Blazers claw out overtime win against Bucks

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on the Portland Trail Blazers:

Almost nothing seems to be coming easy for the Trail Blazers these days, not even a win over the worst team in the NBA.

A win did come over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, but it took a clutch shot by Damian Lillard just to get the game to overtime, where Wesley Matthews’ heroics helped the Blazers finally put the Bucks away for a 120-115 victory before 19,572 at the Moda Center.

“We understand that we were very fortunate to win the game tonight,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.

The Blazers (44-24) had struggled to close out tight games against elite teams recently, and that issue surfaced again against the Bucks (13-55), who have the worst record in the NBA and had only beaten two Western Conference teams all season.

Byron Scott files for divorce, reports TMZ

Here’s TMZ reporting on Byron Scott:

Byron Scott files for divorce

Three-time NBA champ Byron Scott has filed for divorce … seeking to end his 27-year marriage to his college sweetheart Anita Scott … TMZ Sports has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, the former Lakers player (who later served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers) … filed the papers on March 13.

Byron and Anita met at a nightclub in Los Angeles when Byron was still a student at Arizona State … and according to Anita, he courted her with flowers, love letters and poetry.

LeBron James scores 43 points vs Cavs

LeBron James scored 43 points (on 14-of-19 shooting) — 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display — and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving…

Miami’s Dwyane Wade sat out resting his knees, but the Heat’s two other megastars put away the Cavs.

Jarrett Jack scored 22 and Dion Waiters added 17 and 11 assists for Cleveland, which was also without forward Luol Deng (sprained ankle).

— Associated Press

Andre Iguodala out at least three games

Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala will be out for a minimum of three (3) games with right knee tendonitis, beginning with tonight’s game versus the Orlando Magic.

Additionally, center Andrew Bogut will miss tonight’s game against Orlando due to left ankle inflammation.

And that’s your Warriors injury report for today.

Kings sign Royce White to second 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings today signed forward Royce White to a second 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

White, signed by the Kings to a 10-day contract on March 6, immediately reported to the Bighorns and averaged 8.8 points (.367 FG%, .333 3pt%, .625 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.50 steals and 24.8 minutes per game in starting four games. Twice White scored in double-figures.

Wizards sign Drew Gooden for rest of season

Wizards sign Drew Gooden for rest of season

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed forward Drew Gooden for the remainder of the season.

Gooden, who signed consecutive 10-day contracts with the team on February 26 and March 8, has averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game in eight games with the Wizards.

The Wizards have a 35-31 record, and are currently the 5th seed in the Eastern conference.

Blake Griffin thinks 2013-14 NBA MVP is a two-man race

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting that Blake Griffin agrees with many in the basketball world who feel that LeBron James or Kevin Durant will come away with this season’s NBA Most Valuable Player award:

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season on Monday but don’t look for him to start campaigning to win the MVP.

“No, I think the MVP race is a two-man race,” Griffin said. “The stretch of games that we’ve played and we’ve been successful has been a huge team effort. Jamal Crawford was playing out of his mind before he got hurt and guys have stepped up and really done their part. With our team I don’t think it’s one guy that’s making us go.

“I genuinely believe it’s been a total team effort.”

Griffin believes the MVP will eventually go to LeBron James or Kevin Durant but he has at least vaulted himself into the conversation this season, averaging a career-high 24.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 69.9 percent from the free throw line.

Some New York D-League team name possibilities emerge

Here’s the Wall Street Journal reporting on possibilities for the name of the upcoming new Knicks-owned team in the D-League:

The Knicks are letting fans help pick the name of their new Development League affiliate team in Westchester. But according to a handful of federal trademark filings, it appears the organization has already seriously considered a few names of its own.

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the NBADL has filed for ownership of five potential team names: The New York Plainsmen, the New York Hutch, the New York 914s, the New York Empire, and the New York ‘Bockers.

It’s pretty clear that these name suggestions came directly from the Knicks rather than fans, as the filings were submitted on March 7, three days before the Knicks had announced they’d be allowing fans to have input on the name-selection process.