NBA Teams – Page 1359 – NBA Blog

Bulls shut down Hawks in 97-58 rout

Tom Thibodeau sent a strong wake-up message to his team at a heated shootaround Monday morning. He got the response he was looking for.

Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 points and the Chicago Bulls held Atlanta to a franchise-low 20 points in the first half of a 97-58 victory over the Hawks on Monday night…

Reserve forward Mike Scott scored 10 points to lead Atlanta as none of the starters reached double figures. Josh Smith and Kyle Korver had nine points each.

Jeff Teague had a layup with 7.9 seconds left to prevent the Hawks’ lowest scoring total in franchise history…

The Bulls held the Hawks to just five points in the second quarter and led 48-20 at the break. Ivan Johnson had a basket for the Hawks with 2:54 left in the first quarter, and Atlanta did not score again until Al Horford’s tip with 5:15 left in the second. The Hawks missed 17 consecutive shots during the drought while getting outscored 14-0.

They finished the 2 for 21 from the field in the second quarter, with Smith making a free throw and a jumper for Atlanta’s other points. The Hawks shot 20.5 percent on 8-of-39 shooting in the first half. Josh Smith was 3 for 10 and Horford 2 for 8 in the opening two periods…

The Bulls set a record for the fewest points allowed, eclipsing the previous mark of 59 by Orlando last March 19. Atlanta’s 20 points in the first half also set a Chicago record for the fewest allowed in a half, bettering the 22 scored by the Knicks in 1999. The Bulls also limited New York to five points in the second quarter of that game…

The Hawks’ previous scoring lows were six points in a quarter (at Minnesota) in 1994, and 25 in a half – accomplished three times, most recently against New Orleans in 2011.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Celtics cruise to 100-89 win over Bobcats

It wasn’t too long ago that Rajon Rondo was one of the NBA’s up-and-coming ball-handlers, trying to show he belonged with veterans like Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.

Now the Celtics point guard is trying to prove to the youngsters that he can still play. ”I’m getting a little bit older and the younger guys are coming in, and I may have a mark on my back being an older guy, having made a couple of All-Star (games),” Rondo said after recording his third triple-double of the season on Monday night in a 100-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. ”I have a target on my back every night so I just want to go out and do what I do best: run the show and make some shots.”

Rondo scored 17 points with 12 assists and 10 rebounds – his 26th career triple-double, including playoffs. Motivated by facing 22-year-old Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker, Rondo had a hand in the Celtics’ first 19 points as they opened a double-digit lead early in the first quarter and coasted to their sixth consecutive victory…

Paul Pierce scored 19 and Avery Bradley added 16 for Boston. Kevin Garnett, who needed 13 points to tie Patrick Ewing for 16th on the NBA’s career scoring list, was 2 for 11 from the field and scored just seven points to go with his 10 rebounds.

Hakim Warrick and Ramon Sessions had 16 points apiece and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 10 with eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost their third straight and their 23rd in the last 25 games since opening the season 7-5.

— Reported by Jimmy Golen of the Associated Press

Wizards win 3rd straight, crush Magic 120-91

For most of the first half of the season, the Washington Wizards consistently lost. They’re suddenly unbeatable, having won three straight.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures as Washington cruised to its easiest win of the season, 120-91 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

”That was a beautiful thing tonight,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. ”This has been building.”

The Wizards were just 4-28 before their streak, but beat Oklahoma City, Atlanta and now Orlando – all at home – to nearly double their wins total. Washington leaves Tuesday on a five-game, eight-day road trip while the nation’s capital will be consumed by Inauguration ceremonies.

John Wall had 12 points and six assists in 20 minutes in his second game of the season after missing the Wizards’ first 33 with a left knee injury…

Washington shot a season-best 56.1 percent, scored its most points and had its most assists. Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, A.J. Price and Kevin Seraphin had 18, Beal scored 17, and Jan Vesely matched his season high with 10…

Jameer Nelson had 19 points and 12 assists to lead Orlando, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Arron Afflalo, who had 30 points against the Clippers, missed 10 of 11 from the field and finished with two points…

Magic F Hedo Turkoglu did not play for the third straight game. He scored just one point in 37 minutes in his three previous games.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rockets recall Patrick Beverley from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled guard Patrick Beverley from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Beverley (6-1, 185, Arkansas), who was signed by the Rockets on Jan. 7 and assigned Rio Grande Valley, averaged 13.7 points, 7.0 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 2.00 steals in three starts with the Vipers.

He came to the Rockets from Spartak St. Petersburg in Russia, where he earned Eurocup MVP for the 2011-12 season and 2012 All-Eurocup First-Team honors. He originally played two seasons at Arkansas before leaving school to sign a professional contract with BC Dnipro of the Ukrainian UBL for the 2008-09 season. Beverley was then drafted by the L.A. Lakers in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft and later traded to the Miami Heat. He decided to stay in Europe and signed with Olympiakos in Greece on Aug. 26, 2009. He again joined the Heat for the 2010 NBA Summer League and was signed by Miami on Aug. 2, 2010. Beverley was waived by the Heat at the end of training camp on Oct. 25, 2010.

Memphis Grizzlies recall guard Tony Wroten from D-League again

The Memphis Grizzlies recalled guard Tony Wroten from the NBA Development League’s Reno Bighorns, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

In his third assignment this season, Wroten (6-6, 208) recorded 24.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.50 steals on .410 shooting in 29.0 minutes in two games after being re-assigned to the Bighorns on Jan. 11. The 19-year-old scored a D-League season-high 27 points on Jan. 12 at Idaho, his fifth 20-point performance with Reno this season.

The Seattle native has averaged 15.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.50 steals on .410 shooting in 25.4 minutes in 10 games (two starts) over three assignments with Reno this season.

Wroten will join the Grizzlies for tonight’s tilt with the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. CT at FedExForum.

Drafted by Memphis in the first round (25th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft after one season at the University of Washington, Wroten has totaled two points, two rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes over six appearances for the Grizzlies during his rookie season.

Rockets recall Terrence Jones from D-League again

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled forward Terrence Jones from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Jones (6-9, 252, Kentucky) has averaged 19.2 points and 11.0 rebounds in nine games (nine starts) with Rio Grande Valley this season. Re-assigned to the Vipers on Dec. 26, Jones has helped Rio Grande Valley pull to within a half game of first place in D-League’s Central Division. Through Jan. 13, Jones stands second in the D-League in rebounds per game (11.0) and ninth in the league in scoring average (19.2). In his rookie campaign with the Rockets, Jones has averaged 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11 games with Houston in 2012-13.

Kevin Love will have hand surgery Tuesday, out 8-10 weeks

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that Kevin Love will undergo surgery to repair the third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 15. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Michelle Carson at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He injured his hand during the third quarter of the Jan. 3 game at Denver.

Love is expected to be sidelined for 8-10 weeks.

For the season, Love has played in 18 games and leads the Wolves in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounds (14.0 rpg) and double-doubles (14).

Brandon Jennings, Kevin Durant named Players of week through January 13

Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant today were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 7 through Sunday, Jan. 13.

Jennings led Milwaukee to a 3-1 week, including come-from-behind road victories over the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors. He spearheaded both efforts, scoring 20 points in the third quarter of the Jan. 9 game at Chicago, 12 of which came from behind the arc. He was second in the Eastern Conference in scoring with 24.5 ppg while shooting 48 percent from the field for the week to go along with 6.5 apg and 4.0 rpg.

Durant helped Oklahoma City to a 3-1 record last week, scoring more than 25 points in each contest, including a season-high 42 points in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Jan. 11. He averaged a league-best 32.5 points to go with 6.8 rpg and 5.5 apg.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Brooklyn’s Deron Williams, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Indiana’s David West, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, and Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic.

Spurs recall Cory Joseph from D-League again

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have recalled guard Cory Joseph from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

Joseph, who has been assigned to the Toros three times this season, has appeared in 14 games with Austin, averaging a team-high 20.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.29 steals in 39.2 minutes while shooting .465 (100-215) from the field, .442 (19-43) from three-point range and .780 (71-91) from the foul line.

The University of Texas product has appeared in nine games this season for the Spurs, averaging 2.1 points and 1.4 assists in 7.2 minutes.

Manu Ginobili out 10-14 days

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Manu Ginobili underwent an MRI this morning that revealed a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. The injury occurred in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game vs. Minnesota.

Ginobili is expected to miss 10-to-14 days.

The 29-11 Spurs are currently the 3rd seed in the Western conference, behind the Clippers at No. 2 and the Thunder at No. 1.