The Toronto Star (Doug Smith) reports: The Raptors have not won more than three straight games this season and they’ve lost to such minnows as Oklahoma City and Memphis. They had an opportunity to make at least a mild statement in New York two weeks ago and they cowered. The friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre have been anything but – Toronto is 12-16 at home this season, hardly confidence-inducing. Still, optimism carries the day, not unexpectedly because the next time an NBA player says publicly his team has no chance might be the first. “I think if we play like that for 48 minutes we’ll win a lot of games in these last 20 games,” Jose Calderon said after Toronto’s latest loss, a 107-97 defeat administered in Houston on Tuesday.
Samuel Dalembert frustrated
Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert is having a strange season. He’s rebounding well (8.7 rpg) and blocking shots nicely (1.8 bpg) in just 24.7 minutes per game. And shooting nicely at 49.5%.
But he’s scoring just 6.3 points per game, barely dishes any assists, and putting stats aside, he simply hasn’t been too special.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports:
During Saturday’s loss to New Orleans, Dalembert played only 12 minutes, 47 seconds, and the Sixers were easily outrebounded. Dalembert started the game with the assignment of guarding power forward David West. West scored 14 points in the first quarter, and Dalembert’s minutes were limited for the rest of the game. Was Dalembert frustrated watching his team be outrebounded? “You can see me,” he said. “I’m very frustrated on the bench. . . . It’s very upsetting, but I cannot go out there and sub myself in.”
With Elton Brand out, it’ll be interesting to see if Dalembert gets more consistent minutes sometime later in the season. But time is running out.
Gay scores 35, Grizzlies beat Clippers 118-95
The AP reports: Rudy Gay scored 20 of his season-high 35 points in the third quarter and the Grizzlies completed their two-day stint at Staples Center with a 118-95 victory on Wednesday night, snapping an eight-game losing streak… Rookie center Marc Gasol had 20 points, along with eight rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. Hakeem Warrick, the only player left from the Grizzlies’ 2005-06 playoff team, added 17 points. Al Thornton scored 25 points for the Clippers, who lost their fourth straight and have lost 30 games by double-digit margins—the most in the league, one more than Memphis. Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo had 18 points nearly a year after playing his final regular-season game for USC.
Roy leads Blazers over Pacers 107-105
The AP reports: Brandon Roy was a bit taken aback when he got a call with 1.7 seconds left that would alllow the Trail Blazers to potentially beat the Pacers on a pair of free throws. But he wasn’t too stunned to make the shots, and the free throws were among Roy’s 28 points in Portland’s 107-105 victory over Indiana on Wednesday night… Marquis Daniels had 28 points for Indiana. Troy Murphy had 11 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth straight double-double. A 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter gave the Blazers a narrow lead, which they held until T.J. Ford’s jumper put the Pacers back up 99-97.
Boozer, D-Will lead Jazz over Rockets 101-94
The AP reports: Carlos Boozer had his best game since returning after missing three months with a knee injury, scoring 20 points and pulling down 17 rebounds as the Utah Jazz increased their winning streak to nine with a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday… Deron Williams scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including a 20-foot jumper with 21 seconds left after Houston got within three points. Williams also had 14 assists for the surging Jazz, who went 17-for-17 from the foul line and won their 10th straight home game. Ron Artest scored 25 points to lead Houston and Yao Ming had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists before fouling out with 1:23 left.
J-Ho scores 29, Mavs beat Spurs 107-102
The AP reports: Perhaps inspired by a tongue-lashing from their owner over their lackadaisical play in their previous game, the Mavericks bounced back by beating the rival San Antonio Spurs 107-102 Wednesday night. Josh Howard scored 29 points, including a key layup in the final minute, and Jason Kidd hit a clutch 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to seal the victory—but that was only part of the show. Jason Terry fed Kidd for that 3, then grabbed a rebound that led to the game-icing free throws with 10.8 seconds left. Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and Erick Dampier had nine points, four rebounds and pestered Tim Duncan into a bad night. Duncan was 7-for-21, with only eight points over the final three quarters… Tony Parker scored 37 points and Roger Mason had 23. Duncan had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but wasn’t his usual dominating self as the Spurs lost for the third time in four games.
Salmons leads Bulls in 110-88 win over Warriors
The AP reports: John Salmons had 23 points and seven rebounds, Joakim Noah added 14 points and 17 rebounds and the Bulls beat the Golden State Warriors 110-88 Wednesday night. Brad Miller finished with 19 points and six rebounds, Derrick Rose finished with 14 points and six assists, and the Bulls pulled into a tie with Milwaukee for eighth place in the Eastern Conference… Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 19 points and six assists. Jamal Crawford scored 11 points on 4-for-15 shooting and Corey Maggette finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for Golden State, who led by 13 points in the first quarter.
Westbrook, Sefolosha lead Thunder past Wizards 88-83
The AP reports: The Oklahoma City Thunder are finding ways to win without their top two scorers. Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha made big baskets in the final 2 minutes Wednesday night, leading the Thunder to an 88-83 victory over the Washington Wizards for their first three-game winning streak of the season. Oklahoma City, which beat Dallas on Monday, was without both Kevin Durant (sprained ankle) and Jeff Green (back spasms) for the second straight game, with Durant missing all three wins… Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who have been banged up all year and played without Caron Butler for the second straight game. Andray Blatche and Darius Songaila scored 14 points each.
Pierce shines, Celtics beat Nets 115-111
The AP reports: Paul Pierce scored 31 points and hit a game-winning 17-footer with 20.9 seconds to play—the last of three perfect plays down the stretch—to lead the Celtics to a 115-111 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night… Devin Harris, who had 25 points and 11 assists for New Jersey, missed a floater with 45.6 seconds to go and that set the stage for Pierce’s game winner… Rajon Rondo added 20 points as the Celtics shot 61.2 percent from the field in beating the Nets for the third time this season. Perkins had 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Hughes, Gallinari lead Knicks over Hawks 109-105
The AP reports: Larry Hughes scored 23 points to continue his turnaround from a rocky start with his new team, and the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 109-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night… Al Harrington had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Danilo Gallinari scored a career-high 17 points for New York, which got March off to a good start after a 3-10 February that damaged its hopes of making the playoffs in D’Antoni’s first season. Wilson Chandler finished with 18 points, and David Lee had 13 points and 14 rebounds for his 24th straight double-double… Al Horford had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who are trying to hold off Miami and Detroit for fourth place in the East but lost for the fifth time in seven games. Joe Johnson scored 18 points, Marvin Williams 17 and Josh Smith 16 as Atlanta’s lead over the Heat dropped to 1 1/2 games for home-court advantage in the first round.