December 2012 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Mavericks recall Jared Cunningham from D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have recalled Jared Cunningham from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Cunningham (6-4, 194) was originally assigned to the D-League on Dec. 11 and played in 7 games (6 starts). During his stint with the Legends he averaged 18.1 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 37.0 minutes.

Before being assigned to the Legends, Cunningham saw action in 7 games for the Mavericks and holds averages of 2.3 points and 3.4 minutes per game.

Cunningham will travel with the Mavericks on their upcoming trip to Washington and Miami and will be available against the Wizards on Jan. 1.

Thunder recall Perry Jones, DeAndre Liggins, Daniel Orton from D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Perry Jones, guard DeAndre Liggins and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Jones has appeared in six games (all starts) with the 66ers this season, averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 31.5 minutes.

In six games (all starts) with the 66ers, Liggins is averaging 10.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks in 37.0 minutes per game.

Orton has seen action in 11 games (all starts) with Tulsa this season, averaging 10.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.9 blocks and 30.2 minutes.

Rick Carlisle getting heated during Mavs losing streak

With yet another embarrassing loss by 20-plus points Sunday night at American Airlines Center, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle finally vented his frustrations.

Carlisle was extremely upset and animated after the San Antonio Spurs strolled into the Mavs’ arena and put another whipping on Dallas, 111-86, in front of a sellout crowd of 19,928.

It was the ninth loss in 10 games for the Mavs, along with their sixth straight loss. It also was just the third time since Mark Cuban bought the Mavs on Jan. 4, 2000, that they’ve had a six-game losing streak.

And Carlisle — the coach during two of those six-game losing streaks — wasn’t pleased.

“In the last week, I had to literally scream in the face of two guys in practices and shootarounds to get the point across; and I will do that, and I will continue to do that,” Carlisle said. “If I have to start suspending guys for not doing things that they’re supposed to be doing on the court, I’ll do it.

“Mark and I will get into it about that.”

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Hornets assign forward Darius Miller to D-League

The New Orleans Hornets today assigned rookie forward Darius Miller to the Iowa Energy, the Hornets’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 85th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, while Miller becomes the record 46th NBA player to be assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Miller (6-8, 235, Kentucky) has appeared in 23 games for the Hornets this season, averaging 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 13.6 minutes. Originally selected in the second round (46th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Miller was named the 2012 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and set the Kentucky record for games played (152) during his four-year Wildcat career.

Miller is expected to join the Energy today and be available on Saturday, Jan. 5, when the team travels to face the Reno Bighorns at 10 p.m. ET.

Clippers win 17th in row, go 16-0 in December

After their 17th consecutive victory gave them a perfect month, the Los Angeles Clippers finally paused to admire their achievement.

”We got something extremely magical going on,” said Caron Butler after the Clippers beat the Utah Jazz 107-96 on Sunday night to become the third team in NBA history to record a perfect month.

The Clippers went 16-0 in December to join the 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs, which included Del Negro, and 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers as the only teams to go undefeated in a month. Their franchise-record winning streak is the longest since Boston won 19 in a row four years ago.

”I am amazed because I haven’t done it since I’ve been in the league,” said seven-year veteran Chris Paul, whose 19 points and nine assists helped his team maintain the league’s best record at 25-6.

Butler led the Clippers with 29 points despite not playing in the fourth quarter and made all six of his 3-pointers, including five in the opening period. Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin piled up five fouls and was held to seven points after getting double-teamed…

Al Jefferson scored 30 points – one off his season high – to lead Utah, which fell victim for the third time during the Clippers’ streak. The Jazz lost 116-114 on Friday when the Clippers rallied from 19 points down, and they were beaten 105-104 on Dec. 3, both times at home.

”It’s frustrating,” said Gordon Hayward, who had 16 points. ”Knowing that they’re a good team and knowing that we’re always right there with them, knowing that we need to keep on playing good for 48 minutes.”

— Reported by Beth Harris of the Associated Press

Isaiah Thomas leads Kings past Celtics 118-96

Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points and made one of Sacramento’s two four-point plays in the second half as the Kings handed the Boston Celtics their third straight lopsided loss on a California road swing, 118-96 on Sunday night.

John Salmons added 23 points off the bench, Jason Thompson scored 20 and DeMarcus Cousins had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double for the Kings, who ended the calendar year by winning their sixth home game out of the last seven.

The Celtics are going in the other direction after handily beating Brooklyn on Christmas Day. They followed that win with a trip to California to face the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State and Sacramento and got outscored by 69 points in losing all three.

The Kings were in control for most of this game and then pulled away with their long-range shooting in the fourth quarter. James Johnson and Jimmer Fredette made 3-pointers early in the fourth and then Salmons’ 3-pointer midway through the quarter gave the Kings a 100-84 lead…

Pierce scored 20 points to give him 23,189 in his career, passing Adrian Dantley for 23rd place all-time. Jason Terry also had 20 for Boston…

Sacramento G Aaron Brooks was sidelined by a sore left ankle.

— Reported by Josh Dubow of the Associated Press

Spurs send Mavs to sixth straight loss

Dirk Nowitzki grabbed a loose ball in the backcourt and started the fast break himself, pulling up for a 3-pointer just like the days before his first knee surgery.

The difference this time: The Dallas Mavericks star threw up an airball.

Nowitzki will need more time to work his way back from a surgery that cost him the first 27 games of the season. Even then, it may not be enough to keep up with the San Antonio Spurs and their Big Three.

Tony Parker had 21 points and nine assists, Manu Ginobili had several key baskets among his 20 points and the Spurs handed the Mavericks their sixth straight loss, 111-86 on Sunday night.

Two nights after his second 30-point game of the season, Tim Duncan had 10 in the second quarter before settling in for a more typical outing: 18 points and 10 rebounds for his 16th double-double to go with three blocks…

Nowitzki followed his first-half airball by missing three more in the second half before finally getting a basket on a driving layup. He finished with eight points on 3-of-9 shooting – and didn’t come close to trying another 3-pointer. He did have five rebounds and three blocked shots…

Darren Collison scored 18 points to lead the Mavericks, whose losing streak is their longest since January of their championship season in 2010-11…

O.J. Mayo, Dallas’ leading scorer, was held under 10 points for the third time in four games. He came in averaging 9 points on 33-percent shooting the previous four games and finished with eight on 4 of 14 shooting…

Mavericks F Vince Carter made his first start after coming off the bench the first 30 games.

— Reported by Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press

Balanced Pistons play results in win over Bucks

Tayshaun Prince made two free throws with 10.9 seconds left to give Detroit a 96-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night after the Pistons blew a 14-point lead.

Prince scored 20 points, and Greg Monroe added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which had five players in double figures. Charlie Villanueva and Brandon Knight added 11 points apiece, and Jason Maxiell scored 10 for the Pistons.

Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, and Erson Ilyasova scored 24 points for the Bucks.

Both teams were coming off wins over the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. Detroit beat Miami 109-99 in Auburn Hills on Friday night and the Bucks beat the Heat 104-85 in Milwaukee one night later…

Detroit G Rodney Stuckey didn’t play because of a left ankle sprain. … Sheila E. performed at halftime. … Mbah a Moute left early in the first quarter with a cut on his lip. He received three stitches and returned late in the quarter.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Bucks step up, hold Heat to 85 points

Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and Mike Dunleavy had 13 of his 18 in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 104-85 on Saturday night to spoil Dwyane Wade’s return.

Wade was back after serving a one-game suspension for flailing his leg and making contact with guard Ramon Sessions’ groin during the Heat’s 105-92 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday. Wade sat out Miami’s 109-99 loss to Detroit on Friday night, which snapped the Heat’s six-game winning streak.

Wade had 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, four assists, six rebounds and three turnovers. LeBron James added 25 points as Miami failed to reach 100 points for just the third time in 28 games.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 19 points for the Bucks, and Larry Sanders had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Monta Ellis added 14 points for Milwaukee as it avenged a 113-106 overtime loss to the Heat in Miami on Nov. 21.

Dunleavy also had nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in the fourth as the Bucks outscored Miami 35-14…

Bosh had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who came in averaging 103.4 points a game while the Bucks were at 95.6…

Miami F Udonis Haslem missed the game. He hurt his right shoulder early in the Detroit game when he landed hard after an acrobatic block on Kyle Singler Haslem stayed in the game and finished with seven points and two rebounds in 20:29. Shane Battier started in his place.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Thunder destroy Rockets by 30

Russell Westbrook scored 28 points and Kevin Durant added 26 as the Oklahoma City Thunder built a big lead in the second quarter and rolled to a 124-94 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

Durant scored 11 points during a 16-0 run by the Thunder to end the first half and extend the lead to 18. Oklahoma City had another big run early in the third quarter to put the game further out of reach.

Former Thunder sixth man James Harden scored 25 for the Rockets, who went cold on offense for long stretches.

It was Oklahoma City’s second win this season over Houston, after taking the first meeting 120-98.

Kevin Martin, who came to Oklahoma City in the trade for Harden, finished 19 points and five 3-pointers. Westbrook had eight rebounds and eight assists.

Marcus Morris scored a career-high 24 points for Houston…

Houston had cut its 18-point halftime deficit to 13 early in the third quarter before it hit another scoring drought, going more than 5 minutes without a field goal.

— Reported by Kristie Rieken of the Associated Press