The AP reports: Now that the runnin’ Phoenix Suns are making a playoff push, Shaq is wondering what took them so long. Jason Richardson scored 31 points against his former team, Shaquille O’Neal added 26, and the Suns rang up the highest point total in the NBA this season in a 154-130 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night… Matt Barnes, another former Warriors player, added 20 points and a career-high 11 assists as the Suns ended a five-game losing streak on the road and a four-game skid at Golden State. Leandro Barbosa added 21 points and Jared Dudley and Steve Nash each had 11… Monta Ellis scored 26 points and Corey Maggette added 21 for the Warriors, who had won their last two at home. Kelenna Azubuike scored 18 and Jamal Crawford had 17 as Golden State was officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Month: March 2009
Wizards keep Kings in NBA cellar with 106-104 win
The AP reports: “We didn’t do things right,” said Wizards forward Antawn Jamison, who scored 30 points. “But the most important thing is that we got a win, and I’ll take an ugly win over a pretty loss.” … Andray Blatche added 16 points, and Darius Songaila 15 for the Wizards. Washington played without Caron Butler, who has a tight left hamstring and will have an MRI exam Monday. Kevin Martin scored 24 points, and Spencer Hawes had 20 to lead the Kings, who were missing Bobby Jackson (broken left cheekbone) but welcomed back Beno Udrih (out six games with a sprained right foot).
Mo Williams scores 23, Cavs beat Knicks 98-93
The AP reports: Mo Williams scored 23 points, making all five of his 3-pointers, and James added 19 as the Cavaliers opened a crucial stretch of home games by beating the New York Knicks 98-93 on Sunday night… LeBron James, who came in with three triple-doubles in his last four games, flirted with another one but finished with 10 assists and eight rebounds. Al Harrington made five 3-pointers and scored 26 points for New York, which had its three-game winning streak stopped.The 5-foot-9 Robinson, the league’s dunk champion who James called a “physical freak” before the game, had 20. Lee had 14 rebounds.
Howard’s 28, 20 lead Magic over weary Jazz
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had 28 points and 20 rebounds, leading the Orlando Magic to their third straight victory, 105-87 victory over the weary Jazz on Sunday night… Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, coming off a triple-overtime loss in Miami a day earlier. The Magic got 16 points from point guard Rafer Alston and 14 from backup point guard Anthony Johnson… Utah point guard Deron Williams, who finished with 11 points and nine assists, left the game in obvious pain with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter after banging knees with Howard. He returned in the second half but struggled to spark the Jazz.
Bryant, balanced Lakers beat Mavericks 107-100
The AP reports: Bryant scored 28 points and led a late 12-0 run that put Los Angeles back in control, but Trevor Ariza, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom all had a big hand in Sunday’s 107-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Ariza scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Gasol made his first 10 shots, finished 12-of-13 and scored 25. Odom had 10 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots… Jason Kidd, who had nine points, nine assists and seven rebounds, said, “Kobe picked his spots when they had to have a basket.” Dirk Nowitzki added 20 for the Mavericks, but missed 14 of his 20 shots. James Singleton had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Conley, Milicic lead Grizzlies over Pistons 89-84
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.
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.