Josh Smith scored a season-high 29 points and Al Horford added 27 points and 15 rebounds as the surging Atlanta Hawks held off the Golden State Warriors 127-122 on Friday night. Atlanta, which has won four straight and six of seven, improved to 25-7 at home. The Hawks had six players in double figures, including Mike Bibby, who had a season-high 23 points, and Jamal Crawford, who scored 12 of his…
Matt Barnes scored 14 of his 16 points in the first quarter when Orlando opened a double-digit lead and the Magic won their fourth straight, 97-87 over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night. Vince Carter scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, Dwight Howard added 11 points and 16 rebounds and the Magic hit 13 3-pointers in beating the Nets for the third time this season.
Michael Finley will celebrate his 37th birthday Saturday as a member of the Boston Celtics. The veteran swingman asked for and was granted his release from the San Antonio Spurs earlier this week. He will earn a prorated portion of the veteran’s minimum of $1.1 million. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said after practice in Philadelphia on Friday that he expects Finley to join the team in Boston…
Jermaine O’Neal called it, telling teammates in overtime that the next time someone drove the lane he would be there to take the charge. That someone was Kobe Bryant. And O’Neal delivered on his vow. O’Neal stood his ground with 18.7 seconds left in the extra session and Bryant was whistled for an offensive foul.
Jermaine O’Neal called it, telling teammates in overtime that the next time someone drove the lane he would be there to take the charge. That someone was Kobe Bryant. And O’Neal delivered on his vow. O’Neal stood his ground with 18.7 seconds left in the extra session and Bryant was whistled for an offensive foul.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas has forgiven the Cleveland Cavaliers. Feeling betrayed after he was traded last month, Ilgauskas wants to return to the only NBA team he has played for to help it win a championship. Ilgauskas, the towering center known to Cleveland fans simply as “Z,” told his agent Herb Rudoy to begin negotiations with the Cavs on March 22 — the first day he can sign.
The Utah Jazz trailed the Phoenix Suns nearly the entire game. Still coach Jerry Sloan kept urging his team to “keep on fighting, keep on fighting,” Utah forward C.J. Miles said. Fight they did, erasing an 11-point deficit with 7:43 remaining to beat the Suns 116-108 on Thursday night. Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur were the catalysts of the Jazz’ comeback, which was reminiscent of…
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas wants to come back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ilgauskas was traded last month to Washington in the deal for forward Antawn Jamison and told agent Herb Rudoy to begin negotiations with the Cavs on March 22, the first day he can sign. Rudoy said in an e-mail on Thursday night that Ilgauskas hopes to return to the Cavs and help bring an NBA championship to Cleveland.
Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry is scheduled to have surgery Friday after taking an elbow to the face during a game. The team said a timetable for Terry’s return would be determined after the surgery. Terry’s left eye was nearly swollen shut when he left the Dallas locker room after Wednesday night’s 112-109 victory over Minnesota.
The Cavaliers are applying full-court pressure to Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Several of the center’s former Cleveland teammates visited him in New York on Tuesday, hoping to persuade him to re-sign with the Cavs and help them make a run at an NBA title. Ilgauskas, who has a place in SoHo, was traded last month to Washington in the deal for forward Antawn Jamison.