Lakers show pride, beat Celtics in OT 110-109

The AP reports: “I wish we would have come here last year with this kind of attitude,” said Pau Gasol, who scored 24 points with 14 rebounds Thursday night to lead the Lakers to a 110-109 overtime victory over Boston… Kobe Bryant scored 26 points with 10 rebounds to help the Lakers take a five-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against Cleveland. L.A. also snapped Boston’s 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day and sent the Celtics into a 2-7 skid that is the worst stretch of the New Big Three era… Paul Pierce scored 21, and Allen had 22, but they both missed off-balance shots in the final seconds. Allen was knocked to the court at the buzzer while Boston fans clamored for a foul call, but none came. Rajon Rondo scored 16 with 12 assists.

Dalembert rocks, Sixers beat Pacers 99-94

The AP reports: Samuel Dalembert had 18 points and 20 rebounds, and Miller and Iguodala also had double-doubles to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 99-94 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night… “We have to rally around each other and go out there and pick up our play on both ends of the floor,” said guard Willie Green, who had 23 points… Miller had 13 points and 12 assists, while Iguodala had 20 points and 11 assists to help the Sixers snap a two-game losing streak… Dunleavy led the Pacers with 21 points, and Danny Granger and Jarret Jack each scored 18 as Indiana dropped its third straight. Murphy had 15 points and 14 assists.

Elton Brand to have season-ending shoulder surgery

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that forward Elton Brand will undergo surgery on his right shoulder, which he dislocated on December 17, 2008 against the Milwaukee Bucks.  As a result of the surgery, Brand will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

The surgery is scheduled for Monday afternoon at the Wilmington Surgery Center.

Brand’s MRI results were reviewed by team orthopedist and medical director Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health System and Dr. Craig Morgan of the Morgan-Kalman Clinic in Wilmington, DE, who concluded that the initial tear of the labrum in Brand’s right shoulder is responsible for a considerable decrease in the range of motion and instability, both of which would not allow him to be effective on the court.

Following six weeks of non-operative and conservative treatment, including two weeks of testing it on a daily basis in live action, a determination was made that in order to reduce the risk of any further damage to the shoulder, surgery would be required.

“Elton wanted to do whatever he could to get back on the court and initially elected to forgo surgery in order to help his teammates,” Stefanski said.  “He worked as hard as he could over the past six weeks to return, however the scope the injury would not allow it.”

Ray Allen replaces Jameer Nelson in All-Star game

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Jameer Nelson (torn labrum, right shoulder) of the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.  Allen will be making his ninth All-Star appearance.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 215 countries and territories, and in 44 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Chris Bosh day-to-day with sprained right knee

Chris Bosh left Wednesday’s game versus Los Angeles in the fourth quarter with a sprained right knee. Images taken postgame revealed no structural damage. He will travel with the team to New Orleans and his status is doubtful for Friday night’s game and day-to-day for the remainder of the trip.

Jose Calderon sat out last night’s game against the Lakers to rest his sore right hamstring. He will accompany the team and is listed as probable for Friday’s game in New Orleans.

Celtics ticket prices stay same for 2009-10

The 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics announced today that they will not increase season ticket holder loge and balcony ticket prices for the 2009-10 season.  The Celtics have experienced enormous success over the last two seasons capturing the 2008 World Championship title, along with selling out 85 consecutive home games and doubling their season ticket holder account base.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a loyal and passionate season ticket holder base and we want them to know how much we truly appreciate their support.  While we have continued to invest in a championship caliber team, we recognize the economic climate has changed and we want to make it easier for our fans to continue to cheer for the Celtics at the Garden next season,” Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said.

Along with keeping prices flat, the team will introduce a first of its kind 12 month interest-free payment plan option, allowing season ticket holders to spread both their 2009 Playoffs and 2009-10 season ticket payments over the next year.  The Celtics will also continue to provide league leading benefits for their ticket holders and introduce a new tenure based rewards system, giving special event and gift access to season ticket holders that have been with the team for numerous years.

“We have made the decision to allow season ticket holders to spread out their entire playoff and season ticket invoice over 12 months, interest free, to ease the burden of heavier upfront payments this spring. We know flexible payment options are a necessity right now for our clients and we’re happy to deliver just that,” Boston Celtics CMO Shawn Sullivan said.

Bucks trade Tyronn Lue to Magic for Keith Bogans

The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard-forward Keith Bogans and cash considerations, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

“Tyronn is a veteran point guard who fits in well with our style of play,” said Smith.  “He shoots well from three-point range and adds needed depth at that position.  We thank Keith for everything he gave to us and wish him all the best.”

Lue (6’0”, 175, 5/3/77) has played in 30 games this season for Milwaukee, averaging 4.7 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 13.1 minpg.  He is shooting .467 (21-of-45) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 14 points on Nov. 24 @ Orlando.  Lue led (or tied) the Bucks in assists three times.

Lue returns for a second stint with Orlando.  He played in 76 games (69 starts) for the Magic in 2003-04, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg.  Lue was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Lue was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Denver.  He has appeared in 540 career NBA regular season games with eight different teams (the L.A. Lakers, Washington, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, Dallas and Milwaukee), averaging 8.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.7 rpg. in 23.0 minpg.  Lue has also shot .392 (454-of-1,158) from beyond the three-point arc during his career.

Bogans, 28, has appeared in 35 games this season for the Orlando Magic and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game.  Last season, Bogans played in all 82 games for the Magic and tallied 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes.  He shot a career-high 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from the three-point arc, connecting on a career-high 148-of-409 attempts.  Bogans appeared in all 10 of Orlando’s post-season contests in 2008 and averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.3 minutes.

Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations.  His resume spans five-plus NBA seasons and includes time spent with Orlando, Charlotte and Houston.  In 395 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League

Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.  The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second.  Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.

In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field.  Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.

Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico.  During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds.  As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.  Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.

Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Lisa Leslie to retire after upcoming WNBA season

The AP reports: Three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will call it quits after her upcoming 12th season with the Los Angeles Sparks. The 36-year-old center announced her decision Wednesday, accompanied by her 19-month-old daughter and husband. Leslie, a cornerstone of the league since its start in 1997, guided the Sparks to WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. “I’m not going to pull a (Michael) Jordan and come back in a year or two,” she said. “For me, I feel good about where I am. … I just know this is a good time. I can still help (the team). I don’t want to be out there when I can’t do it.”