Knicks vs 76ers and Heat vs Rockets

The Knicks have been notoriously bad on the 2nd half of back to backs this season but I expected their fortunes to change against a less than impressive 76ers team still trying to find an identity without Allen Iverson. I also liked the Heat visiting a Rockets team without Yao Ming. Shaq is playing his way back into shape and I fully expected him to dominate in this game.

So last night, my picks were as follows:

Knicks +2 at 76ers
Heat +3 at Rockets

Kyle Korver pretty much single handedly made me a loser in the first game as he made six 3-pointers and matched a career high with 31 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-84 victory over the Knicks. He scored 14 points in the second quarter while the Sixers took a 15-point lead. After the Knicks whittled the lead down to five in the fourth, he sank a pair of 3s that pushed back New York and help Philadelphia snap a three-game losing streak.

Korver was red hot, going 6-for-7 from 3-point range and 11-of-14 overall. Andre Miller scored 19 points, Joe Smith had 14 and Steven Hunter 11 for the Sixers.

Eddy Curry had 22 points and Jamal Crawford 14 for the Knicks while Renaldo Balkman scored 13 and Stephon Marbury had 12 points. Balkman was sensational during a big Knicks run in the third, turned a sharp entry pass into a layup underneath, and Crawford sank two free throws that trimmed the lead to 76-71 in the fourth.

Then Korver took over as he scored on a driving layup and sank a free throw, then Smith made a 20-footer for a 10-point lead and some needed breathing room.

Marbury converted a three-point play, only to have Korver come right back and drill a 3. Marbury sank a 3-pointer, then Korver did what he does best - yup, bury another 3.

When he hit his sixth 3-pointer of the game late in the fourth, the Sixers went ahead 97-80 and the Knicks had no more runs left.

The Knicks built an early11-point lead before it was wiped out by some torrid shooting. Korver and Louis Williams each hit 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that opened the second quarter. Korvers 3 made it 41-29 and the Sixers eventually stretched the lead to 15 points -- a 26-point turnaround from late in the first quarter.

Led by Korver, Sixers reserves scored 32 points in the first half on 13-for-17 shooting. Green made all four of his shots and Korver went 3-for-4 from 3-point range to take a 53-38 lead.

My last hope came in game 2 as the Miami Heat visited the Houston Rockets.
Dwyane Wade dislocated his left shoulder late while Miami tried to make a comeback

Tracy McGrady scored 32 points to lead the Rockets. But the real story was when Wade, who left with 27 points, got tangled up with Shane Battier and grimaced in pain before going to the bench. A couple of minutes later he was helped into a wheelchair and taken off the bench. He was not moving his left arm and appeared to be in severe pain as he was wheeled away.

A basket by Wade with 11:15 to go got Miami within 89-80 and Alonzo Mourning hit one free throw to cut the lead to eight. The Rockets then added four 3-pointers, including two on consecutive possessions by McGrady to go ahead 103-88, and the Heat wouldnt threaten again.

The Rockets, spurred by nine quick points by McGrady, went on a 15-4 run in the first quarter that gave them a 18-8 lead. Houston outscored the Heat 9-2 late in the second quarter to push their lead to 63-48 at halftime.

So overall, it wasnt a good night for me as I went 0 for 2. Theres always tomorrow.