, and scored 19 points and 8 rebounds. Andray's performance, along with Antawn Jamison's 24 point, 20 rebound effort, were enough to help the Wizards overcome a nice 37 point, 12 rebound performance by everybody's favorite car salesman, Chris Bosh. "I knew I had to bring it, because Caron's are big shoes to fill," Blatche said. "After hitting my first shot, I knew I was going to be rolling."

Elsewhere...

• Pistons 110 Pacers 104
• Celtics 117 Heat 87
• Nets 87 Bucks 80
• Rockets 111 Warriors 107
• Suns 125 Hawks 92
• Lakers 120 Knicks 109