April 2012 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Nets keep Armon Johnson for rest of season

The New Jersey Nets have signed guard Armon Johnson for the remainder of the season, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Johnson, who signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on April 9, has played in five games, averaging 4.4 points in nine minutes per game. The 6-3 Nevada product has scored a season-high six points three times, most recently vs. New York on 4/18.

Prior to joining the Nets, Johnson started the 2011-12 season with Portland appearing in one contest before being assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the D-League. In six games with the Stampede, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 27 minutes. He was recalled on January 15 before being waived by Portland on February 27.

Hornets forward Carl Landry faces uncertain future with team

With an expiring contract and no guarantee from the Hornets on a possible extension, forward Carl Landry may have played his final home game Thursday night at the New Orleans Arena.

With two picks already assured to be among the top 14 in June’s NBA draft, it’s not certain what direction the Hornets may go with their rebuilding plans now that Tom Benson owns the franchise.

But Coach Monty Williams indicated Thursday night that changes are likely ahead for their roster.

“It could be some surprises, and I’ll just leave it at that,’’ Williams said. “We’ve been evaluating older guys, even when they’re not on the floor.’’

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Greg Stiemsma hopes to stick with Celtics

Greg Stiemsma is in the midst of a breakout rookie year with the Boston Celtics. Next season, he would like to continue that success in green and white.

Stiemsma will be a restricted free agent this summer with a qualifying offer worth $1.05 million. After traveling through Europe and the NBA Development League for years, the 26-year-old center would like to return next season to the team that gave him his first shot in the NBA.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Stiemsma told CSNNE.com. “Next year’s going to kind of take care of itself, I’m hoping, so I’m not getting too worried about it yet. But at the same time, with everything that I’ve learned from these guys and this organization, I’d love to come back.”

— Reported by Jessica Camerato of CSNNE

Celtics waive Jermaine O`Neal and sign Sean Williams

Out with the very old, in with something new.

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed center/forward Sean Williams.

To make room on the roster for Williams, the Celtics requested waivers on center Jermaine O’Neal.

Williams, a 6’10″ center/forward, appeared in eight games for the Dallas Mavericks this season averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The product of Boston College also appeared in 27 games for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League this season averaging 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. Williams was originally drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and has posted career averages of 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 134 career games split between New Jersey and Dallas. Williams was named to the NBA’s 2008 Rookie/Sophomore game and recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. He recorded his best statistical season as a rookie with the Nets when he averaged 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.45 blocks per game.

Dwight Howard to have back surgery

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery Friday morning in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disk, effectively ending his season and eliminating him from participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics, Howard’s agent said Thursday night.

Howard has been complaining of back problems since early March, but it wasn’t until Los Angeles-based spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins examined him last week that the herniated disk was discovered.

Howard received an epidural to alleviate the pain at that time and the plan was that he’d rest and rehabilitate his back for 10-14 days before deciding if he could return to play or further treatment might be necessary.

But his back has worsened and both Watkins and the Magic’s medical staff determined that surgery is necessary.

— Reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN the Magazine

Wilson Chandler is done for the season

Wilson Chandler’s season started late and is finishing early.

The Denver Nuggets’ versatile forward needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip and is done for the season.

Chandler arrived in Denver last February as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout and rejoined the Nuggets a month ago, signing a five-year deal worth nearly $37 million.

The 24-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight games, including six starts but spent more time on the sideline than on the court after hurting his hip.

— Reported by the Associated Press

James Harden drops 40 on the Suns

James Harden scored a career-high 40 points, including making 5 of 8 3-pointers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dealt Phoenix a blow in its scramble to make the playoffs with a 109-97 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant added 29 points and Russell Westbrook 15 for the Thunder, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

Phoenix’s loss, coupled with Utah’s’ victory over Portland, moved the Jazz a half-game ahead of the Suns for the West’s eighth and final playoff spot.

Jared Dudley scored 21 points for Phoenix.

Harden, who starred at nearby Arizona State, made 12 of 17 shots overall and was 11 of 11 from the free throw line. The Thunder’s superb, bearded reserve played 33 minutes. His previous high was 33 against Charlotte on March 10.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Stephen Curry may not play again this season

After trying so hard to get back in the court, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry sounded as if he’d embraced the truth his season is over.

“You can ask our trainers and all that,” Curry said, “(about) me fighting them every day about how fast I need to get back to a certain level and how fast I need to be getting back on the court. And them keeping me patient. … Once we came to the conclusion we only had a week left and I wasn’t going to be able to play, I guess the decision was pretty much made for me.”

Curry is going to miss 40 games this season of that ankle. He sprained the ankle five times (at Sacramento on Dec. 20, vs. Chicago on Dec. 26, atPhoenixon February 22, and vs.Dallason March 19) this season. Last season, he missed a total of eight games thanks to four ankle sprains.

Like most Warriors fans, Curry’s sights are now set for next year. He now that he’s done for the year, everything will slow down. He said in about a month his ankle should be healed.

— Reported by Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times Blog

Pierce leads Celtics to win over Magic

Paul Pierce had 29 points and a career-high 14 assists and the Boston Celtics clinched at least a tie for the Atlantic Division title as they held off a late charge by the Orlando Magic for a 102-98 win Wednesday night.

Boston (37-26) has a 3 1-2-game lead over New York (33-29). The Celtics have three games left and the Knicks, who beat the New Jersey Nets 104-95, have four.

Division winners are guaranteed to be seeded no worse than fourth in the conference and wouldn’t have to face Chicago or Miami in the first round…

The Celtics played without their starting backcourt. Point guard Rajon Rondo, who has at least 10 assists in each of his last 23 games, had a sore lower back after landing hard on it in Tuesday night’s 118-110 loss at New York. Ray Allen missed his sixth straight game with a right ankle injury.

Avery Bradley started for Rondo and finished with 23 points. Bass added 21.

Davis, starting in place of Dwight Howard, led Orlando with 27 points. Nelson had 19 points and nine assists. Howard missed his sixth consecutive game because of a herniated disc.

— Reported by Howard Ulman of the Associated Press

Melo leads Knicks in final game in New Jersey

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 of his 33 points in the first quarter, and the New York Knicks beat the Nets 104-95 on Wednesday night in their last trip to New Jersey.

Continuing his torrid stretch without Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin, Anthony hit his first six shots in front of the usual pro-New York crowd that will become an all-New York crowd next season, when the Nets move to Brooklyn.

The Nets once hoped to have Anthony in the lineup when they got there and he is showing why lately, surpassing 30 points for the third straight game and the sixth time in nine games this month. He shot 11 of 21, going 5 of 7 on 3-pointers, and finished slightly ahead of the NBA-best 32.1 points he was averaging in April.

Tyson Chandler added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who won for the 15th time in 20 games under interim coach Mike Woodson and remained in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

— Reported by the Associated Press