Mike James helps Mavericks beat Jazz, 113-108

mike james

Mike James didn’t play like a 37-year-old on his last legs in the NBA on Sunday night.

James scored a season-high 19 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 17 and the Dallas Mavericks beat the slumping Utah Jazz 113-108.

The journeyman point guard scored 12 points in the third quarter, including seven in a 20-2 run which bridged the third and fourth quarters.

”I’m like a little kid in the candy store,” James said. ”People don’t understand how much fun I’m having out there.”

The 11th-year point guard is probably enjoying himself more now considering he didn’t even have an NBA job three months ago. James joined Dallas on a 10-day contract on Jan. 8, and the Mavericks signed him for the rest of season three weeks later.

Rick Carlisle inserted James into the starting lineup on March 6, and the Mavericks have gone 8-3 since then to get within two games of the Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference…

Vince Carter and Shawn Marion each had 15 as the Mavericks improved to 2-1 on a season-long six-game homestand. Dallas has gone 21-13 since dropping 10 games under .500 on Jan. 9…

Enes Kanter scored 17 points as the Jazz lost their ninth straight on the road, Utah’s longest such skid since losing 17 in a row away from home during the 1981-82 season. The Jazz’s last road win was Feb. 13 at Minnesota.

— Reported by David Jimenez of the Associated Press

Late James Harden jumper helps Rockets edge Spurs

James Harden

The Houston Rockets got contributions from several players Sunday night against the Spurs.

In closing time, they turned to James Harden again.

Harden sank an off-balance jumper with 4.5 seconds left to lift the Rockets to a 96-95 victory over San Antonio. Harden scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half as the Rockets rallied from three down in the final minute to snap a four-game losing streak to their state rivals.

Houston has won three in a row and inched closer to clinching a postseason berth.

”Tonight was a great environment, great crowd,” Harden said. ”Hopefully, we can continue to build off this lead. It’s momentum.”

Tony Parker scored 23 points, including 10 in a row to put San Antonio ahead with just under 2 minutes left. The Spurs led 95-94 when Harden got the ball from Omer Asik, drove to the free throw line and hit the winning jumper between Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard…

Chandler Parsons scored 20 points and Asik grabbed 14 rebounds for the Rockets. Backup point guard Patrick Beverley had 11 points and blocked Danny Green’s layup attempt with 1:22 left to keep Houston within one.

Duncan had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, who shot 42 percent (33 of 78), gave away 18 turnovers and were held below 100 points for just the third time in 12 games.

— Reported by Chris Duncan of the Associated Press

Miami Heat winning streak reaches 26 games

lebron james

The world’s best came out to see if Miami could do it again. Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men’s tennis player. Wladimir Klitschko, the world heavyweight boxing king. Rory McIlroy, who sits atop the golf rankings for at least one more night.

And they got quite a show.

The Heat won their 26th straight game on Sunday, with LeBron James going for 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 109-77 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

”I think it’s very humbling that you can have some of the greats from other sports come to see your team play, come to see you play,” said James, who was 11 for 14 from the field in another surgical performance. ”You try to leave an impression on them, as a team and as an individual, absolutely. So it was great to have them in the building, for sure.”

Chris Bosh and Norris Cole had 15 points apiece for the Heat, who played without Dwyane Wade, held from the lineup because of right knee soreness that the team believes is minor. And after yet another slow start, Miami is now seven victories shy of matching the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the league record of 33 in a row.

The show now goes on the road for a four-game trip that begins in Orlando on Monday, a swing that also will take the Heat to Chicago, New Orleans and San Antonio. And the Heat will start that trip 2 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio in the race for the NBA’s best record.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Al Horford, Josh Smith lead Hawks over Bucks

Al Horford scored 24 points to help the Atlanta Hawks rally for a 104-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

Josh Smith added 23 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks, who trailed 98-95 with 1:05 remaining. Devin Harris added 16 points and Jeff Teague finished with 14.

Smith converted a layup with 33.8 seconds to tie it at 99. After the Bucks turned it over, Dahntay Jones was fouled. He made the first and missed the second, but Anthony Tolliver grabbed the rebound for Atlanta and called timeout.

Horford was fouled with 20.1 seconds remaining and hit both free throws to give the Hawks a 102-99 lead. Monta Ellis missed a 3-pointer for Milwaukee, and Teague made two foul shots to put the game away.

Ellis scored 20 points for Milwaukee, and Ersan Ilyasova added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bucks have dropped six of eight to fall to fall two games behind idle Boston for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 13 games remaining.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Dwyane Wade out with right knee soreness

Dwyane Wade is not playing for the Miami Heat on Sunday against the Charlotte Bobcats because of right knee soreness.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Wade has been dealing with the issue for several days and that the team believes a bit of rest and treatment will take care of the problem.

It’s the fifth game Wade is missing this season. He’s averaging 21.5 points on 52 percent shooting for the Heat, who took a 25-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against the NBA-worst Bobcats.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Raptors might shut down Rudy Gay for season

Rudy Gay missed his third game on Saturday night because of back problems. And now his season, which started with the Memphis Grizzlies could be over as the Toronto Raptors are considering shutting Gay down.

Gay received therapy on Saturday and depending on how he responds could determine if Gay’s season is over, according to Raptors coach Dwane Casey.

“I would say that it’s something that will be talked about sooner rather than later,” Casey told ESPN.com.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Bobcats sign Jannero Pargo to second 10-day contract

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed guard Jannero Pargo to a second 10-day contract.

The 6-1 Pargo has seen action in five games for the Bobcats, scoring in double figures in each of the last four contests. He is averaging 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 rebound in 17.2 minutes. Since coming to Charlotte, Pargo is shooting .465 from the field (20-43), including .480 from beyond the three-point line (12-25), and is a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line.

Prior to signing with the Bobcats, Pargo had played in 14 total games this season, seven each with the Wizards and Hawks, with overall averages of 4.0 points and 2.4 assists in 15.4 minutes.

Antawn Jamison day-to-day with sprained wrist

Lakers forward Antawn Jamison, who was injured during the second half of last night’s game against the Washington Wizards, was examined by hand specialist Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and underwent an MRI test today on his injured right wrist.

Results of the MRI confirmed a sprained wrist. Jamison’s status will be day-to-day and he will be reevaluated at the conclusion of the season.

Sacramento mayor announces preliminary agreement for a new arena

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says his city has reached a preliminary agreement for a new downtown arena with an investment group that hopes to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle.

Johnson announced the agreement Saturday on his Twitter account. He said the group includes Silicon Valley software tycoon Vivek Ranadive, 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle.

The City Council is planning to vote on the non-binding term sheet Tuesday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Grizzlies center Marc Gasol out indefinitely with abdominal tear

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that center Marc Gasol re-aggravated an abdominal tear on March 22 at New Orleans and will be out indefinitely.

Gasol (7-1, 265) originally sustained the injury on March 6 vs. Portland.

The 28-year-old leads Memphis in blocks (1.71) and free throw percentage (career-high .855) while ranking second in scoring (14.3 points), rebounding (7.8) and assists (career-high 3.9). The five-year veteran had been the only member of the Grizzlies to play in and start every game this season.