Celtics edge Hawks in grinding brickfest

No matter how ugly and brick-filled a game is, somebody still has to win the thing.

The AP reports:

Ray Allen hit two 3-pointers in Boston’s 13-0 run in the fourth quarter and protected the lead with two free throws in the final seconds as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Atlanta Hawks 79-76 on Monday night.

The Celtics led 73-58 at the end of the run. Joe Johnson , who had 25 points, had three late 3-pointers as the Hawks rallied. Johnson’s 3 with 11.8 seconds remaining cut the lead to 77-76.

Allen, who had 19 points, made two free throws with 10.9 seconds remaining.

Jeff Teague launched an air ball on Atlanta’s final possession.

Kevin Garnett had 16 points and Rajon Rondo had 10 points, 13 assists and six steals for Boston, which took charge with a 17-2 run, including 13 unanswered points, after a 56-56 tie in the final period.

Zaza Pachulia had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, which now leads Boston by 1 1/2 games in the race for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Paul Pierce had 13 points for Boston.

Tristan Thompson steps up for Cavs, drops 27 on Nets

It’s always fun taking note of the biggest games that NBA rookies put up. Which is why tonight’s performance is notable.

The AP reports:

Tristan Thompson scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and gave Cleveland the lead with a tip-in with 1:11 to play Monday night, leading the Cavaliers to a 105-100 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Fellow rookie Kyrie Irving added 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the Cavaliers snapped a three-game losing streak and sent the Nets to their third straight loss.

Newcomer Gerald Wallace had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead New Jersey.

Deron Williams added 28 points, but threw the ball away with roughly 16 seconds to play when he passed up a 3-point attempt to make a pass underneath with New Jersey down 103-100.

Celtics center Jermaine O’Neal out for season

Jermaine O’Neal

The Boston Celtics announced today that center Jermaine O’Neal will undergo surgery on his left wrist and will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

O’Neal has a chronic degenerative wrist condition that was exacerbated after a fall during the Celtics’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 20th. The wrist has not responded to immobilization and physical therapy, and the decision was made to proceed with surgery.

“Jermaine worked hard to get himself in condition to play this season despite his ongoing wrist issues,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He played through pain the entire year and gave us all he could, but unfortunately after the fall against Dallas there simply wasn’t anything else he could do. We appreciate his contributions to our team over the last two years.”

Kings waive forward J.J. Hickson

J.J. Hickson

The Sacramento Kings today waived forward J.J. Hickson, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. It was reportedly a contract buyout. As details emerge they’ll be posted here later tonight.

Hickson, a 6-9, 242-pound forward, averaged 4.7 points (.370 FG%, 0-1 3pt, .638 FT%), 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 18.4 minutes per game in 35 contests of which he started nine for the Kings.

The Kings’ roster now stands at 13 players.

Hornets recall Xavier Henry from D-League

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that the team has recalled guard Xavier Henry from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Henry (6-6, 220), appeared in last night’s 114-101 Energy loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In 20 minutes of action last night in Des Moines, Henry collected 13 points and two steals. Prior to his D-League assignment yesterday, Henry appeared in 25 games for New Orleans this season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Chris Bosh talks to himself during games

Chris Bosh

Chris Bosh was talking Sunday night and nobody was answering. That’s the way his teammates like it.

You see, the Miami forward speaks to himself during games. And one of the apparent problems during his recent slump was he hadn’t been chattering enough.

“Somebody said I wasn’t talking to myself when we played in Chicago,” Bosh said, referring to Wednesday’s loss and his disastrous 3-of-15 shooting.

So it was Chatty Chris on display in Sunday’s 91-81 win over Orlando at AmericanAirlines Arena. He listened to what he was saying, scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

“I have conversations all day in a non-crazy way,” Bosh said.

As it turns out, this talking to oneself isn’t confined to Bosh. Dwyane Wade also admits doing it, and he also heeded his words Sunday, scoring a game-high 31 points. He had 18 in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, after Bosh had ruled the first half with 18.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

Hawks guard Jannero Pargo to miss a month

Atlanta Hawks guard Jannero Pargo, who missed Sunday’s game at Cleveland with what was first believed to be the stomach flu, had successful surgery this evening on his appendix at the Cleveland Clinic.  He is scheduled to return to Atlanta in a couple of days, however, he will be out of action for a month.

The Hawks host Boston Monday at Philips Arena at 7:30 p.m.

Denver Nuggets sign Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler

Restricted free agent forward Wilson Chandler did his time overseas, and now he’s back in Denver.

The Nuggets today reached a multiyear contract agreement with Chandler, Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri announced.

Per the Denver Post, the deal “is for the rest of this season and four additional seasons for a total of $37 million, according to his agent.”

“It is great to have Wilson back on our roster,” Ujiri said. “It was a very unique situation signing a talented free agent in the middle of the season, and we worked extremely hard to find an agreement that was best for everyone. Wilson will be an excellent addition for the rest of this season and for years to come.”

Chandler, 6-8, 225, averaged 15.3 points and a career-high 5.7 rebounds in 72 games with Denver and the New York Knicks last season. He joined the Nuggets as part of a three-team 13-player trade that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chandler, 24, most recently played for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 26.6 points and 11.6 rebounds in 32 games.

Selected 23rd overall by the Knicks in the 2007 NBA Draft, Chandler has averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 254 career games.

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Wizards sign Edwin Ubiles to 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards today added some bench depth, courtesy of the D-League.

The team has signed forward Edwin Ubiles to a 10-day contract. It is the 37th NBA Call-up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season.

Ubiles joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters.

A 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, Ubiles (6-6, 204, Siena) has appeared in 35 games, all starts for Dakota this season, averaging 20.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 35.3 minutes.  He recorded a career-high 41 points in a 127-110 win over the Iowa Energy on Feb. 28 and has scored in double digits in 33 games.

A four-year contributor and two-year starter at Siena, Ubiles was named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year in 2007 and to the All-MAAC First Team in 2008 and 2009 before playing in the Reese’s College All-Star Game in 2010.

Ubiles is expected to join Washington today and be available when the team travels to face the Memphis Grizzlies this evening.

The 10-33 Wizards are currently 14th in the Eastern conference.