January 2013 – Page 28 – NBA Blog

Dwight Howard to get MRI on shoulder

The Lakers training staff will have more work. After posting 19 points and tying a career-high 26 rebounds, Howard aggravated his right shoulder and will receive an MRI this morning. Howard remains optimistic he will be fine, but what about the team’s progress?

“It’s a tough stretch, but we have to stay together. We can’t point the finger at anybody,” Howard said. “It seems like everything is against us right now, but we have to keep our heads and stay together.”

Few have such patience.

A loud group of Lakers fans yelled out “We want Phil” a not-so-subtle suggestion they’d rather have Phil Jackson coach this current group. Clearly, they’re pinning the Lakers’ poor defense on D’Antoni, who has never had a good reputation in that department. Meanwhile, Gasol and Nash each picked up technicals.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News

Ben Gordon calls his time on Pistons a failure

Former Pistons guard Ben Gordon came to Detroit with images of grandeur in the summer of 2009, wanting to add to his growing resume as a bona fide scorer capable of adapting to any situation.

Of course, that didn’t happen, as the guard was unceremoniously shipped to the Charlotte Bobcats before last June’s draft for essentially cap space in the form of Corey Maggette’s expiring contract.

Gordon, 29, didn’t shy away from assessing his three years as a Piston, terming it “a failure.”

“Yeah, because when I came here, it was — is — a great, storied organization,” he said. “I had visions of going to the playoffs and things of that nature.

“We didn’t make it while I was here and that was disappointing to me. We had the talent, but for some reason we were never able to reach that goal of being one of the better teams in the East.”

— Reported by Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News

Celtics have looked into trading for DeMarcus Cousins

According to league sources, the Celtics have, indeed, inquired about Cousins, but that shouldn’t come as a great revelation in that they, like most every NBA club, are constantly checking the marketplace to see if a bargain can be had.

Word is, however, that the Kings are asking for a high draft pick and people who can help them now. So, forgetting the fact the Celts’ first-round pick will be middle of the road at best, would you want to part with a young starter (and more) for someone as uncertain as Cousins?

Considering the talent the Kings already have in the backcourt, it’s possible the Celtics can’t even muster something that would be attractive enough for Sacramento — at least not at this moment. And you’d have to question whether you’d give up even equal talent for this guy, his abilities notwithstanding. What we know right now is that the Kings aren’t inclined to hold a fire sale.

— Reported by Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald

Nuggets beat struggling Lakers 112-105

Ty Lawson had 21 points and 10 assists, Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points and hit a big 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left, and the Nuggets beat the struggling Lakers 112-105 Sunday night for their fifth win in seven games.

JaVale McGee scored 17 points for the Nuggets, who showed no signs of weariness after a home win over Utah one night earlier. Despite two last-minute 3-pointers by Kobe Bryant, Denver calmly maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter of its second win in 12 days over the star-studded Lakers, who aren’t exactly putting fear or fury into their opponents.

”They’re struggling,” Denver coach George Karl said. ”It’s a great win for us, but I’m not going to get overinflated.”

Staples Center was mostly silent while Los Angeles dropped to 15-18 with another mediocre performance featuring 18 turnovers, intermittent defense and little structured offense down the stretch. Bryant scored 29 points and Dwight Howard had 14 points and a career high-tying 26 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost three straight and four of five…

After the game, the Lakers said Howard aggravated his shoulder injury. He will have an MRI exam on Monday before the Lakers leave for a quick two-game trip to Texas, and Howard didn’t know whether he’ll play Tuesday at Houston…

Steve Nash had 10 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, while Pau Gasol had 11 points and five rebounds before leaving with a bloody nose with 1:05 to play in a collision with McGee.

Andre Iguodala had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets, and Miller finished with 12 points and 10 assists…

Lakers G Chris Duhon returned after missing the past two games with back spasms. F Jordan Hill also played with a sprained right ankle.

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

Zach Randolph leads Grizzlies over Suns

When Zach Randolph found his shooting stroke Sunday night, the Memphis Grizzlies took off.

Randolph scored 21 points and Rudy Gay added 20 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 92-81 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

”Zach got going in the post and so we had a few options to run with,” said Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. ”It was a solid win.”

Randolph had been dominant in the team’s first two meetings, averaging 16 rebounds and 28 points on 66.7 percent shooting. Though his numbers were slightly lower this time around – he had only eight rebounds, none on the offensive end – they were more than enough.

Randolph upped his shooting percentage against Phoenix, connecting on 9 of 11 shots from the field and was 3 of 5 on free throws. He also had a steal in 36 minutes…

Tony Allen scored 11 and Marc Gasol had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won three of their last five games.

P.J. Tucker scored a career-high 17 points and Marcin Gortat added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Suns…

Memphis became the first team in the series to win on the road since the Grizzlies won in Phoenix on December 8, 2010. … The Suns had one fast-break point. … Phoenix remained stuck on 1,999 franchise victories. … Memphis is 7-28 in Phoenix. … Suns guard Wesley Johnson played in the first half for just the seventh time in 35 games, scoring his six points on a pair of 3-pointers. … The Suns’ 38 first-half points were one more than the team’s season low.

— Reported by Jonathan Dalton of the Associated Press

Kemba Walker leads Bobcats past Pistons in OT

It’s not quite a winning streak, but after losing 18 straight, coming out on top in two out of three games is close enough.

Kemba Walker had 20 points and seven assists, Ben Gordon scored 18 points and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Detroit Pistons 108-101 in overtime Sunday night for just their second win in 21 games.

After snapping the long losing skid with a 91-81 victory at Chicago on Monday, Charlotte lost 106-104 to Cleveland at home on Friday night.

Ramon Sessions added 15 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 11, and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Bobcats…

Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points to lead Detroit, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Greg Monroe had 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and Rodney Stuckey also scored 18 points.

”They’re a team that when you score on them, they push it right back down your throat. They come at you 100 times faster than you went at them,” Pistons’ rookie center Andre Drummond said. ”That’s one of the teams that when you score, you miss a shot, you gotta get back quick or else they’re going to score on you.” …

Bobcats forward Hakim Warrick didn’t play because of flu-like symptoms and Charlotte forward/center Byron Mullens was out with a left ankle sprain. … Gordon is in his first season with Charlotte after spending the previous three with the Pistons. He averaged 12.5 points and 26.9 minutes in 52 games with Detroit last season.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Celtics waive Kris Joseph and Jarvis Varnado

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forwards Kris Joseph and Jarvis Varnado.

Joseph, a 6’7” forward, appeared in six games for the Celtics and averaged 1.2 points in 4.0 minutes per game. Varnado, a 6’9” forward, appeared in five games for the Celtics and averaged 1.2 points in 3.6 minutes per game

The Celtics roster now stands at 13.

Heat beat woeful Wizards by 28

LeBron James scored 24 points and the Miami Heat had a rebounding edge for a change Sunday to beat the woeful Washington Wizards 99-71.

The Heat, beaten on the boards by a total of 38 rebounds over the previous three games, this time enjoyed a 50-39 advantage. Udonis Haslem led them with 12 rebounds, and Chris Bosh had nine.

The game matched the teams with the best and worst records in the Eastern Conference, and in the late going it looked like it. Miami scored the game’s final 21 points and held Washington scoreless over the last 7:07.

James extended his streaks of scoring at least 20 points to 32 consecutive games this season, and 53 in a row including last year’s playoff run. He shot 9 for 17 and had seven assists.

The Heat were coming off only their third home loss of the season Friday against Chicago.

— Reported by Steven Wine of the Associated Press

Tristan Thompson thriving with Anderson Varejao out of lineup

In the nine games that Varejao has missed with a bruised right knee, Thompson has begun to blossom into a regular solid contributor for the Cavaliers at power forward. He’s averaging 13.2 points and 12.9 rebounds over those nine games, and Saturday against Houston he logged his career-high in rebounds when he snagged 16.

All are better than his season averages of 9.6 points and 9.0 rebounds that includes games in which Varejao has played.

And overall, he’s been more active, more steady for the Cavaliers.

“The way he’s playing right now, if Andy were healthy we’d be that much better,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said.

— Reported by Jodie Valade of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Mavericks waive Chris Douglas-Roberts

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have requested waivers on guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. He was signed as a free agent by Dallas on Dec. 23, 2012.

Douglas-Roberts (6-7, 210) played in six games for Dallas and averaged 2.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 10.5 minutes.

Prior to his stint with the Mavericks, Douglas-Roberts (6-7, 210) played in 11 games (all starts) for the NBA D-League’s Texas Legends. He averaged a league-high 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals in 38.5 minutes per game. In those 11 contests, he shot 49.4 percent (79-160 FGs) from the field, 39.5 percent (15-38 3FGs) from 3-point range and 90.4 percent (75-83 FTs) from the line.

The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 14 players.