The AP reports: The Pistons missed four free throws in the final 20 seconds and only picked up a 93-90 victory over Miami on Wednesday night when Heat star Dwyane Wade’s 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired… Rodney Stuckey and Wallace had 18 points each for Detroit, while Antonio McDyess added a season-high 17 rebounds. Wade led Miami with 29 points and 13 assists… Miami’s Shawn Marion left late in the first quarter after a collision with Allen Iverson, but returned before halftime.
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LeBron has 52-point triple-double game in NY
The AP reports: LeBron James scored a season-high 52 points in his 21st career triple-double, joined Michael Jordan as the only visitors with multiple 50-point games at the present Madison Square Garden, and led Cleveland to a 107-102 victory over New York on Wednesday night. Two nights after Bryant set a record at the present building with 61 points, James was on pace to break it after scoring 20 in the first quarter… ames added 11 assists and 10 rebounds, becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975 to have a triple-double in a 50-point game. James grabbed his final rebound with under 2 seconds left, then tumbled out of bounds as time expired… Al Harrington scored 39 points for the Knicks, who fell to 0-2 during they’re referring to as “Dream Week,” games against the Lakers, Cavs and Boston Celtics. David Lee had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Nets beat injured Wizards 115-88
The AP reports: In what hardly seemed like a fair fight, the Nets won their third straight game Wednesday night by shooting 61 percent in a 115-88 victory over the worst-in-the-East Washington Wizards, who had Caron Butler absent with the flu and Antawn Jamison giving a should-have-been-absent 4-for-20 shooting performance. Devin Harris scored 26 points, Vince Carter added 20, Ryan Anderson got 18, and Keyon Dooling had 14 for the Nets, who made 12 of 22 3-pointers and turned the game into a rout by outscoring the Wizards 35-18 in the third period.
Kobe scores 36, Lakers beat Raptors 115-107
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers warmed up for their showdown in Boston with a victory over Toronto. Kobe Bryant scored 36 points, Pau Gasol added 31 points and 15 rebounds and the Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 115-107 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory and eighth in nine games… Toronto lost its fourth straight, but didn’t go quietly. Joey Graham had a career-high 24 points, and Jermaine O’Neal added 22 points and nine blocks. Andrea Bargnani scored 21 points, and Anthony Parker had 18 for the Raptors, 5-21 overall against the Lakers.
Anthony Johnson steps up, Magic beat Clippers 125-96
The AP reports: Starting for the first time since All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson was injured, Anthony Johnson wanted to set a high standard. He may have set it too high. Johnson had a season-best 25 points in place of Nelson, and the Orlando Magic routed the Los Angeles Clippers 125-96 on Wednesday night. Johnson was quick to point out he won’t score big every game, especially against tougher competition… Al Thornton had 27 points, and Eric Gordon added 14 for the Clippers, losers of seven straight and 21 of their last 23 games. They could do little to stop Johnson, who nearly matched his regular-season career high of 27 points against Washington on Jan. 18, 2006, when he was with Indiana.
Pistons sellout streak ends at 259 games
With tonight’s attendance of 21,720, the Detroit Pistons sellout streak of 259 consecutive games has come to an end. The streak, which began on January 19, 2004 versus San Antonio and includes playoff games, is the longest sellout streak in franchise history. The Pistons tallied 245 consecutive sellouts between the first game played at the Palace of Auburn Hills on November 5, 1988 and December 10, 1993.
“Our great fans should be applauded for filling The Palace of Auburn Hills on 259 consecutive occasions and it has certainly been a special time in Pistons basketball history,” said Tom Wilson, President of Palace Sports and Entertainment. “We are fortunate to have the best basketball fans in the NBA and we will continue to provide them with the best possible sports entertainment experience.”
Detroit has led the NBA in regular-season attendance five of the last six years, including the 2007-08 campaign in which 905,116 fans enjoyed Pistons basketball for the fourth consecutive season.
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Andrew Bogut out 8+ weeks
Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today that center Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260) has an incomplete stress fracture in his lower back. Bogut went through a series of tests and evaluations earlier this week that revealed the injury.
He will be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks at which time he will be re-evaluated. In the meantime, he will rehabilitate the injury with strengthening exercises and rest.
In 36 games this season, Bogut is averaging 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds (11th in NBA), 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot in 31.2 minutes per game.
Bogut, 24, is one of 11 players in the league to average double-figures in both points and rebounds, and one of 13 players in the NBA to average a double-double this season.
Two Wizards charged with reckless driving
The Washington Post reports: Guard Nick Young and center JaVale McGee were charged with reckless driving after being pulled over for speeding on the Dulles Access Road on Jan. 1. The incident was first reported by WJLA (Channel 7) on Monday. Under Virginia law, a driver can be charged with reckless driving for going more than 20 miles over the speed limit as well as other offenses including driving over 80 mph and racing. The speed limit on the access road is 55 mph.
Melo scores 35, Nuggets beat injured Spurs 104-96
The AP reports: This wasn’t quite the test Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets had in mind. With Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all sidelined Tuesday night, the Denver Nuggets took advantage for a 104-96 win over the San Antonio Spurs after frittering away most of a 17-point lead… Anthony scored 35 points, but he had to come back into the game with 8:47 left and the Nuggets clinging to an 80-78 lead… Denver wasn’t at full-strength, either. Kenyon Martin missed the game with tonsillitis and strep throat, and Billups sprained his right ankle in the second quarter and didn’t return.
Yao scores 28, Rockets beat Bulls 107-100
The AP reports: Yao Ming scored 28, Luis Scola matched a career high with 18 rebounds and Tracy McGrady added 16 points in the Rockets’ 107-100 win over Chicago. Aaron Brooks scored 18 off the bench for the Rockets, who’ve won six straight and 11 of 12 games against the Bulls… Luol Deng scored a season-high 28 and Ben Gordon scored 20 for Chicago, which had a three-game winning streak snapped… Derrick Rose had 12 points and seven assists in his first game since spraining his left foot in the Bulls’ 122-111 win in Phoenix on Saturday.