Ray Allen suspended for elbowing Varejao

Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics has been suspended one game without pay for elbowing Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in the groin, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics 107-76 loss to the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday, April 12.

Allen will serve his suspension tonight when the Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Read fan reaction and post your own comments in this forum topic.

Knicks sign Chris Hunter

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent forward/center Chris Hunter has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Hunter, a member of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, became the 24th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Hunter, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 47 games with Fort Wayne this season. The Gary, IN-native registered 21 point-rebound double-doubles in 2008-09 with Fort Wayne and ranked among the league leaders in points and rebounds per game. Following a four-year career at the University of Michigan, Hunter played professionally overseas in Poland and Belgium before signing with Fort Wayne prior to this season.

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

Spurs rout Warriors, stay tied for division lead

The AP reports: Tony Parker scored 17 points and Tim Duncan added 16 points and 13 rebounds before both stars sat out the fourth quarter, and the San Antonio Spurs kept pace with Houston atop the Southwest Division with a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. Drew Gooden had 20 points and 15 rebounds in his hometown for the Spurs, who won their third straight to pull even at 53-28 with the Rockets and Portland, who both won earlier in the night… Anthony Randolph had career highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds, and C.J. Watson added 18 points for the Warriors, who had just seven available players. Injured guard Marco Belinelli again had to dress for the game just to give Golden State the NBA-minimum eight in uniform.

Suns hold off Grizzlies for 45th victory

The AP reports: After playing his reserves for the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Gentry substituted his first team back into the game. The result was a 119-110 victory, Phoenix’s eighth straight at home… O’Neal led Phoenix’s well-balanced attack with 19 points. Overall, the Suns had seven players in double figures. Steve Nash had 18 points and 12 assists. Jason Richardson collected 18 points, Grant Hill and rookie Robin Lopez had 14 apiece, Matt Barnes 12 and Leandro Barbosa 10. Lopez’s total tied his season high. Hakim Warrick, who hit his first 10 field goal attempts, tying a franchise record for one game, and Rudy Gay led Memphis with 26 points each. O.J. Mayo scored 20, Marc Gasol added 13 points and Mike Conley Jr. scored 12 and tied a franchise record with seven steals.

Outlaw has 21 in Blazers victory over Thunder

The AP reports: Travis Outlaw had 21 points as a last-minute starter and the Trail Blazers built a 35-point lead before defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-83 on Monday night. Brandon Roy had 20 points in Portland’s fifth straight victory. Greg Oden had 16 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Durant, averaging 25.5 points a game, scored just 10 for the Thunder, who have lost six of their last seven games. Rookie Russell Westbrook had 15 points and seven assists.

Jazz end skid with win over Clippers

The AP reports: The Jazz ended the skid with a 106-85 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, keeping alive their slim hopes of climbing out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. “We just needed a win,” said Deron Williams, who had 17 points and nine assists… Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Paul Millsap added 19 points and 11 boards for the Jazz, who outrebounded the Clippers 50-36 and forced 15 turnovers that led to 24 easy points… Marcus Camby had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost eight of nine. Eric Gordon scored 16 and Chris Kaman had 12 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles.

JR Smith scores 45, Nuggets beat Kings 118-98

The AP reports: J.R. Smith had a career-high 45 points and franchise-best 11 3-pointers to help the Denver Nuggets clinch the Northwest Division title and home-court edge in the playoffs for the first time in 21 years with a 118-98 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night… Smith was so hot down the stretch, when he single-handedly turned a nail-biter into a laugher, that the Kings resorted to fouling him intentionally so he wouldn’t get off 3-pointers. Twice he did anyway, and he sank all three foul shots both times… Carmelo Anthony had 21 points, nine assists and nine rebounds in 32 minutes against Sacramento, which was led by Ike Diogu’s career-best 32 points.Center Spencer Hawes injured his left knee on a flagrant foul by Kenyon Martin in the first quarter and did not return.

Late Terry jumper, Mavs beat Wolves 96-94

The AP reports: Trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves by seven points with 3:13 left, Dirk Nowitzki got his teammates going, then Jason Terry finished off the rally by swishing an 18-foot jumper from the right side with 0.2 seconds left for a 96-94 victory… “This was one we had to get,” said Nowitzki, who had 34 points and nine rebounds… Craig Smith came off the bench to score a season-high 24 points and Sebastian Telfair had 14 points and tied his season high with 12 assists. Minnesota players were jumping up and down on the bench, hoping to make amends for what happened on their last visit to Dallas—when they blew a 29-point, third-quarter lead.

Yao, Scola lead Rockets past Hornets 86-66

The AP reports: Yao Ming scored 22 points, Luis Scola grabbed 15 rebounds and the Rockets routed the Hornets 86-66 on Monday night in their regular-season home finale. Houston came in holding the No. 4 seed in the West, but with the same record as San Antonio and Portland, who both won later in the night. If the Rockets win their last game in Dallas on Wednesday, they’ll secure their first division championship since 1993-94. But in the jumbled Western Conference, Houston could also slip to fifth place—and lose home-court advantage in the first round—with a loss to the Mavericks… David West had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Paul had nine points and seven assists for the Hornets, who’ve lost five of their last seven. Scott is worried about his team’s inconsistency heading into its regular-season finale Wednesday in San Antonio.

Howard rests for playoffs, Bucks beat Magic 98-80

The AP reports: Richard Jefferson scored 24 points Monday as the Bucks beat a Magic team missing Dwight Howard and two other starters, 98-80. Ramon Sessions added 19 points in the home finale for the Bucks, providing a late high note in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for Milwaukee… Courtney Lee had 17 points for the Magic, who shot an ugly 31.8 percent from the field and went only 2-for-18 from 3-point range.