Nets recall Sean Williams from D-League

The New Jersey Nets have recalled second year center Sean Williams from the team’s D-League affiliate, the Colorado 14ers, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

Williams was assigned to Colorado on Dec. 29, 2008. He appeared in eight games, including six starts, and posted averages of 9.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.88 blocks in 25.9 minutes per game.  He tallied 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting and 16 rebounds in 37 minutes at Rio Grande on 1/14 and recorded 16 points and 16 boards to go with six blocks in 38 minutes at Austin on 1/10.

Prior to his assignment, Williams had appeared in 16 games for the Nets this season, averaging 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

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Girls hoops team apologizes for 100-0 rout

The AP reports: Covenant defeated The Dallas Academy 100-0 on Jan. 13. Covenant led 59-0 at halftime. The Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and just 20 girls in the school. The academy specializes in teaching students with what it calls “learning differences,” such as short attention spans or difficulty in concentrating.

Cavaliers defending well

NBA.com (John Schuhmann) reports: The Cavs currently rank as the second-best defensive team in the league, just behind the Celtics, allowing 101.5 points per 100 possessions. Last season, they didn’t crank up the “D” until the postseason, but this year has been different. “Everybody bought into the system and everybody is committed to playing defense,” Ben Wallace said Monday in Los Angeles. “That was one of the things we stressed in training camp. “Defense has to start with the individuals. You can’t be a good team defense if you got five poor individual defensive players out on the floor, so it has to start with an individual. Everybody has to take it personal that they’re going to go out there and do whatever they can do to go out there to try to get stops. Once one, two, three players start it, it gets contagious and everybody buys into it.”

Bynum scores 42, Lakers beat Clippers 108-97

The AP reports: Andrew Bynum scored a career-high 42 points, Kobe Bryant had his second triple-double in three games and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Clippers 108-97 Wednesday night… Bynum became the first Lakers player to reach 40 points other than Bryant since Shaquille O’Neal scored 48 against Boston on March 21, 2003. Bynum shot 17-of-24 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the foul line, and added 15 rebounds and four blocked shots… Lamar Odom had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who have won their last seven games against the Clippers by an average of 24.4 points. Rookie DeAndre Jordan, making his second career start, had career-high totals of 23 points and 12 rebounds for the injury-ravaged Clippers (9-32), who have lost 14 of 15. Al Thornton added 20 points and rookie Eric Gordon had 16 points and six assists.

Thunder beat Warriors on buzzer-beater

The AP reports: Jeff Green scored 26 points, including a turnaround jumper from 16 feet at the buzzer to lift Oklahoma City to a 122-121 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night… Russell Westbrook matched his season high of 30 points while Durant added 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, who went into the game with the NBA’s worst record. The win is just the third in 20 road games for Oklahoma City (9-34) this season. Stephen Jackson had 29 points and seven assists for Golden State, which played without starting center Andris Biedrins (sprained left wrist). Corey Maggette added 26 points and six rebounds for the Warriors (13-30).

James and Williams lead Cavs over Blazers 104-98

The AP reports: LeBron James had 34 points and 14 assists, while Mo Williams added a season-high 33 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers. Cleveland made 11 of 19 3-point attempts in shooting 52.6 percent (41-of-78) from the field… Brandon Roy had 23 points for Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 and reserve center Joel Przybilla had 15 rebounds… Greg Oden had 10 points and eight rebounds, short of the success he had Monday in Portland’s 102-85 victory over Milwaukee when he had a season-high 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Jamison, Wizards top Kings

The AP reports: Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler helped the Washington Wizards pick up a rare road victory. Jamison had 33 points and nine rebounds and Butler scored 30 for the Wizards, who held off the Sacramento Kings for a 110-107 win on Wednesday night. Andray Blatche added 20 points for Washington. The Wizards had lost seven of their eight previous games and are 3-17 on the road… Kevin Martin added 22 points and Garcia had 14 for the Kings, who have dropped three straight and four of five.

Yao, Alston carry Rockets past Jazz 108-99

The AP reports: No matter who’s in the lineup, no matter when they meet during the season, the Houston Rockets always expect a tough game against the Utah Jazz. Yao Ming had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Rafer Alston scored 23 and the Rockets built a big lead, then hung on to beat the Jazz 108-99 on Wednesday night. Deron Williams had 32 points and 11 assists and Ronnie Brewer had 23 points for the Jazz, who’ve dropped seven of their past 10 road games. Andrei Kirilenko sat out for Utah after leaving Tuesday’s game against Minnesota with a right ankle injury… “It’s really hard for them to give up,” said Luis Scola, who had 19 points and nine rebounds for Houston. “That pretty much guarantees it’s going to be a close game.”

Villanueva, Redd lead Milwaukee to 34-point win over Mavs

The AP reports: Michael Redd scored 27 points, punctuated by a crossover, fadeaway jumper over Nowitzki, and Charlie Villanueva added 32 points and 10 rebounds, lifting the Bucks to a 133-99 victory over Dallas on Wednesday night… The Bucks shot 29 percent in the first quarter, but picked up the pace with 111 points over the final three quarters. Milwaukee made a season-best 13 3-pointers and committed nine turnovers… Ramon Sessions, who finished with 21 points, hit all seven of his attempts and Milwaukee shot 57.8 percent as a team.

Hornets defeat Nets, 102-92

The AP reports: Another dominant performance by Chris Paul made the absence of two starters seem like only a minor inconvenience for the New Orleans Hornets. Paul narrowly missed his fifth triple-double of the season with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and New Orleans beat the New Jersey Nets 102-92 on Wednesday night… Vince Carter scored 20 points for New Jersey but the Nets lost their fourth straight, unable to take advantage of the absence of Hornets starters Tyson Chandler (left ankle) and David West (back spasms). New Orleans also was without Chandler’s primary backup, Hilton Armstrong (left knee). Peja Stojakovic had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Adjusting his perimeter game to make up for the Hornets’ lack of size, Stojakovic sneaked inside to grab double-digit rebounds for the first time all season and New Orleans wound up outrebounding New Jersey 42-37.