Weekend Wake Up: Cincy Survives, Paul Hurt, NBA Upsets

Bearcats, Barely. Closest win this season? Sure. Strangely arrhythmic quarterback situation? Yep. But Cincinnati persevered on a night when their running game had to carry the day, and Isaiah Pead came through with 175 yards and a score. (Being helped out by a questionable touchdown ruling on a goal line leap just proves that Cincy could play in the SEC, right?)

NOLA's Nightmare Gets Worse. In their first game after firing Byron Scott, the New Orleans Hornets lost Chris Paul, too. The splendid point guard was having an off night (he finished with just three points on 1-of-8 shooting) against the Blazers, but landing awkwardly on his left ankle in the third quarter got him removed from the 86-78 loss, and probably ruled out of the next fortnight or so. This is good: It might give him time to get over his hard feelings about the unceremonious dumping of the only NBA head coach he has had.

All Hail Hawks, Nuggets? The biggest winners on Friday night in pro hoops were the teams that toppled champs. The Hawks beat the Celtics and the Nuggets whipped the Lakers, which means pretty much nothing, because it is still November and NBA teams don't have to accrue style points. But the more impressive win belongs to Atlanta: They got it done on the road against a Boston team on a day's rest, while Denver was playing host to L.A.'s second game in a back-to-back.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.