The AP reports: Leon Powe scored a career-high 30 points with 11 rebounds, and Ray Allen added 22 points on Friday night to help the Boston Celtics snap a two-game losing streak and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 102-92… “Since he’s been put in a starting role, he’s been really playing well for us,” said Celtics swingman Paul Pierce, who scored 17… Rudy Gay scored 26, O.J. Mayo had 21 and Marc Gasol had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost four consecutive games as they struggle to stay out of the Western Conference cellar… Stephon Marbury had his best game since joining the Celtics, scoring nine points with five assists.
Johnson scores 30 as Hawks beat Pacers 101-87
The AP reports: Joe Johnson scored 30 points for the third straight game, and Al Horford finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds in the Hawks’ fourth straight victory, 101-87 over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Improving to 24-7 at home, Atlanta increased its lead over fifth-place Miami to two games in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks’ 38 wins are one more than their total from last season, when they advanced to the playoffs for the first time in nine years… T.J. Ford, who scored Indiana’s last 14 points, finished with 29. Troy Murphy pulled down 14 rebounds—all defensive—for the Pacers, who have lost two straight and three of four.
Hamilton, Pistons beat Raptors 99-95 in overtime
The AP reports: Richard Hamilton had 24 points and a career-high 16 assists, Antonio McDyess added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 99-95 in overtime on Friday night. Detroit has won six of eight since Hamilton returned to the starting lineup in place of the injured Allen Iverson, and the change has the Pistons feeling like they’ve gone back in time… Rodney Stuckey scored 17 points and Jason Maxiell matched a season high with 16 for Detroit, which swept the season series from Toronto for the first time since 1997-98. The Pistons have won 14 of their past 17 against the Raptors. Chris Bosh had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jose Calderon added 20 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough as the Raptors lost their seventh straight, matching a season-high.
Howard’s strong game gets Magic past pesky Wizards
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had 18 points, 13 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and five blocks in Orlando’s 112-103 victory over the worst-in-the East Washington Wizards on Friday night, and he also collected his 13th tech this season… Indeed, Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 36 points for the Wizards, and second-year guard Nick Young added 20… As if the Wizards didn’t already have enough problems—what with Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson sidelined by injuries—two-time All-Star Caron Butler sat out the second half with a tight hamstring. And reserve forward Andray Blatche left in the second half with a bum ankle.
Yao, Artest help Rockets beat Bobcats 91-86
The AP reports: Ron Artest made the go-ahead jumper and had the key defensive play Friday night as the Rockets were able to celebrate the 7-foot-6 Yao’s rare long-range shot in a wild 91-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats… Yao had 23 points, Luis Scola added 15 and Artest scored 10 for the Rockets, who appeared to have the game in hand when Yao drilled a straightaway 3-pointer — the second of his career—with 2:12 left to put Houston ahead 83-77… Gerald Wallace scored 17 points and Raja Bell added 16 for the cold-shooting Bobcats, who have lost two straight following their team-record, six-game winning streak.
76ers close Spectrum with win over Bulls
The AP reports: Thaddeus Young wished he could have played a few more games at the Spectrum. He made the most of his one and only chance on the musty court. With Dr. J and former franchise greats in attendance, the 76ers brought down the house one last time before Philadelphia’s first arena goes away for good. Young scored a career-high 31 points and Andre Iguodala had 25 to spark Philadelphia to a 104-101 victory over Chicago on Friday night in the final NBA game at the 42-year-old Spectrum… Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 20 points. Andre Miller had 13 points and 13 assists, and Dalembert grabbed 19 rebounds for the Sixers.
Rockets sign James White to second 10-day contract
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard/forward James White to a second 10-day contract. He was signed to his original 10-day contract by the Rockets on Mar. 3. White joined Houston from the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA D-League, becoming the 12th GATORADE Call-Up of the season.
White (6-7, 200, Cincinnati), who has been on Houston’s inactive list since his Call-Up, was averaging 25.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.18 steals in 34 games (33 starts) for the Arsenal this season. At the time of his Call-Up, White was tied for first in the D-League in points per game and was ranked tied for 12th in the league in field goal percentage. White posted 30 or more points in 12 contests with the Arsenal in 2008-09, including a season-high 47-point performance against Houston’s D-League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers (1/20/09).
Discuss the team and this news on the InsideHoops Houston Rockets forum.
Donte Greene and Bobby Jackson pranks
The Sacramento Bee (Sam Amick) reports: In a season-long series of punishments for rookies failing to execute their locker room duties, Donte Greene’s car recently was filled with popcorn, and Bobby Jackson was believed to be the culprit. Against his better judgment or NBA credo, Greene retaliated Thursday by dousing the outside of Jackson’s white Mercedes with a mixture of dog food, soy sauce and condiments that sent a stench emanating from the car and sent Jackson into a locker room rant not likely to go unresolved.
UPDATE (March 14): The Sacramento Bee reports: The Kings rookie small forward exacted revenge on Bobby Jackson on Thursday, retaliating for a recent popcorn prank on his car by dousing the veteran’s Mercedes with a variety of condiments and dog food after practice. Yet the hijinx that was intended to be in fun wound up reflecting poorly on Greene and sparking little laughter within the organization. Not long after it happened, Jackson’s angered opinion could be clearly heard at the team’s practice facility. And while Greene may not have come to his senses in time to avoid the subsequent fallout, he said he eventually realized the error of his ways. “Let’s just say this,” Greene said with a straight face before Friday’s game when asked if there was any resolution to the matter. “I did a lot of apologizing today.”
Stephen Jackson likes being bulked up
The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports on Stephen Jackson of the Golden State Warriors, who added 10 pounds of muscle and is 6’8″ and 235 pounds: Jackson says his new-and-improved physique is behind his sustained surge, and he’s giving credit to the Warriors’ strength and conditioning gurus Mark Grabow and John Murray. It was Murray who pointed out that Jackson’s lack of strength was causing him to get pushed around without getting his share of foul calls, so the nine-year veteran hit the weight room to bulk up. Jackson now lifts for 30 to 40 minutes after every Warriors shootaround to jump start his game-day routine. He’s also using meal-replacement shakes to boost nutrition. “This is the most I’ve lifted and the most I’ve been in the weight room my whole career, and it’s starting to pay off,” said Jackson, who usually plays at 222 or 223 pounds.
Chris Bosh on Raptors game struggles
The Toronto Star (Doug Smith) reports on the Raptors and their losing ways: “Right now, I think we’re in the process of `just do something,'” said Chris Bosh. “We as a team, we always talk about it, we talk about it, talk about it, talk about it, talk about it. Do we practise? Yeah, we practise great, nobody can get a shot off in practice. But in the games, for whatever reason, it’s different. “Are we going to keep talking about it, or are we going to do it? We’re past talking about it, it’s all about action. “I can sit up here and deliver a positive message every day, I can tell you what I’m going to do every day. But until you see me to do it, it’s a whole different story.”