The AP reports: Kirk Hinrich scored a season-high 31 points—including three straight baskets during a critical stretch in the fourth quarter—and the suddenly short-handed Bulls shook off the upheaval of a trade earlier in the day to beat the Bucks 113-104… Luol Deng added 21 for the Bulls, who were playing with a short bench after trading four players to Sacramento earlier in the day. Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro praised the remaining players for maintaining their focus… Richard Jefferson tied a season high with 32 points for the Bucks, who brought a three-game winning streak into the game despite playing without injured starters Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Luke Ridnour. Charlie Villanueva had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Wolves spoil O’Neal’s debut, beat Heat 111-104
The AP reports: Sebastian Telfair had a career-high 30 points and eight assists, Ryan Gomes added 20 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled O’Neal’s debut in Miami by hitting a season-high 14 3-pointers and beating the Heat 111-104 on Wednesday night… Dwyane Wade finished with 37 points and 12 assists for Miami. Udonis Haslem added 17 points for the Heat, and O’Neal—who sustained a right eye injury in the third quarter and missed 13 minutes before returning late—had 13 in his first game since being acquired from Toronto last week… Kevin Love had 16 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota. Foye had 14 points for the Timberwolves, who also got seven points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Mike Miller and 10 rebounds off the bench from Brian Cardinal.
Gerald Wallace shines, Bobcats beat Pacers 103-94
The AP reports: Gerald Wallace scored 25 points to lead six players in double figures and Charlotte pulled away in the second half to win its first game since the All-Star break. Wallace had his best outing in just his second game back after sitting out because of a broken rib and a partially collapsed lung suffered during the Bobcats’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 27… Wallace, who also had 10 rebounds and seven assists Wednesday, was 5-of-17 from the field, but made 15 of 17 free throws… Ekema Okafor had 12 points and 12 rebounds, Raymond Felton added 16 points, Vladimir Radmanovic had 15, Boris Diaw 14 and Raja Bell 11 for Charlotte. Troy Murphy had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Pacers, who played most of the game without All-Star forward Danny Granger.
Melo 26 points, Nuggets beat 76ers 101-89
The AP reports: Chauncey Billups took his coach up on the challenge and took over for the Nuggets. Billups scored 17 of his 22 points in the third quarter and rallied Denver back from a 16-point deficit to lead the Nuggets to their third straight win, 101-89 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night… Carmelo Anthony had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Nene scored 17 for the Northwest Division leaders. Denver looked sluggish in the first half and its poor shooting seemed indicative of a team coming off a lengthy All-Star break… Andre Miller gave him a good push with 17 points through the first 2-plus quarters, but strained his right calf with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the third.
Ilgauskas scores 22, Cavaliers beat Raptors 93-76
The AP reports: Even if they don’t make a move before the trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers think they’ve got enough for another run at the NBA Finals. LeBron James had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 22 points in the Cavaliers’ 93-76 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night… Joey Graham had 15 points for Toronto, which has lost five straight to Cleveland. Jose Calderon added 13 points, and Andrea Bargnani has 11. Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, acquired from Miami on Friday, made their Toronto debuts. Marion started and scored 10 points in 40 minutes, while Banks came off the bench to score four points.
Tyson Chandler fails physical, traded voided, returns to Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that center Tyson Chandler will return to the Hornets after the original trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder was rescinded. The Thunder’s medical staff failed to clear Chandler after the physical.
“We were pleased to add Tyson to the Thunder roster,” said Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti . “During the course of the physical examination and outside consultations some questions arose that gave us cause for concern. We felt that this course of action was the best for our organization.”
“We welcome Tyson back with open arms,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “We went into this trade to garner more frontcourt depth to add to our team as we continue our push towards the playoffs. We expect Tyson and the rest of our big guys to step up to the challenge.”
Forward Joe Smith, center Chris Wilcox and the draft rights to center Devon Hardin will immediately rejoin the Thunder.
Chandler is averaging 8.8 points and 8.3 rebounds this season through 32 games (all starts). He averaged a career-best 11.8 points to go along with 11.7 rebounds in 79 games (all starts) for the Hornets last season.
Chandler will re-join the Hornets in Los Angeles before their game against the Lakers on Friday.
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Al Jefferson has right knee surgery
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The procedure was performed this morning by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, N.Y. Jefferson suffered the injury during the Timberwolves Feb. 8 game at New Orleans and will be sidelined indefinitely as he begins rehabilitation.
Jefferson appeared in all 50 games for the Timberwolves this season prior to his injury, posting averages of 23.1 ppg (7th in NBA), 11.0 rpg (6th in NBA), and 1.7 bpg. The fifth-year center was one of just three players in the NBA (Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan) to post at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. Jefferson also ranked fifth in the NBA with 30 double-doubles at the time of his injury and was shooting 49.7% from the field and a career-best 73.8% from the free-throw line.
Bobcats sign Cartier Martin for rest of season
Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed forward Cartier Martin for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Martin, who signed his first 10-day with the Bobcats on Jan. 29 and a second 10-day on Feb. 8, has appeared in seven games with averages of 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.4 minutes. He has also connected on .400 (6-15) of his three-point attempts. His best game since joining the team came on Feb. 6 against Atlanta, when he scored 11 points on 3-7 shooting from the field, including two three-pointers in 19:29 minutes.
Prior to his callup from the D-League, Martin appeared in 21 games for the Iowa Energy and averaged 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 37.6 minutes.
Kings land Ike Diogu from Bulls
As part of a three-way trade with Sacramento and Chicago, the Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward Michael Ruffin from Chicago in exchange for forward Ike Diogu, who is sent to Sacramento, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.
The Trail Blazers also gain a $3 million trade exception, which they can use for one calendar year.
“We want to thank Ike for his time with the Trail Blazers, and hopefully this trade will give him an opportunity to play more minutes in Sacramento,” said Pritchard. “This move will give us trade flexibility going forward with the $3 million trade exception we gained in the deal.”
An eight-year veteran, Ruffin, 32, averaged 1.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 403 career games with Chicago, Philadelphia, Utah, Washington and Milwaukee. He has not appeared in a game for Chicago this season.
Diogu, 25, played in 19 games for Portland this season, averaging 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 3.8 minutes per game. He was acquired by the Trail Blazers from the Indiana Pacers along with the draft rights to Jerryd Bayless on July 9, 2008. Diogu has posted averages of 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 177 games during his four-year NBA career.
Kings trade Brad Miller, John Salmons to Bulls for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Michael Ruffin
The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has acquired center/forward Brad Miller and guard/forward John Salmons (pronounced SAL-mons) from the Sacramento Kings for forward Andrés Nocioni, forward/center Drew Gooden, forward Cedric Simmons and forward/center Michael Ruffin (In a related transaction, Sacramento traded Michael Ruffin to the Portland Trail Blazers for forward Ike Diogu.). With this deal, Chicago’s roster now stands at 12.
“When we signed Andrés in 2004, he brought a toughness to our basketball team. He’s been a warrior, and a professional, since the day that he arrived. He has been one of my favorites to ever wear a Bulls uniform; and personally, it was difficult for me to move him,” said John Paxson, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “Drew played really well for us in the short time that he was here. It’s a tough part of the business when you are traded, and Drew has been traded a few times now, and that is never easy.”
“Brad Miller is a skilled big man, who we feel will fit into many of the things that we run offensively. He is a good shooter and passer, and has a natural feel for how to play the game. We feel that he will be a good complement to Joakim, Tyrus and Aaron on our front line,” added Paxson. “John Salmons will bring us tremendous versatility in the backcourt, and at the small forward position. He has good size and length, and has shown the ability to score this year. We feel he’s one of the most improved players in the league at this point of the season.”
Miller (7-0, 261) has averaged 11.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 31.5 mpg, and shot .465 from the floor and .801 from the line, in 43 games this season. He has started every game that he has appeared in and has posted 12 double-doubles on the year. This trade marks Miller’s second stint with the Bulls, as he appeared in 105 games with Chicago from 2000-01 to 2001-02. During his first tour with the Bulls, he averaged 10.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 26.9 mpg, .449 field-goal shooting, and .752 from the line. In his 11th season in the NBA, Miller has appeared in 684 regular-season games (555 starts) and holds career averages of 12.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 30.2 mpg and has shot .488 from the field and .799 from the line. He also has played in 38 playoff games (21 starts) over his career and has posted postseason averages of 9.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.5 apg in 27.6 mpg. Undrafted following his senior season at Purdue, the 32-year old Miller has also played for the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers.
Salmons (6-6, 207), has appeared in 53 games (all starts) this year, and has averaged a career-high 18.3 ppg (29th in the NBA), 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.09 spg (43rd) in 37.4 mpg (21st). He has shot .472 from the floor, .418 from downtown (24th) and .823 from the line (48th). In his seventh season in the NBA, the 29-year old Salmons has played in 494 regular-season games (170 starts), and averaged 8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 23.9 mpg, .446 from the field, .354 from behind the arc and .795 from the stripe. Selected by the San Antonio Spurs out of the University of Miami in the first round (26th overall) of NBA Draft 2002, Salmons was then sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in a draft-night deal. Prior to his stint with the Kings, he played four years with the 76ers and was a member of two playoff teams.
Nocioni (6-7, 225), in his fifth season in the NBA, has played in 53 games (two starts) this season, and averaged 10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 24.1 mpg, .414 from the field, .378 from behind the arc and .806 from the line. Originally signed by the Bulls as a free agent on Aug. 11, 2004, he played in 351 regular-season contests (141 starts) with Chicago, and tallied averages of 11.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 apg and 25.2 mpg. During his time in a Bulls uniform, he shot .437 from the field, .367 from behind the arc and .813 from the free-throw line. Nocioni, 29, also appeared in 22 playoff games (12 starts) with the Bulls, and averaged 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 28.6 mpg.
Gooden (6-10, 250) has averaged13.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 apg and 29.6 mpg in 31 games (27 starts) this year. In his seventh season out of Kansas, he has appeared in 490 contests (395 starts) and owns career averages of 12.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 28.5 mpg and has shot .470 from the field and .730 from the line. He has also appeared in 40 career playoff games and has posted playoff averages of 10.8 ppg and 8.7 rpg in 28.0 mpg. Selected in the first round (fourth overall) of NBA Draft 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies, the 27-year old Gooden has also played for the Grizzlies, the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gooden joined the Bulls on Feb. 21, 2008, in Chicago’s three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder).
Simmons (6-9, 235) also came to the Bulls, from the Cleveland Cavaliers, in last February’s three-team trade. In his third season in the NBA, he has played in 68 games (four starts) and posted averages of 2.4 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 10.0 mpg. Simmons, 23, was selected in the first round (15th overall) of NBA Draft 2006 by the New Orleans Hornets after playing two seasons at North Carolina State.
Ruffin (6-8, 248) did not make a regular-season appearance with the Bulls this season, after suffering a sprained left ankle in the preseason. In his ninth year out of Tulsa, Ruffin has played in 403 games (58 starts), and owns career averages of 1.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 14.7 mpg.
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