Heels in the Pros (NBA) 12/31/11

As we all get up and begin to focus on the new year, which will include the last week of the NFL as well as North Carolina taking on Monmouth at the Dean Dome, let’s look back at the last NBA games of 2011 for the former UNC players with the first daily post of 2012 called “Heels in Pros” (NBA) for 12/31/11. In all there were seven games played in the National Basketball Association, a quartet of them has a touch of carolina blue in them. And we can also check what ESPN’s AccuScore did with their prediction of the four games. So, without further ado, let’s get going with this edition of “Heels in the Pros” (NBA) for December 31, 2011…

The first game of the night it’s the Denver Nuggets (WC ~ Northwest) going to the long beach state to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (WC ~ Pacific) in what is the first game of four between the franchises. The game was played at the STAPLES Center in front of a crowd that numbered 18,997. For the visiting squad it’s point guard Ty Lawson, who starts for the Nuggets and gets a total of 31 minutes in all. In that time frame the third year floor general scored nine points (3 for 8 ~ 1 for 3 ~ 2 for 4) to go with eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and four TOs while having a -13 pts differential. As far as the game it was Los Angeles (3-2, 3-1 at home) winning a tight one, defeating Denver (2-2, 1-2 on the road) 92 to 89. With the loss Denver is now 2.5 games behind the division leader.

AccuScore called the game correctly, giving the win to the Lakers, with the final being 103.2 to 93.6, while saying that Lawson would get 15.4 pts and 5.6 assists in this one.

Second game on tap was the one between divisional foes, as the Indiana Pacers (EC ~ Central) and the Detroit Pistons (EC ~ Central) in what is the second of three games, with the first one having gone to the Pacers 91 to 79. The game was played at The Palace of Auburn Hills in front of an attendance of 8,824. For the visiting team we have third year pro Tyler Hansbrough, who comes off the pine for a total of 28 minutes. In that time the power forward scored 16 points (5 for 14 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 6 for 7) to go with five rebounds, three steals, a block and a turnover while having a pts differential of -3. As far as the game went it was Detroit (1-3, 1-1 at home) winning this one, defeating Indiana (3-1, 1-1 on the road) 96 to 88. Even with the loss the Pacers are still atop of their division.

AccuScore was incorrect in this one, as they had the Pacers winning the game 95 to 93.5, while Hansbrough scoring 12 pts and 6.6 boards in the match-up.

In the second to last game of the night we have the Atlanta Hawks (EC ~ Southeast) going to the lone star state to take on the Houston Rockets (WC ~ Southwest) in a inter-conference match-up, which will be the only time the two squad will meet up. The game was played in front of 14,390 fans at the Toyota Center. For the visiting team from the east it’s small forward Marvin Williams, who starts and plays 21 minutes in all. In that time frame the seventh year veteran scores nine points (3 for 7 ~ 1 for 2 ~ 2 for 2) to go with four rebounds a block and a -1 pts differential. On the bench it’s 17th year pro Jerry Stackhouse, but the shooting guard does not see any action in this one (DNP). In the end, it was Houston (2-2, 2-0 at home) beating Atlanta (3-1, 1-1 on the road) by 11 points, with the final score being 95 to 84. With the Hawks’ loss they drop to one game behind the division leader.

AccuScore was once again correct in picking this one, as well as being close with Williams’ stats as they had him for 10.7 points and 5 rebounds in the game.

And finally, in the last game on tap, it’s the Utah Jazz (WC ~ Northwest) going to the lone star state to take on the San Antonio Spurs (WC ~ Southwest) in the first of four game between the teams. The game was played at the AT&T Center in front of 17,769 fans. For the visiting team we have Danny Green coming off the bench for nine minutes of playing time. The third year guard scores four points (2 for 3 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 0 for 0) to go with two boards, two asssits and a +11 points differential. As far as the game went it was San Antonio (3-1, 3-0 at home) defeating Utah (1-3, 0-3 on the road) 104 to 89. With the W the Spurs are now in first place in their division, 1/2 a game ahead of the competition.

AccuScore was right in this one once again giving the win to San Antonio by the final of 105.1 to 96, which was pretty close. One difference is that their score did not cover the spread, while the game’s final did.

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