The AP reports: Kobe Bryant rebounded from a rough shooting night in Tuesday’s loss at Charlotte to go 7-for-7 in the first half and score 30 points. Bryant cooled off after halftime, but Pau Gasol took control by scoring eight of his 15 in the fourth quarter… Lamar Odom added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers. Ramon Sessions had his first career triple-double for the Bucks, who fell four games out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. Despite briefly leaving the game with a shoulder stinger early in the fourth quarter, Sessions finished with 16 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
Gay scores 25, Grizzlies beat Wizards 112-107
The AP reports: Trailing 110-107 with just under 4 seconds left, the Wizards had the ball out of bounds with a chance to tie. But a steal of the inbounds pass by guard Mike Conley and his two ensuing free throws provided Memphis with a 112-107 victory over the Wizards on Wednesday night, giving the Grizzlies their first home win since the All-Star break… Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Conley added 22 to lead the Grizzlies. Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo scored 18 points apiece. Gasol grabbed nine rebounds, and Mayo had seven assists. Hakim Warrick had 12 points. Butler had 31 points for Washington, which lost its third straight, while Antawn Jamison had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Reserve Nick Young had 16 points and Crittenton finished with 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Nets finally win, beat Pistons 111-98
The AP reports: Devin Harris had 19 points and 11 assists, and the Nets snapped a five-game skid with a 111-98 victory over the sluggish Pistons on Wednesday night. “I think this says when we play the right way we’re competitive and also that we haven’t mailed it in,” said Nets guard Keyon Dooling, who was inserted into the starting lineup and responded by matching his season high with 23 points… “It’s very surprising. Tonight was a game that we had to get,” said Richard Hamilton, who led the Pistons with 29 points… Brook Lopez added 19 points on his 21st birthday, fellow rookie Ryan Anderson had 14 and Vince Carter 12 for New Jersey… Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince and Walter Herrmann scored 16 points for Detroit… Allen Iverson scored four points on 1-of-8 shooting and handed out four assists, but at times he looked out of control, particularly in the second quarter.
Big Allen 3, Celtics beat Bobcats 111-109 in 2OT
The AP reports: Ray Allen’s last long-range shot, on a pass from Paul Pierce, lifted the Boston Celtics to a 111-109 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night and into second place in the Eastern Conference… Paul Pierce led Boston with 32 points, Allen added 22 and Rajon Rondo had 21 points and nine assists… Gerald Wallace had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, and Boris Diaw scored 17… Boston, with Kevin Garnett sidelined for the third straight game with a sore right knee, won for the seventh time in eight games. Charlotte’s winning streak ended at three.
Bosh’s 24 points helps Raptors beat Magic 99-95
The AP reports: Chris Bosh had 24 points, including a 22-footer over Dwight Howard with 29 seconds left that put the game out of reach, and the Toronto Raptors beat Orlando 99-95 on Wednesday night to bounce the Magic from the Eastern Conference’s second seed… Jose Calderon had 21 points, and Shawn Marion added 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who nearly blew an 11-point lead before holding on to extend their season-high winning streak to five games. Rashard Lewis missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds left to seal Toronto’s win… Howard had 30 points and nine rebounds for Orlando (55-19), which fell percentage points behind Boston (57-19) for the East’s second seed. The Magic host first-place Cleveland on Friday night in a game that has now lost some of its luster.
Thaddeus Young out 2-3 weeks
Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young had an MRI taken this morning of his right ankle, the results of which were examined by team Orthopedist and Medical Director Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health. Dr. McPhilemy reports that Young has a right ankle sprain and bone bruise.
Young is currently walking with the assistance of crutches and also wearing a removable air cast.
It is anticipated that Young will miss two to three weeks.
Additional updates on Young’s injury will be provided as they become available.
Thunder assign two to D-League
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has assigned forward D.J. White and guard Kyle Weaver to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
This is the third time this season that White has been assigned to Tulsa. In four games D-League contests this season White is averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 30.8 minutes.
Weaver is being assigned to Tulsa for the first time this season. The Washington State product has appeared in 49 games for the Thunder this season including 17 starts. Weaver has averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20 minutes per contests.
Both players are expected to be in uniform tonight when the 66ers face the Austin Toros.
Respect Joe Johnson
Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson doesn’t get the attention he deserves NBA.com (John Schuhmann) reports: Teammate Mike Bibby is the conspiracy theorist. “It’s political,” he says about Johnson’s lack of exposure. “You know how it goes. That’s the way it’s been. That’s the way it’s always going to be. It’s political.” “[Johnson] is a quiet guy,” offers Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks’ vice president of basketball and color commentator. “He’s got a quiet demeanor. He never complains. He just plays the game like it’s supposed to be played. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, the way he handles himself on the floor.” Wilkins compares the lack of attention Johnson gets to the way he was treated when he was played in Atlanta. But that’s probably where the comparison ends. ‘Nique was a freak athletically, one of the two or three best dunkers in NBA history.
Hornets sting Kings on Butler’s 3 as time expires
The AP reports: Rasual Butler hit a 3-pointer as time expired to cap a final minute full of dramatic plays, and the Hornets improbably survived the Kings’ late rally for a 111-110 victory on Tuesday night, improving their playoff position by the slimmest of margins… David West matched his career high with 40 points despite injuring his ankle in the second quarter, and Chris Paul had 15 points and 15 assists as the Hornets snatched a win from the Kings, who thought they had it when Udrih beat the shot clock with a fallaway that looked like a terrible idea until it went in. Kings owner Gavin Maloof leaped onto the court to celebrate, and Divac beamed with pride… Andres Nocioni hit five 3-pointers while scoring 23 points and Kevin Martin added 20 for the Kings, who hung Divac’s No. 21 jersey in the Arco rafters during a halftime ceremony. Francisco Garcia scored 19 points, hitting two big shots and blocking Paul’s layup from behind in the final 2 minutes, yet Sacramento still failed to win consecutive games for the first time since early November.
Blazers rout Jazz in key Northwest matchup
The AP reports: Portland routed Utah 125-104 on Tuesday, winning its third consecutive game by at least 20 points. The Blazers (47-27) blitzed the Jazz with torrid shooting, hitting a season-high 61.6 percent (47-of-76) from the field… LaMarcus Aldridge hit 10 of 16 shots, while Brandon Roy made 10 of 14 shots and had 25 points and handed out a season-high 11 assists. Six Portland players scored in double figures… Carlos Boozer, who led the Jazz with 20 points, and Portland’s Joel Przybilla were ejected after receiving consecutive offsetting technical fouls in the third quarter. Two minutes later, Utah coach Jerry Sloan, outraged over a foul call, joined Boozer in the locker room after he was hit with a pair of technicals.