Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies bring Zach Randolph off bench in win over Lakers

Zach Randolph

Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins turned to the starting lineup he’s used the most, re-inserting Marreese Speights in place of returning power forward Zach Randolph.

The move helped the otherwise lost Grizzlies head back in the right direction with a 102-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in the Staples Center.

Memphis ended a three-game skid and avoided being swept on its four-game road trip. With a willing Randolph playing off the bench, the Griz displayed a renewed spirit and played arguably their most cohesive basketball on both ends of the court in a week.

“Our starters came out and played with a lot of heart and passion,” Hollins said.

The Griz hadn’t looked this sharp or scrappy since a March 13 double-overtime loss at home to the Lakers. They were without Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph for that game. This time, Gay’s scoring led the Grizzlies’ early charge and Randolph was a force late.

Randolph made 4 of 5 shots and grabbed five of his 12 rebounds in the fourth quarter. The veteran forward didn’t seem to mind coming off the bench, citing a need to work on his conditioning.

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Ramon Sessions loves his new life with Lakers

Ramon Sessions

Now that he’s moved into the starting lineup and now that he’s met Lakers courtside royalty in actor Jack Nicholson, it’s time to ask the $1 million question about new point guard Ramon Sessions.

How do you pronounce his first name?

“Rah-mahn or Ra-mone, it doesn’t matter,” Sessions said.

All right. On to another pressing question: Have you been surprised by your sudden impact on the Lakers?

“I wouldn’t say it caught me by surprise,” said Sessions, acquired March 15 from Cleveland. “It’s something I knew deep down inside if I ever got the opportunity to showcase my skill I knew I could fit in with one of the best teams in the league.

“My career has been kind of like this. I’ve played well. I’ve just been (with teams) like Milwaukee, Minnesota and Cleveland that don’t get much coverage. I know guys in the NBA circle know I can play.

“It’s a dream come true for that trade to go through and be put in this situation.”

— Reported by Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic considering ankle surgery

Nikola Pekovic

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic, diagnosed with bone spurs in his right ankle, said Sunday, March 25, that he will consider surgery if the condition doesn’t improve.

Pekovic did not play in the Wolves’ 117-100 win over Denver and will not play at Memphis on Tuesday or at Charlotte on Wednesday.

“I really can’t go into next season with this thing,” Pekovic said before Sunday’s game. “It’s been too painful. We’re going to try to figure out some things to do in the next few days.”

Pekovic has missed four of the past five games because of soreness in his left ankle. He said “overcompensating” for the bone spurs in his right ankle led to soreness in the left.

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ryan Anderson has shot at winning Most Improved player award

Ryan Anderson

[Orlando Magic forward Ryan] Anderson has flourished to the point where he’s a candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award.

“It’s an honor to even be in the talks and involved with those names,” he said. “I’m not really focused on that as a whole. It’s a cool thing. I’m just truly blessed to play consistently.”

Anderson shared the power-forward spot with Brandon Bass late last season after veteran Rashard Lewis was traded to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas.

This season, he took advantage of an opportunity when Orlando dealt Bass to the Boston Celtics, winning the job even after the Magic brought in Davis.

Anderson has started all 48 games, averaging 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game compared to 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 68 games (14 starts) last season.

— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel

Hawks beat Jazz in NBA’s first 4-overtime game since 1997

joe johnson

Joe Johnson scored 37 points, Josh Smith added 22 and the Atlanta Hawks ended Utah’s six-game winning streak with a 139-133 victory Sunday night in the NBA’s first quadruple-overtime game since 1997.

The four overtimes tied for the third-longest game in NBA history. It was the ninth NBA game to go four OTs and the first since Phoenix beat Portland 140-139 on Nov. 14, 1997.

Al Jefferson finished with 28 points and 17 rebounds, and Paul Millsap had 25 points and 13 boards for the Jazz before both players fouled out in the final overtime…

With 16.9 seconds remaining in the fourth OT, Johnson’s 20-foot jumper over C.J. Miles gave the Hawks a 135-131 lead.

Jeff Teague, who had 18 points and nine assists, added a pair of free throws with 13 seconds to go to make it 137-133. Johnson’s two free throws sealed the victory with 5.5 seconds remaining.

Smith fouled out with 1:57 left in the first overtime.

Zaza Pachulia, who pulled down 20 rebounds, hit a short jumper in the final seconds of the second quarter that gave the Hawks a 17-point lead, their biggest of the game.

— Reported by George Henry of the Associated Press

Chicago Bulls are first NBA team to clinch 2012 playoff spot

Lucky? Maybe. Luol Deng’s timing was awful good, too. He grabbed a shot that had been blocked and put it in the basket just before the buzzer sounded Saturday night, rescuing the Chicago Bulls and giving them their NBA-leading 40th victory.

At 40-10, the Bulls clinched a playoff spot.

Teammate C.J. Watson drove for the basket but his shot was partially blocked by Toronto’s James Johnson and Deng was there for the winner. After officials reviewed the play to make sure Deng’s shot beat the buzzer, the Bulls had a 102-101 overtime victory on a night in which they were often outplayed by the 16-win Raptors.

“We’re lucky we had enough time to get the rebound,” Deng said. “When it left my hand it felt good because I saw the light after it left my hand. But then again, you never really know. We waited until they made the decision.”

Johnson, an ex-Bull, had 20 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots, part of another determined effort by the Raptors, who gave Chicago a scare three nights ago before losing.

“That’s what happens sometimes,” Johnson said.

“The ball happened to fall short after I blocked it and Luol Deng made a great play. We deserved to win tonight, but they made the game-winning play.”

Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, Deng added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Watson had 23 points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Thunder recall Reggie Jackson from D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled guard Reggie Jackson from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Jackson appeared in one game (one start) for the 66ers scoring 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 41 minutes.

During the 2011-12 season, Jackson has appeared in 41 games with the Thunder and posted averages of 3.4 points, 1.7 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes.

Arron Afflalo suspended for throwing elbow at Gordon Hayward

Arron Afflalo

Arron Afflalo of the Denver Nuggets has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow to the head of Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter of Utah’s 121-102 win over Denver on March 23 at EnergySolutions Arena.

Afflalo will serve his suspension Sunday, March 25 when the Nuggets visit the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Video of incident is here.

Warriors assign forward Chris Wright to D-League

The Golden State Warriors today re-assigned rookie forward Chris Wright to the Dakota Wizards, the Warriors’ NBA D-League affiliate.  The assignment marks the 57th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the second for Wright this season.

Wright returns to the Wizards following a three-game assignment in January, when he averaged 18.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 31.0 minutes.

Wright, who earned a Call-Up to the Warriors from the Maine Red Claws in December 2011, has appeared in 17 games for Golden State this season, averaging 2.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 4.7 minutes.  Prior to his Call-Up, Wright played in four games for the Red Claws, averaging 17.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in 31.3 minutes