Month: March 2009

Yao leads Rockets to easy win over Clippers

The AP reports: The Houston Rockets had three days of practice before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and that turned out to be little more than a glorified scrimmage. Yao Ming had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and the Rockets led from start to finish in an easy 110-93 victory Saturday night. Aaron Brooks added 21 points, Shane Battier scored 15 and the Rockets stayed in third place in the Western Conference by beating the Clippers for the 20th time in the last 24 meetings… Eric Gordon scored 17 and Chris Kaman had 16 points for the Clippers, who played without Baron Davis (calf strain/ulcers) and leading rebounder Marcus Camby (sprained left ankle). Los Angeles has lost 11 of its last 12 road games.

Wade gets 27, Heat run out to big lead, beat Bucks

The AP reports: At this point, milestones mean little to Udonis Haslem. He’s too busy getting his game in postseason form. Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, Haslem had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his 100th career double-double, and the Miami Heat improved their stance in the Eastern Conference playoff chase by beating the reeling Milwaukee Bucks 102-85 on Saturday night. James Jones and Michael Beasley each scored 11 and Jermaine O’Neal added 10 for the Heat, who snapped a two-game losing streak… Richard Jefferson scored 32 and Dan Gadzuric had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which lost its fifth straight. The Bucks’ bench was outscored 26-0 in the first half, 37-14 in the game, and no Milwaukee reserve scored until Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s free throws with 5.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

Wallace dominates, Bobcats beat Knicks 96-85

The AP reports: Gerald Wallace nearly had his first triple-double, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds and eight assists in an efficient performance that helped the Bobcats match a modest franchise record for victories to stay 2 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference… D.J. Augustin added 19 points and Emeka Okafor had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Bobcats, who rode Wallace to their second straight win after ugly losses to Washington and Indiana… Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington scored 18 points apiece for the Knicks, who lost for the seventh time in eight games to see their faint playoff hopes nearly extinguished. The Knicks played without Quentin Richardson, who sprained his left ankle a night earlier and was replaced in the starting lineup by Larry Hughes. They also got little from center Eddy Curry in his return.

Good Arenas game, but Pistons beat Wizards 98-96

The AP reports: Gilbert Arenas finished with 15 points on 3-for-12 shooting and 10 assists in 30 minutes, helping the Wizards rally from a 15-point, second-half deficit. After the two failed comebacks, he had been determined to make sure he was completely healthy before trying again, especially with Washington mired in last place in the East… Richard Hamilton, back after missing six games with a left groin injury, scored 16 of his 31 points in the third quarter for the Pistons, who broke a three-game losing streak and steered their tenuous playoff hopes—at least temporarily—back in the right direction… Antawn Jamison scored 21 points to lead the Wizards. … Butler returned after missing seven straight games with a sore left hamstring.

Salmons lifts Bulls over Pacers, 112-106

The AP reports: John Salmons scored 22 points and hit two late 3-pointers, and the Chicago Bulls pulled out a wild 112-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday for their fourth straight win… Ben Gordon added 25 points as the Bulls matched their longest win streak in two years with a victory that featured some dramatic swings… Danny Granger scored 32 and Brandon Rush added a career-high 29, but the Pacers suffered their sixth loss in eight games… The Bulls didn’t have to contend with Troy Murphy, who missed his second game because of a sprained ligament in his left knee. They did, however, have to deal with Rush and Granger.

Bulls player of month is John Salmons

John Salmons has been named the Bulls CDW/Blackberry Player of the Month for March.  Salmons joined the Bulls on Feb. 18, in Chicago’s six-player deal with the Sacramento Kings.

In 13 March contests, Salmons (6-6, 207 pounds) has started every game (the Bulls are 8-5) and he has averaged a team-best 22.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg (fourth on the team) and 1.5 apg in a team-high 41.2 mpg.  He has shot a team-best .500 from the field, .400 from downtown (24-60 3FG) and .873 from the line (second on the team).  During March, he has led the team in scoring five times, and he has scored 20 or more points eight times, including two games with 30 or more points, highlighted by a Bulls player season-high, and career-high tying, 38 points against Boston on March 17.

On the year, Salmons currently ranks second on the Bulls in scoring with 18.8 ppg (24th in the NBA), and averages 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.01 spg and 37.6 mpg (20th).  He is shooting .480 from the field (44th), .837 from the line (36th) and .417 from downtown (23rd).

Mike James done for season

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Mike James suffered a fracture of the right fifth proximal phalanx (right pinky finger) and will miss the remainder of the season.  He sustained the injury during yesterday’s practice.

James had averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 assists in 53 games (50 starts) for the Wizards this season.  He was acquired along with guard Javaris Crittenton in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets on Dec. 9.

The Washington Post (Michael Lee) reports (via blog): James even put aside any doubt the severity of the injury when pulled out his iPhone and showed his X-ray. James said he was chasing down a loose ball when he and Caron Butler slapped at the ball at the same time. He said that he knew immediately that he was done. “I felt it,” James said. “I knew as soon as I grabbed the ball, I couldn’t feel the ball and that side of the hand was hurting.”

Grizzlies snap 20-game skid in Sacramento

The AP reports: The last time the Grizzlies won in Sacramento, the franchise was in Canada and current Kings assistant coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim was in his second NBA season. Marc Gasol scored 27 points and Memphis won in Sacramento for the first time in 11 years, defeating the Kings 113-95 on Friday night. Rudy Gay had 23 points and nine rebounds and Mike Conley had 20 points and six rebounds for the Grizzlies, who snapped a 20-game losing streak at Arco Arena. “I’ve heard it (the losing streak) said a couple of times, but that wasn’t our motivation,” said Conley, who added five assists and two steals. “This was a game everyone looked forward to playing. They beat us the last time (in Memphis) with only eight players. That was a slap in the face to us.”

Spurs roll over Clippers to win 3rd straight

The AP reports: The Big Three were back together for a blowout. Yep, the San Antonio Spurs were glad to finally see one of these again. Reuniting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the first time since the All-Star break, the Spurs celebrated with an easy 111-98 romp over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. It also was San Antonio’s most comfortable win in weeks. Parker had 18 and Ginobili had 14 before they and Duncan, who had 13, kicked back for most of the fourth quarter. They watched the Spurs win their third straight before, and now start the final 10 games finally healthy with a slim lead for the No. 2 seed in the West.