The AP reports: Amare Stoudemire (10-of-13) had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Phoenix beat Memphis 127-113 on Tuesday night as Shaquille O’Neal sat out with a right hip contusion… “This would have been a big loss if we lose it,” said Suns guard Steve Nash, who had 16 points and eight assists… Raja Bell scored 18 points for Phoenix, while Grant Hill had 17. Leandro Barbosa had 16 points and Gordan Giricek added 14. Boris Diaw scored 12. Rudy Gay matched his career high with 36 points for Memphis. Mike Conley finished with 19 points and five assists before fouling out in the closing minute, and Kyle Lowry had 13 points off the Memphis bench.
Month: April 2008
Apr. 8: Celtics 107, Bucks 104 OT
The AP reports: Sure, Doc Rivers could have summoned his Big Three off the bench to reclaim the big lead they’d built earlier in the game. All three Boston Celtics stars certainly wanted to get back on the floor. But Rivers didn’t want to play them in the first place on Tuesday, so he decided to let his reserves handle what suddenly had become an unexpectedly close game. It took overtime, but Boston’s bench managed to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-104… Bucks center Andrew Bogut provided some comic relief from what has become a lost season for Milwaukee, joking about his triple-double Tuesday—points, rebounds and turnovers. “My offense was terrible,” Bogut said. “I felt like a little kid out there.”
Apr. 8: Jazz 77, Hornets 66
The AP reports: Mehmet Okur kept up his recent strong play, even during a defensive struggle in which the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets held each other to season lows in scoring. Okur had 22 points and 17 rebounds to help Utah clinch its second straight Northwest Division and snap the Hornets’ 11-game home winning streak, 77-66 on Tuesday night… Deron Williams had 16 assists and outplayed Chris Paul as the Jazz took a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter and cruised from there… Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points for New Orleans, which shot a woeful 3-of-14 on 3-pointers and 37 percent overall as its five-game winning streak ended. David West had 14 points.
Apr. 8: Knicks 98, Pistons 94
The AP reports: Wilson Chandler scored all of his 19 points in the first half, helping the Knicks built a huge lead, and New York held off a late charge from the Detroit Pistons in a 98-94 win Tuesday night… Against an uninspired team, the Knicks led 57-34 at halftime and 79-60 after three quarters… Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince each scored 11 points for the Pistons, who had won five straight… Jamal Crawford scored 16 for New York, which has won two straight after losing 10 of 11 games.
Apr. 8: Heat 95, Bulls 88
The AP reports: Back in the NBA, Kasib Powell gave the Miami Heat the type of effort they’ve lacked most of the season. Powell scored a career-high 18 points, leading the Heat to a 95-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn each added 16 points as five players scored in double figures for the Heat, the day after coach Pat Riley was elected to the Hall of Fame… Luol Deng led the Bulls with 25 points, 19 of which came in the first half. Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah each added 16 points.
Apr. 8: Bobcats 121, Wolves 119
The AP reports: The Charlotte Bobcats nearly blew an 18-point lead, missed key free throws and had a strategy decision backfire. The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back behind their new star, only to have a key turnover and a missed shot at the buzzer… Behind Jason Richardson’s 36 points and some good fortune down the stretch, the Bobcats overcame their near collapse and a big night from Al Jefferson to hold off the Timberwolves, 121-119… Jefferson matched a career high with 40 points and had a chance to force overtime, but his open 19-footer bounced off the rim as time expired… Raymond Felton, who had 15 points and 11 assists, missed two free throws with 13 seconds and Charlotte leading 120-119. After Foye’s turnover, Matt Carroll, who scored 22 points, hit his first free throw, but Vincent told him to intentionally miss the second with 1 second left.
Apr. 8: Pacers 112, Hawks 98
The AP reports: Mike Dunleavy scored 28 points, and the Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-98 Tuesday night to avoid elimination from the playoff race. The Pacers have won three straight and nine of 12 to pull within two games of the Hawks for the eighth playoff slot in the East with four games left… Flip Murray had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Granger scored 16 points and Marquis Daniels added 15 for Indiana. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 30 points. Josh Smith had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Josh Childress added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.
Warriors recall Patrick O`Bryant from D-League
The Golden State Warriors have recalled center Patrick O’Bryant from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.
O’Bryant, who was originally assigned to the Jam on March 10, 2008, appeared in eight games for Bakersfield, averaging 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.50 blocks in 36.0 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old tallied four double-doubles for the Jam, including a 22-point/14-rebound/seven-block effort vs. Idaho on April 4. He has appeared in 22 games for Golden State this season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per contest.
Brad Miller done for season
The Sacramento Kings announced today that center Brad Miller will miss the remaining five games of the 2007-08 season due to a stress fracture in his left fibular head and a bone chip in his right elbow.
Miller, currently in his 10th NBA season and fifth with the Kings, is averaging 13.4 ppg (.463 FG%, .311 3PT%, .848 FT%), 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg and 34.9 mpg in 72 contests in 2007-08.
Mouhamed Sene needs surgery on injured right knee
Seattle SuperSonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today second-year center Mouhamed Sene suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during last Friday’s Idaho Stampede game at Bakersfield of the NBA Development League. The extent of the injury was revealed in an MRI performed yesterday. The team is in the process of scheduling surgery.
Sene appeared in 13 games for the Sonics this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per contest. Sene also appeared in 27 games for the Idaho Stampede this season, averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game. The 10th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Sene has appeared in 41 regular season games in his two seasons with the Sonics and holds career averages of 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds.