Month: March 2009

Grizzlies recall Hamed Haddadi from D-League

For the second time this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have recalled center Hamed Haddadi from the NBA Development League’s Dakota Wizards, the club’s D-League affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Haddadi posted 5.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.86 blocks in 17.0 minutes in seven games (two starts) in his second stint with the Wizards, where he was reassigned by the Grizzlies on Feb. 17.  Overall, the 7-2, 280-pound center has averaged 5.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.67 blocks in 17.4 minutes in 18 games (nine starts) with Dakota in his rookie season.

The Ahvaz, Iran native recorded two points and one rebound in four minutes in his NBA debut on Dec. 30 vs. Phoenix, becoming the first Iranian-born player to appear in an NBA game.  Haddadi has averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 3.5 minutes through four games with Memphis this season.

Haddadi is expected to be in uniform tonight as the Grizzlies host the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. CST at FedExForum.

Wally Szczerbiak out 2-3 weeks

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak experienced a left knee sprain (MCL) during the third quarter of the Cavaliers game last night at The Q in Cleveland vs. Orlando.

He received an MRI this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and is currently projected to be Out for two to three weeks.

For the season, Szczerbiak is averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds on 44.7% shooting in 21.0 minutes per game.

Thunder assign DJ White to D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has assigned forward D.J. White to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

White, 22, has yet to appear in a game for the Thunder this season after undergoing initial jaw surgery on October 9, 2008. The 6-9 forward was cleared by team doctors on March 16th to resume full contact drills.

White was the 29th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft. The Thunder acquired White as a part of a draft day trade. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior at the University of Indiana where he averaged 17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest.

Cavaliers assign Darnell Jackson to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Darnell Jackson to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today.

Jackson has played in 37 games for the Cavaliers this season and has averaged 1.0 point and 1.2 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game. This is the second time Jackson has been assigned to the BayHawks this season. In his only appearance in Erie, Jackson scored a game-high 24 points on 10-14 shooting (.714) and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes in the BayHawks’ 101-89 victory over the Utah Flash on February 9th.

He will be available to play tonight for the BayHawks in their game versus the Austin Toros at 7 p.m. at the Tullio Arena in Erie.

The BayHawks are the D-League affiliate of the Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iguodala’s 3 at buzzer gives Sixers win over Lakers

The AP reports: Andre Iguodala beat the final buzzer with a 3-pointer to finish with 25, and the 76ers overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Lakers 94-93 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory. Fifteen of Philadelphia’s 34 wins have been decided by six points or fewer… Pau Gasol had 25 points for the defending Western Conference champion Lakers (53-14), who slipped a full game behind Cleveland for the NBA’s best record with 15 games remaining. Bryant failed to go to the free throw line for the fourth time this season, and this was the first time the Lakers lost when that happened.

Ellis leads Warriors to 127-120 win over Clippers

The AP reports: Monta Ellis matched his season high with 29 points, Corey Maggette had 21, and Golden State defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 127-120 Tuesday night, its seventh straight home win against the Clippers… Baron Davis also scored 29 points in his first game in Oakland since opting out of his contract with the Warriors. He received a warm ovation before the game and even handed out a few hugs courtside just before tip-off… Anthony Morrow added 20 points as the Warriors won their third in four games. Kelenna Azubuike had 16 and Anthony Randolph 14.

Jazz end skid with win over Wizards

The AP reports: Deron Williams admitted that the Utah Jazz put an underwhelming end to a three-game losing streak. The Jazz played well enough to beat the Washington Wizards 103-88 on Tuesday night, but knew they got away with mistakes that would have cost them against better teams… Ronnie Brewer scored 13 despite playing only the second and fourth quarters as punishment for oversleeping and missing Tuesday morning’s shootaround. Kyle Korver added 15 points on his 28th birthday as seven Utah players scored in double figures. Nick Young and Juan Dixon had 14 points each to lead Washington.

Salmons, Bulls surprise Celtics 127-121

The AP reports: John Salmons tied a career high with 38 points, and the Chicago Bulls rallied for another surprising victory, beating the Celtics 127-121 on Tuesday night despite 37 points from Paul Pierce… Pierce, Rajon Rondo (26 points) and Ray Allen (17 points) did what they could for the Celtics, who have dropped four of five and have struggled lately through injuries—the most notable being Kevin Garnett’s sprained right knee. The might be without Allen, too, when they play Miami on Wednesday, after he hyperextended his right elbow.

Duncan sits as Spurs beat Wolves 93-86

The AP reports: Thinking already about the playoffs, Tim Duncan took the night off against a team the San Antonio Spurs won’t have to worry about once they get there. Resting his sometimes troubled knees in the final game of a back-to-back for San Antonio, Duncan watched from the bench as Tony Parker scored 24 points and carried the Spurs to a 93-86 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night… Sebastian Telfair and Kevin Love had 17 points apiece for Minnesota. Roger Mason had 15 points for the Spurs, who now await a bigger test Friday at home against the Boston Celtics. Against Northwest Division-worst Oklahoma City on Monday, the Spurs blew a 17-point lead. The Spurs struggled again early against Minnesota—only a game better than the Thunder—before putting the Wolves away in the fourth.