Inside Hoops – Page 2320 – NBA Blog

Rockets-Bobcats team connections

Houston forward/guard Shane Battier received the Naismith and Wooden Awards as the consensus choice as National Player of the Year as a senior at Duke.

Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady was drafted by the Toronto Raptors out of Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina.

Houston forward Joey Dorsey also attended Mount Zion Christian Academy in 2002-03.

Rockets Rehabilitation & Performance Coordinator/Assistant Athletic Trainer Keith Garnett also served as assistant athletic trainer/head equipment manager for the Bobcats.

Phil Ford, an assistant coach with Charlotte, played with the Rockets from 1983-85.

Bobcats forward Juwan Howard played three seasons with the Rockets (2004-07).

Charlotte center Emeka Okafor was a prep standout in Houston at Bellaire High School.

Dwight Howard was a Skip To My Lou fan

The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports: His Orlando Magic teammates already are calling him by his legendary streetball name of “Skip.” Dwight Howard, 23, remembers being in middle school and watching Rafer Alston on the And 1 Mix video-tapes, marveling at his Harlem Globetrotter-esque style and jaw-dropping moves. “I wanted to be like ‘Skip To My Lou,'” Howard laughed. “Now we’re on the same team.” Alston, who arrived in a trade last Thursday from the Houston Rockets, just shakes his head about the old days. “Yeah, Dwight told me that. That he watched the And 1 stuff,” Alston said. “It makes me feel old.” … Alston realizes his playground celebrity follows him, but he says he couldn’t have lasted this long in the NBA if he hadn’t holstered his showboating style.

Don Nelson 1,300th win, Warriors beat Thunder 133-120

The AP reports: Golden State coach Don Nelson earned his 1,300th victory Saturday night, with Stephen Jackson scoring 26 points and Corey Maggette adding 25 in the Warriors’ 133-120 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nelson is just the second coach in NBA history to reach the milestone, joining good friend Lenny Wilkens, who has 1,332 career wins… Kevin Durant scored 32 points for the Thunder, who have lost five straight. Russell Westbrook added 31 points and 11 assists, but Oklahoma City dropped to 3-24 on the road. Jeff Green had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Oklahoma City, but the second-year forward combined with Durant for 12 of the Thunder’s 23 turnovers.

Bass and Singleton shine, Mavericks beat Kings 116-95

The AP reports: One night after logging major minutes in a loss to Houston, the Dallas Mavericks’ starters were able to take to take it easy. Brandon Bass scored 16 of his season-high 20 points in the second quarter and Dallas’ reserves contributed 54 points to lift the Mavericks past the Sacramento Kings 116-95 on Saturday night… Josh Howard scored 20 points, Nowitzki had 12 and Singleton grabbed 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won 11 straight home games over the Kings in the regular season. Dallas pulled all their starters early in the fourth quarter. Beno Udrih had 18 points, and Spencer Hawes and Francisco Garcia each scored 17 for the Kings, who have the NBA’s worst record at 12-45.

Utah owner recently passed, Jazz beat Hornets 102-88

The AP reports: On a night he had 13 assists, Deron Williams’ most memorable pass came after the final buzzer. Williams walked across the court after Utah’s 102-88 win over New Orleans and handed the game ball to Gail Miller, the wife of owner Larry H. Miller one day after his death. From the pregame moment of silence on, there was no doubt that this one was for Larry. “It’s great to win on a night like this. We wanted to win for Larry and the whole Miller family,” said Williams, who scored 20 points for Utah. “They’re going through a tough time and hopefully this can ease their pain just a little bit for one night.” Miller, 64, died Friday of complications from diabetes.

Mason scores 25, Spurs beat Wizards 98-67

The AP reports: The player that got away, Roger Mason, comes back with the San Antonio Spurs and drops 25 points—on a night the awful Washington Wizards post their lowest points total in six years. A season of embarrassment for president Ernie Grunfield’s front office hit another low Saturday as the travel-weary Spurs beat the Wizards 98-67… Mason went 9-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range, and had 10 points and two steals in the 19-4 run that capped the third quarter and gave the Spurs a 78-57 lead… Mason certainly could have been a fourth option on a night when Caron Butler (24 points), Jamison (16) and Darius Songaila (15) accounted for all but two points scored by the entire Wizards roster through the first three quarters.

J-O’Neal shines, Heat beat 76ers 97-91

The AP reports: Dwyane Wade had 25 points and nine assists, Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon combined to score 10 fourth-quarter points in their second game since arriving from Toronto, and the Heat improved their Eastern Conference postseason positioning by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 97-91 on Saturday… O’Neal had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Moon scored 12 for Miami… Andre Miller had 30 points—the most by a 76ers player since late last season—and nine rebounds, and Louis Williams scored 22 off the bench for Philadelphia, which is on its first three-game slide since December. Andre Iguodala scored 14 and Marreese Speights added 12 for Philadelphia, which was the lone NBA team not to have a 30-point individual scorer this season.

Jazz to wear patch honoring Larry Miller

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team will honor the memory of late owner Larry H. Miller by wearing a memorial “LHM” patch on its jerseys for the remainder of the season. The patch will debut in tonight as the Jazz hosts the New Orleans Hornets in the first Jazz game since Miller’s passing on February 20.

The purple patch with green and gold trim is in the shape of the Jazz music note logo (a “J” in the shape of an eighth note) and inscribed with Miller’s initials, “LHM,” in white block letters. The music note logo is representative of the team’s logo, colors and jerseys which were worn at the time Miller originally purchased a 50% stake in the team on April 11, 1985, and the remaining 50% on June 24, 1986. The Jazz wore the music note jerseys until the 1996-97 season.

Prior to tonight’s game at EnergySolutions Arena, there will also be a moment of silence held, followed by a two-minute tribute video to Miller which will conclude with a spotlight focused on the empty courtside seat that Miller commonly occupied during Jazz games.

Kevin Garnett out 2-3 weeks

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Celtics president Danny Ainge said early this morning that injured forward Kevin Garnett will be out 2-3 weeks with a posterior muscle strain of the right knee. The All-Star suffered the injury during the second quarter of Thursday’s loss at Utah.

InsideHoops.com editor says: No worries. Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis will average 25 points, 23 rebounds and 20 assists per game while KG heals up.

Amare Stoudemire out 8+ weeks

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: Valley retinal surgeon Dr. Pravin Dugel first saw Suns star Amaré Stoudemire on Thursday night on a referral from team ophthalmologist Jay Schwartz, who examined Stoudemire’s right eye that afternoon. Dugel, with Retinal Consultants of Arizona, said Stoudemire’s vision was disturbed as badly as 20/50 and he had blood in his eye. It was clear he had a “very large” retinal detachment on the nasal side. The ragged tears indicated they were caused by trauma. Stoudemire was struck near his eye Wednesday while fouling Al Thornton but that was not a sole cause… The eight-week prognosis for a return to physical activity is loose, considering his job.