Kobe returns and sinks Grizzlies, 99-98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Hitting a game-winning shot never gets old for Kobe Bryant.

“Every time it feels like the first time,” he said.

Bryant returned to lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury and made a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to 99-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.

Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, including his team’s final nine points. His 3-pointer with 54 seconds left tied the game at 96-all. His game-winner came off an inbounds play 4 seconds after his layup attempt was blocked by Rudy Gay.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(notes), right, shoots over Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol(notes) (33) of Spain in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 in Memphis, Tenn. The Lakers beat the Grizzlies 99-98.

“He kept making plays at the end of the game,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said of Bryant. “Great players make great plays. You’ve got to give him his due (but) it hurts.”

Bryant’s late scoring spree came after the Lakers had missed five straight free throws and trailed, 95-90, with 2:59 left. He began his nine-point run with a jumper from the left wing with 2:23 to go to trim the Memphis lead to 95-92.

After Gay’s free throw, Bryant dropped in a technical free throw to make it 96-93. Gay scored again with 40 seconds left to up the Grizzlies lead to 98-93 before Bryant’s back-to-back 3-pointers won it for the Lakers.

“Only in Hollywood, I guess,” Bryant said. “It’s fun. It’s my responsibility to make plays down the stretch. I enjoy it.”

Pau Gasol added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the seventh time in their last eight road games.

“Nobody in the world is shocked anymore by what Kobe Bryant does and what he brings to the team,” Gasol said. “He really stepped up at the end. It feels good to have him back.” Read More

source: sports.yahoo.com/nba

NBA Live Stream Today Feb 23, 2010 EST

NBA Schedule and Live Streaming links.Enjoy the games.


7:00pm ET
New Orleans vs Cleveland link1 & link2

7:30pm ET 
New York vs Boston link1
Portland vs New Jersey link1
Minnesota  vs Miami


8:00pm ET
Phoenix vs Oklahoma City link1
LA Lakers vs Memphis link1 & link2 & link3 


10:00pm ET
Detroit vs Sacramento link1


10:30pm ET
Philadelphia vs Golden State link1

New Orleans  30-26 (Road: 11-17) vs Cleveland  43-14 (Home: 24-4)
Antawn Jamison(notes)  bounced back from an ugly debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers with a much better performance in his last game. However, he is still looking for his first win with his new teammates.

Jamison could be in the Cavaliers’ starting lineup for the first time as they look to avoid their first four-game losing streak in more than two years Tuesday night when they host the New Orleans Hornets.

Cleveland (43-14) acquired Jamison last week from Washington to give itself another scoring threat alongside LeBron James(notes). Jamison, who averaged 20.5 points with the Wizards, was on the bench after failing to be cleared in time for an overtime loss to Denver on Thursday and then went 0 for 12 from the field in a 110-93 defeat to Charlotte on Friday.Read More

New York  19-36 (Road: 7-17) vs Boston 35-19 (Home: 15-9)

With Paul Pierce(notes)  and Tracy McGrady(notes)  both battling injuries, Tuesday’s matchup between the Boston Celtics and visiting New York Knicks may be without two of its biggest names.

Nate Robinson(notes) probably won’t object to having more of the spotlight.

The diminutive new Celtic is expected to make his debut with Boston against the team that traded him away last week and the coach that benched him for an extended stretch earlier this season.

Robinson averaged 17.2 points for New York last season, and the 5-foot-9 guard has won many fans by capturing three slam dunk championships. Read More

Portland  32-26 (Road: 13-13)  vs New Jersey 5-51 (Home: 3-24)
The Portland Trail Blazers built what appeared to be an insurmountable lead in their last game, only to see it evaporate. That seems unlikely to happen against the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets.

The Trail Blazers have a chance to open a five-game road trip in strong fashion Tuesday night when they face the Nets, who are on the cusp of a franchise record for home futility.

Portland (32-26) took a 25-point lead in the third quarter against Utah on Sunday, but wasted it and fell 93-89 in overtime. The disheartening defeat came two nights after the Trail Blazers shot a season-low 33.8 percent in a 96-76 loss to Boston.Read More

Minnesota  13-44 (Road: 4-24) vs Miami 29-28 (Home: 14-12)
The Miami Heat received some good news regarding Dwyane Wade’s(notes)  injury over the weekend. Unfortunately for them, he is still likely to miss at least another game.

Wade is expected to sit out a third straight contest when the Heat host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

Miami (29-28) had its five-game winning streak snapped in a 97-91 loss to Dallas on Saturday that closed five-game road trip. The Heat played for the second straight time without Wade, who has been sidelined with a strained left calf. Miami won the first, defeating Memphis 100-87 in double overtime Friday.Read More

Phoenix  34-23 (Road: 14-16) vs Oklahoma City 33-21 (Home: 16-10)
When his team fell to Oklahoma City two months ago, Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry said not to underestimate the Thunder.

It’s unlikely any team will do that anymore.

The Thunder will go for the franchise’s first 10-game winning streak in 13 seasons Tuesday night when they host the Suns.

Led by 38 points from Kevin Durant(notes), Oklahoma City (33-21) snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Suns with a 117-113 victory in Phoenix on Dec. 23.Read More

LA Lakers  42-14 (Road: 16-9) Memphis 28-27 (Home: 18-10)
Kobe Bryant(notes)  couldn’t take the last-second shot in the defending champions’ last game, but he might have the ball in his hands if there’s a similar situation Tuesday.

With Bryant possibly set to return after missing the last five games with a sprained left ankle, the well-rested Los Angeles Lakers visit the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bryant, who hasn’t played since Feb. 5, was receiving treatment in the Lakers’ training room Thursday when Derek Fisher(notes) missed a 21-footer as time expired in an 87-86 loss to visiting Boston.Read More

Detroit  20-35 (Road: 6-19) vs Sacramento 18-38 (Home: 13-13)
Ben Gordon’s(notes)  last game against the Sacramento Kings is probably one he’d like to forget. His most recent performance, however, is one he’s hoping to repeat.

Gordon and the Pistons begin a four-game road trip against teams from the Western Conference when they take on the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

The oft-injured Gordon had one of his better games of the last two months Sunday, scoring 21 points while shooting 57.1 percent in Detroit’s 109-101 overtime win over San Antonio. The victory was the Pistons’ second in the last five games.Read More

Philadelphia  21-34 (Road: 11-17) vs Golden State 16-39 (Home: 12-16)
A December matchup with the Golden State Warriors allowed the Philadelphia 76ers to stop their longest losing streak since 2006-07.

The 76ers, who will be without Allen Iverson(notes), hope their second meeting with the Warriors will help them rebound from their most lopsided defeat since that same season.

Philadelphia tries to snap a four-game slide in Oakland on Tuesday night as the Warriors go for their fourth win in five home games.Read More

source:sports.yahoo.com

Joe Johnson scores 28 as Hawks win in Utah for first time since 1993

SALT LAKE CITY — The last time the Atlanta Hawks celebrated a victory in Salt Lake City, Joe Johnson was a star player in an Arkansas Boys Club grade-school league.

Yep, it's been a while. Now an NBA all-star, Johnson scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hawks win in Utah for the first time in 17 years, beating the short-handed Jazz 105-100 on Monday night.

The Hawks hadn't won in Utah since Feb. 13, 1993, when Dominique Wilkins scored 43 points to lead Atlanta to a 121-112 victory.

"It's about time," Johnson said. "The last time our team won here, I was just a little kid watching Dominique and dreaming I might play in the NBA someday."

The Hawks knew all about the drought.

"The streak was brought to our attention before the game, so we wanted to come out early and establish ourselves," Johnson said. "We wanted to make sure they knew it wasn't going to be the same type of game they are used to seeing out of us."

Johnson made a three-pointer with 2:28 left that gave the Hawks a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"Joe hit a big shot in one of our isolations, which we needed," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "Other than that, it was pick and rolls down the stretch for us and we really executed well."

Josh Smith added 18 points and Jamal Crawford, who had 17, followed Johnson's long jumper with a steal and two free throws as the Jazz lost for just the third time in 20 games.

"They all passed the ball and they've all got the ability to shoot the ball out on the floor, so you're really put in a tough situation with how much help you can give inside," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said.

Playing without Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz stayed close until the final minute, but allowed the Hawks to shoot 54 per cent.

"We can't make excuses," said Paul Millsap, who led the Jazz with 14 points. "Losing Deron and Andrei just gives other guys the opportunity to step up. We just have to do a better job down the stretch." Read More

source: canadianpress

Injury-Plagued Kobe Eyes Tuesday Return Vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant eyes a much-awaited return against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, after missing five regular-season games due to various injuries.
Bryant reportedly attended the team’s practice Saturday for the first time since February 15. Bryant, the 2008 NBA regular-season MVP, remains as the Lakers all-around court leader, averaging 28 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
Without Bryant, the Lakers still went 4-1 with forwards Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Ron Artest leading the way.
The Lakers also received quality minutes from reserve guard Shannon Brown, who averaged 15.3 points in the last three games.
Bryant said he felt good at practice and only needs days to get back at full strength.
Meanwhile, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he’ll evaluate Bryant’s condition to see if the injuries don’t affect his superstar guard.
Bryant will try to reach another milestone in Memphis, as he plays his 1,000th career game.
Last month, Bryant surpassed NBA legend Jerry West to become the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer before the Grizzlies home crowd.
Bryant will undergo a series of physical test Sunday to reevaluate his injuries, but still expects a Tuesday return.
“The ankle should be ready to play Tuesday… If it’s not, I’m firing everybody,” Bryant joked to ESPN. “It’s been long enough.”

source: gantdaily.com

Smith's big 4th quarter helps Nuggets top Celtics

DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets are building an impressive record against the NBA's elite teams.
J.R. Smith scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets recovered from blowing an early 20-point lead to beat the Boston Celtics 114-105 Sunday.
Chauncey Billups had 26 points and Carmelo Anthony had 23 for the Nuggets, who improved to 4-0 against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. They've beaten Cleveland twice and Orlando and Boston once each this season.
"We're still inconsistent at times," said Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. "If we can lock in and just do the stuff we can do and learn from the mistakes we make, that can go a long way."
Said Anthony, "We're just playing good basketball, that's it. We'll let you all decide if you consider us one of the top teams."
The inconsistency Martin cited in the play of the Nuggets was evident against the Celtics, who rallied from 20 points down in the first quarter to tie the game at 66 in the third before fading down the stretch.
"They're right there," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said when asked to size up the Nuggets. "We knew that before the year started. They're just as good as anybody else. They can win it all. We can win it all. All those teams, but you don't get a trophy for the regular season."
Ray Allen had 25 points and Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Marquis Daniels added 15 points each for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in their last four road games. They remain an NBA-best 20-10 away from home.Read More

source: washingtonpost.com

Dwight Howard powers Orlando Magic to 101-95 win over Cavaliers, Shaq

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O'Neal, and the Orlando Magic beat Cleveland 101-95 on Sunday for the Cavaliers' first three-game losing streak in two years.

Cleveland's skid comes on the heels of a 13-game win streak.

Howard was 8-for-13 shooting and added four blocks, and Vince Carter had eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Magic beat Cleveland for the first time this season.

O'Neal made his first eight shots and finished with 20 points, and LeBron James had 33 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were eliminated by Orlando in last year's Eastern Conference finals.

The hoopla surrounding the Howard-Shaq squabble over the Superman nickname finally lived up to the billing, even though the drama in the end came on the perimeter.

Carter made a two-handed dunk over heavy traffic, and followed that with a layup over Antawn Jamison, pumping his fist to the crowd in celebration. Jameer Nelson came back with a 3-pointer to put the Magic ahead 96-88 with about 2 minutes to play.

O'Neal tipped in a missed shot, and Anthony Parker made a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to three. But after James missed a 3-pointer on Cleveland's next possession, Rashard Lewis made a 3 - from the same spot where he sent the Game 6 clincher into overtime last year - with 20.1 seconds remaining to seal the Magic's win.

Until the last few minutes, though, it was Superman vs. Superman.

O'Neal has been known as the comic book superhero for most of his 17-year NBA career, and he had taken exception with Howard getting the same nickname. It didn't help that Howard has erased much of O'Neal's shadow in Orlando - where he spent four years in the mid-90s - and has restored the Magic to prominence.

The two put on quite a show.

O'Neal grabbed a rebound and caught Howard under the basket, hammering a powerful one-handed dunk over the young centre in the opening quarter. Shaq added a put-back dunk, an alley-oop tip and a three-point play over Howard all before the half in the first time this season that fouls didn't sideline the big men for significant time.

At the other end of the floor, Howard used his youth and agility to wiggle around O'Neal almost at will, slicing through the paint for layups and hook shots and making the elder centre sprint down the court. Howard also banked a jumpshot from the wing and his defensive presence helped Orlando go ahead 46-35 late in the second quarter.

Then James took over, scoring Cleveland's final 10 points of the half - the last coming on a three-point play over Matt Barnes with 1.1 seconds left - to trim the Magic's lead to six.

After starting his Cleveland career 0 for 12 from the field, Jamison made his first shot of the game, a layup with 7:29 remaining in the first quarter. He also made the first four baskets of the second half and finished with 19 points.

But he still doesn't know what it feels like to win with his new team.

source:canadian press

Kidd, Mavericks overcome Heat-less Wade 97-91

DALLAS—Jason Kidd knew his Dallas Mavericks needed a jolt in the fourth quarter, so the pass-first point guard decided to take charge offensively.

Kidd scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter, Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and the Dallas Mavericks held off the short-handed Miami Heat 97-91 Saturday night.

With All-Star game MVP Dwyane Wade missing his second consecutive game with a strained left calf, Kidd knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:21 left that gave Dallas the lead for good.

Kidd sees the season winding down and said it is time for the Mavericks, who have the fourth-best record in the West, to make a push.

"We had 30 games left after the All-Star break," said Kidd, who is second all-time in assists with 10,705. "Being a veteran ballclub, we understand what's at stake. So the dress rehearsal is over and we've got to get serious."

Wade, who was the NBA Finals MVP in 2006 when the Heat beat the Mavericks, was in a suit and a protective walking boot as he watched his team's five-game winning streak end. Without their star on Friday, the Heat beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-87 in double overtime.

On Saturday, Miami fizzled offensively down the stretch. The Heat scored 12 points in the third quarter and couldn't match the Mavericks' offensive surge late.

"It's a lesson for us that regardless of whether Dwyane plays or not, our formula and game plan have to be the same," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Collectively, we can make each other better. But if the ball stops moving, it becomes a stagnant game for us."

Kidd scored 19 points in the second half as the Mavericks rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to beat Miami for the 12th straight time in the regular season.

Caron Butler had 20 points and Kidd had 11 assists for the Mavericks, who have won three in a row. Kidd also had three steals and is one shy of tying Scottie Pippen for fifth place on the career list.

Kidd hit all three of his shots and six of seven free throws in the fourth.

"After the All-Star break, he's been phenomenal," Nowitzki said. "He's been pushing the ball and scoring."

Daequan Cook scored a season-high 22 points, and Jermaine O'Neal added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat.

"I think overall we played well without Dwyane," Miami forward Udonis Haslem said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win. They just made plays and we didn't."

Kidd hit a 3-pointer that gave Dallas a 71-64 lead after three and then scored his team's first 11 points of the fourth. He was one point away from tying his season-high point total.

Miami's Mario Chalmers drove for a layup to make it 79-79 with 4:34 left.

Kidd followed with a 3-pointer, Nowitzki hit two free throws and Brendan Haywood put back a miss to make it 86-79 with 2:57 remaining.

The Mavericks hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final minute as they increased their lead in the Southwest Division to 2 1/2 games over the San Antonio Spurs.

"We had to fight and scrap to get the win," Haywood said. "We didn't have the energy we needed in the first half. Dirk and (Kidd) had a great game and they really pulled us through."

Miami jumped out to a 52-44 halftime lead before Dallas rallied with a 19-5 run over the final 8:07 of the third.

Shawn Marion, who scored six points in the spurt, drove for a layup to tie it at 60. Nowitzki hit a jumper to give Dallas a 66-64 lead, and Kidd connected on a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to seven with 1:53 remaining in the third.

The Heat went 5 of 13 from the floor in the third quarter and committed six turnovers.

source: mercurynews.com

NBA: Tracy McGrady dazzling in Knicks debut but it's a defeat

Tracy McGrady's dazzling debut was just about everything the New York Knicks could have hoped for. It just wasn't enough to stop Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Durant scored 36 points and made the go-ahead jumper with 16 seconds left in overtime, and the Thunder beat New York 121-118 Saturday night for its eighth straight victory.

"We knew there was going to be a lot of energy in the building with Tracy McGrady coming in," Durant said. "He played phenomenal. He's back. He played well, but I'll take the win."

McGrady scored 26 points in his first game since the Knicks acquired him Thursday at the trade deadline. But he was on the bench for almost all of overtime, perhaps exhausted after playing 32 minutes in his first action since December.

"He kind of ran out gas towards the end," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Not having played all year, a couple of years almost, 26 points, kind of not bad."

Durant also hit the tying 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in regulation of his 27th consecutive game with at least 25 points, the longest streak since Allen Iverson also did it in 27 in a row from Jan. 12-March 9, 2001.

The last longer streak was by Michael Jordan in 40 straight in the 1986-87 season.

The Thunder's Russell Westbrook finished with 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Hayward native Eddie House, also acquired at the trade deadline, scored a season-high 24 points for the Knicks. Read More

source: mercurynews.com

image source:bleacherreport.com

Lakers Ready For Kobe To Return Without Kobe the Lakers are good, but the Celtics showed why they need him to win it all.

Down one and with 2.2 seconds to get off a shot to win the game Thursday against the Celtics, the Lakers looked confused. The play was broken and the ball ended up in Derek Fisher’s hand as he tried to dribble around to Celtics players and launch a game winner. He couldn’t.

Derek Fisher can hit game winners — he’s hit a lot in his time as a Laker — but he never had to create the shot itself. Kobe did that, and if all the defense came to Kobe, Fisher found himself with the ball and an open look.

But there was no Kobe on Thursday. And the Lakers are ready to get him back, because that game showed that while still good the Lakers are not elite without him.

The Lakers have done well while Kobe rests up an ankle injured when Lamar Odom stepped on his foot as Kobe tried to move. They are 4-1, with wins over Portland in Portland and over Utah. Trying to make up for Kobe’s absence the Lakers have played better defense than they have all season, and the ball and player movement on offense has been improved.

But the Celtics showed where the Lakers missed Kobe. Usually Kobe takes over the offense at the end of games — something some Lakers fans complain about — and without him the Lakers went 1-10 down the stretch and scored just two points in the final seven minutes of the loss to the Celtics. Read More

source:nbclosangeles

Carmelo Anthony has last word vs. LeBron James

CLEVELAND -- Carmelo Anthony scored 40 points, including the winning basket, and Denver overcame LeBron James' monstrous night to end the Cavaliers' 13-game winning streak with a 118-116 victory in overtime Thursday night in coach George Karl's first game since revealing he has neck and throat cancer.
"I think he's happy," Anthony said of Karl. "This boosted his spirit up a lot. In the back of our mind, we know his situation. We're playing for him."

James had his triple-double by the end of regulation, and became the first NBA player with at least 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals and four blocks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

James is also the first player to have at least 40 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a game since Oscar Robertson had 42 points, 18 assists and 15 rebounds Feb. 13, 1962.

Anthony matched James shot for shot, hitting the winner on a deep jumper with 1.9 seconds left.

"It's finally me being on the other end, I guess," James said. "I'm so used to being on the other end making shots and looking at guys. It's a great player and a great shot. If I got any closer, I was going to foul him. Big shot."

Cleveland had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but James slipped while taking the inbound pass and his three-pointer rattled off the rim.

"It was a great game to watch, but I'm not sure it will go on my coaching résumé as very polished," Karl said. "We probably should have won the game a little easier. We kept giving them chances, and they kept taking advantage of them."

Karl likely will miss some games and practices while undergoing a rigorous six-week treatment program of radiation and chemotherapy, but he accompanied the Nuggets on their two-game trip after deciding against taking time off now.

"I think I need the gym and I need the juice of being happy about kicking someone's butt and preparing and watching video," Karl said.

Former Piston Chauncey Billups added 18 points and eight assists for Denver. Read More

source:freep.com

Mavericks strong in defense to beat Magic

The Dallas Mavericks rode a surprisingly strong defensive effort to beat the Orlando Magic 95-85 in a clash of NBA divisional leaders on Friday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and new additions Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood had 16 and 15 respectively for Dallas, which opened a two-game lead atop the Southwest Division.

Dwight Howard had 29 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks for Orlando, which could not improve on its 1-1/2 game advantage in the Southeast Division.

After allowing Orlando to shoot 65 percent and score 33 points in the first period, the Mavericks limited the Magic to just 34 percent shooting and 62 points the rest of the game.

Bobcats 110, Cavaliers 93

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte took advantage of Antawn Jamison's miserable debut for Cleveland in a result that sent the NBA-leading Cavaliers to back-to-back defeats.

Two days after being acquired from Washington in a key trade, Jamison came off the bench and promptly went 0 for 12 from the field. He was blocked five times and tossed up two airballs, while looking out of sync with his new teammates.

Stephen Jackson scored 29 points to lead the Bobcats, who used a big run to end the third quarter to beat the Cavaliers for a third straight time and take the season series 3-1 in a possible first-round playoff preview.

LeBron James had 22 points and nine assists for Cleveland. Read More

source:etaiwannews.net

Cavaliers stumble, fall to Bobcats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and the Charlotte Bobcats took advantage of Antawn Jamison’s miserable debut for Cleveland in a 110-93 victory Friday night to send the Cavaliers to their second straight loss.

Two days after being acquired from Washington, Jamison came off the bench and went 0 for 12 from the field. He was blocked five times and tossed up two airballs, while looking out of sync with his new teammates.

The Bobcats used a big run to end the third quarter to beat the Cavaliers, the team with the NBA’s best record, for a third straight time and take the series 3-1 in a possible first-round playoff preview.

LeBron James had 22 points and nine assists for Cleveland a night after being the first player in NBA history with at least 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals and four blocks.

It wasn’t the way Jamison had envisioned the return to his hometown. At least he didn’t go scoreless.

While coach Mike Brown had pulled James and Shaquille O’Neal, Jamison hit two free throws with 41 seconds left for his only points.

By then the Cavs, who allowed the Bobcats to shoot 55 percent, had been run over by their surprising nemesis — who three days earlier lost at home to the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets.

Boris Diaw had 18 points and nine assists, Gerald Wallace had 17 points and eight rebounds and Tyrus Thomas had nine points and 12 rebounds a day after being acquired from Chicago as the Bobcats moved a game above .500.

Delonte West came off the bench to score 13 points for Cleveland. Mo Williams added 12 in his return to the starting lineup after being out with a shoulder injury, but he had only one assist. Shaquille O’Neal had 10 points and seven rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting.

A night after their 13-game winning streak was snapped by Denver while Jamison watched, coach Mike Brown announced before the game that Jamison would at least temporarily come off the bench.

J.J. Hickson kept his starting job at power forward, but Jamison checked in after the first timeout with 5:09 left in the first quarter.

It wasn’t pretty, as he promptly missed a 3-pointer and had another shot blocked by Theo Ratliff [stats], acquired by Charlotte a day earlier.

It didn’t get any better for Jamison in the first half, that ended tied at 50. Looking out of sync, a step slow and way off with his shot, Jamison was 0 for 8 with four of his shots blocked. He also tossed up two airballs, the last a 3-pointer attempt at the buzzer to end the first half.

The Bobcats were also working in their new players. Thomas, acquired to bolster their front court, made two key plays in the third quarter.

Thomas’ driving dunk and block of Anderson Varejao came in Charlotte’s 17-4 run that put Charlotte ahead 82-68 entering the fourth quarter.

James, who had a triple-double a night earlier but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a loss to Denver, hit 6 of 14 shots. He stepped on Diaw’s foot midway through the second quarter and hobbled to the bench. Read More

source:bostonherald.com

Celtics beat Lakers with Allen's 24 points and stop on Fisher's shot at buzzer

LOS ANGELES — Ray Allen scored 12 of his 24 points in the third quarter and made 10 of his first 11 shots, leading the Boston Celtics to an 87-86 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

It was the defending NBA champions' first loss in five games since Kobe Bryant went down with a sprained left ankle.

Kendrick Perkins had 13 points and 14 rebounds, Kevin Garnett had 13 points and eight boards and Rajon Rondo added 14 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who were busy before the game. They acquired guard Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry from the New York Knicks in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker and a future conditional second-round pick.

Pau Gasol scored 22 points, and Lamar Odom had 13 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles.

Bryant, the league's fourth-leading scorer, remained in the trainer's room getting treatment on his sprained left ankle while his teammates rallied against a defence that came in allowing a league-low 93.7 points per game.

The Lakers had won the previous three meetings with the Celtics after losing the 2008 finals to them in six games. On Jan. 13, they beat Boston 90-89 on the parquet floor, after Bryant hit a jumper with 7.3 seconds left to give the Lakers their only lead of the second half and Allen missed three-point shot at the final horn.

The Lakers went 4:48 without a basket until Odom's layup with 2:26 to play. Garnett missed a 21-footer with 51 seconds left, but the Lakers lost possession on a turnover by Gasol. The Lakers got the ball back and Odom missed a driving layup with 2.2 seconds to go.

The groans from the sellout crowd turned to audible sighs of relief when everyone realized the Lakers had called a time out just before Odom made his move to the basket. But the ensuing inbounds pass from Ron Artest to Derek Fisher resulted in a missed 21-footer by Fisher at the buzzer with Allen's hand in his face.

The Celtics were leading 66-55 when Garnett picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench with 8:27 left in the third quarter. He was replaced by Rasheed Wallace, who received a technical foul from referee Bob Delaney with 3:10 left in the period for shoving Gasol as the two power forwards jockeyed for position.

Garnett didn't return to the floor until 7:53 remained in the game. By then, the Lakers were eight points into a 13-0 run triggered by two layups by Sasha Vujacic and capped by Andrew Bynum's 20-footer. The basket gave Los Angeles an 84-80 lead with 7:14 to play, but Perkins' layup put Boston back in front to stay with 4:24 remaining.

The Celtics shot 55 per cent in the first half to build a 53-48 margin. The Lakers took their first lead of the game, 34-32, when Odom sank a pair of free throws with 9:39 left in the second quarter.

Boston responded with a 15-2 run capped by Allen's fastbreak dunk with 5:09 left in the second quarter, after Rondo stole the ball from Gasol. Rondo received a technical foul for taunting the Lakers after Allen's basket, and Fisher converted the free throw.

Shannon Brown beat the first-quarter buzzer with a three-pointer that trimmed Boston's lead to 29-27. It was his fourth straight start in place of Bryant, after setting career highs with 27 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's 104-94 win over Golden State. Read More

source: canadianpress

ANTHONY'S LATE OT WINNER HELPS NUGGETS SNAP CAVS' WIN STREAK

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony sank the go-ahead jumper over LeBron James with 1.9 seconds left in overtime, and James missed a game- winning three at the other end as Denver took a 118-116 win over Cleveland.

James had a 43-point, 15-assist, 13-rebound triple-double for the Cavaliers, and sank a game-tying three in the final minute of regulation. But it was Anthony who came up huge in the final seconds of the extra session as Denver snapped Cleveland's 13-game winning streak.

Anthony finished with 40 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets, who swept the season series, having taken a two-point win over Cleveland on January 8 in Denver.

Kenyon Martin had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Denver, which was playing its first game since head coach George Karl disclosed Tuesday he has a treatable form of neck and throat cancer.

Shaquille O'Neal had 18 points for Cleveland, which also had its 11-game home winning streak come to an end.

In overtime, Chauncey Billups sank a key three from the left corner, which put the Nuggets ahead 116-111 with 1:18 on the clock. But the Cavaliers came back, beginning with Anthony Parker's two foul shots moments later.

After a series of missed shots, James drove past Nene on the left side and got his runner to fall as he was fouled. The subsequent free throw evened the game with 23.1 seconds to play.

The Nuggets went to Anthony at the other end and the star delivered. He quickly rose for a shot on the left side, getting it off over James' outstretched arm, and the ball fell through with 1.9 on the clock.

James got the ball on an inbounds play and slipped, but managed to get a long three-pointer away before the buzzer. Incredibly, it was on the mark, but the ball hit off the rim to seal the Nuggets' win.

The end of regulation provided similar theatrics to send the contest to an extra session.

With just under two minutes left, Martin sank a jumper to make it a 102-102 game, and Billups sank two foul shots moments later to put the Nuggets in front.

James then made only 1-of-2 from the line before he and Anthony put on a coast-to-coast exhibition of great players at work. First, Anthony had the ball with his back to James and spun to his left to get into open space. Anthony quickly shifted direction before getting a short shot to fall for a 106-103 edge with 57.5 seconds left.

But James had an almost immediate answer, draining a three less than 10 seconds later.

Both teams had chances for points in the remaining time, but Parker missed a three before Billups' three was off the mark. James missed a desperation three at the buzzer sounded.

Martin had 10 points and five rebounds in the first quarter to help the Nuggets take a 31-21 lead. They expanded their lead to a game-high 15 several times early in the frame, including when a J.R. Smith jumper made it 38-23.

However, the Cavaliers scored the next eight points and were within 52-44 at the break.

Cleveland drew even with a five-point burst near the midway point of the third quarter. James ended it with a jumper for a 60-60 game, and the Cavaliers edged in front later in the frame, taking a 79-75 edge to the fourth.

Cleveland was ahead 94-87 with just under eight minutes left, but the Nuggets followed with the next seven points to even the score again. Read More

source: tsn.ca

Nate Robinson a help, but is it enough? Celtics' other issues remain after deadline deal with Knicks

It is an article of faith that in evaluating almost any trade, you give the thumbs-up to the team that ended up with the best player. Advantage Boston.

As much as we loved Eddie House -- and we will never forget his great performance in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals -- he is the second-best player in this trade. The best is the one coming to Boston, the dynamic, if occasionally high maintenance Nate Robinson.

No, Robinson doesn't address the team's rebounding issues. No, he really doesn't address their turnover issues, either. But he brings an attitude, a feistiness and a fearlessness that is most welcome and, some might say, much needed for this group at this point in time.

He can score in bunches. He can penetrate and handle the ball. He may be 5-foot-9 but he plays a lot bigger and can be a thorn on defense. And he's got six years on House on a team getting a bit long in the tooth.

The Knicks didn't want him and we will hear volumes about that in the upcoming days. Coach Mike D'Antoni hated Robinson because he felt Robinson was a selfish, me-firster. Robinson was benched for basically the entire month of December -- on a team going nowhere. (Had his contract not been up at the end of the year, he probably would have gotten some showcasing time.)

So, you might be wondering, is he a human carcinogen or merely a frustrated competitor? Consider the situation from whence he came: the Knicks of now are a mess, a joke, placing all of their chips on this summer's free agent table. Sure, Robinson exacerbated things with some of his inexcusable antics. But, in that respect, he brings to mind someone else who also had a "reputation" before arriving in Boston: Rajon Rondo.

Rondo's college coach, Tubby Smith, practically held a party when he learned Rondo was leaving school after two years. Rondo was also seen as high maintenance, impossible to coach, selfish and determined to go his own way at his own pace. Even as an NBA rookie, Rondo was told by Doc Rivers that his teammates hated playing with him.

But on a team steeled in veterans, Rondo grew up and he now is arguably the team's best player. That's one huge benefit of not trading Ray Allen; he has been Rondo's mentor since he arrived in Boston and Rondo leans on him. Robinson won't be able to pull off any of the you-know-what he pulled off in New York because the Celtics won't stand for it. It's sort of like the Stephon Marbury situation and, in the end, it was Marbury's game, not his behavior, that suffered. He didn't return. Robinson will be a free agent next summer. There's no guarantee he'll be back, either.

Of greater concern to Celtics fans has to be that while they may have made a minor roster improvement, the Cavaliers, the team they are trying to catch, appear to have made a major upgrade with the addition of Antawn Jamison. He gives them another scorer, another rebounder, your prototype "stretch 4" in today's hoop parlance. And, if Zydrunas Ilgauskas returns as predicted, the cost of the deal will be only felt by owner Dan Gilbert, not coach Mike Brown. Everyone of import will be there come playoff time. Read More

source: sports.espn.go.com

Rockets trade McGrady to Kings in seven-man deal High-scoring guard Martin coming to Houston; Landry, Dorsey gone

The Rockets completed a deal early today to move Tracy McGrady and might just have landed his successor.
A person with knowledge of the deal said the Rockets sent McGrady, Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey to the Sacramento Kings for high-scoring guard Kevin Martin.
Six seasons after he arrived as the NBA scoring champion with league title aspirations and 6 1/2 weeks after he left the Rockets no longer believing he could help them, McGrady was dealt to the Kings when Martin became available.
The Rockets will also receive forward Kenny Thomas (a former first-round pick of theirs), center Hilton Armstrong and point guard Sergio Rodriguez. The Rockets will send cash to the Kings but, with the swap, will also move under the luxury-tax line, a secondary goal in the trade talks.
“With Yao (Ming) back next year, we think Kevin gives us a great shot,” the person with knowledge of the deal said. “This also gives us what we need this year.”
The deal reunites Martin with Rockets coach Rick Adelman, with Martin bringing the scoring the Rockets have lacked with McGrady out.
Martin, who has had injury problems in recent seasons, is averaging 20.3 points in 21 games this season, and 17.1 in his career.
Landry was the Rockets’ second-leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game.
The trade ends McGrady’s run in Houston much as he ended his time in Orlando. After playing relatively little following an injury, the seven-time All-Star was traded by both teams for a package of players amid varying degrees of acrimony and disappointment over promise unfulfilled.
With McGrady saying it was time he began receiving increased playing time, the Rockets instead granted an indefinite leave of absence Dec. 28 while seeking a trade.
McGrady is in the final season of the extension he signed with the Rockets before the 2004-05 season worth $22.46 million this season. Limited to brief first-half stints in six games while coming back from microfracture surgery, McGrady averaged 3.2 points in an average of 7.7 minutes this season, making 7 of 19 shots. Of his 19 points, 10 came in one game against the Clippers.
McGrady’s averaged 25.7 points with 6.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in his first season with the Rockets, his top scoring season after consecutive years leading the league in scoring.
He finished last season averaging 23.1 points per game with the Rockets, but struggled with injuries through much of his six seasons in Houston and had knee surgeries after each of his two previous seasons with the Rockets.
He played playing just 47 games in 2005-06 because of back issues and just 35 games last season because of the knee problems that led to his microfracture surgery in February.
McGrady was second- or third-team All NBA selection in three of his first five seasons with the Rockets. The Rockets, however, never advanced past the first round of the playoffs, until last season when McGrady was out.

source:chron.com by JONATHAN FEIGEN

Watch out for the James and Jamison Gang

There's no doubt that by obtaining the services of Antawn Jamison in a three-team trade , the Cleveland Cavaliers have greatly increased their chances of winning the championship.

Here's Jamison's upside:

• He excels at facing up, faking and then driving right from the left side of the court -- aiming to finish at the rim or else unleash a fadeaway jumper.

• He can also drive left, but he'll then usually pull up and shoot.

• He's an excellent in-the-paint scorer with a quick release on a flip shot.

• From the left block, Jamison's right-handed jump hook is a deadly one.

• From the right block, he'll add a turnaround jumper to his jump hook.

• With his feet set, he can nail treys with regularity.

• He's an above-average rebounder.

• He's long, athletic and runs the floor with all his might.

• Having Jamison on the floor virtually prohibits the defense from double-teaming Shaq (as they could when J.J. Hickson started) and also discourages them from two-timing LeBron James.

• He's a terrific third option behind LeBron and Mo Williams, one who can spread the floor and give the Cavs exceptional firepower.

• He gives LBJ another dangerous kick-out target when the defense collapses around LeBron's penetrations.

• Jamison also provides an experienced go-to scorer when he plays on the second unit.

• Given that he's already under contract for two more years, he's less of a flight risk than Amar'e Stoudemire would be. Plus, he's a much more mature individual and a more versatile scorer than Stoudemire.

• Unlike Stoudemire, Jamison won't feel shortchanged and whine when he's not the focus of the offense.

• Using Hickson off the bench will give the Cavs an infusion of aggressive power to go along with Anderson Varejao's quickness and hustle.

On the downside of the deal:

• Several of Jamison's previous coaches have privately, but persistently, complained about his being soft and reluctant to bang.

• Indeed, he will force shots in the low post if defenders ignore his fakes and absorb his lightweight bumps.

• Jamison is an inadequate defender, whose routine lapses will wind up putting extra fouls on Shaq and Varejao.

• Jamison is also a poor passer whose sticky fingers can unilaterally abort the timing and rhythm of the offense.

Sebastian Telfair is strictly a throw-in who, except for dire emergencies, will remain glued to the bench.

Overall, the trade represents a huge boost for Cleveland, leaving no chance for it to be caught from behind by either Orlando or Boston -- and also giving Phil Jackson nightmares. Read More

source:foxnews.com

LeBron deserves great teammates more than once per year

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Once a year we get to see it. But only once a year. It's not enough to sustain me, but it'll have to do, because this is all there is. It's the NBA All-Star Game, and this is what it looks like when LeBron James plays with great teammates.
This is what I want to see on a regular basis, only I can't, because James plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers -- and Cleveland has one of the worst supporting casts in the NBA. If you doubt the last dozen words of that sentence, see for yourself. It isn't hard. Mentally remove the best player from every team in the league, and then study what's left. On almost any roster you can name, players 2-12 will be better than players 2-12 on Cleveland's roster. That's a fact.

Cleveland has a 43-11 record, best in the NBA by two full games. That's also a fact. And it's a testament to the talent of James, the NBA's most complete player since Michael Jordan and, before him, Oscar Robertson.

That's another fact.

Once a year, in this showcase, we get to see what it would look like for James to play with another great player. He plays with a whole roster of great players, which skews things a little bit. On Sunday he had Dwyane Wade at the point and Joe Johnson on the wing and Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard in the paint. That's absurd, and it's never going to happen in Cleveland or any other NBA city. The salary cap won't allow it. But the salary cap would allow for James to play with another great player, as the salary cap has allowed in the past with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers.

True, O'Neal is James' teammate in Cleveland -- but it's not the same O'Neal. The Shaq who played with Kobe was good for 28 points and 13 rebounds per game. This one is averaging 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. This is half-a-Shaq.

LeBron deserves better, but he has always deserved better, sort of like Michael Jordan deserved better than the garbage roster he was thrust onto when the Bulls drafted him in 1984. Eventually Jordan got Scottie Pippen, and you know the rest. LeBron wants more than what he has in Cleveland. He practically said so after the game Sunday night.

"You want to play with guys that are great and want to win and want to compete at a high level every night," he said. "We'll see."

On Sunday, we saw. I asked Wade what it's like to play with LeBron once a year, and Wade started smiling. Maybe he was thinking of that alley-oop he threw to James, a lob that James caught in mid-spin, finishing the play with a reverse dunk. Moments later, James did the throwing and Wade did the dunking. No spin. All power.

"Yeah, you see the connection we both have," he said, nodding. "Especially going to the basket, lobs, finding each other. I get the opportunity to be his teammate for one day, and I'm going to enjoy it. He makes the game easy for all his teammates. You see that in Cleveland."

No question about that. As I've noted, Cleveland has the best record in the NBA. Lots of you will tell me the Cavaliers' record proves that they have more talent than I'm giving them credit for -- that there's no way the worst supporting cast in the NBA could produce the best record in the NBA. If that's your position, there are two problems with that:

One, LeBron is that good. The last player to average 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for an entire season was Jordan in 1989. Before that, it was Oscar Robertson in 1966. James is on the verge of doing it this season, averaging 29.9 ppg, 8.3 assists and 7.1 rebounds.

Two, LeBron's supporting cast is that bad. This weekend in Dallas, there were 28 All-Stars. There were another 18 future stars in the NBA Rookie-Sophomore Challenge. There were six players in the 3-Point Shootout, five in the Slam Dunk Contest and four in the Skills test. That's a total of 61 players. Guess how many of them came from Cleveland? Other than LeBron, I mean. Read More

source:cbssports.com

Record crowd sees East win NBA All-Star game

East edge West in a record breaking crowd.



DALLAS, Texas — A record crowd of 108,713 turned out for the NBA All-Star game at Cowboys Stadium, where Dwyane Wade led the Eastern Conference to a 141-139 victory over the West.

Miami's Wade had 28 points and won Most Valuable Player honors, and Dallas Native Chris Bosh made the winning free throws with five seconds to play.

The Western Conference had a chance to win the annual mid-season exhibition, but Carmelo Anthony misfired on a three-point attempt.

The biggest cheer of the night came when Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL's Cowboys, took the court to announce the record-setting attendance.

"It's meant to be a party," Cuban said. "We say we're going to throw the biggest party like you've never seen before and that's exactly what it turned out to be."

In addition to being a record for a basketball game, it was the largest in the short history of the Cowboys' billion-dollar home, which opened prior to the 2009-2010 NFL season.

Wade, who earned MVP honors when Miami beat Dallas in the 2006 NBA finals, added 11 assists and six rebounds. Cleveland star LeBron James scored 25 points while Bosh had 23 and 10 rebounds.

The undisputed star of the show, however, was the building. The NBA had predicted a crowd of about 90,000, but the hopes of Cuban and Jones to reach 100,000 were more than satisified.

The attendance figure easily broke the previous record for the largest crowd to watch a basketball game of 78,129, set for a university contest between the University of Kentucky and Michigan State University at Detroit's Ford Field on December 13, 2003.

The record was certified by Guinness Book of World Records, and there were already T-shirts marking the feat.

The crowd was larger than any of the NFL games played in the stadium last season.

The Cowboys drew 105,121 for their first regular-season game in the venue - against the New York Giants last September - to set an NFL regular-season attendance record.

"I'm pleased looking at it," Jones said. "The atmosphere, if you had had a highly competitive situation where these teams were playing for the world championship, imagine this 100,000 people being completely nuts."

source: nba.com,google

NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Summary

Winners of the NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Events

1. Steve Nash wins Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

Facing a significantly younger field, Suns point guard Steve Nash captured his second skills title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday Night.

“I asked them since I’m a lot older if I could start at the second rack,” Nash joked to TNT Cheryl Miller after the competition.

Nash cruised into the second round as one of the top two times on the dribbling, passing and shooting course. Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams posted the best first-round time of 34.1 seconds, just better than Nash’s 35.0, which just barely edged Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings’ 35.7 seconds.

Nash improved in the second round, posting a time of 29.9 seconds, and Williams’ passing seemed to fall apart as he finished in 37.9 seconds. read more



2. Paul Pierce wins Foot Locker Three-Point Contest

Paul Pierce last night became the first Celtic to win the 3-point Shootout since Larry Bird took the first two titles in 1986 and ’87. Pierce (20 points) outshot Stephen Curry (17) and Chauncey Billups (14). Pierce was 15 for 25 and converted all five “money’’ balls, receiving 2 points for each.

With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. read more



3. Nate Robinson wins Sprite Slam Dunk
DALLAS - If only an NBA season consisted of 82 slam dunk competitions instead of actual games, Nate Robinson would be a superstar and out of Mike D'Antoni's doghouse for good.

Robinson may be struggling with the Knicks but here at All-Star Weekend, Lil' Him is still the king. Robinson became the first three-time slam dunk champion Saturday night, beating a weak field in a competition that failed to measure up to last year's showdown in Phoenix between Robinson and Orlando's Dwight Howard.

Robinson beat Toronto rookie DeMar Derozan in the final and did something Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant never did.

"No more titles," Robinson said. "I'm finished. It's the last one." read more

Kidd replaces injured Kobe; Lee steps in for Iverson

DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2010 -- Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks forward David Lee have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Kobe Bryant (ankle) of the Los Angeles Lakers and East All-Star guard Allen Iverson (personal reasons) of the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-NBA First Team selection, will be making his 10th NBA All-Star Game appearance. Lee, in his fifth NBA season, has recorded 30 double-doubles on the season for the Knicks and will be making his first NBA All-Star appearance.

West All-Star head coach George Karl and East All-Star head coach Stan Van Gundy will determine which players will replace Bryant and Iverson in the starting lineup.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14.

sources:nba.com

James sparks Cavs to franchise-tying 13th straight win

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - LeBron James put up 32 points and 13 assists to propel the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-106 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, tying a franchise record with their 13th straight victory.

The league's reigning MVP spearheaded the fourth-quarter surge which decided the game.

The Cavaliers trailed by two with 7:31 left before James scored or assisted on five straight baskets during an 11-0 run that sunk the Magic.

Cleveland (43-11) matched the win streak it set last season while winning a second straight against Orlando (36-18) in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Final.

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Rashard Lewis added 19 for the Magic, who trailed for the majority of the first half before turning the game into a nip-and-tuck affair.

Orlando topped the Cavaliers 4-2 in the best-of-seven playoff series last May but currently trail their NBA-best foe by seven games.

source:reuters.com

Cavaliers vs Magic preview

With the longest winning streak in the NBA this season and the league's best record, the Cleveland Cavaliers look pretty unbeatable at the moment.

Then again, they looked that way to everyone but the Orlando Magic last spring.

Cleveland can tie its franchise record with a 13th straight win Thursday night against the Magic, who visit Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since stunning LeBron James and the Cavaliers in last season's Eastern Conference finals.

James won his first MVP award last season while leading Cleveland to a league-best 66-16 record, but Orlando shocked the Cavaliers in six games before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals.

Little has changed in 2009-10. James (29.8 points per game) leads the league in scoring and has Cleveland (42-11) six games ahead of the Magic (36-17) for the East's best record heading into the teams' second meeting since late May.

James had 36 points in a 102-93 win at Orlando on Nov. 11.

"They're coming into our building, and right now we're the best team in the NBA,'' James said after finishing with 32 points and 11 assists Tuesday as the Cavaliers beat New Jersey 104-97 for their 12th consecutive victory. "It's going to be a fun one.''

Cleveland has won 21 of 22 at home.

James has been busy lately aside from averaging 38.3 points in his last three games. He and Olympic teammate Dwight Howard joined forces for a Super Bowl commercial, and they'll be playing together for the fourth time on the East All-Star squad Sunday in Dallas. continue

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Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade's critical comments are no big deal

What just happened here?

One of the three best players in the NBA is critical after his team just lost its fifth consecutive game, and all of a sudden he's playing the diva card?

Dwyane Wade says something resembling a disapproving comment about his coach and there's chatter that Erik Spoelstra won't last past this season, especially if Pat Riley lands another superstar in free agency?

A team that has been inconsistent all season loses three road games against playoff-caliber teams and reaches a season-worst three games below .500 during its most difficult stretch of schedule and now it's time to reexamine things and make a desperate trade before next Thursday's deadline?

The only surprising thing about what Wade said after Saturday's loss to the Bulls, basically calling his team predictable and saying it needs to mix things up, is that he didn't say anything earlier.

There's nothing new about what the Heat did during its season-worst five game losing streak, a stretch that ended Tuesday with a blowout victory against the Rockets. The streaky offense, unpredictable defense, late-game mistakes and confusing player rotation has been happening all season. It just so happened that five consecutive losses built up just enough frustration in Wade for him to say something immediately following a loss in his hometown.

What's wrong with getting mad when your team is failing? Didn't Tim Hardaway used to take digs at Riley whenever the coach was critical?

Why does calling the team too predictable immediately mean the coach is at fault? Can't it also mean Wade is calling on his teammates to elevate their games?

Tuesday's opponent was a perfect example of what role players can do when called upon to do more. The Rockets are not just making due with a roster full of mediocre-to-bad players, but they have managed a better record than the Heat in a deeper conference.

Maybe that's part of what Wade had in mind when he said the team needs to mix it up. To Spoelstra's credit, he did make some minor changes in who he played and when he played them Tuesday, keeping Jermaine O'Neal on the court more when Wade sat and keeping Daequan Cook and Wade on the court together at times. Read the full story here.

LAKERS' BRYANT GAME-TIME DECISION FOR WEDNESDAY; BYNUM OUT

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will be a game-time decision for Wednesday's contest in Utah.

Bryant has missed the last two games, including Monday's 101-89 win against San Antonio due to a sprained left ankle. He was also absent on Saturday when the Lakers won in Portland, 99-82.

Bryant, who is averaging 28 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season, had played in 235 straight games before sitting Saturday. Last week, he became the Lakers' all-time leading scorer, passing Jerry West. Bryant (25,246) is now 33 points shy of Reggie Miller (25,279) for 13th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

The Lakers also missed center Andrew Bynum from Monday's game. He was sidelined with a bruised right hip. Bynum is expected to sit out Wednesday's game.

Additionally, Lamar Odom missed practice Tuesday to have an MRI/CAT scan on his sore left foot. Both exams were negative, and Odom is probable for Wednesday.

source: TSN