NBA Today - March 24
Sat, Mar 24, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Saturday, March 24
Philadelphia at Miami (7:30 p.m. EDT). The Heat has won 10 of their last 11 as they continue to put pressure on Washington for the Southeast Division lead. Oddsmakers have listed the Heat as 9-point favorites and the total is set at 182 1/2.
STARS Friday
- Kobe Bryant, Lakers, scored 50 points in Los Angeles' 111-105 win over New Orleans.
- Baron Davis, Warriors, had 34 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds to lead Golden State to a 135-128 victory over Washington.
- Jason Terry, Mavericks, scored 29 points as Dallas downed Boston 109-95.
- LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers, scored six of his 27 points in overtime as Portland overcame an early 15-point deficit to beat Atlanta 102-100.
- Rashard Lewis, SuperSonics, finished with 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to help Seattle to a 85-82 comeback win over Minnesota.
BRYANT BLITZ
Kobe Bryant became the second player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in four straight games in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-105 victory over the New Orleans on Friday night. Bryant, who has now scored 50 or more points in seven games this season and 18 times in his career, has finished wit 65, 50 and 60 in his previous three games, all Lakers victories. Only Wilt Chamberlain has exceeded that mark, scoring at least 50 points in seven consecutive games during the 1961-62 season.
DOUBLE FIGURES
Philadelphia used seven players in double figures in a 106-97 victory over Charlotte on Friday night. Guard Andre Miller led with the starters with a team-high 19 points. Willie Green scored 18, Steven Hunter had 12, Rodney Carney 11 and Samuel Dalembert added 10 for the Sixers, who had lost their previous two games to Houston and Detroit by a combined 71 points. Kyle Korver and Joe Smith had 13 and 11 points, respectively, in reserve.
PLAYOFF RACE
Orlando moved up a spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings with a 90-82 win over New Jersey on Friday night. The Nets came into the game seventh in the playoff hunt, one place ahead of the Magic. ... Indiana's 95-70 victory over Miami, only its second win in four games after an 11-game losing streak, put the Pacers in eighth.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Center Tyson Chandler had 22 points and 22 rebounds for New Orleans in its 111-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Friday night. ... Reserve Salim Stoudamire scored a career-high 37 points for Atlanta, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter and adding eight in overtime in a 102-100 loss to Portland. ... Paul Pierce led Boston with 30 points, but was held to 5-of-18 shooting in a 109-95 loss to Dallas. ... Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and a season-high 13 assists against his former team as Washington dropped a 135-128 decision to Golden State. ... Eddy Curry scored 27 points with nine rebounds in New York's loss to Cleveland.
SPEAKING
''I went over to the sideline and I said ... watch this 3, I've got a 3 for you. Then I knocked down a 3 and gave him a high-five.'' - Kobe Bryant, whose 3-pointer from the corner prompted a rumble from the hostile crowd and excitement for a young boy in a courtside seat during the Lakers' 111-105 win over New Orleans on Friday night. It was Bryant's fourth straight 50-point effort, becoming only the second NBA player to accomplish the feat.
76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said Andre Iguodala (back) would accompany the team to Miami, but is still a game-time decision for tonight.
Bobcats Raymond Felton has been added to the injury report as questionable (thigh) for tonight's game.
Clippers Sam Cassell has been downgraded to doubtful (groin) for tonight.