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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Rookie Brown Lifts Kings Over Thunder

Team1234Full Time
Thunder 1821252185
Kings 2629142594


Sacramento 94, Oklahoma City 85
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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

With the Kings sputtering on offense, the Thunder outscored Sacramento 25-14 in the third quarter to pull within 69-64.

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.

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.

source : NBA.com

Randolph Triggers Trail Blazers? Win Over Hawks


Team1234Full Time
Hawks 2019251680
Trail Blazers 22252629102


Portland 102, Atlanta 80

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.

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.

Randolph scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Trail Blazers (2-1) pull away.

"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.''

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.

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.

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.

"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.''

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.

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.

The game at the new Sprint Center drew 12,457 fans and was the first NBA preseason game in Kansas City since 2001.

source : NBA.com

Smith Lifts Nuggets Past Timberwolves

Team1234Full Time
Timberwolves 2118223495
Nuggets 26331940118


Denver 118, Minnesota 95

DENVER, Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- The Denver Nuggets' preseason opener was a breeze.

Next, they'll face a gust.

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.

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.

The forecast is calling for windy conditions -- better keep those jump shots low.

"I can't wait,'' Smith said. "I have not played outside in a while.''

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.

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.

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.

"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.''

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.

"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.''

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.

"It will be fun,'' Karl said.

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.

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.

"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.''

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.

Brewer said he spent the majority of the summer working on getting his shooting touch back. This was a step in the right direction.

"I should get a lot of open shots this year and I have got to knock them down,'' he said.

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.

"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.''

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.

"It's getting better,'' Anthony said after the game.

For as much as he wants to play in the outdoor contest, he doesn't want to risk further injury.

"I'll be a part of it though. I'll be there,'' Anthony said.

He paused, glancing at his hand.

"But I might change my mind,'' Anthony said, grinning.

source : NBA.com

Allen's 25 Points Pace Celtics Over Cavs

Team1234Full Time
Cavaliers 3718241594
Celtics 2822232396


Boston 96, Cleveland 94

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 10, 2008 (AP) -- LeBron James only needed two preseason games to get back into a groove.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

Allen made 13 of 16 free throws.

"He's going to get to the line," Rivers said. "He attacks off the dribble, he's aggressive, and he's tough to guard."

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.

The Cavaliers thought he was fouled, but no one really wanted to see a preseason game go into overtime, so no one really complained.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

"We scored a lot," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "But I didn't see much defensive intensity out there."

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.

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.

source : NBA.com

Lee Powers Knicks Past 76ers

Team1234Full Time
Knicks 22382723110
38132627104


New York 110, Philadelphia 104

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.

Chris Duhon added 19 points and Zach Randolph had 18 to lead six Knicks players in double figures.

Elton Brand led the 76ers with 24 points, Andre Iguodala added 16 and Andre Miller had 12 points and 12 assists.

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.

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.

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.

New York played without several key players, including first-round pick Danilo Gallinari (lower back), Allan Houston (quadriceps) and Eddy Curry (coach's decision).

source : NBA.com

Friday, October 10, 2008

New-Look Clippers Surge Past Lakers


Team1234T
Clippers 36231632107
Lakers 3018171580

L.A. Clippers 107, L.A. Lakers 80
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.

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.

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.

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.

Reserve forward Vladimir Radmanovic led the Lakers with 14 points.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


source : NBA.com

Barnes Scores 21 Points to Lead Suns over Jazz

Team1234T
Suns 2325252396
Jazz 2320222489



Phoenix 96, Utah 89
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.

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.

Raja Bell scored 11 points for Phoenix (1-1).

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.

Deron Williams, a U.S. Olympian this summer, had nine points and five assists as he played the entire first and third quarters.

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.

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.

Barnes, an offseason free agent signing, scored eight points in the final quarter for Phoenix, which shot 48.6 percent from the field.

Guard Morris Almond scored 10 points and forward Paul Millsap had a team-best 11 rebounds for Utah.

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.

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.

source : NBA.com

Green Scores 18 as Mavericks Hold Off Bulls



Team1234Full Time
Mavericks 36262028110
Bulls 22222632102

Dallas 110, Chicago 102


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.

Bulls rookie Derrick Rose, last spring's No. 1 draft pick, played nearly 27 minutes and scored 10 points in Chicago's preseason opener.

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.

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.

Chicago trailed 82-70 after three quarters but rallied to within six points with 1:56 left.

Luol Deng, Aaron Gray and Darius Washington paced the Bulls with 14 points each, while Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes each added 11.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 points for the Mavericks, Antoine Wright and Jose Barea each had 11 and Brandon Bass added 10.

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.

Four Chicago players - including regulars Joakim Noah and Ben Gordon - sat out with injuries.

source : NBA.com

Thursday, October 9, 2008

October 2008 Transactions

NBA Transaction

Wed,
Oct. 8 L.A. Lakers waive Dwayne Mitchell.

Cleveland waives Lance Allred and Michael Dickerson.

Sacramento waives Zhang Kai.


Mon,
Oct. 6 New Jersey waives Awvee Storey.

Philadelphia waives Andre Emmett, Maureece Rice and Cory Underwood.


Sat,
Oct. 4 Atlanta waives Olumide Oyedeji.

Miami waives Matt Walsh.


Fri,
Oct. 3 Miami signs Shaun Livingston.

Denver signs Juwan Howard.


Wed,
Oct. 1 Chicago re-signs Ben Gordon to a qualifying offer.

Golden State signs Dan Dickau.

Sacramento names Shareef Abdur-Rahim assistant coach.

San Antonio signs Charles Gaines and waives Brian Morrison.

Warriors Stop Trail Blazers in Portland


Team1234Full Time
Warriors 26232833110
Trail Blazers 2726251795




Golden State 110, Portland 95 (F)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Portland committed 25 turnovers and shot just 36.9 percent from the field against the Warriors.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


source : NBA.com

Hawks Stage Rally to Defeat Suns

Team1234Full Time
Hawks 12253627100
Suns 2123262696


Atlanta 100, Phoenix 96
PHOENIX, Oct. 8 (AP) - Marvin Williams scored 19 points, Josh Smith had 18 and the Atlanta Hawks spoiled Terry Porter's debut as Phoenix coach, rallying to beat the Suns 100-96 Wednesday night.

It was the second victory in two exhibition games for the Hawks, who also defeated Orlando on Monday.

Williams and Smith got lots of offensive support. Ex-Sun Joe Johnson scored 14 points, Flip Murray had 13 and Al Horford and Acie Law 10 each.

Shaquille O'Neal topped the Suns with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. Alando Tucker scored 14, Matt Barnes and Louis Amundson 12 apiece, and Grant Hill 10.

The Suns, playing without Amare Stoudemire (torn iris in right eye) and Leandro Barbosa (personal reasons), showed off their newfound defensive prowess in the first quarter. They held the Hawks to 12 points, just two in the final six minutes, on 29.4 percent shooting (5-for-17). During the period, they also limited Atlanta's reserves to two shots and no points in a total of 19 minutes.

With the subs on the floor for most of the second quarter, the pace picked up and so did the scoring. At halftime, Phoenix led 44-37 as reserve Tucker led the way with 10 points and newcomer Amundson had nine. Starters Williams and Johnson each scored nine for Atlanta. Overall, the Suns' second team outscored Atlanta's No. 2 unit 24-3.

Surprisingly, the Suns, one of the league's most prolific 3-point shooting teams in the league last season, failed to hit from long range, missing all three of their attempts, and they had only four fastbreak points, another sharp contrast to a year ago when they frequently pushed the ball up court under Mike D'Antoni.

Phoenix quickly broke its 3-point drought in the second half, making their first two, one each by Steve Nash and Raja Bell. But with the starters playing most of the minutes in the third period, the Hawks solved the Suns' defense, outscoring Phoenix 36-26 for a 73-70 lead by the end of the quarter. Smith was the catalyst, scoring 10 points, while Zaza Pachulia added eight.

They hung on in the fourth period, building an eight-point lead, 91-83, on a basket by Williams - who also had two 3-pointers in the quarter.

Notes: The Suns will be playing three exhibition games in four days, most unusual for the preseason. Thursday night, they will be at Utah and Saturday they will face Denver at Indian Wells, Calif., in the NBA's first outdoor game in the modern era. ... The Hawks and Suns will meet again Oct. 15 at Atlanta. ... Atlanta guard Speedy Claxton missed Wednesday night's game with a pulled hamstring.

source : NBA.com

McCants Sparks Timberwolves Past Thunder

Team1234Full Time
Thunder 1328221982
Timberwolves 2416202888


Minnesota 88, Oklahoma City 82
BILLINGS, Mont., Oct. 8 (AP) - Rashad McCants scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and Rodney Carney and Ryan Gomes hit consecutive 3s to help Minnesota spoil the Oklahoma City Thunder's debut with an 88-82 victory Wednesday night.

The exhibition game was the Thunder's first since the team moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City during the offseason.

The Thunder led 71-62 with 9:54 remaining, but McCants scored 11 of Minnesota's next 14 points, tying the score at 76 with a dunk with 4:45 remaining.

Two more free throws by McCants and the consecutive 3s by Carney and Gomes gave the Wolves an 84-78 lead with 2:23 remaining.

A basket by Chris Wilcox pulled the Thunder to 84-80 with 2:11 remaining, but Sebastian Telfair made a basket and two free throws to finish the scoring for Minnesota.

Al Jefferson added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves (2-0) and Corey Brewer finished with 11 points.

Damien Wilkins led the Thunder with 19 points. Wilcox had 17 and Russell Westbrook 13.

Oklahoma City led 41-40 at halftime.


source : NBA.com

Webster Out At Least Eight Weeks With Foot Injury

The euphoric aftermath of the Trail Blazers' electric start to the exhibition season was dealt a somber dose of news Wednesday when Martell Webster, the front-runner to start at small forward, was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot

Webster, who unbeknown to the Blazers had been experiencing discomfort throughout training camp, finally told the team Tuesday night after playing a painful 26 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter had X-Rays taken Tuesday night and underwent magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography testing on Wednesday, which revealed the injury to his fifth metatarsal.

Webster is expected to miss at least eight weeks -- and potentially as many as 20 or 25 games -- but an official timetable for his return will be determined Thursday after he undergoes further examination. The team has not yet determined if Webster will undergo surgery or simply rehabilitate his left foot.

"We lost a piece of this team and I think an important piece," coach Nate McMillan said. "He was one of the guys this year who could help us spread the floor and take some of that pressure off the low-post game and (we were) hoping he would have a big year. We'll have to make adjustments."

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source : oregonlive.com