The AP reports: Darko Milicic had played 56 times at the Palace of Auburn Hills without ever reaching double figures in points or rebounds before Sunday. In his 57th try, he finally showed a glimpse of why the Pistons drafted him ahead of Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. The No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft had 12 points and 11 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Pistons 89-84… Mike Conley had 20 points for Memphis, which ended a seven-game losing streak to the Pistons. Detroit, which trailed by as many as 21 points in the first half, fell to 2-11 on Sundays… Antonio McDyess led the Pistons with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Richard Hamilton had 14 points and 12 assists.
Day: March 16, 2009
Iguodala, Marshall lead 76ers over Heat 85-77
The AP reports: The seldom-used Donyell Marshall made the most of his rare appearance on the court Sunday, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 85-77. Andre Iguodala led the 76ers with 21 points, Thaddeus Young had 17 and Samuel Dalembert grabbed 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which won its third straight and moved within two games of Miami for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Dwyane Wade, coming off a 50-point performance in a triple-overtime victory over Utah on Saturday, was held to 18. The NBA’s leading scorer looked tired after playing a career-high 52 1/2 minutes against the Jazz. He shot 8-for-21 in 34 1/2 minutes.
Johnson scores 35, Hawks beat Blazers 98-80
The AP reports: Joe Johnson scored 35 points, Josh Smith had 19 points and eight rebounds, and the Hawks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 98-80 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory… Brandon Roy finished with 29 points for the Blazers, who have lost two of three. Portland dropped a half-game behind Denver for the Northwest Division lead and fell out of a three-way tie with the Nuggets and New Orleans Hornets for fourth place in the Western Conference… LaMarcus Aldridge had 13 of his 19 points in the third for Portland, which had won three straight and 12 of 13 against Atlanta.
Villanueva scores 19 as Bucks beat Celtics, 86-77
The AP reports: Charlie Villanueva scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Bucks used their defense to hold off the Boston Celtics 86-77… The Bucks shot 32.6 percent, scored 27 points off the Celtics’ season-high 25 turnovers and grabbed 14 of their 21 offensive rebounds in the second half. Richard Jefferson scored 17 points and Luc Mbah a Moute added 15 points and seven rebounds… The Bucks hounded Boston’s two leading scorers into dismal performances. Paul Pierce, averaging 20 points, had 15 on 4-for-15 shooting. Ray Allen, averaging 18.6, scored eight while going 2-for-11. Even Rajon Rondo felt the Bucks’ pressure as he finished with five on 2-for-10 from the floor, off his average of 11.5. Kendrick Perkins scored a career-high 26 points with 12 rebounds, including a career-best nine offensive.
Bargnani scores 27, Raptors beat Pacers 110-87
The AP reports: Two huge third-quarter dunks from Shawn Marion put the Toronto Raptors on the road to a rout. Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh took care of the rest. Bargnani scored 27 points, Bosh had 15 points and 13 rebounds and the Raptors used a big second half to beat the Indiana Pacers 110-87 on Sunday, snapping a seven-game losing streak with their biggest margin of victory this season… Pops Mensah-Bonsu scored a career-high 21 points and Jose Calderon added 15 points and 12 assists for Toronto, which had not won since a 118-110 home victory over Minnesota on Feb. 24… Troy Murphy had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, with T.J. Ford adding 15 and Jarrett Jack 13.