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.
Playoff-bound Nuggets beat Knicks behind Anthony
The AP reports: Hours before the calendar even turned to April, the Nuggets weren’t just alive and kicking but playoff-bound, clinching a spot in the postseason party with a 111-104 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night… Fueling this win were Anthony’s 29 points, Nene’s 18 points and 12 boards, and Kenyon Martin’s jumpers in crunch time, all of which helped Denver hold off the Knicks after blowing most of a 27-point second-quarter lead… Denver has won nine of 10 and New York has lost nine of 10, so a mismatch was expected, and the Nuggets obliged by racing out to a 62-35 led with five minutes left in the first half. That’s when they got lackadaisical, and the Knicks, who were led by Nate Robinson’s 30 points, got hot.
Durant scores 31 as Thunder stun Spurs again
The AP reports: Kevin Durant scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder continued to torment the San Antonio Spurs with a 96-95 victory Tuesday night… Russell Westbrook had 16 points and 10 assists for the Thunder, who fought off a furious rally from the Spurs to break a three-game losing streak and win in San Antonio for the first time since 2004.
InsideHoops.com notes: For the Spurs, Tim Duncan shot 9-of-12 for 21 points and 12 rebounds. Manu Ginobili scored 17, and Tony Parker was quiet with 11 points and as many turnovers as assists. Mike Finley shot just 5-of-16, and no one else stepped up.
Howard’s return sparks Mavs over Wolves, 108-88
The AP reports: Josh Howard had 14 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes in his return from an 11-game absence, Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and 12 boards, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves 108-88 on Tuesday night. Howard has missed a total of 28 games due to various injuries this season, and each time he has returned seemingly without missing a beat… Jason Terry scored 21 points and Jason Kidd had eight points and 13 assists for the Mavericks, who shrugged off a blowout loss at Cleveland on Sunday and moved four games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Kevin Love had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who played their second straight game without Randy Foye and Craig Smith. It was the rookie’s 25th double-double, which is one more than the former MVP Nowitzki has.