Mavericks’ Cuban, Carlisle fined $110K
February 3, 2012
NEW YORK (AP)—Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlislehave been fined by the NBA soon after they became upset with the officiating through a95-86 loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Carlisle was fined $35,000 for kicking a ball into the stands with 9:34 leftin the fourth quarter. He was ejected and apologized to Cuban and the fans rightafter the game. He said: “The incident where the ball got kicked into thestands, that can’t occur.”
Cuban was handed a $75,000 penalty for his vital remarks about theofficiating following the household loss.
NBA executive Stu Jackson announced the fines on Friday.
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2 Lakers, 2 Clippers get All-Star starts
February 3, 2012
NEW YORK (AP)—From Kobe Bryant to Chris Paul, Blake Griffin to AndrewBynum, the NBA All-Star game is shaping up as an L.A. story.
Two Lakers and two Clippers had been voted as starters Thursday for the game,the very first time in 15 years that two pairs of teammates have been voted to startfor one particular conference.
“It’s pretty cool,” Griffin stated.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant prevented a clean Los Angeles sweep of theWestern Conference starting lineup by earning a forward spot for the Feb. 26game in Orlando.
Dwight Howard of the host Magic—unless he’s traded first—was the overallleading vote-getter with 1.6 million. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are goingtogether once more from Miami, though MVP Derrick Rose of Chicago and New York’sCarmelo Anthony round out the East starters.
The Clippers and Lakers are establishing a spirited rivalry this season, butthey’ll have to get along for a night to give the West a second straight win inthe NBA’s midseason event.
Bryant and Paul will be in the exact same backcourt two months right after the NBA, asowners of the Hornets, killed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers.Instead, he was dealt shortly immediately after to the Clippers, and he has teamed withGriffin to make them 1 of the league’s most thrilling and improved teams,leading the Pacific Division over their Staples Center co-tenants.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be voted as an All-Star starter,” Paulsaid. “I want to thank the fans for their assistance. It’s even much more particular to bestarting with a single of my teammates.”
Griffin and Bynum are initial-time starters, though Bryant earned hisrecord-tying 14th consecutive nod.
Griffin mentioned he’s not arranging on defending his title in the dunk contest,which he won by dunking over a vehicle last year in Los Angeles.
“It’s not genuinely my thing. I mentioned that final year,” he said.
Griffin was a reserve choice last year, when he also played in the rookiegame.
“Last year it was hectic,” he stated. “I’ll try to tone it down and try toget a break.”
It’s the first time because 1997, when Houston had Hakeem Olajuwon and CharlesBarkley, and Seattle sent Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, that two pairs ofteammates have been voted to start out for one conference.
Bryant joins Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and Karl Malone—all 1-timeLakers—with his 14th straight starting nod. He earned his fourth All-Star MVPaward final year, equaling Bob Pettit’s NBA record.
Bynum grabbed the beginning center spot that for years went to Yao Ming, whoretired final summer. Griffin was chosen as a reserve forward last year, when hebecame the 1st rookie All-Star considering that Yao in 2003.
Starters were chosen by fan balloting, and none of the races was close. Thereserves will be chosen by voting of the head coaches from each conference andwill be announced next Thursday.
Bryant led all West players with practically 1.6 million votes. Rose collected1.5 million to finish third amongst all players, a year after becoming Chicago’sfirst starter since Michael Jordan.
“I bear in mind not becoming in the All-Star game, just wanting to be in the game.It’s one thing you must take to heart, that I take to heart,” Rose saidbefore the Bulls’ game against the Knicks. “Just want to accomplish somethingspecial whilst I’m in the league, and 1 of the accomplishments is getting on theAll-Star team.”
Howard will make his fifth consecutive start off, and his status will providemuch of the intrigue surrounding the occasion. He has told the Magic he desires to betraded and they have given his agent permission to talk to select teams, puttingthe franchise in a tough position of deciding regardless of whether it need to deal itssuperstar ahead of hosting the weekend.
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AP Sports Writers Rachel Cohen in New York and Beth Harris in Los Angelescontributed to this report.
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Comply with Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney
.
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Nuggets snap Clippers’ 4-game win streak
February 3, 2012
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Blake Griffin got Mozgov’d attempting one of hishigh-flying dunks, hitting the floor and taking the Los Angeles Clippers downwith him.
Timofey Mozgov’s hard foul on the All-Star came in a dominant third quarterthat helped Denver win 112-91 Thursday night and end the Clippers’ season-highfour-game winning streak that included a victory over the Nuggets last weekend.
Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points, including all five of his 3-pointers, TyLawson added 18 points, Arron Afflalo 15 and Mozgov 11 for the Nuggets, who hadlost two straight overall and three in a row to the Clippers, their longestactive losing streak against any team.
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Mozgov sent Griffin to the court and he struck his head.
“It rattled me a little bit,” said Griffin, who missed both free throws.“It was a good foul, a hard foul.”
Gallinari said, “`We know that once Blake takes off, it’s almost impossibleto block his shot. So you’ve got to find him before he takes off. Timo was ableto be on the weak side at the right time. It was a tough foul, but sometimesyou’ve got to do it.”
Credit former Clipper Andre Miller with the suggestion.
“He had a lot of dunks on us in the first half, and Andre Miller said, `Thenext time he tries to dunk the ball, let’s try to put him on his behind,”’ AlHarrington said. “He almost still made it, but it was a hard foul and hemissed. It was a definitely a statement for us, defensively, and it set aprecedent for how we were going to play the rest of the game. Teams try to bullyus because we play so fast, so it was good to be on the other end of it foronce.”
Griffin led the Clippers with 18 points, Chris Paul added 15 points and nineassists, and Caron Butler had 11 after missing Wednesday night’s win at Utahwith a sore lower back. Earlier Thursday, Griffin and Paul were voted to thestarting lineup for the All-Star game, giving the Clippers two players on theteam for the first time since 1976.
“I’m humbled,” Griffin said. “A lot of guys deserve that and I appreciatethe fans voting me in.”
The Nuggets pulled away in the third when they outscored the Clippers 32-16while shooting 65 percent. Gallinari hit consecutive 3-pointers to open thequarter, and Harrington closed it with two straight 3-pointers.
“They got out in transition and we did a poor job of getting back,”Griffin said. “We kind of went cold there in the third. We were definitelytired. Four games in five nights is tough, but it’s no excuse. We got to protectour homecourt better than that.”
In between, Mozgov had nine points while Los Angeles slumped to 7 of 19 fromthe floor. Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Clippers closed within10 points midway through the period before getting outscored 14-5 going into thefourth.
“We knew we had to be more aggressive throughout the game, especially withthem playing a back-to-back,” Gallinari said. “We did it and we were able tocome up with a good stretch and were able to win the game in the thirdquarter.”
All five of the Clippers’ starters began the fourth on the bench, althoughPaul checked in 2:10 into the period with his team trailing by 21. He was theonly starter to return and he sat down for good a couple minutes later, leavingMo Williams to run a second unit that never posed a threat. Williams finishedwith 13 and Randy Foye 17.
“It’s gone,” Paul said of the result. “Hopefully this doesn’t happenagain.”
Chauncey Billups, who had 32 points in the Clippers’ 109-105 win at Denveron Sunday, had eight points and three assists against his old team.
The Clippers led most of the first half before Denver outscored them 9-4 tolead 54-51 at the break.
NOTES: Nuggets reserve G-F Corey Brewer wasn’t with the team for personalreasons. Coach George Karl said he thought Brewer could be out the rest of theweek. … Billups played in his 1,000th career NBA game as did the Nuggets’Miller. … Rihanna, Billy Crystal and Don Cheadle were among the sellout crowdthat included retired Nuggets coach Dan Issel.
Rose scores 32 points, Bulls beat Knicks
February 3, 2012
NEW YORK (AP)—Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony are both All-Star starters.Only Rose is the reigning MVP, and he was the one particular who owned Madison SquareGarden on Thursday night.
Rose had 32 points, 13 assists and a basket seemingly every single time the Knickswere poised to rally in the Bulls’ 105-102 victory.
“Every time I step on the court, they’re coming at me,” Rose mentioned. “Ilove it where it’s a challenge like that. I’m not backing away from it, and Idon’t want them to back away from it. It’s just `be on’ each and every night.”
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This night brought relief for a Chicago team in the middle of a nine-gameroad trip and additional distress for New York and its embattled coach, who opened aback-to-back-to-back with their 10th loss in 12 games.
“For the most component, we played very hard tonight,” Anthony said.“We’ve got to pat ourselves on the back for something. We can go and magnifythe turnovers late in the second quarter we nonetheless had a opportunity to win thebasketball game.”
Rose had 15 of his points in the fourth quarter, scoring on three straightpossessions for the duration of 1 spectacular 79-second burst. He split Anthony and AmareStoudemire to flip in a shot from past the backboard, then hit a 3-pointer toput the Bulls up 95-88 with less than 6 minutes left.
Stoudemire had a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds but missed a shotfrom beyond his normal range—a 3-point try with 11.9 seconds remaining—that would have tied the score.
“He can make that shot as well as anybody,” coach Mike D’Antoni mentioned.
Said Stoudemire: “That shot usually falls for me.”
Anthony had 26 points but just four in the fourth quarter and missed adesperation three at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime. Twice inthe final 92 seconds with the Knicks trailing by three, he had his shot blocked.
New York nonetheless had its odds. Landry Fields’ baseline drive with 23.4seconds left pulled the Knicks within 1. New York had no selection but to foul KyleKorver, a 74 percent no cost-throw shooter, with 13.7 seconds to go. He hit both.
After Stoudemire missed, a miscommunication by the Bulls kept thingsinteresting. With Chicago leading 104-100, the Bulls fouled Anthony on purpose—but they were supposed to do so only with a three-point lead.
Anthony produced both, and Rose failed to clinch the victory when he missed oneof his free of charge throws with 5.3 seconds remaining—something he seemed more focusedon afterward than his 32 points. Anthony couldn’t make him spend when his33-footer bounced off the rim.
“We usually say you got to locate a way, and the very good teams in this leaguefind unique ways to win games,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned of hisEastern Conference leaders. “Ideally, you’d like to count on each your offenseand your defense.”
Permitting New York to shoot 49 percent is not his notion of defense, butChicago additional than made up for it by producing practically 53 percent of its field goalsand 6 of 13 three-point attempts.
With the Knicks trailing by 11 at halftime, Anthony scored 12 in the third.His driving bank shot with 44.1 seconds left in the period tied the score forthe first time due to the fact early in the second quarter.
But on the Bulls’ subsequent possession, Jared Jeffries was called for a foul onRonnie Brewer. When Tyson Chandler barked to the refs, he received a technical.Korver hit that no cost throw, and New York by no means tied it once again.
The Knicks had to dig out of a hole immediately after committing 5 turnovers in thelast 3 1/2 minutes of the 1st half, including 1 immediately right after a timeoutwith 1:36 left. Joakim Noah had two dunks and Brewer added a third as the Bullspulled ahead 55-42 with 25.8 seconds remaining.
With boos pouring down from the stands, Anthony missed a jumper, then misseda layup after an offensive rebound. His third try with less than a second to gofinally went in.
NOTES: Rose scored at least 30 points for the fourth time in five games. …The Bulls’ nine-game road trip is the club’s longest given that the 1992-93 season.They enhanced to two-two soon after losing at Philadelphia 98-82 a night earlier. … TheKnicks got just 6 points off the bench, all by Toney Douglas. … New York isplaying three games in 3 days for the initial time given that 1999. New York musttravel to Boston to play Friday night before returning house to face the Nets onSaturday. … Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert had a career-high eight assists.
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Follow Rachel Cohen at https://twitter.com/RachelCohenAP.
Spurs beat Hornets, push win streak to 3
February 3, 2012
SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Tim Duncan may not make the All-Star game for the firsttime in 12 years, or even give the San Antonio Spurs much scoring on mostnights.
But even in back-to-backs, he can still resemble his old self.
Duncan scored 19 points, Tony Parker had 18 and the Spurs ran away fromthe New Orleans Hornets in the fourth quarter to win their third in a row, 93-81on Thursday night.
A night after Duncan scored 25 in a win over Houston, it was somewhatsurprising he even played. Coach Gregg Popovich has vowed to limit Duncan’s wearand tear—even declaring that the 35-year-old will sit at least one game whenthe Spurs play four in five nights— and playing the West’s worst team seemed toinvite a night off.
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On the other hand, Popovich said, Duncan’s body is holding up just fine sofar.
“We kept his minutes down,” said Popovich, who played Duncan for 22minutes against New Orleans. “He didn’t play that much. As long as the minutesare low, he feels pretty good.”
The Hornets didn’t make it easy. Carly Landry scored 17 points and GreivisVasquez added 16 points staring in place of Jarrett Jack, keeping New Orleansclose before the Spurs blew on the game in the fourth.
Jack sat out with a sore knee but the pain isn’t considered serious. TheHornets have lost 12 of their last 13.
New Orleans trailed by just 3 after the third quarter but was outscored22-12 in the fourth. The Hornets shot 29 percent in the final period, while theSpurs missed only five shots.
“We lost the last two games in the fourth quarter,” Vasquez said. “Weplay hard in the third quarter and then we do not execute in the fourth. As apoint guard it’s hard to fill Chris Paul’s shoes but I expect myself to bebetter and that takes a little work.”
Tiago Splitter added 16 points and Danny Green had 11 off the bench for theSpurs, who improved to an NBA-best 12-1 at home. They need to stockpile all thehome wins they can: After hosting the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder onSaturday night, the Spurs won’t be back home for three weeks.
The San Antonio Rodeo runs the Spurs out of town every February—but thefranchise has never seen a stretch like this. The compressed schedule in wake ofthe NBA lockout has San Antonio in the midst of playing 16 of 21 games outsidethe AT&T Center, the toughest road run in Spurs history.
So far, the Spurs are just 3-8 away from home.
“We got to find a way to win on the road. That’s the bottom line,” Duncansaid. “We’re going to have enough opportunities coming up soon.”
Duncan used to be a shoo-in among All-Star starters like those announcedThursday, but his streak of selections is in doubt this time. He’s averagingnearly 14 points and 7.5 rebounds, but the main concern for Popovich is keepingDuncan healthy now and not run him down before the end of the season.
The upside is that the Spurs should get Manu Ginobili back on their trip.Ginobili broke his hand Jan. 2 but the Spurs have persevered without their go-toscorer, going 12-7 so far and staying atop the Southwest Division.
Carldell Johnson scored 11 points and was the only other Hornets player indouble figures.
Like the Spurs, the Hornets were also playing for the second time in twonights after losing at home to Phoenix. Hornets coach Monty Williams shruggedbefore the game at the effect of defeat after defeat.
“We’ve had so many losses, they all sting,” Williams said.
NOTES: Parker needs 7 assists to surpass Avery Johnson for the franchiserecord. Parker has 4,468 career assists, all with the San Antonio. …Duncanneeds 19 rebounds to surpass Charles Oakley and become among the NBA’s top 20rebounders of all time.
Surging Clips end 16-game skid in Utah
February 2, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—Chris Paul was shocked to learn the Los AngelesClippers hadn’t won in Utah since 2003.
He made sure that slate was wiped clean Wednesday night, scoring aseason-high 34 points in the Clippers’ 107-105 victory over the Jazz.
The win ended a string of 16 straight losses in Salt Lake City, where theClippers had prevailed just once in the previous 39 meetings.
“We really wanted this game,” Paul said. “It’s a new (Clippers) teamright here.”
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Paul scored 12 points in the fourth quarter of a tight game. He also handedout 11 assists, with most going to Blake Griffin for dunks, including one justseven seconds into the game.
“He’s just one of those guys that can make everybody on the floor better,”Jazz swingman C.J. Miles said of the Clippers’ superstar point guard. “He getsthe ball in his hands. He makes the right decisions. He makes it tough on youand he showed tonight why.”
The game was a far cry from the first meeting on Jan. 17 when the Jazzrolled to a 108-79 loss, and temporarily stole the nickname Lob City with eightdunks.
Paul didn’t play in that game because of a left hamstring injury, andneither did backup Mo Williams.
While starting forward Caron Butler was out Wednesday with a sore lowerback, the Clippers had just enough in the tank to hold off the Jazz down thestretch.
“It is tough to win here, we know that, and they’re playing very well,”Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “But we were able to make enough plays inthe second half. Our defense was better and we got more stops.”
It helped that the Jazz are still struggling from the free throw line,making just 26 of 36.
The Clippers made nine free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Utah’s C.J. Miles intentionally missed his second free throw with the Jazzdown two points with 1.2 seconds left but Reggie Evans grabbed the rebound toseal the win.
Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said L.A.’s 50-35 rebounding edge was a big factor,with Griffin grabbing a team-high 14 to go along with his 31 points (14 of 22shooting).
“I thought they outhustled us and got the ball,” Corbin said. “And wemissed 10 free throws in a two-point ball game and it ended up costing us.”
The Jazz also lost a valuable player in the process as backup point guardEarl Watson left in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain and is doubtfulfor Thursday’s game at Golden State.
The Clippers have now won four straight.
“We’re tired, but we have another game tomorrow night against a verydifficult opponent,” Del Negro said of facing Denver. “We’re going to have toget ready.”
Al Jefferson had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Jazz.
Miles added 16 off the bench, including a 3-pointer with 8 seconds left thatpulled Utah to 103-102. But Chauncey Billups, who made only 1 of 8 field goals,hit two more free throws to put Los Angeles up 105-102.
Devin Harris’ two foul shots cut it to one point again, but Williams madeboth of his free throws.
The Clippers then quickly fouled, not letting the Jazz get off another3-point attempt.
“It’s a loss,” Miles said. “I felt like it’s a game we should have won.The beginning of the third quarter really hurt us.”
The teams combined for only 32 points in the third quarter, after the Jazzled by 10 points in the second.
The Jazz led by four points early in the fourth, but Paul and Williamsbrought the Clippers back.
Paul’s 3-pointer gave Los Angeles an 86-84 lead with 6:08 remaining, and hisreverse layup later made it 92-87.
Paul Millsap thought he had tied the score at 94 for Utah but he was calledfor an offensive foul going against Griffin, who was playing with five personalfouls at the time.
Both teams were hot in the first half, with the Jazz shooting 61 percent (27of 44) and L.A. 53 percent (24 for 45). The Clippers were just 5 of 22 on 3s,and the Jazz 3 of 11.
NOTES: Paul and Griffin combined for 26 of L.A.’s 32 first-quarter points.… Williams had a four-point play for the Clippers late in the first quarterafter being fouled on a 3-point shot by Josh Howard. He finished with 19 points.… Derrick Favors started the game 4 of 4 for Utah and had 10 points in thefirst half, and finished with 14. … Billups and Paul were both assessedfirst-half technicals, while the officials called double-technicals on GordonHayward and Williams in the third. … Jazz SG Raja Bell missed his secondstraight game with a strained adductor.
Knicks’ Anthony works out, may return
January 31, 2012
Carmelo Anthony missed the past two games with ankle, wrist and thumb injuries.(AP)
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP)—Carmelo Anthony took component in a morning workout andthe New York Knicks will choose on his availability shortly before their gameagainst Detroit.
Coach Mike D’Antoni says Anthony wants to perform out again Tuesday at MadisonSquare Garden so he can be certain he is ready to return immediately after missing the past twogames with ankle, wrist and thumb injuries. The sprained appropriate ankle is the onethat is causing Anthony the most discomfort.
Even so, D’Antoni says he doesn’t feel Baron Davis will play until nextweek. Davis has been working to get into shape after missing the entire seasonwith a herniated disk in his back. D’Antoni adds that Davis hasn’t had asetback, the instruction staff just thought he must take some more time.
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Publisher: Phil Jackson writing memoir
January 31, 2012
NEW YORK (AP)—Phil Jackson’s next title will be on the cover of his newbook.
Penguin Press says Tuesday that Jackson, the Hall of Famer who won 11 NBAchampionships as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, is writinghis memoir referred to as “Eleven Rings.”
The book is tentatively scheduled to be out subsequent year.
The 66-year-old Jackson is a 1,155-game winner whose career .704 winningpercentage is the greatest in NBA history.
He retired from coaching following last season after the Lakers were swept inthe playoffs by the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks.
Jackson previously wrote “The Final Season,” published in 2004.
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Griffin’s dunk wows, Clips top Thunder
January 31, 2012
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Blake Griffin’s jaw-dropping 1-handed jam over KendrickPerkins sent Los Angeles Clippers fans into a frenzy, fired up his teammates,lit up the Twitterverse and burned the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Griffin had 22 points to go with Chris Paul’s 26 points and 14 assists in a112-100 victory Monday night that snapped the Thunder’s four-game winning streakin a matchup of division leaders.
Griffin downplayed his monster move after the game, a sly smile only brieflybreaking his severe expression.
“CP commands so a lot attention out there. He came off the choose-and-roll andhe hit me in stride,” Griffin stated.
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward &hellip AP – Jan 31, 1:11 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers center De&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:13 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers guard Ran&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:12 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers bench cel&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:11 am EST
Los Angeles Clippers forward R&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:09 am EST 1 of 9 OKC-LAC Gallery
Paul added: “I told Blake after the game, `Thanks for letting me be part ofthat.”’
DeAndre Jordan grabbed Griffin from behind in a celebratory bear hug as thebasket got replayed more than and over in the third quarter.
Jordan, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds, couldn’t assist himself.
“I was shocked. I didn’t know what to do, so I just grabbed him. I hit himkind of hard,” he stated. “I’m going to go home and watch it once more. It’sprobably going to be the screensaver on my phone.”
Griffin stated he knew he’d produced an impression judging by the crowd’s raucousresponse. Then he felt Jordan behind him.
“He armlocked me,” Griffin stated. “I couldn’t breathe.”
The reaction on Twitter came fast and furious.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tweeted: “Blake Griffinjust produced one particular of the leading dunks of the season. Maybe even his profession. (hashtag)Beast.”
Tracy McGrady of the Atlanta Hawks weighed in with “yo, crazy crazy dunk bythe dude Blake Griffin.”
Even Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife was impressed.
Shaunie O’Neal tweeted: “OMG!!! Did y’all just see Blake Griffin dunk!!!!!Daaayyyummm!”
Paul had 26 points and 14 assists, Caron Butler also had 22 points, ChaunceyBillups scored 13 and Mo Williams 12 as the Pacific-leading Clippers dunked withhigh-flying abandon against the team with the NBA’s finest record at 16-4. Theywon their third in a row to adhere to up a 109-105 victory at Denver a nightearlier that began a stretch of 5 games in seven nights.
“We’re not going to read too substantially into it,” Paul mentioned of the back-to-backwins. “It let us know what we’re capable of. We can explode offensively.”
Kevin Durant had 36 points and 13 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 31for the Northwest-top Thunder, whose league-best road record dropped to 8-three.They had won 11 of their earlier 12.
“Chris Paul was operating about, getting what he wanted to get on the floorand generating passes to guys for wide-open dunks and 3s,” Durant stated. “It’stough to quit.”
Griffin’s monster mash had absolutely everyone talking and tweeting, but the Clippersput together a gorgeous sequence going into halftime.
They shocked the Thunder with four consecutive 3-pointers in less than aminute to lead 64-46. The flurry by Williams (two), Butler (one particular) and Billups(one particular) stopped the Thunder’s 11-2 run that had drawn them within six points.
“I told Mo that may possibly have been the greatest exchange I have been portion ofsince I’ve been in the NBA,” Paul stated. “That got the crowd into it. 4 3sin under a minute is unbelievable.”
Jordan said: “We had been just hot. It actually didn’t appear like it was real. Wewere on a high, but we knew we had to come out in the third and knock them outflat.”
The Thunder bumbled their way into the half, with Westbrook and Durantcombining on 3 straight turnovers that led to the Clippers’ extended-rangefireworks. Williams and Butler had two steals in the run.
“That doesn’t occur, and it most likely won’t occur once more the rest of theyear, that a team will make that many 3s in a minute,” Thunder coach ScottBrooks mentioned. “But they produced the shots. They started the game with a lot ofurgency and they had us back on our heels.”
Los Angeles shot 71 percent from lengthy range in a half that also featured aseries of massive dunks by Jordan, Griffin, Durant and Westbrook, even though bothteams missed their share of dunks, too.
Daequan Cook was the only other Oklahoma City player in double figures with12 points. Durant and Westbrook scored all but two of the Thunder’s 25 points inthe third quarter, which the Clippers ended on a 3-pointer by Paul to lead90-70.
Durant and Westbrook started the fourth on the bench, even though they each stoodup when Cook hit his second three-pointer of the period to get the Thunder to 95-81.Griffin then scored 5 in a row, capped by a two-handed jam that extended theClippers’ lead to 100-81.
The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 30-22 in the fourth, but never ever produced a bigrun to get close.
The Clippers made 13 three-pointers—just off their season high of 14 againstDenver on Sunday.
They made 10 3s in the 1st half, led by 4 from Butler, who connectedfrom his preferred spot in the left corner.
The Thunder’s only lead was 4 points to commence the game.
Notes: Butler reached the 10,000-point mark on his third three-pointer in thefirst quarter. … Durant and Westbrook have scored at least 25 points each and every 37times in their four seasons together. … The Clippers enhanced to 10-2 at household.… It was the Clippers’ 12th consecutive sellout this season and 24th in a rowoverall dating to last season. The crowd of 19,404 included Larry King and LosAngeles Angels pitcher Dan Haren.
Other popular content material on the Yahoo! network: &bull Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard is losing his Orlando Magic teammates&bull Los Angeles Lakers eye Cleveland Cavaliers’ Ramon Sessions&bull Forde Minutes: College basketball is ready to take center stage&bull Daily Ticker: Don’t anticipate GOP race to shrink anytime soon
Hayward comes up big late as Jazz rally
January 31, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—Gordon Hayward absolutely could have been the goatMonday night soon after moving over to shooting guard for the Utah Jazz and tossingup nothing but bricks early.
Yet the second-year pro kept playing and hustling, and it ultimately paidoff in a 93-89 victory more than the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hayward shook off an -for-8 start off to finish with 12 points. Late in thegame, he had a block, a steal and a essential rebound, and sank three of four freethrows down the stretch as the Jazz prevailed.
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Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Co&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:10 am EST Portland Trail Blazers head co&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:ten am EST
Portland Trail Blazers guard R&hellip AP – Jan 31, 12:08 am EST
Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward&hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:57 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward Josh Howard &hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:57 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap&hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:57 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward Josh Howard &hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:49 pm EST
Portland Trail Blazers forward&hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:49 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap&hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:49 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans&hellip AP – Jan 30, 11:48 pm EST
Utah Jazz forward C.J. Miles (&hellip AP – Jan 30, ten:27 pm EST
Portland Trail Blazers center &hellip AP – Jan 30, 10:13 pm EST
Portland Trail Blazers guard W&hellip AP – Jan 30, ten:12 pm EST
Portland Trail Blazers center &hellip AP – Jan 30, ten:ten pm EST
Portland Trail Blazers forward&hellip AP – Jan 30, 10:09 pm EST 1 of 15 Por-Uta Gallery
“I was trying to forget the very first half,” Hayward said. “It’s a thing Idon’t assume any player desires to do … missing layups, missing wide-open shots.… You will need to keep shooting.”
The Jazz known as this win particularly massive considering it came against theirNorthwest Division rivals, a team that had beaten them three straight instances toend last season.
“With the records and the standings and being in the exact same division, weneeded to win. When it comes to the end of the year, we need to have to have thetiebreakers,” said C.J. Miles, who had 15 points off the bench for Utah.
Paul Millsap led Utah with 19 points and 15 rebounds, and the Jazz held a51-37 edge on the boards.
Nevertheless, they appeared headed for their fourth loss at house, especiallyplaying with out starting center Al Jefferson (right ankle inflammation) andguard Raja Bell (strained proper adductor).
The Jazz were shooting just 27.3 percent at one point in the very first half, andLaMarcus Aldridge started lighting them up in the second.
Aldridge scored 14 of his team’s very first 18 points in the third, hitting hisfirst six shots as Portland built its lead to 63-52 with 5:32 left.
“We absolutely had control and we let it slip away,” mentioned Aldridge, whofinished with 25 points and seven rebounds. “No excuses. They kept playing hardand they ended up coming back and stealing one particular.”
The Jazz started their comeback late in the third with a 10- run behindpoint guard Devin Harris. He hit a lengthy jumper, sank a totally free throw, then stolethe ball from Jamal Crawford and fed Millsap for a jam that cut Portland’s leadto 63-59 with two:58 left in the quarter. Harris capped the run with a shortjumper off a quickly break.
Hayward hit a three-pointer to tie it at 65 with 1:26 left in the quarter. Inthe fourth, the Jazz trailed 79-74 when they went on a 13- run.
Millsap had four points in the spurt, but reserves Earl Watson, Jeremy Evansand Miles provided the spark.
Watson scored on a quickly-break layup and 19-foot jumper, and passed to Evansfor an alley-oop dunk.
“One to 13, the guys did a tremendous job just staying in there,” Jazzcoach Tyrone Corbin stated. “Things weren’t going nicely for us early. But westayed together, kept encouraging every other and forcing every other to play alittle tougher. It’s a fantastic team win for us.”
Aldridge ended a 6-minute Blazers scoring drought with a hook shot, andNicolas Batum followed with a three-pointer to pull Portland to 87-84.
But Hayward blocked Crawford’s layup, and Millsap hit a jumper for afive-point Jazz lead with 1:43 left.
The Blazers had been down 90-87 with 13.3 seconds left, but Wesley Matthewsdrove the lane for a layup rather than look for a three-pointer, and Portland triedto force the Jazz to make totally free throws to close it out.
Miles went to the line and made one but missed the second, only to haveHayward grab the rebound. He sank both foul shots to seal the win with two.3seconds left.
The loss was the eighth in 11 road games for the Blazers. They also lostBatum to an injury late in the game. He had to be helped off the court and isexpected to have an MRI on his left knee Tuesday.
“We just got outworked,” Portland coach Nate McMillan mentioned.
The Trail Blazers gave up 24 second-chance points and were outscored 20-6 onfast-break points.
“They were the aggressors all through, not only on the offensive end but ondefense,” McMillan said. “Earl Watson was genuinely excellent on the ball, and (rookieEnes) Kanter came in and was true excellent defending the post. They were thephysical team tonight and earned the suitable to win this game.”
NOTES: Jefferson, bothered by inflammation in his correct ankle, missed histhird game in two seasons with the Jazz. Bell had began every game this seasonbut strained his right adductor Saturday against Sacramento. … In the firsthalf, the teams had been a combined 2 of 14 from three-point range. … Gerald Wallacewas assessed a technical foul in the fourth quarter in the midst of the 13-0Jazz run. … The Trail Blazers gave up a season-high 38 no cost throws.