Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 124 – NBA Blog

Suns sign Stromile Swift

The Phoenix Suns today signed free-agent forward Stromile Swift for the remainder of the season, the club announced. Swift became available after being waived on March 1 by the New Jersey Nets and as a result is eligible for postseason play.

“We are very pleased to be able to add a player of Stromile’s caliber at this late date,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We believe that his athleticism, length and experience will be valuable to us as we head down the stretch run.”

The 6-10, 225-pound Swift was originally the second overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies and has spent his nine-year career split between Vancouver/Memphis, Houston and New Jersey. Swift owns career averages of 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.0 minutes in 534 games.

The Louisiana State product is an athletic and versatile forward who enjoyed his best professional campaigns in his first stint with the Grizzlies (2000-05), including four-straight seasons of at least 9.4 points and 45 percent shooting from the field beginning with his sophomore season in 2001-02.

Swift, 29, has made two career playoff trips, both with Memphis (2004, 2005), including the Grizzlies’ 2005 first-round series against the Suns, in which he averaged a career playoff-high 9.3 points in 16.0 minutes in three appearances.

A 2001 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competitor as a rookie, Swift averaged 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in six games with the Nets this season.

Swift will be in uniform tonight when the Suns return to action against the Miami Heat at 5:30 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena. The game can be seen locally on MY45 and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Brook Lopez shines, Nets beat Bucks 99-95

The AP reports: Vince Carter kept shooting. When it came down to the end, he deferred. Jarvis Hayes hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer off a pass from Carter with 18 seconds left and rookie Brook Lopez scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lift the New Jersey Nets to a 99-95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. With the Nets needing wins, the bench provided a bigger-than-expected boost after Carter and Devin Harris struggled, going a combined 8-of-34 from the field. But both provided offense down the stretch… “They caught fire. That’s what great teams do,” said Ramon Sessions, who had 19 points for the Bucks.

West scores 32, Hornets beat Nets 99-96

The AP reports: The quick hands of Chris Paul helped the New Orleans Hornets steal a victory from the New Jersey Nets. David West scored 32 points and Paul made two key steals in the final minute in the Hornets’ 99-96 win Sunday night… Rasual Butler had 22 points for the Hornets, who extended their winning streak to four. Offensively, Paul finished with 14 points and nine assists. Harris and Vince Carter each had 26 to pace the Nets, winners of their two previous games… Harris also had 14 assists while Jarvis Hayes added 13 points.

Harris scores 42, Nets beat Bulls 111-99

The AP reports: Devin Harris scored 19 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter and carried the New Jersey Nets for the second straight game in a 111-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night… Reserve Bobby Simmons added 18 points and rookie Brook Lopez had 13. Vince Carter had 11 points and nine rebounds. The Nets set a franchise record hitting all 25 of their free throws. Their previous best was 23-of-23 in 1999, also against the Bulls. Ben Gordon had 17 points and recently acquired John Salmons added 15 points to lead the Bulls, who were a woeful 7-for-25 from the field in the final quarter, including one of their first 11.

Boston Celtics sign Mikki Moore

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent center/forward Mikki Moore. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Mikki’s length, energy, skill and experience, along with his enthusiasm to come to Boston, will be a great boost for us.” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Moore, a 7’0”, 225lb center/forward, is in his 11th NBA season. Moore has posted career averages of 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. This is Moore’s second stint with the Celtics after he spent a portion of the 2002-03 season with the team. The former Nebraska Cornhusker has posted career playoff averages of 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games. He also shot 54.5 percent from the field in those 15 games.

Moore will wear #7.

Harris half-court shot gives Nets win over 76ers

The AP reports: The New Jersey Nets needed something outrageous to beat the Philadelphia 76ers. Devin Harris provided it with a half-court heave to beat the buzzer that needed a long review before it counted. Harris hit an unbelievable lunging 47-footer at the horn and the Nets snapped a season-high five-game losing streak with a 98-96 victory over the slumping 76ers on Monday night… While Harris’ 22nd shot of the night will be remembered by Nets fans, it helped him atone for a bad final minute. He turned over the ball with 20 seconds to go and the Nets down by a point, and he committed the foul that sent Iguodala to the line in the waning seconds.

Jarvis Hayes has thumb injury

An MRI examination of Nets’ forward Jarvis Hayes’ left thumb revealed partially torn ligaments, which he suffered during last night’s game at Dallas. Hayes will wear a splint for a week after which time his status will be reevaluated.

A key bench contributor for the 22-31 Nets this season, Hayes in 25.3 minutes per game is averaging 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Ex-Nets Kidd, Wright help Mavs beat New Jersey 113-98

The AP reports: Jason Kidd and Antoine Wright celebrated the first anniversary of their trade from the New Jersey Nets a day early Wednesday night, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 113-98 victory over their former team. Kidd opened the game with three early 3-pointers and scored 23 points, one shy of his season high. He also had 10 assists and a quick-handed steal against Devin Harris—the youngster he was dealt for—during the game-breaking third quarter.. The Mavericks improved to 7-2 since Kidd was put in charge of the offense. This one was especially impressive as four starters cracked 20 points, and all five were in double figures. Josh Howard had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Erick Dampier scored 10.

Battier, Yao lead Rockets past Nets 114-88

The AP reports: The Houston Rockets made it look easy against the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night. Yao Ming had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Shane Battier scored a season-high 19 points in the Rockets’ 114-88 rout. Von Wafer scored 19 points and Ron Artest added 18 for the Rockets, who outrebounded New Jersey 56-30 and set season highs in 3-point field goals (15) and assists (27) in their sixth straight win over the Nets… The Rockets improved to 13-6 without McGrady this season. Vince Carter scored 30 points and Brook Lopez added 21 for the Nets, who have lost three straight after a four-game winning streak.

Rockets-Nets team connections

Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady is a cousin of Nets guard Vince Carter.

Houston center Dikembe Mutombo played two seasons with the Nets (2002-03, 2003-04) prior to joining Houston.

New Jersey forward Eduardo Najera was selected by Houston in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft.

Nets forward/center Stromile Swift played the 2005-06 season with the Rockets.

New Jersey forward/center Sean Williams is a native of Houston.