Nov

30

Billups’ 11 Third Quarter Points Help Nuggets Defuse Rockets 104-94

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Typically, the Denver Rockets main source of offense is Carmelo Anthony; there was a change of plans on Sunday when the Houston Rockets came to take on the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.  Anthony did play for a while until he had to leave the game in the second quarter because he reaggravated an elbow injury he has been dealing with the past couple weeks.  As it turned out, the Nuggets had a Plan B as Chauncey Billups manned up as he scored 11 of his 28 points in a pivotal third period, leading Denver to a 104-94 win over Houston.

Neither team shot especially well during the first half yet the Nuggets managed to take a 48-44 lead into their locker room at halftime; during the third quarter, Billups sank a pair of free throws that would give Denver a sizable 72-58 advantage; they would go into the final quarter with a 78-68 lead.  But the Rockets would chip away and get to within 89-84 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the game on a pair of baskets by Carl Landry; however, Denver’s Chris Andersen would end that run with a pair of free throws and a basket by Nene - which would make it a 97-86 cushion for the Nuggets.  The Rockets would get no closer.

Denver’s high scorer was Billups with 28 points (including 4 three-pointers), 4 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals while J.R. Smith from off the bench added 19 (including 5 treys) with 5 rebounds and 4 assists; Nene pitched in, scoring 17 with 10 rebounds, an assist and a steal while Kenyon Martin poured in 15 with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocked shots.

Houston was led by Yao Ming with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots while Rafer Alston added 16 (along with 3 treys) with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot while Aaron Brooks pitched in, scoring 15 (including 3 treys) with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.  Denver (12-6) plays again on Tuesday when they host the Toronto Raptors while Houston (11-7) returns home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Nov

30

Hot Shooting, Balanced Scoring Help Bulls Trample 76ers 103-92

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One would think that if a team has been on a 7-game, 12-day road trip that the last game would be a reflection of the amount of energy the team in question would have; during Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers at Wachovia Center, you wouldn’t have known that they have been on the road for almost 2 consecutive weeks.  They shot well (52.1%) and had balanced scoring, enabling Chicago to defeat Philadelphia 103-92.

The 76ers led by as many as 15 points in the first half before the Bulls went on a 14-0 run to cut their lead to 41-40, capped by a basket by Luol Deng with 4:57 remaining; however, Philadelphia finished the first half strong and would go into halftime with a narrow 55-52 lead.  Chicago held a 71-66 lead late in the third quarter before scoring 12 unanswered points to pad their advantage to 83-66.  A 3-pointer by the Bulls’ Larry Hughes at the 7:21 mark of the final period pretty much sealed the deal for Chicago.

Chicago’s high scorer was Ben Gordon with 21 points (including 3 treys), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a blocked shot while Drew Gooden added 20 with 12 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal; Derrick Rose pitched in, scoring 18 with 5 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and a blocked shot while Larry Hughes came off the bench to add 16 (with 4 three-pointers) with 3 rebounds and 2 assists.  Philadelphia was led by Elton Brand with 21 points, 12 rebounds and an assist while Thaddeus Young added 17 with 5 rebounds and 4 assists; Andre Miller pitched in 15 with a rebound, 10 assists and 3 steals.  Chicago (8-9) plays again on Tuesday when they host Philadelphia in a rematch.

Nov

30

Trail Blazers Trio Leads To Triumph Over Detroit 96-85

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If the Portland Trail Blazers were bothered by playing a Sunday afternoon game in the Central Time Zone rather than their home Pacific Time Zone, it certainly was well hidden on the hardwood. Portland took a big first quarter lead over the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and for the most part maintained control throughout the contest leading to a 96-85 win. The Blazers were led by LaMarcus Aldridge with a game high 27 points, Brandon Roy added 19 more, and Greg Oden recorded a double-double, as the team won it’s fourth straight game. Portland shot 52.2% (36-69) from the floor for the game, while the Pistons looked like they were searching for a rhythm for 48 minutes.

The Pistons took the court in the first quarter, but their offense remained in the locker room as the Blazers took a 25-13 lead at the end of the period. Detroit struck back late in the second cutting the lead to 45-42 as Rasheed Wallace hit a 26 foot trey with 1:00 left to play. The Trail Blazers would then score 5 unanswered points to go into the locker room up 50-42.

Portland maintained the lead throughout the entire third quarter as the differential would ebb and flow ahead 70-64 heading into the fourth. The Pistons made a run in the first few minutes of the fourth and took a 77-75 lead when Arron Afflalo hit 2 at the line with 8:42 remaining. The lead was short lived as Steve Blake hit a trey with 7:23 left putting Portland back on top for good at 78-75. The Blazers took away any hopes from the fans by going on a 15-5 run, leading 93-80 when Oden hit a pair at the line with 2:28 left in the game.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, in the Portland victory. B-Roy added 19 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, Oden recorded a double-double, 11 points, a career high 13 boards, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal. Steve Blake scored 10 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds.

Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 18 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds. Rodney Stuckey came off the bench, and had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, Rasheed Wallace put in 11points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 1 block. Tayshaun Prince added 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. Portland improves to 12-6, Detroit is 10-6.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

30

Kings Drop Sixth Straight, Corralled By Mavericks 101-78

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By definition, a host is supposed to be gracious - within reason.  Usually when the guest gets unruly, the host takes care of the guest immediately.  Apparently the Sacramento Kings have not received the memo as on Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks, the visiting team (Dallas) ran rampant in the Kings’ house (Arco Arena) and the Kings’ offense was anemic as they shot 34.8% from the floor - the end result being Dallas winning easily over Sacramento 101-78.

With the Mavericks ahead by eight points at halftime, they would get their offense started again in the third quarter, with Devean George scoring 10 points in the period, boosting Dallas to a 76-57 lead going into the fourth period.  Jason Terry would pad the Mavericks’ lead up to 25 with a pair of jumpers and they would never look back.

Dallas’ high scorer was Terry from off the bench with 24 points, a rebound and 3 assists while Dirk Nowitzki added 19 with 8 rebounds, an assist and a steal; Erick Dampier, while scoring only 8 points, grabbed 13 rebounds along with an assist and 2 blocked shots.  Sacramento was led by Beno Udrih with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while John Salmons added 10 with 5 rebounds, an assist and a steal.  Dallas (8-8) plays again on Tuesday as they begin a 7-game homestand, beginning with the Los Angles Clippers while Sacramento (5-14) play their second game in a 4-game homestand when they host the Utah Jazz - also on Tuesday night.

Nov

30

Furious Finish By LBJ Bolts Cavaliers By Bucks 97-85

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Any one who truly takes pride in their craft, executive or factory worker, athlete or artist, is their own severest critic. They have a certain standard, and when they don’t meet it they beat themselves up far more than any other person could.

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James is that type of individual, during the few times in his NBA career he has failed to come through he takes full responsibility. He is the first to admit he has failed, probably a huge factor in why it does not happen often. Saturday night looked like it was going to be one of those nights for James scoring just 14 points in the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks and looking out of sync. But that is when LBJ reached inside himself and took his game to another level, scoring 18 in the second half including 11 straight at a critical juncture in the fourth and leading Cleveland to a 97-85 win over Milwaukee.

Neither team looked particularly sharp in the first quarter, with Cleveland leading at the end of the period  20-16.  The Cavaliers would pull ahead in the second quarter, getting to the half with a 48-38 advantage. Malik Allen split a  pair at the line with 37 seconds left in the third pulling Milwaukee within 2 points down 69-67. Sasha Pavlovic hit a trey with 2 seconds remaining in the third, giving Cleveland a 72-67 lead at the end of the third.

The Bucks would get the lead down to 2 points with 6:33 left in the contest as Luke Ridnour hit a trey to make it 79-77. James would cap off a 14-4 Cleveland run with 2:20 to go hitting an outside shot and putting his team up to stay at 93-81.

James was the game’s leading scorer with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks in the Cleveland victory. Zydrunas Ilgauskas recorded a double-double, 23 points, grabbed 17 boards, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal, Mo Williams dropped 13 points on his former club, 3 assists, 3 rebounds.

Michael Redd returned after missing 14 games due to injury, and came off the bench with 20 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal. Richard Jefferson scored 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, Ramon Sessions added 16 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. Luke Ridnour had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. The Cavaliers now are at 14-3, the Bucks fall to 7-12.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

30

Rockets “Head” Off Spurs At The Pass 103-84

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Houston Rockets guard Luther Head led seven players in double figures as the Rockets bombarded the San Antonio Spurs Saturday 103-84. Head starting for the injured Tracy McGrady helped spark the huge first quarter by Houston. The Rockets would hold a double digit lead at the end of the period, and were pretty much in control for the balance of the game.

Houston looked like they were on their way to a rout early in the game leading 33-20 at the end of the first.  Luther Head drove the lane putting the ball up and in giving Houston a 50-31 lead with 5:37 in the second. San Antonio would finish the quarter on an 18-6 run, putting them back in the contest as they trailed 56-49 at the half. The Spurs pulled two within two points as Roger Mason laid it up and in making it a 60-58 game with 9:44 left in the third. But the Spurs come back hopes died there as Houston pulled ahead leading 84-70 at the end of the period. San Antonio never got closer for the rest of the game.

Luther Head was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, in the Houston victory.  Ron Artest had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, Shane Battier put in 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist. Rafer Alston scored 12 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, Yao Ming added 12 points, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal. Luis Scola got 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, Aaron Brooks also had 11 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal.

Tim Duncan scored 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, Matt Bonner came off the bench and also put in 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist. Tony Parker contributed 15 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, Manu Ginobli added 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. The victory gives Houston a record of 11-6, the Spurs are 9-7.

© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net

Nov

30

Knicks Set Team Records, Demolish Warriors 138-125

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The brand of basketball that the New York Knicks have been playing as of late has not been exactly awe-inspiring; enter the Golden State Warriors - recent trading partners with the Knicks - into the equation.  something unexplainable happened during the game at Madison Square Garden which hasn’t took place in recent memory - they had an offensive explosion for 4 quarters.  The Knicks set two team records as they dismantled the Warriors 138-125; during the game, Chris Duhon set a franchise record for assists with 22 while the team set a franchise record as they scored 82 points in the first half.  But to be fair, the Warriors were short-handed as they were without Stephen Jackson.

New York would shoot 64% in the opening quarter, opening up a 39-33 lead with 12 points by David Lee and 10 by Wilson Chandler; the Knicks would lay waste to the Warriors further as they outscored Golden State 43-31, allowing New York to go to their locker room with a substantial 82-64 cushion.  The Knicks would continue to pour it on in the third quarter after nailing a pair of 3-pointers once Golden State had reduced their deficit to 12.  Not that it mattered from that point on as New York would take an unattainable 116-96 lead heading into the final quarter; they would cruise from there.

New York’s leading scorer was Lee with a career-high 37 points, along with 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot while Al Harrington - not to be outdone - added 36 (including 5 treys) with 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal; Chandler pitched in, scoring 16 with 5 rebounds, 2 assists but 5 turnovers while Tim Thomas came off the bench to add 15 with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a blocked shot.  Duhon had a double-double, chipping in with 12 along with 4 rebounds, a team-record 22 assists and a steal.

Golden State was led by Corey Maggette with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists while C.J. Watson came off the bench to add 23 with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals; Jamal Crawford contributed 21 with 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot while Andris Biedrins added 16 with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and a blocked shot.  New York (8-8) plays again on Tuesday when they stay home to host the Portland Trail Blazers while Golden State (5-12) returns home to host the Miami Heat on Monday night.

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