The New York Daily News (Jotham Sederstorm) reports: The stratospheric cost of protecting the Atlantic Yards from terrorist attacks could be the death knell for architect Frank Gehry’s flashy NBA basketball arena, the Daily News has learned. The bulletproof glass facade proposed for the glitzy arena will cost a mind-blowing $625 per square foot, a source familiar with the designs told The News. “I think the owners clearly didn’t have their financing tied down for this project, and that’s going to be the biggest hurdle,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the sky-high prices associated with securing the 850,000-square-foot arena against terrorism. “With the security concerns at the arena, there’s not much you can do to make it that much cheaper,” added the source.
Kendrick Perkins fined for foul on Jason Maxiell
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said he was fined $10,000 by the NBA for a hard foul on Pistons forward Jason Maxiell last Friday. Perkins was ejected with a flagrant 2 penalty. “I thought I was going to get more,” Perkins said. “So the $10,000 was pretty cool. I watched [the replay] a few times. It was a hard foul, but I wasn’t trying to hurt him. “He got real low. I wasn’t trying to go for his head. I just ended up hitting him. Like I said, it was nothing personal. I wasn’t trying to hit him in the head. It was just a play in the NBA.”
Warming up new to JR Giddens
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Just before the Celtics ran onto the floor to warm up for their 49th game of the season, rookie guard J.R. Giddens stopped his teammates to ask an important question. “I didn’t know how to go out when we were warming up,” said Giddens, after the Celtics’ 109-101 win over Minnesota yesterday at TD Banknorth Garden. “Some of the guys were making fun of me. I said, ‘Hey I’m usually taking a shower right now [after working out].’ So it was fun and I actually got to see the warmups. “Today it was like, ‘A uniform. Is that for me?’ They hadn’t taken it out since like preseason so they had stains on it . . . It was all right. I had a lot of fun out there.”
Kings beat Thunder in OT to end eight-game skid
The AP reports: Kevin Martin scored 37 points on his 26th birthday and the Sacramento Kings beat Oklahoma City 122-118 in overtime, ending an eight-game losing streak… Bobby Jackson had six of his 11 points in overtime for Sacramento, which held a players-only meeting on Saturday. The veteran guard put the Kings ahead for good with a floater in the lane and followed with a jumper to make it 120-116 with 1:42 left… Russell Westbrook had a career-high 34 points and added eight assists for the Thunder, who had six wins in their previous 10 games. Kevin Durant scored 33, Jeff Green had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Nick Collison added 10 points and 14 boards… Francisco Garcia had 17 points, and Jason Thompson scored 15.
LeBron scores 33 in Cavs’ 90-80 win over Pistons
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 33 points and got some timely help from Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson in Cleveland’s 90-80 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday… With James resting, Williams and Gibson outscored Detroit by themselves in a 15-2 run to take a 73-68 lead early in the fourth quarter… Allen Iverson scored 22 points for Detroit, which has lost nine of 12 and are 21-21 with him… Hamilton scored 16 points, Tayshaun Prince had 11 and Amir Johnson scored 10 points for the first time in a month.
Howard’s 29 lift Magic to 113-90 win over Raptors
The AP reports: For once, Chris Bosh had a bad game against the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds, Jameer Nelson added 18 points and 10 assists, and the Magic never trailed in a 113-90 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Mickael Pietrus scored 22 points and Rashard Lewis had 15 for the Magic, who led by as many as 25 and have won three straight following back-to-back losses to Boston and Miami… Nelson had eight rebounds, falling just shy of the first triple-double of his career… Jose Calderon scored 16 points for Toronto, reserve Joey Graham had 14 and Andrea Bargnani had 12.
Celtics win 11th straight, top Wolves 109-101
The AP reports: “I just try to give the game what it needs. Today, I thought it needed my scoring,” Paul Pierce said after his 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists helped Boston extend its winning streak to 11 games with a 109-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves… Al Jefferson, the centerpiece of the trade that brought Garnett to Boston, scored 34 points for the Timberwolves, who lost their third in a row since winning 10 of 12… Randy Foye had 21 points and nine assists, and Jefferson also had 11 rebounds—the 26th double-double of the season for a player who was a surprise exclusion from this month’s All-Star game in Phoenix… Ray Allen scored 22, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals while playing in place of Kevin Garnett.
Anthony Randolph fires agent B.J. Armstrong
The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reportS: In the middle of a rocky rookie season, Anthony Randolph has fired agent B.J. Armstrong. “My people and I decided it was the best for me,” said Randolph, who spent time with his family in Dallas on the road trip. “B.J.’s a great agent, but we decided this was best.” Randolph filed the official paperwork last week and said he is in the process of selecting a new agent. Armstrong, an ex-NBA player, also represents No. 1 pick Derrick Rose.
NBA All-Star parties hit by economy
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Because of the trying economy, All-Star weekend isn’t expected to include as many lavish parties as in the past. Among those canceled is ESPN’s bowling party, Zo & Magic’s 8-Ball Challenge, and the Nike party. TNT analyst Kenny Smith’s annual charity party Feb. 13 will still take place, but on a smaller scale. The NBA Players Association Gala, considered the weekend’s top party since all the players stop by, will rely more on DJ music than live acts, end an hour earlier than normal, and have fewer invitees. At the event, the Players Association will present Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, and Adonal Foyle with community contribution awards.
Roy leads Blazers past Jazz for 4th straight win
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 30 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to their fourth straight victory, 122-108 over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night… Nicolas Batum had 16 points and Joel Przybilla added 14 points and 17 rebounds as all 12 players cored for Portland, with six reaching double figures. LaMarcus Aldridge also scored 14 points, Rudy Fernandez had 13, and Travis Outlaw 11… Deron Williams scored a season-high 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting for the Jazz, who were 54 percent from the field. Mehmet Okur had 18 points and seven rebounds.