The AP reports: Every season the San Antonio Spurs start off a little bit slow, leaving many to wonder if the four-time champions have finally run out of steam. They never really do, of course. It just takes a little bit longer these days for Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the Spurs to get the engine revved up. Parker didn’t have another 55-point night in him, so his Spurs relied on their defense to notch their fifth straight victory, 98-86 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night… In his first game back at Target Center since that career night on Nov. 5 that also included 10 assists, Parker managed 17 points and nine assists… Al Jefferson had 29 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost eight in a row and three straight since Kevin McHale took over as coach on Monday.
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Dec 12: Celtics 94, Hornets 82
The AP reports: James Posey got his championship ring before the game. The Boston Celtics walked away with all the spoils after it. Paul Pierce scored 28 points and Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds on Friday night to lead the Celtics to their 14th consecutive victory, a 94-82 win over their former teammate and the New Orleans Hornets… Chris Paul had 20 points and 14 assists for the Hornets, while David West had 23 points and 14 rebounds. Posey scored seven points with seven rebounds and a steal while committing five fouls and contributing to a defense that forced the Celtics into 17 turnovers that led to 25 points… Kendrick Perkins had nine points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots, and Eddie House hit two of his three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Dec 12: Grizzlies 103, Bulls 96
The AP reports: In a game featuring the NBA’s top scoring rookies, it was a couple of Memphis veterans who carried the offensive load. Rudy Gay scored 29 points and Hakim Warrick added 21, both matching their season highs, as the Grizzlies won their third straight with a 103-96 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. Warrick’s 12 points in the fourth quarter kept the Bulls at bay, snapping Chicago’s two-game winning streak. The win marked the first time the Grizzlies won three straight under Marc Iavaroni, in his second season as their coach… Darko Milicic had a season-high 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Marc Gasol scored 11 for Memphis. Conley had nine points, a career-high 10 rebounds and seven assists. Ben Gordon led the Bulls with 26 points, while Luol Deng had 19. Drew Gooden had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Dec 12: Pistons 114, Pacers 110
The AP reports: The Detroit Pistons thought they were going to do it again. After leading the Indiana Pacers by 10 points late in the third quarter, the slumping Pistons found themselves down 103-101 in the final four minutes. But instead of losing after they led by double digits for the third time in four games and taking their fifth loss in six games overall, the Pistons rallied to beat Indiana 114-110. “It was like deja vu all over again,” said Allen Iverson, who finished with 17 points and 12 assists… The Pistons needed to overcome a career-high 42 points from Danny Granger, but gave the Pacers a fifth straight loss when Tayshaun Prince got a fingertip on T.J. Ford’s attempt at a game-tying jumper in the final seconds.
Dec 12: Raptors 101, Nets 79
The AP reports: The worst shooting performance of Vince Carter’s career allowed interim coach Jay Triano to see more positive signs from the Toronto Raptors. Chris Bosh scored 18 points and Toronto capitalized on Carter’s 0-for-13 night against his former team to beat the New Jersey Nets 101-79 on Friday, the Raptors’ second straight win under Triano… Jason Kapono, with four 3-pointers, and Joey Graham each had 16 points for the Raptors, who were outrebounded 50-37. Jose Calderon scored 13 as the Raptors improved to 2-3 under Triano, who replaced Sam Mitchell on Dec. 3. Yi Jianlian and Devin Harris led the Nets with 14 apiece, while Bobby Simmons had 12.
Dec 12: Hawks 87, Heat 73
The AP reports: The Miami Heat got off to their best start of the season, an 11-0 blitz that had Atlanta guard Mike Bibby slamming the ball down in disgust. From there, nearly everything went the Hawks’ way. Joe Johnson scored 21 points, Bibby and Josh Smith each added 15, and Atlanta shook off that woeful beginning to beat Miami with ease Friday night, 87-73… Dwyane Wade had 21 points and eight rebounds for Miami, which lost for the first time in five games. The Heat missed nine straight shots during one second-half lull, plus were outscored 23-4 in fast-break points and were a mere 4-for-10 from the foul line, compared with Atlanta’s 24-for-32.
Dec 12: Cavs 88, Sixers 72
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 28 points and Anderson Varejao added 17 in his first start this season as the Cavaliers, despite missing two key components, matched a club record with their 11th straight win, 88-72 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night… Varejao filled in for Ilgauskas, who is expected to miss several games, and the frizzy-haired Brazilian and rookie Darnell Jackson, playing a season-high 24 minutes, did a nice job holding their own inside against Philadelphia’s big men. Varejao had seven rebounds, and Jackson, a second-round pick from Kansas added eight… Willie Green led the Sixers with 19 points, Andre Iguodala had 16 and Elton Brand 11 and 11 rebounds in his second game back after sitting two with a sore hamstring.
More needed from Andrew Bogut
The Racine Journal-Times (Gery Woelfel) reports (via blog): While Bogut has been a factor, if not a force, on the glass, his offensive game has become surprisingly stagnant. After averaging 14.3 points a game last season, Bogut is averaging 10.9. In the last five games, Bogut’s offensive production has dropped even more as he averaged just 9.2 points. That included a five-point effort against Charlotte and a six-point outing against the Los Angeles Lakers… Injuries are a part of it. Bogut’s been slowed by ankle and knee problems. He’s also had to cope with an excruciatingly painful migraine headache, one that temporarily rendered the left side of his body virtually numb. Injuries are a part of it. Bogut’s been slowed by ankle and knee problems. He’s also had to cope with an excruciatingly painful migraine headache, one that temporarily rendered the left side of his body virtually numb.
Joey Graham stepping up
Toronto Raptors small forward Joey Graham has emerged as a key contributor off the bench this season. In his last eight games Graham is shooting 55.7 percent for 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
He has scored 10 or more points in five straight games.
The Raptors are in New Jersey tonight to face the Nets.
Magic re-sign Jeremy Richardson
The Orlando Magic have re-signed guard/forward Jeremy Richardson, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.
Richardson (6’7”, 195, 3/1/84, Delta State) has appeared in just one game this season for the Magic and did not score in two minutes. He also played in three preseason contests, averaging 4.0 ppg. in 8.0 minpg. Richardson was waived on December 6.
Orlando’s roster now stands at 15 players.
The Magic begin a five-game, eight-day road trip on Monday, December 8 @ L.A. Clippers. Orlando’s next home game is Thursday, December 18 vs. San Antonio. Game time is 8 pm ET.