The AP reports: Mehmet Okur kept up his recent strong play, even during a defensive struggle in which the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets held each other to season lows in scoring. Okur had 22 points and 17 rebounds to help Utah clinch its second straight Northwest Division and snap the Hornets’ 11-game home winning streak, 77-66 on Tuesday night… Deron Williams had 16 assists and outplayed Chris Paul as the Jazz took a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter and cruised from there… Peja Stojakovic scored 15 points for New Orleans, which shot a woeful 3-of-14 on 3-pointers and 37 percent overall as its five-game winning streak ended. David West had 14 points.
Category: NBA Teams
NBA teams blog
Apr. 8: Knicks 98, Pistons 94
The AP reports: Wilson Chandler scored all of his 19 points in the first half, helping the Knicks built a huge lead, and New York held off a late charge from the Detroit Pistons in a 98-94 win Tuesday night… Against an uninspired team, the Knicks led 57-34 at halftime and 79-60 after three quarters… Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince each scored 11 points for the Pistons, who had won five straight… Jamal Crawford scored 16 for New York, which has won two straight after losing 10 of 11 games.
Apr. 8: Heat 95, Bulls 88
The AP reports: Back in the NBA, Kasib Powell gave the Miami Heat the type of effort they’ve lacked most of the season. Powell scored a career-high 18 points, leading the Heat to a 95-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn each added 16 points as five players scored in double figures for the Heat, the day after coach Pat Riley was elected to the Hall of Fame… Luol Deng led the Bulls with 25 points, 19 of which came in the first half. Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah each added 16 points.
Apr. 8: Bobcats 121, Wolves 119
The AP reports: The Charlotte Bobcats nearly blew an 18-point lead, missed key free throws and had a strategy decision backfire. The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back behind their new star, only to have a key turnover and a missed shot at the buzzer… Behind Jason Richardson’s 36 points and some good fortune down the stretch, the Bobcats overcame their near collapse and a big night from Al Jefferson to hold off the Timberwolves, 121-119… Jefferson matched a career high with 40 points and had a chance to force overtime, but his open 19-footer bounced off the rim as time expired… Raymond Felton, who had 15 points and 11 assists, missed two free throws with 13 seconds and Charlotte leading 120-119. After Foye’s turnover, Matt Carroll, who scored 22 points, hit his first free throw, but Vincent told him to intentionally miss the second with 1 second left.
Apr. 8: Pacers 112, Hawks 98
The AP reports: Mike Dunleavy scored 28 points, and the Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-98 Tuesday night to avoid elimination from the playoff race. The Pacers have won three straight and nine of 12 to pull within two games of the Hawks for the eighth playoff slot in the East with four games left… Flip Murray had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Granger scored 16 points and Marquis Daniels added 15 for Indiana. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 30 points. Josh Smith had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Josh Childress added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.
Warriors recall Patrick O`Bryant from D-League
The Golden State Warriors have recalled center Patrick O’Bryant from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.
O’Bryant, who was originally assigned to the Jam on March 10, 2008, appeared in eight games for Bakersfield, averaging 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.50 blocks in 36.0 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old tallied four double-doubles for the Jam, including a 22-point/14-rebound/seven-block effort vs. Idaho on April 4. He has appeared in 22 games for Golden State this season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per contest.
Brad Miller done for season
The Sacramento Kings announced today that center Brad Miller will miss the remaining five games of the 2007-08 season due to a stress fracture in his left fibular head and a bone chip in his right elbow.
Miller, currently in his 10th NBA season and fifth with the Kings, is averaging 13.4 ppg (.463 FG%, .311 3PT%, .848 FT%), 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg and 34.9 mpg in 72 contests in 2007-08.
Mouhamed Sene needs surgery on injured right knee
Seattle SuperSonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today second-year center Mouhamed Sene suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during last Friday’s Idaho Stampede game at Bakersfield of the NBA Development League. The extent of the injury was revealed in an MRI performed yesterday. The team is in the process of scheduling surgery.
Sene appeared in 13 games for the Sonics this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.8 minutes per contest. Sene also appeared in 27 games for the Idaho Stampede this season, averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game. The 10th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Sene has appeared in 41 regular season games in his two seasons with the Sonics and holds career averages of 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Heat sign Kasib Powell for rest of season
The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Kasib Powell for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Powell, a 6’7”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in six games (three starts) for the Heat averaging 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.33 steals in 25.7 minutes of action. He scored a career-high 15 points at Indiana on Mar. 31 surpassing his previous career-high of 14 points which he set earlier this season at New York on Mar. 26. Additionally, in his three starts with the Heat, Powell has averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.67 steals and 2.3 assists in 35.7 minutes of action.
Powell, the 2007-08 NBA Development League MVP, was re-signed after the Heat was granted an injury exemption from the NBA for forward Shawn Marion. Powell was originally signed to a 10-day contract with the Heat on Mar. 22.
The Heat roster currently stands at 17.
Boozer says Kobe is MVP favorite
The Deseret Morning News (Tim Buckley) reports: Carlos Boozer was asked Monday about the NBA MVP candidacy of New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, whom the Jazz will see tonight. The Jazz’s All-Star power forward opted instead to endorse another Western Conference guard, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. “For what (Paul) does for that team, and the way he affects it, I think (he’s a deserving candidate),” Boozer said. “I think Kobe’s the favorite. If I had to give it to somebody I’d give it to Kobe, or Kevin Garnett because of what he did for Boston. “But I’m not taking anything away from Chris Paul,” he added. “Those are my two. Maybe even (Cleveland’s) LeBron (James) may be ahead of (Paul) a little bit, even though (James’) team has lost a little (too much) for me. Great player, though.”