The AP reports: Josh Smith had 25 points and seven rebounds, and the Hawks used 11-for-22 shooting from 3-point range to beat the Toronto Raptors 118-110 on Tuesday night. The Hawks (44-34), trying to secure the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, also got 25 points from Joe Johnson and 17 from Maurice Evans. Mike Bibby added 13 points and 10 assists, while Al Horford chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds… Chris Bosh had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth consecutive double-double and 40th this season, but the Raptors lost their second in a row after winning six straight. Shawn Marion had 18 points and six rebounds, Jose Calderon added 16 points and 13 assists, and Andrea Bargnani scored 15 points for the Raptors.
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Bulls re-sign Linton Johnson for rest of season
The Chicago Bulls today signed forward Linton Johnson III for the remainder of the season. Johnson, a 6-8, 205-pound forward, has appeared in four games with the Bulls this season, and averaged 1.0 ppg in 5.3 mpg. He will be in uniform tonight when the Bulls host the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. at the United Center.
Johnson, a fifth-year pro, played in two games with the Charlotte Bobcats at the start of the 2008-09 campaign.
During the 2003-04 season, Johnson played in 41 games with Chicago and posted averages of 4.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 17.9 mpg. He has also enjoyed stints with the San Antonio Spurs (member of the 2005 NBA Championship team), New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Bobcats. For his career, he has appeared in 147 games (27 starts) and posted averages of 3.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 14.2 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .417 from the field and .699 from the line.
Johnson, 28, was undrafted out of Tulane University.
Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.
Rasheed Wallace happy for UNC
The Detroit News (Chris McCosky) reports: As you might expect, Rasheed Wallace was in good spirits Tuesday after watching his North Carolina Tar Heels win the national championship Monday. “Once I found out (Michigan) State had beat UConn on Saturday — cakewalk for us,” he said. “I told everybody we’d be up by a minimum of 12 points by halftime and the only prediction I didn’t get right was I said we’d win by 25 points. We won by 17. I’ll take that. We are No. 1.”
Danilo Gallinari has back surgery
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced that forward Danilo Gallinari had successful back surgery today. The laminotomy, performed by orthopedic spine specialist Dr. Patrick O’Leary at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, is a surgical procedure that shaves the bony plate surrounding a nerve root. Gallinari is expected to have a full recovery in 6-8 weeks.
In 28 games this season, the 6-10, 225-pound rookie averaged 6.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 14.7 minutes. On Mar. 4 versus Atlanta, Gallinari recorded a career-high 17 points.
Manu Ginobili out until next season
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard Manu Ginobili will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 regular season as well as the 2009 NBA Playoffs.
Ginobili felt stiffness in his lower right leg during the Spurs-Cavaliers game in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. Following the game he returned to San Antonio. Earlier today, in San Antonio, he underwent a CT scan and an MRI. The examinations showed an increased marrow edema and a stress fracture in his right distal fibula.
No timeline has been determined for Ginobili’s return to the court.
The guard played just 44 games this season, coming off the bench as a “super-sub” for all but seven. He played 26.8 minutse per game, averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.45 steals while shooting 45.4% from the field and just 33.0% from three-point range.
Ginobili is the team’s third best player, after Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. The Spurs are still competitive without him, but it’s hard to call them a championship contender right now.
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Knicks re-sign Joe Crawford
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard Joe Crawford has been signed for the remainder of the season. The 6-5, 210-pound rookie had been signed to a 10-day contract on Mar. 27 and has yet to appear in a game for New York.
I actually like this dude and think if he keeps clawing at it, he could carve out an NBA career as a deep bench player.
–Jeff
Jordan, Stockton, others to make Hall
The AP reports: It was only a matter of time, and now Michael Jordan is in the Hall of Fame. Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 Monday with David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer. The announcement was made in Detroit, site of the men’s Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan’s Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history.
Lakers edge Clippers for 61st win
The AP reports: Lamar Odom had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 18 points and the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Clippers 88-85 Sunday night to remain a game behind Cleveland for the NBA’s best record. The Lakers’ 61st victory was listless against a team that trails them by 43 games in the Western Conference. But they did just enough to win their third in a row, improve to 33-5 at home and assert themselves as the dominant tenant at Staples Center… Eric Gordon scored 24 points, Zach Randolph added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Brian Skinner grabbed 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who’ve lost five in a row and 12 of their last 15. Trailing 81-62 in the fourth—their third 19-point deficit—the Clippers scored 16 in a row, including eight by Fred Jones, to close to 81-78 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
Warriors hang on for win over Kings with 7 players
The AP reports: Kelenna Azubuike had 30 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors hung on to beat the Sacramento Kings 105-100 on Sunday night with just seven healthy players in uniform. Jamal Crawford had 20 points and eight rebounds, while Anthony Morrow and C.J. Watson scored 18 points apiece for the Warriors in their third straight victory, including two wins in five days over their closest geographical rivals… Bobby Jackson had 17 points to lead seven players scoring in double figures for the NBA-worst Kings, who lost their fourth straight and 11th in 13 games. Beno Udrih scored 16 points and Jason Thompson added 14 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out for Sacramento, which also lost starting center Spencer Hawes late in the first half to double vision after he was poked in the eye.
Carter scores 15 as Nets crush Philadelphia 76ers
The AP reports: Vince Carter scored 15 points and the Nets kept their playoff hopes alive for a couple more days by handing the Philadelphia 76ers their worst loss of the season, 96-67 Sunday night… The Nets (32-45) were pushed to the brink of elimination while their game was being contested when the Detroit Pistons (37-40) beat the Charlotte Bobcats 104-97. New Jersey and Detroit each have five games left. New Jersey will miss the postseason for the second straight year if it loses one or the Pistons win one… Sixth man Lou Williams had 14 points to lead the Sixers, who looked drained a day after beating Detroit to clinch a second straight playoff berth… Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller combined for 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting.