The National Basketball Association has begun on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, with just three games. However two of those had former UNC Basketball players in them, one a game where there were former Heels on both sides of the benches. This means it’s time for the first edition of Heels in the Pro’s NBA Style for the regular season. In all there were four former Tar Heels in action, one starting and three coming off the bench. The slate for 10/31 will be a lot larger, with nine games in all, of which all but two have a touch of carolina blue in them. But for now, here is the recap from 10/30/12 in this edition of Heels in the Pro’s NBA Style…
The first game of the night had the Cleveland Cavaliers [Eastern Conference ~ Central Division] hosting the Washington Wizards [Eastern Conference ~ Southeast Division] in what is the first of three games between the franchises, where the home team is a 5.5 points favorite. The game, which was played at the Quicken Loans Arena in front of a sell out crowd of 20,562, lasted a total of 2 hours and nine minutes. For the Cavs, who went 3 and 4 in the pre-season, it was rookie Tyler Zeller (@ZellerTyler on twitter), who came off the bench to play 15 minutes in all. In that time frame the seven footer scored five points (2 for 4 ~ 0 for 0 ~ 1 for 2) to go with two rebounds, a steal, a block and a +4 points differential. As far as the game was concerned it was Cleveland winning this one by double digit, defeating Washington by the final of 94 to 84, as well as covering the spread. The win puts the Cavs at 1 and 0 on the season, which will play their next game on 11/02, when they host the Bulls.
FINAL: Cavs over Wizards 94-84 led by @kyrieirving w/ 29 pts & A. Varejao’s near triple-double (9 pts, 23 rebs, 9 asts) ow.ly/eTN7i
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 31, 2012
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IV6yxTTy6c&w=640&h=360]
The other game on tap for the first night of regular season had former UNC Basketball players on both benches as the Dallas Mavericks [Western Conference ~ Southwest Division] headed to Tinseltown to take on the Los Angeles Lakers [Western Conference ~ Pacific Division] on what is going to be the first of four match ups. The Vegas insiders have the home squad as a nine point favorite. The game, which lasted close to 2 and a half hours, was played in front of a packed house of 18,997 at the Staples Center. For the visiting squad from the lone star state it’s a pair of former Tar Heels. The first one, Brandan Wright (@bwright34 on twitter), starts for the Mavs and plays a total of 20 minutes in all. In that time the power forward got 14 points (5 for 5 ` 0 for 0 ~ 4 for 5) to go along with five rebounds, three blocks and three TOs while having a points differential of +4. The other former Tar Heel on the squad is Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15 on twitter), who comes off the bench for 27 minutes. In that time the shooting guard scored 11 points (5 for 12 ~ 0 for 4 ~ 1 for 2) to go with four boards, two assists, a steal and a turnover while getting a +13 in the points differential. On the other side, for the Lakers, it’s Antawn Jamison (@Antawn_Jamison4 on twitter), who comes off the pine and plays 15 minutes. In that stretch the power forward gets five points (2 for 4 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 1 for 1) to go 
with five rebounds, two assists, a steal while getting a 0 in points differential. As far as the game, it was Dallas taking this one, defeating LA by the final of 99 to 91. The win gives the Mavs, who went 4 and 4 in the pre-season, some momentum going into their next game on 10/31 at the Jazz. With the loss the Lakers, 0 and 8 in the pre-season, keep their slide going and will try to stop it as the face the Trail Blazers on the road on the 31st.
This FINAL score update is brought to you by Panini America: Mavs 99, Lakers 91; Collison’s 17 points leads six Mavs in double figures.
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 31, 2012
FINAL: Mavs 99, Lakers 91. The team will head straight to the airport & fly to Portland for tomorrow night’s matchup with the Blazers.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 31, 2012
That is it, the very small recap for opening night of professional basketball in what I call Heels in the Pro’s NBA Style. Make sure you come back tomorrow as the season truly begins with seven games that will have former UNC Basketball in them, many of them with former Heels on both teams. And as usual for more information about North Carolina basketball and/or football, teams and players, present and past, make sure to check back often on isportsweb!
