The AP reports: If the Boston Celtics’ stars are going to get any rest for what could be a long playoff run, they’re going to have to earn it. “I thought they hadn’t played well enough to sit,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said pointedly about bringing his starters back into the game to hold off the New Jersey Nets down the stretch of a 106-104 victory on Wednesday night… Rajon Rondo had 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists, coming back into the game for the final 5 minutes after New Jersey cut what seemed like a secure nine-point lead to five… Vince Carter had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who were eliminated from the playoff race when Detroit beat New York earlier Wednesday night.
Category: Games
Basketball games blog
Pistons rout Knicks, move into tie for 7th in East
The AP reports: Richard Hamilton scored 22 points, Rasheed Wallace had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and the Pistons rolled into a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference by beating the New York Knicks 113-86 on Wednesday night. Antonio McDyess added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons, who pulled even with Chicago for the No. 7 seed and lowered their magic number to one to clinch their eighth consecutive playoff berth. Detroit will be back in the postseason with its next victory or one more loss by Charlotte… Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points and Stuckey finished with 14 for the Pistons in a game that was never competitive. Detroit scored the first 10 points and led by double digits for the final 43-plus minutes… Al Harrington scored 26 points and Wilson Chandler had 23 for New York (30-49), which lost for the 12th time in 14 games and will need to win its final three to avoid another 50-loss season.
Blazers beat Spurs, gets boost in playoff race
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 26 points and Portland won in San Antonio for the first time since 2002 with a 95-83 victory, moving the Trail Blazers into a three-way tie with the Spurs and Houston for the third-best record in the West with just four games remaining… The slumping Spurs, who have lost four of six, blew a 19-point lead in the first half and surrendered the season series to Portland 3-1. Roger Mason had 18 points as the Spurs lost for the first time since learning this week that Manu Ginobili will miss the playoffs because of an ankle injury. Tim Duncan, bothered by aching knees since the All-Star break, scored four points in 24 minutes in his first back-to-back stint in nearly six weeks… LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points, and Joe Przybilla had 17 rebounds. It was the 50th win for Portland, a mark the Trail Blazers haven’t reached since 2002-03.
Magic rally to top Grizzlies 81-78
The AP reports: J.J. Redick was feeling confident after sparking a late Orlando Magic rally over the Memphis Grizzlies. His smile was big, his hair was slick and he had an extra bounce in his step. So confident, in fact, Redick had the confidence afterward to wear a light-blue shirt complete with tight white pants and white shoes in a Magic locker room where poking fun at wardrobes is practically a hobby… Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points, Dwight Howard added 14 and the Magic rallied to beat the pesky Grizzlies 81-78 on Wednesday night. Redick scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter to highlight a 19-7 run, helping the Magic overcome an eight-point deficit and stay in the hunt for the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Orlando (58-20) stayed a game back of Boston for the East’s No. 2 spot… Rudy Gay had 18 points, and Mike Conley and Mayo had 17 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who were held to just 15 points in the final period and have lost two straight games after winning four in a row.
Cavaliers beat Wizards 98-86
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 21 points before spending part of the fourth quarter on the bench playing air guitar and dancing as the Cavs avenged an embarrassing loss to one of the league’s weaker teams by thumping the rival Wizards 98-86 on Wednesday night to improve to 38-1 at home. The win lowered the Cavaliers’ magic number for locking up home-court advantage for the Eastern Conference playoffs to one. A Cleveland win on Friday night at Philadelphia or a Boston loss to Miami will give the Cavs (63-15) the East’s top seed… Mo Williams scored 14 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who for the first time in four years will not see the Wizards in the first round of the postseason… Nick Young scored 16 to lead the Wizards, who stunned Cleveland last week and handed the Cavs two of their 15 losses this season. Washington’s Gilbert Arenas didn’t play, choosing to rest his surgically repaired right knee. Arenas’ return had sparked the Wizards to their upset over the Cavs last week.
Jack shines, Pacers beat Raptors 130-101
The AP reports: Indiana Pacers fans headed for the exits early Wednesday night. For once, it was because their team was on the right side of a blowout. Danny Granger scored 29 points, and the Pacers had their highest point total and margin of victory this season to beat the Toronto Raptors 130-101… Jarrett Jack added 23 points, Roy Hibbert had 17, and Troy Murphy finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Josh McRoberts had his first career double-double with career highs of 12 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes… Chris Bosh had 21 points and nine rebounds in Toronto’s third straight loss. Andrea Bargnani did not play because of a sore left heel. Patrick O’Bryant got his first career start in Bargnani’s place and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Gomes leads Timberwolves past Clippers 87-77
The AP reports: Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Craig Smith added 16 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 87-77 on Tuesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams. Eric Gordon scored 28 for the Clippers, who went without a basket for four-plus minutes to start the fourth quarter. Smith had seven consecutive points in the period to give the Timberwolves their biggest lead of the game, 78-62, with 10:18 remaining. Both teams were missing at least three starters because of injuries and a suspension. Kevin Love, who finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds, scored the first seven points of the third quarter to give Minnesota a 54-41 lead it never relinquished.
Gasol scores 26, Lakers beat Kings 122-104
The AP reports: Pau Gasol scored 26 points, Kobe Bryant added 22 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a sluggish start to beat the Sacramento Kings 122-104 Tuesday night and move within a half-game of Cleveland for the best record in the NBA. Los Angeles fell behind by 12 points midway through the first quarter before finding its stride against the NBA’s worst team and avenging a surprising loss earlier this season to the Kings at Arco Arena… Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds, Trevor Ariza scored 14 points and Gasol had 12 rebounds to go with his 11-for-16 shooting against overmatched Sacramento. Los Angeles has won four straight since losing back-to-back games in Charlotte and Atlanta. Spencer Hawes had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Jason Thompson added 18 points and 11 boards, and Francisco Garcia scored 19 for the Kings (16-61), who lost their fifth straight game and have already set a franchise record for most losses in a season.
Yao, Wafer lead Rockets past Magic 93-83
The AP reports: Yao Ming scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard and leading the Houston Rockets to a 93-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The 7-foot-6 Yao went 8-for-13 from the field and also blocked two shots. He played 38 minutes and got some help from 7-2 Dikembe Mutombo in handling Howard, the NBA’s leading rebounder and shot blocker… Ron Artest had 16 points and matched a season high with seven assists, and reserve Von Wafer scored 14 points for the Rockets, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio in the race for the Southwest Division… Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but went 3-for-9 from the free-throw line for the Magic, who slipped one game behind second-place Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hinrich scores 25 as Bulls beat Knicks 110-103
The AP reports: Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures as the Bulls beat the upset-minded New York Knicks 110-103 Tuesday night. Chicago has won five straight and 12 of 13 at home—26 of 38 overall—and has a half-game edge on idle Detroit for the seventh playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls also have a three-game lead on ninth-place Charlotte with four games left, including three at home… John Salmons scored 19 with six assists and six rebounds, Derrick Rose had 18 points and six assists, Tyrus Thomas had 18 points and four blocks, and Ben Gordon 17 points for the Bulls’ balanced scoring attack… Wilson Chandler scored 26 points to lead the Knicks, who were trying to win consecutive games for the first time since taking three in a row March 10-13. Al Harrington had 23 points, and David Lee added 17 points and 13 rebounds.