Month: November 2008

Nov 14: Knicks 116, Thunder 106

The AP reports: Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph each scored 29 points, combining for 10 in the final 4 minutes after New York had blown most of a 30-point lead, and the Knicks held on to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-106 on Friday night… Nate Robinson made his first five shots, giving him 13 in a row over two games, and Randolph had 19 rebounds in his seventh straight double-double… David Lee had a season-high 18 points and Robinson 15 for the Knicks, who picked up in the first half where they left off two nights ago… Kevin Durant returned from a one-game absence with an ankle injury to score 23 points for the Thunder, who dropped their sixth straight and fell to 1-8. Russell Westbrook, the No. 4 pick in the draft, had a season-high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists.

Nov 14: Heat 97, Wizards 77

The AP reports: Dwyane Wade scored 24 points before taking the fourth quarter off, the Heat held Washington without a field goal for 9 minutes in the second half and outrebounded the bigger Wizards by a huge margin on the way to an easy 97-77 victory on Friday night. A 20-1 run in the third quarter turned a six-point lead into a rout for Miami (5-4), which needed 20 games to hit the five-win mark last season… Michael Beasley scored 19 points, Udonis Haslem had 13 points and 13 rebounds and Marion—who had missed two games with a strained groin—added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who held a 52-33 advantage on the boards… Antawn Jamison finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Washington, which fell to 0-4 on the road and an Eastern Conference-worst 1-6 overall. JaVale McGee and Nick Young each added 13 points for the Wizards, while former Heat standout Caron Butler was held to six points.

Nov 14: Bobcats 104, Jazz 96

The AP reports: Larry Brown and Jerry Sloan have combined for more than 2,000 NBA victories. On Friday night they both had to work hard searching for the right lineups because of key injuries. In the end it was the well-traveled Brown, now in Charlotte, who edged the permanent fixture on Utah’s bench. With Raymond Felton scoring 23 points, Gerald Wallace adding 22 and Adam Morrison leading an effective band of reserves, the Bobcats held off the Jazz 104-96 in a matchup of undermanned teams… While the Bobcats played without top scorer Jason Richardson (knee), the Jazz were without point guard Deron Williams (ankle), sixth-man Andrei Kirilenko (finger) and center Mehmet Okur, who is with his sick father in Turkey… Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 15 rebounds despite being in foul trouble for the Jazz, who committed 20 turnovers in their third loss in four games following a 5-0 start.

Nov 14: Sixers 94, Pacers 92

The AP reports: Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks gave his team a simple yet effective message after the first quarter against Indiana. His players responded Friday night, overcoming a 26-point deficit to beat the Pacers 94-92. “I told them to keep fighting,” Cheeks said following a dismal first quarter, which ended with the Pacers ahead 38-13. “We just hung in there, we didn’t stop.” The 76ers took their coach’s words to heart, tying it at 90 on Andre Iguodala’s free throw with 3:14 left in the fourth quarter. They gained their first lead, 92-90, on Andre Miller’s layup… Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Brand added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Iguodala finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Philadelphia (4-5), which snapped a three-game losing streak against the Pacers… Danny Granger had 18 points, Daniels finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and T.J. Ford added 12 points and seven assists for Indiana (4-4). The Pacers tried to make sense of the loss.

Steven Hunter out at least 12 weeks

Nuggets C Steven Hunter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Hunter will be sidelined a minimum of 12 weeks.

Both Denver-area newspapers recently reported that Hunter may be considering retirement if it appears his knee will continue to be a major problem.

I’d assume Hunter will rehab and focus on regaining his health first, and then examine his status and future.

He hasn’t played this season. For his career he averages 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 15.4 minutes per game, with 56.4% shooting.

Heat arena has tons of empty seats

I’m flipping around NBA league pass, and stopped by the Wizards at Heat game. Miami has an early 14-9 lead. Nothing worth reporting about the game yet, and I’ll probably head to another game in a few minutes.

But it has to be said, judging by TV, the expensive seats look at least 66% empty. The red seats stand out in a big way on television.

I’m a bit surprised that it’s this bad.

The team supposedly gets over 16,000 fans per game so far this season. That’s what’s listed, at least. And, the Wizards aren’t exactly a particularly hot opponent. Still, someone has to get Heat fans into the arena. The team has holes at point guard and center but is still worth watching.

Dwyane Wade is healthy and himself again, even if he’s still getting used to his teammates and new coach. He’s putting up 28.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game on 49.0% shooting. That alone should attract plenty more fans.

Michael Beasley has been a good scorer, but he isn’t rebounding as much as expected. His defense is lacking and a serious work in progress. But he’s good and fun to watch, especially as he grows into a refined player.

Shawn Marion isn’t himself yet. Udonis Haslem is playing decently as a vastly undersized center.

The point guards and centers aren’t worth mentioning at this point.

Still, the team is fun and decent. Heat fans, go see your team!

Warriors assign DeMarcus Nelson to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard DeMarcus Nelson to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Nelson, 23, has appeared in eight games this season (five starts), averaging 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest.  The 6-4 guard became the first undrafted rookie to appear in the starting lineup on Opening Night for the Warriors since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962.

Nelson now joins Warriors teammate Richard Hendrix on the Jam roster.  This marks the first time that Golden State has had two players on assignment in the NBA Developmental League at the same time.

Nash, Barnes, Alston suspended for fight

The AP reports: The NBA has suspended Steve Nash and Matt Barnes of Phoenix and Rafer Alston of Houston for their roles in a fight. Alston and Barnes were suspended for two games without pay and Nash for one. The league also fined Shaquille O’Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000 on Friday for their actions during the Rockets’ 94-82 win in Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: The scuffle broke out in the final seconds of Wednesday’s third quarter, just as Houston opened its biggest lead of 19 on a McGrady 3-pointer. On the shot, Alston set a high screen on Barnes, who lowered his shoulder hard into Alston. After the shot went in, Alston ran up on Barnes, prompting Nash to race from several feet away toward Alston and Barnes. Once he got close, McGrady shoved him to the ground and more players came to the scene with O’Neal shoving McGrady to the ground and pushing Alston and Yao Ming.

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: “It’s just overblown,” Barnes said. “They went above and beyond the call of duty here. They didn’t call a foul in my situation. We got in a little pushing match and I get suspended for two games? Rafer gets two games and Rafer threw two punches at Steve. Basically, what they’re saying is you might as well throw two punches because you got the same suspension as someone who threw two punches. Steve comes and tries to break it up and gets thrown to the ground and he gets suspended and T-Mac (McGrady) doesn’t get anything. Ridiculous.”

Fans are reacting to the suspensions here in this topic.

Warriors assign Richard Hendrix to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned forward Richard Hendrix to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Hendrix, 21, has been on the inactive list for each of Golden State’s first nine games during the 2008-09 regular season.  The 6-9 forward was selected by the Warriors with the 49th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.