Jan

31

Lopez Gets Double-Double; Sixers Have Scoring Trouble; Nets Win 85-83

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Brook Lopez 1.31c

Rookie center Brook Lopez recorded a double-double, and New Jersey Nets point guard Devin Harris added 17 more, but the reason that the Nets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday at the Wachovia Center 85-83, was mainly due to the Sixers total offensive collapse in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia went into the final quarter with a healthy lead of 75-65, and then scored just 8 points in the period. The Sixers hit just 2-22 shots in the quarter including 0-18 as they did not make a field goal in the last 10:37 of play.  Needless to say the home town team did not play well to the same folks who booed Santa Claus, as they were jeered by those still in attendance at the end of the contest.

This entire contest was one of extremes, feast or famine. Both teams came out with guns blazing in the first resulting in a 31-31 tie at the end of the quarter. Philadelphia kept scoring in the second, but the Nets could not maintain the high octane offense, and fell by the wayside trailing at the half  by a score of 58-50.

Neither team shot particularly well in the third but the Sixers still increased their advantage as they were on top heading into the final quarter 75-65. Dependent upon your loyalties the next 12 minutes of play were either terribly horrific, or terribly amusing as Philadelphia engaged in an effort of futility. The basket not only had a lid on it every time the 76ers took a shot, that lid was welded on tight. Brook Lopez with 16 seconds to play put the dagger in the Sixers heart sinking the bucket that completed the come back as New Jersey took the lead for good at 84-83.

Brook Lopez recorded a double-double, a game high 24 points, 17 boards, 4 blocks, and 1 assist, in one of his strongest nights of his rookie campaign. Devin  Harris scored 17 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block, in the Nets victory. Jarvis Hayes came off the bench and had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Keyon Dooling also added 11 points from the bench, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Andre Miller led Philadelphia with 19 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal. Andre Iguodala scored 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, while Thaddeus Young added 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. New Jersey with the win is 21-27, while Philadelphia is now 23-23.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack.net

Jan

31

Double-Double By Villanueva Leads to Victory For Bucks Over Raptors 96-85

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Charlie Villanueva 1.31a

The Milwaukee Bucks currently reside in the eighth and final playoff slot in the NBA Eastern Conference. Their odds to retain that  position lessened considerably after they lost veteran guard Michael Redd for the rest of the season. Redd tore his ACL and his MCL in his left knee last Saturday when the Bucks defeated the Sacramento Kings. They then lost their next 2 games in a row. However on Friday night another  Milwaukee veteran forward Charlie Villanueva strapped the team on his back and carried them to a 96-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Villanueva recorded a double-double, with a game high 26 points, and a game high 13 boards to help the Bucks get the win at the Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors came out of the starting blocks strong and took a 30-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. Villanueva gave Milwaukee the lead with 9:57 in the second as he drained a trey putting his team ahead 33-30. The Bucks would keep the lead for the rest of the period and were on top 49-47 at the half. Toronto would trail for the rest of the contest as Milwaukee increased their lead to 70-59 at the end of the third quarter. The closest the Raptors would get in the final 12 minutes of play was trailing by 9 points at the beginning of the period.

Charlie Villanueva scored 26 points, grabbed 13 boards, 2 blocks, 1 assist, and 1 steal, in the Milwaukee victory. Richard Jefferson scored 17 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Luke Ridnour chipped in 15 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. Andrew Bogut returning from the injured list played limited minutes, but made the most of them as he had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, Charlie Bell came off the bench with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Chris Bosh led the way for the Raptors as he scored 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while Jermaine O’Neal came off the bench and had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Andrea Bargnani also added 16 points, and 4 rebounds, while Anthony Parker put up 12 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. Milwaukee is now 23-27, Toronto is 19-29.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack.net

Jan

31

ESPNews Highlight Of The Night

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Jan

31

Celtics Stage A Palace Coup Shut Down Pistons 86-78

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The Boston Celtics traveled to the Palace of Auburn Hills Friday night, to face the team they played in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals the Detroit Pistons. However the team that took the hardwood in the home uniforms barely resembled the 2007-2008 edition, and Boston shut down the Pistons 86-78. The victory was the tenth straight for the Celtics who have regained the best record in the Association. For the Pistons it was yet another starting lineup with disappointing results as Detroit has gone 3-7 in their last 10 games. 

The lineup “du-jour” that Pistons head coach Michael Curry put on the floor to take on the defending NBA Champions  was yet another tweaking that really went nowhere as a unit. This time it was bye-bye Kwame Brown hello Amir Johnson (Brown actually had a couple of pretty good games at the beginning of the season for Detroit, much to the surprise of most NBA observers. However, it was as if one day he realized that he may now play for the Detroit Pistons, but he was still Kwame Brown. He has been ineffective as a starter ever since, and most nights he does not start he gets a DNP as he did on Friday.) Brown had 0 points in 5 minutes in his last start, Johnson was not much better as he scored 2 points, and also played just 5 minutes.

The Celtics were not that sharp in the first but the Pistons appeared to be in a fog, resulting in Boston having a 23-16 lead at the end of the quarter. Detroit did find their offense in the second quarter, and the Celtics lead was down to just 2 points at the half as the score was 43-41. Neither team was having much success in the third, but Boston would lead by 6 points as Paul Pierce drove the lane putting the ball up and in with 1 second in the quarter, and giving his team a 62-56 advantage. Detroit threatened one last time in the fourth as Richard Hamilton connected on a mid-range jumper with 5:41 in the game cutting the Celtics lead to 71-67.  Kevin Garnett would make it a 78-67 contest with 3:59 to go when he drained an outside shot. The Pistons were never able to regain their footing.

Kevin Garnett led all players with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, in the Boston victory. Paul Pierce scored 20 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Ray Allen added 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Rodney Stuckey had 19 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Allen Iverson added 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Richard Hamilton came off the bench with 14 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds, while Rasheed Wallace scored 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. Boston now has the best record in the NBA as they are 39-9, they will host the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday at noon. Detroit is now at 25-20 they host Central Division leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday afternoon.

 © Copyright 2009 thesackattack.net

Jan

31

Bulls Shoot 56%, Trample Kings 109-88

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Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon

No matter what NBA team you are, chances are that if you commit over 20 turnovers and shoot nearly 37% from the floor, the likelihood of your team losing is very high.  That’s exactly what the Sacramento Kings did in their game against the Chicago Bulls.  Of course, it didn’t help the Kings that the Bulls shot nearly 57% from the floor, either.  Long story short, Chicago easily disposed of Sacramento 109-88 Friday night at Arco Arena.

Luol Deng would score 12 first-half points for the Bulls, who went ahead 45-24 on an Aaron Gray dunk five minutes into the second quarter; however, Sacramento’s Kevin Martin helped the Kings keep close as they were behind by only 11 at 54-43 at halftime.  Chicago would pour it on in the third quarter as they outscored Sacramento 29-20 and would keep their lead in double-digits the rest of the way.

Chicago was led by Ben Gordon and Deng with 20 points each – with Gordon grabbing a rebound along with 2 steals and a blocked shot while Deng grabbed 7 boards along with 2 steals; Joakim Noah added 17 with 6 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocked shots while Tyrus Thomas notched a double-double, scoring 14 with 10 rebounds.

Sacramento’s high scorer was Martin with 27 points (including 3 three-pointers) with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a blocked shot while John Salmons added 16 with 6 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals and a blocked shot; Jason Thompson chipped in 15 with 12 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a blocked shot.  Chicago (20-27) plays again on Saturday when they fly to Phoenix to take on the Suns while Sacramento (10-38) hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

Jan

31

Warriors Enjoy Balanced Scoring, Swat Away Hornets 91-87

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Even the elite teams are mortal – ask the New Orleans Hornets.  Against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, they had easily one of their worst shooting nights of the season as they shot only 35.9% from the floor; the end result was Golden State holding off New Orleans 91-87 at New Orleans Arena.

The Hornets led 29-19 in the second quarter when West scored on a putback; they were up 40-31 when Golden State’s Stephen Jackson scored on a layup which started a 16-2 run that included a 3-pointer by Jackson and a pair of layups by Monta Ellis.  That offensive spurt gave the Warriors a 47-42 lead before New Orleans’ Devin Brown hit a floater which would pull the Hornets to within 47-44 at halftime.

Chris Paul would score 15 points in the third quarter – including all of the 11 points in a 11-2 run – that would give the Hornets a 60-55 lead; however, the Warriors were able to tie the game at 67-all at the end of the period on tip-ins by Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf.  A basket by Corey Maggette in the fourth quarter gave the Warriors a 73-70 lead with about 6 minutes remaining in the game.

A driving layup by Paul pulled New Orleans to within 80-78, but Maggette scored; he would soon score again on a 3-point play, giving Golden State an 85-79 lead with 1:21 left to go.  Ellis would hit a pair of free throws with 14.3 seconds left on the game clock, icing the win for the Warriors.

Golden State’s scoring was well-balanced, led by Maggette with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists while Jamal Crawford added 17 with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal; Ellis and Jackson chipped in 15 apiece – with Ellis grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists along with 2 steals and a blocked shot while Jackson grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 7 assists along with 3 steals.

New Orleans was led by Chris Paul with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals but committing 6 turnovers while David West added 12 with 15 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.  Golden State (15-32) plays again on Saturday when they make the short trip to Houston to take on the Rockets while New Orleans (28-15) travels to Texas as well when they face the San Antonio – also on Saturday.

Jan

31

ESPN: SportsCenter Highlight Of The Night

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