The Bay Area News Group (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Finally, guard Marco Belinelli said he has made it to the NBA. Sure, he has been in the league since the Warriors’ drafted him with the No. 18 overall pick in 2007. And he’s certainly collected more than a third of the nearly $5 million he will earn over his first three seasons. But Belinelli said it wasn’t until now that he felt as if he’d arrived. For the first time in his career, he said he feels as if he is part of the team. He’s getting minutes, providing offense and growing with teammates. There’s no telling how long this will last, as the Warriors’ injured players figure to return and Coach Don Nelson’s whims are likely to change. In the meantime, Belinelli is enjoying the experience.
Day: December 22, 2008
Glen Davis car accident
The Boston Globe (Frank Dell’Apa) reports: Glen Davis missed the game recovering from a concussion and whiplash suffered in an auto accident on the Massachusettts Turnpike on the way to the game. He was released from Brigham & Women’s Hospital last night, according to director of press relations Jeff Twiss. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge was with Davis at the hospital.
Pistons winless on Sundays
The Detroit News (Chris McCosky) reports: By almost every definition, the Pistons are an average team right now. They have the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference (14-11) and have one fewer loss than the Heat. And average teams don’t often overcome 18-point deficits on the road, especially against a Hawks team that right now is younger, bigger and stronger at almost every position. “They were just too much for us,” Allen Iverson said, after the Hawks beat the Pistons, 85-78, at Philips Arena. “They were better than us tonight.” Like the Lions, the Pistons remain perfect on Sunday — perfectly winless, 0-6.
Dec 21: Cavs 102, Thunder 91
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 31 points and Mo Williams provided the kind of scoring punch expected out of him when he was brought in to be LeBron’s sidekick as Cleveland finished a four-game road trip with a 102-91 win Sunday night over the Oklahoma City Thunder… Mo Williams, who was brought in this offseason to reinforce for LeBron in a three-team trade that also involved the Thunder, scored 20 points and Delonte West hit his first five shots and finished with 18 points against his former team. Kevin Durant scored 26 for the Thunder, who were playing for the first time since snapping a franchise-record 11-game home losing streak. Russell Westbrook added 24 points and matched his career-high with 11 assists and Jeff Green scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Dec 21: Celtics 124, Knicks 105
The AP reports: Rajon Rondo scored 18 of his 26 points in the quarter to help the Celtics tie a franchise record with their 18th straight win, beating the New York Knicks 124-105 Sunday night. The win improved Boston’s record to 26-2, matching the NBA mark for the best start by a team with two losses. The Celtics can break the record at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night… He was 12-of-14 from the floor for the game… Ray Allen had 18 points, Paul Pierce 17, Garnett 12 and Kendrick Perkins 12 for the Celtics… Quentin Richardson led the Knicks with 29 points and Nate Robinson had 23. Duhon added 20 with 10 assists… Celtics F Glen Davis was injured Sunday in an automobile accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike around 2:30 as he drove to the Garden.
Dec 21: Mavs 97, Wizards 86
The AP reports: On a night when Jason Kidd took over the game in the fourth quarter, the Wizards again imploded in the fourth. Kidd had 11 assists—six in the game’s final 6:05 as Dallas sent Washington to its sixth straight loss, 97-86 Sunday night… Jason Terry scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 23. Kidd, who is averaging 9.3 points, missed all seven of his field goals and had just a single point, but as the Wizards languished in the fourth quarter for the fourth straight game, it was Kidd’s game… Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 22 points—all in the first three periods—Butler had 18 and Mike James 17.
Dec 21: Hawks 85, Pistons 78
The AP reports: Mike Bibby wasn’t with the Hawks for any of those past losses to the Pistons, and the new point guard in the Atlanta lineup made an obvious difference, scoring a season-high 27 points in an 85-78 win against Detroit on Sunday… Bibby made 10 of 13 shots from the field, including each of his six 3-point shots… Joe Johnson had 19 points and seven assists. Al Horford added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Josh Smith also had 11 points for Atlanta… Rodney Stuckey and Wallace each had 20 points for Detroit. Richard Hamilton had 16 points for Detroit before he was ejected with 1:14 remaining and Atlanta leading 83-76.