The AP reports: Ron Artest had 18 points and five rebounds and Luis Scola added 13 points as the Rockets beat the short-handed Spurs 85-78 on Thursday night. By design, Popovich used mostly reserves. Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley all watched in street clothes and Tony Parker scored eight points in 14 minutes, all in the first half. Rookie Malik Hairston scored 10 points to lead the Spurs, while rookies Devin Green and Anthony Tolliver added seven points each… Yao played the first quarter and had one basket and three rebounds.
Category: Games
Basketball games blog
Oct 9: Nets 109, Heat 105
The AP reports: Devin Harris scored 21 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 100-98 overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night in an exhibition game. Michael Beasley, the second overall draft pick in June, had 21 points for the Heat, but missed a chance to force a second overtime when the second of his two free throws rattled out in the closing seconds… Dwyane Wade also scored 21 points for Miami and was largely rested in the third and fourth quarters, while Vince Carter was limited to only eight points for the Nets before limping off after tweaking his left hamstring.
Oct 8: Hawks 100, Suns 96
The AP reports: Marvin Williams scored 19 points, Josh Smith had 18 and the Atlanta Hawks spoiled Terry Porter’s debut as Phoenix coach, rallying to beat the Suns 100-96 Wednesday night. It was the second victory in two exhibition games for the Hawks, who also defeated Orlando on Monday. Williams and Smith got lots of offensive support. Ex-Sun Joe Johnson scored 14 points, Flip Murray had 13 and Al Horford and Acie Law 10 each. Shaquille O’Neal topped the Suns with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. Alando Tucker scored 14, Matt Barnes and Louis Amundson 12 apiece, and Grant Hill 10.
Oct 8: Warriors 110, Blazers 95
The AP reports: Kelenna Azubuike scored 18 points, all in the second half, and Brandan Wright added 16 points and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-95 Wednesday night. Portland center Greg Oden, the first pick of the 2007 draft, scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge also scored 14 points for the Blazers while Jerryd Bayless had 13. Azubuike, who didn’t play during the first half, hit 7 of 10 shots during the second half as the Warriors (1-1) rallied from a four-point halftime deficit.
Oct 8: Wolves 88, Thunder 82
The AP reports: Rashad McCants scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Rodney Carney and Ryan Gomes hit consecutive 3s to help Minnesota spoil the Oklahoma City Thunder’s preseason debut with an 88-82 victory Wednesday night… Al Jefferson added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves (2-0) and Corey Brewer finished with 11 points. Kevin Love and Carney each finished with 10. Damien Wilkins led the Thunder with 19 points, including a layup to tie the score at 78 with 3:04 to play. McCants fouled out on the play, but Wilkins missed the free throw. Wilcox added 17 points for the Thunder, Russell Westbrook had 13 and Kevin Durant finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Oct 8: Wizards 89, Grizzlies 80
The AP reports: JaVale McGee, Washington’s first-round draft choice out of Nevada-Reno, had 20 points and eight rebounds Wednesday night to lead the Wizards to a 89-80 preseason victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. McGee shot 8-for-12 from the field for Washington. Andray Blatche scored 14 points and DerMarr Johnson had 11… Rudy Gay scored 21 points on 5-for-19 shooting for Memphis, winless in two games. Hakim Warrick added 16 points, but was 3-for-9 as the Grizzlies shot 35 percent on the night. Greg Buckner finished with 11 for Memphis and rookie Marc Gasol had 10. Meanwhile, O.J. Mayo, the third-overall pick from Southern Cal, connected on 3-of-11 from the field for Memphis and finished with seven points.
Oct 8: Pistons 85, Bucks 71
The AP reports: Arron Afflalo said: “I’m going to find ways to take advantage of what I can do offensively.” He did just that Wednesday, leading the Pistons with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and connected on all three of his 3-point attempts… The Bucks were missing several key players, including first-round pick Joe Alexander (abdominal strain), Richard Jefferson (quad), Luke Ridnour (knee) and Charlie Bell (Achilles tendinitis). Andrew Bogut played after missing Milwaukee’s first preseason game because of a migraine, but finished with just seven points… Charlie Villanueva had 20 points for Milwaukee and Malik Allen added 18.
Oct 8: Magic 118, Bobcats 80
The AP reports: Orlando jumped to a 31-point first quarter lead Monday night en route to a 118-80 victory over the Bobcats… Dwight Howard scored 20 points to lead the Magic. Rashard Lewis had 17 points to lead three other Orlando players in double figures. Orlando’s lead grew to as much as 44 in the fourth quarter… Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jason Richardson added 15 points… Sean May, who didn’t wear a knee brace or protective sleeve, played 18 minutes and finished with seven points and two rebounds.
Oct 8: Hornets 105, Pacers 71
The AP reports: Chris Paul scored 17 points, and the New Orleans Hornets beat the Pacers 105-71 in Indiana’s preseason opener on Wednesday night. Former Pacer Peja Stojakovic scored 14 points and Tyson Chandler had 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who topped Golden State 106-103 in their preseason opener on Sunday… T.J. Ford led the Pacers with 15 points in just under 20 minutes. Jack had 11 points and eight rebounds, but had eight turnovers. Indiana’s Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Travis Diener sat out with injuries.
Oct 8: Raptors 113, Knicks 111
The AP reports: Losing in Mike D’Antoni’s preseason debut isn’t keeping the New York Knicks from enjoying life with their new coach. Chris Bosh had 20 points and seven rebounds and the Toronto Raptors beat New York 113-111 on Wednesday night… Zach Randolph, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds, isn’t worried about his place despite D’Antoni’s up-tempo style… Andrea Bargnani added 15 points, Kris Humphries had 13 and Jermaine O’Neal added eight points and six rebounds for Toronto, which won for the second time in two nights… David Lee led the Knicks with 22 points and nine rebounds, Nate Robinson added 16 points and Wilson Chandler had 15. Stephon Marbury came off the bench to score 10 points in 23 minutes.