NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[tonistork]

Love, Martin lift Timberwolves over Mavs 116-108
AP - Sports
 
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Love has always been able to pile up the points and the rebounds at a rate that few in the NBA can match.

Now that he's hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league.

Love had 32 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 116-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

Six of Love's assists came in a sensational first quarter, and he connected with Corey Brewer on three length-of-the-court outlets to get the Timberwolves' offense rolling.

''The guy can throw a chest pass 100 yards,'' Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. ''He should be an NFL quarterback and he can throw chest passes to the receivers.''

Kevin Martin added 32 points and five rebounds and Corey Brewer scored 17 points to help the Timberwolves snap a two-game skid.

''Eight assists, I think, was great,'' Love said. ''Guys were just cutting and I was leading them, whether it was in the half court or hitting them on the fast break.''

Jose Calderon made 6 of 8 3-pointers and scored 21 points for the Mavericks. Monta Ellis scored 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 14 for Dallas. The Mavericks played without trusted reserve Vince Carter, who was suspended for the game for elbowing Oklahoma City's Steven Adams on Wednesday.

The Wolves led by 11 in the third and eight with less than 4:30 to play, and had to hold their breath down the stretch. Calderon hit his sixth 3 of the night and Ellis scored on a drive to the bucket to make it 105-102 Minnesota with 2:24 to go.

Love, who just missed his first triple-double of his career, hit a 3 on the other end, Ricky Rubio foiled Ellis's drive to the basket and Love sealed it with a 17-foot Nowitzki-style fade-away on the baseline with 1:13 to play.

''That's why he gets paid the big bucks,'' coach Rick Adelman said.

Nikola Pekovic had 15 points and six rebounds for Minnesota.

Jae Crowder had 10 points and six rebounds for Dallas.

The new-look Mavericks have been one of the best offensive teams in the league, with Ellis and Calderon making a seamless transition and flourishing as role players surrounding Nowitzki. Ellis has been remarkably efficient in comparison to his volume shooting ways with the Warriors and Bucks, entering the game shooting 55 percent on 2-pointers.

That efficiency wasn't there on Friday night as Ellis needed 24 shots to score 23 points.

''We couldn't get a stop,'' Calderon said. ''But it wasn't just the last three or four minutes, it was kind of the full fourth quarter we were just trading baskets with them. We couldn't get two in a row or three in a row.''

Rubio had six points on 2-for-8 shooting and four assists and he was bottled up for most of the night by Spanish countrymen Calderon, who didn't fall for the sleight of hand that Rubio uses to keep defenders off balance.

Calderon also had seven assists and four rebounds.

NOTES: Carter said at shootaround that he wished he could take the elbow to Adams back, but couldn't and felt bad for putting his team in the position of not having him available for the game. ... Timberwolves F Derrick Williams did not play because of back spasms. ... Robbie Hummel made his NBA debut for the Timberwolves, scoring two points in 11 minutes.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/love-martin-lift-timberwolves-over-033043715


TS (toni storks) view:
I'm a big fan of this Wolves team so I'm hoping for no prolong injury/ies for their main guys like Love, Rubio, Martin & Pekovic in order for them to reach the playoffs, their first in the Kevin Love era.

[tonistork]

Parker scores 18, leads Spurs over Warriors 76-74
AP - Sports
 
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tony Parker scored 18 points, including the last seven for San Antonio, and the Spurs held on for a 76-74 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

Warriors star guard Stephen Curry didn't play after bruising his left ankle on Wednesday against Minnesota. Minus him, the Spurs won their 30th straight regular-season home game against Golden State.

Parker missed two free throws with 16.4 seconds remaining that gave Golden State a final chance. Andre Iguodala drove to the basket and tried a layup that rolled off the rim.

Neither team scored in the final 2:23.

It was the first game between the teams since the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, which the Spurs won 4-2.

Kawhi Leonard added 13 points for the Spurs, who improved to a conference-best 5-1.

Golden State pulled within 76-74 with 2:23 left on a pair of free throws by David Lee, but both teams hit a slump after that.

Toney Douglas came off the bench to lead Golden State with 20 points. Lee added 13 and Clay Thompson had 11.

The Spurs shot 39.2 percent from the field, marking the fifth time in six games this season that Golden State held its opponent to under 40 percent from the field.

NOTES: With the win, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are now No. 4 all-time in league history for victories by teammates with 597. ... Harrison Barnes, who missed the Spurs' first four games of the season with left toe inflammation, made his first start of the season, filling in for Curry. Barnes scored five points. ... Spurs F Matt Bonner missed his second straight game with tightness in his left calf. ... The Spurs' regular-season home winning streak against Golden State is their longest active string against any team. The Warriors, however, won at San Antonio in last season's playoffs.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/parker-scores-18-leads-spurs-041555768

TS (toni storks) view:
Again, early in the season, the Spurs are winning and I'm fuming mad, hahaha. . (I'm not a fan of this team, sorry San Antonio fans).

[tonistork]

Morris brothers help Suns rally past Nuggets
AP - Sports

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Suns are getting energy from an unexpected source in their strong start to the season.

Phoenix's reserves came up big again Friday night, with twins Markieff and Marcus Morris leading the Suns to a 114-103 over the Denver Nuggets.

Markieff Morris scored 14 of his career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix came back from an 11-point deficit late in the third after leading by as many as 18 in the first couple of minutes of the second half. His effort was a big part of the 51 points scored by the Suns' bench players.

''We'll take it,'' Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. ''They play with energy. That's what we need them to do, is just continue to play as hard as they can. When they're out there it's a pretty small lineup, which I think makes them all think 'I have to go rebound and I have to help out' and then they're just much more active.''

Markieff Morris added 10 rebounds and made 10 of 13 shots. Marcus Morris scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards. The brothers combined for five steals, and reserve guard Ish Smith had eight and four assists in only 12 minutes, 27 seconds on the court.

''He's doing a nice job of not just floating around the 15- to 18-foot range looking for a jump shot,'' Hornacek said of Markieff Morris. ''He's playing under control. Markieff's not forcing anything.''

Phoenix (4-2) got 46 points from its reserves in a loss at San Antonio on Wednesday and in the three games prior, totaled 40, 35 and 35 points from its bench players.

The Suns led 64-47 at halftime but got outscored 40-20 in the third quarter. Ty Lawson scored 21 of his 29 points in the period to vault the Nuggets back into the lead.

Starters Miles Plumlee added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Eric Bledsoe had 17 points and nine assists.

NOTES: The Suns played without starting guard Goran Dragic, who warmed up before the game but is still dealing with a sprained left ankle. Dragic has now missed the past three games but could be ready as soon as the Suns' next game against New Orleans on Sunday. Green started in his place. . Hornacek is the first Suns head coach to begin his tenure 3-0 at home since Scott Skiles in 1999-2000. The Suns opened 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/morris-brothers-help-suns-rally-044807664


TS (toni storks) view:
Rookie Sun's coach Jeff Hornacek (4-2) is off to a good start while Denver's rookie coach Brian Shaw (1-4) is off to a rocky start just like the Rockies in Colorado.


Other NBA Results:

Brooklyn Nets,  108    Washinton Wizaerds,  112

Oklahoma City Thunder,  119    Detroit Pistons,  110

LA Lakers,   85     New Orleans Pelicans,   96

Utah Jazz,   73     Chicago Bulls,   97

Sacramento Kings,   91     Portland Trailblazers,   104 

[kingjames24szupladoh]

November 9, Final Scores/Leaders: (Western Time)

Jazz – 91 Raptors – 115
Hayward: 24 Pts. Hayward: 4 Asts. Favors: 7 Rebs./Hansbrough: 23 Pts. Gay: 5 Asts. Johnson: 11 Rebs.

Magic – 94 Hawks – 104
Afflalo: 21 Pts. Afflalo: 7 Asts. Vucevic: 6 Rebs./Teague: 19 Pts. Teague: 13 Asts. Millsap: 11 Rebs.

Pacers – 96 Nets – 91
George: 24 Pts. Stephenson: 7 Asts. Hibbert: 11 Rebs./Johnson: 17 Pts. Williams: 10 Asts. Pierce: 8 Rebs.

Sixers – 125 Cavaliers – 127
Turner: 31 Pts. Carter-Williams: 13 Asts. Hawes: 11 Rebs./Irving: 39 Pts. Irving: 12 Rebs. Thompson: 10 Rebs.

Celtics – 111 Heat – 110
Green: 24 Pts. Wallace: 7 Asts. Olynyk: 8 Rebs./James: 25 Pts. James: 10 Asts. James: 8 Rebs.

Clippers – 107 Rockets – 94
Griffin: 22 Pts. Paul: 13 Asts. Jordan: 18 Rebs./Parsons: 23 Pts. Lin: 7 Asts. Parsons: 8 Rebs.

Warriors – 90 Grizzlies – 108
Curry: 22 Pts. Curry: 5 Asts. Lee: 9 Rebs./Randolph: 23 Pts. Conley: 6 Asts. Randolph: 11 Rebs.

Mavericks – 91 Bucks – 83
Ellis: 18 Pts. Ellis: 5 Asts. Blair: 11 Rebs./Mayo: 28 Pts. Wolters: 5 Asts. Butler: 13 Rebs.

Blazers – 96 Kings – 85
Aldridge: 22 Pts. Lillard: 6 Asts. Aldridge: 14 Rebs./Cousins: 33 Pts. Vasquez: 5 Asts. Cousins: 12 Rebs.





STANDINGS:
West:
1. SPURS 5-1
2. THUNDER 4-1
3. SUNS 4-2
4. Timberwolves 4-2
5. Blazers 4-2
6. Clippers 4-3
7. Rockets 4-3
8. Warriors 4-3
9. Mavericks 4-3
10. Pelicans 3-3
11. Grizzlies 3-3
12. Lakers 3-4
13. Nuggets 1-4
14. Kings 1-5
15. Jazz 0-7

East:
1. PACERS 7-0
2. SIXERS 4-3
3. HEAT 4-3
4. Hawks 3-3
5. Bobcats 3-3
6. Raptors 3-4
7. Celtics 3-4
8. Magic 3-4
9. Cavaliers 3-4
10. Pistons 2-3
11. Bulls 2-3
12. Knicks 2-3
13. Bucks 2-3
14. Wizards 2-3
15. Nets 2-4

*Note: Division leaders are capitalized. Division leaders are guaranteed at least the 4th seed.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Sunday, November 10 Schedule: 4 games (Western Time)
 
San Antonio at New York - 12 pm ET, 9 am PT
Washington at Oklahoma City - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
New Orleans at Phoenix - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT
Minnesota at L.A. Lakers - 9:30 pm ET, 6:30 pm PT

[kingjames24szupladoh]

EARLY SEASON TOP 5 STATS:

Points:
1 - Durant, OKC 29.6
2 - Love, MIN 27.2
3 - George, IND 25.1
4 - Harden, HOU 24.7
5 - LeBron, MIA 24.4

Rebounds:
1 - Love, MIN 14.7
2 - Jordan, LAC 13.7
3 - Dwight, HOU 13.6
4 - Vucevic, ORL 12.1
5 - Monroe, DET 11.8

Assists:
1 - Paul, LAC 12.6
2 - Teague, ATL 9.8
3 - Wall, WAS 9.8
4 - Curry, GSW 8.5
5 - Carter-Williams, PHI 8.1

Blocks:
1 - Davis, NO 4.3
2 - Hibbert, IND 4.3
3 - Horford, ATL 2.7
4 - Lopez, BKN 2.3
5 - Jordan, LAC 2.1

Steals:
1 - Rubio, MIN 3.33
2 - Jennings, DET 3.33
3 - Paul, LAC 2.71
4 - Carter-Williams, PHI 2.57
5 - Allen, MEM 2.5

[tonistork]

Bledsoe scores 24 points, Suns defeat Pelicans
AP - Sports
 
PHOENIX (AP) -- Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns are getting comfortable with playing close games.

Bledsoe scored 24 points and Markieff Morris came off the bench to score 23 as the Suns pulled away from the New Orleans Pelicans 101-94 on Sunday night.

''We're just a young team and we play extremely hard,'' Bledsoe said. ''Even though things weren't going our way, we fought through.''

Bledsoe hit a long 3-pointer with one second left on the shot clock to give the Suns a 95-85 lead with 1:25 to go.

''I just locked in a little bit,'' Bledsoe said. ''I saw time was running down and I wasn't shooting well from 3, but I locked in a shot it with confidence.''

Morris similarly has upped his game. He shot 9 of 12, and has gone 30 for 38 from the field over his past three games while averaging 24.7 points in that span and playing solid defense.

Morris is only the third player since 1989 to notch three consecutive games shooting at least 75 percent from the floor while taking at least 12 shots, joining Dwight Howard and Charles Barkley.

Gerald Green scored 15 and Goran Dragic added 12 for the Suns, who have won four of five.

Suns coach Jeff Hornacek became the first coach in franchise history to win his first four home games.

Jason Smith scored 22 points while Jrue Holiday and Anthony Morrow each had 16 for the Pelicans.

Anthony Davis, who entered the game averaging 23 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, was held to 14 and 12.

NOTES: Dragic returned after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. ... Phoenix led 19-16 after the first quarter despite shooting 33.3 percent from the floor. ... Smith's 14 first-half points matched his full-game season high and he broke the 20-point mark for the fifth time in his career. .. Morrow was the only New Orleans player to score off the bench in the first half, scoring eight points while the Pelicans' other five bench players went 0 for 8 from the floor in 21 combined minutes. ... New Orleans didn't attempt a free throw in the first half. ... Bledsoe's four 20-plus point games match the total he had in 197 career games entering the season. ... Phoenix has won five straight at home.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bledsoe-scores-24-points-suns-0334556


TS (toni storks) view:
This current Suns continue to amaze me. A team composed of mostly role players and back-ups are the surprise team of the Western Conference so far.

[tonistork]

Timberwolves end 22-game skid vs Lakers, 113-90
AP - Sports
 
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nobody in the Minnesota locker room had to say much before the game about the Timberwolves' 22-game losing streak to the Lakers.

The Wolves mostly knew about their dismal history in this matchup, and they came out apparently determined to rewrite it in the first quarter alone.

Kevin Martin scored 27 points, Kevin Love had 18 of his 25 during Minnesota's 47-point opening quarter in a skid-snapping 113-90 victory Sunday night.

Ricky Rubio had 12 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who hadn't beaten the Lakers since March 6, 2007. Minnesota took a 28-point lead with a 27-2 run, reducing the Staples Center crowd to scattered boos during the highest-scoring quarter in the Timberwolves' franchise history.

The Wolves maintained a healthy advantage all night in their first win over the Lakers at Staples Center since Dec. 2, 2005, ending the longest active streak between two NBA opponents.

''We had lost so many straight to the Lakers that we thought we were due for one,'' said Love, who also had 13 rebounds while hitting four 3-pointers. ''We knew, the guys that had played here. We had talked about it, that we hadn't had much success, but we weren't thinking about anything numbers-wise. We just wanted to come out and think about this year.''

Minnesota won with ease - something that's almost never happened in this matchup. Corey Brewer scored 17 points and Nikola Pekovic had 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Wolves punctuated their 5-2 start to the season by routing sending the Lakers' crowd home early.

Martin had another monster game in his strong start to the season, improving to 18 for 28 on 3-pointers in the last five games while averaging 27 points. And Rubio supplemented his second career triple-double with five steals, becoming just the second player in franchise history with at least five steals during a triple-double game.

''Everybody was making shots,'' said Rubio, the first opponent to record a triple-double against the Lakers since LeBron James on Christmas 2010. ''We knew we'd lost the last 22 or something like that. It was a good game for us to end it.''

Steve Blake scored 19 points with five 3-pointers, and Jodie Meeks added 16 for the Lakers, who have lost five of seven - and got even more injury concern about one of their stars.

Steve Nash played 13 minutes before sitting out with a back injury for Los Angeles, which never got closer than 14 points down the stretch.

Nash, the NBA's oldest player at 39, will be evaluated on Monday by Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed Dwight Howard's back surgery last year. The Lakers have kept Nash out of the lineup twice already this season to preserve his health, but Nash's back has bothered him for years.

''You could call it back, nerves, pain in the hamstring,'' Nash said. ''It all gets a little convoluted, but it's all basically the same since last year. ... I'm just trying to figure it out, trying to play through it and at the same time be smart. It's tough. I really want to play. To be so limited is frustrating.''

Pau Gasol managed just 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who had won 13 straight at home over Minnesota.

Kobe Bryant played in all but one game during the Lakers' winning streak in this matchup, but the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history still isn't close to making his season debut after surgery in April.

''Forty-seven points in one quarter ... it's outrageous,'' Gasol said.

The Timberwolves cooled off from there, but were too far ahead to be threatened. The Lakers trimmed the lead to 90-76 heading to the fourth quarter after 11 third-quarter points from Blake and nine more from Meeks, but Rubio and Brewer kept the Wolves ahead down the stretch.

NOTES: Minnesota stays in the building to face the Clippers on Monday night. The Lakers return Tuesday to host New Orleans after last week's loss to the Pelicans. ... UCLA product Shabazz Muhammad got no discernible reaction when he entered the game for Minnesota in the fourth quarter. ... Xavier Henry had a career-high eight rebounds for the Lakers, but he struggled again with 1-for-8 shooting.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/timberwolves-end-22-game-skid-045202421

TS (toni storks) view:
One of the longest losing streak from one team to another team finally ends. This current Wolves are barking right now and LAL badly needs the Black Mamba to stay afloat out West.

[tonistork]

NBA, NBPA donate $250,000 to Philippines efforts
AP - Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA and NBA Players Association are donating $250,000 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF's emergency relief efforts in areas of the Philippines ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan.

Also, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose mother is from the Philippines, will appear in a public service announcement for the organization to help raise funds for the relief efforts.

UNICEF said Sunday in a release that estimates show as many as 4 million children could be affected by the disaster that has killed thousands and could be the deadliest natural disaster on record.

The league also is planning a second donation to another organization and is encouraging others to help the efforts in the Philippines, where it played an exhibition game last month between Houston and Indiana.

Information is available at www.unicefusa.org/philippines .

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-nbpa-donate-250-000-234339562

[tonistork]

Pacers roll past Memphis 95-79 to stay unbeaten
AP - Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Eight straight wins isn't enough for the perfect Pacers.

The NBA's last unbeaten team remained undaunted Monday night, getting 23 points from Paul George and the first triple double of Lance Stephenson's career to run past Memphis 95-79 and complete a brutal five-game in seven-day stretch with a sweep. Indiana extended its franchise-best start to 8-0, becoming the seventh team to achieve the feat since 2000.

''Everything we're shooting for is attainable, but we've got a long way to go, a lot of work to do,'' coach Frank Vogel said. ''It was probably our most complete game.''

The Pacers made no secret of this season's plan - dethroning two-time defending NBA champion Miami. The best way to do that, they figured, was earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and so far, nobody has been able to touch Indiana. The Pacers already have a 3 1/2-game lead over Miami and Atlanta in the East.

Indiana is showing no sign of slowing down, either.

They again dominated the glass, outrebounding Memphis 30-15 in the first half and finishing with a 45-32 advantage. They again relied on suffocating defense, which held Memphis (3-4) to a season-low point total and nearly 20 points below its season scoring average (98.5). And again they were content to share the honors.

Stephenson, who is playing the best basketball of his career, finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, a career-high 12 assists and only one turnover. Roy Hibbert added five more blocks to his league-leading total (35), George Hill finished with 13 points in his third game back from a hip injury and Luis Scola added 12 points off the bench.

Indiana could be making things even tougher for opponents soon, too. Vogel said before the game that former All-Star Danny Granger, who once led the Pacers in scoring for five straight seasons, will begin working out Tuesday and could return to practice as soon as Wednesday. Vogel did not say when Granger would return to the rotation. Granger has not played this season because of a strained left calf.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pacers-roll-past-memphis-95-024023728

TS (toni storks) view:
Frank Vogel is a strong candidate for coach of the year.

[tonistork]

Spurs cruise to easy win over 76ers
AP - Sports
 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs showed the Philadelphia 76ers how to do it their way.

Danny Green scored 18 points, Tony Parker had 14 and the Spurs rolled to an easy 109-85 victory over the 76ers on Monday night.

The defending Western Conference champions are off to a 7-1 start following consecutive wins in New York and Philadelphia.

''It's been pretty good basketball for us,'' Green said. ''We're moving the ball, cleaned things up defensively and we're headed in the right direction.''

Evan Turner scored 20 points and Spencer Hawes had 17 for the Sixers, who couldn't give coach Brett Brown a better effort in his first game against his former team.

Brown spent 11 years in San Antonio, including seven as an assistant under Gregg Popovich and was part of the team's four championships.

The Spurs had more 3-pointers (13) than free throws attempted (11).

Six players scored in double figures for San Antonio, including Kawhi Leonard (13) and Marco Belinelli (12).

''He's a young kid and sometimes he defers to everybody else on the court,'' Popovich said of Leonard. ''We talked about it at halftime and he did his thing.''

Rookie Michael Carter-Williams had a season-low eight points on 2-for-11 shooting for Philadelphia.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/spurs-cruise-easy-win-over-021435352

TS (toni storks) view:
I hate it when Spurs are winning. Hey Western teams, wake up. Don't let Spurs get the No. 1 seed out West.

Thaddeus Young after scoring 29 in their last games, he scored just 7 while sensational rookie Carter-Williams recorded his career low so far with 8 points. Consistency must be developed from this Sixers guys but I think Spencer Hawes  should be credited for the early success of this Philly team with his consistent play early in the season.

[tonistork]

Horford scores 24 as Hawks beat Bobcats 103-94
AP - Sports
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks only needed one spectacular quarter to earn their first back-to-back wins of the season.

Horford had 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter as the Hawks outscored Charlotte 34-16 en route to a 103-94 win Monday night in Bobcats coach Steve Clifford's first game back after having two stents placed in his heart.

Jeff Teague, who finished with 14 points and 12 assists, was pivotal during that stretch and Clifford said the Bobcats simply couldn't find anyone to guard him.

Josh McRoberts led the Bobcats (3-4) with 19 points and seven assists. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 16 points, but none in the second half.

Al Jefferson had 10 points and seven rebounds in his first game since Oct. 30.

But it's clear the Bobcats still haven't adjusted to playing with their $41 million free-agent pickup. Jefferson looked slow and rusty and was a non-factor in the opening half with no points and one rebound in 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the offense was out of sync.

McRoberts said it will take time for everyone to get used to playing with Jefferson.

NOTES: Kyle Korver has made at least one 3-pointer in 80 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NBA history behind Dana Barros. ... The Hawks have at least 24 assists in all seven games this season. They are first in the NBA in assists per game.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/horford-scores-24-hawks-beat-024736751


TS (toni storks) view:
A side show for this is the battle between  2 former Jazz frontcourt partners in Jefferson (Bobcats) & Millsap (Hawks).
Former Duke Blue devils Josh McRoberts is playing good early in the season that's why heralded rookie, No. 4 pick Cody Zeller couldn't earn enough playing time to show what he can do to the young Bobcats.

[tonistork]

Bradley leads Celtics' 120-105 win over Magic
AP - Sports
 
BOSTON (AP) -- Avery Bradley simply couldn't hold back that little smile.

Bradley scored 24 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic for the second time in four days, 120-105 on Monday night.

When asked if he was surprised the Magic kept leaving him open for mid-range jumpers, Bradley had a slight grin before saying, ''A little. But once it started going, I was praying it would keep falling, and it did.''

Bradley hit 10 of 15 shots, pairing with Jordan Crawford to provide a solid backcourt duo that carried the Celtics to their fourth straight win after they opened the season with four losses under first-year coach Brad Stevens.

Crawford, who took over the point when Stevens moved Bradley to the shooting guard spot, had 16 points and 10 assists with no turnovers in 32 1/2 minutes.

''Yeah, they're playing really well together,'' Stevens said.

Kelly Olynyk and Jeff Green each also had 16 points for Boston.

The Celtics shot 60 percent (51 for 85) against an Orlando team that entered the night with the NBA's second-best field goal percentage defense.

''One of those days,'' Stevens said. ''You know you're going to get jump shots because that's what they force you into. Normally, those are inefficient shots.''

Arron Afflalo had 18 points and seven assists, Victor Oladipo scored 17 points and Nikola Vucevic had 15 points and 10 boards for Orlando, which dropped its 16th straight road game.

NOTES: The Celtics held a moment of silence for victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bradley-leads-celtics-120-105-025714217

TS (toni storks) view:
After opening the season with 4 straight losses, the team in green is on a 4-game winning roll. Maybe, Brad Stevens is a brilliant rookie NBA coach?. And rookie center Kelly Olynyk is playing good after he was promoted to starting center vis-a-vis another rookie big man, Brazilian Vitor Faverani.

[tonistork]

Rockets outlast Raptors 110-104 in 2 OTs
AP - Sports
 
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets were on the verge of their third straight home loss after blowing a double-digit, second-half lead for the second consecutive game.

This time, guard James Harden said, the Rockets found the will to win.

Jeremy Lin scored 31 points off the bench, Dwight Howard had 18 points and 24 rebounds, and the Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 110-104 in double-overtime to snap a two-game losing streak.

''(This game) was something,'' Houston coach Kevin McHale said. ''We still are a little bit in the mud, but the guys came out defensively and did a really good job. We were grinding. We just found a way to win. That's just kind of what we had to do.''

Lin shot 10 of 17 from the field and hit 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Harden finished with 26 points and 10 assists.

Howard was just 4 of 12 at the foul line. Chandler Parsons had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Rockets.

Lin was the first player to score 30-plus points off the bench for Houston since Chase Budinger had 30 points against Cleveland on Feb. 23, 2011.

''Midway through the third I was feeling pretty good,'' Lin said. ''I got in my rhythm. I got a few shots to go down. Everything just kind of slowed down.''

Rudy Gay led the Raptors with 29 points and 10 rebounds but shot 11 of 37 from the field. DeMar DeRozan added 22 points, but he struggled as well, finishing 6 of 25.

Jonas Valanciunas chipped in 10 points and 13 rebounds, Amir Johnson had 10 points and 10 boards, and Kyle Lowry netted 16 for Toronto, who shot 33 percent from the field.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rockets-outlast-raptors-110-104-044301237


TS (toni storks) view:
Linsanity must start. Patrick Beverley should be the back-up. Lin is a better offensive player than Beverley, and with a menacing frontcourt of Asik & Howard, they can cover for Lin's defensive shortcomings.

[tonistork]

Nuggets dominate 4th, beat winless Jazz 100-81
AP - Sports

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Denver Nuggets have been struggling to close out games, so they've resorted to just trying to win quarters.

Miller scored nine of his season-high 15 points in the fourth period and the Nuggets defeated the winless Utah Jazz 100-81 on Monday night.

''We've been struggling, just like the Jazz,'' the 37-year-old point guard said. ''But we talked about just taking one quarter at a time. We remembered that tonight and held them down in the fourth quarter and closed it out.''

Ty Lawson had 17 points and Kenneth Faried added 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who outscored the Jazz 30-13 in a dominant fourth quarter.

''Andre stepped it up, like he's been doing for years,'' Lawson said. ''He was getting mismatches, even taking on bigs. He knows how to orchestrate the offense. He was getting himself a good shot or he was kicking it out to one of us for a good shot.''

Utah dropped to 0-8 and remained the only team in the NBA without a victory.

Gordon Hayward had 22 points but didn't score in the final period. Derrick Favors added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who extended their worst start to a season since moving to Utah in 1979.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nuggets-dominate-4th-beat-winless-045748302


TS (toni storks) view:
Coach Corbin should be fired. It only shows that his former assistant, Jeff Hornacek is better bench tactician and also former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is a better fit for Utah. Reality hurts.