Hornets sign Anthony Tolliver to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent Anthony Tolliver from the D-League’s Iowa Energy to a 10-day contract.

Tolliver (6-8, 240) played nine games in the D-League with the Energy and Austin Toros, averaging 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 37.1 minutes. He appeared in 19 games for the San Antonio Spurs this season where he averaged 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.9 minutes. He was cut by the Spurs on Jan. 7.

Tolliver appeared in 25 games with the Energy during the 2007-08 season, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 27.4 minutes. He spent the 2007 preseason with the Cleveland Cavaliers appearing in three games with averages of 2.0 points in 6.7 minutes.

Tolliver is a native of Springfield, Mo., and was undrafted by an NBA franchise in the 2007 NBA Draft out of Creighton University.

John Paxson thinks he stinks

With 18 wins and 25 losses the Chicago Bulls sit in 10th place in the Eastern conference. They’re probably a bit better than their record indicates, but not by much.

The man who put the roster together is former NBA player John Paxson. He was a good outside shooter. But when asked about the team’s lack of success, he’s firing at himself.

The Chicago Sun-Times (Brian Hanley) reports:

Bulls general manager John Paxson is not happy. Not with his team. Not with himself. “The only person I’ll evaluate right now is myself, and I obviously haven’t done the job of putting the type of team that I want to have on the floor in terms of competitiveness and effort,’’ Paxson said Wednesday when asked about the job coach Vinny Del Negro and his staff have done. The Bulls are 18-25. “That falls on me. That’s the only person I’m going to critique. That’s the way it is.’’ … “We’re not very good right now,’’ Paxson said. “We’re not playing well enough to win those [close] games. I’m obviously not happy with how we’re playing. I don’t think my expectations were such going into the season thinking we were going to be a top, top level team. But what I want to see is the team play together. And right now, through 40-plus games, we’re not that. And that concerns me.”

A bright spot has been the play of Bulls rookie point guard Derrick Rose, who is a top favorite for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Andrei Kirilenko day-to-day

Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who left last night’s win over Minnesota with an inflamed right ankle, is doubtful for tonight’s game at Houston.  Kirilenko left last night’s 112-107 win over the Timberwolves with 6:43 remaining in the second quarter and did not return.  He received a cortisone injection in the ankle following the game and is day-to-day.

Jason Terry having great season

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Jan Hubbard) reports: Jason Terry has had a distinguished career, averaging 16.1 points for the Hawks and Mavericks in his first nine seasons. But this season, his 10th in the league, he’s taken it to a new level. Rick Carlisle has been consistent with Terry, preferring him to come off the bench rather than starting, even with the muddled situation at shooting guard. Terry has had to start seven games because of injuries, but his primary role has been as a reserve and he’s been nothing less than spectacular. Terry is the only non-starter in the league averaging more than 20 points a game, and considering that the majority of his points come from the perimeter, his 46.6 shooting percentage is solid. But even more significant is Terry’s willingness to accept his role. Most 20-point scorers in the league would pout if they did not start. But not Terry, who is averaging a career-high 20.6 points.

Mavericks in limbo

The Dallas Morning News (David Moore) writes:  If this team was average at best, the decision would be easy. Tear it down. But the Mavericks are on pace to win 48 games after a slow start. It’s a significant drop from there to mediocre. Management can’t afford to get this wrong the way it did last year when it acquired Jason Kidd. The move was made because Cuban and Nelson clung to the idea of where the team had been 20 months earlier rather than accept what it had become. The Mavericks had deteriorated to the stage where one player was not enough to get them back to The Finals. Reality has sunk in this season. The problem is that it cost Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks for the Mavericks to have their eyes opened. That leaves Cuban and Nelson with precious few assets to offer heading into this trade deadline. Is this team at a crossroads? “That’s overstated,” Cuban said. “You just do the best you can and try to be opportunistic.

Kleiza helps Nuggets push past Kings, 118-99

The AP reports: Linas Kleiza scored 27 points, Chauncey Billups had 22 and the Denver Nuggets used strong second and third quarters to beat the Sacramento Kings 118-99 on Tuesday night. J.R. Smith had 19 points and Nene 13 points and 12 rebounds for Denver, which outscored the Kings 71-44 in the middle frames. Kevin Martin led Sacramento with 25 points and rookie Jason Thompson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who fell behind by 30 in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter when Kleiza and Smith led the charge back.

Okur and Jazz beat Wolves 112-107

The AP reports: Mehmet Okur scored 22 points and hit consecutive late 3-pointers to boost the Utah Jazz past the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-107 on Tuesday night for their seventh straight home win. Paul Millsap led Utah with 28 points and 15 rebounds and his dunk gave the Jazz a 97-89 lead midway through the fourth quarter… With a chance to claim their first lead, Al Jefferson, who had 25 points and eight rebounds, missed a jump hook and Okur grabbed the rebound. He then made his consecutive 3s and added a free throw. Deron Williams, who had 17 points and 11 assists, drained a jumper to expand the advantage to 106-97. Ryan Gomes and Foye led Minnesota’s rally with late 3-pointers and each finished with 19 points. Sebastian Telfair scored 17, but couldn’t keep the Timberwolves from losing a sixth consecutive game in Salt Lake.

Bibby leads Hawks over Bulls 105-102

The AP reports: Mike Bibby scored nine of his season-high 31 points in the final five minutes, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Chicago Bulls 105-102 Tuesday to complete a three-game season sweep… That’s the sort of night it was for him. On offense and defense, Bibby rarely missed. “He is one of those types of players that when he gets it going, it’s kind of hard to stop him,” said Josh Smith, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds… Bibby hit 12 of 21 shots in all, 5-for-10 from 3-point range, and while he did his part to carry the Hawks, teammates were there to lend a hand… Zaza Pachulia scored a season-high 18 points, and Joe Johnson added 16 for the Hawks, who have struggled this month after enjoying their best December in 21 years… Ben Gordon led Chicago with 21 points, Andres Nocioni added 15, and Deng had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich and Rose scored 13 apiece, but 18 turnovers did in the Bulls.

Duncan’s 27 powers Spurs past Pacers

The AP reports: Tim Duncan scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Manu Ginobili scored 26 before San Antonio sat their stars early in a 99-81 over cold-shooting Indiana on Tuesday night… Danny Granger had 17 points for the Pacers, who shot 37 percent from the field and scored their second-fewest points in a game this season. Indiana entered ranked third in the league in scoring. Duncan had 10 rebounds to notch his 27th double-double and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Neither did Tony Parker, who scored 13 points and had seven assists… Mike Dunleavy had 15 points for the Pacers and T.J. Ford added 10.