Suns destroy Wolves 152-114

Tuesday night in Phoenix, the Suns went bonkers against the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 152-114 win.

Offensively, the Suns were unstoppable. They shot 55-of-98 (56.1%) from the field and hit 15-of-31 three-pointers. They also hit 27-of-29 free throws. Phoenix also won the assists category 37-18.

Jason Richardson led the way for Phoenix with 27 points. Amar’e Stoudemire had 25, but just four rebounds and no assists. Louis Amundson came off the bench to shoot 10-of-13 for 20 points and seven rebounds. Five other Suns players scored in double-digits. Steve Nash dished 14 assists.

The Wolves had what under normal circumstances would have been a good offensive night, shooting 46.2% and hitting half of their 14 three-point attempts. They were simply unable to withstand the Phoenix offensive hurricane.

Leading the Wolves was Corey Brewer with 21 points and little else. Ryan Gomes scored 18. Al Jefferson had a quiet 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Suns scored 38 points in the first quarter, 41 in the second, 35 in the third and 38 in the fourth.

Tom Penn fired by Trail Blazers

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports (via blog):

Tom Penn, the right-hand man of general manager Kevin Pritchard, has been fired by the Trail Blazers, The Oregonian has learned. Tuesday’s decision comes nearly 10 months after Penn was promoted to vice president of basketball operations.

It is unknown why Penn was fired, but it is believed to have come from owner Paul Allen and not Pritchard.

Penn came to the Blazers from the Memphis Grizzlies in May of 2007 and served as the team’s assistant general manager until he was promoted on May 18 to vice president.

Sean Marks has season-ending shoulder surgery

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that center Sean Marks had successful surgery on his right shoulder this morning in New Orleans. Marks will begin rehabilitation immediately and will be sidelined the rest of the season.

This season, Marks only played 14 games, averaging close to nothing in 5.4 minutes per outing.

The 33-35 Hornets are currently the 11th seed in the Western conference.

Heat sign Kenny Hasbrouck to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck to a 10-day contract, making him the 25th Gatorade NBA Development League call-up this season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck, a 6’3”, 195-pound guard, has appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 29 points at Bakersfield on March 6 and posted three consecutive 20-point games after scoring 20 vs. Springfield on February 26, 21 vs. Bakersfield on February 29 and then 24 at Springfield on March 1.

Hasbrouck was undrafted out of Siena College where he played four seasons appearing in 129 career games (all starts) and averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.92 steals in 31.1 minutes while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 74.0 percent from the line. He became the third fastest player to reach 1,000 points in Siena Division I history and graduated as the school’s all-time leader in steals (248). The two-time MAAC tournament MVP had his number 41 jersey retired by Siena at a season ending banquet on April 27, 2009.

Hasbrouck will wear number 4.

Thunder sign Mustafa Shakur to 10-day contract

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has signed guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract.

Shakur is a free agent call-up from the Tulsa 66ers, NBA Development League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  At the time of his call-up the 2010 D-League All-Star was averaging 20.7 points (9th in the D-League) while shooting 50.3% from the floor (295-587 FG), 7.2 assists (4th in D-League), 2.3 steals (3rd in D-League) and 39.4 minutes in 40 games (40 starts).

A 6-3, 190 pound guard who went undrafted out of the University of Arizona in 2007, Shakur spent the previous three seasons playing overseas with Prokom Trefl Sopot of the Polish League (2007-08), Tau Cerámica of ACB Spanish League (2008-09) and most recently with Panellinios BC of the Greek A1 League (2009).

With his signing, Shakur becomes the 24th Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season.  He will wear uniform #11.