NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
The Trail Blazers are very good. I am good. You are good. Everyone is good. The weather is cold, but good. The bagel I just ate is good.
Anyway, read this Joel Przybilla interview, focusing on his ridiculously high field goal percentage, the success of the Blazers, how Greg Oden is doing, and what makes Brandon Roy special.
–Jeff
Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who left last night’s win over Minnesota with an inflamed right ankle, is doubtful for tonight’s game at Houston. Kirilenko left last night’s 112-107 win over the Timberwolves with 6:43 remaining in the second quarter and did not return. He received a cortisone injection in the ankle following the game and is day-to-day.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jan Hubbard) reports: Jason Terry has had a distinguished career, averaging 16.1 points for the Hawks and Mavericks in his first nine seasons. But this season, his 10th in the league, he’s taken it to a new level. Rick Carlisle has been consistent with Terry, preferring him to come off the bench rather than starting, even with the muddled situation at shooting guard. Terry has had to start seven games because of injuries, but his primary role has been as a reserve and he’s been nothing less than spectacular. Terry is the only non-starter in the league averaging more than 20 points a game, and considering that the majority of his points come from the perimeter, his 46.6 shooting percentage is solid. But even more significant is Terry’s willingness to accept his role. Most 20-point scorers in the league would pout if they did not start. But not Terry, who is averaging a career-high 20.6 points.
The Dallas Morning News (David Moore) writes: If this team was average at best, the decision would be easy. Tear it down. But the Mavericks are on pace to win 48 games after a slow start. It’s a significant drop from there to mediocre. Management can’t afford to get this wrong the way it did last year when it acquired Jason Kidd. The move was made because Cuban and Nelson clung to the idea of where the team had been 20 months earlier rather than accept what it had become. The Mavericks had deteriorated to the stage where one player was not enough to get them back to The Finals. Reality has sunk in this season. The problem is that it cost Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks for the Mavericks to have their eyes opened. That leaves Cuban and Nelson with precious few assets to offer heading into this trade deadline. Is this team at a crossroads? “That’s overstated,” Cuban said. “You just do the best you can and try to be opportunistic.
The AP reports: Linas Kleiza scored 27 points, Chauncey Billups had 22 and the Denver Nuggets used strong second and third quarters to beat the Sacramento Kings 118-99 on Tuesday night. J.R. Smith had 19 points and Nene 13 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which outscored the Kings 71-44 in the middle frames. Kevin Martin led Sacramento with 25 points and rookie Jason Thompson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who fell behind by 30 in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter when Kleiza and Smith led the charge back.
The AP reports: Mehmet Okur scored 22 points and hit consecutive late 3-pointers to boost the Utah Jazz past the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-107 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight home win. Paul Millsap led Utah with 28 points and 15 rebounds and his dunk gave the Jazz a 97-89 lead midway through the fourth quarter… With a chance to claim their first lead, Al Jefferson, who had 25 points and eight rebounds, missed a jump hook and Okur grabbed the rebound. He then made his consecutive 3s and added a free throw. Deron Williams, who had 17 points and 11 assists, drained a jumper to expand the advantage to 106-97. Ryan Gomes and Foye led Minnesota’s rally with late 3-pointers and each finished with 19 points. Sebastian Telfair scored 17, but couldn’t keep the Timberwolves from losing a sixth consecutive game in Salt Lake.
The AP reports: Mike Bibby scored nine of his season-high 31 points in the final five minutes, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Chicago Bulls 105-102 Tuesday to complete a three-game season sweep… That’s the sort of night it was for him. On offense and defense, Bibby rarely missed. “He is one of those types of players that when he gets it going, it’s kind of hard to stop him,” said Josh Smith, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds… Bibby hit 12 of 21 shots in all, 5-for-10 from 3-point range, and while he did his part to carry the Hawks, teammates were there to lend a hand… Zaza Pachulia scored a season-high 18 points, and Joe Johnson added 16 for the Hawks, who have struggled this month after enjoying their best December in 21 years… Ben Gordon led Chicago with 21 points, Andres Nocioni added 15, and Deng had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich and Rose scored 13 apiece, but 18 turnovers did in the Bulls.
The AP reports: Tim Duncan scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Manu Ginobili scored 26 before San Antonio sat their stars early in a 99-81 over cold-shooting Indiana on Tuesday night… Danny Granger had 17 points for the Pacers, who shot 37 percent from the field and scored their second-fewest points in a game this season. Indiana entered ranked third in the league in scoring. Duncan had 10 rebounds to notch his 27th double-double and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Neither did Tony Parker, who scored 13 points and had seven assists… Mike Dunleavy had 15 points for the Pacers and T.J. Ford added 10.
Euroleague.net reports: Olympiacos Pireaus on Tuesday announced that forward Josh Childress will undergo hernia surgery today and miss most, if not all, of the Top 16. Childress (203, 25) is the third-best scorer (10.7 ppg.) and second-best rebounder (5 rpg.) for the Reds, while leading the team in minutes played (26.3 mpg.). Childress returned to the United States over the weekend for medical attention concerning an inguinal hernia.
The Phoenix Suns have signed free-agent center Courtney Sims to a 10-day contract, the club announced today.
The 6-11, 245-pound Sims has spent the last two seasons with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. The Energy, coached by Nick Nurse, became the Suns’ affiliate this season. Sims, 25, joins Phoenix after starting all 17 of his games in Iowa this season, averaging 22.4 points and 11.6 rebounds, both team-bests. A season ago, Sims averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 15 games with Iowa.
A four-year collegiate performer at the University of Michigan, Sims was an undrafted free agent signee of the Indiana Pacers in 2007-08. The Roslindale, Mass.-native saw action in three regular season games for the Pacers.
The Suns roster now stands at 13.