Lakers’ Ariza Out 8 Weeks; Mbenga Signs

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (AP) -- Lakers forward Trevor Ariza will be out about eight weeks because of a broken right foot, joining center Andrew Bynum on the sidelines.

Ariza fractured a bone in his foot at practice Sunday, and was examined Monday by foot specialist Dr. Ken Jung, who set the timeline for his return. Ariza has averaged 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 24 games since being acquired from Orlando on Nov. 20 for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans.

"It's just another obstacle in the road, but it happens on every team,'' the 22-year-old Ariza said before Monday night's game against Denver. "I think our team has enough character to where we can pull through this time, and I'm sure we'll find a way to win.

"It's definitely tough for anybody who wants to help their team to sit out. But I can't be bitter about it. I can just take the punches as they come, play my part, and just cheer my team on.''

Bynum injured his left kneecap Jan. 13 against Memphis and isn't expected to return before the middle of March. The Lakers also have been playing without center Chris Mihm (sore right Achilles' tendon) and forward Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained right ankle). The Lakers hope both will be back in the next few weeks.

"We'll just have to work our way through this,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said . "Trevor was playing really well and he's going to have to sit out a couple months.''

While lamenting his team's latest injury, Lakers forward Lamar Odom said that sort of thing is part of the game.

"Every time we go out there, that could be the last time,'' Odom said. "Hopefully these guys heal fast and get back out there. It's tough, sometimes it takes the breath out of you, especially when you're playing so well. We have to find some way to recover.''

The Lakers entered Monday night's game having won 17 of their previous 21 games, having split two games without Bynum.

Hoping to compensate for the absence of Bynum and Mihm, the Lakers signed free-agent center DJ Mbenga to a 10-day contract. The 7-footer from the Congo was released by Golden State on Jan. 6.

Mbenga was averaging 1.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.63 blocked shots and 8.1 minutes in 16 games with the Warriors. He spent three seasons with Dallas before being waived Oct. 30. He was limited to 21 games last season because of a left foot tendon strain and a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.

source : NBA.com

Anthony Leaves Early with Ankle Sprain

L.A. Lakers 116, Denver 99

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (AP) -- A year ago at this time, the Los Angeles Lakers were flying high after a 100-96 victory over the Spurs at San Antonio, raising their record to 26-13.

That's when a series of injuries and other misfortunes contributed to a slide in which the Lakers lost 27 of their last 43 regular-season games before being eliminated 4-1 by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

While the timing of significant injuries to Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza in a week's time and a difficult upcoming schedule might be a cause for deja vu, the Lakers are determined to avoid a similar collapse this season.

That being the case, they considered a decisive 116-99 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night a most important win.

"Absolutely. You have Andrew go down, you have Trevor go down, you get that vibe that, 'Here we go again,''' said Kobe Bryant, who had 17 points and a season-high 11 assists.

"This was a win we really needed to get some momentum back going on the road,'' said Derek Fisher, who shot 10-for-16 including 6-for-7 from 3-point range in scoring a season-high 28 points -- one off his career high.

Jordan Farmar scored 19 points and Lamar Odom added 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers (27-12), who outscored the Nuggets 31-8 to finish the third period and start the fourth to take a 108-87 lead.

"It's a good win for us,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We just can't make too much out of anything and stay really close into what we're trying to do -- try to force every game to be an opportunity to win, don't give anything away. We know we're going to have to work hard to get some wins.''

The Nuggets played the final 2 1/2 quarters without Carmelo Anthony, who sprained his left ankle midway through the second period. Team spokesman Eric Sebastian said X-rays of Anthony's ankle were negative, and the 23-year-old forward was to be re-evaluated Tuesday in Denver.

Anthony, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer with a 25.8-point average, made a jump shot with 5:58 left before halftime before landing on Bryant's right foot. Anthony dropped to the floor, grabbing his ankle in pain. He left with 13 points and four rebounds.

"It's hurting. We'll see,'' Anthony said. "I don't like to sit out. I'm going to do a lot of rehab, but I don't really want to rush this. We feel like we can't get a break with injuries. Hopefully we can get them all out of the way right now.''

Denver coach George Karl said it was "a substantial sprain.''

"But if Melo comes back quick, we're hopeful for this weekend,'' Karl said. "I don't think he'll play Wednesday, but hopefully we'll get him for the weekend on Friday or Saturday.''

Allen Iverson led Denver (24-16) with 24 points and seven assists. Linas Kleiza added 21 points, Marcus Camby had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Kenyon Martin added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost their fourth straight road game.

The Lakers, already without center Bynum until at least the middle of March, got more bad news before the game, learning forward Ariza would be sidelined about eight weeks because of a broken bone in his right foot - an injury he sustained Sunday in practice.

But they had more than enough to complete a sweep of the season series with the Nuggets, winning the three games by an average of 16.3 points per game while moving within one game of the Western Conference-leading Phoenix Suns.

Bryant attempted only seven shots, making five.

"You've just got to make the defense pay, do what's necessary to win the game,'' he said.

Lakers guard Coby Karl played the final 3:19 to become the third player in NBA history to go against his father, Denver coach George Karl.

"It's the best,'' the elder Karl said of coaching against his son for the first time. "I wish it would have been under more interesting circumstances. I don't have any words for it. He's a tremendous story for the game of basketball.''

Father and son are both cancer survivors.

"It's special playing in the NBA, period,'' said the younger Karl, who scored one point. "Having dad watching you on the sideline and being up by 20 is really good. When the game started, I wasn't even thinking about it -- it was just another game.''

Camby scored 10 points during a 22-10 run to start the third quarter, giving the Nuggets a 79-77 lead. But three 3-pointers by Fisher and another by Farmar sparked a 14-3 spurt that put the Lakers ahead 91-82 entering the final period.

A 17-5 run to open the fourth quarter gave the Lakers their 21-point lead.

Kwame Brown, booed every time he touched the ball during a difficult third quarter in the Lakers' previous game, was cheered early in this one, especially after a pair of dunks in the opening 3 1/2 minutes.

Brown, Bynum's replacement at center, had seven points and a season-high 11 rebounds.

source : NBA.com

Mourning Hasn’t Decided If Retirement Is Official

MIAMI, Jan. 21 (AP) -- Leaning on a long red crutch as he spoke outside the Miami Heat locker room Monday night, Alonzo Mourning made two things very clear.

One, he has not retired.

Two, any path to another comeback will be an extremely long one.

Speaking in specifics about the season-ending injuries to his right knee and right leg suffered last month in Atlanta, Mourning revealed Monday that Heat team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick was originally concerned simply about his prospects of walking again. Mourning tore the patella tendon and quadriceps muscle in his right leg on Dec. 19 -- ironically, the fourth anniversary of his life-saving kidney transplant.

But his recovery is going well, even though Mourning still cannot drive or work out the way he used to.

"Sounds like somebody is communicating to me,'' Mourning said. "It really does. I hope I read the sign right and make the right decision. But right now, I feel a little helpless sitting on the sideline, because I see so much I can do to help. That's what hurts more than anything.''

The Heat entered Monday night's game against Cleveland with an 8-31 record, worst in the Eastern Conference.

Mourning -- who turns 38 on Feb. 8 -- entered this season saying that this would be his farewell campaign, insisting repeatedly that nothing would change his mind.

Now, he's not exactly talking in absolute terms when the notion of retiring comes up.

"Right now, my focus is just to get healthy,'' Mourning said. "I haven't really thought about if I'm going to retire or not. But my focus is getting healthy, being able to run and walk, and once I overcome that hurdle I'll be prepared to let you know if I'm going to play again.''

Heat coach Pat Riley said he hasn't talked with Mourning about the prospects of the 2008-09 season.

"He's coming to games so we're chatting a little bit, but there's no discussion about that,'' Riley said. "I think you've got to leave that with him. ... But actually, his scars look pretty good. I can't believe how good his knee looks.''

Mourning's kneecap was completely displaced when he tumbled awkwardly to the court in Atlanta, and he also tore the top and bottom of the quadriceps muscle, plus sustained some other injuries.

Mourning, who because of the kidney transplant cannot take anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers other than aspirin -- and suffered for two weeks after this surgery because of that -- said Selesnick told him he'd never seen an injury like it before.

But things are slowly beginning to heal, and Mourning's spirits are high.

"I'm happy and I'm focused right now on my recovery,'' Mourning said. "I really haven't thought too much about basketball.''

source : NBA.com

Wizards’ Thomas Eager to Get Back After Surgery

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (AP) -- Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler did double-takes the other day, unsure if that really was Etan Thomas they saw walk by in the locker room.

Then the two All-Stars did what came naturally: They went over to welcome their Washington Wizards teammate with hugs, a little more than three months after he had open heart surgery.

"It's good to be back. It was a long process,'' Thomas said Monday before sitting on the sideline in a three-piece suit and tie during Washington's 102-84 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. "But it definitely feels great just to be back with my teammates, to be back on the road to coming back to playing.''

He showed up at practice Saturday to say hello and check in with everyone, although he still is waiting for team approval to return to action. Thomas never had any doubt that he would OK, healthwise, and he harbors no doubt that he will wear a Wizards uniform and be out on the court during a game before this season ends.

"I understand when you hear 'open heart surgery,' that doesn't sound like an ankle surgery or anything like that. It sounds really serious, but you just have to really know all the facts,'' said Thomas, a father of two, including a daughter born in December. "If I couldn't come back safely, it wouldn't even be a thought. I love the game of basketball, but I love life, too.''

The 29-year-old Thomas had known since middle school that he had a heart murmur and that it likely would be something he would need an operation for. But he also figured he'd be in his 50s or 60s when that time came.

Instead, it was during a routine preseason physical that he was told surgery now would be a good idea. These days, Thomas said, the largest concern is his sternum, which had to broken as part of the 4 1/2-hour operation in October to replace his leaky aortic valve.

"We're going to give him all of the time in the world he needs to get back to being part of our top guys,'' coach Eddie Jordan said.

What neither Jordan nor Thomas would do is discuss a specific timetable for practicing or playing. As Thomas pointed out repeatedly Monday, it's not up to him; it's up to the Wizards' doctors to determine when he'll be able to do either of those.

"That was the first question I had: Can I safely play? Can I safely practice? Can I safely do all the things that I want to do in returning to the game that I love? And they told me 'Yes,''' Thomas said. "They told me that wouldn't be a problem.''

So now it is a matter of waiting.

He walked out to the court early in the third quarter Monday, greeted by fans with fist bumps and high-fives and warm applause. He sat on the last folding chair on Washington's sideline, then stood on the periphery of the huddle during timeouts, his hands in his pockets.

Thomas is the team's longest-tenured player, having played six seasons for the Wizards. He started a career-high 32 games last season, averaging 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds, dividing minutes at center with Brendan Haywood.

Their competition for playing time spilled off the court, though, leading to at least two fights. Thomas was suspended by the Wizards after one brawl.

Thomas called that animosity "water under the bridge.''

"No one wants to see anybody in that situation; you're real cold-blooded if you can't feel for someone in that situation,'' said Haywood, who has flourished this season, entering Monday with career-best averages of 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

A moment later, Haywood was asked about playing time and team chemistry and how things might change once Thomas is ready to play.

"Right now we have a pecking order -- myself, then Andray Blatche, then whoever,'' Haywood said. "And at some point, if he works his way into that, then so be it. But right now that's how it's established, and I think that's how it'll continue to be.''

Timberwolves Top Warriors to End 16-Game Road Skid

Minnesota 109, Golden State 108
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 21 (AP) -- As soon as Al Harrington's tip-in attempt rolled off the rim and the buzzer went off, the Minnesota Timberwolves ran off the court and celebrated in an opponent's arena.

That was a feeling that had been a long time coming.

The Timberwolves snapped a 16-game road losing streak behind Ryan Gomes' career-high 35 points and 11 rebounds Monday, beating the Golden State Warriors 109-108.

"We were excited as you could tell on the floor,'' coach Randy Wittman said "It's been a long time coming, on the road especially. It's been a trying season. ... So hey, maybe we're growing a little bit. Tonight was the first night I didn't see the shyness of trying to make a play. We were aggressive all the way to the end.''

Al Jefferson added 21 points and 12 rebounds and Marco Jaric had 16 points, 10 assists and eight boards for the Timberwolves, who won just their second road game of the season and first since a 103-94 win at New Orleans on Nov. 26.

"We were just desperate to get a win, on the road or at home,'' Jaric said. "We know we're a better team than our record shows but nobody cares about that. At the end of the day people will say this Minnesota team won only so many games. We want to show down the stretch that we are a better team than the numbers show right now.''

Gomes hit two free throws with 54.5 seconds remaining to give the Timberwolves a 109-108 lead. After Baron Davis missed a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left at the other end, Golden State got one last chance following Jaric's missed 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds to go.

Davis then missed a driving layup and Harrington couldn't tip in the miss at the buzzer, giving Minnesota just its second win in the past 15 games.

"I just can't believe I missed that layup,'' Davis said. "That's all I can say. We weren't tired. Fatigue had nothing to do with it. You have to give them credit. They played hard.''

The Warriors began a stretch of 13 home games in 16 contests with a disappointing loss to the NBA's worst team. Monta Ellis led the way with 28 points, Matt Barnes added 20 and Stephen Jackson had 18.

"I'm pretty disappointed with our performance tonight,'' Nelson said. "There didn't seem to be much energy, much passion, or much urgency to the game. ... We've been playing very well but we laid an egg tonight. What can I tell you.''

Davis finished with 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting and missed five free throws as well, including one with 1:07 remaining and Golden State up by one. Gomes drew the foul at the other and converted both free throws to give Minnesota the win.

Gomes repeatedly took advantage of the smaller Warriors, posting up both Davis and Jackson to get some easy points. Wittman said he called the same play for the final 5 minutes, running the offense through Jefferson and Gomes in the post.

"Coach called a few sets for me and they kept going and I kept playing,'' Gomes said. "I've been posting up a lot of smaller guys. It works to my advantage.''

Davis spent Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where his documentary on gang life in South Central Los Angeles, "Made in America,'' debuted.

The Warriors made only one field goal during a nearly 6-minute span midway through the third quarter, turning an eight-point lead into an 85-80 deficit heading into the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves built the lead up to 11 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter before Golden State rallied.

Barnes sparked a 10-1 run by scoring five points to pull the Warriors to 93-91. But the Timberwolves didn't back down, getting a key 3-pointer from Antoine Walker to end the spurt.

Gomes got going late in the first period, scoring Minnesota's first eight points of a quarter-ending 13-2 run that gave the Timberwolves a 33-23 lead after one. Golden State then went on a 15-2 run early in the second quarter capped by Barnes' steal and dunk. The Warriors led 52-49 at the half.

source : Nba.com

Jazz’s Big Fourth Quarter Helps Cut Down Clippers

Utah 109, L.A. Clippers 93


LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (AP) -- The Utah Jazz overwhelmed the Los Angeles Clippers at both ends of the court and came away with a rare road victory.

Deron Williams had 18 points and 13 assists, and six of his teammates also scored in double figures for the Jazz in Monday's 109-93 win. It was just their second win in their last 13 away from home.

"We're obviously a better team when we're balanced like that,'' reserve forward Matt Harpring said. "The last couple of games we've been like that. Hopefully, we can continue to do that because it makes us so much harder to guard when you have six or seven guys that can score.''

Harpring scored 17 points for the Jazz, who got their eighth victory in 10 games after losing 11 of their previous 14.

"We ran and pushed the ball up the floor more than we should have instead of just walking it - because we hadn't put a lot of pressure on the defense until today,'' coach Jerry Sloan said. "That's what we have to do on the road. We can't just sit back and wait.''

Harpring shot 7-for-10 in a season-high 27 minutes. It was his first game since team orthopedic specialist Dr. Lyle Mason lifted the ban that limited Harpring's minutes from 16 to 18 per game. The 10-year veteran missed the entire preseason after undergoing surgery on his right knee for the third time in his career.

Corey Maggette scored 23 points for Los Angeles and Chris Kaman added 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers, who beat New Jersey 120-107 in overtime Saturday night, haven't won consecutive games since starting the season 4-0. They are 8-25 since then.

The Jazz were never seriously threatened in the fourth. After Cuttino Mobley's 3-pointer and rookie Al Thornton's two free throws put Los Angeles within nine with 9:04 to play, the Jazz responded with a 20-6 run that opened up a 107-84 cushion with 2:24 left.

"It was definitely a good win, especially with the effort we got and the help we got from the bench,'' Williams said. "It was good to set the tempo early. We were active on defense and got some good steals and deflections.''

Both teams had eight turnovers in the first quarter. Utah finished with 19 and Los Angeles had 20, the fifth time this season that the Clippers had 20 or more.

"You just have to look at one stat line. Our 20 turnovers led to 29 points for them, which tells the story of the game for us,'' coach Mike Dunleavy said. "There were too many easy baskets because of our turnovers. They established a style of play and played a more physical game than us.''

Thornton hit a 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the third quarter, capping a 12-2 run that sliced Utah's 14-point lead to 66-62. That was as close as the Clippers got the rest of the way. The Jazz regained their double-digit lead in the final minute of the quarter on a layup by Harpring, who scored seven points in a 2:43 span during Utah's game-deciding run.

"It's not just mistakes and turnovers. It is being outworked,'' Clippers forward Tim Thomas said. "It is disappointing for them to have their way in Utah, then come in here and win.''

The Jazz, who came in with the league's second-best field goal percentage (48.9), shot 59.3 percent in the first half and led 54-43 at intermission. They did it for the most part without Andrei Kirilenko, who got into early foul trouble and picked up his third with 9:28 left in the second quarter.

Kirilenko, who went to the bench for good after getting his fourth foul 7:46 left in the third, did not attempt a field goal during his 9 1/2 minutes on the court. It was the first time this season that he played in a game without taking a shot.

Kyle Korver had 13 points, including a pair of 3s in the fourth quarter. Utah is 8-2 since obtaining him from Philadelphia in a trade that sent disgruntled Gordan Giricek to the 76ers. Korver, who set a 76ers franchise record for 3-point baskets in a season with 226 in 2004-05, has converted 12 of 39 attempts since joining the Jazz and is averaging 9.9 points since taking over the backup shooting guard spot from C.J. Miles.

Miller, Gay Help Grizzlies Corral Bulls

Memphis 104, Chicago 90

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 21 (AP) -- Rudy Gay thinks the Memphis Grizzlies might finally be finding their identity.

For the second straight home game, Memphis jumped out to a big lead before halftime then coasted to an easy victory. On Monday, it was a 104-90 win over the Chicago Bulls.

"We played our game, and we didn't settle for less,'' Gay said. "When we come out and want to play fast, and we don't settle for anything else, I think we're pretty good.''

Gay and Mike Miller each had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies. Pau Gasol added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Mike Conley had 10 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Ben Gordon led the Bulls with 25 points, and Andres Nocioni had 16 points. Luol Deng added 13 points and Kirk Hinrich had 12 points and six assists for Chicago, which shot just 36.5 percent from the field while Memphis connected on 52 percent of its shots.

"It was nice to see a strong, passionate defensive effort,'' Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said. "It was good to see our defense step up. There were a lot of deflections and a lot of activity.''

The Grizzlies built a 17-point lead in the second half and maintained the double-digit advantage the rest of the way, winning for the second time in three games.

The Bulls are 0-17 in games where their opponents score 100 points.

The Bulls pulled to 82-72 with 7:20 left, but Memphis made eight of its first 10 shots in the fourth quarter to hold off Chicago, never allowing the Bulls to cut the deficit under 10 in the final period.

None of the Bulls had a good shooting night. Gordon hit eight of 20 shots, while Nocioni was 5-of-16 and Hinrich was 5-of-14. Joe Smith and Thabo Sefolosha both missed six of nine shots.

"We wanted to come out early and be aggressive. Really set the tempo and play our style of basketball,'' Conley said. "We really had it going up and down the court, moving it around and getting them uncomfortable.''

Chicago was coming off a 97-81 win Saturday over the Detroit Pistons, the Central Division leader, and expected to be more competitive.

"We haven't been consistent effort wise, and our record is indicative of that,'' Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan said. "We can't have just one, two or three guys giving effort. We have to have all five. Even the teams that don't have great records are coming to play.

"Memphis just outplayed us in every area effort-wise.''

The Bulls trailed 36-35 with 3:33 left in the first half but Memphis closed out the second quarter with 12 unanswered points to go into the break with a 48-35 lead.

Miller scored 11 points, and Gay and Conley added 10 points apiece in the half.

Chicago shot 33 percent in the first half as Nocioni missed all five of his shots and Sefolosha missed five of his six shots.

Chicago made a dent the lead in the early stages of the third as Memphis committed four turnovers in the first 2 minutes, leading to a 7-0 run by the Bulls to open the half. But Chicago still couldn't improve its shooting touch, and after the early mistakes, Memphis found its rhythm and took a 74-62 lead into the final period.

"I really think we kind of ran their legs out a little bit,'' Conley said. "We're used to getting up and down, and I think we really wore on them in the fourth quarter when it came to crunch time. They started missing some of the shots they normally make.''

source : NBA.com

Pioneer Reflects On History

NEW YORK - Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated across the NBA today, including at the Celtics-Knicks game. And while the nation commemorates the slain leader of the civil rights movement, Hall of Famer Earl Lloyd will surely reflect on his belief that the Celtics ultimately opened the door for him to be the first African-American to play in an NBA game.

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"I truly believe this, that if the Celtics did not draft Chuck [Cooper] in the second round, you could not tell me that the Washington Capitols in 1950 were going to make me the first black player to play in this league. No way . . . The Boston Celtics had a tremendous influence on my acceptance in the NBA," said Lloyd in a recent phone interview.

Lloyd, Cooper, and the Knicks' Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first African-Americans to play in the NBA during the 1950-51 season. Boston made Cooper, a former Duquesne star, the first black ever drafted. After being reminded Cooper was black, then-Celtics owner Walter Brown reportedly said: "I don't care if he's striped, plaid or polka dot!"

Clifton, a former Harlem Globetrotter, was the first African-American player to sign a contract with an NBA team when he signed with the Knicks in 1950. Lloyd was drafted in the ninth round by the Capitols after playing at all-black West Virginia State. The Alexandria, Va., native had never interacted with whites until he made the Capitols at 22 and he signed a contract for $4,500.

"I don't think they purposely picked the three of us," Lloyd said. "They didn't do an extensive look into your background and all that to make sure we were the right kind of people. But they picked three good people.

"They picked three guys who were decent enough guys to play in this league and we [comported] ourselves as gentlemen and decent human beings. There was never any worry to my knowledge about "Sweets" or Chuck or me, none."

Lloyd became the first African-American to play in an NBA game Oct. 31, 1950, in Rochester, N.Y., when the Capitols played the Royals. Cooper made his debut the next day, while Clifton's bow came four days later. Lloyd scored 6 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in the Capitols' 78-70 loss to Rochester.

Lloyd's NBA debut paled in significance to the arrival of Jackie Robinson in major league baseball in 1947. At that time, the NBA had about as much fanfare as the Arena Football League today. The next day, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle didn't mention Lloyd in its game story while the Rochester Times-Union only wrote: "Bones McKinney, the Caps' new coach, injected big Earl Lloyd, Negro Star of West Virginia State, into the lineup (after halftime) and he took most of the rebounds."

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source : boston.com

Russell, Panel Pay Tribute To King

During Sunday's game, a scoreboard video showed a compilation of Suns players delivering portions of Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington in honor of Monday's King holiday.

Some Suns fans got another powerful message before the game, when the organization held a King symposium featuring Bill Russell, one of the NBA's legends and civil rights leaders as its first Black coach - or as he put it, "I was the first Black coach I played for."

Russell spoke with King the day before the march. King wanted him to come on stage, but Russell declined in deference to those who worked with King for years.

Six years after the speech, Russell carried out one of several actions in his life that carried on King's legacy.

Russell's Boston Celtics were in Lexington, Ky., when he went to eat and was told the team hotel restaurant did not serve Blacks. Russell went to his room and booked a flight home, and a few teammates followed.

Last year, the president of Prairie View A&M University said he was a junior high student in Lexington at the time.

"You have no idea what impact you had on my life," he told Russell. "That was the first time the community realized everybody wasn't going to let you treat them how you want. It changed the whole atmosphere."

Sunday's panel also included Phoenix City Councilman Michael Johnson, Suns President Rick Welts, former Suns players Truck Robinson and Mark West, Phoenix's director of player programs.

Robinson, who came to Phoenix in 1979, said Black players often noted how the Suns' 1970s rosters were racially balanced, saying, "There is something going on here."

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source : azcentral.com

Doc Rivers to Coach East in 2008 All-Star Game

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2008 – Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, Feb. 17, at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA.
Rivers and the Celtics’ (33-6, .846) coaching staff earned the honor to coach the East as a result of their 109-93 victory over the New York Knicks this afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on teams with the best winning-percentage in each conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 3. Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni and Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan are not eligible to coach in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game because they coached in last year’s All-Star Game.

This season marks Rivers third season at the helm in Boston. In his first Season as Head Coach of the Celtics Rivers led the club to a 45-37 (.549) record as well as the teams first Atlantic Division title since the 1991-92. Rivers is only the fourth coach in franchise history to have earned the NBA Coach of the Year Award, joining Tom Heinsohn (1972-73), Bill Fitch (who won it with Cleveland (1975-76) and Boston (1979-80)) and Red Auerbach (1964-65), for whom the trophy is named. Rivers has guided Boston to an 18-3 home record while also compiling an NBA best 15-3 road record for the first place Celtics.

The All-Star starters for both the Eastern and Western Conference will be announced on Thursday, Jan.24 live on TNT, while the All-Star reserves will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The NBA All-Star Game will broadcast live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide at 7:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Feb. 17 from New Orleans, LA.

Jamison, Butler Lead Wizards to Season Sweep

Washington 102, Dallas 84
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (AP) -- Year after year, the Washington Wizards talk about playing better defense. Team defense. Tough defense.

Well, that day finally has arrived, it seems.

Caron Butler had 25 points and nine rebounds, Antawn Jamison added 23 points and eight rebounds, and Washington forced 16 turnovers and held Dallas to 41.3 percent shooting Monday in the Wizards' 102-84 victory over the Mavericks.

"We're being nastier and grittier defensively and our concentration level is up defensively,'' Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "The theme tonight was, 'Each possession get better': The next possession on defense, get better. The next possession on defense, get tougher. The next possession, get into them tighter.''

The attitude and the effort helped the Wizards earn their first season sweep of the Mavericks since 1996-97 and deal Dallas its biggest loss this season.

It also was the sixth time the 2007-08 Wizards have held an opponent under 85 points, something the club did not do once all of last season. Not surprisingly, Washington is 6-0 in those games.

"They've gotten a lot better defensively,'' Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "They're trying to do the right things.''

He did compile 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Josh Howard poured in 32 points. But only one other member of the Mavericks scored more than eight points.

"Usually, the key to our success is always our offense over the past couple of years,'' Butler said. "But now it's been the defense. And to win big games and get quality wins, you've got to play well at the defensive end.''

After going more than a month without beating a team with a winning record, the Wizards have been doing that routinely of late. They have won five of their past six games - including beating the NBA-best Boston Celtics twice - to take hold of fourth place in the Eastern Conference despite playing without star Gilbert Arenas since November.

Butler and Jamison have been leading the team on the court and in the locker room, and they're building strong cases to return to the All-Star game.

Monday provided a perfect example.

It was a fairly even game, notable mainly for Howard's strong showing, when Washington's pair of starting forwards took over in the third quarter. Butler and Jamison combined for 19 consecutive Wizards points during a 6 1/2-minute stretch, helping the hosts turn a one-point lead into their biggest margin of the game to that point, 67-58.

"We know with Gil out that we've got to maximize our forwards' scoring opportunities. We're trying to put them in different situations - 3s, they pick-and-roll, they slash, they post up, they come off of screens,'' Jordan said. "If I have to call 100 plays, 95 of them are for our forwards.''

Butler had five assists and five steals and also went 2-for-2 on free throws to extend his franchise record and NBA season high to 56 in a row at the line.

The Mavericks had won eight of their previous nine games. But they once again were stopped by the Wizards, who add this victory to their 110-98 decision at Dallas on Nov. 26, shortly after Arenas had left knee surgery for a second time.

This time, Washington kept adding to its advantage, leading by as many as 15 early in the fourth quarter. The final margin was Washington's largest of the game, and it came courtesy of Butler's 3-pointer from 33 feet with 16.3 seconds left.

Similarly, at the end of the first half, DeShawn Stevenson made a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to put Washington ahead 46-41 at the break.

"Even when our defense was good,'' Dallas coach Avery Johnson said, "they made us pay.''

source : NBA.com

Duncan Powers Spurs Past Bobcats

San Antonio 95, Charlotte 86
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 21 (AP) --The San Antonio Spurs are struggling on offense and in third place in their division. They're not too concerned, either.

After the Spurs ended a two-game slide with a methodical 95-86 win Monday over the Charlotte Bobcats, there were chuckles and confident responses to questions about the defending NBA champions' recent struggles.

"For a decade now this has been our period where we get into a little lull,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Hopefully we will be a lot better at playoff time as we have been in the past.''

Popovich has those four NBA titles 11 seasons to prove it may be unwise to abandon the experienced Spurs and hitch a ride with one of the other top teams in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

San Antonio's offense looked as good as it has been in a while against the Bobcats. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 10 rebounds and five Spurs scored in double figures as San Antonio ended a three-game stretch where it failed to reach 90 points.

Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker added 16 points apiece and Michael Finley scored 13 for the Spurs, who shot 49 percent in only their third win in seven games.

The Spurs still trail Dallas and New Orleans in the Southwest Division, but Duncan fully expects San Antonio to be back near the top come playoff time.

"We have the same set of guys. We have the experience,'' Duncan said. "I don't see why not.''

San Antonio kept it simple against Charlotte, executing the pick-and-roll to perfection and clamping down on defense to stymie one of the league's most impressive teams of late.

Emeka Okafor had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, whose stretch of five wins in eight games had including victories over Boston, Denver and Orlando. Gerald Wallace added 15 points before leaving late in the game after aggravating a sore left calf and knee.

Charlotte managed only 39 points in the second half. Jason Richardson (13 points) and Wallace combined to shoot 10 of 36 from the field.

"They're a great team, one of the best teams in the league if not the best,'' Wallace said in the training room, where his elevated left leg was strapped to an electronic stimulation machine. "In order to for us to beat a team like that, we have to play a perfect game.''

The Spurs, who missed game-tying jumpers in the closing seconds of two-point losses in their last two games, faced no such pressure this time.

Ginobili's 3-pointer with 9:45 left in the game made it 80-71. Duncan later went to work down low, dunking off a nifty pass from Brent Barry and faking out Okafor for another jam with 3:57 left that made it 90-79.

"I think we did a bad job of playing pick-and-roll,'' said Wallace, who hopes to play Wednesday against Dallas. "They probably ran that, what, 90 percent of the time? That was one of the biggest things that hurt us.''

Charlotte, 0-4 all-time against the Spurs at home, stuck around in the second half, but could never take the lead. Ginobili's runner made it 73-67 San Antonio entering the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats, who made two of 14 3-pointers, couldn't rally despite getting 12 points from reserve Nazr Mohammed.

"This is probably one game that I don't feel bad about losing,'' Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said. "We played pretty well. We lost to a championship team.''

A team that is still feeing good about itself heading into Wednesday's home showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Losses at this part of the season have never really bothered us much,'' Popovich said. "It's a game of mistakes. It's just an educational thing until playoff time comes around.''

source : NBA.com

NBA All-Star 2008 Ballot

Jan. 21, 2008 -- The starters for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game will be officially announced on Thursday. Here are the players that the one-man Race to the MVP committee feels should be packing their bags and heading to New Orleans next month.

Eastern Conference
Guard - Ray Allen, Celtics: Of course I thought about putting the Heat's Dwyane Wade in this spot, but the sweet-shooting Allen gets the nod based on the success of the front-running Celtics.

Guard - Jason Kidd, Nets: Mr. Triple-Double is enjoying one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career.

Forward - Kevin Garnett, Celtics: It doesn't matter if he is in the Western Conference or Eastern Conference, KG belongs on the court when the ball is tipped. The preseason favorite to win the MVP is averaging almost 20 points and 10 rebounds and is the heart and soul for the best club in the league.

Forward - LeBron James, Cavaliers: Pencil him into this spot for the next 10 years. He rebounds like a power forward, passes like a point guard and has emerged this season as the best scorer in the game.

Center - Dwight Howard, Magic: He has been named Player of the Month each month of the season so far and at times has been almost unguardable.
Western Conference
Guard - Chris Paul, Hornets: A case can be made for Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Tony Parker, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Baron Davis, but Paul is having a better season statistically than all of them. Plus the game is being played in his arena.

Guard - Kobe Bryant, Lakers: The All-Star Game is an exhibition and Bryant is the league's biggest star.

Forward - Tim Duncan, Spurs: No All-Star Game would be complete without Mr. Double-Double in the lineup, although you could argue that Carlos Boozer or Carmelo Anthony have played well enough to earn a starting position.

Forward - Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks: The reigning MVP has snapped out of an early-season funk and is playing as well as anyone in the league.

Center - Amare Stoudemire, Suns: Sorry Yao Ming and Marcus Camby, Stoudemire has been the most dominant big in the West this season.

source : NBA.com