January 2013 – Page 17 – NBA Blog

Wilson Chandler lifts Nuggets over Blazers in overtime

Wilson Chandler admitted feeling a bit winded and tired in his second game back from hip problems that had sidelined him for two months. Not enough to bother his shooting touch, though.

Chandler hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining in overtime, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 115-111 Tuesday night for their season-best sixth consecutive victory.

”The way the game was going for me, I was a little fatigued,” said Chandler, who had a labral tear in his left hip repaired last spring and then had to take time off in early November when pain resurfaced in the surgically-repaired hip.

”I had a little muscle fatigue, so I was kind of struggling throughout the game. So to come in and hit a shot like that is big,” Chandler said.

Danilo Gallinari added 25 points, including a key 3-pointer in the extra period. Ty Lawson had 24 points and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who are 2-0 in overtime this season…

Portland, which lost for the first time in six OT games this season, was led by LaMarcus Aldridge’s 28 points. Nicolas Batum had 22 points, J.J. Hickson 19 and Damian Lillard 16.

— Reported by Dennis Georgatos of the Associated Press

Hornets looking good, beat Sixers 111-99

The young New Orleans Hornets are growing up in the new year.

Greivis Vasquez scored 23 points, Eric Gordon added 19 and the Hornets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-99 on Tuesday night. After losing 13 of 16 in December, New Orleans has won five of eight in January.

Ryan Anderson had 14 points, Xavier Henry scored 11 and Anthony Davis 10 for the Hornets, who are still last in the Western Conference at 12-26 – including matching 6-13 records at home and on the road.

”We’re getting healthy now, and we are becoming a team now,” said Vasquez, who added nine assists. ”We have guys who can just get out there and go. And I think our best weapon right now is our energy, because we’re so young.”

Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 29 points and 11 assists. Nick Young and Evan Turner added 14 points each while Thaddeus Young scored 12.

The Sixers have been inconsistent all season and this game was further proof following a resounding 107-100 victory Saturday over Houston. Philadelphia still hasn’t won consecutive games since a three-game streak from Nov. 25-30.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Dwight Howard shines in Lakers win over Bucks

Kobe Bryant played relentless defense, spurring his fellow Los Angeles Lakers to do the same. Dwight Howard dominated the paint, scoring easy baskets and blocking shots against the bewildered Bucks.

Over the last two games, the Lakers have resembled the powerhouse everybody envisioned before their tumultuous season began.

They’re about to find out whether they got it together in time to compete with the Miami Heat.

Howard had 31 points and 16 rebounds, Bryant also scored 31 points and the Lakers beat Milwaukee 104-88 Tuesday night for their second straight win after a six-game skid.

Metta World Peace added 12 points as the Lakers prepared for Thursday’s visit from the NBA champion Heat with an impressive effort featuring 30-point games for both Bryant and Howard for the second time in their brief tenure together. After a similar effort against Cleveland two days earlier, the Lakers are cautiously optimistic they’ve solved a few problems.

”It’s been great,” Howard said. ”When we play the way we played these last two games, I don’t see anybody beating us. The problem is we have to do it on a consistent basis and not have any lapses during the game. We’re learning, but stuff like that takes time. The biggest thing, we’ve just got to stick together. We can’t let nothing on the outside tear us apart.” …

Monta Ellis scored 17 points for the Bucks, who lost for the second time in five games under interim coach Jim Boylan. Brandon Jennings was held to 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting by Bryant, and Milwaukee’s young star emerged from Staples Center with newfound respect for the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history.

— Reported by Greg Beachman of the Associated Press

Indiana Pacers re-assign Miles Plumlee to D-League again

The Indiana Pacers today re-assigned Miles Plumlee to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Indiana’s NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 104th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, while Plumlee is one of the record 50 players who have been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Plumlee (6-11, 255, Duke) re-joins the Mad Ants following five previous assignments when he played in seven games and averaged 13.9 points, 10.9 rebounds and 32.1 minutes. He has appeared in six games for the Pacers this season, averaging 1.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.7 minutes.

Selected 26th overall by the Pacers in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, Plumlee was a four-year member of the Blue Devils, where he won an NCAA Championship in 2010.

Plumlee is expected to be in available tonight when the team travels to face the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Atlanta Hawks suspend Josh Smith for one game

Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry today announced that the team has suspended forward Josh Smith for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for conduct detrimental to the team.

Smith, currently in his ninth season with the Hawks, is averaging team highs in scoring (16.5 points) and blocked shots (2.3) while adding 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.8 minutes per game in 35 games (all starts).

“Josh and I discussed the issue and he understood and accepted this course of action. We are confident that he will respond positively, learn from this experience and come back with a renewed sense of purpose to the team moving forward,” Ferry said.

The 6-foot-9 forward will serve his suspension tonight against the Brooklyn Nets.

Statement from Josh Smith on his suspension

“Clearly I am competitive and was frustrated by our recent losses. I understand and respect the team’s actions and just want to get back on the court to do whatever is necessary to help my teammates. I apologize for letting them down and apologize to our fans for not being available for tonight’s game.”

Patrick Patterson returns to Rockets starting lineup

With the Rockets bringing a three-game losing streak into Tuesday’s game against the Clipper, forward Patrick Patterson returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 14, his last game before missing seven with a bruised right foot.

He moved back in as a starter in time for a stretch of games against Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki and David West, and was happy with the assignment.

“I’m happy and excited to finally get my starting spot back,” Patterson said. “I’ve been wanting it since I first came back, but we were in a groove with Marcus in the starting lineup. Coach said he would put me back in the starting lineup so I’m definitely happy. Of course I feel better than coming off the bench, but as long as I’m playing I’m happy overall.”

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle Blog

Kevin Love undergoes hand surgery, out 8-10 weeks

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that Kevin Love underwent successful surgery this morning to repair the third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carson at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He injured his hand during the third quarter of the Jan. 3 game at Denver.

Love is expected to be sidelined for 8-10 weeks.

For the season, Love has played in 18 games and leads the Wolves in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounds (14.0 rpg) and double-doubles (14).

Doc Rivers vs son Austin on Wednesday

After being selected out of Duke by the New Orleans Hornets with the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, Austin Rivers has yet to play an NBA game in front of his father.

But Wednesday night, when the Celtics host the Hornets, Doc will finally see his son in action.

Asked if he were looking forward to it, Doc said, “I’m actually not. I don’t even know what I’m looking forward to. It’s not like he’s playing a ton anyway. You never know. But as far as him and being on the floor, that’s a different feeling I still don’t know how to feel about it.”

In 36 games this season, Austin, a guard, has averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 turnovers in about 25 minutes of playing time. But he has played less than five minutes in each of the last two games. He hasn’t scored a point in four straight.

“He’s just up and down,” Doc said.

— Reported by the Boston Globe Blog

Sacramento mayor to present counteroffer to keep Kings in town

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is taking his fight to keep the Kings in California’s capital city to NBA owners.

Again.

Speaking at the annual State of Downtown breakfast on Tuesday, Johnson said he has received approval from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present a counteroffer to the league from buyers who would keep the team in Sacramento. He said the city is in a ”six-week sprint” to put together a proposal for the NBA’s Board of Governors to consider over a potential sale and relocation to Seattle.

The league’s deadline for teams to apply for a move for the next season is March 1, though that has been extended each of the last two years for the Kings. And both times, Johnson – a former NBA All-Star – has convinced the league that Sacramento could help fix the franchise’s financial woes and secure its long-term home in a new arena.

”We want this to be the final act of a saga that’s gone on for far too long,” Johnson said.

People with knowledge of the situation said last week that a group led by San Francisco-based investor Chris Hansen, who wants to return the NBA to Seattle, has contacted the Maloof family about buying the Kings. They spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no deal has been reached.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Thibodeau sees smooth transition for Derrick Rose upon eventual return

Though Derrick Rose still hasn’t been cleared for full contact practice, his eventual return from left knee surgery continues to occasionally dominant Tom Thibodeau’s news conferences.

Rose, who again will travel with the Bulls on their two-game trip to Toronto and Boston, is as competitive as they come. But Thibodeau sees no issue between Rose and the Bulls’ management and medical staff as the plan for his return is formulated.

“We’re not worried about that,” Thibodeau said. “There’s been constant communication with Derrick and the doctors. It’s not going to be a problem.”

Thibodeau got asked this latest dynamic in light of Michael Jordan’s well-publicized frustration with management when he wanted to return earlier from a broken bone in his foot during his second season.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune