Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Wolves lose close game to Nets

Despite an off shooting night, the Wolves hung around until the closing minutes last night in New Jersey, ultimate falling to the Nets 92-88 to split the season series. Minnesota connected on just 5-of-19 attempts (.263) in the opening quarter, but played strong defense to stay even with the Nets at 16-16 after one.

Minnesota took it’s first lead of the game (24-23) on an Antoine Walker jumper early in the second quarter, but the Nets pushed back in front and took a 38-35 lead into the intermission. After the lead changed hands six times early in the third quarter, the Wolves shooters again went cold, missing eight of their final 11 shots in the third as the Nets used a 13-5 run to close the quarter and take an 66-56 lead into the final frame.

The Wolves finally found their range in the fourth quarter, connecting on 52 percent (13-for-25) in the period, but they could only cut the lead to four.

Sebastian Telfair led the way for the Wolves, finishing with 24 points, seven assists and only one turnover. Al Jefferson added a double-double with with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but connected on just 5-of-18 shots.

The Nets were led by Vince Carter’s 17 points and 10 assists, while Richard Jefferson added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jason Kidd just missed his 100th career triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Sonics recall Mickael Gelabale from D-League

The Seattle SuperSonics announced today that the team has recalled guard Mickael Gelabale from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

Originally assigned to Idaho on Jan. 28, Gelabale appeared in six games with the Stampede and averaged 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 32.5 minutes per game.

Under the affiliation system with the D-League, NBA teams can assign up to two players who are rookies or in their second season to their D-League affiliate. Players can stay with the D-League team for as long as the team wishes, and be recalled back to the NBA at any time. A player can only be sent to the D-League a maximum of three times during the season.

The Stampede, the D-League affiliate for the Sonics and the Portland Trail Blazers, are coached by Bryan Gates, who worked as an assistant for the Sonics during summer league play in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City this past July.

Latrell Sprewell losing home, yacht

Many of you reading the title above will assume this is just yet another joke about former NBA star Latrell Sprewell, who made many millions of dollars playing in the NBA yet insisted he needed money to feed his family. But he actually does have economic problems. The AP reports:

Former NBA star Latrell Sprewell’s home is up for foreclosure and his yacht sold at auction to help pay off the $1.3 million he owes on the boat, according to court filings. Sprewell, who once turned down a three-year, $21 million contract extension from the Timberwolves, saying, “I’ve got my family to feed,” apparently has fallen on tough times.

RBS Citizens NA, or Citizens Bank, filed a foreclosure suit last week in Milwaukee County for the $405,000 home Sprewell bought in the Milwaukee suburb of River Hills in 1994. In court documents, the bank said Sprewell owed $295,138 in outstanding payments plus interest. Sprewell failed to make his monthly mortgage payments of $2,593 from September 2007 to January 2008, the documents said.

I can tell you that when InsideHoops.com buys mansions and yachts, we pay cash, in full, with no mortgage. That’s just how we roll, son.

James Jones out 3-5 more weeks

Trail Blazers forward James Jones will be out of action an additional 3-5 weeks to rest his sore left knee, Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

“James ability to knock down the three-point shot has proven to be one of the keys to our success here in the early going,” said Pritchard. “Originally, we felt holding him out through the All-Star break would be enough, but after consulting with our medical staff we feel an additional few weeks of rest is the best course of action.”

Prior to being sidelined on February 4, Jones averaged 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 23.2 minutes in 34 games for Portland this season. Jones is currently second in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at .483.

Lakers sign DJ Mbenga for rest of season

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent center Didier “DJ” Ilunga-Mbenga for the remainder of the season, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Mbenga, a 7-foot, 220 pound native of the Congo, signed a second 10-day contract with the Lakers on February 1st after signing his first 10-day contract with the Lakers on January 21st. In 8 games with the Lakers, Mbenga has averaged 2.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.75 blocks in 7.1 minutes. Earlier in the season, Mbenga signed with the Golden State Warriors November 17 after spending three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks prior to their request for waivers on him October 30. In 16 games with the Warriors prior to his release January 6, Mbenga averaged 1.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.63 blocked shots in 8.1 minutes.

After signing with Dallas as a rookie free agent in 2004, Mbenga, 27, played 79 games over three seasons with the Mavericks, totaling 106 points, 75 rebounds and 35 blocked shots in 374 minutes. In his rookie year of 2004-05, he averaged 4.10 blocks per 48 minutes played while improving to 5.00 blocks per 48 minutes in 2005-06. In 2006-07 he was limited to just 21 games after missing the first 16 games of the year with a left foot tendon strain and suffering a torn right ACL 2/7/07 vs. Memphis.

In 103 career games including two starts, Mbenga is averaging 1.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.50 blocked shots in 5.4 minutes.

Rasheed Wallace named All-Star replacement for KG

Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star Kevin Garnett (abdominal muscle strain) of the Boston Celtics for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17 in New Orleans.

Wallace will be making his fourth NBA All-Star appearance. East All-Star head coach Doc Rivers will determine which player on his roster will replace Garnett in the starting line-up.

The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17, will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

Mavericks re-assign Maurice Ager to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-assigned guard Maurice Ager to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Ager (6-5, 202) has seen action in 12 games this season, starting three. He averages of 1.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game. His best game came vs. San Antonio (11/5), when he finished with a season-high 5 points, 2 rebounds and a career-high 3 assists.

Previously, Ager, who was drafted by Dallas with the 28th pick of the 2006 draft, was assigned to the D-League on Dec. 17. In eight games with the 66ers, he averaged 17.4 points and 2.3 assists in 33.4 minutes per game before being recalled on Jan. 6.

The 66ers host Los Angeles on Feb. 14 before breaking for All-Star Weekend.

Sam Cassell suspended 1 game

Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell has been suspended one game without pay for committing a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two by swinging and making contact with the head of Boston’s Rajon Rondo, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter of the Clippers 111-100 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Banknorth Garden. Cassell will serve his suspension tonight when the Clippers visit the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Bobcats recall Jermareo Davidson from D-League

The Charlotte Bobcats have recalled rookie forward Jermareo Davidson from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.  Davidson is expected to rejoin the team tonight at 7 p.m., when the Bobcats host New Jersey at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

The 6-10, 230-pound forward appeared in six Skyforce games with averages of 18.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 31.5 minutes. He also connected on .478 from the field and .733 from the free throw line.

Over his last four games in which he led the Skyforce to a 3-1 record, Davidson averaged 21 points and 11.3 rebounds, including three 20-plus points scoring outings and two double-doubles – 22 points, 13 rebounds against Fort Wayne on Feb. 1 and 23 points, 15 rebounds at Iowa on Feb. 7.