Hornets sign PG Shakur
September 8, 2010
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—The New Orleans Hornets have signed free-agent pointguard Mustafa Shakur(notes).
General manager Dell Demps says the 6-foot-4 Shakur has good size for apoint guard and got the Hornets’ attention by thriving in the NBA DevelopmentLeague last season.
Undrafted out of Arizona, the 26-year-old Shakur was been with several NBAteams since 2007 but has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Shakur played two seasons in Europe. Last season, he played for the Tulsa66ers, averaging 19.2 points, 6.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 37.8 minutes.
Demps says Shakur will provide depth at point guard behind All-Star ChrisPaul(notes). Earlier this summer, the Hornets traded point guard Darren Collison(notes) toIndiana.
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Custody trial over Wade’s 2 sons starts
September 8, 2010
The appointed attorney for Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s(notes) two young sons hasrecommended to a Chicago court that the NBA star be awarded custody of thechildren.
Wade and ex-wife Siohvaughn Wade returned to court on Wednesday, this timeto begin the trial that will decide custody of their boys, ages 8 and 3.Attorney Lester Barclay, the boys’ representative, filed a pretrial memooutlining three recommendations he plans to make during trial, with one caveatbeing Siohvaughn Wade should agree to undergo “extensive therapy” as part ofany scenario.
“At trial it is my intention, based on the best interests of my clients,the minor children … to be with” Dwyane Wade, Barclay wrote.
The court does not need to follow Barclay’s advice, though it’s fairlycommon for the suggestions of a child’s representative to at least be weighed insuch cases.
Barclay’s recommendations included residential custody primarily with DwyaneWade; joint custody with at least one of the boys attending school in Florida;or sole custody for the 2006 NBA finals MVP.
The Heat guard signed a new six-year contract worth about $107 million withthe Heat in July, doing so on the same day longtime friends and fellow NBA starsLeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) joined the Miami roster.
Dwyane Wade was awarded “physical possession” of his sons in June byanother judge in Chicago, who found that an emergency order was merited becauseWade’s time for visitation with his children “has been frustrated on an ongoingbasis as a result of continual interference” by his now ex-wife. Their divorcewas finalized in June, although custody and financial matters remain undecided.
In the June ruling, the court cited three instances, one in March and two inMay, where Dwyane Wade’s visitation schedules were altered by his ex-wife.Siohvaughn Wade has made claims that her sons are abused when in their father’scustody.
Following a break for Rosh Hashanah, the trial will resume Monday withopening statements and other motions. Siohvaughn Wade is expected to be thefirst witness when testimony begins Tuesday.
Dwyane Wade expects the trial will last for at least a full week, whichmeans he may not return to South Florida until just before the Sept. 28 start ofHeat training camp.
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Warriors sign swingman Carney
September 8, 2010
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—The Golden State Warriors have signed free agentswingman Rodney Carney(notes) to a contract.
The team announced the deal with the 26-year-old Carney on Wednesday.
Carney played in 68 games for Philadelphia last season. He averaged 4.7points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.
Carney was originally selected 16th overall by Chicago in the first round ofthe 2006 draft. He has played for Philadelphia and Minnesota in his career. Heis averaging 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in his career.
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Ilyasova powers Turkey into semifinals
September 8, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Ersan Ilyasova(notes) scored 19 points to help Turkey knock Sloveniaout of the basketball world championship on Wednesday with a 95-68 quarterfinalvictory.
The teams traded leads five times until Kerem Tunceri’s three-pointer with6:35 left in the first quarter put Turkey 12-11 up. Turkey made eight of 11three-pointers in the first half.
Bostjan Nachbar(notes) and Sani Becirovic each had 16 points for Slovenia.
The win sends Turkey to the semifinals on Saturday to meet Serbia, whichupset defending champion Spain 92-89 earlier Wednesday. Turkey will finish inthe top four for the first time at an Olympics or world championship.
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Serbia ousts defending world champ Spain
September 8, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Serbia knocked defending champ Spain out of the worldchampionship Wednesday when Milos Teodosic made a long 3-pointer with 3.1seconds left for a 92-89 quarterfinal victory.
Spain erased an eight-point deficit in the final 4 minutes to tie it on MarcGasol’s(notes) basket with 25 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Serbia patiently ranits offense until Teodosic—1 of 7 on 3-pointers at that point—pulled up fromstraightaway, well beyond the arc.
The Spaniards couldn’t get a final shot off, with Jorge Garbajosa(notes) losing theball after a timeout. Serbia’s players celebrated at midcourt as Spain’s SergioLlull(notes) kicked the ball deep into the stands.
Avenging a loss in last year’s European championship game, Serbia advancedto face Turkey or Slovenia in a semifinal game Saturday.
Marko Keselj and Novica Velickovic scored 17 points apiece for Serbia, whileDusko Savanovic added 15. The Serbians were 15 of 30 from 3-point range,exploiting the zone seemingly every time Spain used it.
Juan Carlos Navarro(notes) scored 27 points and Garbajosa, the former TorontoRaptors forward who recovered from a severe leg injury, added 18.
But the Spaniards, considered the co-favorites along with the United Statescoming into the tournament, lost for the third time in Turkey. They were withouttheir best player, Lakers All-Star Pau Gasol(notes), then lost point guard JoseCalderon(notes) of the Raptors shortly before the tournament.
The champions in Japan four years ago now will be forced to qualify for the2012 Olympics at next year’s European championship.
Teodosic, one of the two Serbia players suspended for a brawl in anexhibition game against Greece, finished with 12 points. Center Nenad Krstic(notes) ofthe Oklahoma City Thunder, the other suspended Serb, finished with 13 points andnine rebounds.
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Nets waive F May after stress fracture
September 7, 2010
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—The New Jersey Nets have waived forward SeanMay(notes).
Nets general manager Billy King said Tuesday that May suffered a stressfracture to his left foot during a workout last week. King said the teambelieves the four- to eight-week rehab period would not afford May a legitimatechance to make the roster.
May signed with the Nets on Aug. 9. The 6-foot-9, 266-pound May has averaged6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds over 119 career games with Charlotte and Sacramento.
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Scola has 37 to get Argentina by Brazil
September 7, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Luis Scola(notes) of the Houston Rockets scored 37 points, carryingArgentina to a 93-89 victory over Brazil on Tuesday and into the quarterfinalsof the world championships.
Argentina will next play Lithuania on Thursday. Scola, the tournament’sleading scorer, had 10 of Argentina’s final 12 points.
Carlos Delfino(notes) of the Milwaukee Bucks added 20 points and Hernan Jasenscored eight of his 15 in the fourth quarter for Argentina.
Marcelo Huertas scored 32 and Leandro Barbosa(notes) had 20 for Brazil, which lostto the U.S. 70-68 and dropped its third close game. Brazil coach Ruben Magnanoled Argentina to a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.
Argentina was without San Antonio star Manu Ginobili(notes) and Philadelphia’sAndres Nocioni(notes). It was in danger of elimination before the semifinals for thefirst time since missing the 2000 Olympics.
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Kleiza’s 30 lift Lithuania into quarters
September 7, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Linas Kleiza(notes) scored 30 points Tuesday to help send Lithuaniainto the quarterfinals of the basketball world championship with a 78-67 winover China.
China jumped out to a 16-5 lead, but Lithuania used a 16-2 run in the secondquarter to go ahead 36-31 with 3:20 left.
A 16-3 run then put Lithuania up 64-51 entering the fourth quarter. Chinacame within 67-62 with 5:10 left, but Kleiza scored 10 unanswered points to putthe game away.
Liu Wei scored 21 points for China, while Yi Jianlian(notes) of the WashingtonWizards added 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Lithuania was one of three teams that went undefeated through the fivepreliminary round games. China was the only team to advance with just one win.
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Mozgov helps Russia reach world quarters
September 6, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Russia reached the quarterfinals of basketball’s worldchampionships against the United States, beating New Zealand 78-56 Monday afterAndrey Vorontsevich had 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Timofey Mozgov(notes), Russia’s 2.16-meter (7-foot-1) center who recently signedfor the New York Knicks, added 16 points and seven rebounds. Russia outreboundedNew Zealand 41-25 and had five blocks to the Kiwis’ one.
Kirk Penney led New Zealand with 21 points.
Russia used a 13-0 run to jump ahead 29-21 in the second quarter. In thesecond half, a frontline led by Vorontsevich overpowered a much smaller NewZealand.
“We played great defence,” Vorontsevich said. “We played like a giantfist.”
New Zealand power forward Pero Cameron agreed.
“Defensively, Russia pushed us out of what we wanted to do and sometimes wesettled for the outside shot a little early,” he said.
It was the teams’ second meeting. In 2002, New Zealand beat Russia 90-81 onthe way to its record fourth-place finish at the worlds in Indianapolis.
Russia next plays Thursday, pitting coach David Blatt against his nativecountry in what could be his final game after five years as Russia coach.
“I remember watching as a kid and crying when the U.S. lost to the Sovietsin the 1972 Olympics,” Blatt said. “It’s kind of a circle of irony. It is kindof special and not a little bit sad.”
Russia went to halftime leading 31-27, having trailed 21-18 and allowing NewZealand only seven field goals in 24 attempts.
Having forced New Zealand’s best players to the bench, including Penney,Russia had a 22-10 rebound advantage after halftime.
“We really focused on attacking inside and we did get them in foultrouble,” Blatt said.
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Billups, Durant key US rout of Angola
September 6, 2010
ISTANBUL (AP)—Chauncey Billups(notes) scored 19 points, Kevin Durant(notes) had 17, andthe United States powered into the quarterfinals of the world championship witha 121-66 victory over Angola on Monday.
With Durant scoring 17 and Billups 16 in the first half, the Americans savedtheir most impressive performance in Istanbul for the knockout round,overwhelming the Angolans from the start after a couple of lacklusterperformances to close the group stage.
The U.S. forced turnovers that led to easy baskets in transition, and whenforced into the halfcourt, shot 18 of 38 from 3-point range, one off the teamrecord for 3s in a world championship game.
Eric Gordon(notes) and Rudy Gay(notes) also scored 17 for the Americans, who will faceeither Russia or New Zealand on Thursday night. Gordon was 5 of 6 behind thearc.
Joaquim Gomes, who played collegiately at Valparaiso, scored 21 for Angola,which finished fourth in Group A. The Angolans advanced to the elimination roundon a tiebreaker by virtue of their overtime victory over Germany, but had lostby 50 to Serbia, and 21 apiece to Argentina and Australia.
They were no match for the Americans, who had won the teams’ four meetingsin the Olympics, starting with a 116-48 romp in the Dream Team’s debut inBarcelona in 1992, straight through to a 97-76 victory in Beijing two years ago.
This quickly became one of those no-contests.
The Americans lacked some focus against Iran and Tunisia in their last twogames, knowing victory was certain and not wanting to embarrass opponents or getany of their own players hurt.
But they expected to be sharper after a couple of days of practice, knowingthey would press, substitute frequently, and raise their overall level of playwith the games finally becoming important.
The U.S. won the opening tip for the first time in Istanbul and scored thefirst five points. Billups and Durant nailed consecutive 3-pointers to cap a10-0 spurt and make it 22-7, and the Americans led 33-13 after one.
Billups is playing out of his normal NBA position as a shooting guard, andhe made only 4 of 19 3-point attempts in preliminary play. U.S. coach MikeKrzyzewski was asked last week if he would consider a lineup change, and he saidhe would look at it.
The lineup stayed the same, but Billups looked much different.
The lead ballooned to 29 late in the second quarter. Durant shot 7 of 10 inthe half and Billups was 4 of 6, all from behind the arc, and Durant’s 3-pointerwith 7 seconds left sent the Americans to the half with a 65-33 advantage.
Derrick Rose(notes) made two straight 3-pointers and Billups added another to startthe U.S. scoring in the third quarter, and the lead grew to 37 late in theperiod. The Americans were 6 of 9 behind the arc in the period, which ended withthem leading 91-56.
Felizardo Ambrosio finished with 12 points and Roberto Fortes 11 for Angola.
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