EASTERN CONFERENCE

Bulls end Pacers run at nine

AFTER 10 games of the 2013-14 season, the Indiana Pacers had truly cemented their place as title contenders. However, their franchise-record unbeaten run came to an end in Chicago. The nine wins to one loss record came after the Bulls conjured up a streak of four games won to gain a record of 5-3.

Derrick Rose got off to a hot start, shooting four of five from deep in the first-half and overall six of 11 for his 20 points. Luol Deng also produced, with 23 points to help the Bulls to a 110-94 win.

Miami currently hold a .700 percentage with a 7-3 record after impressive 102-97 and 110-104 wins respectively over the LA Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. They closed out the week with a 97-81 win over the Charlotte Bobcats amid a 30-point, seven assists game for Lebron James.

One team who isn’t having that great a season is the New York Knicks, who are lagging four places outside the play-off spots with a 3-6 record. After their fifth straight loss at home to the Atlanta Hawks, the wheels seemed to be coming off as fans briefly chanted ‘Fire Woodson’ (in reference to coach, Mike Woodson) in the third quarter.

The Hawks, who are in the play-off mix, came up with the 110-90 win despite 23 points and 12 rebounds from Carmelo Anthony, who admonished the team’s play as ‘soft’ after the game.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Lakers’ despair continues

KOBE Bryant only returned to training near the end of the weekend and the LA Lakers have truly been struggling without him. After 10 games the Lakers sat with a 3-7 record, only outperforming the woeful Utah Jazz who have a 1-9 record.

San Antonio, however, continued their strong start, extending their win streak to seven and their record to 9-1 with a 91-82 victory over the Utah Jazz. Tony Parker, had a stellar fourth quarter scoring 14 of his 22 points, in reaction to being embarrassingly stripped on a fast-break point by Diante Garrett.

The Portland Trailblazers were second in the conference standings at the weekend with an 8-2 record and even have three representatives on the All-Star Ballot in LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum and Damian Lillard.

Meanwhile, the LA Clippers’ All-Star guard Chris Paul had 12 points and 13 assists in a 110-103 win over the Nets to extend the Clippers’ record to 7-3. He also extended his personal record to the 10th straight game with double figures in points and assists to start the season, one behind the record of 11 held by Magic Johnson.

All the teams in play-off positions in the West have percentages over .600, leaving the Phoenix Suns just outside with a .556 percentage.