The AP reports: Brandon Roy figured his shots had to start falling eventually—and they did. He wound up with 31 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the New Jersey Nets 109-100 on Friday night… Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer to make it 101-96 with 29 seconds left and seal it. The rookie from France had a career-high 20 points. LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Devin Harris scored 27 points for the New Jersey, which has lost five of seven. The Nets were coming off a 116-112 loss at Golden State which denied them a chance to move into playoff position.
Month: March 2009
Paul scores 30 as Hornets beat Bucks 95-86
The AP reports: Chris Paul skidded through a slick spot and hit the deck hard early in the third quarter. He stayed down for a few seconds, worried he might have hurt his ribs. Fortunately—for New Orleans, anyway—Paul was wearing a pad that absorbed most of the impact. So he got back up to score 22 of his 30 points the rest of the way as the Hornets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-86 on Friday night… David West scored 21 and Rasual Butler hit a pair of key 3-pointers down the stretch for the Hornets, who have won nine of their last 10 games… Richard Jefferson scored 27 for Milwaukee, which has lost five of its last six.
Knicks win third in row on road, 102-94 vs. Wolves
The AP reports: Nate Robinson fought through a stomach virus—he was throwing up on the bench— to finish with 25 points, and Wilson Chandler scored 24 points to spark the Knicks to their third straight win. “Definitely still have a long way to go, but we’re definitely headed in the right direction,” said Larry Hughes, who had 12 points… Ryan Gomes tied his season high with 28 points and Sebastian Telfair added 22 for Minnesota, which fell to 2-13 without Al Jefferson after turning the ball over 19 times.
Celtics bounce back with 102-92 win over Memphis
The AP reports: Leon Powe scored a career-high 30 points with 11 rebounds, and Ray Allen added 22 points on Friday night to help the Boston Celtics snap a two-game losing streak and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 102-92… “Since he’s been put in a starting role, he’s been really playing well for us,” said Celtics swingman Paul Pierce, who scored 17… Rudy Gay scored 26, O.J. Mayo had 21 and Marc Gasol had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost four consecutive games as they struggle to stay out of the Western Conference cellar… Stephon Marbury had his best game since joining the Celtics, scoring nine points with five assists.
Johnson scores 30 as Hawks beat Pacers 101-87
The AP reports: Joe Johnson scored 30 points for the third straight game, and Al Horford finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds in the Hawks’ fourth straight victory, 101-87 over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Improving to 24-7 at home, Atlanta increased its lead over fifth-place Miami to two games in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks’ 38 wins are one more than their total from last season, when they advanced to the playoffs for the first time in nine years… T.J. Ford, who scored Indiana’s last 14 points, finished with 29. Troy Murphy pulled down 14 rebounds—all defensive—for the Pacers, who have lost two straight and three of four.
Hamilton, Pistons beat Raptors 99-95 in overtime
The AP reports: Richard Hamilton had 24 points and a career-high 16 assists, Antonio McDyess added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 99-95 in overtime on Friday night. Detroit has won six of eight since Hamilton returned to the starting lineup in place of the injured Allen Iverson, and the change has the Pistons feeling like they’ve gone back in time… Rodney Stuckey scored 17 points and Jason Maxiell matched a season high with 16 for Detroit, which swept the season series from Toronto for the first time since 1997-98. The Pistons have won 14 of their past 17 against the Raptors. Chris Bosh had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jose Calderon added 20 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Raptors lost their seventh straight, matching a season-high.
Howard’s strong game gets Magic past pesky Wizards
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had 18 points, 13 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and five blocks in Orlando’s 112-103 victory over the worst-in-the East Washington Wizards on Friday night, and he also collected his 13th tech this season… Indeed, Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 36 points for the Wizards, and second-year guard Nick Young added 20… As if the Wizards didn’t already have enough problems—what with Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson sidelined by injuries—two-time All-Star Caron Butler sat out the second half with a tight hamstring. And reserve forward Andray Blatche left in the second half with a bum ankle.
Yao, Artest help Rockets beat Bobcats 91-86
The AP reports: Ron Artest made the go-ahead jumper and had the key defensive play Friday night as the Rockets were able to celebrate the 7-foot-6 Yao’s rare long-range shot in a wild 91-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats… Yao had 23 points, Luis Scola added 15 and Artest scored 10 for the Rockets, who appeared to have the game in hand when Yao drilled a straightaway 3-pointer — the second of his career—with 2:12 left to put Houston ahead 83-77… Gerald Wallace scored 17 points and Raja Bell added 16 for the cold-shooting Bobcats, who have lost two straight following their team-record, six-game winning streak.
76ers close Spectrum with win over Bulls
The AP reports: Thaddeus Young wished he could have played a few more games at the Spectrum. He made the most of his one and only chance on the musty court. With Dr. J and former franchise greats in attendance, the 76ers brought down the house one last time before Philadelphia’s first arena goes away for good. Young scored a career-high 31 points and Andre Iguodala had 25 to spark Philadelphia to a 104-101 victory over Chicago on Friday night in the final NBA game at the 42-year-old Spectrum… Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 20 points. Andre Miller had 13 points and 13 assists, and Dalembert grabbed 19 rebounds for the Sixers.
Rockets sign James White to second 10-day contract
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard/forward James White to a second 10-day contract. He was signed to his original 10-day contract by the Rockets on Mar. 3. White joined Houston from the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA D-League, becoming the 12th GATORADE Call-Up of the season.
White (6-7, 200, Cincinnati), who has been on Houston’s inactive list since his Call-Up, was averaging 25.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.18 steals in 34 games (33 starts) for the Arsenal this season. At the time of his Call-Up, White was tied for first in the D-League in points per game and was ranked tied for 12th in the league in field goal percentage. White posted 30 or more points in 12 contests with the Arsenal in 2008-09, including a season-high 47-point performance against Houston’s D-League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers (1/20/09).
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