NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[tonistork]

Howard leads Rockets over Mavericks 100-95

HOUSTON (AP) -- Dwight Howard had 15 points and 17 rebounds and James Harden scored 19 to help the Houston Rockets to a 100-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks on in a preseason game on Monday night.

Houston coach Kevin McHale moved Howard to power forward on Monday to get 7-foot center Omer Asik in the lineup with the team's new acquisition. Asik had four points and nine rebounds in his first game this season after dealing with a calf injury.

The game was tied late in the third before the Rockets used a 7-0 run to take a 77-70 lead and hold on for the win.

Dirk Nowitzki had 11 points and four blocked shots before he was ejected late in the third quarter after drawing a flagrant two foul for knocking Omri Casspi to the ground on a fast break.


source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/howard-leads-rockets-over-mavericks-023413919--nba.html

[tonistork]

Raptors beat Knicks 123-120 in double OT
AP - Sports
 
TORONTO (AP) -- Terrence Ross scored 27 points, DeMar DeRozan had 21 and the Toronto Raptors beat the New York Knicks 123-120 in double overtime on Monday night, their fourth straight preseason victory.

Rudy Gay scored 19 points, Kyle Lowry had 11 and Tyler Hansborough 10 as the Raptors improved to 5-1.

Beno Udrih scored 19 points and Metta World Peace had 16 for the Knicks, who lost for the third time in four games. Tyson Chandler and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 15.

Andrea Bargnani had 13 against his former team, while Carmelo Anthony had nine points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes.

A pair of 3-pointers by Ross gave the Raptors a 110-103 edge with 2:22 left in the first overtime, but New York responded with an 10-0 run, taking the lead on Udrih's 3 with 37 seconds left, then adding two more on a pair of free throws by Hardaway Jr.

After missing a 3 with 6 seconds left, Ross sent it to double overtime with a buzzer-beating 3 from the wing.

Toronto's Dwight Buycks scored the first two baskets of the second overtime and Ross added a third, giving the Raptors a six-point cushion.

Ross sealed it with four made free throws in the final six seconds.

World Peace picked up a technical foul with 5:22 left in the fourth following an altercation with Hansborough.

NOTES: The Knicks were without G Raymond Felton (left hamstring) and G Iman Shumpert (right elbow). New York G Pablo Prigioni sat out with flulike symptoms. ... Knicks coach Mike Woodson said F Amare Stoudemire (left knee) and G J.R. Smith (left knee) both did individual workouts Monday and could take part in scrimmages Tuesday. ... Woodson said F Kenyon Martin (left ankle) might be able to practice Tuesday. Martin has not played this preseason. ... Toronto was without F Steve Novak (right thumb).

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/raptors-beat-knicks-123-120-022127014--nba.html

[kingjames24szupladoh]

NBA GM's Survey



GM Survey Results :

Finals: MIA v SAS
ECF: MIA v IND
WCF: SAS v OKC

MVP: LBJ, Durant runner up

If youw ere starting a franchise today and could sign any player, who would it be?
LeBron 89.7%, Durant 6.9%, Irving 3.4%

Top 3 Players at Positions, in order:

PG: Paul, Rose, Parker
SG: Harden, Kobe, Curry/Durant/George all tied for 3rd
SF: James, Durant (no 3rd spot as all GM's voted for these two guys only - poor Melo)
PF: Duncan, Love, LeBron
C: Dwight, Marc Gasol, Duncan

Top 3 teams who made the best overall moves this offseason:

1. Houston
2. Brooklyn
3. LA Clippers

Biggest impact by a newly acquired player?

1. Dwight in a landslide
KG, Jrue Holiday, Millsap, Josh Smith also got a vote each)

Most Underrated Addition:

1. Jrue Holiday, AK47, Luis Scola all tied for first

Most Improved Team:

1. Detroit
2. BKN, CLE, HOU, MIN, NO, WAS all tied for second

Most Surprising Move of the Offseason:

1. Nets-C's trade, Iguodala to GSW tied for first
3. AK47 to Nets

ROY:

1. Oladipo
2. Cody Zeller
3. Bennett, McCollum, Roberson tied for 3rd

Best Rookie in 5yrs Time:

1. Oladipo
2. Cody Zeller
3. Bennett, McLemore tied

Biggest Steal of the Draft:

1. Olynyk (pick 13)
2. McLemore (pick 7), Noel (pick 6) tied for 2nd

Best International Player:

1. Tony Parker
2. Marc Gasol
3. Dirk Nowitzki

Int. Player most likely to break out:

1. Jonas Valanciunas
2. Ricky Rubio
3. Teletovic

Best Defensive Player:

1. Dwight Howard
2. LeBron James
3. Tony Allen

Best Perimeter Defender:

1. Tony Allen
2. LeBron James
3. Paul George

Best Interior Defender:

1. Dwight
2. Joakim Noah
3. Marc Gasol, Hibbert, Ibaka tied

Best Defensive Team:

1. Chicago
2. Indiana
3. Miami

Best Coach:

1. Popovich
2. Rivers
3. Spo/Thibs tied

Active Player most likely to be a Head Coach one day:

1. Billups
2. Chris Paul
3. Battier

[Zurca]

nice, sana miami and san antonio uli next year. and nice to see duncan at top 3 power forward position despite his age

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Today's NBA Game Recap :

Indiana (107) defeated Atlanta (89)

Indiana
- David West: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals (27 minutes)
- Lance Stephenson: 6 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists (31 minutes)
- Luis Scola: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal (18 minutes)

Atlanta
- Jeff Teague: 17 points, 8 assists (32 minutes)

Detroit (99) defeated Washington (96)

Detroit
- Greg Monroe: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal (36 minutes)
- Andre Drummond: 9 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block (35 minutes)
- Will Bynum: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals (25 minutes)

Washington
- Nene: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals (22 minutes)
- Kevin Seraphin: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (26 minutes)
- Bradley Beal: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (31 minutes)

San Antonio (123) defeated Orlando (101)

San Antonio
- Patty Mills: 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks (23 minutes)
- Tim Duncan: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks (24 minutes)
- Kawhi Leonard: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists (21 minutes)

Orlando
- Victor Oladipo: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal (36 minutes)
- Arron Afflalo: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal (37 minutes)
- Kyle O’Quinn: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks (30 minutes)

Phoenix (88) defeated OKC (76)

Phoenix
- Eric Bledsoe: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals (29 minutes)
- Channing Frye: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (25 minutes)

OKC
- Reggie Jackson: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals (32 minutes)
- Jeremy Lamb: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (40 minutes)

LA Lakers (108) defeated Utah (94)

LA Lakers
- Jordan Farmar: 20 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 block (23 minutes)
- Wesley Johnson: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (22 minutes)

Utah
- Gordon Hayward: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals (31 minutes)
- Derrick Favors: 10 poiunts, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block (28 minutes)
- Alec Burks: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal (29 minutes)
- Brian Cook: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block (20 minutes)

[kingjames24szupladoh]

October 23 WT : NBA Game Recap :



Grizzlies - 72 Raptors - 108

Davis: 11 Pts. Gasol: 6 Asts. Davis: 9 Rebs./DeRozan: 21 Pts. Lowry: 10 Asts. Valanciunas: 9 Rebs.

Nets - 97 Celtics - 101

Taylor: 15 Pts. Livingston: 5 Asts. Plumlee: 9 Rebs./Bradley: 16 Pts. Wallace: 5 Asts. Bass: 9 Rebs.

Timberwolves - 125 Sixers - 102

Barea: 22 Pts. Rubio: 5 Asts. Turiaf: 12 Rebs./Anderson: 23 Pts. Turner: 5 Asts. Turner: 10 Rebs.

Wizards - 101 Cavaliers - 82

Beal: 21 Pts. Ariza: 5 Asts. Ariza: 8 Rebs./Irving: 19 Pts. Jack: 5 Asts. Thompson: 14 Rebs.

Knicks - 95 Bucks - 105

Anthony: 22 Pts. Anthony: 7 Asts. Anthony: 9 Rebs./Butler: 24 Pts. Ridnour: 11 Asts. Pachulia: 9 Rebs.

Heat - 108 Pelicans - 95

James: 27 Pts. Bosh: 7 Asts. Bosh: 9 Rebs./Gordon: 19 Pts. Holiday: 6 Asts. Aminu: 9 Rebs.

Hawks - 88 Mavericks - 98

Schroder: 21 Pts. Schroder: 4 Asts. Antic: 8 Rebs./Nowitzki: 17 Pts. Mekel: 7 Asts. Dalembert: 11 Rebs.

Suns - 98 Nuggets - 79

Bledsoe: 21 Pts. Dragic: 8 Asts. Gortat: 13 Rebs./Randolph: 15 Pts. Lawson: 8 Asts. Hickson: 7 Rebs.

Bulls - 104 Thunder - 95

Rose: 26 Pts. Rose: 6 Asts. Boozer: 14 Rebs./Lamb: 22 Pts. Jackson: 6 Asts. Adams: 7 Rebs.

Warriors - 90 Kings - 91

Curry: 24 Pts. Iguodala: 6 Asts. Bogut: 7 Rebs./Thomas: 21 Pts. Salmons: 3 Asts. Cousins: 9 Rebs.

Jazz - 99 Clippers - 103

Favors: 24 Pts. Jefferson: 5 Asts. Favors: 17 Rebs./Crawford: 16 Pts. Paul: 10 Asts. Jordan: 7 Rebs.

[silverado]

my bet for 2014 championship is houston vs miami

[tonistork]

Oden returns as Heat best Pelicans, 108-95
AP - Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- For Greg Oden and his Miami Heat teammates, four minutes on an NBA court in a preseason game was cause for celebration.

''It's been a long time and I've been wanting to get out there,'' Oden said after his preseason debut in Miami's 108-95 victory at New Orleans on Wednesday night. ''It was only a couple minutes, but it was what I needed, what I can handle right now and, you know, small baby steps.''

Oden is attempting to come back from knee injuries that have plagued him since he was drafted first overall out of Ohio State in 2007. The last time he played in an NBA game was on Dec. 5, 2009, for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Not long after he came in against the Pelicans, he scored his only points of the night on a dunk, which was also his only shot. He also grabbed a pair of defensive rebounds.

''It was a very special moment,'' LeBron James said of Oden's appearance. ''I have no idea what my feeling would be like, being away from the game for three years. It was like a proud moment, man. I was so excited for him when he got on the court and he checked in - and his first basket he gets a dunk. Can you write it any better? Obviously he's not where he wants to be, but the process is going great.

''I can just imagine how excited he was to get back out there,'' James continued. ''I'm going to have to take a toast for him, man. I ain't no drinker, but I might have to take a shot for him. It was an absolutely great moment.''

Miami is a team used to celebrating NBA championships after winning the past two. Oden was gratified to see how much it also meant to the Heat to see him show the first small sign of a successful return to the game he loves, and missed.

''In December it would be four years, so four minutes, that's enough for me,'' Oden said. ''As long as I got out there and I walked off and I'm healthy, that's all that matters.

''I know the guys were happy for me,'' Oden added. ''I definitely felt love. And I'm excited that they were there for me.''

Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said Oden's face ''lit up'' when he told him he was going to put him in the game.

''We are just so pleased for him,'' Spoelstra said. ''It was just great to see him do something he loves to do. It was taken away from him for four years. We just continue to make patient, steady progress forward from here.''

James scored 27 points and Dwyane Wade added 25 for the Heat, who trailed after three quarters but opened the fourth with a 21-2 run.

Wade hit a 3 during the decisive surge, then stole the ball for a breakaway jam. Ray Allen did all his scoring with three straight 3s to make it 98-84.

Chris Bosh had 14 points and nine rebounds for Miami (5-2), and Chris Andersen added 13 points.

Eric Gordon scored 19 for New Orleans (6-1), while Anthony Davis had 18 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Morrow added 16 points, Jrue Holiday 12 and Ryan Anderson 10.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/james-wade-lead-heat-over-023459018--nba.html

[tonistork]

Barea, Love lead T'wolves over 76ers, 125-102
AP - Sports
 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- J.J. Barea scored 22 points, Kevin Love added 19 and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers 125-102 in a preseason game Wednesday night.

Kevin Martin added 13 points and A.J. Price had 10 for the Timberwolves, who improved to 4-2 in the preseason with one game remaining, Thursday at Detroit.

Minnesota will open the regular season Oct. 30 against the Orlando Magic.

James Anderson scored 23 points for the struggling Sixers (2-5), while point guard Michael Carter-Williams, the team's 11th overall pick in the 2013 draft, added 15. Evan Turner had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The play was chippy and two players were ejected at separate times in the third quarter: Minnesota forward Dante Cunningham and Sixers guard Tony Wroten.

The Sixers will begin the regular season at home on Oct. 30 against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/barea-love-lead-twolves-over-014145710--nba.html

[tonistork]

Kings edge Warriors in preseason
AP - Sports
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points to help the Sacramento Kings rally in the fourth quarter and beat the Golden State Warriors 91-90 in a preseason game Wednesday night.

After Stephen Curry gave the Warriors an 89-88 lead with a jumper, John Salmons hit a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to give the Kings a 81-89 lead. David Lee was fouled with 1.3 seconds left and made the first free throw, but missed the second that would have tied the game.

Salmons had nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter when the Kings outscored Golden State 21-9.

Patrick Patterson had 11 points and DeMarcus Cousins, who fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Kings (4-2).

Curry scored 24 points and had six assists for the Warriors (3-3), while Klay Thompson had 16 points, Andrew Bogut 12 and Lee 11.

Trailing by 14 points, the Kings used a 16-1 run to take a one-point lead with 4:17 left.

The Kings end the preseason Friday at the Los Angeles Clippers. Sacramento opens the season Oct. 30 at home against Denver.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kings-edge-warriors-preseason-044346532--nba.html

[kingjames24szupladoh]

October 25, Final Scores/Leaders:

Cavaliers - 92 Bobcats - 105

Irving: 20 Pts. Jack: 4 Asts. Thompson: 8 Rebs./Taylor: 20 Pts. McRoberts: 5 Asts.Zeller: 8 Rebs.

Timberwolves - 98 Pistons - 99

Love: 19 Pts. Martin: 4 Asts. Love: 10 Rebs./Smith: 20 Pts. Bynum: 9 Asts. Drummond: 20
Rebs.

Rockets - 109 Spurs - 92

Harden: 22 Pts. Harden: 11 Asts. Howard: 16 Rebs./Baynes: 16 Pts. Mills: 6 Asts. Duncan: 8 Rebs.

Blazers - 90 Warriors - 74

Lillard: 21 Pts. Williams: 7 Asts. Batum: 15 Rebs./Curry: 17 Pts. Curry: 6 Asts. Bogut: 9 Rebs.

[tonistork]

Wizards acquire Gortat from Suns for Okafor, pick
AP - Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Adding a front-court piece in hopes of finally returning to the playoffs, the Washington Wizards have acquired center Marcin Gortat from the Phoenix Suns in a multiplayer trade.

Phoenix will get injured center Emeka Okafor and a top-12-protected first-round draft pick in 2014.

The Suns are sending guards Kendall Marshall, Shannon Brown and Malcolm Lee to Washington so the deal will work financially. The Wizards are expected to waive that trio of players.

The 6-foot-11, 240-pound Gortat averaged 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds last season. He is entering his eighth NBA season, and has averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds while playing for Orlando, Toronto and Phoenix.

Okafor has been sidelined indefinitely by a herniated disk in his neck.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source-wiz-gortat-suns-okafor-224839880--nba.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons

[tonistork]

Walker, Bobcats rally, spoil Knicks' return to MSG
AP - Sports
 
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Knicks had old faces on the floor and a new look to their arena. Only Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats kept it from being a completely successful night.

Walker scored 18 points and made the tiebreaking basket with 1:31 remaining as the Bobcats spoiled the Knicks' return to Madison Square Garden with an 85-83 preseason victory Friday night.

Walker finished with nine rebounds and six assists as the Bobcats wrapped up a 5-3 preseason. Josh McRoberts had 19 points and nine rebounds, Gerald Henderson scored 18 points and Bismack Biyombo grabbed 20 rebounds in what Walker said was a ''huge'' victory for Charlotte.

''It shows us that we can play because the Knicks didn't just give us that game, we worked for that game,'' he said. ''So it shows us that we can go out there and compete with the best of them.''

Carmelo Anthony scored 13 points but shot 4 of 17, missing a potential tying jumper in the final seconds.

The Knicks had a 19-point lead in the first half but then missed 18 of 22 shots in the third quarter. They regained the lead on Anthony's jumper with 2:26 remaining before Walker made consecutive high-arching jumpers in the lane, the second making it 85-83 with 1:31 to play.

J.R. Smith and Amare Stoudemire both made their preseason debuts after working their way back from knee surgeries. Smith scored 11 points and Stoudemire had six points on 3-of-4 shooting, both reserves playing limited minutes.

Smith will miss the first five regular-season games while serving a suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug program, but Stoudemire said he's ready to go after recovering from his third knee surgery in the last year.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/walker-bobcats-rally-spoil-knicks-020601329--nba.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons

[tonistork]

Lakers end preseason with 111-106 win over Jazz
AP - Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Steve Blake scored 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter, Pau Gasol and Nick Young each had 16, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 111-106 Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams.

Gordon Hayward led Utah with 18 points and seven rebounds, and Alec Burks had 18 off the bench. Rudy Gobert got 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz keep it close.

A moment of silence was observed at Honda Center for Hall of Famer Bill Sharman, who coached the Lakers to their first NBA championship in Los Angeles in 1971-72 - when they won a franchise-record 69 games and a league-record 33 in a row.

Sharman died Friday at age 87 after suffering a stroke last Saturday. He had been a special consultant with the organization for the previous 23 seasons.

Trailing by 15 points after three, the Jazz got as close as 100-96 on Lester Hudson's 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining.

Hayward led Utah to a 53-51 halftime lead with 16 points, eight of them at the end of a 19-2 run that turned an 11-point deficit into a 48-42 advantage with 2:27 left in the second quarter.

The Lakers finished the preseason 4-4. It was their first training camp under coach Mike D'Antoni, who was hired five games into last season after the team started out 1-4 under Mike Brown.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/lakers-end-preseason-111-106-042533592--nba.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons

[tonistork]

Harden hurt in Rockets rout of Memphis
AP - Sports
 
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Houston Rockets guard James Harden was listed as day-to-day after leaving Friday night's preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a right knee bruise.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale said after Houston's 92-73 victory that his star guard bumped knees with Memphis' Quincy Pondexter in the first quarter. Harden did not return after the injury.

''He iced it, and stuff, and we'll see how he feels (Saturday),'' McHale said indicating that he didn't think the injury was serious.

Harden, who entered the game as the team's leading scorer in the preseason with a 20.8 average, connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing with 4:35 left in the first quarter and went down to the court in front of the Rockets bench when he was fouled by Pondexter.

Harden eventually got up, made the ensuing free throw and went straight to the locker room at the next stoppage of play.

Harden finished with six points and four rebounds in his 7-plus minutes before the injury.

Omri Casspi scored 11 points, Donatas Motiejunas finished with 10 for Houston.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 17 points, but connected on only 4 of 13 shots.

source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/harden-hurt-rockets-rout-memphis-024632859--nba.html