The AP reports: Kevin Durant scored 23 points and the SuperSonics snapped their 11-game losing streak with a 97-84 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night… Damien Wilkins added 20 points off the bench, and Jeff Green continued his improved play late in his rookie season with 16 points. Martell Webster led Portland with 22 points, but 15 came in the first quarter when the Seattle native hit four 3-pointers. Another Seattle native, All-Star Brandon Roy, struggled all night, looking fatigued and leaving a number of shots short. Roy made just five of 17 attempts and finished with 11 points… The Sonics took control in the third quarter, which coincided with Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge leaving with a mild right ankle sprain.
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Trail Blazers assign Josh McRoberts to D-League
The Portland Trail Blazers assigned rookie forward Josh McRoberts to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, it was announced Monday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.
“Sending Josh back to Idaho will give him the best chance to develop as the season winds down,” said Pritchard. “Getting the opportunity to play extended minutes is an important step in his rookie season, and we saw good results from his last trip there.”
The D-League assignment marks the second of the season for McRoberts, who posted averages of 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 26.5 minutes in eight games with the Stampede from Jan. 9-Feb. 3.
McRoberts, 21, is averaging 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 4.4 minutes in five games with the Trail Blazers this season after being selected by Portland with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
This is the first season the Trail Blazers are affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede.
Brandon Roy out Tue and Wed
Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy did not accompany the team to Los Angeles, and will sit out Tuesday’s game at the L.A. Lakers and Wednesday’s game at the L.A. Clippers with a right ankle sprain.
The injury, which originally occurred Feb. 13 at Dallas, was aggravated during Sunday’s game vs. Boston. Roy left the Celtics game in the third quarter and did not return.
He is listed as day-to-day for Friday’s home game vs. the Lakers.
LeBron wins All-Star game MVP as East beats West 134-128
Final score: East 134, West 128. Fun game!
The East’s LeBron James was awarded the 2008 NBA All-Star game MVP award.
For the East: Ray Allen (10-of-14, 5-of-9 threes) had 28 points in just 19 minutes. LeBron James (12-of-22) had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists (4 turnovers), 2 steals and 2 blocks. Dwight Howard (7-of-7) had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Chris Bosh (7-of-15) had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Dwyane Wade (7-of-12) had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Paul Pierce scored 10. Jason Kidd dished 10 assists.
For the West: Brandon Roy (8-of-10) had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Carmelo Anthony (8-of-17) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire (8-of-11) had 18 points and 5 rebounds. Chris Paul (7-of-14) had 16 points, 3 rebounds, 14 assists (just 2 turnovers) and 4 steals. Carlos Boozer (7-of-15) had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki (just 5-of-14) had 13 points and 4 rebounds.
The best East players were LeBron, Dwight Howard and Ray Allen. The best West players were Chris Paul and Brandon Roy.
Read unedited 2008 NBA All-Star game notes taken live as the action happened.
Josh Howard questionable for Wednesday
Forward Josh Howard received an MRI today which confirmed a lower back contusion. He is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against Portland.
In 48 games this season, Howard is averaging career-highs of 20.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 36.5 minutes.
Rockets notes after beating Blazers
Monday night the Houston Rockets, playing at home, defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 95-83.
With a 95-83 win tonight, the Rockets have won 11 of their last 12 games, including an active run of four consecutive victories at Toyota Center (1/29/08-2/11/08) to set the team’s longest winning streak at home this season. Houston also captured its seventh victory in a row, which stands as the team’s longest winning streak since the 2004-05 Rockets captured their final seven games of that season (4/7/05-4/20/05).
Houston has won the last three games by a double-digit margin: 92-77 (+15) vs. Cleveland (2/7/08), 108-89 (+19) vs. Atlanta (2/9/08) and 95-83 (+12) tonight. It marks the first time since March 2007 for the Rockets to grab three consecutive victories by 10 or more points (3/16/07-3/20/07).
The Rockets have held the Trail Blazers to less than 20 points in seven of 12 quarters played this season, including 19 points in both the second and third quarters of tonight’s games. Overall, Houston has limited Portland to 80.7 points per game in 2007-08. The Rockets have also won five of the last six meetings between these teams.
The Rockets had all five starters in double-digit scoring for the first time this season. Overall, Houston has had five players reach double-figure scoring totals in five of its last six games.
Yao Ming led the Rockets with 25 points (11-13 FT) to go along with his seven rebounds. Yao is averaging 28.2 points (141 TP) and 12.8 rebounds (64 TR) over the last five outings he has played at Toyota Center.
Rafer Alston, who finished with 17 points and seven assists, has scored a combined 25 points (8.3 ppg) on 9-of-13 (.692) shooting in the third quarter of the last three games, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range.
Luis Scola has averaged 11.8 points on 41-of-70 (.586) shooting since entering the starting lineup vs. Utah (1/27/08). Scola has helped the Rockets to a 7-1 (.875) record over his first eight NBA starts.
LaMarcus Aldridge posted 22 points on 10-of-26 shooting, setting a career high in field goal attempts (prev. high: 23 on 12/3/07 at Memphis). Aldridge has now scored over 20 points in each of his last three games after hitting the 20-point mark just twice in his previous 17 outings.
Brandon Roy had 15 points, five rebounds and a game-high eight assists in his return outing for Portland. Roy had missed the last two consecutive games (family matters).
James Jones out 3-5 more weeks
Trail Blazers forward James Jones will be out of action an additional 3-5 weeks to rest his sore left knee, Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.
“James ability to knock down the three-point shot has proven to be one of the keys to our success here in the early going,” said Pritchard. “Originally, we felt holding him out through the All-Star break would be enough, but after consulting with our medical staff we feel an additional few weeks of rest is the best course of action.”
Prior to being sidelined on February 4, Jones averaged 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 23.2 minutes in 34 games for Portland this season. Jones is currently second in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at .483.
Rockets – Blazers team connections
Rick Adelman still ranks as the second winningest coach in Trail Blazers history behind Jack Ramsay, racking up a record of 291-154 (.654) in the regular season and a 36-33 (.522) mark in the postseason.
Adelman twice coached the Trail Blazers into the NBA Finals, qualifying Portland for the playoffs in all six of his seasons.
Elston Turner also served as an assistant coach with Portland.
T.R. Dunn was drafted by Portland with the 41st overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft, spending his first three NBA campaigns with the Trail Blazers.
R.J. Adelman, who was a four-year letterman in basketball at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, earned his law degree from the University of Oregon in 2001.
Pat Zipfel joined Houston after serving three seasons as an advance scout with Portland.
Rockets guard Aaron Brooks was an All-Pac-10 standout at the University of Oregon.
Guard Steve Francis, who returned to the Rockets after having his contract bought out by Portland, was part of a multi-player deal that sent Zach Randolph from the Trail Blazers to the Knicks on June 28, 2007.
In nearly six seasons with Portland, Rockets guard/forward Bonzi Wells posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 310 games with the Trail Blazers.
Portland center Joel Przybilla was selected by Houston in the first round (9th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft before Milwaukee acquired his draft rights.
Brandon Roy out tonight and Saturday
Brandon Roy did not travel with the Trail Blazers to Detroit and will miss tonight’s game against the Pistons due to a death in the family. Because of the timing of the memorial service, Roy will also miss Saturday’s game with the Indiana Pacers. The Trail Blazers guard is expected to rejoin the team for Monday’s game versus the Houston Rockets.
Roy for the season is averaging 19.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game, on 46.1% shooting from the field. The only thing he needs to improve upon offensively is his three-point shooting.
Trail Blazers recall Josh McRoberts from D-League
The Portland Trail Blazers recalled forward Josh McRoberts from the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, it was announced today by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.
“It was a really good experience,” said McRoberts. “It was the first time that I’d played in a game with extended minutes in a long time, so it was good to get out there and get some game action.”
McRoberts, who was assigned to the Stampede on Jan. 9, averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 26.5 minutes in eight games with the Trail Blazers’ D-League affiliate.
Prior to joining the Stampede, McRoberts posted averages of 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 2.3 minutes in three games with the Trail Blazers this season after being selected by Portland with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
The Duke University product is the fifth player in Trail Blazers history to be assigned to the D-League.