Syracuse Basketball: “Orange in the Pro’s” (NBA) for 02/28/12

With the NBA All-Star Weekend over and done it’s time for the second part of the National Basketball Association’s season to get back underway. And it did just that yesterday, with nine game altogether, of which a couple had former Syracuse players on their rosters. This means it’s time once again to start up with my (hopefully) daily post called “Orange in the Pro’s” (NBA), recapping their performance for the night. In all, right now, there is just five players that once called Jim Boeheim their coach and the Carrier Dome home, but from the sounds of it next year a few more might be coming to the pro ranks. But let’s stick with the here and now, and without further interruptions here is this edition of “Orange in the Pro’s” (NBA) for 02/28/12…

The first game of the night is the Houston Rockets {WC ~ Southwest} (21-14 ~ 15-4 at home) hosting the Toronto Raptors {EC ~ Atlantic} (10-24 ~ 5-13 on the road) in the first of two match ups between the franchises. The game was played at the Toyota Center in front of a crowd that numbered 13,337. For the team from the lone star state it’s former SU point guard Jonny Flynn. The third year floor general does not get any playing time in this one as the coach sat him for the whole game. As far as the game went it was Houston winning this one, beating Toronto by three points, with the final score being 88 to 85. With the win the Rockets are tied for second in the division, 3.5 games behind the leading Spurs, while being tied for the fourth spot in the playoff race, half a game behind the squad ahead of them and half a game ahed of the next squad.

The second game of the night has the Sacramento Kings {WC ~ Pacific} (12-22 ~ 8-5 at home) hosting the Utah Jazz {WC ~ Northwest} (15-18 ~ 3-12 on the road) in what is the second (of four) game between the squads, with the first one going to Utah. The game, played in front of 13,896 fans, was played in the Power Balance Pavilion. For the home squad it’s former Orange small forward Donte Greene. For the fourth year player it’s a wash on this one as he sits on the bench for the full 48 minutes. In the end it was Sacramento winning this one by seven, defeating Utah by the score of 103 to 96. With the W the Kings are in last place in the division, 9 games back of the leader, and 6 games back out of the last playoff spot.

And in the final game of the night we have the Minnesota Timberwolves {WC ~ Northwest} (18-17 ~ 8-7 on the road) going to the long beach state to take on the Los Angeles Clippers {WC Pacific} (20-12 ~ 12-5 at home) in the second (of four) games between the franchises, with the first one going to Minnesota. The game, played at the STAPLES Center, had an attendance of 19,243. For the visiting team it’s former Syracuse shooting guard Wesley Johnson, who starts for Minny and plays a total of 18 minutes. In that time frame the second year player scores five points (2 for 6 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 0 for 2) to go with two rebounds and an assist while getting a pts differential of -14. As far as the game went it was Minnesota taking this one by a dozen, defeating Los Angeles by the final of 102 to 97. With the win the T’Wolves are tied for third in the division, 9.5 games behind the leading Thunder, and are just 0.5 games behind the last team in the post season chase.