Mar

8

Yi’s Injured Wrist Examined

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???????????????????????????????? Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian?

It’s one thing that Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has a season-ending foot injury to deal with.? It also doesn’t help that Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian has a tricky injury of his own to deal with; Jianlian travelled to Los Angeles to have his right wrist examined by three doctors on Friday after yi complained of persistent pain in the wrist.

Jianlian?was initially examined by Bucks doctors, but team general manager Larry Harris told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Friday,?”We felt we wanted to get a couple other opinions.”? Jianlian’s injury could have some ramifications for both the Bucks and the Chinese national basketball team; Ming and Jianlian were both expected to be available for the Chinese team as they look to improve upon their 8th-place finish in the 2004 Olympics.

Jianlian, who has started 48 games for the Bucks, has seen a marked decline in his offensive performance and has also been bugged by several injuries; he is averaging as of this writing 8.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 58 games this season.? Perhaps Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said it best about Jianlian’s situation: “I’d say if anything, he wasn’t playing well because he was trying to play injured.? Now he’s realized it might not be the smartest situation to continue playing.? I can’t blame him at all.”

Mar

8

Slam Dunk Central Presents: ESPN NBA Shootaround Previews Suns VS Spurs

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Mar

8

Utah Comes Back With Second Half Explosion Blot Out Suns 126-118

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The Utah Jazz had seven players score in double figures Friday night and the team shot a scalding 57.0% (45-79) from the floor for the game as they defeated the Phoenix Suns 126-118.?Utah came back from being down in the first half to take over the game with a flurry in the final quarter. The loss was the third in a row for Phoenix, who are now 3-6 since Phoenix General Manager Steve Kerr decided to trade for Shaquille O’Neal. The day the trade was made the Suns had the best record in the Western Conference. They now have the sixth best record in the conference.

Phoenix looked like they might have been at the end of their losing streak in the first?half as they led 33-28, at the end of the?first quarter, and were up 66-59 as the two teams hit the half. The Suns increased their lead even further at the end of the third quarter as they were ahead 94-85 as the two teams entered the final 12 minutes of play. And with the start of the fourth?quarter, it was if the Jazz flipped a switch and came alive.? Utah took their first lead of the second half at 97-96 as Deron Williams drove the lane for a layup, putting Utah ahead 97-96 with 8:41 left in the game. The lead?volleyed back and forth until Utah took the lead at 116-114 as Kyle Korver hit two at the line. Phoenix never led again.

Deron Williams registered a double-double for the Jazz as he scored 25 points, dished off a game high 15 assists, 6 rebounds in the victory. Mehmet Okur also?recorded a double-double for Utah as he scored 25 points, grabbed 14 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, Carlos Boozer scored 23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist. Kyle Korver scored 14 points, 1 steal, 1 assist, 1 rebound, Matt Harpring scored 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal.? Paul Milsap scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, Ronnie Brewer scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist.

Amare?Stoudemire led all scores with 37 points,?8 boards, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal. Shaq scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, Raja Bell scored 19 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist. Steve Nash recorded a double-double 17 points, 15 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal. Utah is now 41-22, Phoenix is 40-22.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com

Mar

8

Spurs Streak Ends At 11 Games As They Get Rocked By Nuggets 109-96

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The Denver Nuggets may be on the outside looking in with respect to the Western Conference playoffs, but they proved Friday night they will be a force to be reckoned with if they slide into the top eight.Denver used a 34-19 third quarter advantage to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 109-96 at Denver (36-24) and stay 1.5 games behind Golden State for the eight seed in the tight Western playoff race. The loss for the Spurs ended an eleven game winning streak.

Down 54-46 at halftime, the Nuggets jumped out to a Carmelo Anthony-fueled 7-0 to begin the third quarter. After Tim Duncan iced a 20-footer with 5:48 to go in the period to stretch San Antonio ?s (43-18) lead to 66-61, Denver went on a 13-2 run. Two Anthony free throws with 3:01 left in the quarter gave Denver a 74-68 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.J.R. Smith sank a three-pointer with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter to give Denver a 96-81 lead, its largest of the game.

Allen Iverson scored 29 points and dropped nine assists in the win. Anthony contributed 25 points and eight rebounds while Eduardo Najera exploded for 19 points off the bench. Tim Duncan had 23 points and nine rebounds and Manu Ginobli poured in 24 points for San Antonio. Denver with the win is now 37-24, their best record at this point in the season in the last 20 years, the Spurs are now 43-18.

Denver fans gave a rousing ovation to Nuggets forward Nene who was on the bench in a suit, for the first time since undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous growth from his testicle on January 14. There is no word on when he will be back playing for the Nuggets. He currently is on an indefinite medical leave of absence.

Mar

8

CP-3, Rookie Wright Lead Hornets Past Nets 107-96

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We already know what New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul can do, but unless you follow the Hornets, then few people know about rookie Julian Wright.? After tonight, I am sure more people will know about him; the first-year player from Kansas, along with Paul, led the Hornets to a convincing victory over the New Jersey Nets 107-96 Friday night at New Orleans Arena.

New Jersey scored the first eight points of the game and shot 83% in the first 7 1/2 minutes as they took a 20-13 lead; however, the Nets made only 3 of 14 shots to begin the second quarter, allowing the Hornets to climb to within 46-43 at halftime.? Early in the fourth quarter, New Orleans’ Wright made a steal and dunked; Wright then hit a jumper, made another dunk, then made a 3-pointer a few possessions later. giving the Hornets an insurmountable 89-71 lead.

New Orleans was led by Paul with 25 points, 3 rebounds, 16 assists and 3 steals, while Wright scored 20 on 8-of-9 shooting along with 8 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals.? Tyson Chandler added 19 with 10 rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot, while Peja Stojakovic chipped in with 15 with 5 rebounds, an assist,?a steal and a blocked shot.

New Jersey’s leading scorer was Richard Jefferson with 27 points with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, while Vince Carter scored 19 with 3 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals; Devin Harris added 17 with a rebound, 8 assists, 2 steals but 6 turnovers, while Nenad Krstic pitched in with a double-double pouring in 14 with 11 rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.? New Orleans (42-19) now makes the short trip to Houston to take on the Houston Rockets Saturday, while New Jersey (26-36) also goes to Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks - also on Saturday night.

Mar

8

K-Mart’s 48 Not Enough As Timberwolves Beat Kings On Road 111-103

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48 points.? Wasted.? I could well imagine that’s what Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin was thinking; other than Martin, it appeared that the Kings played some lackadaisical basketball as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 111-103 win Friday night at Arco Arena.

Despite Martin’s offensive explosion, the Kings couldn’t get closer than seven points.? The Timberwolves’ Al Jefferson was a factor in the paint, dominating Sacramento’s Brad Miller; key contributions also came from Minnesota’s Craig Smith as he added 10 fourth quarter points.? Also consider that Minnesota took more shots than Sacramento (85 vs. Sacramento’s 71) but also made 12 more shots (44 vs. 32).

Minnesota was led by Rashard McCants from off the bench?with 22 points - including 3 treys - along with 2 rebounds, an assist and 3 steals, while Jefferson scored 21 with 13 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals and a blocked shot.? Smith from off the bench added 18 with?3 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, while Ryan Gomes pitched in with 17 with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

Sacramento was led by the aforementioned Martin with a career-high 48 points with 6 rebounds and an assist, while John Salmons scored 15 with 7 rebounds, an assist and 3 steals; Beno Udrih added 13 with 4 rebounds and 7 assists.? Minnesota (13-48) hopes to start a winning streak as they fly to Los Angeles to face the Clippers Saturday, while Sacramento (27-35) also go to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers on Sunday.

Mar

8

Minus Wade, Undermanned Heat Destroyed by Warriors 134-99

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Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis, foreground, is fouled as he goes to the basket by Miami Heat swingman Ricky Davis (#31) in the second quarter of their game, played Friday night. Golden State blasted Miami 134-99.

This is not a knock against the Miami Heat when I say this, but it has to?feel real bad?to be them right now; first you lose Shaquille O’Neal to the Phoenix Suns - although they did get Shawn Marion - then you lose 6, yes count them, 6 players to injuries of one sort or another and other reasons?- including the franchise, Dwyane Wade.? That folks is a recipe for a floundering team that’s clearly in rebuilding mode.? The Heat only suited up 7 players against the Golden State Warriors, and the end result expolited that weakness as Golden?State destroyed Miami 134-99 Friday night at American Airlines Arena.

Golden State’s Stephen Jackson drained a trio of 3-pointers in a span of 2:09 of the first quarter, which set the tone for the massacre that was going to commence?against the Heat; he and Al Harrington each connected on 4 treys in the first half alone, and as a result, Golden State methodically built up a 63-51 lead at halftime.? The Warriors sealed the deal in the third quarter, outscoring the Heat 37-22 in the period and stretching their insurmountable lead to 100-73.? The Heat were toast from that point on.

Golden State had 6 players in double-digits, led by Jackson with 22 points - including 5 three-pointers - 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal while Al Harrington from off the bench scored 17 - including 5 treys - ?with 5 rebounds; Monta Ellis added 16 with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot, while Baron Davis and Mickael Pietrus each pitched in with 15 - with Davis grabbing 2 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists and a steal, while Pietrus grabbed 9 boards, dished?out an assist and had 2 steals.

Miami was led by Marcus Banks and Chris Quinn?with 20 points apiece - with Banks grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists and a blocked shot, while Quinn grabbed a rebound, dished out 2 assists along with a steal.? Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion chipped in with 17 each - with Haslem grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out an assist, with a steal and a blocked shot, while Marion grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 2 assists with a steal and 2 blocked shots; Ricky Davis grabbed 12 boards in a losing effort.? Golden State (38-23) now travels north to Orlando to face the Magic Saturday night, while Miami (11-48) makes the short trip to Atlanta to take on the Hawks - also on Saturday night.

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