NBA Today - March 20
Tue, Mar 20, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, March 20
Dallas at New York (7:30 p.m. EDT).
The Knicks are a half game behind New Jersey and Indiana for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
STARS
Monday
-Josh Childress, Hawks, scored a season-high 25 points to help Atlanta beat Sacramento 99-76.
NICE NEST
Atlanta extended its home winning streak to five games with a 99-76 win over Sacramento on Monday night.
ROAD BUMPS
Sacramento finished the season 4-11 in road games against the Eastern Conference after Monday night's 99-76 loss to Atlanta.
STILL BUZZING
New Orleans moved within 1 1/2 games of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with Monday night's 106-88 win over Boston.
SPEAKING
''Just a good old-fashioned butt-kicking, really. I don't know how else you can explain it other than that. I don't really know the reason. There's no realistic excuse that you can feel good about.'' - Sacramento's Shareef Abdur-Rahim after Monday night's 99-76 loss to Atlanta.
Trail Blazers' Randolph granted bereavement leave
Mon, Mar 19, 2007
By Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph was granted a bereavement leave Monday, and will miss Portland's next game.
The Trail Blazers play Washington at home Tuesday night.
The team did not disclose details of Randolph's situation, but said he was expected to rejoin the team during its upcoming road trip. After playing the Wizards, Portland goes on the road for four games.
Randolph is the team's leading scorer, averaging 23.5 points.
Billups questionable
Tue, Mar 20, 2007
Detroit Pistons All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups will be a game-time decision for tonight's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers because of strained groin.
Billups suffered the injury during Friday's contest against the Phoenix Suns. He left that game during the first quarter and also missed Sunday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. The Pistons covered in both contests.
Without Billups in the lineup, Detroit's depth at point guard is severely limited. Backup point guard Lindsey Hunter still has three games remaining his 10-game suspension, leaving small forward Tayshaun Prince as the team's No. 2 point guard. Flip Murray will start at the one-spot.
Billups missed eight games earlier this season during which the Pistons went 3-5 straight up and 2-6 against the spread. He is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 assists in 56 games this season.
Knicks - Quentin Richardson (questionable, back)
Pistons - Chauncey Billups (questionable, groin)
Richard Hamilton (probable, eye)
Bobcats - Sean May (questionable, knee)
Brevin Knight (out, groin)
Bobcats Emeka Okafor (strained calf), Sean May (sore knee) and Brevin Knight (groin strain) are all expected to miss tonight's game according to the Charlotte Observer.
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