The AP reports: LeBron James scored 21 points before spending part of the fourth quarter on the bench playing air guitar and dancing as the Cavs avenged an embarrassing loss to one of the league’s weaker teams by thumping the rival Wizards 98-86 on Wednesday night to improve to 38-1 at home. The win lowered the Cavaliers’ magic number for locking up home-court advantage for the Eastern Conference playoffs to one. A Cleveland win on Friday night at Philadelphia or a Boston loss to Miami will give the Cavs (63-15) the East’s top seed… Mo Williams scored 14 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who for the first time in four years will not see the Wizards in the first round of the postseason… Nick Young scored 16 to lead the Wizards, who stunned Cleveland last week and handed the Cavs two of their 15 losses this season. Washington’s Gilbert Arenas didn’t play, choosing to rest his surgically repaired right knee. Arenas’ return had sparked the Wizards to their upset over the Cavs last week.
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Jack shines, Pacers beat Raptors 130-101
The AP reports: Indiana Pacers fans headed for the exits early Wednesday night. For once, it was because their team was on the right side of a blowout. Danny Granger scored 29 points, and the Pacers had their highest point total and margin of victory this season to beat the Toronto Raptors 130-101… Jarrett Jack added 23 points, Roy Hibbert had 17, and Troy Murphy finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Josh McRoberts had his first career double-double with career highs of 12 points and 11 rebounds in 21 minutes… Chris Bosh had 21 points and nine rebounds in Toronto’s third straight loss. Andrea Bargnani did not play because of a sore left heel. Patrick O’Bryant got his first career start in Bargnani’s place and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Kings waive Will Solomon
The Sacramento Kings today requested waivers on guard Will Solomon, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.
Solomon, who is currently in his second NBA season, averaged 5.0 points (.406 FGs, .448 3FGs, .500 FTs) and 1.5 rebounds per game through 14 outings off the bench for the Kings.
Spurs sign SF Marcus Williams, waive Malik Hairston
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Marcus Williams. Per team policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Williams was an All-League First Team Selection this season with the Austin Toros, the Spurs affiliate in the NBA Development League. In 45 games with the Toros, Williams averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He was named the D-League Performer of the Week for the week of 3/30 after averaging a triple-double with 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists in three games.
Williams, who is in his second year, appeared in 11 NBA games last season (10 with the L.A. Clippers and one with San Antonio) where he averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 3.3 minutes. He also spent 36 games with the Toros where he averaged 19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Williams was drafted by San Antonio with the 33rd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
The 22-year-old Williams was an early entry candidate for the 2007 NBA Draft. He played two years at the University of Arizona, earning First Team All-Pac-10 honors after averaging 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds as a sophomore.
At the same time, the Spurs announced that they have waived guard/forward Malik Hairston.
J.J. Hickson out 2-3 weeks
The Akron Beacon Journal (George Thomas) reports (via blog): Cavaliers rookie J.J. Hickson will miss the next 2-3 weeks with a stress-related back injury, it was revealed today. The Cavs decided to shut down the rookie, who had a flare up approximately three months ago, after he began suffering symptoms 7-10 days ago.
Entire team of game-worn Thunder jerseys up for auction
Thunder fans will have a unique opportunity Friday night to bid on jerseys worn by Thunder players during this historic first season in the Ford Center. The “Jersey Off Our Backs” auction will benefit the Oklahoma City Thunder Community Foundation Fund. Fans are invited to bid on game-worn jerseys from all 15 Thunder players at a silent auction table on the concourse during Friday night’s home finale vs.. Charlotte. The winning bidders will receive their jerseys at the conclusion of the game. Many of the jerseys will actually be worn by Thunder players during that final game.
Bidding for the jerseys will begin when doors open at 5:30 p.m. outside of section 101 on the concourse level of the Ford Center, right outside the Thunder Shop. Bids will be taken throughout the night, ending ten minutes following the conclusion of the game.
Gomes leads Timberwolves past Clippers 87-77
The AP reports: Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Craig Smith added 16 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 87-77 on Tuesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams. Eric Gordon scored 28 for the Clippers, who went without a basket for four-plus minutes to start the fourth quarter. Smith had seven consecutive points in the period to give the Timberwolves their biggest lead of the game, 78-62, with 10:18 remaining. Both teams were missing at least three starters because of injuries and a suspension. Kevin Love, who finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds, scored the first seven points of the third quarter to give Minnesota a 54-41 lead it never relinquished.
Gasol scores 26, Lakers beat Kings 122-104
The AP reports: Pau Gasol scored 26 points, Kobe Bryant added 22 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a sluggish start to beat the Sacramento Kings 122-104 Tuesday night and move within a half-game of Cleveland for the best record in the NBA. Los Angeles fell behind by 12 points midway through the first quarter before finding its stride against the NBA’s worst team and avenging a surprising loss earlier this season to the Kings at Arco Arena… Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds, Trevor Ariza scored 14 points and Gasol had 12 rebounds to go with his 11-for-16 shooting against overmatched Sacramento. Los Angeles has won four straight since losing back-to-back games in Charlotte and Atlanta. Spencer Hawes had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Jason Thompson added 18 points and 11 boards, and Francisco Garcia scored 19 for the Kings (16-61), who lost their fifth straight game and have already set a franchise record for most losses in a season.
Yao, Wafer lead Rockets past Magic 93-83
The AP reports: Yao Ming scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard and leading the Houston Rockets to a 93-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The 7-foot-6 Yao went 8-for-13 from the field and also blocked two shots. He played 38 minutes and got some help from 7-2 Dikembe Mutombo in handling Howard, the NBA’s leading rebounder and shot blocker… Ron Artest had 16 points and matched a season high with seven assists, and reserve Von Wafer scored 14 points for the Rockets, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio in the race for the Southwest Division… Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but went 3-for-9 from the free-throw line for the Magic, who slipped one game behind second-place Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hinrich scores 25 as Bulls beat Knicks 110-103
The AP reports: Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures as the Bulls beat the upset-minded New York Knicks 110-103 Tuesday night. Chicago has won five straight and 12 of 13 at home—26 of 38 overall—and has a half-game edge on idle Detroit for the seventh playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls also have a three-game lead on ninth-place Charlotte with four games left, including three at home… John Salmons scored 19 with six assists and six rebounds, Derrick Rose had 18 points and six assists, Tyrus Thomas had 18 points and four blocks, and Ben Gordon 17 points for the Bulls’ balanced scoring attack… Wilson Chandler scored 26 points to lead the Knicks, who were trying to win consecutive games for the first time since taking three in a row March 10-13. Al Harrington had 23 points, and David Lee added 17 points and 13 rebounds.