The AP reports: Vince Carter scored 29 points and the Nets salvaged the final game of their otherwise miserable five-game trip with a 115-89 victory over New York on Wednesday night… Brook Lopez added 23 points for the Nets, who put up 70 points across the middle two quarters, making 16 of 22 shots (73 percent) in the third, and cruised to a surprisingly easy victory in a game between teams fighting desperately to stay in the playoff race… Al Harrington scored 21 points, and Nate Robinson had 18 points for the Knicks, who went 3-2 on their trip and were opening a stretch where they play five of six at home.
Wallace, Bobcats beat short-handed Kings 104-88
The AP reports: Gerald Wallace returned with a slight limp for the second half and finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, willing the Bobcats to a much-needed 104-88 win over the short-handed Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night… Emeka Okafor added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who pulled away in the fourth quarter and had much better injury luck than the NBA-worst Kings, who dropped to 0-28 against the Eastern Conference… Sacramento played without top scorer Kevin Martin (illness) and Andres Nocioni (quadriceps), then lost Rashad McCants (ankle) late in the fourth quarter after he scored 30 points.
Trail Blazers beat Pacers 95-85
The AP reports: Greg Oden had four points and seven rebounds in his first pro game in his hometown, and the Trail Blazers beat the Indiana Pacers 95-85… Brandon Roy, who led the Trail Blazers with 20 points, said he has tried to encourage Oden… Travis Outlaw had 15 points, and Steve Blake added 14 points and eight assists for the Trail Blazers. Indiana’s Danny Granger had 35 points and 10 rebounds in his first start since leaving a game Feb. 18 against Charlotte because of a partially torn tendon in his right foot. Indiana coach Jim O’Brien had little to say about Granger’s performance.
Pierce scores 36 as Celtics beat Wade-less Heat
The AP reports: The only All-Star healthy enough to play made the difference. Paul Pierce scored 36 points without Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to share the load, Dwyane Wade missed his first game of the season, and the Boston Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 112-108 overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night… “We’re a team, the Miami Heat, with or without D-Wade,” said Michael Beasley, who led Miami with 21 points off the bench… Rajon Rondo had 27 for Boston. Miami, in its third overtime game in its last five, got 19 points from Mario Chalmers and 17 from Jermaine O’Neal.
Allen Iverson not healthy yet
The Detroit Free Press (Vince Ellis reports: Allen Iverson doesn’t appear to be any closer to returning to the Pistons lineup. Pistons coach Michael Curry said before tonight’s game at Houston that the 13-year veteran saw his doctors at Georgetown University today and he was still in pain. He will have more tests Thursday and Friday and then the Pistons will reassess.
Leon Powe out two weeks
The Boston Herald reports: In what has become a cavalcade of Celtics injuries, Leon Powe became the latest addition with the announcement he could miss two weeks with a strained left knee. “He’ll be out for a couple of weeks, most likely,” Doc Rivers said before tonight’s game against Miami.
Dwayne Wade out with hip strain
The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade won’t play in tonight’s nationally-televised game at Boston due to a right hip injury. According to the Heat the injury is a right hip flexor strain. Wade said he reached the decision about 45 minutes prior to tonight’s 7 p.m. tipoff. Wade said the decision to sit out tonight’s game was “very tough. I can’t even describe how tough it is.”
Grizzlies recall Hamed Haddadi from D-League
For the second time this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have recalled center Hamed Haddadi from the NBA Development League’s Dakota Wizards, the club’s D-League affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
Haddadi posted 5.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.86 blocks in 17.0 minutes in seven games (two starts) in his second stint with the Wizards, where he was reassigned by the Grizzlies on Feb. 17. Overall, the 7-2, 280-pound center has averaged 5.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.67 blocks in 17.4 minutes in 18 games (nine starts) with Dakota in his rookie season.
The Ahvaz, Iran native recorded two points and one rebound in four minutes in his NBA debut on Dec. 30 vs. Phoenix, becoming the first Iranian-born player to appear in an NBA game. Haddadi has averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 3.5 minutes through four games with Memphis this season.
Haddadi is expected to be in uniform tonight as the Grizzlies host the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. CST at FedExForum.
Nets suspend Sean Williams
The New Jersey Nets have suspended center Sean Williams for two games due to conduct detrimental to the team, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
The team-imposed suspension will include tonight’s game at New York and Friday’s home game against Miami.
The incident that caused this is explained here.
Wally Szczerbiak out 2-3 weeks
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Wally Szczerbiak experienced a left knee sprain (MCL) during the third quarter of the Cavaliers game last night at The Q in Cleveland vs. Orlando.
He received an MRI this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and is currently projected to be Out for two to three weeks.
For the season, Szczerbiak is averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds on 44.7% shooting in 21.0 minutes per game.