Month: March 2014

Mavericks enjoy first win vs Thunder in a long time

Shawn Marion scored 19 points, Vince Carter added 18 and the Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City 109-86 on Sunday night, ending a seven-game regular-season losing streak to the Thunder.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points for Oklahoma City, his 26th straight game of 25 points or more, the longest such streak since Michael Jordan did so in 40 straight games during the 1986-87 season.

Dirk Nowitzki added 17 points and Jose Calderon had 16 points for Dallas, which entered the game tied for seventh in the Western Conference standings. The Mavericks, who begin an eight-game homestand on Monday, became only the third Western Conference team to win this season in Oklahoma City, joining the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Dallas’ win over the Thunder was its first since Jan. 2, 2012. In addition to the seven straight regular-season losses to Oklahoma City, the Mavericks also were swept by the Thunder in a 2012 playoff series.

— Associated Press

Gerald Green scores 28, Suns beat Raptors

Gerald Green is back from the kind of “vacation” that no NBA player likes to take.

Markieff Morris had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Green scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns won their second straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors 121-113 on Sunday.

Green had joked about being on vacation after scoring just six points in his previous two games, missing 17 of 23 field goal attempts. He had previously scored 10 points or more in a career-best 15 straight games.

“He came in yesterday to practice, worked on his shots and he told us all he was back from his little mini-vacation,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “When Gerald plays like that, he gets unstoppable. He can make all kinds of shots and I think our guys feed off that when he’s rolling.”

— Associated Press

Ray Allen steps up, Heat beat Rockets

Ray Allen was somewhat surprised to see how open he was. So was Dwyane Wade, who even took an extra dribble before believing his eyes and sending a 50-foot pass to the best 3-point shooter in NBA history.

Moments later, the Miami Heat were back on track.

Allen scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter on a milestone day for the veteran, Wade and LeBron James each added 24 points and the Heat closed with a flourish to beat the Houston Rockets 113-104 on Sunday and snap their worst stretch of results since 2011.

“When Ray gets into a rhythm, he’s the best 3-point shooter of all-time,” said Heat forward Chris Bosh, who scored 18 points to help Miami win for just the second time in its last seven games…

Harden finished with 30 points for Houston, which got 21 points and 14 rebounds from Dwight Howard. Patrick Beverley added 15 points and Terrence Jones scored 12 for the Rockets, who’ve dropped three straight.

— Associated Press

Spurs recall Austin Daye from D-League

Spurs recall Austin Daye from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have recalled forward Austin Daye from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

In Saturday night’s contest against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Daye recorded 27 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocked shots in 40 total minutes. It marked his first game with the Toros this season since being acquired by the Spurs on Feb. 20.

The California native has appeared in two games for the Silver and Black, averaging 3.0 points in 1.5 minutes per contest.

Thunder sign Mustafa Shakur to 10-day contract

Thunder sign Mustafa Shakur to 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Shakur (6-3, 190), has appeared in 37 games (36 starts) with the Erie BayHawks and Tulsa 66ers this season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.92 steals in 34.4 minutes per contest. Since joining the 66ers on January 22, Shakur has averaged 18.6 points, 6.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 2.65 steals and 36.2 minutes in 20 games (19 starts) while being named NBA D-League Player of the Month during February.

The University of Arizona product has appeared in 22 career NBA games with the Washington Wizards, averaging 2.3 points, 1.1 assists and 1.0 rebound in 7.2 minutes per game. He spent time on the Thunder roster during the 2009-10 season but did not appear in any games.

Shakur’s signing represents the 36th D-League Gatorade Call-Up this season and the seventh Call-Up all-time between the 66ers and the Thunder.

The guard is expected to join the Thunder prior to tonight’s game versus the Dallas Mavericks in Oklahoma City, Okla.

He will wear uniform #22.

Knicks beat Bucks for 6th win in a row

Before Phil Jackson can begin reshaping their future, the New York Knicks are trying to make something of this season.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 20, and the Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-94 on Saturday, giving them a season-high six straight victories as they prepare to welcome Jackson back to the franchise.

“We’ve got to really focus in on what’s the task at hand, and that’s still trying to make this push and not even looking forward to next season at this point,” Anthony said.

Amar’e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith each scored 15 for the Knicks, who easily ended their daytime woes by pounding the team with the NBA’s worst record.

New York began the day 3½ games behind Atlanta for the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. But the playoff push has taken a backseat to the news that Jackson was coming in to run the Knicks’ front office — except in the locker room.

— Associated Press

Thunder assign forward Reggie Williams to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Reggie Williams to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Williams, who was originally signed by the Thunder on March 6, has appeared in one game for Oklahoma City scoring five points in five minutes during its 131-102 victory over the LA Lakers on March 13.

In 21 games (17 starts) with Tulsa this season, Williams is averaging 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 37.6 minutes per game.

The forward is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Tulsa 66ers visit the Texas Legends in Frisco, TX.

Phil Jackson reportedly will earn around $12 million per year with Knicks

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks and Phil Jackson:

Phil Jackson

The Knicks have announced a Tuesday morning press conference at the Garden during which they will announce the hiring of Phil Jackson as team president, bringing his Hall of Fame career full circle as he looks to win his third championship ring as a Knick.

Jackson’s Chicago-based agent, Todd Musburger, and Knicks officials, including James Dolan lieutenant Barry Watkins, were in Los Angeles with the former Lakers coach to sign the contracts Friday, according to a source. A source confirmed an ESPN.com report Jackson will be paid approximately $12 million per year. The report also said the deal’s length is five years, which would make it worth about $60 million.

“But he’s not doing it for the money,’’ one Jackson confidant said.

During Jackson’s coaching negotiations with the Lakers last season that fell apart, he asked for $12 million a year. He made $12 million in his second-to-last season coaching the Lakers in 2009-10, but took a “pay cut’’ to $10 million in 2010-11, his final season.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson in an interesting situation

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the latest with the Knicks, Phil Jackson and head coach Mike Woodson:

Knicks coach Mike Woodson in an interesting situation

Mike Woodson continues to be asked about a Knicks future that isn’t likely to include him.

Phil Jackson is slated to be introduced Tuesday as the team’s new president of basketball operations, and he is expected to bring in a head coach of his choosing for next season regardless of how Woodson and the Knicks – who began play Saturday 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the East — finish the season.

“When someone new comes in, he has his own thought process and philosophy in terms of how he feels and how the shape of the team should be,” Woodson said before Saturday’s game against the Bucks at the Garden. “Until he gets here, you just have no idea what he’s thinking and which direction he wants to go.”

The Knicks’ coach said earlier in the week that he hopes for a one-on-one meeting with Jackson to discuss his future. Woodson continues to be outwardly complimentary of the Hall of Famer, who won 11 NBA titles as coach of the Bulls and Lakers and two as a player with the Knicks in the 1970s.

“Anytime you can get a great basketball mind that comes into your organization, I mean, it can’t do nothing but help,” Woodson said.