The AP reports: Charlie Villanueva knew he was in a groove when his shot from beyond midcourt was good. It was one of those nights for Villanueva, who scored nine of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Denver Nuggets 120-117 on Sunday… Ramon Sessions added 16 of his 27 points in the first half for the Bucks… Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and Chauncey Billups added 21 for the Nuggets, who ended a season-high eight-game road trip with a 5-3 mark. Denver plays its first game at home since February 3 on Monday against the Boston Celtics.
Rondo goes nuts, Celtics beat Suns 128-108
The AP reports: Rajon Rondo was off and running, and Kevin Garnett was hardly missed. Rondo scored a career-high 32 points to go with 10 assists on his 23rd birthday in Boston’s 128-108 victory over the Suns on Sunday… Ray Allen scored 31 and Pierce 26 in Boston’s first game since Garnett went down with a strained muscle in his right knee that is expected to sidelined him for at least two weeks… Jason Richardson scored 21 for the Suns in their first loss in four games under new coach Alvin Gentry. Steve Nash added 19 points and 11 assists. Leandro Barbosa scored 18 and Shaquille O’Neal 17 for Phoenix.
Bargnani 28 and 10, Raptors beat Knicks 111-100
The AP reports: Anthony Parker and the Toronto Raptors didn’t have to wait very long to avenge an ugly loss at Madison Square Garden. Andrea Bargnani had 28 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday to help Toronto beat New York 111-100 two days after absorbing a 30-point loss against the Knicks… Each of Toronto’s starters reached double figures and four of the five had double-doubles. Shawn Marion had 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Chris Bosh added 11 points and 12 boards. Jose Calderon had 13 points and 11 assists… Al Harrington scored 31 points and David Lee had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost nine straight games in Toronto and 11 of 12 overall against the Raptors. Chris Duhon finished with 17 points.
Murphy scores 27, Pacers beat Bulls 98-91
The AP reports: Who needs Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy? Troy Murphy had a season-high 27 points and the Indiana Pacers, still without their two injured scoring leaders, survived a second-half stretch of 11 minutes without a field goal to beat the Chicago Bulls 98-91 on Sunday. The Pacers now are 5-1 without Granger, a first-time All-Star this season, and 4-1 without both Granger and Dunleavy… T.J. Ford finished with 19 points for Indiana—nine in the final 4 minutes— while Marquis Daniels and Jarrett Jack added 16 each… Ben Gordon had 28 points to lead Chicago, which used three of the five players that came to the Bulls in a series of trades last week.
Orlando Magic mascot breaks foot
The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports (via blog): Stuff the Magic mascot has joined Jameer Nelson on the team’s injury list. The furry dragon is sidelined by a broken right foot sustained while performing a stunt in the Magic’s last home game — last Tuesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Monta Ellis out 1-2 weeks
The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports (via blog): There have been warning signs and flare-ups here and there. And now this announcement from the Warriors: “Guard Monta Ellis, who has experienced occasional stiffness in his left ankle since returning to action on January 23, including during last night’s game against Oklahoma City, will be sidelined the next 1-2 weeks.
Rockets-Bobcats team connections
Houston forward/guard Shane Battier received the Naismith and Wooden Awards as the consensus choice as National Player of the Year as a senior at Duke.
Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady was drafted by the Toronto Raptors out of Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina.
Houston forward Joey Dorsey also attended Mount Zion Christian Academy in 2002-03.
Rockets Rehabilitation & Performance Coordinator/Assistant Athletic Trainer Keith Garnett also served as assistant athletic trainer/head equipment manager for the Bobcats.
Phil Ford, an assistant coach with Charlotte, played with the Rockets from 1983-85.
Bobcats forward Juwan Howard played three seasons with the Rockets (2004-07).
Charlotte center Emeka Okafor was a prep standout in Houston at Bellaire High School.
Dwight Howard was a Skip To My Lou fan
The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports: His Orlando Magic teammates already are calling him by his legendary streetball name of “Skip.” Dwight Howard, 23, remembers being in middle school and watching Rafer Alston on the And 1 Mix video-tapes, marveling at his Harlem Globetrotter-esque style and jaw-dropping moves. “I wanted to be like ‘Skip To My Lou,'” Howard laughed. “Now we’re on the same team.” Alston, who arrived in a trade last Thursday from the Houston Rockets, just shakes his head about the old days. “Yeah, Dwight told me that. That he watched the And 1 stuff,” Alston said. “It makes me feel old.” … Alston realizes his playground celebrity follows him, but he says he couldn’t have lasted this long in the NBA if he hadn’t holstered his showboating style.
Don Nelson 1,300th win, Warriors beat Thunder 133-120
The AP reports: Golden State coach Don Nelson earned his 1,300th victory Saturday night, with Stephen Jackson scoring 26 points and Corey Maggette adding 25 in the Warriors’ 133-120 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nelson is just the second coach in NBA history to reach the milestone, joining good friend Lenny Wilkens, who has 1,332 career wins… Kevin Durant scored 32 points for the Thunder, who have lost five straight. Russell Westbrook added 31 points and 11 assists, but Oklahoma City dropped to 3-24 on the road. Jeff Green had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Oklahoma City, but the second-year forward combined with Durant for 12 of the Thunder’s 23 turnovers.
Bass and Singleton shine, Mavericks beat Kings 116-95
The AP reports: One night after logging major minutes in a loss to Houston, the Dallas Mavericks’ starters were able to take to take it easy. Brandon Bass scored 16 of his season-high 20 points in the second quarter and Dallas’ reserves contributed 54 points to lift the Mavericks past the Sacramento Kings 116-95 on Saturday night… Josh Howard scored 20 points, Nowitzki had 12 and Singleton grabbed 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won 11 straight home games over the Kings in the regular season. Dallas pulled all their starters early in the fourth quarter. Beno Udrih had 18 points, and Spencer Hawes and Francisco Garcia each scored 17 for the Kings, who have the NBA’s worst record at 12-45.