Boozer leads Jazz to third straight win
November 30, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)—After trudging through most of November, the Utah Jazzfinished the month with the kind of game that’s been expected of them.
Carlos Boozer(notes) had 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and RonnieBrewer(notes) was one off his career high with 25 points as the Jazz won their thirdstraight, 120-93 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do,” Brewer said. “We’re so talented.We’ve got so many guys who can do so many things, there’s no reason why weshouldn’t play like we have the last three games.”
Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams… AP – Dec 1, 12:03 am EST Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer(… AP – Nov 30, 11:52 pm EST
Utah Jazz center Carlos Boozer… AP – Nov 30, 11:46 pm EST
Memphis Grizzlies center Hashe… AP – Nov 30, 10:49 pm EST
Memphis Grizzlies center Hashe… AP – Nov 30, 10:49 pm EST
Memphis Grizzlies center Hashe… AP – Nov 30, 10:48 pm EST
Memphis Grizzlies center Hashe… AP – Nov 30, 10:30 pm EST
Memphis Grizzlies center Hashe… AP – Nov 30, 10:29 pm EST
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It was the most points for Utah this season. The Jazz’s three-game winningstreak ties their biggest of the season and puts Utah (10-7) three games above.500 for the first time.
“We’re making the extra pass and we’re shooting 60 percent or close to itevery game,” said Boozer, who flirted with a triple-double until resting mostof the fourth quarter. “On the defensive side, we’re doing a great job offinishing.”
The Jazz beat the Grizzlies for the 10th straight time, going 45 for 77 fromthe floor and hitting 7-of-14 3-pointers.
Rookie Wesley Matthews(notes) scored a career-high 17, going 6 for 7 from thefloor, and Deron Williams(notes) had 22 points and six assists for the Jazz.
Utah had 28 assists to Memphis’ 15.
“We’re trying to share the basketball. When you do that, you get bettershots,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said.
O.J. Mayo(notes) had 20 points to lead the Grizzlies. Memphis was without leadingscorer Rudy Gay(notes) (family reasons) and fell to 2-9 on the road.
The Grizzlies were coming off a 98-88 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers onSunday, when they blew a 20-point lead and scored just seven points in thefourth quarter. The only lead Memphis held on Monday was 2-0 and that didn’tlast long.
“They’re playing really well,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.“They’ve destroyed a couple of teams here in their last games and we just gotadded to that.”
Sam Young(notes) scored a career-high 17 in his first start and Zach Randolph(notes) had15 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies.
All nine Utah players who made it into the game scored and six of themscored in double figures. The Jazz never trailed after Matthews broke a 2-2 tieon a 3-pointer with 10:14 left in the first quarter.
“We just couldn’t make a stop when we needed it,” Young said. “I think alot of times we felt like we had some momentum but couldn’t get stops ondefense.”
The Jazz went up 88-68 in the third quarter after a layup by Kyrylo Fesenko(notes),then they closed the period on a 7-2 run. Williams started it with a 3-pointer,then Brewer stole a pass from Marcus Williams and took it in all alone for ashowboat one-handed dunk, which he followed with an acrobatic layup over DeMarreCarroll(notes) after another turnover by the Grizzlies.
“I don’t know how that layup went in, truthfully,” said Brewer, who bankedthe shot high off the backboard and in as he tumbled toward the baseline.
The rout continued in the fourth quarter when Matthews dipped the ballbehind the backboard for a reverse layup that made it 103-78.
NOTES: Utah’s previous scoring high this season was 113. … The Jazz were12 for 17 from the floor in the first quarter. … All the Jazz starters hadscored in double figures by halftime except for Okur, who had just two points in12 minutes because of foul trouble and a sore chest. … The Jazz improved to4-1 on a six-game homestand.
Thunder G Ollie has knee surgery
November 30, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—The Oklahoma City Thunder says guard Kevin Ollie(notes) underwentsuccessful “minor” surgery Monday to relieve pain in the patellar tendon inhis right knee.
Ollie has missed three games with the injury and is expected to be out up tofour more weeks.
Another Thunder guard, Kyle Weaver(notes), also was scheduled to have surgery onhis separated shoulder, an injury he suffered last week during practice.
Oklahoma City center Nenad Krstic(notes) missed his first game of the season Sundaywith soreness in his left Achilles tendon and forward Nick Collison(notes) missed hisfourth consecutive game with a sprained knee.
Guard Shaun Livingston(notes) has been sidelined following arthroscopic kneesurgery two weeks ago, but practiced Saturday and participated in the team’spractice on Sunday.
Bogut’s 22 and 15 in return lift Bucks
November 30, 2009
MILWAUKEE (AP)—Andrew Bogut(notes) felt the Bulls stole a game from the Bucks earlierthis year. The former No. 1 pick made sure it didn’t happen again.
Bogut returned from an injury with 22 points, 15 rebounds and two big blocksin the closing minutes to rally Milwaukee to a 99-97 victory over Chicago onMonday night after squandering another big lead.
The Bulls overcame an 18-point second-half deficit in the teams’ firstmeeting on Nov. 3 and won 83-81. In the rematch, Chicago rallied from a 14-pointhole in the third quarter to take a two-point lead in the closing minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bo… AP – Nov 30, 10:57 pm EST Milwaukee Bucks' Ersan Ily… AP – Nov 30, 10:49 pm EST
Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bo… AP – Nov 30, 10:49 pm EST
Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon J… AP – Nov 30, 10:44 pm EST
Milwaukee Bucks' Ersan Ily… AP – Nov 30, 9:26 pm EST
Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bo… AP – Nov 30, 9:22 pm EST
Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah… AP – Nov 30, 9:18 pm EST
Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon J… AP – Nov 30, 9:16 pm EST
Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah… AP – Nov 30, 9:14 pm EST
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But Brad Miller(notes) missed a shot at the buzzer that would’ve tied it afterDerrick Rose(notes), who had 17 of his 19 points in the second half, decided to pass upthe final opportunity in Chicago’s fifth straight loss.
“They stole one from us in Chicago and they had a chance to get back in it,too,” said Bogut, who fouled Miller in the first game for the game’s finalpoint. “He missed it tonight, so the basketball gods looked out for us.”
Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said he called the pick-and-roll for Rose andthat it was executed correctly.
“Brad got a good look. They double teamed Derrick. Derrick swung and hemade the right basketball play,” the coach said. “The percentages will go inyour favor if you make the right play.”
But not this time.
Bogut was supposed to be out up to four weeks with a lower left leg strain.Instead, the 7-footer only missed six games and proved to be the spark Milwaukee(9-7) badly needed to snap a four-game losing streak. Bogut was slated to playabout 20 minutes, but ended up with 35.
“I’ll be sore tomorrow,” Bogut said. “I’ll get in the ice bath, do myrecovery and I should be all right.”
Carlos Delfino(notes) and rookie Brandon Jennings(notes) added 15 points each, butMilwaukee failed to protect a big second-half lead for the second straight game.
John Salmons(notes) had 23 points, Luol Deng(notes) 22 points and 14 rebounds and JoakimNoah(notes) 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, who rallied after trailing 70-56midway through the third.
The Bulls (6-9) had three days off after a blowout loss at Utah and finishedtheir circus road trip 1-5 after learning they’ll be without Kirk Hinrich(notes) for aweek or two with a sprained left thumb.
Chicago took an 89-87 lead with just over three minutes to play beforeJennings, Bogut and Charlie Bell(notes), who finished with 16 points, all had layups togive the Bucks a 93-89 lead.
Bogut then blocked two shots, swatting Deng on a dunk and turning aside alayup attempt by Rose. Salmons missed a 3 that would’ve tied it with 27 secondsleft and a free throw by Delfino gave Milwaukee a 96-92 lead.
“I wasn’t expecting all that, but he came back strong,” Jennings said.“It felt good to have him out there. He’s a big help, as you can see, with theinside presence, it just opens up the game for everybody else.”
Salmons hit a 3, Jennings answered with two free throws and Salmons dunkedto cut Milwaukee’s lead to 98-97 before fouling Bell with 7.1 seconds to play.
Bell hit the second of two free throws to finish 3 of 7 from the line andRose decided to pass to Miller, whose shot just grazed the front of the rim from18 feet as time expired.
“It was well within my range. I felt comfortable, and I just didn’t makeit,” Miller said.
Why didn’t Rose drive all the way to the hoop and try to draw contact?
“Part of me being the point guard was to pass that ball,” said Rose, whohad seven assists. “That’s why I did it.”
NOTES: Milwaukee blew a 15-point second-half lead in a loss to Orlando onSaturday night. … Bucks coach Scott Skiles said Jennings has had several toughshooting nights in a row, but said the rookie’s output is more “realistic” nowafter he made a splash by being the youngest person in NBA history to score atleast 50 points when he scored 55 on Nov. 14 in a win over the Warriors. …Chicago is 11-3 against Milwaukee since the start of the 2006-07 season.
Terry’s jumper lifts Mavs past 76ers
November 30, 2009
DALLAS (AP)—Jason Terry(notes) made a 17-footer with 1.4 seconds left, Dirk Nowitzki(notes)had 28 points and the Dallas Mavericks handed the Philadelphia 76ers theirseventh straight loss, 104-102 Monday night.
Jason Kidd(notes) chipped in with a season-high 22 points and 11 assists. TheMavericks blew a 17-point lead before winning on Terry’s shot.
Philadelphia 76ers' Elton … AP – Nov 30, 9:54 pm EST Philadelphia 76ers' Elton … AP – Nov 30, 9:54 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers' Jason … AP – Nov 30, 9:53 pm EST
Dallas Mavericks' Jason Ki… AP – Nov 30, 9:53 pm EST
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Andre Iguodala(notes) hit a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds remaining to tie it at 102.He missed badly on a desperation jumper at the buzzer.
Willie Green(notes) scored a season-high 23 points, and Elton Brand(notes) and ThaddeusYoung(notes) each had 21 for the 76ers, who met with Allen Iverson(notes) earlier Monday todiscuss a possible return to the team.
James: Ilgauskas should have set record
November 30, 2009
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP)—LeBron James(notes) says Cavaliers coach Mike Brown shouldhave let Zydrunas Ilgauskas(notes) set a record last weekend.
Ilgauskas has tied Cleveland’s record for all-time games played at 723 andwill set a new mark with his next appearance. That could have been at home lastSaturday, but Brown elected not to play Ilgauskas in a victory against theMavericks.
“I definitely thought he should’ve played,” James said Monday. “I’m nottrying to stir up anything with coach or whatever is going on with theorganization, but sometimes one game is the smaller things. What was on the linewas something way bigger than us playing the Mavericks. That was Z breaking therecord.”
Ilgauskas declined interview requests Saturday night and on Monday.
Sixers F Brand returns from injury
November 30, 2009
DALLAS (AP)—Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand(notes) has returned to the lineupMonday night against the Dallas Mavericks after missing three games with a soreright hamstring.
Brand, who was injured last Tuesday against Washington, was the first 76ersplayer off the bench and entered with 5:46 left in the first quarter. He came inaveraging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 14 games this season.
Meanwhile, Dallas center Erick Dampier(notes) started after missing eight gameswith an undisclosed illness.
Dampier was taken to the hospital during warmups against Detroit on Nov. 15.
GM Vandeweghe to coach Nets for season
November 30, 2009
A person with knowledge of their plans says New Jersey Nets general managerKiki Vandeweghe will coach the team for the rest of the season.
Vandeweghe won’t coach his first game with the team until Friday, the persontold The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because the Nets don’tplan to announce their plans until Tuesday.
Tony Barrise, who led the team Sunday night after Lawrence Frank was fired,will coach again Wednesday against Dallas, when the Nets can set an NBA recordwith an 18th straight loss to begin a season.
Former NBA head coach Del Harris will join the Nets as Vandeweghe’sassistant.
Bulls G Hinrich to miss 1-2 weeks
November 30, 2009
CHICAGO (AP)—Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich(notes) will be out one to two weekswith a sprained left thumb, an injury he got during a practice last week whilethe team was on a West Coast road trip.
Hinrich was examined Monday by Bulls head team physician Dr. Brian Cole andhand specialists Dr. John Fernandez and Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopedics atRush University. Their examination confirmed the earlier diagnosis of a leftthumb sprain.
Hinrich missed the Bulls game last week at Utah. Last season he was out for31 games after tearing a ligament in his right thumb.
Hinrich has appeared in 13 games this season, averaging 8.9 points and 4.3assists.
After home slide, Heat hit road
November 30, 2009
MIAMI (AP)—Something about going on the road has always appealed to Miamiforward Udonis Haslem(notes). After all, it can’t be any tougher than playing at homehas been lately for the slumping Heat.
Miami has lost six of its last nine games overall, not to mention four ofits last six at home—and both those wins were one-point buzzer-beaters, firstover the lowly New Jersey Nets on Nov. 17, and then a New Orleans Hornets teamwithout Chris Paul(notes) five nights later.
So maybe a change of scenery will do some good.
Barely a few hours removed from a 92-85 loss at home to the Boston Celtics,Miami left early Monday morning for a four-game road swing, the first three ofthose games coming against Western Conference powers Portland, Denver and thereigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The buzz over a 6-1 start has now been drowned out by seeing the record fallto 9-7, and the Heat know this trip won’t be easy.
“We’ve got to go out there and win,” Haslem said. “Find any meansnecessary to go out and get these games. Nobody but us … we’re out thereagainst everybody, so we’ve got to come together.”
Only the Lakers had played more games through Sunday at home this seasonthan the Heat. The Lakers took advantage, going 10-2 so far in their buildingand using that as a springboard to a 13-3 overall record.
The Heat, they’re a mere 6-5 at home.
And since winning on the road is much harder for NBA teams—home teams hadprevailed 61 percent of the time through Sunday, which is basically consistentwith the year-in, year-out success clip around the league—things might gettougher before long for Miami.
“I think there’s nothing better right now for this team, when you’re goingthrough adversity, going through some tough times,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstrasaid. “Out there, there’s not going to be anybody else but ourselves. We’regoing to have to lean on each other and trust each other, come together. Thesecan be some season-changing moments. … It’s a great challenge.”
It wasn’t such a daunting proposition for Miami last season, either.
The Heat went 7-8 on the road against Western Conference teams a year ago,winning in, among other places, San Antonio, Phoenix and Utah. Those wins provedvital in the playoff picture, since Miami finished as the No. 5 seed, only twogames ahead of No. 7 Chicago.
“I don’t ever mind going out West,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade(notes) said. “Ofcourse it’s tough, the schedule, but it’s actually good for a team because allyou have is yourself. You have your 15 players, your six or seven coaches, thetraining staff and no one else rooting for you. You all have to come together.You all win together, you all lose together.”
Already this season, Miami has shown some road resilience.
It won Oct. 30 at Indiana, a place where the Heat had only prevailed fivetimes in 39 tries over their franchise’s first 21 seasons. And just last week,Miami used a huge fourth quarter run to beat the defending Eastern Conferencechampion Orlando Magic 99-98—just the second Heat win in the last 14 meetingsbetween the division rivals.
They’ll need more of that magic this week.
“You don’t have the crowd and you don’t have to play a certain way,” Wadesaid. “You just have to play hard-nosed and try to win. Team building alwayshappens on the West Coast, so we’ll see when we come back. It’s a tough trip andit’s the NBA schedule. Can’t cry about it. All we can do is get our rest, asmuch as we can, go out there and take each game by game and give it our all.”
Iverson, 76ers discuss possible return
November 30, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Allen Iverson(notes) and the Philadelphia 76ers have met to discussa possible return to the team.
Team president Ed Stefanski said in a statement that both parties remainnoncommittal about a final decision after a nearly two-hour meeting Monday inDallas. The 76ers are in town to play the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
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Iverson, his agent and business manager met with Stefanski, coach EddieJordan and two other members of the organization during the first formal meetingbetween the Sixers and their former MVP.
The 10-time All-Star, who retired last week, is among the free-agentcandidates the Sixers are considering to replace injured point guard LouWilliams, who’s expected to miss eight weeks after jaw surgery.
