Baron Davis and Monta Ellis rocking

A positive-leaning glance at the Golden State Warriors lately:

Since starting the season 0-6, the Warriors have gone 40-17 (.702), which is the fourth-highest winning percentage in the NBA since that point (Boston .789, Detroit . 707, L.A. Lakers .707).

Golden State’s 40-23 mark through 63 games marks the team’s third-quickest trip to 40 wins since the team moved West in 1962.

Golden State currently leads the NBA in scoring at 110.9 points per game…The Warriors have scored 100-or-more points in 27 straight games, including 115-or-more in 14 of those contests and 120-or-more in six of those games.

The Warriors went 3-1 on their four-game road trip last week, improving their road record to 18-13 on the season – which marks the team’s most road wins since going 21-20 away from home in 1993-94.

Golden State has won seven of its last eight games and 20 of the last 27 overall.

BARON DAVIS:

*  Scored 30-or-more points in three of Golden State’s four road contests last week.
* Capped Warriors 117-106 victory Wednesday vs. Toronto by registering 10 points and six assists in the decisive fourth quarter.
* Overall against the Raptors, tallied 23 points and 15 assists, while committing just one turnover in 40 minutes.
* For the season, is averaging 22.0 points (11th in NBA), 8.0 assists (7th in NBA), 4.6 rebounds, 2.40 steals (2nd in NBA) and 39.3 minutes (6th in NBA), having started all 63 games.

MONTA ELLIS:

*  In his last 21 games, is averaging 24.8 points on 59.3% (201-339 FG) shooting, along with 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.45 steals in 41.1 minutes.
* Has shot over 50.0% in 18 of his last 21 games, having attempted at least 10 field goals in all 21 of those games.
* Additionally, has shot over 60.0% in nine of those 21 games and over 70.0% six times.
* Has scored 30-or-more points nine times this season, including two of the last four contests.

Suns assign Alando Tucker to D-League

The Phoenix Suns assigned swingman Alando Tucker to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker makes his third trip to the Suns’ D-League affiliate after being assigned first on Nov. 28 and then again on Jan. 10. In 11 total games with the Thunderbirds this season, Tucker has averaged 26.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 39.6 minutes. The Wisconsin product was selected by Phoenix with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft.

The three-time defending Pacific Division Champion Phoenix Suns (42-22) tonight host the Golden State Warriors (40-23) at 7:30 p.m. at US Airways Center in a battle for Western Conference playoff position. All the action can be seen on TNT and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Ime Udoka out until March 17

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Ime Udoka returned to San Antonio this morning due to tarsal tunnel syndrome in his right ankle.  Udoka received anti-inflammatory shots today which are designed to decrease the inflammation in the ankle.

Udoka will miss the remaining two games on the Spurs current three-game road trip.  He is expected to be available when the Spurs return home to take on the Boston Celtics on Monday, March 17.

Cavaliers sign Lance Allred to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Lance Allred from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. The signing of Allred marks the 18th Call-Up of the 2007-08 D-League Season.

In 38 games (all starts) with the Stampede, Allred has averaged 16.2 points on .512 shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.6 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center was named to the 2008 D-League’s Red All-Star Team and was also the winner of the D-League’s Dream Factory Friday night inaugural game of H.O.R.S.E.

The 10-day contracts of Kaniel Dickens and Billy Thomas expired. The roster now stands at 14.

Dwyane Wade has shock wave therapy on left knee

The Miami HEAT announced today that guard Dwyane Wade underwent shock wave therapy on his left knee yesterday. The procedure lasted 20 minutes and was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick.

Wade will be limited to passive exercise for the first 30 days after which he can slowly return to basketball related activities. Wade initially had surgery on the left knee on May 15, 2007 and has been bothered by tendinitis in the knee.
 
Wade has appeared in 51 games (49 starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging a team-leading 24.5 points (5th in the NBA), a team-leading 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.71 steals in 38.3 minutes per game.

Wade, who made his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance earlier this season, has shot 46.9 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line.

Clippers sign Smush Parker

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard William “Smush” Parker. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
 
Parker appeared in nine games for the Miami Heat in 2007-08, averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game before he was waived by the Heat on March 10. Parker has played in 255 career NBA games and has career averages of 9.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
 
The former Fordham University star joins the Clippers after appearing in all 82 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005-06 and 2006-07. A four-year NBA veteran, Parker has had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (66 games in 2002-03), Detroit Pistons (11 games in 2004-05), Phoenix Suns (5 games in 2004-05) and Lakers (164 games in 2005-2007).
 
Parker was not drafted in the 2002 NBA Draft after leaving Fordham University following his sophomore year. The Newark, New Jersey native originally signed with Cleveland in 2002-03, and also played with Aris Thessaloniki in the FIBA Europe League before splitting the 2004-05 campaign with Detroit and Phoenix. The Lakers signed Parker prior to 2005-06, and he proceeded to enjoy his finest season, becoming the only Lakers player to start all 82 games while averaging 11.5 points and 3.7 assists, and finishing ninth in the NBA in total steals (140). The next year Parker started 80 of 82 games for the Lakers, averaging 11.1 points and 2.8 assists while ranking eighth in the NBA in steals-to-turnovers ratio (0.78).

Nick Young talks about scoring 22

Washington Wizards swingman Nick Young shot 9-of-15 for 22 points in a win over the Wizards yesterday. Here’s what he said today:

Nick Young on how he felt after scoring a career high 22 points: “I slept pretty well. I talked to my mom. She said I played a good game yesterday. I was kind of excited.”

Young on how his friends and family reacted to last night’s game: “They were surprised. They knew I always had a little bit of talent and they were just happy to see me play hard.”

Young on playing Cleveland: “We’re playing at home. We’re in a playoff race. We need a win. We need all the wins that we can get. We’re just going to out there and play hard.”

Heat sign Bobby Jones to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent forward Bobby Jones to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jones, a 6’7”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in 80 NBA games (seven starts) averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 43.9 percent from the field in 8.6 minutes of action. During the current 2007-08 season, Jones appeared in four games with the Houston Rockets, nine games (two starts) with the Memphis Grizzlies and 23 games with the Denver Nuggets. Prior to that, during the 2006-07 season, Jones appeared in 44 games (five starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jones was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 37th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. His rights were then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a second round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and cash considerations. Jones played four seasons at the University of Washington appearing in 125 career games (106 starts) and averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. He earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors as a senior and finished as the 20th all-time leading scorer in Washington history with 1,226 points while also ranking fourth all-time with 134 career steals.

Eric Snow out 4-6 weeks

Cavaliers guard Eric Snow is expected to be Out for approximately four to six weeks due to arthritic-related symptoms in his left knee. He will undergo medical treatments and rehabilitation during that time period and his status will be updated as appropriate. Snow underwent surgery on his left knee in early October this season to repair a torn medial meniscus. He completed his rehabilitation process and was activated by the Cavaliers for their November 20th game vs. Milwaukee in Cleveland.