The AP reports: The Denver Nuggets are starting to see the storm clouds closing in on them. Even the brief return of Kenyon Martin from a bad back couldn’t snap them out of their funk as the Nuggets lost for the eighth time in 11 games Monday night, this time 97-95 to the Houston Rockets… Denver had a chance to tie idle Utah atop the Northwest Division after losing their grip on first place 24 hours earlier with a disheartening loss at Sacramento. But they fell behind by 19 points in the third quarter and couldn’t overcome big games by Ron Artest (22 points) and Aaron Brooks (19)… Nene shot 4-for-15, falling behind Shaquille O’Neal for the league lead in shooting percentage.
Butler scores 27, Wizards beat Wolves 110-99
The AP reports: Caron Butler had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Wizards to a 110-99 victory over the Timberwolves on Monday night in a matchup of teams that had lost 14 straight combined. Antawn Jamison added 26 points for the Wizards, who had lost five in a row and seven of their last eight… Kevin Love had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Ryan Gomes scored 18 for the Timberwolves, who have lost 10 in a row and 15 of their last 16… Guard Randy Foye had to be carried to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle. He went up to grab a high lob pass from Mike Miller, but crumpled to the court in pain.
Hamilton 29 and 14, Pistons beat Magic 98-94
The AP reports: Kwame Brown, who has struggled since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft, had 10 points and played 26 minutes of tough defense against Dwight Howard as Detroit beat the Orlando Magic 98-94. He stepped up after Rasheed Wallace left with a first-quarter injury… Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 29 points and a career-high 14 assists, while Antonio McDyess had a season-high 18 rebounds… Howard had 27 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, which has lost 19 of its last 24 regular-season meetings with the Pistons, and been eliminated by Detroit in each of the last two postseasons.
Wade amazing, Heat beat Bulls 130-127 in 2OT
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade’s 3-pointer at the end of the first half was desperation. The one in the final seconds of regulation, dramatic. And the one that finally ended the game, unbelievable. Miami’s MVP candidate stole the ball from John Salmons with 3 seconds left, then made a running 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Heat to a wild 130-127 double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night… Wade—who finished with 48 points and 12 assists in nearly 50 minutes, shooting 15-for-21 from the field—made a 3-pointer at the end of the first half, then another with 11.5 seconds left in regulation… Michael Beasley had 18 points, Mario Chalmers added 17 and Jamario Moon scored 13 for the Heat, who stayed within 1 1/2 games of Atlanta for the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff chase. Ben Gordon scored a season-high 43 points for the Bulls, including eight 3-pointers. Salmons scored 29 and Derrick Rose added 23 for the Bulls, who are 0-3 against Miami this season and used only seven players Monday.
Johnson scores 30, Hawks beat Hornets 89-79
The AP reports: Joe Johnson showed he’s willing to step up if the Atlanta Hawks will be without Marvin Williams for a significant period of time. Johnson scored 30 points and the Hawks beat New Orleans 89-79 on Monday night, ending the Hornets’ season-best seven-game winning streak… Josh Smith had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, while Flip Murray had 14 points and Bibby added 10… Chris Paul had 24 points and 10 assists and David West also had a double-double with 16 points and 20 rebounds for New Orleans. Rasual Butler added 18 points for the Hornets.
Rudy Fernandez injury update
Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez sustained a soft tissue injury to his right upper chest and side area in the third quarter of Monday night’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. X-Rays and CT scan were both negative.
The injury happened at the end of the third quarter as he went up at the rim but was fouled by Trevor Ariza, who was issued a flagrant-2 for his excessive contact.
Fernandez will be kept overnight at an area hospital for observation. He is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
In 25.9 minutes per game this season, Fernandez is averaging 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds on 41.8% shooting.
Details about what led to his injury are here.
Trevor Ariza ejected after hard foul on Rudy Fernandez, Video added
UPDATE: Portland G Rudy Fernandez sustained a soft tissue injury to his right upper chest and side area in the third quarter of Monday night’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. X-Rays and CT scan were both negative. Fernandez will be kept overnight at an area hospital for observation. He is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
INITIAL NOTES:
Monday night in Portland the Trail Blazers were hosting the Los Angeles Lakers. Enjoying a late third quarter 83-55 lead, it was Portland’s night.
Pau Gasol had been the only Laker playing well, shooting 7-of-12 for 18 points and 13 assists. His teammates, including Kobe Bryant (8-of-22, 16 points) were struggling.
With just 0.8 seconds seconds left in the third, a Blazers fast break resulted in Rudy Fernandez catching a pass going right down the middle of the paint. As he jumped at the basket to score, Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza swooped in from behind and swung his right arm sideways in very broad fashion, hitting Rudy’s arms and the back of his head near the neck area.
Ariza really followed through on the swipe, and snagged Rudy’s wrist in the end.
Fernandez totally lost his balance due to the contact and slammed down hard on the court, landing on his back while slightly twisted onto his right side, and crumbled over.
Both teams immediately rushed over, grabbing and pushing each other right in front of the Lakers bench, but I didn’t see any actual punches thrown.
An angry Brandon Roy yelled furiously at Ariza. Others jawed as well. Ariza was yelling stuff at other Blazers, too. He’s out of line here.
It appears that Lamar Odom left the Lakers bench, very briefly, just a few feet away. I’m not sure how far he went. He barely went anywhere.
A flagrant-2 was called on Ariza, which means he’s ejected.
A stretcher has been brought out to safely remove Fernandez, who is lying on his back, from the court. He’s been put down on the stretcher, covered with a blanket, and strapped down onto it securely, which is always an extremely scary sight to see.
Aside from the flagrant-2 called on Ariza, technical fouls were called on Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw and Laker Josh Powell.
Later in the game it was reported by Blazers television that Fernandez has chest pains and is being taken to a hospital.
I’m guessing Ariza could be suspended one game. But that’s no guarantee. But Odom could be suspended for leaving the bench, though I didn’t see if he went far enough away from it to warrant such an action.
Here’s a video of Ariza’s foul on Fernandez:
–Jeff
Bobcats assign Alexis Ajinca and Sean Singletary to D-League
The Charlotte Bobcats have assigned rookies Alexis Ajinca and Sean Singletary to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Ajinca and Singletary are expected to see their first action with the Skyforce on Friday, March 13, against the Reno Bighorns.
A 7-0 center from France, Ajinca has averaged 2.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.2 blocks in 5.9 minutes in 31 total games this season. Ajinca was selected by the Bobcats as the 20th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. In the two years prior to joining the NBA, Ajinca played professional basketball in France.
In 2007-08, Ajinca averaged 5.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 10.8 minutes with Hyeres-Toulon in France. Ajinca averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots as a member of the French national team that won the Bronze Medal at the 2007 Under-19 World Championship. In 2006, he averaged 6.9 points and 7.5 rebounds to help lead France to the Gold Medal in the Under-18 European Championship.
Singletary, a 6-0 guard from the University of Virginia, has played in 24 games for the Bobcats since being acquired along with Raja Bell and Boris Diaw in a trade with Phoenix in exchange for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley in December 2008. In 37 total games with the Bobcats and Suns, he is averaging 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.3 steals in 8.2 minutes.
Singletary was initially selected by Sacramento as the 42nd overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft before being traded to Houston and later to Phoenix. He played four seasons at the University of Virginia, averaging 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 123 career games. A three-time All-ACC First Team selection, Singletary finished his career as the only player in ACC history with 2,000 points, 500 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals.
Josh Howard out two games
Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard has a sore left ankle, will remain in Dallas and will miss the next two games in order to have more specialized testing done.
The Mavs don’t play tonight but begin a four-game road trip Tuesday night in Phoenix.
After facing the Suns they’ll visit the Trail Blazers, Warriors and Lakers, so this is a tough time for any key players to be unavailable.
Howard this season in 32.3 minutes per game is averaging 18.0 points (third on the team), 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, shooting 45.6% from the field, with very few steals or blocks.
Al Harrington on MTV Cribs
New York Knicks forward Al Harrington and his house were recently featured on a new episode of MTV Cribs.
The 6,800 square foot house in Las Vegas, Nevada has five bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.
Harrington introduced himself at the door alongside his fiance, Michelle.
It was a true Cribs type of house: extremely large, insanely perfect, and absurdly beautiful, with perfect furnishing, an amazing pool, truly a dream home.
Harrington also introduced his personal chef, Jay Gross.
Al went out of his way to plug Protege basketball. He was wearing a Protege t-shirt. And when he opened his fridge to show what food and drinks were stored in there, his Protege basketball sneaker, the A3H, was sitting inside, in front of the food. Al, of course, kidded around, pretending to be surprised it was there, and then declared that “it’s so hot, I got to leave it in the Fridge.”
Elsewhere in the house, Harrington’s cousin, NBA player Dahntay Jones, was in a red-walled video game room.
The majority of the crib appears to have yellow, beige and off-white walls.
Amazing place. It looks exactly like a much smaller version of the InsideHoops.com guest house.
As is a Cribs tradition, Harrington also showed his cars: His everyday car, a white 2008 S5-50 Mercedes with tinted windows. And a blue 2009 Rolls Royce that he just got last week.
Rough life, but someone has to live it.