The Basketball Diaries

Spurs 102 Suns 96 (Spurs lead 2-0)

This game lacked the same excitement of the double-overtime thriller in game one, but in the end the result was the same. It also featured the Suns blowing another double-digit first half lead, as the Spurs outscored the Suns 27-11 in the third quarter. Tony Parker finished with 32 points and 7 assists to lead the Spurs, while Tim Duncan had 18 points and 17 rebounds, including a monster dunk to help end a 10-0 run the Suns went on late to get back into the game. Oh, and Manu Ginobili had another ho-hum 29 points off the bench. Still, even though the Spurs now have a commanding 2-0 lead in this series, I full expect the Suns to take the next two in Phoenix, which is fine with me. I'll take as many games between these two teams as I can get.

Hornets 127 Mavericks 103 (Hornets lead 2-0)

You know, in my preview for this series I really thought that the Hornets inexperience in the postseason was going to kill them. Well, I'm an idiot, because somehow, after tauting Chris Paul all season, I somehow assumed he would just start to suck. Yeah, he's not going to do that anytime soon. Paul dominated the Mavs for a second straight game, consistently making Dallas' attempts to trap him futile. CP3 finished with 32 points and 17 assists and just carved the Mavericks up. "Sitting there watching Chris really develop into the best point guard in this league, it's amazing to watch how he's really risen his game to another level," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "But that's what great players do. He's definitely one of the best on this league right now." Though I should mention Paul wasn't the only performer on the Hornets, as David West finished with 27 points and Peja Stojakovic had 22.

Magic 104 Raptors 103 (Magic lead 2-0)

How about that Dwight Howard? After putting up a 20-20 in game one of this series, he only managed to score 29 points and 20 rebounds as he helped the Magic narrowly escape with a victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night. With the consecutive 20-20 performances, Howard becomes only the 4th player in NBA history to do that in the postseason. The other four? A couple of scrubs named Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett. "It was tough to come back and try to play the same way I played the first game. But one of the things [coach Stan Van Gundy] has put in my head, and [Magic assistant Patrick Ewing], is just trying to play as dominant as I could on both ends of the floor. Since the last game, the only thing on my mind, when I go to sleep, when I wake up, at the gym with the guys, is to dominate." The only thing on my mind in those situations? Adorable puppies.