– Another day, another performance closer to the norm for **Paul Pierce** (Boston Celtics). Pierce scored 24 points on Monday in a 97-88 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — a second-straight strong performance after a three-game, 8-for-34 slump last week. He shot a much more efficient 8 of 15 (2 of 4 threes) in 38 minutes on Monday, with five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block ([full stats here][1]). Pierce carried the Celtics at times (six straight points in the last two minutes of the first half; four more points in the first minute of the second half), but Boston lost its fifth game in a row.
– **Josh Selby** (Memphis Grizzlies) scored five points on five shots (1 of 3 threes) on Monday as the Grizzlies took down the Chicago Bulls, 102-86. Selby played 11 minutes at backup point guard and had a steal and two assists to three turnovers ([full stats here][2]).
For what it’s worth, Scott Schroeder (NBC Sports contributor, D-League blogger) and Doug Gottlieb (radio host, ESPN analyst/personality) [commented on Twitter][3] that the D-League might be in Selby’s future.
– **Nick Collison** (Oklahoma City Thunder) scored six points with six rebounds (four on the offensive end) in 19 minutes as the Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics, 97-88, on Monday. Collison also had five fouls and two turnovers ([full stats here][4]).
– **Cole Aldrich** (Oklahoma City Thunder) did not play (coach’s decision) on Monday against the Boston Celtics.
– **Drew Gooden** (Milwaukee Bucks) played just four minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday as starting center Andrew Bogut returned from concussion-like symptoms and played 41 minutes. Gooden had two points, two rebounds and one charge (turnover, foul) as he spelled Bogut in the second quarter ([full stats here][5]).
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Other notes
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– **Brady Morningstar** (NBA D-League – Tulsa 66ers) might not have been able to watch Kansas-Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse with Jayhawk teammate Tyrel Reed, but he put on an impressive show of his own on Monday night in Tulsa. A day after scoring 19 points and going 4 for 4 on three-pointers, Morningstar one-upped himself and scored 21 points on 7 for 8 shooting (again 4 for 4 from three; 3 for 3 from the free-throw line). Morningstar also grabbed six rebounds and two steals, but his team lost, 110-103, in overtime ([full stats here][6]).
Reeeaaaally pixelated highlights of the game below (Morningstar at :12 , :35, :56)
– [John Reid of the Times-Picayune tweeted][7] that **Xavier Henry** (New Orleans Hornets) is still a week away from seeing his first minutes in a Hornets uniform. Henry has been sidelined since injuring his ankle during practice with the Memphis Grizzlies in mid-December.
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Jayhawks in upcoming NBA games
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**[Tuesday, Jan. 17][8]**
– 6 p.m., **Brandon Rush** and the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers
– 6:30 p.m., NBATV, **Mario Chalmers** and the Miami Heat vs. the San Antonio Spurs
– 7 p.m., **Markieff Morris** and the Phoenix Suns vs. the Chicago Bulls
– 7 p.m., **Drew Gooden** and the Milwaukee Bucks vs. the Denver Nuggets
**[Wednesday, Jan. 18][9]**
– 6 p.m., **Nick Collison**, **Cole Aldrich** and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Washington Wizards
– 6:30 p.m., **Paul PIerce** and the Boston Celtics vs. the Toronto Raptors
– 6:30 p.m., **Brandon Rush** and the Golden State Warriors vs. the New Jersey Nets
– 6:30 p.m., **Markieff Morris** and the Phoenix Suns vs. the New York Knicks
– 7 p.m., **Josh Selby** and the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the New Orleans Hornets
[1]: http://www.nba.com/games/20120116/OKCBOS/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100192#nbaGIboxscore
[2]: http://www.nba.com/games/20120116/CHIMEM/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100185#nbaGIboxscore
[3]: http://twitter.com/#!/ScottSchroeder/status/159002585687273473
[4]: http://www.nba.com/games/20120116/OKCBOS/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100192#nbaGIboxscore
[5]: http://www.nba.com/games/20120116/MILPHI/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100186#nbaGIboxscore
[6]: http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20120116/CTNTUL/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp2021100147
[7]: http://twitter.com/#!/JohnReidTP/status/158995230237007872
[8]: http://www.nba.com/gameline/20120117/
[9]: http://www.nba.com/gameline/20120117/
