Inside Hoops – Page 2586 – NBA Blog

Apr. 5: Hawks 92, Sixers 85

The AP reports: Joe Johnson scored 22 points, Josh Smith added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Hawks built a big lead and held off the Philadelphia 76ers 92-85 on Saturday night. Marvin Williams contributed 18 points, Al Horford had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Mike Bibby had 10 points for the Hawks (36-41), who responded after losing to the Sixers 109-104 on Friday in Atlanta… Andre Iguodala scored 25 points for Philadelphia, which had clinched a playoff berth for the first time in three years with Friday’s win. Andre Miller added 18, Lou Williams and Rodney Carney had 13 apiece and Samuel Dalembert had 10 rebounds for the 76ers (39-38), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Still, they have won 21 of their last 29 games.

Apr. 5: Magic 101, Cavs 86

The AP reports: Hedo Turkoglu scored 23 points, Rashard Lewis added 21 and the Magic, one of this season’s biggest surprises, locked up the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed Saturday with a 101-86 win over the staggering Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic, who have sat behind Boston and Detroit in the standings for much of the season, won despite getting only four points on 1-of-8 shooting from All-Star center Dwight Howard—17 below his average. Orlando’s defense, though, was the difference… Howard had 12 rebounds, Jameer Nelson had 16 points and 9 assists and reserve Pat Garrity had 13 points for the Magic (48-28), who won 40 games last season and are now two victories from their first 50-win season since 1995-96— when they lost in the conference finals… Delonte West scored 19 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 18 for Cleveland, which has dropped five of seven and is staggering toward the regular-season finish line.

Iguodala unleashes mock-anger at Lou Williams

After the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Nets in New Jersey on Tuesday, April 1, Sixers star Andre Iguodala put on a brief show for the media by clowning around and pretending to be mad at Lou Williams.

In the Sixers (visiting team) locker room, Iguodala loudly and angrily yelled “Switch, man I told you to switch!” at Williams from across the room, with about a dozen or two reporters easily hearing it.

After pretending to be annoyed with Williams, Iguodala busted out a big grin, laughing, “Ahhh, I got you all!” to the media. Then he looked at Williams and laughed: “They were looking!”

The Sixers are having fun, and headed to the playoffs.

– Jeff

Lakers assign Coby Karl to D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-assigned guard Coby Karl to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Karl, who became the 11th NBA player assigned to a D-League affiliate earlier this season on November 28, was re-assigned to the D-Fenders February 14.

During his first assignment, Karl played in 10 games with the D-Fenders from November 29 – December 22, averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.4 minutes while shooting .435 from three-point range and .492 from the field.

In three games during his second stint with the D-Fenders from February 14 – February 19, Karl averaged 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 37.2 minutes.

In 13 total games with the D-Fenders this season, Karl is averaging 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 38.1 minutes.

Earlier this season on February 19, Karl joined Lakers’ second-year guard Jordan Famar as the only other player in league history to see action in same-day D-League and NBA games, recording 15 points, five rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes during the D-Fenders’ 2:30 pm contest versus Tulsa. In the Lakers’ 7:30 pm game versus Atlanta, Karl posted five points and an assist in six minutes of action, marking the fourth D-League/NBA individual double-header in league history behind Farmar’s three during the 2006-07 season (April 1st, 3rd and 12th).

Signed by the Lakers as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 30, 2007, Karl has appeared in 17 games this season, averaging 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 4.2 minutes.

Last season, the 6’5” guard averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior at Boise State and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl, who left Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-point field goals made (266), ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,698 career points.

Nuggets assign Taurean Green to D-League

The Denver Nuggets have assigned G Taurean Green to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Green, 6-0, 177, has averaged 1.6 ppg in 17 games with the Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers this season.

This marks the 50th player assignment to the NBA Development League this season with 31 different players having been assigned, including Green earlier in the year. While with Portland, Green was assigned to the Idaho Stampede and averaged 19.3 ppg, 9.8 apg and 5.3 rpg in four appearances.

Green was acquired by the Nuggets from Portland in exchange for Von Wafer on February 21.

Woman fights Jordan harassment suit

The AP reports: A woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her child wants the former NBA star to submit to a third paternity test. Lisa Miceli also is asking a judge to lift a temporary restraining order imposed after Jordan filed a harassment suit against her. Miceli, 35, claims Jordan fathered her four-year-old son, but Jordan’s lawsuit says two 2005 paternity tests rule him out as the boy’s father.

Yao Ming visiting China this week

The Houston Chronicle (Jonathan Feigen) reports: Seeking a break in his rehabilitation routine, Rockets center Yao Ming is visiting China this week with plans to return to Houston in time for the playoffs. “He’s done a stretch of his rehab,” John Huizinga, Yao’s NBA agent, said. “He has a long stretch of rehab coming up. This is a window of time. It’s an opportunity to take a break and get a change of scenery. He wants to be back to be with his Rockets teammates once he is off his crutches for the playoffs, and when that happens he will step up treatment too.”

Apr. 4: Lakers 112, Mavs 108

The AP reports: Lamar Odom scored a season-high 31 points against a subpar Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Pacific Division-leading Lakers put a crimp in the Dallas Mavericks’ postseason push with a 112-108 victory on Friday night… Pau Gasol had 25 points and seven assists for Los Angeles, and Odom grabbed 10 rebounds. It was the sixth time this season that the Lakers have had three players with 20 or more points—all victories… Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs with 27 points, Jason Terry scored 25 and Josh Howard added 23. Jason Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. This was the Mavericks’ 10th loss that was decided by four points or less.

Apr. 4: Rockets 79, Sonics 66

The AP reports: After a relatively mortal first half, Tracy McGrady ignored the pain in his injured left shoulder to score 18 of his 25 points in the third quarter, and the Houston Rockets kept pace in the wild Western Conference playoff race with a 79-66 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night… Bobby Jackson added 13 points, playing well in place of injured starter Rafer Alston, who missed his second straight game with a sore hamstring… Nick Collison had 15 points and 11 rebounds, but the Sonics lost for the 20th time in 22 games and assured themselves of at least matching the worst record in franchise history… Kevin Durant missed his first eight attempts, and finished 2-of-17 with a season-low four points.

Apr. 4: Suns 117, Wolves 88

The AP reports: Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists, then sat out the final quarter Friday night while the Suns completed a 117-88 rout of the Timberwolves. Amare Stoudemire had 24 points in 28 minutes as five Suns reached double figures. Grant Hill, out for the previous three games with a strained right groin, had 16 points and 10 rebounds… Raja Bell added 15 points and Leandro Barbosa 11 for the Suns… Al Jefferson scored 20 on 11-of-26 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who fell to an NBA-worst 5-32 on the road. The Timberwolves shot 38 percent.