The AP reports: Andris Biedrins had 21 points and 17 rebounds, and the Warriors climbed within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference with a 117-86 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night… Monta Ellis scored 19 points, while Kelenna Azubuike added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson finished with 14 points, Marco Belinelli had a career-high 13 and Brandan Wright scored 10… Rudy Gay led Memphis with 23 points, while Hakim Warrick finished with 13 and Kyle Lowry had 12… The Warriors held a 28-point lead in the third and led 90-66 entering the fourth.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Apr. 4: Jazz 90, Spurs 64
The AP reports: The Jazz reversed the roles Friday night in a 90-64 victory that matched the Spurs’ lowest point total in franchise history and ended San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak… Mehmet Okur had 17 points and 16 rebounds and Deron Williams had 16 points and 11 assists for his 50th double-double of the season. Williams led the Jazz on a 13-0 run to open the fourth quarter, which pretty much took the Spurs out of it and had Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on the bench early in the period… Williams opened fourth quarter with a high alley-oop to Andrei Kirilenko to start a 13-0 run for the Jazz. Kirilenko finished with 10 points and six assists, and Carlos Boozer added 16 points and flustered Duncan all night. Duncan finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but sat most of the fourth quarter as the Jazz ran away with it.
Apr. 4: Sixers 109, Hawks 104
The AP reports: Andre Iguodala scored 30 points and Andre Miller had 23 to help the 76ers wrap up their first playoff spot in three years with a 109-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night… Combining with Iguodala for 25 points, three assists, five rebounds and one steal in the fourth quarter, Miller was satisfied with holding off the Hawks’ comeback from a 14-point deficit… Joe Johnson led Atlanta, with 32 points, but fell down and lost the ball on what appeared to be a damp floor while dribbling with 1:36 remaining… Mike Bibby had 11 assists, but he was just 1-for-11 from the field for Atlanta. Josh Childress finished with 20 points in a reserve role.
Apr. 4: Bobcats 105, Raptors 100
The AP reports: Jason Richardson scored 27 points and Earl Boykins converted a three-point play after stealing the ball from T.J. Ford in the final minute of the Charlotte Bobcats’ 105-100 victory over the Raptors on Friday night. Chris Bosh had 23 points for the Raptors, who clinched a playoff berth Friday night because Washington beat Miami… The Raptors (38-38) are hardly playing like a team poised to make a strong playoff run. Fans booed the home team at the final buzzer… Rasho Nesterovic added a season-high 23 points for Toronto, but All-Star Bosh didn’t get many touches in the final minutes. Raymond Felton had 21 points for Charlotte.
Martell Webster has irregular heartbeat
Prior to Thursday night’s game with the Houston Rockets, Martell Webster experienced flu-like symptoms and dizziness. Webster was taken to a local hospital where he stayed overnight for observation. Further testing today revealed an irregular heartbeat.
Webster has been discharged from the hospital and is scheduled to see the team’s cardiologist early next week. He will miss Sunday’s game with the San Antonio Spurs.
Yi Jianlian out for season
Milwaukee Bucks Director of Player Personnel Dave Babcock announced today that rookie forward Yi Jianlian (7-0, 238) will miss the remaining eight games of the season after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee during the Bucks win over Washington on Wednesday, April 2.
Yi, 20, underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam yesterday afternoon. After evaluation and further testing by Bucks orthopaedic physician Dr. John Heinrich, M.D., it was determined that a period of 2-3 weeks will be needed to rest and rehabilitate his injured knee before returning to basketball activity.
In 66 games this season (49 starts), Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. Among rookies who qualify, he ranks T-7th in scoring, 5th in rebounds, 2nd in free throw percentage (.841), 5th in blocked shots (0.85) and 7th in minutes played.
Yi was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December when he averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots in 16 games. He scored a season-high 29 points in the Bucks 103-99 win over Charlotte on December 22.
West playoffs are wide open
I’d say the Spurs should still be considered the favorite to come out of the West in the playoffs.
The Hornets have the most wins in the conference, but they’re new to being this good, and when things get turned up in the playoffs their lack of experience, both individually and as a team, could limit them.
The Lakers are winning more than expected, and although they’re armed with Kobe Bryant and loads of fun to watch because they play brilliant team basketball, it’s tough to say they’d beat a healthy Spurs squad when it counts.
The Jazz showed flashes of greatness in the playoffs last year, but it’s tough to say they’re any better this season.
The Suns are a bit underrated. They could be a true force in the post-season, especially since they’ve gotten used to playing with Shaquille O’Neal these past few weeks.
I have a tough time believing in the Rockets as far as a championship goes. Their giant winning streak was awesome, but I’m just not convinced they’ll go more than a round in the postseason.
The Mavericks, like the Suns, also may be slightly underrated. They have just as good a chance to reach the Western conference finals as anyone else.
Assuming that Dallas makes the playoffs and either the Nuggets or Warriors do, both Denver and Golden State are offensive teams that don’t play defense, and that can shock an opponent or two, but you don’t win a championship that way, ever.
Five highest/lowest paid teams, with wins
Sports Illustrated (Ian Thompson) reports: Here are the five most expensive payrolls this season and the anticipated win total for each of those teams — 5. Miami Heat, $75.5 million, 14 wins… 4. Cleveland Cavaliers, $81.5 million, 45 wins… 3. Denver Nuggets $82.7 million, 50 wins… 2. New York Knicks $95.3 million, 22 wins… 1. Dallas Mavericks $105.4 million, 51 wins… Averages: $88.1 million, 36.4 wins.
And, Thompson also reports: Here are the five most expensive payrolls this season and the anticipated win total for each of those teams — 30. Memphis Grizzlies, $53.4 million, 21 wins… 29. Charlotte Bobcats, $54.2 million, 31 wins… 28. Atlanta Hawks, $56.0 million, 38 wins… 27. Orlando Magic, $58.1 million, 51 wins… 26. Golden State Warriors, $59.3 million, 50 wins… Averages: $56.2 million, 38.2 wins.
Cavs sign Lance Allred
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Lance Allred for the remainder of the season and for the 2008-09 season. He was signed to a 10-day contract on March 13 and to his second 10-day contract on March 25. Allred has played in two games this season for the Cavaliers.
Apr. 3: Rockets 95, Blazers 86
The Rockets opened up a lead in the second quarter and held on for the win. For Houston, Tracy McGrady (14-of-29) had 35 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Aaron Brooks, Luther Head, Bobby Jackson and Dikembe Mutombo all scored in the low double-digits, and rebounding was spread across the board. It was a true team effort outside of T-Mac’s big point total. Houston was red-hot from outside, nailing 11-of-22 three-pointers. For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge (10-of-20) had 23 points but just 4 rebounds. Jarrett Jack (8-of-15) had 19. Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw (just 5-of-18) and Channing Frye also reached double-digit points. Brandon Roy remains out of action.