The AP reports: Ronny Turiaf recorded his first double-double in nearly two years with 14 points and 11 rebounds while helping lead the Warriors to a 105-98 win over Portland on Thursday… Corey Maggette had 24 points while Jackson and Monta Ellis added 20 points apiece for Golden State, which extended its season-high win streak to three games. The Warriors also beat Portland at home for the eighth straight time… Brandon Roy scored 37 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 for the Blazers, who have not won at Golden State since Nov. 3, 2004.
Rondo triple-double, Celtics beat Mavericks 99-92
The AP reports: Kevin Garnett was frustrated and sitting on the Boston bench after getting three fouls in a matter of seconds while battling with Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas’ lone All-Star. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was already in the locker room because of the same sequence late in the third quarter, ejected after two quick technical fouls… And they would go on to a physical 99-92 victory Thursday night over the Mavericks. Pierce scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but gave plenty of credit to his argumentative coach… Nowitzki led Dallas with 37 and Howard had 17 before fouling out. Ray Allen, playing a night after injuring his thumb in the Celtics’ victory at New Orleans, had 20 points and will play in the All-Star game still. Rajon Rondo had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists for his second career triple-double, both this season.
Beasley scores 21, Heat beat Bulls 95-93
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade found a streaking Shawn Marion for a dunk with 1.1 seconds left to give the Heat a 95-93 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. Wade, selected as a starter for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game this weekend in Phoenix, scored 24 points… Reserve Michael Beasley finished with 21 points for the Heat, who came in as a loser of five out of the last seven games… Ben Gordon finished with 34 points for Chicago.
NBA fines Cavaliers coach Mike Brown
The AP reports: Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing officials following Cleveland’s last-second loss at Indiana on Tuesday night. Brown, who will coach the Eastern Conference team at this weekend’s All-Star game, went into a tirade about a call by referee Joey Crawford that awarded the Pacers two free throws and gave them a 96-95 win. Crawford called a foul on LeBron James, who was trying to stop an alley-oop pass to Indiana’s Danny Granger. Brown felt Crawford made a predetermined call against James, who had been involved in a similar call moments earlier with Granger.
Hi from the Golden Gate Bridge
Hi. I am currently in San Francisco, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge on my way to a town called Sausalito. Not sure if that’s the right spelling. Most people drive it or at least bike it, but after rainy days it’s nice out and I’m up for a walk.
No, I haven’t moved to California. Just visiting.
–Jeff
Zach Randolph says he’s unguardable
The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports: Zach Randolph said he knows the Knicks miss him. “I’m a pretty good player,” Randolph said before his Clippers scored a 128-124 overtime victory over the Knicks. “Ain’t nobody in the league can guard me. I thought we were rolling, playing good, had the best start in a long time. We had a good team. I’m not going to start anything. It’s what they wanted to do. I don’t know why, but I guess they have plans. They say they have plans.”
Jordan Farmar is back
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.