Paul Pierce, Chris Paul named Players of Week

The Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 26, through Sunday, April 1.

Pierce led the Celtics to a 4-0 week, averaging 25.0 points (nearly six above his season average), 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He scored a season-high 36 points, to go with 10 rebounds in a 102-95 victory over Charlotte on March 26. He capped off the week with a team-high 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 91-72 triumph over the Miami Heat on April 1, the Celtics’ fifth win in a row.

Paul guided the Clippers to a 4-0 mark, averaging 21.5 points on 56 percent shooting, while dishing out 11.3 assists per contest. He began the week with 25 points and 10 assists, as the Clippers defeated Paul’s former team, the New Orleans Hornets, 97-85 on March 26. Paul, who ranks third in the NBA in assists (8.8 apg), matched his season high with 15 assists in a 103-86 win over the Phoenix Suns on March 28.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, the L.A. Clippers’ Blake Griffin, New Jersey’s Deron Williams, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.

Tom Thibodeau and Gregg Popovich named Coaches of Month for March

The Chicago Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.

Thibodeau led the Bulls to a league- best 13-3 (.813) record including a league-leading 6-0 mark on the road.  During the month the team recorded key wins over Central Division competitors Indiana (92-72 on March 5) and Milwaukee (106-104, March 7), while holding opponents to a league-low 43 percent shooting from the floor.  Thibodeau recorded his 100th career win on March 19 at Orlando (86-59), his 131st game as head coach, becoming the fastest coach in NBA history to reach 100 wins.

Popovich guided the Spurs to a Western Conference-best 12-3 (.800) record in March, including a seven-game winning streak to close the month and victories in nine of the team’s last 10 games.  During the month, the Spurs ranked first with 107.1 points per game, nearly six points above their season average of 101.4.  San Antonio went 4-1 on the road, including a 114-105 win March 16 at Western-Conference leading Oklahoma City, only the Thunder’s third home loss.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks, Boston’s Doc Rivers, Phoenix’s Alvin Gentry and New York’s Mike Woodson.

Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas named Rookies of Month for March

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving and the Sacramento Kings’ Isaiah Thomas were today named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.  The award is the third for Irving this season and the second for Thomas.

Irving led all rookies in scoring (19.9 ppg), assists (6.7 apg), and was second in free throw percentage (.881).  He also led all Eastern Conference rookies in fourth-quarter scoring (7.4 ppg).  Irving scored 20 or more points in eight games in March, shooting .500 or better six times. He and had a career-high 12 assists to go along with nine points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 9, snapping the Thunders 14 game home winning streak.

Thomas led all Western Conference rookies in assists (4.9 apg) and was second in scoring (13.6 ppg).  He also led all rookies in fastbreak points (64) in March and was ranked first in free throws made (54), second in assists (89), third in points (245) and steals (24).

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Detroit’s Brandon Knight, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson undergoing surgery on torn tendon today

daniel gibson

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson is scheduled to undergo surgery this afternoon to repair a torn tendon in his left foot and ankle at the Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Van Nuys, California.

The surgery was recommended by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Sports Health in conjunction with additional examination and consultation with Dr. Richard D. Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Ferkel.

Gibson’s status will be updated following a post-operative review. A time table for his return to play will be established at that point.

Derrick Rose injury worse than he thought

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose admitted that his groin injury is worse than he originally thought.

Rose sat out the loss Sunday against the Thunder. It was the 10 consecutive game he has missed because of the groin issue and the 20th game he has missed overall.

Rose said there’s no timetable for his return, but he expects to be back before the end of the regular season.

“I really don’t know,” he said when asked how long it would take him to get his game playoff-ready. “If I knew that answer, it would make a lot of things easy. It’s going to take a minute to get my rhythm back. Hopefully, it takes a game. We’ll see.”

Rose has been lifting weights and stretching but said he hasn’t started running yet.

— Reported by Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times

Raptors coach Dwane Casey repulsed by the idea of tanking

Dwane Casey

[Toronto Raptors coach Dwane] Casey is a competitor first and foremost and even the mention of the term seems make him cringe.

“I despise even talking about it,” Casey said. “It’s against my nature and it’s just against everything I stand for. I understand the fans want that and hear that but my job is to develop this program and you don’t develop a program by tanking games. My job is to develop learning how to win and we have a big enough job doing that.”

At one point Casey started to apologize to the fans for his feelings but quickly took that back.

“No, I don’t apologize, but I know what the fans are saying but it goes against everything I stand for,” Casey said.

— Reported by Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun

Dwight Howard misses Nuggets game with back spasms

Dwight Howard

The Orlando Magic didn’t have their best player on the floor when they hosted the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.

Dwight Howard suffered from back spasms, was a late scratch and sat out a regular-season game for only the eighth time in his eight-year pro career.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has alleged that Howard was punched in his lower back by Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Haywood during Friday night’s loss to the Mavericks.

Haywood said he did nothing wrong.

“Man, I don’t know what’s wrong with Stan,” Haywood said Sunday, according to ESPNDallas.com. “Stan’s going to say what Stan wants to say. We don’t gotta play them no more. The game’s over with.

“I think Dwight caught me with more shots than I caught him. He’s the most physical player in the league. So it is what it is. Stan made his comment. I haven’t got a call from anybody [in the league office], so I guess nobody’s listening.”

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Andrew Bynum suffers left ankle sprain

Andrew Bynum

The Lakers had avoided any substantial injury scares with Andrew Bynum’s fragile lower body in this breakout season for him, but he left late in the first quarter Sunday night with a moderate sprain of his left ankle.

Bynum appeared to turn the ankle when landing on teammate Josh McRoberts’ foot. He limped off the court with 1:49 left in the first quarter with the Lakers ahead by one point and went for X-rays, which showed no fracture. He will be re-evaluated Monday, when the Lakers have the day off before back-to-back games vs. New Jersey on Tuesday and the Clippers on Wednesday.

— Reported by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register

Rondo has triple-double as Celtics rout Heat

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo had a triple-double and the Boston Celtics handed Miami its biggest loss of the season, pulling away for a 91-72 win over the Heat on Sunday.

The Celtics outscored the Heat 31-12 in the third quarter, turning a 49-44 halftime lead into an 80-56 advantage. They stayed ahead by at least 19 the rest of the way for their fifth straight win…

Rondo finished with 16 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, reaching the triple-double mark with 8 1/2 minutes to play. It was his 13th consecutive game with at least 10 assists and his fifth triple-double of the season…

The Heat, playing their third game in four days, were led by LeBron James with 23 points but he had no assists for only the second time in his career. Dwyane Wade added 15 points. The Heat continued to struggle on the road, losing for the seventh time in their last 10 games away from home. Miami has the fewest home losses in the league at 21-2 but is only 16-12 on the road.

Paul Pierce scored 23 points, and Brandon Bass added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Boston.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Terrence Ross declares for 2012 NBA Draft

Guard Terrence Ross has decided to enter his name into the 2012 NBA Draft and will forgo his final two years of eligibility at the University of Washington.

“I discussed the pros and the cons with my family and I just think this is a great step for me and it’s time for me to take my game to the next level,” Ross said about his decision.

“Being at Washington and playing for Coach (Lorenzo) Romar has been a blessing,” Ross continued. “On the court, off the court, with school and in life…it’s just been a real blessing to consider myself a Husky and get to where I am right now.”

Ross (Portland, Ore./Jefferson HS) helped the Huskies to a 24-11 record, NIT semifinal appearance and Pac-12 regular season championship in 2012. As a freshman in 2011, he was part of a Husky team that went 24-11, won the Pac-10 Tournament championship and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

In 2012, Ross established himself as not only one of the Pac-12’s most complete players, but one of the nation’s top athletes. He ranked among conference leaders in eight categories: points (16.4, 4th), rebounds (6.4, 6th), offensive rebounds (5.1, 3rd), free throw percentage (.766, 11th), steals (1.3, 12th), 3-PT FG makes (2.1, 8th), 3-PT% (.371, 14th) and blocks (0.9, 13th).

He earned first team All-Pac-12 honors in 2012 and led Washington in scoring, tallying 574 total points – tied for 9th most in UW single-season history.

He also was second on the team in minutes, rebounds, steals, 3-point makes, 3-point field goal percentage and blocks.

Ross was the only Husky to reach 30 points this season, doing so twice. He was second with 9 games of 20-plus points.

Ross flourished in Washington’s run to the NIT semifinals in New York. He averaged 25.0 points in four games. He was a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line and led UW shooters from three point range, making 15-of-37 attempts (.405).

“We wish Terrence the best,” Husky Coach Lorenzo Romar said from New Orleans, where he is taking part in Final Four festivities. “He was refreshing to coach because of his humility and team-first attitude. We wish him well and anticipate that he will have an excellent NBA career.”