NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Friday, December 13 Schedule : 2 games

L.A. Clippers at Brooklyn - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on TNT

Houston at Portland - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT on TNT

[kingjames24szupladoh]

News/Updates :



* Knicks and Raptors are discussing a trade for Kyle Lowry .
Read Here

* Updated League Leaders :

Points:
1. Kevin Durant - 28.4
2. Carmelo Anthony - 25.6
3. LeBron James - 25.0
4. Paul George - 24.7
5. James Harden - 24.6

Assists:
1. Chris Paul - 11.9
2. John Wall - 9.1
3. Stephen Curry - 9.0
4. Ricky Rubio - 8.4
5. Ty Lawson - 8.0

Rebounds:
1. Kevin Love - 13.8
2. Dwight Howard - 13.3
3. DeAndre Jordan - 13.0
4. Andre Drummond - 12.7
5. DeMarcus Cousins - 10.5

Steals:
1. Michael Carter-Williams - 3.13
2. Ricky Rubio - 2.91
3. Chris Paul - 2.36
4. Tony Allen - 2.31
5. John Wall - 2.30

Blocks:
1. Anthony Davis - 3.63
2. Roy Hibbert - 3.00
3. Serge Ibaka - 2.48
4. John Henson - 2.14
5. DeAndre Jordan - 2.09

[kingjames24szupladoh]

All-Star Voting First Return :

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt :
1. LeBron James (Mia) 609,336
2. Paul George (Ind) 489,335
3. Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 424,211
4. Roy Hibbert (Ind) 208,369
5. Chris Bosh (Mia) 156,364
6. Kevin Garnett (BKN) 102,825
7. Joakim Noah (Chi) 75,229
8. Jeff Green (Bos) 55,912
9. Luol Deng (Chi) 54,340
10. Tyson Chandler (NYK) 51,738
11. Andre Drummond (Det) 51,351
12. Carlos Boozer (Chi) 48,745
13. Paul Pierce (BKN) 45,145
14. Brook Lopez (BKN) 37,153
15. Josh Smith (Det) 32,025

Backcourt :
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 396,279
2. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 365,712
3. Derrick Rose (Chi) 272,410
4. John Wall (Was) 124,851
5. Ray Allen (Mia) 99,464
6. Rajon Rondo (Bos) 80,889
7. Deron Williams (BKN) 44,282
8. George Hill (Ind) 42,536
9. Evan Turner (Phi) 33,605
10. Mario Chalmers (Mia) 32,996

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt :
1. Kevin Durant (OKC) 607,407
2. Dwight Howard (Hou) 295,120
3. Blake Griffin (LAC) 292,925
4. Kevin Love (Min) 275,506
5. Tim Duncan (SA) 217,271
6. Anthony Davis (NO) 149,579
7. Pau Gasol (LAL) 133,199
8. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 132,818
9. Andre Iguodala (GS) 109,745
10. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 89,093
11. Chandler Parsons (Hou) 77,179
12. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 60,923
13. David Lee (GS) 60,015
14. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 55,023
15. Omer Asik (Hou) 53,827

Backcourt :
1. Kobe Bryant (LAL) 501,215
2. Chris Paul (LAC) 393,313
3. Stephen Curry (GS) 327,449
4. Jeremy Lin (Hou) 240,404
5. James Harden (Hou) 198,667
6. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 149,065
7. Tony Parker (SA) 112,423
8. Ricky Rubio (Min) 63,096
9. Steve Nash (LAL) 60,782
10. Damian Lillard (Por) 55,847

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Daily Injury Updates :



L.A. CLIPPERS at BROOKLYN:

LAC - J.J. Redick (hand) will not play.
LAC - Matt Barnes (eye) will not play.
LAC - Reggie Bullock (ankle) will not play.
LAC - Maalik Wayns (knee) will not play.
BKN - Andrei Kirilenko (back) will not play.
BKN - Jason Terry (knee) will not play.

HOUSTON at PORTLAND:
HOU - Jeremy Lin (knee) will play tonight.
HOU - Omer Asik (thigh) will not play.
HOU - Greg Smith (knee) will not play.
POR - C.J. McCollum (foot) will not play.


* Stephen Curry ranks himself second only to Michael Jordan to take a game-winning shot.

Read Here

[kingjames24szupladoh]

December 13, Final Scores Leaders :

Clippers – 93 Nets – 102
Paul: 20 Pts. Griffin: 3 Asts. Jordan: 12 Rebs./Johnson: 21 Pts. Pierce: 5 Asts. Blatche: 9 Rebs.

Rockets – 104 Blazers – 111
Howard: 32 Pts. Harden: 7 Asts. Howard: 17 Rebs./Aldridge: 31 Pts. Batum: 6 Asts. Aldridge: 25 Rebs.




STANDINGS :

West:
1. BLAZERS 19-4
2. SPURS 17-4
3. Thunder 17-4
4. CLIPPERS 15-9
5. Rockets 15-8
6. Nuggets 13-8
7. Suns 12-9
8. Warriors 13-10
9. Mavericks 13-10
10. Timberwolves 11-11
11. Pelicans 10-10
12. Grizzlies 10-11
13. Lakers 10-11
14. Kings 6-14
15. Jazz 5-19

East:
1. PACERS 19-3
2. HEAT 16-6
3. Hawks 11-11
4. CELTICS 10-14
5. Bobcats 10-12
6. Wizards 9-11
7. Pistons 10-13
8. Bulls 8-12
9. Cavaliers 8-13
10. Nets 8-14
11. Raptors 7-13
12. Magic 7-15
13. Sixers 7-16
14. Knicks 6-15
15. Bucks 5-17

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

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Saturday , December 14 Schedule : 13 games

Charlotte at Indiana - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT

Cleveland at Orlando - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT

Philadelphia at Toronto - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT

Washington at Atlanta - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT

New York at Boston - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT

Brooklyn at Detroit - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT

Memphis at New Orleans - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT

L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on ESPN

Chicago at Milwaukee - 8:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm PT

Minnesota at San Antonio - 8:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm PT

Utah at Denver - 9 pm ET, 6 pm PT

Sacramento at Phoenix - 9 pm ET, 6 pm PT

Houston at Golden State - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT on ESPN

[tonistork]

Celtics defeat Knicks for 2nd time in a week
Associated Press

BOSTON -- Avery Bradley scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a 3-pointer with 2:38 to play to give the Celtics the lead for good, and Boston beat the New York Knicks 90-86 on Friday night.

Jared Sullinger had 19 points and six rebounds, all but one basket in the first half when the Celtics opened a 17-point lead. Courtney Lee scored 18 points and Brandon Bass had 10 points and eight rebounds for Boston, which snapped a two-game losing streak and held onto first place in the woeful Atlantic Division.

Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and Andrea Bargnani had 22 for the Knicks. But Anthony missed a jumper that could have tied it after Bradley gave Boston the lead, and then he was blocked by Jeff Green with a minute to play.

The Knicks lost for the third time in four games and their 12th in their last 15.

The victory came five days after the Celtics led the Knicks by as many as 45 points in New York in a 114-73 victory that was the biggest blowout in the NBA this season. This one seemed headed the same way when Boston went on a 21-2 run at the end of the first quarter and start of the second to open a 17-point lead, but the Knicks chipped it down to six at the half and then tied it at 59 with 7:15 left in the third on Iman Shumpert's 3-pointer.

Game Notes:
Boston first-round draft pick Kelly Olynyk returned after missing 10 games with an ankle injury. He had four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, and also one highlight blocked shot... NY PG Raymond Felton missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring that is expected to keep him out two to three weeks. Shumpert, who is nursing a bruised left knee, played 23 minutes and scored three points.

TS (toni storks) view:
Maybe Coach Woodson is the real problem in New York and not the players? And injuries (Chandler, Felton, Amare, etc.) also played a role to Knicks woes.

[tonistork]

DeRozan scores 27, Raptors beat 76ers 108-100
Associated Press


TORONTO -- DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, Terrence Ross had a season-high 24 and the Toronto Raptors beat Philadelphia 108-100 on Friday night, handing the 76ers their fifth straight loss.

Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and matched his career high with 13 rebounds, Amir Johnson had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Greivis Vasquez scored 12 in his first game with Toronto as the Raptors won for just the second time in eight games. Kyle Lowry had a season-high 11 assists for Toronto.

Tony Wroten scored 23 points, Evan Turner had 21 and Thaddeus Young 18 for the 76ers, who lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Spencer Hawes had 15 points and James Anderson scored 13 for the Sixers, who have gone 4-17 since starting the season 3-0.

The 76ers, who matched a season worst with 26 turnovers in Wednesday's loss at Minnesota, gave the ball away 17 times on Friday, leading to 19 Raptors points.

Game notes

Sixers G Michael Carter-Williams missed his fifth straight game with a sore right knee. ... Toronto F Chuck Hayes, also acquired from Sacramento, will not be cleared to play until he undergoes baseline cardiac testing. Hayes, who displayed an abnormality during heart tests in 2011, is unlikely to suit up until next Wednesday's game against Charlotte. ... Tyler Hansbrough returned for the Raptors after missing the previous two games with a sore left shoulder.

[tonistork]

Gordon leads Pelicans past Grizzlies, 104-98
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- Eric Gordon made 10 of 12 shots on his way to 25 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans won their second straight game, 104-98 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.

Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 12 assists, hitting a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute to give New Orleans some breathing room after the Pelicans' 19-point, fourth-quarter lead was trimmed to six with nearly five minutes remaining.

Ryan Anderson scored 18 for New Orleans, which also benefited from a season-low six turnovers.

Jon Leuer scored 19 and Mike Conley 18 for Memphis, which has lost two straight. Zach Randolph added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who were done in by a 21-3 Pelicans run that started in the last half of the third quarter.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

[tonistork]

Thunder pound Lakers 122-97
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Russell Westbrook added 19 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled to a 122-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Serge Ibaka added 19 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season and Reggie Jackson also scored 19 for Oklahoma City, which has won five straight and 13 of its past 14 games.

The Thunder are unbeaten in 11 home games this season and have won four straight at home over the Lakers.

Los Angeles has lost all three games since the return of Kobe Bryant from a torn Achilles tendon. Bryant had 13 assists -- just two shy of his career high -- but showed little of his trademark offensive ability, finishing with four points on 2-of-6 shooting.

He played 23 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated
Press

TS (toni storks) view:
Maybe Mike D'Antoni is not a good fit as Lakers coach. And lately, his relationship with LA big man Gasol is getting worst as days goes by. He critized the Spaniards toughness but Gasol fires back that he wants the ball in the low post more.

[tonistork]

Parker helps Spurs keep 'Wolves at bay 117-110
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker had 29 points to offset a season-high 42 points from Kevin Love and the San Antonio Spurs rallied for a 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Manu Ginobili had 20 points and nine assists, fueling a 37-21 fourth quarter that helped the Spurs avoid their second home loss this season.

Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and Boris Diaw, Marco Belinelli and Tim Duncan had 12 points apiece. Duncan added 14 rebounds.

Nikola Pekovic had 18 points, Ricky Rubio added 15 points and Kevin Martin had 14 for Minnesota, which had won two straight.

Ginobili scored 16 points in the final quarter, helping San Antonio overcome a lethargic start. His reverse layup with 2 minutes remaining extended San Antonio's lead to 111-108.

Love had 26 points after halftime, nearly besting his previous season-high of 34 in the second half alone.

Leonard scored nine straight points midway through the third quarter, keeping San Antonio in the game while Minnesota got hot behind the 3-point line.

The Timberwolves were 6 for 12 on 3s in the third, making three consecutive attempts to take a 79-75 lead with 4 minutes left.

Love had the opening and closing 3s in the run, finishing with 19 points in the third quarter. He was 5 for 6 on 3s in the period, and 7 for 9 overall as Diaw, Jeff Ayres and all the help defense the Spurs provided failed to slow him.

Game notes

Spurs centers Tiago Splitter (tightness left calf) and Aron Baynes (calf strain) both sat out. . Minnesota F Chase Budinger (knee surgery) missed the game, as did C Ronny Turiaf (fractured right elbow). . San Antonio recalled Malcolm Thomas from its developmental league team, the Austin Toros. Thomas did not play Friday. . Entering Friday's game, San Antonio leads the league in assists, averaging 25.0 per game. The Spurs have had more helpers than their opponent in 19 of 22 games, going 17-2 in those games. . A quarter of Corey Brewer's 114 baskets for Minnesota this season had come on dunks entering Friday's game. He is shooting 45 percent from the field.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
Sayang ang effort ni K-Love dito, and I'm rooting for the T-Wolves to beat the Spurs in thier homecourt. And Rubio played a dismal defense on Parker, if I'm the coach, i'll put Brewer or Barea on the French guy on defense.

[tonistork]

Bulls edge Bucks on Mike Dunleavy's late 3-pointer
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE -- Mike Dunleavy hit a three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left and Joakim Noah came up with a block on the other end, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 91-90 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

Trailing by two in the final seconds, Chicago came up with a tie-up on the defensive end and won the jump ball, allowing Dunleavy to hit a high-arching 3 for the lead.

Noah then blocked O.J. Mayo's shot to preserve the lead -- and a victory that appeared unlikely just seconds before.

Noah scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Bulls, who ended a three-game losing streak. Chicago scored fewer than 80 points in all three losses -- including one to Milwaukee in Chicago on Tuesday.

Jimmy Butler scored 16 points in his return from injury for Chicago. Carlos Boozer scored 14 points and added 12 rebounds.

Gary Neal scored 17 points and John Henson added 15 for the Bucks, who appeared to have the game won when Khris Middleton hit a desperation shot with 29.8 seconds left. Instead, it was another disappointment.

After the Bulls scored twice to start the fourth quarter and cut the Bucks' lead to 69-66, Milwaukee went on a 12-4 run to take an 11-point lead with 7:37 remaining.

While Derrick Rose's season-ending knee injury has garnered the most attention, it hasn't been the only critical injury for Chicago this season. Butler missed 11 games because of a toe injury and the Bulls are still without Luol Deng, who remains sidelined with a sore left Achilles.

Chicago added some depth earlier in the day Friday, signing free agent guard D.J. Augustin. Augustin, who previously played for the Toronto Raptors, was scoreless in 11-plus minutes in his Bulls debut.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game that the team would count on Augustin to add outside scoring -- something Chicago has been lacking early in the season. The Bulls came into Friday's game ranked 26th in the league in 3-point field goal percentage.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
The problem with Bulls is the thin bench it has. Even with a healthy Rose, they are at most an eight-man depth team with only Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy Jr. & Kirk Kinrich can come off-the-bench and have an impact.

[tonistork]

Hayward has big night, Jazz top Nuggets 103-93
Associated Press

DENVER -- Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 30 points to go with a career-high 13 rebounds, Derrick Favors had 19 points and the Utah Jazz rallied after blowing a big third-quarter lead to beat the Denver Nuggets 103-93 Friday night.

Wilson Chandler and Jordan Hamilton had 17 apiece for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets struggled from the foul line, going 14 for 24, while the Jazz hit their first 13 free throws in going 19 of 20 from the line.

Denver fell to 6-3 on its home court after losing just three times at Pepsi Center all of last year.

The Nuggets trailed by 16 early in the third, but finished the quarter on a 26-8 run to go ahead by two. The lead grew to four before Utah responded.

Hayward and Richard Jefferson had three-point plays and Favors' putback gave the Jazz a 94-89 lead.

Denver cut it to 96-93 on two free throws by Andre Miller, but a layup and free throw gave Utah a 99-93 lead and the Jazz closed it out from there.

Utah's nine-point halftime lead grew to 16 but Denver rallied. Hamilton hit a 3-pointer and a fadeaway jumper to give the Nuggets a 70-69 lead with 2:43 left in the third. It was their first lead since 4-3.

Hayward had 14 points at intermission and Marvin Williams 11.

Chandler had 13 points at the break for the Nuggets, who struggled from 3-point range (3 for 11) and from the free-throw line (5 for 11) in the first half.

Game notes

Nuggets guard Ty Lawson went scoreless in his return from a two-game absence due to a strained left hamstring. .. Friday marked the 30th anniversary of the highest-scoring game in NBA history. Detroit beat the Nuggets 186-184 in three overtimes in Denver. ... The Jazz have the best 3-point shooting percentage (45.4) in the league during December.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
Gordon Hayward is the face of the Jazz franchise now, This Butler product is a do-it-all swingman and even the great Kobe Bryant had a nice words for this white man who can jump.

[tonistork]

Dragic, Bledsoe lead Suns to 4th straight victory
Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Goran Dragic scored 29 points, fellow guard Eric Bledsoe had a career-high 28 and the Phoenix Suns extended their season-high winning streak to four games by beating the Sacramento Kings 116-107 on Friday night.

The Suns' Miles Plumlee had two crucial blocks of DeMarcus Cousins' shots and had four emphatic fourth-quarter dunks for 12 points.

Isaiah Thomas scored 29 for Sacramento. Rudy Gay added 22 in his first game for the Kings since being acquired this week in a trade with Toronto. Cousins had 15 points and 15 rebounds but shot just 5 of 15.

Game notes

Bledsoe's previous career high was 27 last Feb. 6 for the Los Angeles Clippers at Orlando. ... Dragic just missed getting the first consecutive 30-point games of his career. He has three 30-point games this season after previously getting three in his entire career.... Technicals were called against Tucker, coach Jeff Hornacek and Marcus Morris of the Suns, and Jason Thompson and Cousins of the Kings. ... Gay, who started in place of Williams, has reached double figures in 18 of 19 games this season.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
By trading for their erstwhile staring 1 (Vasquez) to Toronto, and promoting Thomas as starting point guard, maybe the Kings future includes the forgotten college scoring machine, Jimmer Fredette. He should be the back-up 1 and his playing time shall increase considerably.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

December 14 , Final Scores/Leaders :

Bobcats – 94 Pacers – 99
Jefferson: 21 Pts. Henderson: 4 Asts. Jefferson: 9 Rebs./Stephenson: 20 Pts. Stephenson: 7 Asts. Hibbert: 11 Rebs.

Cavaliers – 109 Magic – 100
Irving: 31 Pts. Wroten: 5 Asts. Turner: 10 Rebs./DeRozan: 27 Pts. Lowry: 11 Asts. Valanciunas: 13 Rebs.

Wizards – 99 Hawks – 101
Booker: 24 Pts. Wall: 11 Asts. Booker: 14 Rebs./Horford: 34 Pts. Teague: 7 Asts. Horford: 15 Rebs.

Knicks – 86 Celtics – 90
Anthony: 26 Pts. Prigioni: 8 Asts. Martin: 7 Rebs./Sullinger: 19 Pts. Crawford: 6 Asts. Bass: 8 Rebs.

Nets – 99 Pistons – 103
Williams: 22 Pts. Williams: 9 Asts. Blatche: 12 Rebs./Monroe: 22 Pts. Smith: 6 Asts. Drummond: 13 Rebs.

Grizzlies – 98 Pelicans – 104
Leuer: 19 Pts. Conley: 7 Asts. Randolph: 10 Rebs./Gordon: 25 Pts. Holiday: 12 Asts. Anderson: 7 Rebs.

Lakers – 97 Thunder – 122
Young: 17 Pts. Bryant: 13 Asts. Sacre: 8 Rebs./Durant: 31 Pts. Westbrook: 12 Asts. Ibaka: 10 Rebs.

Bulls – 91 Bucks – 90
Noah: 21 Pts. Hinrich: 8 Asts. Noah: 18 Rebs./Neal: 17 Pts. Knight: 4 Asts. Antetokounmpo: 9 Rebs.

Timberwolves – 110 Spurs – 117
Love: 42 Pts. Rubio: 8 Asts. Love: 14 Rebs./Parker: 29 Pts. Ginobili: 9 Asts. Duncan: 14 Rebs.

Jazz – 103 Nuggets – 93
Hayward: 30 Pts. Burke: 10 Asts. Hayward: 13 Rebs./Chandler: 17 Pts. Miller: 7 Asts. Faried: 9 Rebs.

Kings – 107 Suns – 116
Thomas: 29 Pts. Cousins: 5 Asts. Cousins: 16 Rebs./Dragic: 29 Pts. Bledsoe: 8 Asts. Tucker: 9 Rebs.

Rockets – 116 Warriors – 112
Harden: 26 Pts. Harden: 9 Asts. Howard: 11 Rebs./Lee: 23 Pts. Curry: 9 Asts. Barnes: 12 Rebs.




STANDINGS:

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

East:
1. PACERS 20-3
2. HEAT 16-6
3. Hawks 12-11
4. CELTICS 11-14
5. Pistons 11-13
6. Bobcats 10-13
7. Bulls 9-12
8. Wizards 9-12
9. Cavaliers 9-13
10. Raptors 8-13
11. Nets 8-15
12. Magic 7-16
13. Sixers 7-17
14. Knicks 6-16
15. Bucks 5-18

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