The Deseret Morning News (Tim Buckley) reports: Despite facing competition for entrants from a well-attended summer league in Las Vegas, Jazz officials said after last July’s Rocky Mountain Revue that they hoped — and planned — for the long-running league to be held again in 2008. And now they know for sure that it will be. “We will have a league,” Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor said. O’Connor had no other details, including how many team will participate.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Overseas: Denmark a longshot to host 2014 World Championship
Fiba.com reports: Denmark coach Allan Foss admits his country is a long shot to be awarded the 2014 FIBA World Championship. The Danes, along with Spain, France and Russia have also expressed an interest in bidding for the event. Foss, whose team was relegated to EuroBasket Division B last year, said to FIBA: “Well, clearly it is a long shot, but it would really mean something to (improve) the knowledge of basketball in Denmark.”
Apr. 2: Lakers 104, Blazers 91
The AP reports: Pau Gasol had 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists in his first game in nearly three weeks, and the Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-91 for their second straight win after a pair of losses to two of the NBA’s weaker teams. Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and also had 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers (51-24), who trail New Orleans by 1 1/2 games and San Antonio by one game in the Western Conference standings… Derek Fisher scored 13 points, Lamar Odom had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Vladimir Radmanovic and Jordan Farmar added 10 points each for the Lakers, who have been without Andrew Bynum since he injured his left knee Jan. 13 against Memphis… Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster scored 23 points each for the Blazers. Steve Blake added 12 points and 10 assists and Aldridge had 11 points and 12 rebounds, but shot just 4-of-15. Brandon Roy, averaging a team-leading 19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists, missed his third straight game because of a strained right groin.
Apr. 2: Clippers 102, Sonics 84
The AP reports: Elton Brand made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday night, scoring 19 points and leading the Clippers past the Seattle SuperSonics 102-84. His stat line looked like so many others Brand has posted over the last few years—7-of-15 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, one block, and most importantly, 13 points in the fourth quarter… Down 70-69 to start the fourth, the Clippers went on a 13-2 run and took an 82-72 lead on Brand’s leaning jumper in the lane with 7:09 left… Al Thornton led the Clippers with 21 points and Corey Maggette added 20. Los Angeles had lost 11 of 12 entering Wednesday night… Kevin Durant led Seattle with 30 points, but the struggles only continued for the lowly SuperSonics… Jeff Green added 17 points and Nick Collison had 12 points and 17 rebounds for Seattle, which was outscored 33-14 in the fourth quarter.
Apr. 2: Mavs 111, Warriors 86
The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki was back, scoring 18 points in his unexpected start Wednesday night, and the Mavericks posted a 111-86 victory over the Golden State Warriors that could have big implications in a tight Western Conference playoff race… “There was already a sense of urgency. … And then seeing Dirk out there, it was very inspiring,” said Jason Terry, who matched a season-high with 31 points… Stephen Jackson had only two points on 1-of-11 shooting, and Al Harrington was 1-of-9 with six points. Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 27 points, while Baron Davis had 20… Josh Howard added 28 points for the Mavericks, while Kidd had a season-high 17 assists with 11 rebounds and five points.
Apr. 2: Jazz 117, Wolves 100
The AP reports: Mehmet Okur made four 3-pointers and scored 22 points, leading the Jazz to a 117-100 win over Minnesota. He scored 19 of points and made three 3-pointers in the second half… Okur credited guard Deron Williams for Utah’s stellar play in the second half. The Jazz scored 38 points in the third quarter and shot 62 percent from the field after the break. Williams had 19 points and 14 assists for his 49th double-double of the season… Utah won for the 24th time in 25 home games and improved to 34-4 at EnergySolutions Arena this season… Marko Jaric led Minnesota with 18 points and eight rebounds. Reserve Rashad McCants had 17 points.
Apr. 2: Grizzlies 130, Knicks 114
The AP reports: Hours after owner James Dolan introduced Donnie Walsh as New York’s new president of basketball operations, rookie Javaris Crittenton scored a season-high 23 points, Rudy Gay added 21, and the Memphis Grizzlies had their best offensive performance this season in a 130-114 victory Wednesday night over the Knicks… Michael Conley added 18 points, Juan Carlos Navarro had 16 and Mike Miller 15 as eight Grizzlies reached double figures… Zach Randolph led New York with 27 points, and Crawford added 24. David Lee had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Renaldo Balkman had 11.
Apr. 2: Hornets 106, Heat 77
The AP reports: Tyson Chandler was 10-for-10 from the floor, and his 20-point, 10-rebound effort helped the Hornets remain atop the Western Conference standings with a 106-77 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. David West scored 22 points and Chris Paul added 14 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who finished 5-1 on their six-game road trip through the East. It was also the 25th road win for the Hornets, topping what was the franchise record set 11 seasons ago… Chris Quinn finished with 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Miami, which lost its fifth straight… Blake Ahearn scored 15 points and Daequan Cook added 12 for Miami. Joel Anthony added a career-best 12 rebounds for the Heat.
Apr. 2: Bucks 110, Wizards 109
The AP reports: With Gilbert Arenas back on the floor, the Washington Wizards fell apart in too many ways to count in the fourth quarter. Forget all his dramatics: Agent Zero had the show stolen by a rookie making his first NBA game-winner. Ramon Sessions hit a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer Wednesday night to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 110-109 victory over the Wizards, who left the game with severely bruised egos and new injuries to Antawn Jamison and DeShawn Stevenson… Charlie Villanueva had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, whose celebration took some of the sting from the news that they were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by Atlanta’s win over Toronto… Butler and Jamison scored 18 points apiece for the Wizards, who missed a chance to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth.
Apr. 2: Celtics 92, Pacers 77
The AP reports: The Boston Celtics reached two milestones—matching the NBA record for best single-season turnaround and winning 60 games for the first time in 22 years… The Celtics also added a dominant player in the offseason, Kevin Garnett, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds Wednesday… The Pacers were led by Danny Granger with 14 points, and Mike Dunleavy and Jermaine O’Neal with 12 each. O’Neal came off the bench for the second game since missing 33 straight with a bone bruise on his left knee. Ray Allen had 15 points and Leon Powe had 14 with nine rebounds for the Celtics… Troy Murphy had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana.