tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73209266693916080742024-03-04T23:21:39.150-08:00The Best Sports , Basketball !!summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.comBlogger612125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-39215862546476487452009-02-04T17:34:00.000-08:002009-02-04T17:36:41.069-08:00After Kobe's 61, Now It's LeBron's Turn At MSG<a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2009/news/02/03/lebron.msg.ap/lebronmsg.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 608px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2009/news/02/03/lebron.msg.ap/lebronmsg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- The scoring record at Madison Square Garden lasted more than 24 years, even withstanding a famous challenge from Michael Jordan. <br /><br />Now LeBron James can seize it from Kobe Bryant after just two days.<br /><br />Of course, he'll need to score 62 points to do it.<br /><br />"We set the bar up high for him. He'd have to play really well," New York coach Mike D'Antoni said Tuesday.<br /><br />Still dazed from Bryant's 61-point performance, the Knicks brace for a visit Wednesday from James, who loves playing in the Big Apple just as much and authored his own 50-point masterpiece here last season.<br /><br />The NBA's two best players, appearing two nights apart on basketball's biggest stage. Even James, perhaps the MVP front-runner at midseason, will have a tough time matching Bryant's act.<br /><br />"Last night Kobe made a lot of tough shots," Knicks center David Lee said. "I'm sure LeBron will probably do the same thing and we're going to need to play our best ball."<br /><br />James, though, promised he won't be gunning for Bryant's mark.<br /><br />"Hey, man. I just go out and play my game," James said after leading Cleveland to a 101-83 win over Toronto on Tuesday. "I'm not a video game where you can just expect me to go out there and score 60 or 70. I play the game to win the game. I'm not into individual accolades. Kobe Bryant's performance was unbelievable. I watched every second of it. It's not about individuals in this league.<br /><br />"I'm not trying to outdo Kobe or anybody on their team."<br /><br />Bryant shattered Bernard King's record of 60 points at the present Madison Square Garden, set on Christmas 1984. Jordan had the top performance by a visiting player, scoring 55 points in 1995 shortly after ending his first retirement.<br /><br />James also is on the list of 50-point scorers at the Garden, finishing with 50 in Cleveland's 119-105 victory over New York on March 5, 2008. Like Bryant, he was treated to raucous ovations and "MVP!" chants during that game -- along with a fan coming on the court to meet him when James exited for good in the final minute.<br /><br />And just like Bryant, he always talks about his passion for "the world's most famous arena."<br /><br />"Every time I come here, it's like a warm feeling just because you know the history," James said in November, before his first visit this season.<br /><br />"It's not just basketball, everything that ever went on. Concerts, boxing, I mean everything that ever went on at Madison Square Garden. Being a basketball junkie like myself, how could you not love it being in this building?"<br /><br />New Yorkers still cling to hope that James will someday make it his permanent home.<br /><br />He could be the marquee free agent in a stellar class in 2010, and the Knicks have positioned themselves for a run at him by clearing salary cap space for that summer. The Knicks still hope to get far enough under the cap to offer maximum deals to two superstars, hoping they can convince a Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade to join James in New York.<br /><br />"That's a long ways off, so that's not our focus," D'Antoni said. "Our focus is to win that game."<br /><br />James had only 26 points in his November visit, but he sat out the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 119-101 romp. He's less likely than Bryant to have huge scoring nights because he tries to do so many other things -- he had 10 assists and eight rebounds in his 50-point game here -- but his size and strength could make him a more difficult matchup for the Knicks.<br /><br />"LeBron can do the same things and he does it with a 6-9, 260-pound body," D'Antoni said. "He not only can get 61, he can hurt you doing it, and that's not good."<br /><br />D'Antoni has said that if a player wants to be MVP, it helps to play well in New York. Bryant, last season's winner, did his part with the greatest scoring performance Madison Square Garden had seen.<br /><br />Now it's James' turn, in a place he reveres.<br /><br />"It's the one remaining building that still has the history," James said. "You think all the way back to Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Willis Reed and all those guys who came through that building, all the way to Patrick Ewing and the great teams they had. To be able to be on the same court that the greats have been on is an honor for me."<br /><br />source : <a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/03/lebron.msg.ap/index.html?rss=true">NBA.com</a>summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-37684049229764060302009-02-04T17:17:00.000-08:002009-02-04T17:34:12.722-08:00Bryant's 61 Sets Record For Most Points At MSGNEW YORK (AP) -- Pau Gasol wasn't looking a couple of times when Kobe Bryant attempted a free throw. So when the Madison Square Garden fans cheered, Gasol assumed that meant his Los Angeles Lakers teammate missed. <br /><br />But on this record-setting night, even the opposing crowd wanted to see history.<br /><br />In the 41 years since the current Garden opened, no player has scored more points than Bryant did Monday. He finished with 61, breaking Bernard King's mark of 60 for the Knicks on Christmas 1984 against New Jersey.<br /><br />Bryant shot 19-of-31 from the floor and made all 20 foul shots as the Lakers beat the Knicks 126-117. He surpassed King's total by hitting two free throws with 2:33 left.<br /><br /><br />"When he came to the bench in the second quarter, he kind of had this dazed look on his face," teammate Lamar Odom said. "Some call it the zone. He was just in another world. I don't think it probably mattered what shot he took or how he took it. It probably would've went in."<br /><br />Bryant is often mischievous when he has one of those in-the-zone nights, smiling after shots, joking with opponents. But in the Lakers' first game since losing center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury, Bryant wasn't goofing around.<br /><br />"I noticed that, too," coach Phil Jackson said. "I noticed his mood was very determined, very somber about him."<br /><br />Jackson also was the coach when Michael Jordan set the previous Garden record for most points by an opponent with 55 for Chicago on March 28, 1995. He recalled that Jordan was playing in just his fifth game in 22 months.<br /><br />"He wasn't really totally himself as a player yet," Jackson said. "We just stuck him in the post."<br /><br />He added, "Both remarkable performances."<br /><br />Bryant said he didn't know Jordan owned that record.<br /><br />"But I watched the game, actually, when he had that game," he said, "just oohing and aahing and just marveling at the performance, as I'm sure we all were."<br /><br />Bryant left to a standing ovation with 1:48 to go. The many Lakers fans in the building -- or maybe they're just Kobe fans -- made their presence felt the whole night, chanting "MVP!" when he shot free throws.<br /><br />"I was totally surprised," Jackson said.<br /><br />The Knicks played their first game at the current Madison Square Garden, known as "Garden IV," in February 1968.<br /><br />Bryant's night quickly became the talk of the league.<br /><br />"I've never had a night like that," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who scored 32 in Miami's win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. "You could tell, just watching the highlights, he had a pep in his step and he was on a mission. With Bynum out, he's going to have to do a little more, and I think he understands that. I mean, 61 points, that's Kobe -- that's all you can say."<br /><br />Hearing Wade, Heat rookie Michael Beasley became wide-eyed.<br /><br />"Kobe scored 61?" he asked. "You serious?"<br /><br />source : <a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/03/kobemsgrecord.ap/index.html?rss=true">NBA.com</a>summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-8120919811806783732009-01-21T23:13:00.001-08:002009-01-21T23:14:16.363-08:00Warriors' Biedrins Sidelined By Sprained WristOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins was held out of Wednesday night's game against Oklahoma City with a sprained left wrist. <br /><br />Biedrins, averaging 13.7 points and 12.0 rebounds, complained of a sore wrist during Tuesday's practice but hoped to play against the Thunder before he was ruled out by Warriors coach Don Nelson. He is listed as day-to-day.<br /><br />The 6-foot-11-inch center became the latest Golden State player to get hurt. Backup guard Marco Belinelli (sprained right ankle) and forward Brandan Wright (partially dislocated left shoulder) were also unavailable to play against Oklahoma City while guard C.J. Watson was questionable with turf toe.<br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-31781221455243567502009-01-21T23:13:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:14:15.219-08:00Warriors' Biedrins Sidelined By Sprained WristOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins was held out of Wednesday night's game against Oklahoma City with a sprained left wrist. <br /><br />Biedrins, averaging 13.7 points and 12.0 rebounds, complained of a sore wrist during Tuesday's practice but hoped to play against the Thunder before he was ruled out by Warriors coach Don Nelson. He is listed as day-to-day.<br /><br />The 6-foot-11-inch center became the latest Golden State player to get hurt. Backup guard Marco Belinelli (sprained right ankle) and forward Brandan Wright (partially dislocated left shoulder) were also unavailable to play against Oklahoma City while guard C.J. Watson was questionable with turf toe.<br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-83867224344150426712009-01-21T23:12:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:13:22.897-08:00Raptors F Kris Humphries Out With Broken LegAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Toronto Raptors forward Kris Humphries is out indefinitely with a broken leg. <br /><br />The Raptors said Wednesday X-rays showed his right fibula was fractured.<br /><br />Humphries was kicked in the leg Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, missed the following game and Wednesday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons. He is averaging 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 9.1 minutes this season for the Raptors.<br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-78212358946188728212009-01-21T23:11:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:12:31.909-08:00Bucks' Bogut Misses 4th Straight With Back SpasmsMILWAUKEE (AP) -- Andrew Bogut could only watch his Bucks teammates struggle with rebounding during their recent West Coast swing. Bogut can't play because of back spasms that have wiped out most of the 7-foot center's month. <br /><br />"That was the most demoralizing thing to me, waiting up (late) and watching it on TV," said Bogut, averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 10.4 rebounds a game. "I was bored out of my brain. The last five days I've been inside -- going to treatment and going back sitting inside on the couch or in bed. It's been pretty frustrating."<br /><br />Bogut says he's "day-to-day" but Bucks coach Scott Skiles hinted his center won't travel to Atlanta for Friday's game and may not play until Monday against Minnesota.<br /><br />On their most recent trip, the Bucks finished 1-2, losing to the Clippers and getting outrebounded 58-30 in a loss to Portland that was hailed as rookie Greg Oden's coming out party after he scored a career-high 24 points and added 15 rebounds. Of course, Oden didn't have to bang against Bogut, a former No. 1 pick in 2005.<br /><br />"I know that's something I could help the team in," Bogut said of the rebounding disparity. "I definitely could've helped, at least get 10, maybe get that margin closer to even and helped us stay in the game."<br /><br />There's been little joy for Bogut in recent weeks. He's played in three of the past 11 games and initially hurt his back more than a month ago on Dec. 17 against Philadelphia. Doctors have said there's nothing structurally wrong, but the pain has been intense.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/21/bucks.bogut.ap/index.html?rss=true">click for more details</a><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-4086465623793066652009-01-21T23:10:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:11:14.453-08:00Heat To honor 3 Olympic Gold MedalistsMIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade's Olympic banner will be swaying from the ceiling of the Miami Heat's home arena soon. So, too, will one for Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning. <br /><br />The Heat will raise two banners at halftime of their Jan. 31 game against the Dallas Mavericks: one for Wade, who was part of the 2008 U.S. gold medal team in Beijing, and the other for Mourning and Hardaway, who helped the Americans win gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.<br /><br />They will be displayed alongside the Heat's division, conference and NBA championship banners.<br /><br />Wade's banner was unveiled during a ceremony shortly after he returned home from the Olympics in late August, but the Heat opted not to raise it to the rafters until such a time that one also could be presented to honor Hardaway and Mourning.<br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-50270735628234374212009-01-21T23:07:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:10:20.988-08:00NBA-Best Magic Get Another Shot At Champ CelticsORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Jameer Nelson believes the Orlando Magic are close to commanding almost as much respect as the Boston Celtics. <br /><br />Really close, in fact.<br /><br />"They're a great team. We're a good team," said Nelson, the Magic point guard. "We're trying to get to where they are."<br /><br />A quick glance at the standings shows Orlando is rapidly closing whatever gap exists between the teams. When the Magic wake up Thursday morning, they'll have the best record in the NBA. Better than LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Better than Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Better than any team, period.<br /><br />Finding a way remain on that perch into Friday morning, well, that'd be a neat Magic trick.<br /><br />It's only one of 82 regular-season contests, yet there will be a distinct big-game feel for the Magic on Thursday night when the reigning NBA champion Celtics visit for a matchup of teams jostling for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference as well as the league's overall best record.<br /><br />Forgive Magic coach Stan Van Gundy if he wants no part of the inevitable hyperbole.<br /><br />"I've said all along, and I honestly think it's true: If they'll give us two wins for the Boston game, then I'll make it bigger than the other games," Van Gundy said. "Otherwise, it's not."<br /><br />At 33-8, Orlando has matched its franchise record for best 41-game start, has won seven straight games and is coming off a road trip where it beat all three division leaders in the Western Conference. No slouches themselves, the Celtics took a 34-9 record and five-game winning streak into Miami on Wednesday night.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/21/magic.celtics.ap/index.html?rss=true">click here for more details</a><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-44753582420555038282009-01-21T23:04:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:05:46.865-08:00Nuggets' Jones Out With Separated Right ShoulderDENVER (AP) -- Denver Nuggets guard Dahntay Jones suffered a separated right shoulder in pregame warm-ups on Tuesday and was out of the lineup for the game against the Sacramento Kings. <br /><br />The Nuggets said Jones injured the shoulder in a collision in a pregame workout but the X-rays were negative for a clavicle fracture. Renaldo Balkman will start in his place.<br /><br />Jones, in his first year with the Nuggets, is averaging 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and one assist a game.<br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-63229048720910486202009-01-21T23:03:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:04:45.703-08:00Bulls' Gooden, Hawks' Horford And Williams SitCHICAGO (AP) -- Drew Gooden was sidelined for Chicago's game against Atlanta with a strained left groin, and the Hawks were again without injured forwards Al Horford and Marvin Williams on Tuesday. <br /><br />It's the second time in the past week that Gooden has missed a game because of the groin problem. The forward also missed eight games recently with a sprained right ankle.<br /><br />Horford missed his sixth straight game with a bone bruise in his right knee and Williams (concussion) sat out his second in a row, leaving the Hawks with only one healthy regular up front -- Josh Smith.<br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-36355955322197786702009-01-21T22:50:00.000-08:002009-01-21T23:02:42.218-08:00Magic's Nelson And Hornets' Paul Named Players Of The WeekNEW YORK -- The Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 12, through Sunday, Jan. 18. Nelson and Paul also shared Player of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 15. <br /><br /> Eastern Western<br />Jan. 19 G Jameer Nelson, Orlando Chris Paul, New Orleans<br />Jan. 12 F Dwight Howard, Orlando G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers<br />Jan. 5 G Rodney Stuckey, Detroit F Al Jefferson, Minnesota<br />Dec. 29 F LeBron James, Cleveland G Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers<br />Dec. 22 G Jameer Nelson, Orlando G Chris Paul, New Orleans<br />Dec. 15 F Al Harrington, New York F Tim Duncan, San Antonio<br />Dec. 8 G Dwyane Wade, Miami F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas<br />Dec. 1 G Devin Harris, New Jersey G Brandon Roy, Portland<br />Nov. 24 G Dwyane Wade, Miami F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas<br />Nov. 17 F LeBron James, Cleveland G Chauncey Billups, Denver<br />Nov. 10 F LeBron James, Cleveland F Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix<br />Nov. 3 F Chris Bosh, Toronto G Chris Paul, New Orleans<br /><br /> <br /><a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/20/players.of.the.week/index.html?rss=true">click here for more details</a><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-70626977549567569122009-01-21T22:48:00.001-08:002009-01-21T22:49:47.940-08:00Grizzlies Sign Miles To Second 10-Day DealMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract.<br /><br />Memphis waived Miles on Jan. 7 and re-signed him three days later. That came two days after the Portland Trail Blazers threatened possible legal action against any team signing the free agent.<br /><br />Miles is back from major knee surgery. His return put Portland on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal.<br /><br />After signing his first 10-day deal on Jan. 10, Miles played three games and averaged 8.3 points and three rebounds.<br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-54727568781894382122009-01-21T22:44:00.000-08:002009-01-21T22:48:29.235-08:00Thunder Making Push To Shed NBA's Worst RecordOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Clay Bennett was lauded as a civic hero when he brought Oklahoma City its first major-league sports franchise. <br /><br />The NBA's arrival in town was something to celebrate, the unveiling of the Thunder nickname a long-awaited event that packed the lobby of a downtown building with anxious fans.<br /><br />"That was only the beginning," Bennett, the Thunder chairman, said Monday. "Little did I know."<br /><br />After six months in Oklahoma City, the infrastructure for the Thunder is still being built. The wins have been slow to come. But there are signs of progress.<br /><br />Oklahoma City is coming off its most impressive stretch yet, playing .500 basketball over the past 10 games to go from league laughingstock to mere mediocrity. No longer is the franchise a shoo-in to have the worst record in the league -- and, along with it, the best odds to emerge from the draft lottery with the No. 1 pick.<br /><br />The Thunder, once on pace for the worst record in NBA history, have pulled even with the Washington Wizards with a league-worst eight wins and are within striking distance of moving out of last place in the Western Conference. That distinction could be on the line Friday night when the Thunder visit the Los Angeles Clippers, who are 9-31.<br /><br />"Every day, we're heading in a better direction," Bennett said after announcing that a health care company would sponsor the team's temporary practice facility and a new $25 million training center due to be finished before the 2010-11 season.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/19/thunder.turnaround.ap/index.html?rss=true">click here to continue...</a><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-27469720705032867222008-11-08T19:39:00.000-08:002008-11-08T19:42:16.261-08:00Howard Leads Magic Past Wizards<p><div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"><table class="miniBoxscore" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0" cellpsacing="0"><tbody><tr class="msTitle" align="middle"><th align="left" height="13">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td class="ot" id="titles5"></td><td class="ot" id="titles6"></td><td class="ot" id="titles7"></td><td class="ot" id="titles8"></td><td>Full Time</td></tr><tr class="msTeam" align="middle"><th id="visitor_team_name-0020800080" align="left" height="13">Wizards </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0020800080">21</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0020800080">18</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0020800080">19</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0020800080">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0020800080">81</td></tr><tr class="msTeam" align="middle"><th class="win" id="home_team_name-0020800080" align="left" height="13">Magic </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0020800080">27</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0020800080">31</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0020800080">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0020800080">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0020800080"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0020800080"></td><td class="bold" id="sm_htm_total-0020800080">106</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><br />ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) Dwight Howard had a season-high 31 points and 16 rebounds and also blocked three shots to help the Orlando Magic win their fourth straight game, 106-81 over the winless Washington Wizards on Saturday night.<br /><br />Howard, who leads the NBA in blocked shots, hit 11 of 13 shots and nine of 14 free throws. Mickael Pietrus added 18 points, and Keith Bogans had 13 for Orlando (4-2).<br /><br />Nick Young had 20 points for the Wizards (0-5), the only team in the Eastern Conference without a victory this season.<br /><br />The Magic led by as 19 points in the second quarter and 29 in the third.<br /><br />The Wizards played their reserves backups in the fourth quarter, while the Magic kept many of their starters in the game.<br /><br />The Wizards are playing without Gilbert Arenas (left knee) and Brendan Haywood (right wrist) and neither is expected back anytime soon.<br /><br />Caron Butler, the Wizards' leading scorer this season, left the court late in the second quarter with a bloody cut over his left eye, sustained when he hit heads with Pietrus. Butler returned for the second half wearing a bandage. He had 10 points.<br /><br />The Magic never trailed, opening with a pair of 3-pointers from Pietrus and Hedo Turkoglu. They led 58-39 at halftime after shooting 59 percent.<br /><br />Notes: The Wizards opened 0-5 last season and still reached the playoffs, becoming the 13th team in NBA history to lose its first five and still finish in the playoffs. <br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-27380121182666712052008-11-08T19:02:00.000-08:002008-11-08T19:39:22.859-08:00Granger Scores 23 To Help Pacers Beat Nets<div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0020800079">Nets </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0020800079">27</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0020800079">24</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0020800079">15</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0020800079">14</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0020800079">80</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0020800079" class="win">Pacers </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0020800079">32</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0020800079">17</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0020800079">25</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0020800079">24</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0020800079"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0020800079" class="bold">98</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br /><br />INDIANAPOLIS(AP) Danny Granger scored 23 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 98-80 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.<br /><br />Granger shot just 6-for-17 from the field, but made 10 of 12 free throws for the Pacers (2-3). He entered the game as the NBA's No. 2 scorer.<br /><br />Indiana guard T.J. Ford nearly had a triple-double, but settled for 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Troy Murphy had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Foster added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers.<br /><br />Vince Carter led New Jersey (2-3) with 31 points.<br /><br />New Jersey guard Devin Harris missed the game because of a sprained left ankle. He had a career-high 38 points Friday night in New Jersey's win over Detroit. His replacement, Keyon Dooling, scored 17 points on Saturday.<br /><br />Indiana held New Jersey to eight field goals in the second half and outscored the Nets 49-29 after halftime.<br /><br />The teams combined for nine 3-pointers in the first quarter, and the Pacers led 32-27 at the end of the period.<br /><br />New Jersey shot 50 percent in the first half and led 51-49 at the break. Carter scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the first two quarters.<br /><br />The Pacers led 53-51 when Josh Boone couldn't quite gather himself on an alley-oop attempt. Indiana rebounded and pushed the ball down the floor, and Murphy made a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 56-51 lead.<br /><br />Granger then stole the ball from Yi Jianlian at the top of the key, drove and split two defenders for a layup and a chance for a 3-point play. His free throw made it 59-51.<br /><br />New Jersey's first points in the second half came with 7:40 left in the third quarter, but the Pacers maintained control. A 3-pointer by Marquis Daniels increased Indiana's lead to 66-55 midway through the period, and the Pacers led 74-66 at the end of the quarter. New Jersey shot 4-for-20 from the field in the period, and Carter was held to four points.<br /><br />Indiana started the fourth quarter on an 8-1 run, with all its points scored by Granger, to take an 82-67 lead. The Nets didn't make a field goal in the period until Dooling scored with 5:55 to play. Indiana's Jarrett Jack answered with a 3-pointer to give the Pacers an 86-70 lead.<br /><br />Notes: Foster surpassed his season high for points with eight in the first quarter. ... Boone had an airball on a free throw with 1:15 left in the first half. ... Indiana G Mike Dunleavy sat out because of a sore right knee, and Pacers C Rasho Nesterovic missed his third straight game because of a sprained right ankle. <br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-73570608078001086052008-10-11T00:48:00.000-07:002008-10-11T00:49:05.918-07:00Rookie Brown Lifts Kings Over Thunder<div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800030">Thunder </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800030">18</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800030">21</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800030">25</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800030">21</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800030">85</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800030" class="win">Kings </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800030">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800030">29</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800030">14</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800030">25</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800030"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800030" class="bold">94</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br />Sacramento 94, Oklahoma City 85 <br />SACRAMENTO, Oct. 10 (AP) -- Rookie Bobby Brown scored 22 points and the Sacramento Kings beat the Oklahoma Thunder 94-85 in a preseason game Friday night.<br /><br />An undrafted point guard who played 11 games last year in Germany, Brown was instrumental in Sacramento holding on to its fourth-quarter lead. Brown scored 12 points in the quarter, including two 3-pointers.<br /><br />Spencer Hawes had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Kings (1-1), while John Salmons had 16 points and Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia both had eight. Shelden Williams added seven points and 11 rebounds.<br /><br />Jeff Green led Oklahoma, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, with 19 points, including eight in the fourth quarter when the Thunder pulled within one point. Damien Wilkins had 14 points, Desmond Mason scored 10 and Johan Petro added eight points and 10 rebounds.<br /><br />Looking like a team with something to prove following a poor effort earlier in the week in their preseason opener, the Kings scored the game's first points and never trailed in defeating the Thunder (0-2).<br /><br />It was Hawes, a second-year post player, who had the biggest impact in helping the Kings build a 55-39 halftime lead. Scoring on several smooth inside moves and hitting from the perimeter as well, Hawes had 16 points and five rebounds in 13 first-half minutes.<br /><br />With the Kings sputtering on offense, the Thunder outscored Sacramento 25-14 in the third quarter to pull within 69-64.<br /><br />Playing without veteran starters Brad Miller and Kevin Martin, the Kings shot 29 percent in a humbling a 110-81 loss to Portland on Tuesday.<br /><br />Oklahoma City gave Kevin Durant, last year's NBA's rookie of the year, the night off. He is expected to play Saturday night when Oklahoma City travels to Golden State. <br /><br /><em>source : NBA.com</em>summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-25647904214266259182008-10-11T00:43:00.000-07:002008-10-11T00:47:42.481-07:00Randolph Triggers Trail Blazers? Win Over Hawks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY0chVvdHZM0jL21Wg8Vne76_A_jeedkEwZCAYwqStkauFMzoJyczvgvtdeFbUHc8S0WrKAWr4tpcJIBt-opmwSd61joiCIaZkA_-K7wk4Yw_LTxrmxPFQO6kXiye5mKrcMGXS6TLHPwV/s1600-h/bayless.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255799193328296994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY0chVvdHZM0jL21Wg8Vne76_A_jeedkEwZCAYwqStkauFMzoJyczvgvtdeFbUHc8S0WrKAWr4tpcJIBt-opmwSd61joiCIaZkA_-K7wk4Yw_LTxrmxPFQO6kXiye5mKrcMGXS6TLHPwV/s320/bayless.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800031">Hawks </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800031">20</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800031">19</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800031">25</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800031">16</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800031">80</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800031" class="win">Trail Blazers </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800031">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800031">25</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800031">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800031">29</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800031"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800031" class="bold">102</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br />Portland 102, Atlanta 80 <br /><br />KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- Shavlik Randolph was 9-for-9 from the field and scored 19 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 102-80 preseason victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.<br /><br />Portland rookie Greg Oden, the first pick in the 2007 draft who didn't play last season after having knee surgery, finished with 11 points and five rebounds. He picked up his fourth foul with 2:30 left in the third quarter and did not play the rest of the way.<br /><br />Randolph scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Trail Blazers (2-1) pull away.<br /><br />"He can play,'' Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said of Randolph. "I knew that from watching him in training camp. He's tricky with the ball and is smart. Tonight he was knocking down his shot.''<br /><br />Rookie Jerryd Bayless, a first-round pick out of Arizona, scored seven of his 15 points in the final quarter to give the Trail Blazers five players in double figures. LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy each added 14 points.<br /><br />The Hawks (2-1) had four players in double figures with Acie Law and Josh Smith each scoring 12 points, while Joe Johnson had 11 and Flip Murray 10.<br /><br />The Hawks shot only 37.7 percent from the field and missed 12 of 15 three-point attempts, while the Trail Blazers shot 58.1 percent from the floor.<br /><br />"I didn't like anything about this game,'' Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "We were too lethargic. We really have got to hold ourselves accountable night in and night out, come out and play with a lot of heart and come out to play to win. Tonight we just really seemed down and own.''<br /><br />The Trail Blazers (2-1) jumped out to a 15-6 lead midway through the first quarter with Oden scoring five points, including a dunk off an offensive rebound. Portland led 73-64 entering the third quarter and quickly ballooned it to 83-67 as Randolph and Bayless took over in the fourth.<br /><br />Guard Rudy Fernandez, who led Portland with 15 points Wednesday in a loss to Golden State, was on the inactive list with an ankle injury. The Hawks played without Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia, who were both with their wives who had babies this week. They will rejoin the team Sunday for a game against Charlotte.<br /><br />The game at the new Sprint Center drew 12,457 fans and was the first NBA preseason game in Kansas City since 2001. <br /><br /><em>source : NBA.com</em>summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-12923777045652290712008-10-11T00:41:00.000-07:002008-10-11T00:43:11.888-07:00Smith Lifts Nuggets Past Timberwolves<div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800029">Timberwolves </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800029">21</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800029">18</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800029">22</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800029">34</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800029">95</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800029" class="win">Nuggets </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800029">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800029">33</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800029">19</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800029">40</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800029"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800029" class="bold">118</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br />Denver 118, Minnesota 95 <br /><br />DENVER, Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- The Denver Nuggets' preseason opener was a breeze.<br /><br />Next, they'll face a gust.<br /><br />The Nuggets dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-95 on Friday night, as reserve J.R. Smith finished with 21 points and Chris Andersen grabbed 11 boards.<br /><br />Now, they're off to Indian Wells, Calif., to play the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in the NBA's first outdoor basketball game in more than 35 years.<br /><br />The forecast is calling for windy conditions -- better keep those jump shots low.<br /><br />"I can't wait,'' Smith said. "I have not played outside in a while.''<br /><br />The exhibition game will be played at the 16,000-seat Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a venue that will be converted into a hoops playground.<br /><br />However, the outdoor court there won't resemble the type Nuggets coach George Karl played on growing up -- cracked cement courts with drooping baskets. The game won't be played with a lopsided rubber ball like Karl did and will be minus the metal clank after a swish through a chain-linked net.<br /><br />Still, Karl is intrigued by the idea. The contest follows in the footsteps of the NHL's successful outdoor game on New Year's Day in Buffalo, N.Y.<br /><br />"It's going to be interesting,'' Karl said. "For me, the playground is a very integral part of American basketball -- from Harlem to the streets of Pittsburgh. That was fun, going to certain courts and the wind blowing and you can't shoot jump shots, so you have to shoot off the backboard. There's all sorts of adjustments you make because of the wind.''<br /><br />Allen Iverson likes the concept, but won't be launching any floaters into the breeze. Iverson planned to stay behind to get treatment on his swollen left knee, an injury that flared up as he sat on the bench in the fourth quarter.<br /><br />"I want to be a part of it, I want to play in it,'' said Iverson, who had nine assists in nearly 23 minutes Friday night. "But I can't start off the season struggling with an injury.''<br /><br />The last time the league staged an outdoor game was when the Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks in a preseason contest on Sept. 24, 1972, at a baseball stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<br /><br />"It will be fun,'' Karl said.<br /><br />Denver (1-0) led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter, before the Timberwolves went on a late spurt, climbing within 13 points midway through the fourth. Andersen's 3-pointer put an end to the rally, and the Timberwolves' two-game preseason winning streak.<br /><br />Andersen, a fan favorite nicknamed "Birdman,'' was making his return to the Nuggets. He was reinstated by the NBA in early March after being kicked out on Jan. 27, 2006, for violating the league's drug policy. Andersen played five games for the New Orleans Hornets last season.<br /><br />"He's been anxious, having been out of the game for two years,'' Karl said. "I think he wants to recreate his career. He has impressed me with not making as many mistakes as I thought he would make.''<br /><br />Al Jefferson grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 10 points for Minnesota (2-1), while Corey Brewer had 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.<br /><br />Brewer said he spent the majority of the summer working on getting his shooting touch back. This was a step in the right direction.<br /><br />"I should get a lot of open shots this year and I have got to knock them down,'' he said.<br /><br />Rookie Kevin Love turned in a nine-point, 11-rebound game, while reserve Blake Ahearn finished with 17 points and Randy Foye chipped in 16.<br /><br />"They were a little fatigued,'' Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said of his team. "We played a little bit more their style than our style. We got caught up in their game.''<br /><br />The Nuggets were without Carmelo Anthony, who bruised his left ring finger in practice Thursday when he had the ball slapped out of his hand. The hand was wrapped in a bandage at a shootaround Friday, but the team said X-rays were negative.<br /><br />"It's getting better,'' Anthony said after the game.<br /><br />For as much as he wants to play in the outdoor contest, he doesn't want to risk further injury.<br /><br />"I'll be a part of it though. I'll be there,'' Anthony said.<br /><br />He paused, glancing at his hand.<br /><br />"But I might change my mind,'' Anthony said, grinning. <br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-25052325010392549862008-10-11T00:39:00.000-07:002008-10-11T00:41:29.147-07:00Allen's 25 Points Pace Celtics Over Cavs<div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800032">Cavaliers </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800032">37</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800032">18</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800032">24</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800032">15</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800032">94</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800032" class="win">Celtics </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800032">28</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800032">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800032">23</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800032">23</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800032"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800032" class="bold">96</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br /><strong>Boston 96, Cleveland 94 </strong><br /><br />PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- LeBron James only needed two preseason games to get back into a groove. <br /><br />The Cleveland star scored 12 points in the first quarter, finishing with 15 in 13 1/2 minutes on Friday night to help the Cavaliers open an early lead before the Boston reserves took over and led the NBA champions to a 96-94 victory. <br /><br />"It was good. I got out there and got a good rhythm," said James, who played just eight minutes and failed to make a basket in Cleveland's first preseason game. "We got into a good rhythm, and we played well." <br /><br />Tony Allen scored 25 points, and Leon Powe hit two free throws with 13.6 seconds left to put Boston ahead just as Jed Lowrie's sacrifice fly gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the AL playoffs against Tampa Bay. <br /><br />Celtics coach Doc Rivers checked on the baseball score with reporters sitting courtside. Updates were also played on the arena scoreboard, and fans begged Rivers to call a timeout down the stretch, so they could watch more of the baseball game. <br /><br />Allen made 13 of 16 free throws. <br /><br />"He's going to get to the line," Rivers said. "He attacks off the dribble, he's aggressive, and he's tough to guard." <br /><br />It was 94-all when Tarence Kinsey missed a jumper with 15 seconds left, and Lorenzen Wright fouled Powe going for the rebound. Powe's free throws gave Boston a 96-94 lead, and Bill Walker blocked Jawad Williams' shot at the buzzer. <br /><br />The Cavaliers thought he was fouled, but no one really wanted to see a preseason game go into overtime, so no one really complained. <br /><br />The Celtics are making the rounds in New England this exhibition season, visiting Amherst, Mass., on Wednesday before dropping down to Rhode Island and then up to New Hampshire. The crowd of 9,444 was about 1,000 short of a full house even though the game was up against the opener of the AL championship series. <br /><br />None of Boston's "Big Three" played more than 9 1/2 minutes, all in the first quarter. Paul Pierce scored eight points, Ray Allen had five and Kevin Garnett scored four. <br /><br />"I really hadn't planned on playing Kevin and those guys at all tonight," Rivers said. "But I thought because we're right here down the road the fans needed to see them a little bit. And they got a chance to see the other guy, LeBron, who is pretty good, too. I thought they got their money's worth." <br /><br />After spending his summer at the Olympics helping the United States win the gold medal, James played just eight minutes in Cleveland's exhibition debut on Tuesday, a 104-84 loss to Toronto. <br /><br />Rivers is also wary of his players' workload, even though none of them played in Beijing. Boston's season didn't end until June 17 after an 82-game regular season and 26 playoff games, including the seven-game victory over Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals. <br /><br />The budding rivalry might have explained an unusual burst of effort for an exhibition game, with the Cavaliers taking a 37-28 lead after one quarter of All-Star game-style play. <br /><br />"We scored a lot," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "But I didn't see much defensive intensity out there." <br /><br />Celtics center Kendrick Perkins did not play because of surgery for the left shoulder injury he sustained in Game 4 of the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rivers was back after missing Wednesday's exhibition opener, a 98-92 loss to Philadelphia, to attend to a family matter in Orlando, Fla. <br /><br />Cavaliers guard Sasha Pavlovic did not travel with the team to Providence to continue treatment on his right ankle. He experienced a mild sprain during practice Wednesday and is day-to-day. <br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-1477551320189653462008-10-11T00:35:00.000-07:002008-10-11T00:38:27.406-07:00Lee Powers Knicks Past 76ers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc0zPGIQPJFGUyFwjK6LSuTgbxj_TSELU_Gl9-3q-6lX2VBZBg2FTndJyr2Bw-hV-nw8BD1Rmn5j36MEt4ySDcBOGFarVKmbNlQR3rm-tERcGYkneryLdSvEoKqFHIl2DyfkoyTouTF-1/s1600-h/randolph.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255796968423201922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc0zPGIQPJFGUyFwjK6LSuTgbxj_TSELU_Gl9-3q-6lX2VBZBg2FTndJyr2Bw-hV-nw8BD1Rmn5j36MEt4ySDcBOGFarVKmbNlQR3rm-tERcGYkneryLdSvEoKqFHIl2DyfkoyTouTF-1/s320/randolph.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800024" class="win">Knicks </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800024">22</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800024">38</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800024">27</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800024">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800024" class="bold">110</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800024"><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800024">38</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800024">13</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800024">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800024">27</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800024"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800024">104</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br />New York 110, Philadelphia 104 <br /><br />PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- David Lee had 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 110-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason game Friday night.<br /><br />Chris Duhon added 19 points and Zach Randolph had 18 to lead six Knicks players in double figures.<br /><br />Elton Brand led the 76ers with 24 points, Andre Iguodala added 16 and Andre Miller had 12 points and 12 assists.<br /><br />After struggling in his first preseason game, Brand was dominant in the first quarter, scoring 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting to give Philadelphia a 38-22 lead at the end of the quarter.<br /><br />The Knicks opened the second quarter with a 23-6 run to take the lead with 4:41 remaining and built a 60-51 edge at halftime. New York extended its lead to 87-77 after three quarters and built an 18-point lead in the fourth.<br /><br />Sixers starting forward Thaddeus Young left the game late in the third quarter with a left-eye corneal abrasion and Lou Williams left in the fourth with a lacerated chin that required three stitches. Neither returned.<br /><br />New York played without several key players, including first-round pick Danilo Gallinari (lower back), Allan Houston (quadriceps) and Eddy Curry (coach's decision). <br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-53731884884300629782008-10-10T04:12:00.000-07:002008-10-10T04:15:34.912-07:00New-Look Clippers Surge Past Lakers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsfaeeB4E5rxtxB2e2rp3HYUuKxX4R9Ugt53Q_vxn0GZcHYdNcqZqJ-yUJj6rASx_M5yI1u16jh1AtwsxVJmhP-fx7DiHW2mzar7KQHGZcqxG1U_EiWxRyIl0av5Qga1lU1NCuWSKyOaC/s1600-h/lacrecap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255481530588285810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsfaeeB4E5rxtxB2e2rp3HYUuKxX4R9Ugt53Q_vxn0GZcHYdNcqZqJ-yUJj6rASx_M5yI1u16jh1AtwsxVJmhP-fx7DiHW2mzar7KQHGZcqxG1U_EiWxRyIl0av5Qga1lU1NCuWSKyOaC/s320/lacrecap.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>T</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800020" class="win">Clippers </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800020">36</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800020">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800020">16</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800020">32</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800020" class="bold">107</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800020">Lakers </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800020">30</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800020">18</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800020">17</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800020">15</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800020"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800020">80</td> </tr> </table> </div><br />L.A. Clippers 107, L.A. Lakers 80 <br />FRESNO, Oct. 9 (AP) -- Rookie Mike Taylor was 9-of-12 from the field and scored 20 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 107-80 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.<br /><br />It was the Lakers' worst preseason loss since a 31-point defeat to the Golden State Warriors in 2005 and it kept the Lakers (0-2) winless this preseason. Lakers star Kobe Bryant played 24 minutes and finished with 12 points and three assists. He left midway through the third quarter and did not return.<br /><br />Baron Davis, who signed the Clippers in the offseason after spending the past three seasons with the Warriors, played 17 minutes and finished with 12 points and seven assists.<br /><br />Ricky Davis had 17 points for the Clippers (1-1), who led by as many as 13 points in the first half and began distancing themselves again early in the fourth after the Lakers got as close as 79-74 on Jordan Farmar's 3-pointer. Farmar, who finished with 12 points, was one of five Lakers in double figures.<br /><br />Reserve forward Vladimir Radmanovic led the Lakers with 14 points.<br /><br />Ricky Davis, who signed as a free agent with the Clippers in the offseason after playing for the Miami Heat, scored 13 points in the first half and was 3-of-5 from behind the arc.<br /><br />A predominantly Lakers crowd came out to see a rare NBA game in the central San Joaquin Valley. It was the first time the Lakers lost in Fresno, where the team also played in 2004 and 2006.<br /><br />Taylor led the Clippers' charge in the second half, scoring 16 points. He played with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA Development League last season. Clippers reserve forward Steve Novak was 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.<br /><br />The Clippers were assessed three technical fouls. Clippers reserve guard Jason Hart and the Lakers' Radmanovic were called for a double technical late in the first quarter. Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy received a technical foul in the third quarter.<br /><br />And rookie DeAndre Jordan was called for a technical after hanging on the rim and yelling after completing a monstrous one-handed dunk in the fourth quarter.<br /><br />Clippers center Marcus Camby, acquired in a trade with the Denver Nuggets in the offseason, traveled with the team and was in uniform, but did not play. Camby has been recovering from flu-like symptoms during training camp. <br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-71481058158948152142008-10-10T04:10:00.000-07:002008-10-10T04:11:27.334-07:00Barnes Scores 21 Points to Lead Suns over Jazz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqzkC5PxaFDxpScxlVBGH5jQszzpN0CiuhOKuCaTbAqTmXzIp6jAhErzI7xkpUpr_X1MERp2M1y73_FNpxv2OpFfzLZSWwU4wXGfrCn4Y7M9sv1Comw1oXoKTY1Vuam_bLzV2GSFe_407/s1600-h/memo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255480963378363842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqzkC5PxaFDxpScxlVBGH5jQszzpN0CiuhOKuCaTbAqTmXzIp6jAhErzI7xkpUpr_X1MERp2M1y73_FNpxv2OpFfzLZSWwU4wXGfrCn4Y7M9sv1Comw1oXoKTY1Vuam_bLzV2GSFe_407/s320/memo.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>T</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800019" class="win">Suns </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800019">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800019">25</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800019">25</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800019">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800019" class="bold">96</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800019">Jazz </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800019">23</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800019">20</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800019">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800019">24</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800019"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800019">89</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><div></div><br /><br />Phoenix 96, Utah 89<br />SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 9 (AP) - Matt Barnes scored 21 points and Alando Tucker added 19 as the Phoenix Suns beat the Utah Jazz 96-89 on Thursday night.<br /><br />The Suns, who didn't make a 3-pointer in their opening loss to Atlanta on Wednesday, went 9-of-21 from beyond the arc against Utah (1-1) and didn't trail after the opening minutes of the first quarter.<br /><br />Raja Bell scored 11 points for Phoenix (1-1).<br /><br />Kyle Korver scored 16 points and Mehmet Okur had 12 points and eight rebounds for Utah, which opened with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.<br /><br />Deron Williams, a U.S. Olympian this summer, had nine points and five assists as he played the entire first and third quarters.<br /><br />Boris Diaw added nine points and eight rebounds for Phoenix, which outrebounded Utah 45-35, the second straight time Utah was outrebounded by double figures.<br /><br />Phoenix led by as many as nine points in the third quarter and pushed the lead to 14 points late in the fourth quarter, largely because of Tucker. The second-year forward from Wisconsin scored 11 points in the final quarter.<br /><br />Barnes, an offseason free agent signing, scored eight points in the final quarter for Phoenix, which shot 48.6 percent from the field.<br /><br />Guard Morris Almond scored 10 points and forward Paul Millsap had a team-best 11 rebounds for Utah.<br /><br />Both teams struggled from the free throw line, making just 61 percent. Phoenix's Shaquille O'Neal missed his first three free throws and finished with five points.<br /><br />The Jazz played without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, who missed his second consecutive game resting a sore left hamstring. The Suns were without Amare Stoudemire (torn iris in right eye) and Leandro Barbosa (family reasons) for the second straight game.<br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-18172602668707139542008-10-10T04:02:00.000-07:002008-10-10T04:09:37.360-07:00Green Scores 18 as Mavericks Hold Off Bulls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAGfZCV6l97uDwon8kVqCmob8Emy2gdVCzPoaaK6LvVkAus4jbJKc3a6QessAi6_ZdMV2PBYiXd4-4zlSY-K8yfp2NjGgIAxL4j2rW7NPuk-cSH8B-loiJW1pNBxfMP8Bac9aHKrVNUYN/s1600-h/dnowitzki.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255480658606952066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAGfZCV6l97uDwon8kVqCmob8Emy2gdVCzPoaaK6LvVkAus4jbJKc3a6QessAi6_ZdMV2PBYiXd4-4zlSY-K8yfp2NjGgIAxL4j2rW7NPuk-cSH8B-loiJW1pNBxfMP8Bac9aHKrVNUYN/s320/dnowitzki.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><table class="miniBoxscore" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0" cellpsacing="0"><tbody><tr class="msTitle" align="middle"><th align="left" height="13">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td class="ot" id="titles5"></td><td class="ot" id="titles6"></td><td class="ot" id="titles7"></td><td class="ot" id="titles8"></td><td>Full Time</td></tr><tr class="msTeam" align="middle"><th class="win" id="visitor_team_name-0010800021" align="left" height="13">Mavericks </th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800021">36</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800021">26</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800021">20</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800021">28</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800021"></td><td class="bold" id="sm_vtm_total-0010800021">110</td></tr><tr class="msTeam" align="middle"><th id="home_team_name-0010800021" align="left" height="13">Bulls </th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800021">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800021">22</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800021">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800021">32</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800021"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800021">102</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="left"><br />Dallas 110, Chicago 102<br /><br /><br />CHICAGO, Oct. 9 (AP) -- Gerald Green scored 18 points to lead six Dallas players in double figures, helping the Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 110-102 in a preseason game on Thursday night.<br /><br />Bulls rookie Derrick Rose, last spring's No. 1 draft pick, played nearly 27 minutes and scored 10 points in Chicago's preseason opener.<br /><br />Dallas (2-0) never trailed, using an 11-1 run in the first quarter to establish an early edge. Josh Howard scored six points during that span and finished with 10.<br /><br />The Mavs' lead ballooned to 19 points by halftime, then slipped to seven after the Bulls opened the second half with a 12-0 run. Rose had a pair of long-distance jumpers during the surge, which ended with Dallas guard Gerald Green's 20-foot field goal at the 6:59 mark.<br /><br />Chicago trailed 82-70 after three quarters but rallied to within six points with 1:56 left.<br /><br />Luol Deng, Aaron Gray and Darius Washington paced the Bulls with 14 points each, while Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes each added 11.<br /><br />Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Antoine Wright and Jose Barea each had 11 and Brandon Bass added 10.<br /><br />Rose had a slow start in his NBA debut. The former Memphis guard missed his first four field goal attempts before scoring on a right-handed layup with 6:45 left in the second quarter.<br /><br />Four Chicago players - including regulars Joakim Noah and Ben Gordon - sat out with injuries.<br /><br />source : NBA.com<br /></div>summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-24637017408751980822008-10-09T04:42:00.000-07:002008-10-09T04:43:10.492-07:00October 2008 Transactions<strong>NBA Transaction</strong><br /><br />Wed,<br />Oct. 8 L.A. Lakers waive Dwayne Mitchell. <br /><br />Cleveland waives Lance Allred and Michael Dickerson. <br /><br />Sacramento waives Zhang Kai. <br /><br /> <br />Mon,<br />Oct. 6 New Jersey waives Awvee Storey. <br /><br />Philadelphia waives Andre Emmett, Maureece Rice and Cory Underwood. <br /><br /> <br />Sat,<br />Oct. 4 Atlanta waives Olumide Oyedeji. <br /><br />Miami waives Matt Walsh. <br /><br /> <br />Fri,<br />Oct. 3 Miami signs Shaun Livingston. <br /><br />Denver signs Juwan Howard. <br /><br /> <br />Wed,<br />Oct. 1 Chicago re-signs Ben Gordon to a qualifying offer. <br /><br />Golden State signs Dan Dickau. <br /><br />Sacramento names Shareef Abdur-Rahim assistant coach. <br /><br />San Antonio signs Charles Gaines and waives Brian Morrison.summerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320926669391608074.post-6114001690395358472008-10-09T04:37:00.000-07:002008-10-09T04:40:21.847-07:00Warriors Stop Trail Blazers in Portland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aci1iOUzmqiKGAec72QLr61o_Q_MUWpKAuSI69NDFK0Kn45POF6MLrolCAcCj24DLALqv0P6SqrzMgP7btXazwrMpLPivdPxs-r641rSeV9CvCLn-w5056ON4IO8AaqWUAWLx_jNkS5X/s1600-h/azubuike.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255117355537239394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aci1iOUzmqiKGAec72QLr61o_Q_MUWpKAuSI69NDFK0Kn45POF6MLrolCAcCj24DLALqv0P6SqrzMgP7btXazwrMpLPivdPxs-r641rSeV9CvCLn-w5056ON4IO8AaqWUAWLx_jNkS5X/s320/azubuike.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="gI_topBoxScores" align="center"> <table cellpadding="0" cellpsacing="0" width="100%" border="0" class="miniBoxscore"> <tr align="center" class="msTitle"> <th height="13" align="left">Team</th><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td id="titles5" class="ot"></td><td id="titles6" class="ot"></td><td id="titles7" class="ot"></td><td id="titles8" class="ot"></td><td>Full Time</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="visitor_team_name-0010800017" class="win"><a target="_parent" href="/warriors/index.html" class="win">Warriors </a></th><td id="sm_vtm_sc1-0010800017">26</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc2-0010800017">23</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc3-0010800017">28</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800017">33</td><td id="sm_vtm_sc5-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc6-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc7-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_vtm_sc4-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_vtm_total-0010800017" class="bold">110</td> </tr> <tr align="center" class="msTeam"> <th height="13" align="left" id="home_team_name-0010800017"><a target="_parent" href="/blazers/index.html">Trail Blazers </a></th><td id="sm_htm_sc1-0010800017">27</td><td id="sm_htm_sc2-0010800017">26</td><td id="sm_htm_sc3-0010800017">25</td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800017">17</td><td id="sm_htm_sc5-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc6-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc7-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_htm_sc4-0010800017"></td><td id="sm_htm_total-0010800017">95</td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br /><br /><br />Golden State 110, Portland 95 (F)<br /><br />PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 8 (AP) -- Kelenna Azubuike scored 18 points, all in the second half, and Brandan Wright added 16 points and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-95 Wednesday night.<br /><br />Portland center Greg Oden, the first pick of the 2007 draft, scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge also scored 14 points for the Blazers while Jerryd Bayless had 13.<br /><br />Azubuike, who didn't play during the first half, hit 7 of 10 shots during the second half as the Warriors (1-1) rallied from a four-point halftime deficit.<br /><br />Golden State, which trailed 78-77 after three quarters, outscored Portland 33-17 during the fourth quarter to pull away. Azubuike scored 11 points during the fourth quarter.<br /><br />Wright scored 10 of his 16 points during the second half, and tied a team high with five rebounds. Corey Maggette added 15 points for Golden State while Andris Biedrins scored 13.<br /><br />Portland guard Rudy Fernandez played 36 minutes before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Fernandez hit 5 of 12 shots from the field and led the Blazers with 15 points.<br /><br />Portland (1-1) was nowhere near as sharp against Golden State as it was during Tuesday's preseason opener, an 110-81 win over Sacramento in which the Blazers had an array of dunks and highlight-reel passes.<br /><br />Portland committed 25 turnovers and shot just 36.9 percent from the field against the Warriors.<br /><br />Portland took a 53-49 halftime lead during a ragged first half. Oden did most of his damage during the first half, scoring 10 points while grabbing nine rebounds.<br /><br />Golden State raced to a 76-66 lead, but the Blazers came alive during the final three minutes of the quarter, outscoring the Warriors 12-1 to take a 78-77 lead into the fourth quarter.<br /><br />Golden State took command of the game early in the fourth quarter, as the Warriors went on a 15-2 run to establish a 94-83 lead with seven minutes remaining.<br /><br />Prior to the game, the Trail Blazers announced that guard Martell Webster suffered a left foot injury during Tuesday's game against Sacramento. An MRI confirmed that Webster has a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal. The team said it would announce a course of treatment, which could include surgery, and a timetable for Webster's return Thursday.<br /><br />Joining Webster as inactive for Wednesday's game were Steve Blake (hamstring) and Channing Frye (ankle), while guard Brandon Roy was rested and didn't play. <br /><br /><br />source : NBA.comsummerbest2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/16253679283568659435noreply@blogger.com0