NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[kingjames24szupladoh]

January 9, Final Scores/Leaders :

Mavericks - 90 Spurs - 112
Ellis: 21 Pts. Mekel: 5 Asts. Blair: 6 Rebs./Parker: 25 Pts. Parker: 7 Asts. Duncan: 13 Rebs.

Pistons - 91 Raptors - 112
Jennings: 22 Pts. Jennings: 9 Asts. Drummond: 16 Rebs./Lowry: 21 Pts. Lowry: 9 Asts. Johnson: 11 Rebs.

Pacers - 87 Hawks - 97
George: 28 Pts. Granger: 3 Asts. George: 12 Rebs./Korver: 17 Pts. Teague: 6 Asts. Millsap: 6 Rebs.

Warriors - 98 Nets - 102
Curry: 34 Pts. Curry: 7 Asts. Bogut: 9 Rebs./Johnson: 27 Pts. Blatche: 3 Asts. Teletovic: 10 Rebs.

Wizards - 102 Pelicans - 96
Ariza: 21 Pts. Wall: 6 Asts. Gortat: 14 Rebs./Gordon: 23 Pts. Evans: 5 Asts. Davis: 7 Rebs.

Lakers - 99 Rockets - 113
Young: 25 Pts. Marshall: 8 Asts. Gasol: 12 Rebs./Harden: 38 Pts. Harden: 4 Asts. Jones: 13 Rebs.

Suns - 104 Timberwolves - 103
Dragic: 26 Pts. Dragic: 9 Asts. Tucker: 10 Rebs./Martin: 20 Pts. Rubio: 8 Asts. Love: 12 Rebs.

Magic - 94 Blazers - 110
Afflalo: 22 Pts. Nelson: 10 Asts. Harris: 8 Rebs./Aldridge: 36 Pts. Batum: 14 Asts. Batum: 10 Rebs.

Celtics - 105 Clippers - 111
Crawford: 24 Pts. Crawford: 8 Asts. Green: 11 Rebs./Griffin: 29 Pts. Griffin: 8 Asts. Jordan: 13 Rebs.




STANDINGS:
West:
1. SPURS 28-8
2. THUNDER 27-8
3. Blazers 27-9
4. CLIPERS 25-13
5. Rockets 23-13
6. Warriors 24-14
7. Suns 21-13
8. Mavericks 20-16
9. Nuggets 17-17
10. Timberwolves 17-18
11. Pelicans 15-19
12. Grizzlies 15-19
13. Lakers 14-22
14. Kings 11-22
15. Jazz 12-25

East:
1. PACERS 28-7
2. HEAT 27-8
3. Hawks 19-17
4. RAPTORS 17-17
5. Wizards 16-17
6. Bulls 15-18
7. Bobcats 15-21
8. Nets 14-21
9. Pistons 14-22
10. Celtics 13-23
11. Knicks 12-22
12. Cavaliers 12-23
13. Sixers 12-23
14. Magic 10-25
15. Bucks 7-27

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

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Friday , January 10 Schedule : 2 games

Miami at New York - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT
on TNT

Oklahoma City at Denver - 10:30 pm
ET, 7:30 pm PT on TNT

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Third All-Star Ballot Returns:


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt:
1. LeBron James (Mia) 1,076,063
2. Paul George (Ind) 899,671
3. Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 702,869
4. Roy Hibbert (Ind) 385,964
5. Chris Bosh (Mia) 304,986
6. Kevin Garnett (BKN) 164,021
7. Joakim Noah (Chi) 128,201
8. Andre Drummond (Det) 120,844
9. Tyson Chandler (NYK) 101,637
10. Jeff Green (Bos) 96,336 11. Luol Deng (Cle) 90,730
12. Carlos Boozer (Chi) 80,271
13. Paul Pierce (BKN) 72,581
14. David West (Ind) 61,612
15. Brook Lopez (BKN) 58,477

Backcourt:
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 718,109
2. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 652,522
3. Derrick Rose (Chi) 323,099
4. John Wall (Was) 278,516
5. Ray Allen (Mia) 190,086
6. Rajon Rondo (Bos) 133,448
7. Deron Williams (BKN) 95,309
8. George Hill (Ind) 89,428
9. Lance Stephenson (Ind) 77,364
10. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 68,985


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt:
1. Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,054,209
2. Dwight Howard (Hou) 509,116
3. Blake Griffin (LAC) 500,964
4. Kevin Love (Min) 483,031
5. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por)
404,793
6. Tim Duncan (SA) 385,342
7. Anthony Davis (NO) 223,956
8. Pau Gasol (LAL) 207,213
9. Andre Iguodala (GS) 192,616
10. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 156,792
11. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac)
148,604
12. David Lee (GS) 141,509
13. Chandler Parsons (Hou) 135,387
14. Omer Asik (Hou) 101,372 15. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 91,859

Backcourt:
1. Kobe Bryant (LAL) 844,538
2. Stephen Curry (GS) 677,372
3. Chris Paul (LAC) 651,073
4. Jeremy Lin (Hou) 471,980
5. James Harden (Hou) 338,788
6. Russell Westbrook (OKC)
260,499
7. Tony Parker (SA) 195,328
8. Damian Lillard (Por) 162,363
9. Klay Thompson (GS) 108,404
10. Ricky Rubio (Min) 97,265

[kingjames24szupladoh]

January 10 , Final Scores/Leaders :

Heat - 92 Knicks - 102
James: 32 Pts. James: 6 Asts. Bosh: 9 Rebs./Anthony: 29 Pts. Felton: 14 Asts. Stoudemire: 11 Rebs.

Thunder - 88 Nuggets - 101
Durant: 30 Pts. Jackson: 5 Asts. Ibaka: 10 Rebs./Foye: 24 Pts. Lawson: 14 Asts. Faried: 14 Rebs.


STANDINGS :

West:
1. SPURS 28-8
2. BLAZERS 27-9
3. Thunder 27-9
4. CLIPPERS 25-13
5. Rockets 23-13
6. Warriors 24-14
7. Suns 21-13
8. Mavericks 20-16
9. Nuggets 18-17
10. Timberwolves 17-18
11. Pelicans 15-19
12. Grizzlies 15-19
13. Lakers 14-22
14. Kings 11-22
15. Jazz 12-25

East:
1. PACERS 28-7
2. HEAT 27-9
3. Hawks 19-17
4. RAPTORS 17-17
5. Wizards 16-17
6. Bulls 15-18
7. Bobcats 15-21
8. Nets 14-21
9. Pistons 14-22
10. Knicks 13-22
11. Celtics 13-23
12. Cavaliers 12-23
13. Sixers 12-23
14. Magic 10-25
15. Bucks 7-27

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

[tonistork]

Pistons rally past Sixers 114-104 to end skid
AP - Sports
 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- With the Detroit Pistons mired in a six-game losing streak, Josh Smith couldn't believe his team could fall behind by 16 points in the first quarter.

Smith had 22 points in an outstanding all-around game, Brandon Jennings made four 3-pointers in the second half and the Pistons ended their slide with a 114-104 comeback victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

''I was frustrated because of the fact we were on a six-game losing streak and it was disheartening to see us not come out with the kind of desperate energy we needed in order to get off the skid,'' Smith said.

He certainly played with his share of desperation. The 76ers said Smith became the third player in NBA history with 22 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and four steals in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The other two were Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who did it twice. Smith was the only one of the three to hit a 3-pointer in the game. He made two of them, although the forward shot just 2 for 8 from 3-point range and 8 of 23 from the field.

''He was around the rim all night,'' Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks said. ''He was there to clog the middle.''

Five other players scored in double figures for the Pistons, who averaged just 88.8 points during their skid. Kyle Singler and Will Bynum each had 16 off the bench.

''Whenever those guys come off the bench to give us positive minutes, it makes us that much better,'' Smith said.

Thaddeus Young scored 22 points for the Sixers, who have lost three straight after reeling off four consecutive road wins. Michael Carter-Williams added 21 points, Evan Turner had 19 and Spencer Hawes finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

The game marked Cheeks' first return to Philadelphia as a visiting head coach since being fired by the Sixers in 2008. Cheeks coached in Philadelphia for three seasons and was an assistant with Oklahoma City from 2009-13 before getting hired by Detroit last June.

The Pistons outrebounded the Sixers 62-42, tying the Wells Fargo Center record for offensive rebounds with 25. They also finished with a season-high 14 blocks.

Jennings, the team's leading scorer, had 18 of his 19 points in the second half.

NOTES: Despite struggling badly on the boards, the Sixers outscored the Pistons 64-50 in the paint. ... Pistons center Andre Drummond, who had a career game against the Sixers on Dec. 1 with 31 points, 19 rebounds and six steals, was held to 11 points and picked up a technical foul late in the third quarter.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pistons-rally-past-sixers

[tonistork]

Nowitzki leads Mavs past Pelicans 107-90
AP - Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki likes the way the Mavericks' offense is shaping up as the heart of the NBA season arrives.

Dallas' latest outing made it easy to see why, starting with a 62-point first half en route to a 107-90 victory over New Orleans on Friday night that sent the Pelicans to their fourth straight loss.

''That's when we're our best, when we attack and get some good shots out of it,'' said Nowitzki, who led Dallas with 24 points in only 28 minutes. ''When we lose some games it's usually on the defensive side and on the rebounding side, so if we defend and rebound, I like our offense.''

Monta Ellis added 23 points, Vince Carter 14 points and Jae Crowder 12 for Dallas, which never trailed. The Mavericks led by as many as 23 points in the third quarter before cruising against a Pelicans squad minus starting point guard Jrue Holiday and leading scorer Ryan Anderson.

The comfortable, wire-to-wire win left the Mavs pleased by their response to a lopsided loss in San Antonio two nights earlier.

''Definitely a good way to recover. Definitely needed to feel better again after really an embarrassing loss on the road. That was a good one to get,'' Nowitzki said. ''We talked about wanting a good start and really set the tone tonight.''

Holiday missed his first game with a stress fracture in his right shin. Anderson went down last week with a herniated disk and is out indefinitely as well.

Eric Gordon scored 27 points for New Orleans, while Anthony Davis added 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

''Dirk, Monta, Vince, (Jose) Calderon - all of those guys could just do whatever they wanted on any play, as if they were just going through a script,'' Rivers added.

Calderon scored 11 points, and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle was pleased by Samuel Dalembert's nine points and eight rebounds in less than 19 minutes.

''Dalembert played big,'' Carlisle said. ''He brings rebounding and rim protection to another level when he's rested and energetic. It's good to have him back and playing like this.''

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nowitzki-leads-mavs-past-pelicans

[tonistork]

Pekovic leads Timberwolves past Bobcats 119-92
AP - Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Lose by a little or win by a lot: that's been the story for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season.

There's still time to move past their spats and struggles make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, and this was a forward step.

Nikola Pekovic scored 26 points in 27 minutes and the Timberwolves blew off some steam with a 119-92 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.

''We just need to have one good streak and then we're right back where we need to be,'' said Kevin Love, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds and rested for most of the fourth quarter.

Kevin Martin added 19 points, and Minnesota's bench had 20 points before Charlotte's reserves even got on the board late in the second quarter.

''I'm happy when we play hard, when we play to the end,'' said Pekovic, who also stifled former Timberwolves big man Al Jefferson on the defensive end.

Anthony Tolliver led the Bobcats with 21 points on 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point range, and Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 16 points. Jefferson finished with only eight points and seven rebounds, though, and the Bobcats were outrebounded 54-33 on their way to their seventh loss in eight games.

''Basically just kicked our butts,'' Jefferson said.

The Timberwolves lost on Wednesday 104-103 to Phoenix to fall to 0-10 in games decided by four points or fewer. The tension lingered into the locker room where Love, who was critical recently of a particularly paltry output by the reserves, ripped J.J. Barea and Dante Cunningham for their disinterested body language at the end of the bench.

By midway through the second quarter, though, all the frustration had faded away.

''We did a good job of letting the other night go. We forgot about that already. Now we're back winning, so we've just got to keep it going,'' Barea said.

The Wolves posted their league-leading eighth win of 20 points or more. They're also 8-2 following those losses of four points or less.

''They want to be a good team, but they have to find out how they're going to do that,'' said coach Rick Adelman, who remained critical of some defensive risks and forced shots, mistakes that have contributed to the close losses.

Love set the tone with a commanding start, posting his league-leading 31st double-double before halftime. Then the backups put together one of their sharpest stretches of the season. With Chase Budinger and Ronny Turiaf finally healthy, the second unit is much stronger.

NOTES:  Nearly two years the Wolves had no injured players on the roster. Luc Mbah a Moute returned from a three-game absence due to a strained left groin and played in the fourth quarter. ... The Bobcats fell to 3-11 against Western Conference teams this season. ... Jefferson wasn't the only former Timberwolves player the Bobcats brought. Tolliver, who spent two seasons here from 2010-12, went 8 for 9 from the field. ''Whenever you're getting blown out by 30 or 20 or whatever, if you're shooting really well it doesn't matter,'' he said.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pekovic-leads-timberwolves-past-bobcats

[tonistork]

Korver, Millsap lead Hawks past Rockets, 83-80
AP - Sports

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Hawks are discovering that strong defense makes winning possible, even against quality opponents, after Al Horford's season-ending injury.

Kyle Korver scored 20 points, including four free throws in the final 16 seconds, and Atlanta fought off Houston's late comeback to beat the Rockets 83-80 on Friday night.

Paul Millsap also had 20 points for Atlanta, which earned its second straight impressive home win following a victory over Indiana on Wednesday night. The two victories were important following a three-game losing streak and Horford's torn right pectoral muscle in late December.

''It's a real good win for us because it really shows we played some good teams and we actually played some good defense,'' Millsap said. ''It started with the defense and if we continue to keep that up, we'll be fine.''

James Harden led the Rockets with 25 points. Dwight Howard had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Houston coach Kevin McHale said his players ''were just stuck in the mud offensively.''

The strong defensive effort came against one of the highest-scoring teams in the NBA. Entering the game, the Rockets ranked third in the league with their average of 105.8 points.

Rockets forward Chandler Parsons missed his second straight game with a sore right knee. Ronnie Brewer was the fill-in starter.

Korver extended his NBA record of consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer to 106 when he made his first of four 3s with 9:03 left in the first half.

NOTES: NBA great Julius Erving had a front-row seat. ... Howard, an Atlanta native, purchased 35 tickets for the game. ... The Hawks' 10 first-quarter points set a season low for any quarter and was the low allowed by the Rockets in any quarter.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/korver-millsap-lead-hawks-past

TS (toni storks) view:
Malaking kawalan talaga sa Houston ang do-it-all forward na si Chandler Parsons. Maybe they should start Omri Casspi at 3 spot while Parsons is injured, remember he is a part time starter during his stint in Sacramento.

[tonistork]

Nets beat Heat in 2 OTs for 5th straight win
AP - Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shaun Livingston was flying all over the court. LeBron James could only sit and watch.

Joe Johnson scored 32 points, Livingston helped Brooklyn dominate the second overtime after James fouled out, and the Nets beat the Miami Heat 104-95 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.

Livingston had two baskets and two blocked shots in the second OT, finishing with 19 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and five assists over 51 minutes in a sensational effort while starting for injured Deron Williams.

The Nets followed the lead of a player who spent years revitalizing a career that was sidetracked by a horrific knee injury, jumping on the Heat early and fighting them off late.

''Gutsy. Gutsy,'' Kevin Garnett said. ''I thought we fought for 48-plus minutes.''

Paul Pierce scored 23 points but missed jumpers that could have won it at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Still, the Nets remained unbeaten in 2014, adding a victory over the two-time defending NBA champions to their recent wins over Oklahoma City and Golden State.

''It was huge,'' Livingston said. ''We've obviously been playing better as of late. I think our momentum that we were carrying into this game, we're trying to ride that wave.''

James had 36 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but fouled out on an offensive foul with 36 seconds left in the first overtime and the Heat trailing by two.

Miami pushed it to a second overtime without him, but it was all Nets from there against a Heat team that was already missing Dwyane Wade and two other starters.

James was visibly frustrated with his teammates in the first half - he said he apologized at halftime for his attitude and body language. He was irate when Mirza Teletovic flagrantly fouled him, but nearly overcame all that to help Miami pull it out.

Miami totaled six points in the overtimes, fewest ever in the shot clock era (since 1954-55) in a game that went at least two overtimes.

Norris Cole scored 18 points, but Ray Allen was 2 of 14 for nine points in place of Wade, who rested his sore knees after playing 39 minutes in a loss at New York on Thursday. Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers also sat out the game, which featured players on both teams wearing nicknames on their jerseys, a first of its kind in the NBA.

NOTES: The teams will wear the nickname jerseys again on March 12 and April 8 in Miami. The Heat will also wear them at home against Boston on Jan. 21.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nets-beat-heat-2-ots

TS (toni storks) view:
Without Wade & James, it only proves that Bosh cannot carry the Heat in his shoulder. He is just an over-rated player, and the ultimate 'softie'.
Look at him in OT when LeBron fouled out, he just let Norris Cole and the cold-shooting Ray Allen make shots (and missed most of them). He barely touches the ball and he looks like hiding away from receiving the ball at this crucial moments. He is a coward, period.

[tonistork]

Conley has 31 points, Grizzlies beat Suns 104-99
AP - Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies are leaning on point guard Mike Conley as they wait for other starters to return from injury.

Conley matched his career high with 31 points and led a fourth-quarter rally as the Grizzlies defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99 Friday night.

It marked Conley's second consecutive game with at least 30 points as Memphis plays without center Marc Gasol, who is rehabbing a knee injury. Tony Allen, Conley's backcourt mate, has missed three straight games with a sprained left wrist.

''(Conley's) been great,'' said forward Zach Randolph, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis. ''The kid's worked on his game, and he keeps getting better and better.''

Ed Davis had 10 points and a career-high 17 rebounds as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Suns 53-44. Mike Miller finished with 11 points. Randolph tied his season high in assists with seven.

''We were really focused on getting boards, and they still get them,'' Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said of the Grizzlies.

Goran Dragic led the Suns with 21 points and eight assists, connecting on six of 10 shots. Markieff Morris came off the Phoenix bench for 17 points. Gerald Green had 12 points.

The Phoenix loss came on a day when the Suns announced that guard Eric Bledsoe, the team's second-leading scorer, is out indefinitely after having knee surgery earlier in the day to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/conley-31-points-grizzlies-beat

[tonistork]

Irving scores 25 to lead Cavs past Jazz 113-102
AP - Sports

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Luol Deng better be ready to run because Kyrie Irving thinks the Cleveland Cavaliers play best when they play fast.

Irving shines in the open court and says the Cavaliers can win if they can run. They got out on the break Friday night, and Irving had 25 points and eight assists in a 113-102 victory over the Utah Jazz.

In Deng's first game with the Cavaliers, Irving scored 17 points in the third quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a 15-point lead as Cleveland snapped Utah's season-high four-game home winning streak. Deng had 10 points in his Cleveland debut.

Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 15 rebounds, while C.J. Miles and Dion Waiters each scored 17 to help the Cavs win their first road game since a 109-100 victory in Orlando on Dec. 13.

Playing without leading scorer Gordon Hayward, sidelined by a strained hip, the Jazz were paced by Richard Jefferson's 18 points. Trey Burke had 17 points and six assists, but picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter right before Irving sparked Cleveland's key surge.

Deng played more than nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls and was an All-Star the past two before he was acquired Tuesday for Andrew Bynum and three future draft picks. Averaging 19 points and 6.9 rebounds in Chicago, Deng appeared to be searching to find his place in the Cleveland offense as he played only 21 minutes and had four turnovers.

''It's been so strange. Even coming in today and getting the jersey on and seeing it say 'Cavaliers,' it hit me again. But I looked in the mirror and checked the colors out and it looked pretty good,'' Deng said.

Hayward, coming off a career-high 37 points, missed his first game this season because of a muscle strain in his left hip flexor. He will be a game-time decision Monday against Denver.

NOTES: Anderson Varejao had two points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs, who outrebounded the Jazz 45-34.

[tonistork]

Cousins, Kings hand Magic 6th loss in row, 103-83
AP - Sports

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Winning consecutive games this season has been a difficult task for the Sacramento Kings. And winning two in a row at hadn't been done all season until Friday night.

DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Rudy Gay added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Kings beat the undersized Orlando Magic 103-83.

The Kings won back-to-back home games for the first time since a three-game string in March 2013. It was only the third time all season that the Kings have registered consecutive victories.

''I continue to learn and try to figure out this Rubik's Cube,'' Kings coach Michael Malone joked.

It's been a trying season for the first-year coach, who has seen the Kings defeat some of the league's better teams, but not display the same effort against teams with losing records. And too many times the result has been a loss.

The Kings have been impressive recently against some of the NBA's upper-echelon teams, defeating Miami, Houston and Portland.

Cousins delivered offensively against Orlando, making 9 of 16 shots, hitting all six free throws, and adding six assists and three steals.

Gay, acquired in a trade with Toronto early this season, delivered a strong overall game as well. He made 8 of 13 shots and had five assists.

The Kings are 6-8 since Gay joined the team.

''Rudy has helped us out so much and gives us another option offensively,'' Cousins said. ''He's been a great addition.''

Tobias Harris had 16 points and Aaron Afflalo scored 15 for Orlando, which matched a season high with its sixth straight loss.

The Magic didn't have a starter taller than 6-foot-9 and set season lows for points and shooting (33 percent).

Orlando was without starting center Nik Vucevic for a second straight game. Vucevic, averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds, was sent back to Orlando on Wednesday after sustaining a concussion during Monday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Victor Oladipo had 13 points and Glen Davis added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic.

Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson each scored 14 points for the Kings. Jimmer Fredette had 11 and Isaiah Thomas contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

Sacramento shot 51 percent and outrebounded Orlando 54-37.

Fredette scored eight points in a 65-second span in the second quarter, making a pair of 3s. He was part of the reserve unit that sparked the Kings, who trailed by six points entering the second.

''We needed a lift in the second quarter, we were going through the motions,'' Fredette said. ''We (the bench) played well. We got the lead and the starters took it from there.''

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/cousins-kings-hand-magic-6th

[tonistork]

Curry's shot lifts Warriors over Celtics, 99-97
AP - Sports
 
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead jumper with 2.1 seconds left, lifting the Golden State Warriors over the skidding Boston Celtics 99-97 on Friday night in their first game back home after a long road trip.

Curry came off a pick-and-roll with David Lee before hitting the high-arching shot over center Kris Humphries to electrify the sellout crowd of 19,596. Gerald Wallace missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, sending Boston to its seventh straight loss.

Two nights after its 10-game winning streak ended at Brooklyn, Golden State gave its home fans another memory to savor.

Andre Iguodala had 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds, and Curry finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for a worn-out Warriors team that badly needs some rest.

Golden State was 6-1 on its extended road trip and doesn't play again until Wednesday night at home against Denver.

The Warriors entered the night having played an NBA-high 23 road games compared to 15 home games, meaning the more favorable portion of the schedule is ahead. Golden State began a stretch of 11 of 15 at Oracle Arena before the All-Star break, though things didn't start off easy at home.

Green finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Sullinger had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which has lost 10 of 11. Boston also is 0-4 on its five-game road trip, which ends Saturday night at Portland.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/curry-39-shot-lifts-warriors

[tonistork]

Griffin leads Clippers in 123-87 blowout of Lakers
AP - Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Blake Griffin had 33 points and 12 rebounds, and the Clippers shot 71 percent in the first quarter on the way to their largest-ever victory over the downtrodden Los Angeles Lakers, 123-87 Friday night.

Darren Collison had 20 points and seven assists, J.J. Redick added 19 points in his return, and DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Clippers' third straight win and fifth in six games. They improved to 17-3 at home, second-best in the NBA.

The Clippers' previous biggest win over the Lakers was 31 points on Feb. 19, 1992. That Lakers team included James Worthy, Byron Scott and A.C. Green.

Kendall Marshall scored 16 points, and Wesley Johnson and Robert Sacre added 14 points each for the Lakers, who've lost four straight and 10 of 11. Pau Gasol had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. They had 21 turnovers and shot 34 percent.

Both teams were missing their resident superstars: Chris Paul has a separated right shoulder and Kobe Bryant has a fractured left knee, his second major injury this season.

NOTES: Veteran F Hedo Turkoglu worked out for the Clippers on Thursday. He has been without a team since he was released by Orlando last fall. ''We're not doing anything anytime soon,'' Rivers said. ... The Lakers fell to 6-13 on the road and 3-11 on the road against West opponents.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/griffin-leads-clippers-123-87

[kingjames24szupladoh]

January 13, Final Scores/Leaders :

Cavaliers - 80 Kings - 124
Miles: 14 Pts. Varejao: 6 Asts. Varejao: 7 Rebs./Thomas: 26 Pts. Thomas: 6 Asts. Thompson: 16 Rebs.

Hawks - 101 Grizzlies - 108
Millsap: 21 Pts. Millsap: 6 Asts. Ayon: 7 Rebs./Conley: 21 Pts. Conley: 13 Asts. Randolph: 12 Rebs.

Timberwolves - 86 Spurs - 104
Pekovic: 22 Pts. Rubio: 8 Asts. Love: 7 Rebs./Leonard: 17 Pts. Parker: 10 Asts. Duncan: 8 Rebs.





STANDINGS:

West:
1. SPURS 29-8
2. BLAZERS 28-9
3. Thunder 28-9
4. CLIPPERS 26-13
5. Warriors 25-14
6. Rockets 24-14
7. Suns 21-15
8. Mavericks 22-16
9. Nuggets 19-17
10. Timberwolves 18-19
11. Grizzlies 17-19
12. Pelicans 15-21
13. Lakers 14-23
14. Kings 13-22
15. Jazz 12-26

East:
1. PACERS 29-7
2. HEAT 27-10
3. Hawks 20-18
4. RAPTORS 18-17
5. Bulls 17-18
6. Wizards 16-19
7. Pistons 16-22
8. Nets 15-22
9. Bobcats 15-23
10. Knicks 14-22
11. Cavaliers 13-24
12. Celtics 13-25
13. Sixers 12-25
14. Magic 10-27
15. Bucks 7-29

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