Best of the Week

Well, it was a week that had it all, which saw a last-second shot, some great plays and some unbelievably bad basketball (thanks, Badgers). For this week's best of the week, one game will make an appearance more than once and deservedly so. Here is the best of the week:

Best performance: Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves vs. Washington

Rubio did not have the best shooting night, just making four of his 15 shots, but he made the clutch plays when it counted, including forcing a turnover in the last minute of the game and tipping it to J.J. Barea for a layup that sealed the game. Even though he only made four shots, he scored 15 points and dished out 11 assists as well. Once again, he provided spark with his quick hands, having six steals and seven rebounds. Once Rubio can improve his shot, which he was not able to do over the offseason due to the ACL injury, he will be an unstoppable force for the Wolves moving forward.

Honorable mention: Jordan Fouse, Phoenix vs. Milwaukee; Fouse scored 12 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and having three blocks and three steals in Green Bay's 62-46 win against Milwaukee.


Best unexpected performance: Charlie Coyle, Wild vs. Edmonton

Coyle tallied a goal and an assist in the Wild's 4-2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers, including the eventual game-winning goal in the third period. With the Wild tied after two periods 1-1, Coyle assisted along with Jared Spurgeon on a goal by Mikko Koivu just nine seconds into the third period to put Minnesota in front 2-1. Coyle's goal made it 3-1 and Minnesota took home the victory. For Coyle, it was his second goal and is trying to provide a spark with the first line of Koivu, Dany Heatley and Zach Parise sputtering at the moment.

Honorable mention: Alexey Shved, Timberwolves vs. Miami; Shved scored 13 points, including a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three points before the Wolves fell 97-81.


Best game: Phoenix vs. UIC

There was no other game that came close. The game was close basically throughout. Green Bay had a 10-point lead early in the second half, but a quick 5-0 run by UIC cut the Phoenix lead to five and completed the run at 14-4 to tie the game at 43-43 at the under 12 media timeout. Green Bay kept trying to pull away, taking five point leads on two separate occasions and a six point lead on a 3-pointer by Keifer Sykes to put Green Bay up 58-52 with six minutes to play. But then the Phoenix went cold, scoring just one point in a four minute stretch to let UIC back into the game. Hayden Humes, who scored 23 on the night, had an individual 7-0 run to put UIC up 59-58. After a Brown free throw tied it up, the teams traded baskets and Jordan Fouse was at the free throw line with 44 seconds left. He missed both free throws and UIC had a chance to take the lead. The Flames did just that as Gary Talton was fouled on a jump shot. He made both to set the stage for the thrilling ending. Sykes dribbled it across half court and found an open Sultan Muhammad, who buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1.7 seconds left. The half court heave at the buzzer was wide left and Green Bay advanced to tonight's semifinal game against Valparaiso.

Honorable mention: Minnesota Wild; 4-2 win vs. Edmonton


Best play: Sultan Muhammad's game-winner vs. UIC

Well, I already went over this play above, but it was so good, it needed to be relived again. With Green Bay down 63-61 after two free throws by Gary Talton, Green Bay looked to point guard Keifer Sykes to make a play. While Sykes dribbled the ball up the court, Phoenix coach Brian Wardle is begging for a timeout call. Wardle was never granted a timeout, as no refs saw him calling for one. It's a good thing too, as Sykes found Muhammad on the right wing, who knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Phoenix the thrilling 64-63 win to move onto the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament where it will play top-seeded Valparaiso tonight. The game will be televised live on ESPNU at 8:30 EST.

Honorable mention: Ricky Rubio's crazy layup vs. Washington, switching hands mid-air and making the layup in Minnesota's 87-82 victory; Derrick Williams and-one vs. Washington, Rubio passed the ball to a cutting Williams, who was hacked on the arm and flipped the ball up and it went in in Minnesota's win over the Wizards.


Best moment: Sultan Muhammad......once again

This is the third straight time this play has been mentioned, but it never gets old. Muhammad's big 3-pointer put the Phoenix into the semifinals in the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since 2009 when it had a double bye before losing to Cleveland State. Muhammad will have to come up even bigger if the Phoenix wants to knock off top-seeded Valparaiso. The Crusaders swept the season series, winning both by double digits.

Honorable mention: J.J. Barea/Ray Allen skirmish, Barea was not amused by Allen's flopping