April 2013 – Page 14 – NBA Blog

Ricky Rubio leads Timberwolves over Suns, 105-93

Ricky Rubio had a career-high 24 points, 10 assists and five steals, and J.J. Barea scored 16 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 105-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Derrick Williams added 15 points and six boards for the Wolves, who gave coach Rick Adelman victory No. 1,001. It’s also the first time the Wolves (30-50) have won at least 30 games in a season without Kevin Garnett on the roster.

Markieff Morris had 20 points and nine rebounds and Jared Dudley scored 16 for the Suns, who turned the ball over 28 times. The Suns have lost 15 of their last 17 and already are assured of having their worst record since their inaugural season in 1968-69.

Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points and Dante Cunningham had 13 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota in place of Nikola Pekovic, who missed his second straight game with a bruised left calf.

Wes Johnson scored 15 points and Luis Scola added 14 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix. But Scola committed a career-high eight turnovers, and the Wolves scored 33 points off Phoenix mistakes to pull away.

— Reported by Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press

Josh McRoberts helps Bobcats beat Bucks 95-85

While the Milwaukee Bucks are in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, getting out of the first round will be a huge challenge given their recent poor play and a difficult first-round opponent.

By virtue of Saturday night’s 95-85 loss to the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats – their ninth straight defeat on the road and their 11th in the last 14 games overall – the Bucks will face the defending champion Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Few will give the Bucks a chance to win even a game in the best-of-seven series. Heck, even Bucks swingman Mike Dunleavy called it a ”monumental task.”

If there’s any bit of good news for the Bucks it’s that they hope to get Larry Sanders and Brandon Jennings back for the postseason. Both sat out again against the Bobcats…

Kemba Walker had 21 points, Josh McRoberts nearly had a triple-double and the Bobcats won for only the third time in their last 12 games.

McRoberts had a season-high 18 points, nine rebounds and a career-high nine assists.

Bismack Biyombo, the team’s improving second-year center, chipped in 13 points and tied a career-high with 17 rebounds as the NBA-worst Bobcats dominated the Bucks 52-36 on the boards.

— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press

Celtics lock up 7th seed in East

Courtney Lee scored 20 points and Jeff Green added 17 as the Boston Celtics cruised to a 120-88 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

The win locked up the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference for Boston, which never trailed in beating Orlando for the eighth straight time.

All five Celtics starters reached double figures, with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively, after sitting out Friday against Miami.

Tobias Harris led the Magic with 22 points, and Nik Vucevic added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Orlando hasn’t won back-to-back games since December. The Magic play their final home game of season on Monday against Chicago, and head to Miami for the season finale on Wednesday.

The Celtics conclude their regular-season schedule against Indiana on Tuesday and visit Toronto on Wednesday…

Boston G Jason Terry was given the night off by Rivers, marking his first missed game of the season.

— Reported by Kyle Hightower of the Associated Press

Kobe Bryant vents on Facebook about his injury

Bryant took to Facebook in the wee hours of Saturday morning to vent about the injury, writing the “frustration is unbearable” but the setback will not end his career.

The 34-year-old Bryant posted about his “rage” a few hours after being hurt: “Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?? ”

He added: “Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not!”

“One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.” …

Bryant’s Facebook post continued: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. Ive always loved that quote. Thats “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.

“I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge.”

“I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru,” he continued. “Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always. Mamba Out”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Torn Achilles knocks Kobe out for season

Kobe Bryant had surgery Saturday on his torn Achilles tendon, ending the season for the Los Angeles Lakers star.

Teammates and coaches say Bryant is determined to return quickly from the biggest injury of his career. General manager Mitch Kupchak thinks it’s realistic the 34-year-old guard could be ready for next season’s opener in the fall.

Bryant was hurt late in the Lakers’ 118-116 win over Golden State on Friday night. Lakers trainer Gary Vitti says Bryant’s tendon was completely torn. Bryant stayed in the game to make two free throws.

Kupchak says the Lakers haven’t considered parting ways with Bryant, who will make nearly $30.5 million next year.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mavericks sign guard Josh Akognon

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed guard Josh Akognon, presumably just for the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Akognon (5-11, 185) originally signed a 10-day contract with Dallas on April 3. He made his NBA regular-season debut against Phoenix on April 10 and recorded two points and one assist in 4 minutes.

A native of Petaluma, Calif., Akognon began his collegiate career at Washington State before transferring to Cal State Fullerton. As a junior, he led the Titans to a Big West regular season title, Big West Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in 30 years. As a senior, Akognon was named Big West Conference Player of the Year after averaging 23.9 points per game. He went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Seattle group raises offer for Kings by $25 million

The Seattle group attempting to buy the Sacramento Kings says it has reached agreement to raise the purchase price by $25 million.

Chris Hansen, teaming with Steve Ballmer to lead the group, Hansen announced the decision to raise the valuation late Friday night. In a statement on his website, Sonicsarena.com, Hansen says the group has voluntarily raised the purchase price as a “sign of our commitment to bring basketball back to our city.”

Hansen’s group entered into a binding agreement with the Maloof family in January to purchase the controlling interest of the franchise based on a $525 million value.

— Reported by the Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs waive Stephen Jackson

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have placed forward Stephen Jackson on waivers.

Jackson, who was in his second stint with the Spurs, saw action in 55 games this season, averaging 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.5 minutes.

According to the Associated Press, “Because he was released after March 1, Jackson – a member of San Antonio’s 2003 NBA championship team – is ineligible for the playoffs if he signs with another team. The move came about half an hour before the Spurs were scheduled to take their annual team photo. Fighting injuries, San Antonio is battling Oklahoma City for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.”

A 13-year NBA veteran, Jackson has appeared in 849 career games, averaging 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.30 steals in 32.1 minutes.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, ““We’re getting ready to playoffs and putting our team together, what we want to do and who we want to do it with,” head coach Gregg Popovich said. “We thought making this decision with Jack was best for the group. “Tough decision, because on a personal basis, I’ve known him a long time and I enjoy him very much. But you’ve got to make decisions that are tough sometimes. We thought this was best for our group.” Popovich said Jackson had not violated team policy. He also declined to address reports that Jackson was upset with his role. Jackson, who did not make the recent trip to Denver for unspecified reasons, had been averaging 6.2 points on 37.3-percent shooting this season. “You’ll have to ask Jack,” he said. “It’s basketball business. Family business. I don’t go into detail on that sort of thing.”

The Spurs roster now stands at 14.

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Knicks sign Solomon Jones for rest of season

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed forward/center Solomon Jones for the remainder of the season.

Earlier today, the Knicks waived beloved veteran big-man Kurt Thomas, who due to injury was going to be unable to help the Knicks for weeks.

Jones, 6-10, 245-pounds, holds career averages of 3.1 points, on 47-percent shooting, and 2.4 rebounds over 11.1 minutes in 268 career games (11 starts) with Atlanta, Indiana, L.A. Clippers and New Orleans. During the 2012-13 season, Jones played for Liaoning of the Chinese Basketball Association and last played in the NBA during 2011-12, averaging 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over 13.9 minutes in 21 games (one start) with the L.A. Clippers and New Orleans.

The Eustis, FL-native was originally selected out of South Florida University by the Hawks in the second round (33rd pick overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft.

New York Knicks waive Kurt Thomas

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has waived forward/center Kurt Thomas.

According to multiple reports, the team is expected to sign center Solomon Jones.

“Kurt’s contributions to the Knicks have been immeasurable,” Grunwald said. “From the first day of training camp, to his last game against the Utah Jazz, Kurt has been a key contributor to our team. The team’s success this season has been driven by veteran leadership on and off the court – it is something that cannot be quantified or read in a box score.

“Once it became clear that he would not be able to return this season, and due to a rash of injuries to our big men, we felt that it was important for us to free-up a spot on our roster. We thank Kurt for all that he has done. I have the utmost respect for Kurt as a player and as a man.”

The 6-9, 245-pound 18-year NBA veteran averaged 2.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.1 minutes in 39 games, including a six-point, three-rebound performance at Utah on Mar. 18 that sparked the beginning of a 13-game winning streak, despite being hampered by a foot injury. On Mar. 19, an MRI on Thomas’ right foot revealed an acute stress reaction surrounding a chronic stress fracture in his navicular bone. He spent the next 12 games on the Inactive List.

Thomas currently ranks ninth on the franchise’s all-time rebounding list with 4,272 caroms and 15th in games played with 569 appearances.