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Suns assign Alando Tucker to D-League

The Phoenix Suns have assigned rookie forward Alando Tucker to their NBA Development League affiliate Albuquerque Thunderbirds, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 29th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Tucker has made appearances in two games for Phoenix this season, averaging 6.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.0 minutes of action.  A product of the University of Wisconsin, Tucker finished his college career as the all-time leading scorer with 2,217 points, averaging 16.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 134 games.  During his senior season he earned Big Ten Player of the Year and was named First-Team All-American by the Associated Press.

Tucker is the record-setting 12th NBA player assigned to the D-League this season.  On this date last year there had been a total of three players assigned to the D-League, while in 2005-06 there were eight players assigned to the NBA Development League at this point.

Tucker joins an Albuquerque squad with a 2-1 record on the season, coached by 1984 NBA All-Star Jeff Ruland and features 2004 NBA champion Darvin Ham.

Matt Barnes’ mother dies

The San Jose Mercury News reports: Ann Barnes, mother of the Warriors’ Matt Barnes, died Tuesday after battling cancer. Matt has apparently told the Warriors that he wants to play tonight in Sacramento, which is home for him and is where he returned to be with his mother often over the last few fateful weeks. I can’t say anything more than his teammates have already said: They’re with him, they support him, they want whatever’s best for him.

LeBron left finger sprain update

Cavaliers forward LeBron James left tonight’s game versus the Detroit Pistons at halftime with a left index finger sprain and did not return to the game. The injury occurred with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter. X-rays taken at the arena were negative. He will travel with the team to Toronto tonight and be re-evaluated Thursday. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Garbajosa update: Surgery still needed

Jorge Garbajosa completed an examination with Dr. Mark Myerson of Baltimore on Monday afternoon. Dr. Myerson’s report concurs with the recommendation of the Toronto Raptors medical staff that Garbajosa’s injury requires further surgery.

No surgery date has been determined and no timing has been established for a return to basketball activity. Garbajosa will remain on the Inactive List indefinitely.

Lakers assign Coby Karl to D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have 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 was signed by the Lakers as a free agent on July 30, 2007.  He has appeared in two games this season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 assists in 2.0 minutes.

The 6’5” guard from Boise State averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was named First Team All-WAC.  Karl’s 1,698 career points ranks third on Boise State’s all-time scoring list while leaving Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).

Timberwolves bench stepping up

The Timberwolves bench continued its production in New Orleans on Monday night. The bench exploded for a season-best 54 points compared to 25 points for the Hornets. Three Wolves reserves scored in double figures – Sebastian Telfair (20 points), Antoine Walker (17 points) and Craig Smith (10 points).

Wolves’ reserves have now outscored their opponents in 10 of the team’s 12 games. Antoine Walker’s 24 points vs. Denver on Friday night is the single-game high this season.

McGrady: Another 30-point game

McGrady to the Rescue: Tracy McGrady registered 36 points (13-26 FG, 8-8 FT), eight rebounds and six assists at the L.A. Clippers (11/26/07), marking his sixth 30-point outing of the season. McGrady, who also had 35 points (13-23 FG) in the previous game vs. Denver (11/24/07), led the Rockets with 19 fourth-quarter points and 28 second-half points against the Clippers. The respective totals marked Houston’s best quarter and half performances of the season.

Playing Defense: Houston limited the Clippers to opponent season lows in points (71), field goals made (25) and field goal percentage (.329, 25-76 FG) at Los Angeles (11/26/07). The 71 points by the Clippers were the fewest ever scored in a game against the Rockets in the all-time series between these two teams. The previous low was 77 points (done three times, last on 11/4/00).

Double-Digit Victories: Houston’s 88-71 (+17) win at the L.A. Clippers (11/26/07) ended a three-game slide on the road and gave the Rockets their first consecutive set of victories by a double-digit margin this season. Houston also posted a 109-81 (+28) win vs. Denver (11/24/07).

C.Butler, A.Jamison stepping up

Washington looks to snap a seven-game losing streak at San Antonio tonight.  The last time Washington won in San Antonio was Dec. 11, 1999 — during the 1999-00 NBA season.  San Antonio’s Tim Duncan is the lone holdover on either team’s roster from that game; a 99-89 Wizards’ win.

After averaging a combined 63.0 points per game in Washington’s last four games, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are now averaging a combined 45.9 points per game this season.  Butler and Jamison currently rank as the NBA’s sixth highest scoring duo…behind Anthony-Iverson (DEN), McGrady-Ming (HOU), Davis-Jackson (GSW), James-Gooden (CLE) and James-Ilgauskas (CLE).

Antawn Jamison has averaged 29.0 points per game in Washington’s last six games, after averaging 17.8 points per game in the Wizards’ first eight.  Jamison is not the only Wizard to have picked up his scoring in the last six games in the absence of Gilbert Arenas.

After connecting on a career-high five three-pointers in Washington’s last game, Caron Butler has now hit 14 three-pointers through 14 games this season.  Last season, Butler connected on 18 three-pointers in 63 games.  He hit a career-high 41 three-point field goals in 75 games in 2005-06.

Players of week are L.James, T.Parker

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 25.

James led the Cavaliers to a 3-1 week averaging 36.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. He became the first player since Bob Sura (April 9-10, 2004) to post triple-doubles on consecutive nights when he recorded 37 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over Toronto on Nov. 24, and 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win at Indiana on Nov. 25. In each of the team’s four games this week, James scored 30-plus points, including a season-high-tying 45 points on Nov. 21 at Minnesota.

Parker led San Antonio to a 4-0 week by averaging 26.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He set his season high with 32 points on Nov. 21 in a win over Orlando and twice tied his season high in assists after tallying nine on Nov. 20 at Atlanta and against Orlando on Nov 21.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Devin Harris, Golden State’s Baron Davis, Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley, Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, and Washington’s Antawn Jamison.