The AP reports: Carmelo Anthony was having his way with the Dallas Mavericks all night, scoring as easily on long jumpers as he was on drives to the basket. So how come, Dirk Nowitzki wondered, the Mavs didn’t smother him with the game on the line? Anthony squirted through traffic for a go-ahead layup with 12.2 seconds left, then added a free throw in the final seconds to cap a 43-point performance that lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 103-101 victory over the Jason Kidd-less Mavericks on Friday night. “We messed up,” Nowitzki said. “They set a little screen and he came off it. That can’t happen.”
Month: March 2009
Knicks knock off Hornets, end 6-game skid
The AP reports: Chris Paul got mixed up with Nate Robinson. James Posey threw the ball at a referee. The New Orleans Hornets showed plenty of emotion—just not until they’d shown too little while falling behind the New York Knicks. Al Harrington scored 23 points, David Lee added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the Knicks snapped a six-game losing streak Friday night with a 103-93 victory over the frustrated Hornets, who were hit with two technicals and an ejection in the fourth quarter. “I just think if we would have come out with that type of passion in the third quarter, then we would have won the game,” said Hornets coach Byron Scott, adding it was a “terrible” loss for a team in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race.
Davis has 19 points as Celtics beat Hawks 99-93
The AP reports: With Kevin Garnett watching, Glen Davis helped keep the Boston Celtics hustling and winning. Davis, who moved into the starting lineup as Garnett was held out with a sore knee, had 19 points and matched his career high with 12 rebounds to lead the Celtics past the Atlanta Hawks 99-93 on Friday night. Ray Allen led Boston with 22 points and Paul Pierce had 21, but Davis was the key while filling in for Garnett. Boston coach Doc Rivers said his team won with “mental toughness.”
Gasol scores 36 as Lakers clinch top seed in West
The AP reports: On a night that Kobe Bryant tossed up an air ball with his first shot, sprained his right ankle and finished 5-of-19 from the field, the Los Angeles Lakers still showed why they are the top playoff seed in the Western Conference. Bottom line—there’s more to the Lakers than Kobe. Pau Gasol had a season-high 36 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lakers (58-14) guaranteed the road to the Western Conference championship will run through downtown Los Angeles with a 103-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night. “It’s just one more step toward our goal,” said Gasol, who was 14 of 19 from the field and three assists shy of a triple-double. “Now we’re just looking to the next game. We still have three games left on the road trip.”
James, Williams lead Cavs to 11th straight win
The AP reports: LeBron James has taken plenty of hard hits in his career, but didn’t like the one he took from Minnesota’s Jason Collins on Friday night. “It was borderline dirty,” James said after scoring 25 points in Cleveland’s 107-85 victory, the Cavaliers’ 11th straight win. The play in question occurred in the third quarter when James broke through a double team at the top of the key and drove into the lane. As James was heading toward the basket, Collins struck him in the face with his upper arm. James went to the floor and Collins was charged with a flagrant foul. “That’s not part of the game,” James said. “Hard fouls are a part of the game. That was a little bit overboard.”
Magic beat Bucks to keep pace for East’s 2nd seed
The AP reports: The Orlando Magic are showing few signs of slowing down. Rashard Lewis scored 19 points, Hedo Turkoglu added 18 and the surging Magic beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110-94 on Friday night. Dwight Howard added 18 points and eight rebounds in another strong defensive effort for Orlando, which held Milwaukee to 39.1 percent shooting. The Magic (54-18) have won five straight and 12 of their last 14 to stay percentage points ahead of Boston for the Eastern Conference’s second seed. “We’re just trying to find that rhythm that you can stay in,” Magic point guard Rafer Alston said. “It’s all about finding that groove going into the playoffs.”
Bosh, Marion lead Raptors past Thunder
The AP reports: The Toronto Raptors put this one away early. Chris Bosh had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Shawn Marion added 20 points and 11 rebounds and the Raptors opened up a big lead in the first quarter before cruising to a 112-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. “Everybody was on the same page,” Marion said of Toronto’s 17-2 scoring surge. “We got stops when we needed to, everybody was stepping up and it just started clicking.” The Raptors, who led by as many as 25, avenged a 91-83 road loss to the 2-24 Thunder on Dec. 19. Bosh called it “a good win,” but said he wasn’t motivated by revenge.
Diaw’s 24 points lead Charlotte past Philly
The AP reports: Desperate to remain in playoff contention, Boris Diaw and the Charlotte Bobcats came up big against the Philadelphia 76ers. Diaw scored 24 points and Ray Felton added 20 points for the Bobcats, who won 100-95 on Friday night and moved within 2 1/2 games of idle Detroit for the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. “We did a tremendous job in the first half,” Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. “The rebounding and shooting is what kept is in it. We did a great job on the boards. Winning on the road, against a quality team, is a real good win for us.” The Sixers, who have been outrebounded by 10 in four of the last 21 games, were led by Andre Iguodala with 25 points.
Ralph Lawler talks to InsideHoops
Los Angeles Clippers TV broadcaster Ralph Lawler is a legend and one of the best in the business.
InsideHoops.com was with him the other day and had a great conversation.
Read our Ralph Lawler interview and share it with other Clippers fans.
Jermareo Davidson done for season
Golden State Warriors forward Jermareo Davidson underwent successful surgery today to repair a stress fracture in his left foot (fifth metatarsal), the team announced. The surgery was performed by Dr. John Belzer and Dr. Keith Donatto at the Presidio Surgery Center in San Francisco.
Davidson, 24, appeared in 14 games this season for Golden State, averaging 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per contest. He will be sidelined for the remainder of the season and the foot will be immobilized for approximately one month.