November 14, 2009 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Brandon Jennings scores 55 points

Brandon Jennings has made Milwaukee Bucks history.

Saturday night, led by their rookie point guard, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Golden State Warriors, 129-125. Jennings shot 21-of-34 (7-of-8 three-pointers, 6-of-8 free throws) to finish with 55 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (though, four turnovers).

All of Jennings’ points came in the final three quarters. He was scoreless in the first.

The 55 points sets the Bucks team record for most points in a game by a rookie. The previous record was held by Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

Both teams shot extremely well in this game. Milwaukee hit 52.7 percent of their shots, while Golden State connected on 56.1 percent. The Bucks hit 14-of-24 three-pointers; the Warriors 8-of-20.

Jennings’ counterparts on the Warriors, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, had great shooting nights themselves. Ellis made 11-of-19 shots for 26 points, while Curry came off the bench of to hit 6-of-9 for 14.

Still, the night belonged to Jennings, who played like a star.

BRANDON JENNINGS 55-POINT GAME NOTES

Brandon Jennings scored a career-high 55 points, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (Lew Alcindor) rookie record of 51 points, which was set on Feb. 21, 1970. Jennings is only the second Bucks’ rookie, and the third Bucks player (joining Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Redd) to score 50 points in a game. Jennings’ 55-point game marks the 13th 50-point game in Bucks history.

Brandon Jennings’ 55 points are the most by an NBA rookie since Earl Monroe had 56 on February 13, 1968. They’re also the second-most by a player under 21. The most was 56 scored by LeBron James on March 20, 2005.

Brandon Jennings scored 29 points in the third quarter on 12-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. The 29 points were the most points for an opposing player against Golden State in a quarter. On Dec. 3, 2003, Voshon Lenard of the Denver Nuggets scored 26 against the Warriors.

Jennings was just two points shy of tying the Bucks’ record for most points scored in a game by a single player. Michael Redd holds the record with 57 against Utah on Nov. 11, 2006. He scored zero points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, 29 in the third and 16 in the fourth quarter.

The last rookie who scored 30 points back-to-back for the Bucks was Glenn Robinson in 1995. On Feb. 8, he scored 37 against Minnesota and on Feb. 14, he scored 30 against Miami.

The Bucks have won four in a row to improve to 5-2. They’ve also won three of the last four home games against Golden State. Their home record against the Warriors has improved to 44-16 all-time.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Kelenna Azubuike injures knee

Warriors guard/forward Kelenna Azubuike suffered a left patellar tendon injury at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter of tonight’s game at Milwaukee. Azubuike left the game and did not return.

An image of his left knee taken at the Bradley Center revealed the patellar tendon injury.

Azubuike will not play in either of the team’s remaining games on this road trip (Tuesday at Cleveland and Wednesday at Boston). He will return to the Bay Area tomorrow to consult with team orthopedic physician Dr. Frank Chen for diagnosis and treatment.

Read fan reaction and discuss your opinion in this forum topic.

Grizzlies sign Jamaal Tinsley

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent guard Jamaal Tinsley, an original draft pick of the club in 2001, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to add a veteran playmaker with Jamaal’s credentials to the team,” Wallace said. “He will add experience and high-level passing ability.”

One of the NBA’s most prolific playmakers over the last decade, Tinsley ranks seventh among active players and 24th in league history in assists per game (7.0). In his last NBA season, the 6-3, 195-pound guard averaged a career-high 8.4 assists in 39 games with the Indiana Pacers in 2007-08.

Tinsley, 31, is expected to bring his playmaking abilities to a Grizzlies team that finished 30th in the NBA in assists (17.4) in 2008-09 and ranks 21st in the category this season (18.8). The Brooklyn, N.Y. native holds career averages of 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.66 steals in 30.2 minutes in 398 games over seven seasons (2001-08) with the Pacers. He was waived by Indiana on July 22, 2009.

Originally selected by the Grizzlies with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, Tinsley’s draft rights were traded in a draft-night deal to the Atlanta Hawks along with Shareef Abdur-Rahim in exchange for the draft rights to Pau Gasol (No. 3 overall), Brevin Knight and Lorenzen Wright on June 27, 2001. Tinsley’s rights were acquired later that night by the Pacers for a future first round pick.

Tinsley had an immediate impact in his rookie season with Indiana, posting a triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds, 23 assists) in his 14th career game on Nov. 22, 2001 vs. the Michael Jordan-led Washington Wizards. Tinsley’s 23-assist performance established a new Pacers record and was two shy of the NBA rookie record, shared by Tinsley’s then-head coach Isiah Thomas (1981-82) and Ernie DiGregorio (1973-74). Tinsley was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month twice (Nov. 2001, March 2002) and earned 2001-02 All-Rookie Second Team honors.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Now the Grizzlies should sign Stephon Marbury, Dennis Rodman and J.R. Rider. But seriously, this Tinsley signing suggests that Allen Iverson probably isn’t ever coming back to Memphis. Anyway, it’s curious and a bit questionable that the team would choose to add another player with a reputation as a malcontent. The Pacers wanted literally nothing to do with Tinsley anymore. And, his last NBA action was 39 games in the 2007-08 season. Still, if Tinsley works hard and focuses on being a good teammate, he can help them a little.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Jerryd Bayless sprains ankle

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports (via blog):

Trail Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless sprained his left ankle about an hour before tip off of Saturday’s game in Charlotte as he was returning to the locker room.

Bayless rolled his ankle on a disguised step that is hidden by carpet. The six-inch drop off is in a dimly lit area just outside the tunnel that leads from the court to the Blazers locker room.

Bayless was carried by Rudy Fernandez and Dante Cunningham the remaining 20 yards to the Blazers’ training room, where he was despondent on the training table.

Rockets waive Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced Friday, November 13 that the team has waived forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu (MEN-sa BON-sue).

“Pops did a great job while he was here with us at the Rockets,” said Morey. “This move is only being done to give us some roster flexibility in case of an injury or a potential call up from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. With the way Coach Adelman currently has the rotation set up, this will also allow Pops an opportunity to explore options for more playing time.”

Mensah-Bonsu (6-9, 235, George Washington) averaged 1.3 points and 1.0 rebound in four games with the Rockets this season. He originally signed as a free agent with Houston on Sept. 3, 2009. Mensah-Bonsu also played in 34 prior NBA games with Dallas, San Antonio and Toronto.

Chris Paul sprains left ankle

John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

Injured Hornets point guard Chris Paul did not travel with the team for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Paul severely sprained his left ankle during the third quarter in Friday’s 86-78 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Arena and could be sidelined for up to two weeks, though the Hornets have not given an update on his status.

NOVEMBER 16 UPDATE

An MRI performed on Hornets guard Chris Paul confirmed a left ankle sprain. He is out indefinitely. Paul will be re-evaluated on a regular basis and his status will be updated as necessary.

Paul suffered the injury with 40 seconds left in the third quarter of Friday’s game against Portland when he came down on Joel Przybilla’s ankle.

In 10 games this season, Paul is averaging 23.8 points (10th in the NBA) on 59 percent shooting (6th in the NBA), 9.2 assists (3rd in the NBA) and 1.7 steals (15th in the NBA) in 34 minutes of play. In addition, he leads the NBA in three point percentage (.655).

Knicks off to worst start ever

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

If LeBron James is crazy enough to take the leap this summer, he must realize he could join the worst team in Knicks history — Team Titanic version 3.0.

The franchise was born in 1946. Last night, the deplorable 2009-10 Knicks set the mark for worst start in franchise history. The pitiful Knicks fell to a humiliating 1-9 after another loss, 121-107, to the dysfunctional Warriors, after which they got booed leaving the Garden court.

No Knicks team has ever been as bad as 1-9 after 10 games. They genuinely appear on the way to post the worst record in franchise history. Afterward, coach Mike D’Antoni called his team “zombies.”

Even if LeBron James doesn’t come in 2010, the Knicks objective — to clear the roster out and start the team anew — makes sense and needed to be done. So, as bad as this season looks, the team is now bad for the right reasons.

League-wide retirement of no. 23 jersey is unlikely

The AP reports:

LeBron James may persuade NBA players to give up their No. 23s, but a leaguewide retirement of Michael Jordan’s number seems unlikely.

James said on Thursday that he is considering switching his number next season and wants other players to do the same in honor of Jordan, the Hall of Famer who is often regarded as the league’s best player ever.

Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 and the NHL did the same with Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99, but that hasn’t been done in the NBA. Spokesman Tim Frank said on Saturday that ”retiring a player’s number is a decision that has been made by the teams” and not the league.

Deron Williams out due to family health issue

The following statement was issued by Deron Williams on Friday:

“I would like to thank Mrs. Miller, Greg Miller and Coach Sloan for allowing me to return to Utah to be with my wife and children today. Yesterday, one of my daughters underwent a procedure in the hospital to address some health concerns. There are still unanswered questions and the doctors have been running more in-depth tests throughout the day today. My daughter’s health is very important to my wife and I and it is important I remain in Salt Lake City as we monitor the situation. We both appreciate the support of the fans, the Jazz organization and my teammates. I will return to the court as soon as possible.”