NBA News Blog – Page 1461 – NBA Blog

Only 1,016 fans attend Bucks at Nets game during big snowstorm

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

Even by Nets standards, the Meadowlands was e-m-p-t-y on Wednesday night.

You could find bigger crowds in ghost towns.

OK, that’s a stretch, right along with the official attendance listed as 12,873 in the Bucks’ 97-77 rout of the Nets. That number referred to tickets sold.

In terms of actual bodies filling actual seats, the Nets announced that 1,016 hearty souls braved the mega-snowstorm in North Jersey and congregated at the 18,974-seat Izod Center, giving it the feel of a high school game between Clifton and Passaic.

The Nets are famous for having some of the worst crowds in the NBA, but nothing comes close to this one. On this night, with entire lower tiers of the arena empty and not a single person sitting in the upper deck, fans were able to easily hear Bucks coach Scott Skiles yell at the officials. Conversely, when the Nets’ Courtney Lee misfired on a jumper, he clearly heard a fan say in not much louder than a conversational voice, “Hey, follow your shot.”

Stephen Curry explodes for 36-point triple-double

The AP reports:

Taking over the offense with leading scorer Monta Ellis sidelined with a knee injury, Curry recorded his first triple-double with a career-high 36 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds as Golden State beat the Los Angeles Clippers 132-102 to snap season-high nine-game losing streak Wednesday night…

Curry had to wait until the very end of the game to notch his 10th rebound, grabbing Al Thornton’s missed 16-foot jump shot just before the final buzzer…

Anthony Tolliver added a career-high 29 points and Anthony Morrow had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State, which led by as much as 38 while playing without Ellis.

Eric Gordon and Rasual Butler had 16 points apiece for the Clippers, who remained winless in three games since interim coach Kim Hughes replaced Mike Dunleavy.

Warriors now want injured players at games

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Warriors are expected to do some serious soul-searching during the All-Star break, and team management has already decided to initiate one noticeable change when things tip off again next week.

Injured players will be expected to be in the arena cheering for their teammates on game nights, coach Don Nelson said.

“It’s a team policy that we just changed,” Nelson said during a question-and-answer session with listeners on the “Warriors Weekly” radio show. “Unless it’s a serious injury that calls them to be off of their legs, I think they should be at the games and should want to be at games.”

Dirk Nowitzki set to play in front of massive All-Star crowd

Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

“I always said the first time that I made [the all-star team], it was going to be my most special all-star memory,” Dirk Nowitzki said Wednesday at the Dallas Convention Center. “But this one is probably right up there with my first one, just because it’s in my home, I’ve got plenty of people coming, and obviously it’s the biggest venue.

“I’ve never played in front of 90,000-100,000 people. So just being a part of history, and plus in my new hometown, it’s going to be a little crazy and a busy weekend, but I’m going to enjoy it.”

The All-Star Game will be played Sunday at 7 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, and officials are expecting a record crowd of more than 90,000.

Nowitzki kicked off his busy five-day, all-star festivities with the unveiling of his 7-foot, life-size bobble head at the NBA Jam Session. The nine-time all-star was impressed with the craftsmanship of the bobble head, although he couldn’t help but joke about a couple of things.

“I don’t think my head is that big,” Nowitzki said, laughing. “I don’t think I ever [had] that size hair, but they did a pretty good job for a 7-foot bobble head.

Mark Cuban wants to buy into Dallas Stars

Mark Cuban is one of InsideHoops.com’s favorite NBA owners. Probably the top guy on our list. And he’s done a great job with the Dallas Mavericks.

Cuban has had interest in expanding ownership in other sports, and has continued exploring that path.

Eddie Sefko of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Wednesday he has initiated talks to buy a stake in the Dallas Stars, potentially joining an as-yet unidentified group of investors that is looking into purchasing the NHL club from Tom Hicks.

Cuban has been hesitant to take minority ownership in any sports franchise, but taking part in any portion of the Stars’ new ownership is one venture that interests him.

Sounds like this has a legit shot at happening.

Danilo Gallinari has sore right forearm

New York Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a sore right forearm Tuesday night as the team hosted the Sacramento Kings.

NBA All-Star weekend is February 12-14 in Dallas, Texas, and Gallinari is one of the NBA three-point shootout participants. The event takes place Saturday night.

After the game, there was good news. Speaking to InsideHoops.com and other reporters, Gallinari said he will be fine in a few days and made it clear there is no chance whatsoever that he’d miss the Shootout.

Monta Ellis sprains left knee

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, who suffered a sprained left knee with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter of last night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, underwent an MRI exam earlier today in Palo Alto. The MRI confirmed the injury as a mild left knee sprain. Ellis will be evaluated again on Wednesday and his status for tomorrow night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers will be determined at that point.

This season, Ellis is averaging 26.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.19 steals per game, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three-point range.

The 13-37 Warriors are currently the 14th seed out of 15 teams in the Western conference.

Sixers go 3-0 against winning teams without Iverson

Tom Moore of The Intelligencer reports:

The 19-31 Sixers have won three in a row – all against teams with a .500 or better record at the time – with Allen Iverson absent and Willie Green starting in his place.

The 6-foot-3 Green and 6-4 rookie Jrue Holiday have given the Sixers better size and matchups in the backcourt than when the 6-1 Lou Williams and 5-11 Iverson started. They’ve also cut down on opponents’ dribble penetration, allowing teammates to stay on their man rather than having to rotate over to help on the ball.

Green has also scored in double figures all three times, averaging 11.3 points on 15-for-25 shooting (60 percent) from the field.

“It’s a comfort area for him,” Jordan said. “It doesn’t bother him to start. He’s aggressive. He’s playing with other front-line guys on our team, so it’s a little easier for him.”

Vince Carter scores 48

The AP reports:

Vince Carter had a season-high 48 points, leading the Orlando Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Hornets 123-117 on Monday night.

Carter was 19 for 27 shooting and had 34 points in the second half with some of the most sizzling moves since he joined the Magic, who have won nine of their last 11 games.

Dwight Howard added 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Rashard Lewis finished with 18 points for Orlando…

It was by far Carter’s best performance since he was traded from New Jersey in the offseason, finishing three shy of his career high. The eight-time All-Star expected to be Orlando’s missing piece to a title was back in peak form, and the Magic can only hope he stays there.

Rockets sign Garrett Temple to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Rio Grande Valley guard Garrett Temple to a 10-day contract, marking his first-ever Call-Up to the NBA.

“Garrett is a versatile player who can play multiple positions,” said Rockets Vice President of Basketball Operations and Rio Grande Valley General Manager Gersson Rosas. “Garrett spent a lot of time with our coaching staff during the summer as a member of our Summer League entry as well as during training camp. He’s done a great job with the Vipers this season and his familiarity with the system will allow him to step right in and provide added depth at two positions where we are a little thin, due to injury.”

Temple (6-6, 190, LSU) has averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30 games (30 starts) with Rio Grande Valley this season. He was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by Houston on Sept. 22, 2009. Temple averaged 2.5 points and 0.3 assists in four preseason games with the Rockets before being waived on Oct. 21. He also averaged 4.6 points and 0.4 assists in five games with Houston in the 2009 NBA Summer League.

As a collegian, Temple finished his career as the all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432, 33.1 mpg) at LSU, averaging 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists over his four seasons with the Tigers. He also ranked fourth in career assists (482), seventh in steals (191) and fourth in blocks (113) in school annals. Temple was one of just nine players all-time at LSU to play on two Southeastern Conference championship teams.