NBA Today - March 21
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, March 21
L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee (8 p.m. EDT). The Clippers are tied with Golden State for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
STARS Tuesday
-Carlos Boozer, Jazz, had 25 points and tied his career high with 21 rebounds as Utah snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Golden State 104-100.
-Elton Brand, Clippers, had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, leading Los Angeles to a 103-89 victory at Chicago.
-Chris Paul, Hornets, had 23 points, nine assists and four steals as New Orleans defeated Memphis 114-103.
-Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, Rockets. Yao had 32 points and 14 rebounds and McGrady added 20 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as Houston topped Indiana 86-76.
DIVISION WINNER
Phoenix clinched its third consecutive Pacific Division title by beating Minnesota 108-90 Tuesday night.
CONSISTENT
Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard each scored 24 points as Dallas hit the 55-win mark for the third straight season and won its third straight game, 92-77 over New York on Tuesday night.
STOPPED
Carmelo Anthony scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter as Denver won its fifth straight for the first time in New Jersey since 2000, 94-90 on Tuesday night. It also marked the first time this season the Nuggets won a game (1-21) when scoring less than 99 points.
SNAPPED
Gerald Wallace had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Adam Morrison hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime as Charlotte ended Cleveland's eight-game winning streak, 108-100 Tuesday night. ... Tayshaun Prince scored 30 points as Detroit ended a three-game home skid with a 95-75 victory over Philadelphia.
SLUMPING
Indiana's 86-76 loss at Houston on Tuesday night was its eighth straight on the road and 12th in 13 overall.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Pau Gasol scored 28 points, shot 11-for-14 from the field, added 10 rebounds and six assists, but Memphis was beaten by New Orleans 114-103 on Tuesday night. ... Antawn Jamison's 27 points and 12 rebounds weren't enough for Washington in a 100-98 loss to Portland.
CONFERENCES
New Jersey finished 10-20 against the Western Conference.
FINED
The NBA fined Charlotte part-owner Michael Jordan $15,000 for discussing Texas freshman Kevin Durant during an interview last week.
SPEAKING
''The panic button has been hit. We've got to win these last two bar none. I don't know how to say it anymore. The urgency is there if we're trying to make the playoffs.'' - Kevin Garnett, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 11th consecutive road loss, 108-90 at Phoenix on Tuesday night. Minnesota is 2 1/2 games behind Golden State and the Clippers for the Western Conference's final playoff berth.
Clemson's James May is questionable (hand)
Clemson's Vernon Hamilton is questionable (shoulder)
Kings Brad Miller is questionable (foot)
Raptors Anthony Parker is questionable (ankle)
Celtics Ryan Gomes is questionable (foot)
Clippers Sam Cassell is doubtful (groin)
Bucks Charlie Villanueva is doubtful (shoulder)
Bucks Michael Redd is questionable (illness)
Bobcats Sean May is doubtful (knee)
Bobcats Brevin Knight is doubtful (groin)
Raptors' Bargnani Has Appendectomy
TORONTO (AP) -- Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani had an appendectomy on Wednesday, and is expected to be released from a hospital in the next few days.
No timetable was set for the return to the court of Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in the draft, who is averaging 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench for Toronto.
"He's just waking up right now, but everything is fine. He seems to be doing well," Toronto assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini said Wednesday morning from Mount Sinai Hospital.
Bargnani and Portland's Brandon Roy are considered the top candidates for rookie of the year. The Italian is coming off Eastern Conference rookie of the month honors for February, when he averaged 13.5 points on 50 percent shooting to help Toronto surge to the top of the Atlantic Division.
O'Neal doubtful for underdog Pacers
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
Indiana Pacers starting power forward Jermaine O’Neal is considered doubtful for tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs because of a sore left knee.
O’Neal injured his knee last night against the Houston Rockets. He recently missed three games because of a similar injury and Indiana went 1-2 against the spread without him.
“He had another episode with his knee,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star after last night’s game. “He’s going to be very doubtful (against the Spurs).”
The All-Star forward is averaging 19.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in 57 games this season. The Pacers are 2-7 straight up and 3-6 against the spread without O’Neal this year. Troy Murphy should get the start in O’Neal’s place.
Redd questionable against Clippers
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd missed practice Monday and is questionable for tonight’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
A club spokesperson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Redd had a stomach virus and will be reevaluated. He leads the Bucks in scoring with a 27.2 average through 46 games.
UNC's Terry misses practice with illness
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
North Carolina starting forward Reyshawn Terry missed practice Tuesday and is questionable for Friday’s matchup against USC in the Sweet Sixteen.
Terry was feeling ill Saturday against Michigan State, despite scoring 14 points while suffering from a headache and fever. He is now being tested for strep throat. He averages 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Tar Heels.
Allen out with ankle pain
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
By Covers.com staff
Seattle SuperSonics starting shooting guard Ray Allen is expected to miss tonight’s contest against the Washington Wizards because of pain in his left ankle.
The Tacoma News Tribune reports Allen saw a doctor yesterday and the team has listed him as day-to-day. There was speculation earlier this month Allen was considering sitting out the rest of the year because of bone spurs in his ankle.
Allen is a seven-time All-Star and is averaging 26.4 points 4.1 assists this season. Seattle is 4-7 straight up and against the spread without Allen in the lineup this year.
Damien Wilkins should get the bulk of playing time at shooting guard tonight.