The AP reports: A three-day layoff was just what the Memphis Grizzlies needed to rejuvenate their struggling offense. Rudy Gay scored 22 points and Memphis shot a season-high 54 percent to help the Grizzlies snap a four-game losing streak with a 109-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night… Hakim Warrick added 21 points and 10 rebounds and Marc Gasol scored 16… John Salmons led the Kings with 18 points, while Spencer Hawes scored 14, hitting all seven of his shots. Rookie forward Jason Thompson scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He also had three blocks. The Kings were short-handed, playing without leading scorer Kevin Martin and forward-center Mikki Moore.
Month: November 2008
Nov 18: Celtics 110, Knicks 101
The AP reports: Brian Scalabrine, in the starting lineup while Kevin Garnett served a one-game suspension, hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left to help Boston recover after its 15-point, fourth-quarter lead was trimmed to four and the Celtics beat New York 110-101 on Tuesday night. Paul Pierce scored 22, Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and eight rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 15 points, eight boards and seven assists for the Celtics, who were playing without Garnett for the first time this season. Wilson Chandler scored 23, and Zach Randolph had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost seven straight games against Boston but were hoping to gain ground in the Atlantic Division.
Nov 18: Cavs 106, Nets 82
The AP reports: With free agency awaiting him in 2010, LeBron James put on a show for the New York metropolitan area and its deep-pocket teams highlighted by length-of-the court sprint to block a dunk by Devin Harris. James had 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists in another dominating performance and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to their eighth straight win with a 106-82 decision over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night… Mo Williams had 8 of 16 points and five of his six assists in the final 24 minutes, while Delonte West scored 14 of his 16 points, hitting all four of his 3-pointers in the decisive third quarter when Cleveland broke the game open… Devin Harris, who was looking for his fourth straight 30-point game, had 23 points to lead New Jersey. Vince Carter added 12, shooting 3-of-12 from the field as the Nets’ two-game winning streak was snapped.
Nov 18: Magic 103, Raptors 90
The AP reports: Stan Van Gundy predicted at the morning shootaround that Toronto forward Chris Bosh would score 40 points against his Orlando Magic. The Magic coach turned out to be right—and he still got to smile about it. Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis had 22 points apiece as the Magic overcame Bosh’s 40-point, 18-rebound night in a 103-90 win in a rematch of first-round NBA playoff foes. Bosh, matching up at times with Lewis and All-Star center Dwight Howard, made 14 of 19 field goals and 12 of 16 free throws… Toronto, playing without injured point guard Jose Calderon, was done in by 24 turnovers and by a strong Orlando second quarter, in which the Magic turned a 10-point deficit into a 45-45 halftime tie.
Nov 18: Heat 94, Wizards 87
The AP reports: The Heat beat the Wizards on Tuesday night for the second time in five days. Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, leading six players in double figures in a 94-87 victory. “We would love to have a game like this where everybody is in double figures all across the board,” said Wade, who also had 10 assists, six rebounds and five turnovers despite rolling his ankle Sunday against Toronto… Antawn Jamison (25) and Caron Butler (21) had 46 of the 59 points scored by the Wizards starters. Nick Young added 12 points off the bench, but his four turnovers included a bad pass in the final minute that ended Washington’s attempt to comeback from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Nov 18: Mavs 100, Bobcats 83
The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points, outscoring Charlotte’s entire starting five, and the Mavericks never trailed in a 100-83 rout on Tuesday night for their second straight win, overcoming any distractions their owner might have presented by toying with the lifeless, undermanned Bobcats… A career-high 21 points from rookie D.J. Augustin was nowhere near enough for Charlotte, which fell behind 15-0 while playing again without top scorer Jason Richardson (knee). The Bobcats didn’t score until nearly 7 minutes had elapsed in a woeful performance that kept them winless all-time against Dallas… With Nowitzki adding nine rebounds and Josh Howard scoring 21 points, the Mavericks led by as many as 23 in a rare blowout after a horrible start to the season, made worse when their famous owner suddenly faced legal trouble.
Nov 18: Pacers 113, Hawks 96
The AP reports: Danny Granger scored 34 points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the slumping Atlanta Hawks 113-96 on Tuesday night. Rasho Nesterovic scored 21 points, Jeff Foster had 12 and Troy Murphy added 10 points and 19 rebounds for the Pacers (5-5), who won their fifth consecutive home game against Atlanta. Joe Johnson finished with 25 points, Marvin Williams scored 14 and Mike Bibby and Maurice Evans each scored 13 for the Hawks (6-4). After a 6-0 start, Atlanta has lost four straight.
LeBron talks to InsideHoops
Tuesday night in New Jersey the Nets hosted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron’s sorta good and athletic and stuff.
Anyway, before the game, myself and a good dozen or two reporters talked with LeBron about 2010 free agency, his quotes about staying home in Ohio, what team loyalty means, and much more.
Usually, when I say someone “talked to InsideHoops” it means the interview is exclusive, but this one was a team effort. But InsideHoops is where you’ll see the whole thing.
Read the full LeBron James interview.
Top recruit Xavier Henry picks Memphis
I don’t normally include college news in this blog, but it’s worth knowing that Xavier Henry, a top national recruit, will be playing for John Calipari at the University of Memphis.
Coach Cal for years has shown an amazing ability to land star players, and Henry is another on that list.
Ticker reports: Both of Henry’s parents played basketball at Kansas, but the younger Henry wanted to be reunited with brother C.J., a freshman on this year’s Memphis team.
Ticker reports: A 6-6 shooting guard at Putnam City High School, Henry averaged 26.7 points and 7.2 rebounds last season in leading his team to a 25-2 record and the quarterfinals of the state Class 6A quarterfinals.
ESPN.com (Christopher Lawlor) reports: The start to Henry’s senior season will be delayed up to six weeks following surgery to repair a broken cheekbone suffered in an automobile accident on Oct. 22. Henry said, he still has headaches after the surgery in which two plates and eight screws were inserted, but he is expected to be cleared for game action in late December.
Richard Hamilton struggling lately
Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: In the six games he has played with Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton has averaged 16.6 points while shooting 35.4 percent from the field. Hamilton has never averaged fewer than 17 points per game with Detroit, and his worst shooting percentage in a season is 42 percent, which he did as a rookie in Washington. “It’s all about timing right now,” Hamilton said. “Anytime you play with a different point guard … with Chauncey, I knew what he was going to do every time up the court. He knew when I was going to come off a screen. He knew where to put the ball at. Now I have to learn (Iverson), just like I learned Chauncey when I first came here.” Joe Dumars said he is not surprised to see Hamilton struggle with the adjustment more than some of the other players.