The Press Enterprise (Jeff Eisenberg) reports: The emphatic one-handed dunk Jordan Farmar attempted Tuesday against Oklahoma City served at least one purpose, even though the play resulted in a charging foul. It proved to Farmar that his surgically repaired left knee is fully healthy again. “Just the fact that I didn’t think about it, I got an open lane, went and jumped off my knee with no second thought about it, that’s good,” Farmar said. “It tells me that I’m back to 100 percent.” In the 10 games since he returned, Farmar has averaged 6.6 points and 2.6 assists in 18 minutes per game, very similar numbers to those he put up prior to getting hurt in late December.
Stephen Jackson on a roll
The Bay Area News Group (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Stephen Jackson has considered himself a premier player, and now he is playing like one. His numbers have been flat-out ridiculous recently, more like those of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. In February, Jackson is averaging 28.4 points, 9.0 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. During that five-game span, he has tallied at least 30 points and 10 assists three times — against San Antonio, Phoenix and New York. The last NBA player to get 30 and 10 three times over a five-game stretch was James in 2007. The last Warrior? Tim Hardaway in 1992. “Honestly, he’s playing as well as any small forward in the league,” Warriors guard Jamal Crawford said.
Pistons slumping at home
The Detroit News (Ted Kulfan) reports: The Pistons lost for the sixth time in seven games at home Wednesday to the Atlanta Hawks 99-95… The Pistons (27-24) head into the All-Star break with a three-game losing streak and are 5-12 in their last 17 games. “Definitely you don’t get to enjoy your break,” said coach Michael Curry, who believes the long weekend away from basketball could help his team. “Guys look physically tired and mentally drained. Hopefully this can re-energize them.” … “It’s not a good feeling,” Allen Iverson said of the Pistons’ recent slide. “In life you have to deal with adversity. It’s something we have to deal with right now. The whole thing is to stay positive and stick with each other.”
Bulls ask NBA to review McDyess screen
The Chicago Sun-Times (Brian Hanley) reports: The Bulls have asked the NBA to review the screen set by Antonio McDyess that injured rookie Derrick Rose with 10.6 seconds left in the Bulls’ 107-102 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. McDyess looked as if he lowered his shoulder into Rose as Rose was trying to get around him along the baseline. The two collided, and Rose immediately screamed in pain and held his head. No foul was called on the play, which resulted in a bad pass and turnover by the Pistons’ Richard Hamilton.
Shawn Marion hurts eye in practice
The Miami Herald (Michael Wallace) reports: Heat forward Shawn Marion was knocked out of Wednesday’s practice because of an eye injury and is questionable for Thursday’s game at Chicago. Marion was injured late in the workout, when forward Michael Beasley inadvertently hit him in the left eye during a drill. Marion was taken to a doctor for treatment and diagnosed with a bruised left eye orbit. Marion, the Heat’s leading rebounder, traveled with the team Wednesday and will be evaluated Thursday.
Deron Williams: Still not an All-Star
The Deseret News (Brad Rock) reports: The Jazz enter another All-Star break, today, happy to rest their aching bones. For guard Deron Williams, among others, it’s a much-needed respite from the grappling and shouldering that occurs on an everyday basis. Not that he’s glad about being sidelined. Actually, he’s ticked. At least he played that way in Wednesday night’s 113-109 win over the Lakers. Now in his fourth season, things haven’t gone according to plan. He’s still not an All-Star. First year, he rode the bench in the early season. No chance there. But the second, third and fourth years he didn’t get selected, either… In the last five games he scored 35, 34, 34, 31 and 31 points. So he didn’t leave quietly. The All-Star voters can just wonder what they’ve done while checking out Wednesday night’s box score.
Gordon scores 30, Clippers beat Knicks 128-124
The AP reports: Led by Eric Gordon’s 30 points, the Clippers beat the Knicks in overtime. Gordon got his points on just 16 shot attempts, and hit 4-of-8 from three-point range. Former Knick Zach Randolph had 22 points and 15 rebounds. Al Thornton had 20 with 8 rebounds. And Baron Davis shot just 5-of-17 for 13 points but dished 20 assists, with 5 turnovers. For New York, Nate Robinson shot 13-of-28 (just 2-of-11 three-pointers) for 33 points, 9 rebounds, 15 assists and 5 steals. Wilson Chandler score 27. Jared Jeffries, David Lee and Al Harrington all had double-doubles.
Roy scores 22, Blazers beat Thunder 106-92
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 22 points and Travis Outlaw came off the bench with 21, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 106-92 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Greg Oden had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his rookie-leading 16th double-double of the season. Russell Westbrook had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Kevin Durant had 20 points in another display of the top two picks in the 2007 NBA draft—this time with a very different result.
D-Will 31 and 11, Jazz beat Lakers 113-109
The AP reports: Deron Williams had 31 points and 11 assists and the Utah Jazz snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with a 113-109 victory Wednesday night… Mehmet Okur scored 22 points, CJ Miles had 17 and Ronnie Brewer added 16 to give the injury-plagued Jazz their fourth win in the last five games… Lamar Odom had 19 points and 19 rebounds, but the Lakers allowed the Jazz to shoot a season-high 58.6 percent.
Yao, Alston carry Rockets past Kings 94-82
The AP reports: Yao Ming had 24 points and 18 rebounds, Rafer Alston dished out a season-high 13 assists and the Rockets won again without McGrady, beating the Sacramento Kings 94-82 on Wednesday night. Luis Scola added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Ron Artest scored 19 for the Rockets, who improved to 12-6 with McGrady out of the lineup this season. .. Kevin Martin scored 18 points and rookie Jason Thompson added 14 in the game for the Kings, who’ve lost five in a row and 13 of 14. The Kings hit 11 of their first 18 shots to build an early lead. The 6-foot-11 Thompson scored 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first 9 minutes, but then went to the bench with two fouls.