February 2010 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Stephen Curry explodes for 36-point triple-double

The AP reports:

Taking over the offense with leading scorer Monta Ellis sidelined with a knee injury, Curry recorded his first triple-double with a career-high 36 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as Golden State beat the Los Angeles Clippers 132-102 to snap season-high nine-game losing streak Wednesday night…

Curry had to wait until the very end of the game to notch his 10th rebound, grabbing Al Thornton’s missed 16-foot jump shot just before the final buzzer…

Anthony Tolliver added a career-high 29 points and Anthony Morrow had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State, which led by as much as 38 while playing without Ellis.

Eric Gordon and Rasual Butler had 16 points apiece for the Clippers, who remained winless in three games since interim coach Kim Hughes replaced Mike Dunleavy.

Warriors now want injured players at games

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Warriors are expected to do some serious soul-searching during the All-Star break, and team management has already decided to initiate one noticeable change when things tip off again next week.

Injured players will be expected to be in the arena cheering for their teammates on game nights, coach Don Nelson said.

“It’s a team policy that we just changed,” Nelson said during a question-and-answer session with listeners on the “Warriors Weekly” radio show. “Unless it’s a serious injury that calls them to be off of their legs, I think they should be at the games and should want to be at games.”

Dirk Nowitzki set to play in front of massive All-Star crowd

Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

“I always said the first time that I made [the all-star team], it was going to be my most special all-star memory,” Dirk Nowitzki said Wednesday at the Dallas Convention Center. “But this one is probably right up there with my first one, just because it’s in my home, I’ve got plenty of people coming, and obviously it’s the biggest venue.

“I’ve never played in front of 90,000-100,000 people. So just being a part of history, and plus in my new hometown, it’s going to be a little crazy and a busy weekend, but I’m going to enjoy it.”

The All-Star Game will be played Sunday at 7 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, and officials are expecting a record crowd of more than 90,000.

Nowitzki kicked off his busy five-day, all-star festivities with the unveiling of his 7-foot, life-size bobble head at the NBA Jam Session. The nine-time all-star was impressed with the craftsmanship of the bobble head, although he couldn’t help but joke about a couple of things.

“I don’t think my head is that big,” Nowitzki said, laughing. “I don’t think I ever [had] that size hair, but they did a pretty good job for a 7-foot bobble head.

Mark Cuban wants to buy into Dallas Stars

Mark Cuban is one of InsideHoops.com’s favorite NBA owners. Probably the top guy on our list. And he’s done a great job with the Dallas Mavericks.

Cuban has had interest in expanding ownership in other sports, and has continued exploring that path.

Eddie Sefko of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Wednesday he has initiated talks to buy a stake in the Dallas Stars, potentially joining an as-yet unidentified group of investors that is looking into purchasing the NHL club from Tom Hicks.

Cuban has been hesitant to take minority ownership in any sports franchise, but taking part in any portion of the Stars’ new ownership is one venture that interests him.

Sounds like this has a legit shot at happening.

Danilo Gallinari has sore right forearm

New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a sore right forearm Tuesday night as the team hosted the Sacramento Kings.

NBA All-Star weekend is February 12-14 in Dallas, Texas, and Gallinari is one of the NBA three-point shootout participants. The event takes place Saturday night.

After the game, there was good news. Speaking to InsideHoops.com and other reporters, Gallinari said he will be fine in a few days and made it clear there is no chance whatsoever that he’d miss the Shootout.

Monta Ellis sprains left knee

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, who suffered a sprained left knee with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter of last night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, underwent an MRI exam earlier today in Palo Alto. The MRI confirmed the injury as a mild left knee sprain. Ellis will be evaluated again on Wednesday and his status for tomorrow night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers will be determined at that point.

This season, Ellis is averaging 26.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.19 steals per game, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three-point range.

The 13-37 Warriors are currently the 14th seed out of 15 teams in the Western conference.

Magic to honor Darrell Armstrong Feb. 19

As part of the Orlando Magic’s “Commitment to the Past,” fan-favorite guard Darrell Armstrong will be honored by the organization when the Magic host Dallas on Friday, Feb. 19 at Amway Arena. Game time is 8 p.m.

Undrafted by any NBA franchise, Armstrong was originally signed as a free agent by Orlando on Apr. 8, 1995. He went on to play 502 regular season games during nine seasons with the Magic, averaging 11.7 ppg., 5.1 apg. and 1.65 stlpg.

Armstrong ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in almost every single category, including games played (3rd, 502), points (8th, 5,898), assists (3rd, 2,555), steals (2nd, 830), three-point field goals made (3rd, 654) and three-point field goals attempted (3rd, 1,892).

From Feb. 5, 1999 to Apr. 3, 2001, Armstrong played in 206 consecutive games, at the time a franchise record (Dwight Howard later appeared in 351 straight games from Nov. 3, 2004 to Dec. 12, 2008). He still holds the team record for most consecutive free throws made without a miss with 47.

Past honorees of the Orlando Magic’s “Commitment to the Past” include Nick Anderson, Matt Guokas, Dennis Scott, Scott Skiles, Jeff Turner and Pat Williams.

Reggie Evans not a suit guy

Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star writes:

Reggie Evans, the Raptors’ designated banger, is expected to make his regular season debut on Wednesday, and what kind of shape is he in?

If you’ve watched him in his only regular-season turn as a Raptor – as a sometimes-manic bench presence – it’s been difficult to say. Evans’ courtside wardrobe has mostly consisted of two blazers that run a couple of sizes baggier than Bryan Colangelo’s tailor might advise. They’re Polo brand, one blue, the other beige, both 100 per cent linen. And yes, he has heard the teasing from teammates and Twitterers alike. Linen in winter?

“Hey, I ain’t here to make a fashion statement. Those are my jackets, so I roll with ’em. They save me money. I don’t get fined (for violating the NBA’s jacket-required dress code),” Evans said. “I don’t like suits. … I don’t have one suit, period. I’m not a suit type of guy.”

A well-cut suit, mind you, might have made it a little easier to judge if Evans’s long-time inability to do weight-bearing exercise had a weight-gaining downside. Club employees, though, will happily tell you there are no new wrinkles beneath his baggy wrinkles. Evans was 265 pounds on the day he damaged the ligaments in his left foot in a pre-season game. And when he takes the floor on Wednesday, he’ll be 265 pounds. He’ll have even shaved a few percentage points off his body-fat content.

Sixers go 3-0 against winning teams without Iverson

Tom Moore of The Intelligencer reports:

The 19-31 Sixers have won three in a row – all against teams with a .500 or better record at the time – with Allen Iverson absent and Willie Green starting in his place.

The 6-foot-3 Green and 6-4 rookie Jrue Holiday have given the Sixers better size and matchups in the backcourt than when the 6-1 Lou Williams and 5-11 Iverson started. They’ve also cut down on opponents’ dribble penetration, allowing teammates to stay on their man rather than having to rotate over to help on the ball.

Green has also scored in double figures all three times, averaging 11.3 points on 15-for-25 shooting (60 percent) from the field.

“It’s a comfort area for him,” Jordan said. “It doesn’t bother him to start. He’s aggressive. He’s playing with other front-line guys on our team, so it’s a little easier for him.”

Vince Carter scores 48

The AP reports:

Vince Carter had a season-high 48 points, leading the Orlando Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Hornets 123-117 on Monday night.

Carter was 19 for 27 shooting and had 34 points in the second half with some of the most sizzling moves since he joined the Magic, who have won nine of their last 11 games.

Dwight Howard added 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis finished with 18 points for Orlando…

It was by far Carter’s best performance since he was traded from New Jersey in the offseason, finishing three shy of his career high. The eight-time All-Star expected to be Orlando’s missing piece to a title was back in peak form, and the Magic can only hope he stays there.