NBA scores,updates,news and rumors . . .

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Friday, December 20 Schedule : 2 games

Chicago at Oklahoma City - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on TNT

San Antonio at Golden State - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT on TNT

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Breaking :

The LA Lakers announce
that Kobe Bryant has a fracture in his left knee, and is expected to miss six weeks. Read more --> Here

[kingjames24szupladoh]

[b[CHICAGO at OKLAHOMA CITY:

CHI - Luol Deng (Achilles) will not play.
CHI – Kirk Hinrich (back) will not play.
CHI – Derrick Rose (knee) will not play.

SAN ANTONIO at GOLDEN STATE:
SAS – Tony Parker (shin) will not play.
SAS – Tim Duncan (rest) will not play.
SAS – Manu Ginobili (rest) will not play.
GSW – Festus Ezeli (knee) will not play.
GSW – Jermaine O’Neal (wrist) will not play.
GSW – Ognjen Kuzmic (hand) will not play.[/b]


Updated League Leaders :

Points:
1. Kevin Durant - 28.6
2. Carmelo Anthony - 26.4
3. LeBron James - 25.2
4. Kevin Love - 25.2
5. James Harden - 24.4

Assists:
1. Chris Paul - 11.3
2. John Wall - 9.1
3. Stephen Curry - 9.0
4. Jrue Holiday - 8.1
5. Ty Lawson - 8.0

Rebounds:
1. Kevin Love - 13.7
2. Dwight Howard - 13.0
3. DeAndre Jordan - 13.0
4. Andre Drummond - 12.7
5. LaMarcus Aldridge - 11.1

Steals:
1. Michael Carter-Williams - 3.13
2. Ricky Rubio - 2.85
3. Chris Paul - 2.35
4. Tony Allen - 2.15
5. John Wall - 2.08

Blocks:
1. Anthony Davis - 3.41
2. Roy Hibbert - 2.88
3. Serge Ibaka - 2.33
4. DeAndre Jordan - 2.19
5. John Henson - 2.16

[kingjames24szupladoh]

December 20, Final Scores/Leaders:

Bulls – 95 Thunder – 107
Noah: 23 Pts. Dunleavy: 6 Asts. Noah: 12 Rebs./Durant: 32 Pts. Westbrook: 10 Asts. Durant: 9 Rebs.

Spurs – 104 Warriors – 102
Belinelli: 28 Pts. Diaw: 6 Asts. Leonard: 10 Rebs./Lee: 32 Pts. Curry: 15 Asts. Bogut: 18 Rebs.




STANDINGS :

West:
1. THUNDER 21-4
2. Blazers 22-5
3. SPURS 21-5
4. CLIPPERS 18-9
5. Rockets 17-9
6. Mavericks 15-10
7. Suns 14-10
8. Nuggets 14-10
9. Warriors 14-13
10. Timberwolves 13-13
11. Lakers 12-13
12. Pelicans 11-13
13. Grizzlies 10-15
14. Kings 7-17
15. Jazz 7-21

East:
1. PACERS 20-5
2. HEAT 19-6
3. Hawks 14-12
4. CELTICS 12-15
5. Pistons 13-14
6. Bobcats 12-14
7. Wizards 11-13
8. Raptors 9-14
9. Cavaliers 9-15
10. Bulls 9-16
11. Nets 9-16
12. Knicks 8-17
13. Magic 8-18
14. Sixers 7-19
15. Bucks 5-20

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

[tonistork]

Short-handed Spurs slip past Stephen Curry, Warriors
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. -- With or without their star trio, the San Antonio Spurs play with a championship pedigree.

Tiago Splitter tipped in a rebound with 2.1 seconds left, lifting the short-handed Spurs to a 104-102 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

San Antonio (21-5) rested Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker sat out for the second straight game with a bruised right shin. None of it mattered.

"They did play well in the absence of our players, but it happens a lot in this league when players are hurt and other players want to prove something," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They want to show the coach they should be getting more minutes and that the coach doesn't know what the heck he's talking about."

The Spurs used big nights from Marco Belinelli, Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills to hand the Warriors (14-13) another devastating defeat in a rematch of last season's Western Conference semifinals.

The Warriors led by 14 points in the second quarter, then fell behind by nine in the third, but they still were in position to win against San Antonio's second-stringers in the closing moments.

Stephen Curry hit a tying 3-pointer to cap Golden State's comeback. But after two misses by teammates, Splitter was wide open under the rim to tap in the winning score.

Belinelli scored a career-high 28 points against his former team, Leonard had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Mills added 20 points in one of San Antonio's most impressive wins this season. It also was a season high in points for Leonard and Mills.

"Every guy stepped up," Belinelli said.

David Lee had 32 points and 13 rebounds in Golden State's sloppy performance. Curry scored 30 points and tied his career high with 15 assists, and Andrew Bogut collected 18 rebounds.

NOTES: It was the first time in NBA history that three Australians started in the same game: Bogut for the Warriors, and Mills and Aron Baynes for San Antonio. ... San Antonio was 1-2 last season when Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all didn't play, including a 116-106 loss at Golden State on April 15.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
Hats off to Popovich and the Spurs (even if I'm a Spurs hater), even without their Big 3, they still managed to win on the road against a strong Warriors team.

[tonistork]

Kobe-less Lakers push past Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The injury-ridden Los Angeles Lakers already have spent so much time playing without Kobe Bryant that losing him again for an extended period won't take them into uncharted territory.

Xavier Henry, the fourth player to start at point guard this season for coach Mike D'Antoni, scored 21 points, and the Lakers began another long stretch without their 15-time All-Star by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-91 on Friday night.

Bryant is expected to miss at least six weeks because of a fracture in his left knee, which occurred Tuesday night at Memphis when he fell to the court late in the third quarter of the Lakers' 96-92 win. The NBA's fourth all-time leading scorer finished that game, hitting a clutch 3-pointer to help seal the win. But an MRI on Thursday revealed the injury.

The Lakers returned from a 2-2 road trip and ended a three-game home losing streak. Pau Gasol, the only player to start all 26 games for the Lakers this season, had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

Reserve Nick Young scored 25 points, including a four-point play that gave the Lakers a lead after Corey Brewer fouled him behind the arc with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

"We played to our strengths," Henry said. "I mean, me and Nick can attack them in different ways. Jodie Meeks can shoot it, and we've got a guy like Pau who's a really good playmaker."

Kevin Love scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half and grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Nikola Pekovic had 22 points and 13 boards, but Brewer finished with just five points after missing all eight field goal attempts. Point guard Ricky Rubio missed the morning shootaround because he wasn't feeling well. He played 30 minutes, finishing with six points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Love powered the Timberwolves to a 53-51 halftime lead, fueling an 18-3 run with seven points in a 1:50 span to help turn an 11-point deficit into a 51-47 lead in the final minute of the second quarter.

"No energy. We have to be better than that," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "They outworked us all night long. It was a poor game on our part. "

Game notes

Henry was the 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft, by Memphis. His older brother C.J. was the 17th overall pick in the 2005 baseball draft, by the Yankees.

[tonistork]

DeMar DeRozan seals it for Raptors in OT win over Mavs
Associated Press

DALLAS -- DeMar DeRozan showed lots of love for former teammate and mentor Jose Calderon before Toronto played in Dallas.

Then the pupil one-upped his old teacher in the game.

DeRozan scored 15 points, including the go-ahead basket on a wild shot while getting fouled in overtime Friday night, and the Raptors overcame a season high in points from Calderon to beat the Mavericks 109-108.

Toronto trailed 108-107 after a 3-pointer by Calderon when DeRozan's pump-fake got Brandan Wright and Shawn Marion in the air. DeRozan threw up a shot as he was bumped, and it went in for the final points with 1:11 remaining.

Kyle Lowry led six players in double figures with 20 points for the Raptors, who lost to Charlotte in overtime two nights earlier and were 0-3 in OT this season.

"We understand what not to do from the previous one," said DeRozan, who led the Raptors with nine assists.

Calderon led Dallas with 23 points, including 11 to go along with three of his nine assists in the fourth quarter, and was 7-of-10 from long range.

"That's just Jose, man," DeRozan said. "Jose seems like every time the ball leaves his hand the ball's going in."

But not on the possession after DeRozan's go-ahead basket.

DeRozan missed the free throw after his circus shot, but the Mavericks were off target on their last four, including a runner in the final seconds by Monta Ellis, who had 21 points and a season-high 11 assists.

Toronto had its biggest lead at 89-81 when Calderon scored 11 straight Dallas points to get the Mavericks to 93-92. Calderon then drove and zipped a pass to Nowitzki for a 3-pointer to put Dallas in front 95-93.

Toronto's Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and 13 rebounds, including a sequence during which he rebounded his own miss twice and eventually scored for a 93-89 lead.

Johnson and Terrence Ross scored 15 apiece for the Raptors, who started the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run. Greivis Vasquez had eight of his 14 points during the spurt, including a pair of 3-pointers on assists from DeRozan, who also hit a shot from long range.

Marion scored 14 points and matched Nowitzki with a team-high nine rebounds.

Game notes

Nowitzki needs 35 points to pass Alex English for 13th on the NBA's scoring list.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

[tonistork]

Pacers crush Rockets to snap 2-game slide
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers responded to Friday night's challenge like a champion.

After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Paul George finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, Lance Stephenson added 16 points and six assists, and the defense completely shut down Houston in a 114-81 rout.

"This team doesn't like losing," coach Frank Vogel said. "We talked about playing mad for four quarters."

By following Vogel's plan, the Pacers continued to add to an already strong resume.

While some try to discount Indiana's quick start because they're playing in the struggling Eastern Conference, the Pacers still have a firm grip on the conference's best record (21-5) and have already beaten three of the Western Conference's top teams -- the Clippers, Spurs and now the Rockets.

The way Indiana has been winning is just as impressive.

Despite taking Dwight Howard's best shot Friday -- Houston's center had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks -- Indiana still managed to manhandle the usually potent Rockets' offense. Houston (17-10) entered the game second in scoring average and third in field goal percentage. It left Indianapolis having shot 38.1 percent in the game, compiling a season-low in points and losing to Indiana for the fourth straight time.

Even James Harden, the league's No. 6 scorer, couldn't get started. He was just 3 of 14 from the field and scored only 12 points, primarily against George. It was a disturbing twist for Houston, which had won three of its previous five, had beaten Chicago by 25 points on Wednesday and was trying to keep pace with division-leading San Antonio.

Game notes

Reserve Luis Scola finished with 13 points and made his first 3-pointer since joining the Pacers during the offseason. ... Houston played without guard Jeremy Lin (back) and Omer Asik (thigh). Asik, who has been the subject of trade rumors, did not make the trip.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

[tonistork]

Russell Westbrook scores 31 as sizzling Thunder handle Spurs
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- Russell Westbrook says there's no question Oklahoma City is the league's best team.

He backed up his words Saturday night by leading the Thunder to a dominant victory in a place few visiting teams have had success.

Westbrook had 31 points and eight assists and Oklahoma City used a strong second quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-100 for its ninth straight victory.

"We got the best record in the league; I believe we're the best team in the league regardless of who says this and who says that," Westbrook said. "You have to go out and play. You can predict anything, but you have to play the game."

The Thunder outscored the Spurs 40-29 in the second quarter to hand San Antonio only its second home loss this season.

"It was one of our best scoring quarters," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "Not sure we have even had a 40-point quarter this season, but we moved the ball well and made shots. Both teams are hard to guard and both teams can score points. We got hot there in the second."

Tony Parker had 23 points and eight assists in his return from a two-game absence due to a bruised shin, but Kawhi Leonard was a late scratch following a dental procedure.

Even though they were without their best defender on the wing, San Antonio said Leonard's absence had little to do with the loss.

"Well, I'm sure we'd like to have Kawhi, but that happens to every NBA team at some point in the season," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "You don't lose just because of that. We would have loved to have had him, but they played better than we did tonight for more of the game."

Kevin Durant, whom Leonard would have defended, only had 17 points while going 6-for-14 from the field.

Instead, it was Westbrook and reserve guard Reggie Jackson who proved difficult to stop.

Jackson had 21 points, four assists and only one turnover in 30 minutes.

"This is the second game he's been playing good against us," Parker said. "We have to find a solution for him. Westbrook and Durant, they are going to score and take a lot of shots, but we can't let Jackson score that much. That's two games in a row that I felt he's the one that hurt us the most."

Westbrook and Jackson were a combined 21-for-36 and handed out 12 assists.

Game notes

Parker (shin bruise) was questionable, but started and played 33 minutes. He had eight assists while shooting 6-for-14. ... Entering Saturday's game, the Thunder were averaging 109.9 points during their eight-game winning streak and shooting 50.2 percent.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
I'm at the most happiest if the Spurs suffer loss at the hands of other teams in the NBA. San Antonio hater ngarud.

[tonistork]

Suns bury Dallas with 15 3-pointers in blowout win
Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Phoenix first-year coach Jeff Hornacek was one of the NBA's best shooters in his playing days. His team did him proud Saturday night.

Phoenix matched its season-best with 15 3-pointers -- in 30 tries -- to beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-108 in the surprising Suns' highest-scoring game of the season

Five Phoenix players made at least two from beyond the arc.

Eric Bledsoe was 3-of-4 on 3s and scored 25, Gerald Green made 4-of-8 3s en route to 22 points and Channing Frye sank 4-of-6 3s and scored 18 in the Suns' seventh win in their last eight games. P.J. Tucker was 2-of-3 from long-range and scored 16. Marcus Morris made 2-of-3 3s.

"If you share the ball, then everybody gets a feeling of confidence that is way up," the Suns' Goran Dragic said. "We are shooting the ball well. This is so much fun, playing like that. Everybody is on the same page and when we play like that I think it's hard to stop us."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points, and Monta Ellis and Brandan Wright had 19 apiece for the Mavericks, whose only lead of the night was 2-0. The 123 points were the most allowed by Dallas this season.

Both teams were playing on consecutive nights. The Suns rallied from 21 down to win at Denver 103-99 on Friday night and Dallas lost 109-108 at home to Toronto in overtime.

The Mavericks were 3-of-17 on 3s, getting outscored 45-9 from 3-point range. Dallas lost despite a 62-36 advantage in points in the paint.

Game notes

Suns have made at least seven 3-pointers in 18 consecutive games. ... Phoenix is 8-5 against teams that had a .500 record or better through games played Friday. ... The Suns, expected to be one of the NBA's worst teams, improved to 16-10, sixth-best in the Western Conference. ... Dallas has lost four of six.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

TS (toni storks) view:
Aside from the Portland Trailblazers, this Phoenix Suns is the surprise team of this NBA season. Without any true superstar in its line-up, they are winning and surprisingly if the play-off starts now, they are the 6th seed on the depth & tough Western Conference.

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Thursday , December 26 Schedule: 5 games

Chicago at Brooklyn - 12 pm ET, 9 am PT on ESPN

Oklahoma City at New York - 2:30 pm ET, 11:30 am PT on ABC

Miami at L.A. Lakers - 5 pm ET, 2 pm PT on ABC

Houston at San Antonio - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on ESPN

L.A. Clippers at Golden State - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT ESPN

[david brent]

hindi na ko updated - si hornacek na pala coach ng suns?!? he's doing better than jason kidd

OT: lance stephenson is the league leader in triple doubles so far (with 3 i think)

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Second All-Star Ballot Return :


EASTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt:
1. LeBron James (Mia) 854,105
2. Paul George (Ind) 712,808
3. Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 580,795
4. Roy Hibbert (Ind) 304,829
5. Chris Bosh (Mia) 222,861
6. Kevin Garnett (BKN) 137,520
7. Joakim Noah (Chi) 101,308
8. Andre Drummond (Det) 91,132
9. Jeff Green (Bos) 78,693
10. Tyson Chandler (NYK) 77,496
11. Luol Deng (Chi) 73,418
12. Carlos Boozer (Chi) 64,861
13. Paul Pierce (BKN) 60,541
14. Brook Lopez (BKN) 52,907
15. Josh Smith (Det) 46,836

Backcourt:
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 565,455
2. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 524,000
3. Derrick Rose (Chi) 299,950
4. John Wall (Was) 210,988
5. Ray Allen (Mia) 143,714
6. Rajon Rondo (Bos) 111,335
7. Deron Williams (BKN) 74,047
8. George Hill (Ind) 66,030
9. Lance Stephenson (Ind) 50,444
10. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 48,744

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt:
1. Kevin Durant (OKC) 850,728
2. Dwight Howard (Hou) 408,623
3. Blake Griffin (LAC) 399,357
4. Kevin Love (Min) 377,941
5. Tim Duncan (SA) 312,809
6. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 282,613
7. Anthony Davis (NO) 188,589
8. Pau Gasol (LAL) 177,883
9. Andre Iguodala (GS) 145,089
10. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 126,025
11. Chandler Parsons (Hou) 106,369
12. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac) 99,903
13. David Lee (GS) 89,858
14. Omer Asik (Hou) 79,591
15. Kawhi Leonard (SA) 76,110

Backcourt:
1. Kobe Bryant (LAL) 723,031
2. Chris Paul (LAC) 533,647
3. Stephen Curry (GS) 481,698
4. Jeremy Lin (Hou) 358,725
5. James Harden (Hou) 270,476
6. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 216,070
7. Tony Parker (SA) 158,329
8. Damian Lillard (Por) 105,880
9. Ricky Rubio (Min) 81,829
10. Steve Nash (LAL) 81,377

[kingjames24szupladoh]

December 27, Final Scores/Leaders:

Hawks – 127 Cavaliers – 125
Teague: 34 Pts. Teague: 14 Asts. Millsap: 11 Rebs./Irving: 40 Pts. Irving: 9 Asts. Varejao: 17 Rebs.

Grizzlies – 92 Rockets – 100
Randolph: 23 Pts Conley: 6 Asts. Randolph: 17 Rebs./Harden: 27 Pts. Parsons: 5 Asts. Parsons: 11 Rebs.

Spurs – 116 Mavericks – 107
Parker: 23 Pts. Diaw: 5 Asts. Duncan: 13 Rebs./Nowitzki: 25 Pts. Ellis: 6 Asts. Blair: 11 Rebs.

Clippers – 112 Blazers – 116
Griffin: 35 Pts. Paul: 16 Asts. Jordan: 19 Rebs./Aldridge: 32 Pts. Williams: 8 Asts. Lopez: 15 Rebs.


STANDINGS:

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

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

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

[kingjames24szupladoh]

Saturday, December 28 Schedule : 9 games

Oklahoma City at Charlotte - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Detroit at Orlando - 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT
Milwaukee at Brooklyn - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Toronto at New York - 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT
Washington at Minnesota - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT on NBATV
Denver at New Orleans - 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT
L.A. Lakers at Utah - 9 pm ET, 6 pm PT
Miami at Sacramento - 10 pm ET, 7 pm PT
Phoenix at Golden State - 10:30 pm ET, 7:30 pm PT