J-Rich, Nick Young lead 76ers over Raptors

J-Rich, Nick Young lead 76ers over Raptors

Nick Young has some game to go with his style and swagger.

Young scored 23 points off the bench, Jason Richardson had six of his 21 points late in the fourth quarter, and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 106-98 on Tuesday night.

Known for his cool nickname – Swaggy P – and his Afro hairdo, Young is earning recognition for his play on the court, too. He had four assists and three rebounds to go with his 7-for-13 shooting.

”That’s all part of the Swaggy P movement,” Young said with a smile. ”I felt good.” …

Jrue Holiday had 19 points and 12 assists and Thad Young scored 18 to help the Sixers win their third straight game.

DeMar DeRozan had 24 and Andrea Bargnani scored 22 for the Raptors, who are off to a 3-8 start. Jose Calderon, who had a season-high 18 assists in Toronto’s win over Orlando on Sunday night, got 12 more to go with 13 points…

Lowry, who went to nearby Villanova, returned after missing six games with a foot injury.

— Reported by Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press

Warriors center Andrew Bogut out at least 3 more games

andrew bogut

Warriors center Andrew Bogut, who spent several days last week in Los Angeles where he received treatment under the supervision of Dr. Richard Ferkel, will not play in any of the team’s next three (3) games as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired left ankle.

It is anticipated that Bogut will begin running on the AlterG treadmill later this week with the hopes of returning to practice activity with the team next Monday. His progress will continue to be evaluated and monitored by the team’s medical staff and updates will be provided as appropriate.

Bogut has missed the last six (6) games as he continues to strengthen his left ankle following surgery on April 27.

Haslem closing in on Heat rebound record

Haslem closing in on Heat rebound record

When Udonis Haslem was trying to make the Miami Heat take notice of him a decade ago, assistant coach Keith Askins gave him one piece of advice.

He told Haslem every NBA player can score, but not everyone rebounds.

Haslem remembers that conversation so well that he’s about to become the most prolific rebounder in Heat history.

Odds are, he’ll have that title sometime Wednesday night, when the reigning NBA champion Heat start a homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks. Haslem will come into that game needing only two rebounds to pass Alonzo Mourning for Miami’s all-time lead in that department – Mourning grabbed 4,807 rebounds in 593 regular-season Heat games, while Haslem is at 4,806 rebounds after 605 games.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Stephen Jackson to miss 4-6 weeks with broken pinkie

Stephen Jackson to miss 4-6 weeks with broken pinkie

For the second time in less than a week, the Spurs have lost their starting small forward.

Stephen Jackson, starting his second game at the position because Kawhi Leonard is out with tendinitis in his left quadriceps, suffered a non-displaced fracture of a bone in his right pinkie finger during the first quarter of the Spurs’ 92-87 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at the AT&T Center.

Jackson is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.

Jackson battled Clippers forward Caron Butler for a loose ball with 7:49 remaining in the first quarter. He knocked the ball off Butler on the sideline to gain possession but came out of the scrum holding his right hand, and the Spurs called for a timeout.

— Reported by Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News

Dwight Howard doesn’t care if D-Will is upset

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard lost a lot of friends and supporters during his curious ride out of Orlando. But if one of those severed relationships was with Deron Williams, Howard – the man who wanted to please everybody — doesn’t care.

“It’s my life so if he’s upset because I made a decision for me, so be it,” Howard said. “If he doesn’t want to be friends because I’m on another team, then so be it. There’s no need to smooth things over.”

The two All-Stars plotted to play together in Brooklyn, but Howard essentially killed that possibility by waiving his right to become a free agent last March. Howard has said the decision was based on his desire to keep everybody happy, even though it forfeited his opportunity to sign with the Nets in the summer.

Instead, Howard was dealt in August from the Magic to the Lakers, who host the Nets on Tuesday. The center declined to discuss his desire to play in Brooklyn and whether it’s still alive.

— Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Blog)

Paul and Griffin lead Clippers over Spurs 92-87

Chris Paul

The San Antonio Spurs had rallied within a basket of the Los Angeles Clippers with less than 30 seconds remaining and the crowd was buzzing.

Some would call it a tense situation. Chris Paul calls it ”winning time.”

Paul had 19 points and eight assists and the Clippers beat San Antonio 92-87 on Monday night for their second win against the Spurs this season.

Paul’s 10-foot jumper in the lane with 24.6 seconds left gave the Clippers a 91-87 lead…

Spurs guard Gary Neal missed a 3-point attempt on the subsequent possession, which Eric Bledsoe gathered for his fifth rebound. Bledsoe, who had nine points, made one of two free throws for the final margin.

Matt Barnes added 14 points, DeAndre Jordan 13 and Blake Griffin had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers (8-2).

Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs (8-3), who suffered their second home loss this season. Manu Ginobili added 15 points and Tony Parker 11…

San Antonio needed the late rally after losing a lead and Stephen Jackson after the first quarter. Jackson, who suffered a non-displaced fracture to his right pinkie finger late in the first quarter, is expected to miss four to six weeks.

— Reported by Raul Dominguez of the Associated Press

Nuggets stop Grizzlies 8-game winning streak

Nuggets stop Grizzlies 8-game winning streak

Danilo Gallinari had suffered through an inconsistent shooting touch early this season, but he got untracked to help Denver end the Memphis Grizzlies’ eight-game winning streak.

Gallinari scored a season-high 26 points, including a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and the Nuggets handed the Grizzlies only their second loss of the season with a 97-92 victory Monday night.

Gallinari entered the game shooting 34 percent from the field and 21 percent from outside the arc. He finished the night 7 of 15 from the field and 2 of 6 from long range. Gallinari’s late 3-pointer came as Memphis had surrendered a lead in the final minutes. The shot from the wing, set up by a pass from point guard Ty Lawson, put the Nuggets up 96-92…

JaVale McGee provided a second-half lift for Denver and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Kenneth Faried added 13 points and grabbed 13 boards to help the Nuggets outrebound Memphis 47-33…

Rudy Gay scored 22 points, Marc Gasol added 16 and Randolph had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.

— Reported by Clay Bailey of the Associated Press

Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas injured, out two months

Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas injured, out two months

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that forward Tyrus Thomas is expected to miss approximately two months after an MRI revealed a second-degree strain of his left calf muscle and a tear of the plantaris muscle, a smaller muscle that assists the calf in plantar flexing the ankle.

No surgery will be needed for the injury, which Thomas suffered during Saturday night’s game against Memphis.

In eight games played this season, Thomas is averaging 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 17.8 minutes per game.

Brandon Roy to miss one month after knee surgery

Brandon Roy out one month after knee surgery

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today on his right knee. The surgery was performed by Timberwolves team orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Fischer at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, Minn.  Roy is expected to be out approximately one month.

“Brandon had been experiencing some right knee pain, dating back to Oct. 26, when he banged knees with a Milwaukee Bucks player in a preseason game,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn. “The pain became more pronounced on Nov. 9 during our game against Indiana. We fully support Brandon’s decision to have today’s arthroscopic procedure, and look forward to his return when he feels ready to play.”

Roy has played in five games this season, averaging 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Roy was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Wolves on July 31, 2012.

Cavs guard Kyrie Irving out 4 weeks with broken finger

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving received an MRI and CT Scan of his contused left index finger (3rd quarter of Saturday night’s game at The Q vs. Dallas) today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health.  The results of the MRI and CT Scan revealed a hairline/non-displaced fracture in the finger. The injury will be treated with taping and a splint. He is currently projected to be Out for the next four weeks while the fracture heals, and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate at that point.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson has a contused right elbow experienced in Saturday’s game at The Q vs. Dallas. He continued to play and be available for play during that game. He traveled with the team to Philadelphia, and continued to receive treatment immediately prior to the Sunday game vs. the Sixers and during the first quarter in the locker room. He returned to the bench for the remainder of the game, but did not play. Gibson underwent an x-ray and MRI today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, both of which were negative. He is cleared to play.

Cavaliers forward/center Tristan Thompson experienced a nasal contusion during the second quarter of the game in Philadelphia last night.  An x-ray at the Cleveland Clinic today revealed a nasal fracture. He will have a protective mask fitted and is projected to be ready to play in Wednesday’s game at The Q also vs. the Sixers.