Bucks’ Jackson held out against Pistons
January 31, 2012
MILWAUKEE (AP)—After sitting out the final game for his verbal abuse of anofficial, Stephen Jackson was held out of Milwaukee’s victory more than Detroit onMonday night.
“It was my selection,” Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. “I liked the waywe’ve played the past couple games. He’ll have an chance to work himselfback in there.”
Jackson, acquired in a 2011 draft-day trade from Charlotte, has alreadymissed two games this season—one for missing shootaround against the Knicks onJan. 20 and Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers though serving theone-game suspension his tirade right after the Bucks’ loss at Chicago on Friday.
Jackson was on the active roster Monday and suited up, but never played.
“I ain’t surprised,” Jackson stated. “They know how I really feel. Everybody knowsthe circumstance. A single thing I’m not going to do is not be skilled. I’m goingto cheer the team on and do what I have to do.
“My circumstance is going to get better soon. Until then, I’m going to supportthese guys and continue to collect my check.”
Jackson also agreed with Skiles’ assessment of the team’s recent play.
“You know what? For the most component, Scott is appropriate,” he mentioned. “We areplaying well without me in the lineup but it’s all very good. It’s all about winning.It happens. Like he mentioned, the team is playing well. The rotation is great, andas extended as we’re winning, there’s absolutely nothing for no one to complain about.
“I’m expected to be prepared for something. I came in, did my work. I’mgoing to come in tomorrow and function at practice and continue to operate on my game.But at the finish of the day, I have to be in a position to perform wherever I’m at.”
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Surging Mavs roll past Nash-less Suns
January 31, 2012
PHOENIX (AP)—The Dallas Mavericks, with their offense rolling in highgear, gave Phoenix fans a glimpse of how ugly life could be without Steve Nash.
With the Suns’ 37-year-old star point guard sidelined with a bruised leftthigh, the Mavericks routed Phoenix 122-99 on Monday night, the third victory ina row and sixth in seven games for the reigning NBA champions.
“We caught a break with Nash not playing,” Dallas coach Rick Carlislesaid. “I don’t think you can overlook that as a huge element in the game. Weplayed and I believed our work was even and constant. We were in a position to keepfresh guys on the floor. We moved the ball well and produced shots and our defensewas good sufficient to win.”
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Nash is certainly no defensive stopper, although, so his absence could notexplain the Mavericks’ onslaught in Dallas’ eighth straight victory overPhoenix.
“They’ve constantly been tough for us,” the Suns’ Jared Dudley mentioned. “It’sjust a difficult team to guard and once they start hitting shots, the flood gatesreally opened.”
A strained proper calf sidelined Dallas point guard Jason Kidd for the secondnight in a row, but the Mavericks had been just fine with no him, amassing aseason-high in points for a half (66) and for a game.
Delonte West scored a season-high 25 for Dallas on 9 of 12 shooting,including 5 of 6 three-pointers. Vince Carter, nevertheless getting paid by Phoenix soon after theSuns waived him before the season began, scored 21 for the second night in arow.
“We have so several playmakers, so quite a few guys who can put the ball in thehole,” West stated. “We just have to trust every other and that was on displaytonight. We didn’t have our leader, Jason Kidd out in the mix. He can knock down3-pointers. We hope we can develop on this and get him back as soon as possibleand get him back in the flow of factors.”
The Mavericks were 13-5 in January, wrapping the month up with wins onconsecutive nights more than San Antonio and Phoenix.
Carter was waived by Phoenix when the lockout ended, but his contract stillguaranteed him $four million. He would have produced $18 million had he stayed withPhoenix. He had missed five games with a sprained left foot prior to returning twogames ago. He has matched his season high with 21 points in every of his last twoappearances.
“Just acquiring into the flow,” he said. “With the injury, I had some timeto get my body right and focus on receiving wholesome. I was attempting to do all thethings I could to just to get back and step back in and continue to play.”
The 122 points surpassed Dallas’ 116 against Utah two games ago. It also wasthe highest score for a Phoenix opponent this season, topping the Bulls’ 118-97victory at Chicago on Jan. 17.
Longtime Sun Shawn Marion scored 20 for the Mavericks, winners of threestraight and six of seven.
Dirk Nowitzki had 10 points in his second game back following missing four gamesto rest his sore right knee.
Marcin Gortat had 17 points and ten rebounds for Phoenix. Dudley added 15points, Sebastian Telfair 13 and Grant Hill 12.
Dallas shot 55 percent, which includes 14 of 27 on 3-pointers.
Phoenix had cut Dallas’ lead to 55-47 on Gortat’s 9-footer with 1:56 left inthe half, then the Mavericks completed the half with an 11-1 run, taking a 66-48lead on West’s layup at the buzzer. Officials reviewed the play and called itgood. West had a pair of three-pointers to start the run.
The Suns got no closer than 16 early in the second half, with Dallas leadingby as many as 28.
Notes: Nash wants seven assists to pass Kevin Johnson as the Suns’ careerassists leader. … Dallas had never ever beaten Phoenix eight instances in a row untilMonday night. … Phoenix final beat Dallas on Jan. 28, 2010. … The Maverickshave scored 116, 101 and 122 in their final three games soon after reaching thecentury mark 4 occasions in their very first 19 games.
Wolves win Adelman’s return to Houston
January 31, 2012
HOUSTON (AP)—Rick Adelman has mainly excellent memories from his years inHouston, and his new team delivered one far more on Monday night.
Michael Beasley scored 34 points, Ricky Rubio had 18 points and 11 assistsand the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Rockets 120-108 in Adelman’s return toHouston.
Kevin Like had 29 points for the Timberwolves, who blew open a close gamewith a franchise-record 42 points in the third, also a season high for anyquarter.
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The 6-foot-ten Beasley, in just his third game back immediately after missing 11 gameswith a sprained appropriate foot, set a franchise record for single-game points by areserve. He went ten for 14 from the field and 12 for 12 from the cost-free-throw lineto finish just eight points shy of his profession high.
“That’s what I’ve got to do,” Beasley stated. “I’ve got to penetrate, usemy athleticism.”
Minnesota shot a season-greatest 58 percent (43 of 74) from the field andeclipsed its prior high point total for the season by 14.
And it could’ve hardly happened on a better night for Adelman, who turneddown the Rockets’ provide to renew his contract following final season since ofphilosophical differences with owner Leslie Alexander and general manager DarylMorey.
“We didn’t attempt to attack on one particular pass, we moved the ball from side toside,” Adelman stated. “I believed we could get to the basket if we did that. Itwas a truly good team win. A lot of guys played and a lot of guyscontributed.”
Adelman revealed additional about the reasons for his departure before the game,half-joking that he was nonetheless awaiting a telephone call from Alexander. Adelman saidhe read in a nearby newspaper column that he was to blame for the communicationbreakdown amongst the two throughout his tenure.
“I didn’t assume something of it, till I saw the stuff about how I neverlistened to anything,” he said. “I’m not actual smart, but I’m going to listento my boss. That just kind of turned me the incorrect way.”
Morey walked up and shook Adelman’s hand through pregame warmups, and the twohad a brief, apparently cordial conversation.
Adelman seemed additional animated on the sideline than usual, even though, especiallyonce the second half began.
The Timberwolves opened the second half with a 12-four burst, capped by Enjoy’ssecond 3-pointer for a 66-60 lead. Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin answered with3-pointers, and Lowry turned a steal into a breakaway layup to tie it at 68.
Minnesota then pushed the tempo and poured it on, finishing the quarter witha 19-6 spurt. The Wolves hit 15 of 24 shots, such as 4 3-pointers, and went8 for 8 from the free-throw line to put together the highest scoring quarteragainst Houston this season.
“It was just like we were sitting there and we could in no way locate any kind ofrhythm defensively,” Houston coach Kevin McHale mentioned. “We never ever got manyconsecutive stops, we in no way actually dug in and got points.”
Rubio, Beasley and Like led the scoring barrage, with 32 points in the thirdon ten-for-12 shooting. Minnesota led 96-81 heading to the fourth, and theRockets hardly challenged the rest of the way.
“It’s fun basketball when you’re that effective,” Love mentioned. “We got openshots, set very good picks and we just did the tiny issues that helped us have abig third quarter.”
Martin scored 29 points after missing two games with inflammation in hisright heel. The Rockets lost for only the second time in 11 games.
“Just felt like 1 of those games when we had been stuck in the mud,” McHalesaid.
Minnesota completed 28 of 31 from the cost-free-throw line and dished out 18assists. The Timberwolves have won six of nine to get within 1 game of .500,and they’re beginning to get excited about the possibilities this season.
“We know we can go on big runs,” Enjoy stated. “It’s just the case of notgetting down so a lot and not getting to fight back from such a huge deficit.”
Chase Budinger scored 13 for Houston, also outrebounded 40-34.
The Rockets beat Minnesota 107-92 a week ago in McHale’s initially game back inhis house state given that he succeeded Adelman last June. The teams play once again inMinneapolis on Saturday.
NOTES: The Timberwolves have 5 road wins, already matching their total ineach of the earlier two seasons. … Timberwolves G J.J. Barea (sprained leftankle) sat out for the 10th time in 11 games. … The Rockets had their streakof games with double-digit leads halted at 13. … Minnesota’s field-goalpercentage (58 percent) was a high for a Houston opponent this season.
Surprising 76ers defeat stumbling Magic
January 31, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The 76ers had 1 of their worst performances of theseason to open a rugged stretch on the schedule.
It was superior enough to beat slumping Orlando.
Nevertheless, the surprising Sixers know they’ll have to play much better if they wantto prove they’re for true through a ten-day stretch of games against some of thetop teams in the NBA.
Andre Iguodala had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Philadelphia to itsthird straight win, 74-69 more than the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
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The Sixers raced to their finest commence in practically a decade by taking advantageof a soft schedule for the 1st third of the season, but it gets tough fromhere. Orlando was the initially opponent in a long run of games against winningteams that contains residence games this week against Chicago and Miami.
Led by Iguodala’s burst in the third quarter, the Sixers (15-6) outlastedthe stumbling Magic and won in spite of posting their lowest point total of theseason. Dwight Howard’s 17 points and 11 rebounds weren’t sufficient in Orlando’sfourth straight loss.
The Sixers shot 38 percent from the floor, 27 percent from 3-point range and53 percent from the foul line, some of their worst numbers of the season.
“I would have not bet on us winning that game tonight,” with thosenumbers, coach Doug Collins said.
Soon after Chicago and Miami, the Sixers play Saturday at Atlanta. They returnhome subsequent week for games against the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs andLos Angeles Clippers.
“That was a substantially-needed win for us here with what we have ahead of us thisweek,” Collins stated.
Howard desires out of Orlando and criticized his teammates Friday for notplaying difficult adequate in a loss to New Orleans. He missed eight of 13 cost-free throwsoverall against Philadelphia and the Magic missed 14 of 17 shots from the floorin the third. Ryan Anderson had 14 points and 20 rebounds.
Soon after losing to the lowly Hornets, Howard stated his teammates must juststay in the locker space if they didn’t want to play.
Orlando’s star center mentioned it’s OK to rip his team even even though he’d like tobe traded.
“It’s not the initially time I’ve called them out,” Howard mentioned. “As aleader, you’ve got to do issues that men and women don’t like. People hate what theydon’t recognize. My teammates fully grasp why I said what I mentioned. They allagree. It’s not like, `Oh, Dwight’s wrong with what he mentioned.’ But that’s withanything. My job is to challenge my teammates and challenge myself to go out andplay each night.”
The Magic missed nine straight shots for the duration of a 6-minute stretch in the thirdthat allowed the Sixers to create a double-digit lead. Jodie Meeks hit a3-pointer for a 53-40 lead and the 76ers withstood three late 3s by Orlando thattrimmed the final margin.
The Magic scored only nine points in the third quarter. Howard had all threebaskets.
With 6 minutes left in the game, the Magic had but to reach 50 points.
“We’re still a great basketball team, we’re just going via a toughstretch. That’s it,” Howard mentioned. “There’s no need to have for us to complain or pointthe finger or for anybody to panic. We’re going to be fine.”
Extended the fourth pro team in Philadelphia, the improved Sixers are winningback fans 1 victory at a time. They enhanced to 11-2 at home in front 1 oftheir biggest crowds of the season (16,299). Heading into a timeout in thethird, the Atlantic Division leaders walked off toward the huddle to a standingovation.
Coming off a triple-double against Detroit on Saturday, Iguodala fell fourassists shy of a repeat work. The rest of the Sixers struggled to score, butPhiladelphia didn’t need to do significantly against an Orlando team that has completelyunraveled. Evan Turner scored 12 points for the Sixers and Thaddeus Young had10.
Sixers initial-year CEO Adam Aron mingled with fans as the team’s retro themesong was blasted for the enthusiastic crowd. Aron and the new ownership grouphave overhauled the game-night atmosphere, but the biggest transform has come onthe court.
They’ll want a lot more than a catchy tune to get via the subsequent two weeks.
Fans yelled “On the list!” at Howard, a reference to placing the Sixers onhis brief list of teams exactly where he’d like to be traded.
Asked if he’d put the blossoming Sixers on the list, Howard merely stated itwas a blessing to be wanted by teams.
Before the game, Howard walked about the locker room with a brick in eachhand, playfully swinging them about and yelling, “I’m going to knock somebodyin the head!”
He shot far more bricks from the free throw line, not a total surpriseconsidering he shoots 46 percent from the line.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy stated he requirements to locate answers to stop the losing.
“We have to address the problems at hand,” he mentioned. “I don’t know if it’sfatigue. I just know we are not playing well. Clearly, we have some issues toaddress on offense.”
Notes: Magic point guard Jameer Nelson did not travel with the team,sidelined with concussion-like signs and symptoms after taking an inadvertent blow to thehead and jaw in Orlando’s loss at New Orleans on Friday. Van Gundy said Nelsoncould be sidelined another week. … The 76ers played once again without startingcenter Spencer Hawes (left Achilles strain) and his backup, rookie Nik Vucevic(left quad strain). … Iguodala moved into fourth place on the team’s careersteals list, passing Charles Barkley. … Orlando’s nine points in the third wasthe low against Philly for a quarter.
Heat shake off slow start, beat Hornets
January 31, 2012
MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade’s function as captain of the Miami Heat comes withcertain privileges. For instance, he can occasionally shake off calls from Heatcoach Erik Spoelstra.
And no a single complained, either.
Wade and LeBron James every scored 22 points, Mike Miller added 14 off thebench and the Heat rode the strength of a brilliant 18-minute run midway throughthe game to beat the Hornets 109-95 on Monday night, Miami’s eighth win in ninegames.
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The Hornets completed with only 25 rebounds, the lowest total in the NBA thisseason. James had 11 rebounds—more than any two Hornets—and eight assistsfor Miami, which had six players in double figures and outscored New Orleans54-23 from the midpoint of the second quarter by means of the end of the third.
“When a guy like D-Wade has a rhythm, you’ve got to preserve feeding him,”James stated. “He brought us back.”
Wade had 15 points in the second quarter, and perhaps his biggestcontribution all night was when he got Spoelstra to alter his thoughts. Looking tomanufacture a jolt, Spoelstra wanted to go to a zone defense when Miami wasstruggling. Wade waved him off, thinking the Heat were on the verge of gettingsomething going.
He was right.
“We began the game in a tiny bit of a fog and they came out and playedvery sharply,” Spoelstra mentioned. “They came out with a lot of energy … thenthe game altered, I felt, in the second quarter. Dwyane really set the tone fromthat point on.”
Chris Bosh and Norris Cole every scored 12 for the Heat, who trailed 45-33midway by way of the second quarter ahead of outscoring New Orleans 76-50 the restof the way.
Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry each and every scored 14 for New Orleans, which lost forthe 17th time in 19 games following a 2- start. Emeka Okafor scored 13 points andGreivis Vasquez added 11 for the Hornets.
“It’s hard to play the type of basketball that you want to play when you’renot obtaining what you really feel is a fair call at instances,” Hornets coach MontyWilliams stated. “I thought our guys got beat up a tiny bit tonight going tothe basket. … Take nothing at all away from Miami. That is a championship-contendingteam. Their work showed that tonight.”
There had been all sorts of indicators suggesting that Miami would get off to aless-than-excellent start off.
It was Miami’s third game in four nights, although all were at house. Monday’stip-off came about 24 hours after Sunday’s down-to-the-wire epic againstChicago, where the Heat win wasn’t secure till .1 seconds remained. And thesecond night of back-to-backs have been difficulty all season for Miami, which hadbeen three-3 in those contests—including each of its house defeats, those comingagainst Atlanta and Milwaukee.
So confident enough, the Heat started slowly—and found themselves in a 12-pointhole against a team with the worst record in the Western Conference. New Orleansmade ten of its first 11 shots, then applied a 16-6 run in the second quarter tobriefly grab manage. Spoelstra had an thought. Wade apparently had a far better one particular.
“He referred to as our zone and as the captain at that time, I kind of vetoed it,”Wade mentioned. “It ain’t gonna happen much. But I felt at the time we needed to bea small far more aggressive.”
With that, the game altered for very good. Wade scored 11 straight Miami pointsto erase the deficit practically single-handedly󈟝 out of 15 points as well,assisting a basket by James to account for the other two—and the Heat wentinto halftime up 51-49.
They had been just getting began.
Miami scored the very first nine points of the third, stretching the lead to60-49 and capping what was a 27-four run over a span of much less than eight minutes.James scored 14 points in the quarter, Chalmers produced all three of his shots—all from three-point range—and the Miami lead was up to 87-68 by the finish of theperiod.
“That’s the game right there. You blink and all of a sudden the lead opensup,” Okafor stated. “With a team like that, you can’t let that to happen—three superstars and a cast of players who can play. You give them that kind ofleeway, they just run with it.”
By then, the only drama left was regardless of whether James would get his 33rd careertriple-double. Instead, he got the fourth quarter off.
Notes: Justin Bieber, who has been the subject of much more than a few tweetsposted by Heat owner Micky Arison, was in attendance. … Williams had highpraise for the Heat just before the game, especially Spoelstra. “Spo doesn’t getenough credit in my opinion for the capability to coach talent, supreme talent,every night,” Williams stated. … Miller—no stranger to injury problems in hisHeat tenure—was grabbing at his right hand late in the initial quarter andgrimacing in pain, but stayed in the game. … James became the 17th player inNBA history with 17,000 points, 4,500 rebounds and four,500 assists. Of the first16, 13 are Hall of Famers currently, the others becoming Gary Payton, Kevin Garnettand Kobe Bryant, all positive-fire Hall entrants one day.
Rose’s 35 carry Bulls over Wizards 98-88
January 31, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP)—Fresh off an embarrassing performance Sunday in Miami,Derrick Rose couldn’t wait to make up for it a day later.
And, boy, did he ever.
Rose scored a season-high 35 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 98-88 winover the Washington Wizards on Monday night. It came a day after the reigningleague MVP missed two key free throws and a possible game-tying jumper in thefinal 30 seconds in a four-point loss to the Miami Heat.
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He got off to a hot start against the Wizards, scoring 13 points in thefirst quarter as the Bulls improved their Eastern Conference-leading record to18-5. Chicago never trailed, led by as many as 22 and never let Washington getcloser than eight points in the second half.
“I just played my game—and that’s me being aggressive,” Rose said.
No doubt about it.
In the first quarter, Rose took the Wizards out of the game with a dazzlingarray of shots—three floaters, a driving layup, a gorgeous reverse layup and anifty running bank shot. The Bulls took a quick 21-10 lead, and the Wizards werein trouble.
“Sometimes I caught myself spectating. Some of those shots wereunbelievable,” Washington’s Trevor Booker said.
Rose scored 15 of Chicago’s 25 third-quarter points as it built a 22-pointlead.
“Usually in the third quarter, we tend to back off,” Rose said. “Thisgame, we kept going, trying to make the game easy—and that’s how we got thewin.”
In the fourth quarter, the Wizards got within eight, but never really madeit competitive.
Rose was 10 for 20 from the field with a 3-pointer, and hit 14 of 15 fromthe line. He had eight assists.
Many in the season-high crowd of 18,357 were chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” asRose showed off his skills. He had help from Carlos Boozer, who had 18 points—six in the first four minutes—and 12 in the fourth quarter. Kyle Korver had 17— 14 in the first half—and five 3-pointers. Joakim Noah chipped in with 14points, 13 rebounds and tied a career high with seven assists.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau credited Rose for the impressive win—Chicago’s13th of at least 10 points.
“He comes out like it’s his will. He imposes his will on everybody,”Thibodeau said.
The Wizards are just 4-16. They had won two of their previous three games,both against the woeful Charlotte Bobcats, who have the worst record in the NBA.
John Wall led the Wizards with 20 points, while Nick Young had 17, andJaVale McGee scored 16.
Randy Wittman, who replaced Flip Saunders as coach last Tuesday, said theBulls, who held Washington to a franchise-low 64 points in their last meeting onJan. 11, were the best team he’d seen this season.
Wittman didn’t find any fault with his team and knows Wall is little matchat this stage for Rose.
“He creates a lot of things for a lot of people,” Wittman said about Rose.
He marveled at Rose’s ability to easily move about much larger Wizards—defeating any strategy Wittman could devise.
“I don’t know what else you can do,” Wittman said.
Chicago quickly opened up a 21-10 lead and had a 26-16 advantage after thefirst quarter. Midway through the second, the Wizards scored seven straight tocut the lead to 36-30, but the Bulls stretched their lead to 51-40 at halftime.
Chicago ran off 11 straight points in the third quarter to take a 70-49 leadwith 5:24 left.
Before the game, Rose vowed not to repeat Sunday.
“If I ever get in that position again, I know it will be totally different.Yesterday isn’t going to do anything but make me stronger as a player,” Rosesaid.
Against Washington, Rose came out quickly—hitting six of eight shots fromthe field in the first quarter.
Early in the fourth, the Bulls led by 19, but Washington cut it to eightwith 6:50 to play. Boozer hit three straight baskets, and Chicago led 92-78.
Notes: Wizards F Andray Blatche will miss three-to-five weeks with astrained left calf, Wittman announced before the game. … Washington recalled CHamady Ndiaye from Iowa of the D-League. … The Bulls played without G RichardHamilton (right thigh) and F Luol Deng (left wrist). It was the fifth straightgame Deng missed. … This was the second of a nine-game road trip for Chicago—its longest since 1992-93. … The Bulls have won seven straight between theteams.
Billups’ 32 help Clippers cool Nuggets
January 30, 2012
DENVER (AP)—After fans in Denver showed him their appreciation, ChaunceyBillups gave them one more reason to miss their native son and rue the day heleft.
Billups’ homecoming couldn’t have gone better. He scored a season-high 32points and drew a crucial foul in the waning seconds to help seal the LosAngeles Clippers’ 109-105 victory that snapped the Denver Nuggets’ six-gamewinning streak Sunday night.
It was Billups’ first game at the Pepsi Center since the Nuggets includedhim in the Carmelo Anthony trade nearly a year ago.
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The veteran guard received a rousing ovation during introductions.
“That was beautiful, man,” Billups said. “That was beautiful.”
The only visitor who got louder applause was Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow,sitting courtside.
“That ovation was well-deserved,” Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo said aboutBillups.
Those cheers quickly turned to groans the rest of the night as Billupsreminded the Nuggets and their fans just what they’d lost even as Denver has won32 of 45 since the blockbuster trade.
Just when the Nuggets started to pull away in the fourth quarter, going upfive, Billups took over as he had so many times in this building.
His sixth 3-pointer tied it at 99, and his three-point play finished off an8-0 spurt that gave the Clippers a 102-99 lead with 2:37 left.
The Nuggets regained the lead 105-104 on Nene’s dunk with 47 secondsremaining. But Chris Paul’s two free throws gave Los Angeles the lead for goodwith 36 seconds left.
Trailing 107-105, the Nuggets got the ball into Nene down low, but he pushedoff against Billups and was whistled for an offensive foul with 18 seconds left.
“Yeah, we knew we were switching and I figured at some point I’d probablybe on him,” Billups said. “And they wanted to exploit the mismatch when theywent to Nene vs. me and I was just kind of fronting him and as soon as hegrabbed me, pushed me, boom, I went down.”
A little overacting helped as Billups hit the floor hard.
“I mean, my back is hurting,” Billups cracked. “Hey, I need achiropractor, man.”
In the other locker room, Nene said: “It was the wrong call, but that’s theruling. It was a bad call and they won.”
Nuggets coach George Karl said, “We didn’t get a generous whistle. Ithought the last play Chauncey was actually trying to foul Nene on purpose. Thatis a tough call in that situation.”
Paul was fouled on the ensuing inbounds and sank two free throws to cap thewin. He finished with 25 points, and Blake Griffin added 17.
“Chauncey’s like me. It doesn’t matter where you play, you want to win,”Paul said. “You couldn’t care less if you’re at home or you’re a thousand milesaway from home, you just want to win.”
Actually, it meant a lot to Billups.
“It’s just always good to play in front of your family and it’s always goodto compete against friends,” Billups said.
“You’d be hard pressed to say anyone’s brought more to a city, to a team,an area—sure it’s special to come back,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said.“I’m happy Chauncey played well.”
Billups had 15 points at the half and really got hot in the third quarter,sinking three straight 3-pointers, including one with Rudy Fernandez all overhim.
“I think we saw Chauncey do a similar thing to Detroit when we went back toDetroit,” Karl said. “When he gets in that zone .”
Billups spent 2 1/2 years in his second stint with the Nuggets, instantlyturned a middling Denver team into a contender when he came over from Detroitfor Allen Iverson in 2008. He guided the Nuggets to a franchise-best 54 wins andthe Western Conference finals that year.
“I’ve told the story that if we don’t make the Chauncey trade, I don’tthink I’m here right now,” Karl said. “We were playing very ordinarybasketball. Then we made the trade and we went from ordinary to good prettyquick. I remember when (former Nuggets general manager Mark Warkentien) calledand said the trade was done, I was downstairs in my house and I actually think Igot down on my knees and thanked God.”
And Karl nearly cried 11 months ago when Billups, who starred at theUniversity of Colorado, got caught up in Anthony’s trade demand and was includedin the 13-player, three-way deal on Feb. 22, 2011, that sent him to New York.
“I think everybody knows it was a sad day when we had to part with him,”Karl said. “I mean, it was hard on everybody.”
Billups included.
He said Sunday night he wasn’t happy about getting dragged away from Denverbecause of Anthony’s desire to play in the Big Apple.
“It really wasn’t my fight—although I had to go down,” Billups said.“So, that was frustrating. … You know, I’ve accomplished a lot in my careerand I’ve done a lot, being thrown in a deal for some people that haven’taccomplished what I’ve accomplished? So, that was the frustration that I had,but it is what it is.”
Billups wasn’t done being dissed.
The Knicks invoked the amnesty clause that’s part of the new collectivebargaining agreement and cut him last fall without having to count his $14.5million salary against their cap. Billups let it be known he wanted to clearwaivers so he could go wherever he wanted, but he was claimed by the Clippersand briefly contemplated retirement.
“It was weird,” Billups said. “I was hoping to get through it. Didn’t.But all things happen as they’re supposed to, you know? And I’m here and I’mhappy to be here. We have a great, young team. I’m still able to be me and dowhat I do, so it’s a blessing.”
He’s a big part of Del Negro’s star-studded veteran cast that includesGriffin, Paul, Mo Williams and Caron Butler that’s speeding the learning curvefor younger teammates while also stealing the buzz from Kobe Bryant and theLakers in Los Angeles.
Billups’ departure led to more playing time for Ty Lawson in Denver, and hewas slated to start Sunday night after missing time with a sprained left ankle,but he was a late scratch.
Unable to run the Clippers ragged, the Nuggets found themselves in a tightgame and things didn’t go their way down the stretch, thanks to Billups.
“It was a good loss, if there is such a thing,” Karl said. “We just haveto keep our heads up and regroup and get Ty back on the court.”
Notes: The Nuggets have lost three straight to the Clippers, their longestlosing streak against any team. … Billups said he’s trying to get formerDenver teammate Kenyon Martin to join the Clippers after his Chinese team endsits season.
Mavericks get past Spurs 101-100 in OT
January 30, 2012
DALLAS (AP)—Jason Terry was more than willing to take the large shots, withDirk Nowitzki just receiving back into the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup. Terry madethem when they mattered, too.
Terry scored the final 4 points in overtime, immediately after hitting a tying15-footer with a half-second remaining in regulation, and the Mavericks cameback after blowing a huge lead against San Antonio’s reserves to beat the Spurs101-100 Sunday night.
“He put us on his shoulders there,” stated Nowitzki, who played for thefirst time soon after a 4-game hiatus to strengthen his sore suitable knee and dosome conditioning work. “He produced some wonderful pull-ups. He got to his sweet spotto send it to OT.”
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Terry put Dallas ahead to remain when he took a pass from Nowitzki and made a12-foot baseline jumper with 42 seconds left to make it 99-98. After ShawnMarion stole the ball from Gary Neal, Terry got fouled and created both free throwswith 17 seconds left.
“It’s just the will to win when the game is on the line,” Terry stated. “Ilike to take the shot when the game is on the line. … When my team desires methe most, I’m going to come via regardless of what’s going on the entirenight. Fourth quarter is winning time.”
Terry scored 26 of his season-high 34 points following halftime, though theSpurs nevertheless had a chance immediately after his final two free of charge throws.
Neal, who completed with 19 points, drove for a layup and was fouled byMarion with 12 seconds left. But Neal missed a prospective tying totally free throw thatwas rebounded by Ian Mahinmi, who was fouled and missed two free throw attempts.
Right after Neal got that rebound and the Spurs known as timeout, Vince Carterknocked the ball loose. Danny Green grabbed it and threw up a 3-pointer thatricocheted off the front of the rim as the game ended.
Green and the Spurs believed he had a game-winner at the end of regulation,but his 14-footer was disallowed when replay clearly showed that shot didn’t getout of his hands prior to the buzzer sounded.
“I thought it was excellent, but I guess it was too great to be correct,” Greensaid.
Dallas led by as numerous as 18 points in the third quarter ahead of San Antoniocoach Gregg Popovich decided to go with his reserves. The Spurs’ last 51 pointsafter that came from bench players, and they went ahead by as several as nine inthe fourth quarter with the support of a flurry of three-pointers.
“We were just on fire shooting 3s and it got us back in the game. It’s assimple as that. I believed the power defensively was wonderful we double-teamedeverywhere,” Popovich said. “They had been playing wonderful. There’s no sense intaking them off the court.”
The last Spurs starter to score was Richard Jefferson on a 3-pointer with4:28 left in the third quarter. When Jefferson came out less than 2 minuteslater, the only starter to re-enter the game was Kawhi Leonard for 1.1 secondsin overtime.
Terry’s tying shot at the finish of regulation was set up following RodrigueBeaubois, beginning for injured Jason Kidd, drove for a layup with 30 secondsleft and then blocked a shot on a drive by Neal. Nowitzki grabbed the reboundand got the ball to Terry.
San Antonio nevertheless had a chance to win the game. Green swished his jumper offthe inbound pass, but officials looked at the replay before ruling it didn’tcount and sending the game to overtime.
“We got a small lucky there,” Nowitzki mentioned. “I thought it was over.”
Carter had 21 points, his most with the Mavericks, while Beaubois had 14.Nowitzki had 10 points on five-of-14 shooting with 13 rebounds.
“I’m moving much better,” Nowitzki stated. “Definitely that was an improvementfrom ahead of. I’m going to preserve operating and get back to normal soon.”
Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan and Green every single had 12 points for the Spurs.
Dallas (13-8) took more than the Southwest Division lead, ahead of Houston (12-8)and the Spurs (12-9).
The Mavericks had a 67-49 lead immediately after Terry’s basket with 3:48 left in thethird quarter. That’s when San Antonio’s reserves took more than.
There were seven consecutive points to cut the gap, that capped by MattBonner’s 3-pointer that helped ignite a frenzy of 3-pointers.
San Antonio opened the fourth quarter with a 17-2 surge that included five3-pointers. Bonner’s trey from the appropriate wing with 8:24 left in regulation putthe Spurs up 75-71.
That was from about the very same spot that Green had hit just before a missed shot byNowitzki.
San Antonio, which made seven 3s in the fourth quarter, led 84-75 with 5 1/2 minutes left when Neal stole the ball from Terry and had a quickly-break jumper. It was nonetheless 89-81 only 2 minutes later when Neal created a 3-pointer.
“We were unable to capitalize on it,” Neal mentioned. “They had been in a position to makeshots and forced it into overtime.”
Notes: Kidd has a appropriate calf strain, and is expected to miss at least fivegames. … San Antonio finished with 12 3s, which was 4 much less than they madewhen the teams very first played 3 1/2 weeks ago when the Spurs won 93-72 at house. …Manu Ginobili (broken left hand) missed his 16th consecutive game for the Spurs,though T.J. Ford (torn left hamstring) has missed 11 in a row. … When formerMavericks owner Don Carter and his wife were showing on the video board in the course of atimeout in the first quarter, both flashed their 2011 NBA championship rings.… Brendan Haywood had a season-high five blocked shots for Dallas.
Heat hold off Bulls as Rose misses late
January 30, 2012
MIAMI (AP)—The odds had to overwhelmingly be in Chicago’s favor. Down by apoint with 22.7 seconds left, with Derrick Rose heading to the line to shoot apair of free throws.
The reigning NBA MVP. He was a perfect 29 for 29 from the foul line in thefourth quarter this season. As if this moment needed extra significance, it wascoming against the Miami Heat, the team that downed Rose and the Bulls in lastseason’s Eastern Conference finals by taking the series’ last four games.
Rose missed the first.
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Missed the second, too.
And missed a potentially game-tying jumper with 3.7 seconds left to boot, assomehow the Heat held on for a wild 97-93 win on Sunday. LeBron James—theplayer who Rose supplanted as the league MVP—scored 35 points for Miami, whichnever trailed yet never could relax until Chris Bosh sealed it by making twofree throws with 0.1 seconds left.
“This is so surreal right now knowing that I had a chance to win thegame,” said Rose, emotional at his locker afterward. “And this time it didn’twork out.”
Bosh scored 24 points and added 12 rebounds for the Heat (15-5), who got 15points from Dwyane Wade and pulled within one game of the Bulls (17-5) in theEast.
“Like the playoffs in January,” Wade said.
Richard Hamilton and Joakim Noah each scored 11 for Chicago, which got 10apiece from Ronnie Brewer and Carlos Boozer.
“A highly contested basketball game,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Oh, that doesn’t even begin to tell the story of this one.
“I let my team down,” Rose said.
It had a little of everything. James leaped over—yes, over—Chicago’s5-foot-11 John Lucas for an alley-oop dunk from Wade in the opening minutes,saying afterward he never saw the Bulls’ guard in his path. Wade missed nine ofhis first 10 shots, airballing the last of those. James missed a pair of freethrows 5.1 seconds after Rose misfired on his tries in the final moments. Therewere skirmishes, hard fouls, pushing and screaming and shoving. Even aninadvertent whistle in the final moments that ultimately didn’t hurt Miami,although the Heat strongly believed the whistle took away their advantage.
As for that notion that this was “just another game” … nope. Not evenclose.
“The way I see it, every time we play the Bulls it’s going to be likethat,” Bosh said. “It’s always going to be an atmosphere where nobody wants tolose and that’s how the playoffs are.”
This wasn’t the playoffs.
It only seemed that way.
The Bulls trailed by 12 points midway through the second quarter, thoughnever let Miami pull completely away. Not even in the fourth quarter, when itseemed like Miami was on the cusp: James connected on a long jumper to close thethird quarter, then he and Shane Battier set each other up for 3-pointers on thefirst two possessions of the fourth for an 82-71 lead.
Chicago called time-out, and Rose willed the Bulls back. A floating jumpermade it 84-82, and a knifing layup that he made seem simply effortless knottedthe game for the fourth and final time with 6:55 left.
The Heat answered with a 10-2 run, before Chicago rallied again, Rose’sthree-point play with 49.1 seconds left cutting the lead to 94-93.
On the play where he missed the free throws, Rose then lost the ball on adrive, but drew contact from Miami’s Udonis Haslem and went to the line. Rose’sfirst hit the front of the rim and bounced away, and his second rimmed out.James grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Noah—only to miss both free throwshimself.
“I couldn’t believe he missed both,” Wade said of Rose. “I couldn’tbelieve LeBron missed both, either. Averaged itself out, I guess.”
After James’ second miss, Wade said he knocked the ball away and Boshappeared to emerge with control, but an inadvertent whistle led to a jump ball.James—who talked Bosh out of taking the tap himself—outleaped Taj Gibson,getting the ball to Mario Chalmers, who made one free throw for a two-pointlead.
Chicago wound up getting one last chance with 9.9 seconds left, calling timeout. Naturally, it went to Rose, who weaved his way into the lane—but came upshort. Bosh got the rebound, and Miami began celebrating.
“The ball was on our side this time,” said James, who defended Rose in thefourth quarter—and in the postgame, saying last season’s MVP deserved creditfor the comeback instead of simply having all the blame for misfiring down thestretch.
The Bulls played without forward Luol Deng and guard C.J. Watson, bothsidelined with wrist injuries. Watson may be back in Chicago’s lineup as earlyas Monday, and Deng—who has a torn ligament in his left, non-shooting, wrist—is “very close” to a return, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Insistence that this was “just another game” notwithstanding, Miamistarted quickly. Wade appeared a bit more emotionally charged than usual afterjoining his teammates in the pregame huddle, and the Heat ran out to a fastearly edge.
Maybe it would be more accurate to say they “jumped” out to that lead.
Wade set James up for three dunks in the first 7 minutes, the last of whichis probably going to be replayed for quite a while. James appeared to beforgotten as he hovered on the weak side of the floor, so he darted toward thebasket. Wade tossed a lob his way—and the two-time MVP went over Lucas for adunk that put Miami up 16-7.
“I never saw him,” James said.
Said Lucas: “When he gets that running jump, what can I do?”
More than two hours later, that play—so wild that the NBA quickly tweetedvideo of the slam—almost seemed forgotten. The Heat celebrated, and the Bullslamented.
Just like in last season’s East finals.
“Derrick has always been someone who’s his biggest critic,” Noah said.“He takes losses very hard. He wouldn’t be the competitor that he is if heweren’t. At the end of the day, we have his back. I’ll go to war with him anyday. I’ve never been around a competitor like that in my life.”
Notes: James had a large icepack strapped to his right shoulder during afirst-half stint of rest. He was grabbing at the shoulder in pain early in thefirst quarter after a collision, but did not appear to have a serious issue. …Boozer said he needed more than 20 tickets for the game. He’s been spending partof his offseasons in Miami for several years.
Jazz spoil Fredette’s return to Utah
January 29, 2012
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—The stage was all set Saturday night for JimmerFredette, in a state where “Jimmermania” had taken hold.
Instead of draining what could have been a game-winning three-pointer forSacramento with 4.two seconds left, the former Brigham Young star launched an airball. The Utah Jazz hung on for a 96-93 win more than the Kings to snap a two-gamelosing streak.
“I’m not going to say regardless of whether I got fouled or not,” stated Fredette, whoended up on the floor following the miss. “The ball didn’t go in and we lost thegame. It was a difficult 1.”
Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer &hellip AP – Jan 29, 12:04 am EST Sacramento Kings forward DeMar&hellip AP – Jan 29, 12:02 am EST
Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward&hellip AP – Jan 29, 12:02 am EST
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Gordon Hayward, who scored a season-high 21 points for Utah (11-7), sank afree throw soon after being fouled away from the ball for the final margin.
Even though Hayward was all smiles soon after breaking out of his scoring slump (14points combined in final 3), Fredette continued to ride the rookierollercoaster.
Final year’s national player of the year completed with 14 points and was three of5 from beyond the arc. But he was just 5 of 13 overall, was swatted by AlJefferson and rookie Enes Kanter, and had the ball stolen away by Earl Watson,Devin Harris and C.J. Miles, who had a game-high 20 points.
The crowd reaction was as mixed as Fredette’s performance.
He received a standing ovation from a lot of fans throughout pregame introductions,with a handful of scattered boos.
Once the game started, many booed each and every time he touched the ball. But whenhe hit his very first 3-pointer with 1:29 left in the 1st, fans had been on their feet.It was arguably the loudest cheer for an opposing player at the downtown SaltLake City arena.
Late in the game, they chanted “We Want Jimmer,” and he re-entered.
“They paid to see him play so they wanted him out there,” stated TyrekeEvans, who led Sacramento (6-14) with 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting. “He did agreat job. He’s getting much better and greater. I’m content for him. Hopefully he cancontinue to play that way.”
Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins added 14 and Isaiah Thomas had 13 offthe bench for the Kings, whilst the Jazz got eight points from their rookieguard, Alec Burks.
The Kings were down 13 points early in the fourth quarter, but Evans andThomas brought them back.
Evans’ 5-footer with 30 seconds left cut the lead to 1, and right after DevinHarris produced just one particular of two cost-free throws for a 95-93 lead, the Kings had anotherchance.
“You have a lot of time on the clock and, like I told him in the lockerroom, occasionally you don’t will need the game-winner,” Sacramento coach Keith Smartsaid. “Sometimes you might want just a two, especially when the guy is a shooterand guys will run at you hard. But, hey, we have a first-year player in asituation, trying to do the appropriate thing, and it’s a complete different story had hemade that shot.
“But it’s something that you find out and grow from here.”
The Jazz were pleased to escape with the win, immediately after dropping a double-overtimegame against Toronto on Wednesday and losing in Dallas on Friday night.
“We had a 7- run or whatever and believed we had been going to close them out,but they played tough, they hung about, and it was nearly like Toronto all overagain,” Hayward mentioned. “It was superior we got the win. But we want to be in a position toclose them out.”
Evans produced that tough.
He had the play of the game, a highlight-reel dunk in which he took off fromnearly the no cost-throw line.
He shot 7 of 12 in the second half, such as a 3-point play that pulledSacramento inside 90-87 with three:28 left.
But in the end, the ball went to Fredette. Replays show Earl Watson hit hisarm, but following the shot was currently off.
It wasn’t the ending Fredette had envisioned in an arena exactly where he was four-1overall as a collegian, or just a year immediately after he had averaged 28.9 points inguiding the Cougars to a 32-5 mark and a trip to the NCAA round of 16.
“Hopefully I’ll have a lot additional (shots to win the game),” stated Fredette,who had a opportunity to see his fiancee while in town. “Hopefully, I’ll make a lotof those. But not everyone tends to make all the game-winning shots and we realizethat. Everybody was encouraging and mentioned it was a great look and just didn’t godown. That occurs.”
He mentioned he was grateful for all the fans that did assistance him, and Jazzplayers got a kick out of the frenzy for the rookie.
“It was a excellent atmosphere,” Watson mentioned. “It was like college. I thoughtI had on a Utah Utes jersey.”
Notes: Former BYU wide receiver Austin Collie, now a member of theIndianapolis Colts, was in attendance Saturday. … Major man Chuck Hayes, who hadmissed the previous 11 games with a dislocated left shoulder, returned to actionSaturday for Sacramento and played 20 minutes but did not score. … Jazz guardRaja Bell left in the second quarter with a strained proper adductor and did notreturn. He completed with three points. … Utah’s top rated two scorers struggled,with Paul Millsap shooting just 2 of 10 for six points and Jefferson hitting 5of 13 for 12.