The AP reports: Kyle Korver scored 15 points and Deron Williams had two key baskets in the final minute to give the Utah Jazz a 99-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. After Beno Udrih scored to put the Kings ahead by one, Williams, who had 14 points, responded with a layup and a jumper, putting Utah ahead 93-90. The Jazz made six free throws in the final 13 seconds to secure the victory, their third in four games. Ronnie Brewer scored 14 points and Paul Milsap had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Morris Almond added 13 points for the Jazz, who committed 25 turnovers… Brad Miller had 18 points and nine rebounds, Udrih scored 17, Spencer Hawes had 14 points, and Francisco Garcia added 11 for Sacramento.
Dec 2: Nuggets 132, Raptors 93
The AP reports: Chauncey Billups had 24 points and 14 assists in Denver’s 132-93 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night in a game that was out of reach by halftime… Jermaine O’Neal returned from a sprained left ankle that had cost him three games and he scored 12 points to go with Chris Bosh’s 24, but they couldn’t keep the Raptors from being routed.
InsideHoops.com Notes: Carmelo Anthony shot 9-of-19 for 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Nene shot 8-of-9 for 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Dec 2: Sixers 103, Bulls 95 OT
The AP reports: Andre Miller scored nine of his season-high 28 points in overtime Tuesday night and the Philadelphia 76ers ended their four-game losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Andre Iguodala added 25 points and Elton Brand had 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Sixers avenged a loss to the Bulls two days ago in Philadelphia. Derrick Rose led Chicago with 24 points and Ben Gordon added 18. Tyrus Thomas had 14 points and 13 boards.
Dec 2: Mavs 100, Clippers 98
The AP reports: Jose Barea hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 100-98 Tuesday night. Barea capped Dallas’ closing 18-4 run with a long-range jumper with 50.2 seconds left that gave Dallas its only lead of the game. After the teams exchanged empty possessions, the Clippers had a chance to win. Baron Davis missed a 3-pointer with just over a second left and Nowitzki grabbed the rebound as time expired… Jason Terry scored 26 points for the Mavericks, who moved over .500 for the first time this season. Barea chipped in with a season-high 15 points, and Brandon Bass added 14. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Al Thornton had 23 points and Davis added 22 points for the Clippers, who didn’t score in final 2:55.
Dec 2: Pistons 89, Spurs 77
The AP reports: Rasheed Wallace made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 19 points as the Detroit Pistons rallied from 10 points down to beat San Antonio 89-77 on Tuesday night despite the return of Manu Ginobili to the Spurs’ starting lineup. Allen Iverson also scored 19 for Detroit (11-6), which has won two of three. Richard Hamilton added 16 points and Tayshaun Prince scored 15. The Spurs (9-8) have dropped two straight after winning four in a row. They were led by Tim Duncan, who had 23 points, but just one point in the fourth quarter. Ginobili scored 13 in his first start of the season after missing the first 12 games because of offseason ankle surgery.
Dec 2: Blazers 104, Knicks 97
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 23 points, and Portland dominated the fourth quarter to beat the tiring New York Knicks 104-97 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory… The Knicks have been playing basically seven players because of trades, injuries and the Stephon Marbury situation… The Blazers shook off a dismal offensive night from rookie Greg Oden, who botched two dunks in the first five minutes and finished with two points, matching Kwame Brown for the lowest-scoring effort by a No. 1 overall pick in his Madison Square Garden debut in 40 years… LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points and Travis Outlaw 16 for the Blazers, who have won the first two games of their five-game Eastern Conference trip and are 6-0 against the East, their best start since winning their first 12 in 1990-91… David Lee finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Dec 2: Wizards 108, Nets 88
The AP reports: Caron Butler had 22 points and 10 assists, and DeShawn Stevenson added 21 to lead the Washington Wizards to an easy 108-88 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night… The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Nets (9-8), who won all three contests on the road. The Nets were led by Devin Harris, who had 18 points, but only three after halftime, and Vince Carter, who had 16 points. Keyon Dooling added 14 off the bench for the Nets.
Dec 2: Pacers 118, Lakers 117
The AP reports: Troy Murphy and Danny Granger spent most of Tuesday night working to keep the Pacers close to the Lakers. They spent those final few seconds like everyone else in Conseco Fieldhouse — watching, waiting and wondering if Murphy’s tantalizing tip would actually drop through the net. It did—just as the buzzer sounded. Murphy’s game-winner completed an improbable comeback and gave the Pacers a desperately needed 118-117 victory after replay reviews confirmed the basket was good… Granger, who scored 32 points, and Murphy, who had 16 points and 17 rebounds, methodically led their teammates back by making big baskets and getting the ball to open teammates. The Pacers (7-10) also allowed just 16 points over the final 12 minutes… Kobe Bryant finished with 28 points, becoming the second-fastest player in league history to reach 22,000 career points. Wilt Chamberlain was one day younger than Bryant when he reached that milestone.
Jay-Z: Brooklyn (We go hard)
Jay-Z has a new song out called Brooklyn (We go hard) that is said to be produced by Kanye West.
It’s pretty cool.
In the beginning of the song it sounds like Jay-Z is tossing a nod to Lil Wayne, by using some of Wayne’s semi-trademarked high-pitched yelp stuff. Other than that it’s pretty standard and cool. Good chorus, too.
Here’s the song (hit the play button)
Suns notes
Matt Barnes is averaging 12.0 points, nearly double what he averaged last season with Golden State, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 29.3 minutes on the season.
Shaquille O’Neal has the second-highest field goal percentage (.599) in the NBA this season. Shaq is averaging 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 27.5 minutes. He needs one block to pass Tree Rollins for 7th place on the NBA’s all-time blocks list.
Raja Bell is shooting a team-best .481 (37-77) from behind the arc (12th). Against New Jersey on Sunday, he scored 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3FG) and had four rebounds.
Amare Stoudemire is averaging a team-high 21.7 points (12th in NBA), 8.0 rebounds (28th) and 1.3 blocks (40th). On Nov. 30 against New Jersey, he tallied 25 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
Steve Nash led the Suns in scoring for the second time over the past four games with 25 points and nine assists against New Jersey. Nash is shooting .512 (33rd) from the field, .436 (33rd) from three-point range and .922 (8th) from the line on the season.
UPCOMING GAMES
The Suns head to New Orleans to face Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler of the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena on Wednesday, December 3 for the first time since the Hornets took the Suns’ home opener on October 30, 108-95. Phoenix has lost five-straight to the Hornets following a stretch during which the Suns won 11-of-12 matchups. The Suns are 4-1 this season in the front end of a back-to-back set.
The Suns take on Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Thursday, December 4 for the first matchup between these two teams this season. The Suns have an advantage in the all-time series, 69-49. Phoenix has won five of the last nine games in the series and has split the last 14 meetings with Dallas.
Phoenix plays host to Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz on Saturday, December 6. The Suns have a slight advantage in recent history, posting eight wins in the last 15 matchups. On March 7, 2008, Shaquille O’Neal became the 11th player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points with a 20-point, seven rebound and two-block effort in the final meeting between the clubs last season.
The Milwaukee Bucks, featuring Richard Jefferson, Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut make their only visit of the season to the Valley on Tuesday, December 9. The Suns have won 31 of the last 35 meetings overall, including 20 consecutive wins at home to share the league’s longest-active home winning streak against a single opponent.
Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers host the Suns at STAPLES Center on Wednesday, December 10. These two teams have faced one another 206 times during the regular season, more than any other opponent in Phoenix history. On January 17, 2008, Steve Nash dished out a season-high 20 assists in a 106-98 win at STAPLES Center. Phoenix lost three of four contests last season, but the Suns have won 11 of the last 17 regular season matchups.
With five consecutive wins against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, the Suns look to continue their winning ways against the Magic on Friday, December 12 at US Airways Center. Phoenix has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, sweeping the season series the past two years. On November 10, 2007, Leandro Barbosa tallied a career-high 39 points in a 106-96 victory.