NBA Today - April 16
Mon, Apr 16, 2007
By Associated Press
Phoenix at Houston (8:30 p.m. EDT).
The Suns have won five straight.
STARS
Sunday
-Jason Richardson, Warriors, had 32 points and 12 rebounds to give Golden State a crucial 121-108 win over Minnesota.
-Kobe Bryant, Lakers, scored 50 points in the Lakers' 109-98 win over Seattle.
THAT'S 10
Kobe Bryant scored 50 points in the Lakers' 109-98 win over Seattle on Sunday night, giving him 50 or more for the 10th time this season. It's the third-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 45 times with 50 or more in 1961-62, and Chamberlain's 30 times the following season. Bryant has reached the 50-point plateau 21 times in his career.
'T' PARTY
Referee Joey Crawford ejected the mild-mannered Tim Duncan from San Antonio's 91-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Duncan's second technical came while he was laughing on the bench and meant an automatic ejection, just the second of his nine-year career.
WIN AND IN
Orlando clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with their 88-86 win over Boston on Sunday night and Indiana's 111-107 loss to New Jersey.
THREE'S A CHARM
Toronto earned the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 107-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday night. The Raptors matched their franchise record of 47 wins, accomplished in 2000-01. They clinched their first Atlantic title last month and are going to the playoffs for the first time in five years.
THANKS, RON
Ron Artest had a career-high 10 assists in Sacramento's 105-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
SPEAKING
''He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?' If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?''' - Tim Duncan on referee Joey Crawford, who gave the Spurs' star two technical fouls and ejected him from San Antonio's 91-86 loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Hawks Zaza Pachulia (leg) is listed as doubtful for Monday.
Blazers Brandon Roy (knee) is doubtful
Grizzlies Rudy Gay (ankle) is doubtful.
Butler hopes to get cast off next week, eyes playoffs
Mon, Apr 16, 2007
By Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Caron Butler is not ready to write off the season.
The Washington Wizards' All-Star forward said Monday he hopes to have the cast removed from his broken right hand in a week and thinks he could play if the team reached the second round of the playoffs.
His recovery time was supposed to be six weeks after he broke a bone in his hand two weeks ago.
''There's definitely a chance,'' Butler said. ''I'm trying to get my cast off probably as early as next Monday. So the second round - that's what we're looking at.''
The Wizards host the Magic on Tuesday.
Butler took part in practice Monday, using only his left hand to make passes to DeShawn Stevenson or to hoist up jump shots. Butler had what he called a ''bone-healing machine'' attached to his right hand, a contraption he said ''sends waves to the bone and helps it heal faster.''
He was injured when he hit his hand on the backboard while trying to block a shot during a win over Milwaukee on April 1. Since then, Washington is 1-7; two games after Butler got hurt, All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas tore his left knee and needed surgery.
Butler was averaging career highs in points (19.1), rebounds (7.4) and assists (3.7).
With the Pacers eliminated from the playoffs, Jermaine O'Neal may take the final two games off to deal with his knee injury, which could require offseason surgery.