The AP reports: Former NBA player Isaiah Rider was jailed Saturday for investigation of auto theft, police said. Rider, 37, was driving a car that failed to stop at an intersection about 2:30 a.m. in the city’s Skid Row district, police Officer Norma Eisenman said. “He failed to stop at the limit line for a posted stop sign,” she said. Officers checking the license plates discovered the car had been reported stolen from South Los Angeles and Rider was arrested, police said. The car was impounded.
Jazz recall Almond, Fesenko from D-League
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has recalled rookies Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League).
Almond, a 6-6, 225-pound guard out of Rice was selected by the Jazz in the first round (25th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft. He has appeared in six games for the Jazz, totaling three points, one assist and one steal in 25 minutes of action.
Almond has appeared in a total of 31 games for the Flash during two separate stints (Dec. 6 – Jan. 8 and Jan. 25 – March 29), averaging a D-League leading 25.0 points, along with 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 36.8 minutes per game. He was named D-League Player of the Week (Dec. 17-23) after averaging 43.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 32-of-68 (.471) from the field. During that week, Almond scored a D-League record-tying 51 points in a win over the Austin Toros on December 21. He later broke the D-League scoring record, posting 53 points in a win at the Bakersfield Jam on January 30.
Fesenko, a 7-1, 288-pound center has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 1.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. He scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes in a 120-96 Jazz win over the Los Angeles Lakers in his NBA debut on November 30.
Fesenko has been assigned to the Flash three times this season (Nov. 10-30, Dec. 6-13, and Dec. 27-March 29), and per league rules will remain with the Jazz for the remainder of the season. He appeared in 37 games (25 starts) for the Flash, averaging 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.92 blocks with five double-doubles, while shooting .502 from the floor. Fesenko ranks seventh in the D-League in blocks and ninth in rebounding.
The 21-year-old native of the Ukraine was originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round (38th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft; the Jazz acquired Fesenko’s rights in a draft night deal that sent the draft rights to Herbert Hill (55th overall pick) and trade considerations to the 76ers.
Almond and Fesenko will travel with the Jazz to Minneapolis for the team’s game vs. Minnesota on Sunday, March 30.
Mar. 28: Grizzlies 114, Lakers 111
The AP reports: Rudy Gay led five players in double figures with 28 points and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 114-111 despite 53 points by Kobe Bryant against the NBA’s worst road team Friday night… Bryant was limited to six points in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers nearly erased all of a 10-point deficit. He had 10 rebounds and one assist while taking 37 of the Lakers’ 94 shots. They attempted a franchise record 45 3-pointers, making 15. Darko Milicic had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Hakim Warrick 16 points, Kyle Lowry 11 and Mike Miller 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who are 6-30 on the road and 2-20 away from home against Western Conference teams.
Mar. 28: Bobcats 96, Sonics 93
The AP reports: Jason Richardson finished with two free throws with 5 seconds remaining to seal the win. Luke Ridnour’s layin at the buzzer provided the final margin. Richardson finished with 27 points, Raymond Felton had 21 and Emeka Okafor had 19… Kevin Durant, who had scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games, lead the Sonics with 18 points. Earl Watson had 16.
Mar. 28: Wizards 114, Kings 108
The AP reports: Darius Songaila scored seven points in the final 59 seconds and Antawn Jamison had 25 points and 12 rebounds Friday night for the Wizards, who held off the Sacramento Kings 114-108… Songaila scored 17 points in 18 minutes, connecting on 6 of 8 shots and hit all five free throws attempts… DeShawn Stevenson scored 20 points and made consecutive 3-pointers and followed with another jumper to put the Wizards ahead 106-97 with 3:02 remaining. Caron Butler had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Wizards, who have won five of six… Ron Artest scored 28 points for Sacramento, which saw its four game win streak at home snapped, where they are 22-13 this season. Kevin Martin had 25 points, Francisco Garcia added 16, while both John Salmons and Brad Miller scored 10.
Mar. 28: Jazz 121, Clippers 101
The AP reports: Down three starters, the Utah Jazz were never worried as Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams were nearly flawless. Boozer scored 34 and Williams had 32 points to lead the Jazz past the reeling Los Angeles Clippers, 121-101 on Friday night… Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer did not dress for Friday night’s game due to the effects of a stomach virus. Andrei Kirilenko was scoreless in nine minutes before leaving with spasms in his right calf… Boozer went 16-of-22 from the floor and grabbed 17 rebounds while Williams made 13 of his 15 attempts and passed for 10 assists… Corey Maggette scored 28 points and Chris Kaman had 16 points in his second game back from a nine-game absence with back spasms. Cuttino Mobley and Al Thornton each had 13 points for the Clippers, who have lost 10 in a row and 18 of their last 20 games.
Mar. 28: Spurs 99, Wolves 84
The AP reports: Manu Ginobili scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs picked up their sixth straight win with a 99-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday… Tony Parker added 18 points for the Spurs and Tim Duncan had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Ryan Gomes led the Timberwolves with 17 points and Al Jefferson added 14. Reserve Rashad McCants scored 13. Michael Finley, who is averaging better than 18 points in his last three games, joined the Spurs’ Big Three, scoring 16.
Mar. 28: Magic 103, Bucks 86
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to their franchise-record 24th road victory with a 103-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Rashard Lewis added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Carlos Arroyo had 13 points and nine assists for the Magic, who improved to 24-13 on the road. The team was 15-26 last season. Mo Williams finished with 18 points and five assists for Milwaukee, which lost its third straight game and ninth in 10 games. Michael Redd was just 3-for-16 from the field and had seven points. The Bucks shot 34 percent for the game.
Mar. 28: Hawks 106, Bulls 103
The AP reports: Mike Bibby scored 30 points and the Atlanta Hawks held on after nearly blowing two huge leads, beating the Chicago Bulls 106-103 to strengthen their hold on the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. Ben Gordon, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the final period, had a chance to force overtime but his final shot rimmed out as the horn sounded… Joe Johnson scored 19 points for the Hawks, including a towering shot from the baseline over two defenders to make it 101-98 with 1:32 remaining… All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures, with Marvin Williams and Joe Smith both contributing double-doubles. Williams had 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Smith went for 12 and 10. Luol Deng scored 19 points to lead the Bulls, who got points from all 11 players who saw minutes but were beaten on the boards.
Mar. 28: Celtics 112, Hornets 92
The AP reports: Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Garnett added 21, and the Boston Celtics moved closer to wrapping up the top record overall by avenging last weekend’s loss in New Orleans with a 112-92 win over the Hornets on Friday night… David West did drive by for a basket after Garnett squared up defensively, cutting it to 72-68, but the Celtics scored 19 of the next 24 points over the ensuing 5:56 to move ahead 88-73… Rajon Rondo added 17 points and Ray Allen had 12… Chris Paul paced the Hornets with 22 points and 10 assists. Peja Stojakovic had 17 points and David West 14.