GAME OF THE NIGHT -- WIZARDS 83 PELICANS 80 : For being a low-scoring game, this one was fun. The two teams are really well matched and it was a back and forth affair, despite the Pelicans being on an East Coast road back-to-back. The Pelicans couldn't quite contain perimeter penetration enough to prevent crafty scores, and the Wizards couldn't contain Anthony Davis (30 points, 15 rebounds) or Jrue Holiday (17 points) so the Pels hung around. 

The Wizards have to find grooves defensively to slide into. They can't just come out and lock down like Memphis or Toronto, they have to hit the right series of plays, but when they get into a rhythm defensively, it can get really tough to score on them. Marcin Gortat was especially impressive Saturday, with great double-teams and solid rotations. He really played well against a tough front line. 

Wish we could see this one in a playoff series. Alas. 

The Pelicans have dropped three straight, are under .500 and had a miserable joke of a final possession. Wizards broke a two-game slide.

LINE OF THE NIGHT -- KYRIE IRVING : 24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists as the Cavs rolled over the Pacers. Smart, heady play by Irving tonight. 

I DREAMED A DREAM OF LEADS GONE BY : The Sixers were awfully close to pulling this off, they actually lead in the late third, and with Dirk Nowitzki resting on a back-to -back, they had a real chance. But they just couldn't close. It is worth noting that Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler carried the Mavericks and wouldn't let them lose to the Sixers' dreck. Felt bad for the Sixers, though. They really fought, and played their best game of the season. Just wasn't enough, because, you know, Sixers. 

Or, as I often say, the Sixers almost did something good, and then they didn't. 

RIP ROAD WARRIORS : The Pacers went into their back-to-back (you getting a pattern here, yet?) road game vs. the Cavs having covered in seven straight games as a road dog. That ended as they were unable to cover vs. Cleveland with the Cavs 10.5 favorites, losing by 12. Two points! Down go the road warriors. Portland, Cleveland, and Memphis have yet to fail to cover as road dogs. 

MY BI-WEEKLY PLEA TO END BACK-TO-BACKS : Eight of twelve teams in action were on the second game of a back-to-back Saturday. Five of them on the road. Out of six games, all six featured a team on a back to back. Seriously, what is the point of this league, sometimes. It's a Saturday night and you're not going to give any of the teams a straight-up even matchup? The NBA has to change its schedule. I'll be back next week to once again rail about how stupid this is. 

THE "LOOK OVER THERE" TRICK ACTUALLY WORKED : The no-look pass is one thing. But LeBron literally does the "hey, everyone, look over there!" trick, pointing to Marion to cut, before passing to Irving. And it worked! 

THE BEST AND WORST OF NERLENS NOEL : Nerlens Noel is still learning, but he had a huge opportunity for a big bucket late in the Sixers' game, and just missed. At least he made up for it at the other end. Check out the block: 

JUUUUST A BIT OUTSIDE : Noel worked to recondition his jumper last year. Maybe he should have worked on the hook, too. 

THAT NON-CALL WAS OFFENSIVE : Andre Miller gets away with this stuff on reputation, but man. A pretty clear elbow to the stomach of John Salmons. 

THE 'STOP IT, THEY'RE ALREADY DEAD' AWARD : The Hawks were up at one point 80-36 on the Hornets in the third. 

Stop and reread that sentence again. Everything that was good about Charlotte is gone, replaced by Lance Stephenson's face.