The AP reports: Ron Artest scored 30 points, Kevin Martin added 27 and the Sacramento Kings dealt a blow to Houston’s chances of winning the Southwest Division with a 99-98 victory over the Rockets on Tuesday night. The Rockets (49-25) fell 2 1/2 games behind New Orleans and San Antonio in the division race with only eight games remaining, hurting their chances of hosting a first-round playoff series. Tracy McGrady scored 32 to lead Houston, but missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have won it. The Rockets have lost five of eight since a franchise-record, 22-game winning streak… Luis Scola finished with 20 points and Rafer Alston had 18 for Houston.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Apr. 1: Nuggets 126, Suns 120
The AP reports: The Denver Nuggets frittered away a big lead over Phoenix for the second time in 24 hours, but unlike their drubbing in the desert, they recovered from their latest meltdown for a crucial 126-120 victory over the Suns at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night… “I love playing back-to-back games, especially after a loss,” said Allen Iverson, who led Denver with 31 points… Carmelo Anthony grabbed two key rebounds and sank two free throws in the final 27 seconds and finished with 25 points. Kenyon Martin chipped in 18 points and Smith had 17. Leandro Barbosa led the Suns with 27 points but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 15 seconds left… After Nash (17 points and 18 assists) missed a 3-pointer, Shaquille O’Neal got the rebound and drew the foul but missed both free throws.
Apr. 1: Spurs 116, Warriors 92
The AP reports: The San Antonio Spurs’ Big Three had a good night and two of the Golden State Warriors’ top three scorers had a bad one… Tony Parker led San Antonio with 26 points for a 116-92 victory Tuesday, with Tim Duncan adding 17 points and 12 rebounds and Manu Ginobili scoring 16… Baron Davis led the Warriors with 19 points in a game the Spurs controlled most of the way. Monta Ellis added 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting and had five turnovers for the Warriors. Stephen Jackson was just 2-of-12 from the field for six points, well below his 20-plus scoring average… C.J. Watson added 13 points for Golden State. Michael Finley scored 13 for San Antonio and Bruce Bowen 12. Fabricio Oberto grabbed 10 boards for the Spurs.
Apr. 1: Celtics 106, Bulls 92
The AP reports: Ray Allen scored 22 points, and Kevin Garnett added 20 and blocked four shots to lead the Celtics to a 106-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. Paul Pierce scored 17 for Boston, which won its fourth straight and remained six games ahead of Detroit in the conference standings. Allen was 5-of-7 on 3-pointers, Pierce hit 4 of 5 and Boston made 14 of 25 in all—one shy of its season-high. Chicago continued to fade from the playoff picture, despite getting a season-high 24 points from Tyrus Thomas, who started for the injured Drew Gooden, and 19 from Andres Nocioni. With eight games left, the 11th-place Bulls trail Atlanta by five and have to climb over New Jersey and Indiana to make their fourth straight postseason appearance.
Apr. 1: Pistons 94, Wolves 90
The AP reports: As Chauncey Billups has done so many times before in a Detroit uniform, Rodney Stuckey did much of his damage when his team needed him most, scoring 12 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Pistons to a 94-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night… “I’ve always said he’s one of those guys, the bigger the game, the bigger the situation, the more responsibility he has and he wants,” said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who gave Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton the night off to rest up for the playoffs. .. Al Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds, but only managed 12 shots while being hounded by double- and triple-teams all night. Foye scored 18 points, but was just 6-for-14 from the field, committed a costly turnover in the closing minutes and rushed an off-balance shot out of a timeout with 45 seconds to go to seal the loss.
Apr. 1: Bucks 119, Knicks 115
The AP reports: Bobby Simmons scored a season-high 24 points and Michael Redd added 36 in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-115 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday… Andrew Bogut, who missed the last two games because of a broken nose, chipped in with 24 points and 13 rebounds for Milwaukee… New York’s Quentin Richardson scored 22 points and Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford each added 19. The Knicks lost their fifth straight road game and are 2-15 in their last 17 games.
Apr. 1: Sixers 108, Nets 97
The AP reports: Lou Williams hit three consecutive baskets in the final 3:47, and the surprising 76ers posted their 20th win in 27 games with a 108-99 victory over the fading New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night… Andre Miller had 24 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, while Andre Iguodala added 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Samuel Dalembert added 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks and finished off a 9-2 spurt that Williams ignited with seven straight points… “We have to think we have an opportunity regardless of how many games we have left to play,” said Vince Carter, who led the Nets with 29 points… Devin Harris added 22 points for New Jersey and Richard Jefferson had 14, but just one in the second half.
Apr. 1: Hornets 98, Magic 97
The AP reports: Peja Stojakovic scored six points in the final minute—a clutch 3-pointer and three free throws—to lift New Orleans past the Orlando Magic 98-97, giving the Hornets their franchise-record 24th road win… Chris Paul had 19 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, Morris Peterson scored 19 points and David West had 18 points and 11 rebounds… Hedo Turkoglu had 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds for Orlando. Rashard Lewis added 24 points and Dwight Howard had 17 points and 15 rebounds… Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson missed his second straight game with a bruised jaw, and forward Brian Cook was out after breaking a finger Monday in practice.
Bobcats owner says Jordan controls Sam Vincent’s fate
The AP reports: Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson believes first-year coach Sam Vincent is the right man for the job. But Johnson said Tuesday the final decision on whether Vincent will return next season rests with part-owner and basketball operations chief Michael Jordan. “The definitive answer will come from Michael, but my position is, I think Sam did a credible job,” Johnson said… Johnson said he believes Vincent has overcome early growing pains to do a “credible job.”
Sixers PG Andre Miller shooting limitations
Tonight in New Jersey the Nets host the 76ers, who come into the game with a 37-37 record.
The Sixers start Andre Miller and Willie Green at guard, Andre Iguodala and Reggie Evans at forward, and Samuel Dalembert at center. Off the bench, guard Lou Williams is sixth man.
Miller knows his shooting limitations. Check out these percentages: 49.6% field goals, but just 10.0% three-pointers. He only fires from outside when absolutely necessary. For the season Miller averages 17 points, 4 rebounds and 6.9 rebounds per game.