NBA Today - March 8
Thu, Mar 8, 2007
By Associated Press
San Antonio at Sacramento (10:30 p.m. EST). The Spurs go for their 11th straight win when they visit the Kings, who are one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for eighth place in the Western Conference.
STARS Wednesday
- LeBron James, Cavaliers, scored 41 points to help Cleveland to a 101-97 overtime victory against Detroit.
- Andre Iguodala, 76ers, had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double of the season in Philadelphia's 92-89 win over Seattle.
- Zaza Pachulia, Hawks, scored a career-high 27 points with 12 rebounds in Atlanta's 100-97 win over Washington.
BREAKING AWAY
Miami outscored Chicago 38-9 over a decisive second-half spurt to beat the Bulls 103-70 Wednesday night, the first Heat win in four meetings between the clubs this season. Chicago got within 56-53 on Hinrich's 3-pointer with 5:30 left in the third, but it was all Miami from there. Chicago was 0-for-10 with five turnovers in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the third quarter and 3-for-20 over the run.
SUSPENSIONS
Detroit Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter was suspended 10 games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday after testing positive for phentermine, a banned substance primarily used for weight loss. Hunter said the pill was prescribed for his wife Ivy. Hunter began his suspension Wednesday night when the Pistons faced the Cleveland Cavaliers and will lose more than $202,000. ... Kobe Bryant was suspended one game by the NBA on Wednesday for striking a player in the face, his second penalty for that action in a little more than a month.
SNAPPED
Toronto ended a three-game losing streak with a 94-87 victory over the NBA-worst Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. ... Boston's four-game winning streak came to an end with a 111-80 loss to Houston.
REDD HERRING
Milwaukee's Michael Redd, who has scored more than 50 points in losses twice this season, scored only 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting in the Bucks' 110-90 blowout of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
SPEAKING
''They've been a little bit more serious in playing us than we were in playing them. So we knew that we owed this team. They hate us for some reason, which is fine.'' - Shaquille O'Neal after Miami beat Chicago 103-70 Wednesday night, the Heat's first win against Chicago in four meetings this season.
Hunter suspended 10 games for positive drug test
Wed, Mar 7, 2007
By Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Detroit Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter was suspended 10 games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday after testing positive for phentermine, a banned substance primarily used for weight loss.
Phentermine is listed as a steroid or performance-enhancing drug under the league's Anti-Drug program and brings an automatic 10-game penalty for a first positive test.
Hunter, who is 36 and in his 13th NBA season, has averaged 4.6 points, 1.4 assists and 14 minutes in 39 games as a key reserve for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.
Hunter began his suspension Wednesday night when the Pistons faced the Cleveland Cavaliers and will lose more than $202,000.
Nardi questionable for 'Nova
Thu, Mar 8, 2007
Villanova Wildcats starter Mike Nardi was limited to just five minutes of action in yesterday's Big East game against the DePaul Blue Demons and is considered questionable for today's Big East quarterfinal game against the Georgetown Hoyas.
The senior guard hurt his left leg during Saturday's win over the Syracuse Orange.
"I'll wait and see how it feels," Nardi told the Philadelphia Inquirer after the win over DePaul. "There's nothing you can do about it. I've just got to tough it out."
Nardi is averaging 12.8 points and 4.1 assists in 30 games this season.
Duke's Gerald Henderson is out (suspension)
Marquette's Dominic James is probable (knee)
Marquette's Jerel McNeal is doubtful (hand)
Colorado's Xavier Silas is out (suspension)
Hawks could miss All-Star guard for weeks
Thu, Mar 8, 200
The Atlanta Hawks could be without their leading scorer for the next three or four weeks with a possibly of him missing the rest of the regular season.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Joe Johnson’s calf injury has escalated in severity over the past couple of days, leaving the All-Star guard’s season in doubt.
“We've been down this road all season," head coach Mike Woodson told the Journal-Constitution. "We'll have to battle as best we can without Joe just like we did when other guys were out. But there's no question that this hurts in a big way, because Joe is such a big part of what we're about."
Stanford's point guard to return tonight
Thu, Mar 8, 2007
The Stanford Cardinal expect to have their starting point guard and No. 2 scoring threat, Anthony Goods, back in the lineup tonight against the Southern California Trojans for the their opening Pac-10 conference tournament game.
Goods has missed the last six games because of a nagging ankle injury. During that time Stanford has posted a 3-3 straight-up record and has gone 3-2-1 against the spread.
“He will stretch the defense with his shot, and he gives us another defender,” Stanford coach Trent Johnson told the Stanford Daily. “But I don’t want to put expectations on the young man after all the time he’s missed.”
Goods practiced on Monday, but he was limited to only non-contact drills. He told reporters after practice his ankle still felt sore. He is averaging 13 points in 23 games this season.
Goods’ ankle injury is not the only health issue Stanford has to deal with. Several members of the team were afflicted with the stomach flu over the weekend. Two players, including starting center Robin Lopez, missed Monday’s practice, but the illness appears to behind the team now.
Cal's DeVon Hardin is listed as doubtful for tonight's game (foot), but coach Ben Braun said, "He will not play in the tournament."
After injuring his left knee in Wednesday's game, Pacers Jermaine O'Neal is expected to be sidelined for at least a week.