After latest loss to Suns, playoff hopes fading for Timberwolves

Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporting on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have to suddenly play amazing basketball and get lucky on top of that if they still hope to somehow qualify for the playoffs:

The Timberwolves’ playoff hopes already were on life support even before they tipped off Sunday against the Phoenix Suns in their only home matinee game of the season.

With the end of the season drawing near, the Wolves were in 10th position in the Western Conference playoff chase five games behind Phoenix, which sat just a game behind Memphis for the eighth and final berth.

A Wolves victory would have sent pulses skipping a bit and renewed enthusiasm for the final weeks.

But only Phoenix moved in a positive direction.

The Suns essentially pulled the plug on the Wolves’ faint playoff hopes with a 127-120 victory in front of 17,866 at Target Center. Markieff Morris scored 25 points and Eric Bledsoe had 21 and P.J.

DeMarcus Cousins apologizes to Sean Elliot for old incident

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on Kings center DeMarcus Cousins:

In terms of maturity, Nov. 9, 2012 was one of the low points during DeMarcus Cousins’ NBA career.

Following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Cousins left the Kings locker room to confront former Spur and current television analyst Sean Elliott over comments he deemed as critical.

The NBA deemed that confrontation threatening and hostile and suspended Cousins for two games.

When the Spurs were in Sacramento this past Friday, Cousins approached Elliott before the game and apologized.

“What happened between me and Sean the other day was just me being man enough to admit that I was wrong,” Cousins said. “I wasn’t expecting it to get out. I was hoping it was going to be something between me and him.”

Nets beat Mavs on Jason Kidd`s 41st birthday

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the latest Nets victory:

Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson made sure Jason Kidd’s 41st birthday was a happy one.

Johnson, who has been automatic in late and close situations since joining the Nets two summers ago, hit the game-tying layup with 9.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and then led the Nets with six points in overtime on the way to an improbable 107-104 victory over the Mavericks in front of a sellout crowd of 19,603 at American Airlines Center Sunday night.

“Down the stretch, man,” Johnson said, “those moments are ones I really cherish and love.”

They have become moments the Nets (37-31) love to have Johnson for, as he is 7-for-7 in his one-plus seasons as a Net when they are within three points in the final 10 seconds of the game, and 3-for-3 this season.

“He’s clutch, man,” said Deron Williams, who finished with 15 points in his return to his hometown. “That’s why the ball is in his hands.”

Lakers beat Magic, who have now lost 9 straight games

Here’s the Los Angeles Times Blog reporting on the Lakers, who helped the Orlando Magic maintain their losing ways:

Jordan Hill had a career-high 28 points to help the Lakers end their four-game losing streak with a 103-94 victory over the Orlando Magic.

In an outcome that likely ended any hope the Lakers had for the third lottery position of the 2014 NBA draft, the Lakers gave Orlando their ninth straight loss.

Playing on the second night of back-to-back games, the Magic got a double-double from rookie Victor Oladipo (21 points, 10 assists). Orlando owned a 46-34 rebounding advantage but couldn’t overcome 20 turnovers.

Pau Gasol sat out the second half because of dizziness and nausea after scoring six points and getting two rebounds in 18 minutes in the first half.

Nick Young helped carry the offensive load for the Lakers. He finished with 26 points off the bench. Hill had 13 rebounds. Jodie Meeks also scored in double figures with 13 points and he had six steals.

Bobcats beat Trail Blazers by 30 points

After two disappointing losses, the Charlotte Bobcats bounced back in a big way.

Al Jefferson scored 28 points and two others finished with more than 20 as the Bobcats routed the Portland Trail Blazers 124-94 on Saturday night.

Kemba Walker added 26 and Gerald Henderson 23 for Charlotte, which posted season bests in points and margin of victory to snap a two-game losing streak…

The Bobcats shot 52 percent from the field (49 of 94), outscored the Trail Blazers in the paint 54-32 and held a 50-36 rebounding advantage over Portland, which had won its last four games against Charlotte.

But the Trail Blazers, playing without leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge, could never get on track against the Bobcats, trailing by as many as 34 points late in the second half in losing for the first time in their last three games…

Damian Lillard scored 20 points, Dorell Wright added 17 and Wesley Matthews 15 for Portland, which shot 40.5 percent (34 of 84) and made just 9 of 27 3-pointers.

— Associated Press

Xavier Henry suffers wrist injury

Lakers guard Xavier Henry, who injured his left wrist in last night’s game against the Washington Wizards, had an MRI on the wrist today. Results of the MRI showed that Henry has a torn ligament in the wrist.

He will be examined by a hand specialist on Monday and an estimate on his return will be given at that time.

Nuggets forward JJ Hickson out for season with torn ACL

Denver Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson has been diagnosed with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, General Manager/Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Hickson suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

A date for surgery is pending and he will miss the remainder of this season.

Hickson joined the Nuggets as a free agent last summer. In his first season in Denver, he averaged 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 69 games (52 starts). Entering Saturday, his team-leading 26 double-doubles were tied for 20th in the NBA.