'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:16

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10507

Detroit Pistons at New Jersey Nets, 7:30pm Eastern, NBA League Pass: Welcome to the Pistons Allen Iverson! Chances are it will take a few games at least for Ivy to get used to his new teammates, but what better way to do that than against the 1-2 Nets? Jersey has plenty of big men, so expect them to try and take advantage of the Pistons being down a big man (no replacement for Antonio McDyess yet).

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10507

Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets, 10:30pm Eastern, ESPN: Welcome to the Nuggets Chauncey Billups! Not only that, but expect Billups to get a very warm welcome since he is returning home. A local product who also attended Colorado, Billups jerseys should be flying off the shelves. With Billups still learning the offense this game may have a streetball feel to it, something that should be entertaining to watch with point guards the caliber of Billups and Jason Kidd.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=13214

Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd will miss Friday's game against the Boston Celtics with a sprained right ankle.

Redd suffered the injury in Sunday's win at New York while diving for a loose ball and sat out Wednesday's overtime victory over the Washington Wizards.

He is averaging 21.3 points and connecting on 45 percent of his 3-point attempts through four games.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=13212

Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams will be out of action longer than originally anticipated, according to a report by The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday. The 24-year-old, who has missed the first four games of the season with a sprained left ankle, sought a second opinion on Thursday and received a different prognosis than the original timetable of two weeks. He now is expected to be out a total of four to six weeks from the date of the original injury, which occurred October 18 in a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls.

It has been three weeks since that contest. Williams told the Tribune he feels he is "ahead of schedule," but that his return date still is indefinite. He officially is out for Friday's home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, after which the team takes to the road for a five-game, Eastern Conference road trip. "They just said two weeks because they knew I didn't want to hear four to six weeks, probably," Williams told the Tribune. "(Dr. Lyle Mason) knows me. Now I wish they would have so I wouldn't have got my hopes up."

In addition to discomfort in his ankle and a limited range of motion, Williams has been bothered by a painful mass of blood in his left foot stemming from the injury. Coming into this season, Williams had missed just four games in his NBA career and was the only Jazz player to start all 82 contests in 2007-08. The Jazz are not desperate for his return just yet, as they have gotten off to a 4-0 start despite his absence. "I wouldn't want to put myself in that position right now to be hurt," Williams said. "I think we have a couple more winnable ballgames without me."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=13199

The long-awaited arrival of Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets is finally here. Billups is expected to be in the Nuggets' lineup for the first time on Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks.

A native of Denver, Billups was acquired along with veteran forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb on Monday in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons. Since Billups was in Charlotte for the Pistons' game against the Bobcats when the trade was completed, he was not able to make it to California in time to suit up for the Nuggets' 111-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The 32-year-old point guard, who was a member of Detroit's NBA Championship team during the 2003-04 campaign, practiced with Denver for the first time on Thursday and appears ready to go against the Mavericks.

The Nuggets could have used Billups against the Warriors, who overcame an 18-point deficit in the first quarter en route to their first home win of the season. "One more body would have helped us," Denver coach George Karl said after the team lost its second straight game. The Mavericks are coming off an impressive win, a 98-81 rout over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Jason Terry added 29 and seven assists as Dallas held its cross-state rivals to 42 percent (30-of-72) shooting from the field.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=13198

The Detroit Pistons are about to get a major boost. Allen Iverson is expected to make his debut on Friday as the Pistons look to remain undefeated when they visit the New Jersey Nets. Iverson, who was acquired from the Denver Nuggets for guard Chauncey Billups, forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb in a blockbuster deal on Monday, was ready to go for Wednesday's contest against the Toronto Raptors.

However, Billups was not able to take his physical until Thursday, leaving the four-time scoring champion on the sidelines until the former Pistons' point guard was medically cleared.Detroit didn't need Iverson against the Raptors, earning their fourth straight win by a 100-93 count.

For a Pistons squad so used to routine, Iverson is a wild card. The nine-time All-Star adds dimensions that the team hasn't had in years - he is a lightning-quick guard who can create his own shot, drive to the basket and get to the foul line - a scary proposition for Eastern Conference opponents. Iverson makes his debut against the Nets, who have dropped back-to-back decisions, including a dismal 114-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10511

Time to Roll the 'Dice': There has still been no official word about Antonio McDyess' intentions. Multiple sources continue to insist Denver has a buy-out worth just a little over $6 million on the table. However, Dice's camp is believed to be seeking a buy-out in the $10 million range. Sources close to the Nuggets continue to maintain that they would love for McDyess to report. However, they are not optimistic. And at the end of the day, it's really a win-win for Denver. If McDyess reports, the team gets a nice veteran big off the bench. If he accepts a buy-out, the team gets even closer to the luxury tax threshold.

There has been some speculation in the last 24 hours that the newly acquired Chauncey Billups has been in McDyess' ear trying to get him to report. "Dice is one of my brothers," Billups said. "I have had some conversations with Dice."

Even so, Chauncey maintained: "I'm letting him make that decision on his own."Whichever way this thing goes, one would have to believe it would be in everyone's best interest to reach some kind of resolution as quickly as possible.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10511

Why the Iverson Trade Could Work for Detroit:There are a number of fans in Detroit who are down on the trade for Allen Iverson wondering how his shoot first and ask questions later style of play is going to affect his new teammates with the Pistons, especially a shooter like Rip Hamilton who relies on a great point guard to get him the ball coming off of screens. There have also been questions about Iverson's size and whether or not he'll be the same kind of liability he was defensively in Denver. While those are valid concerns, here's one big reason the trade has a chance to be successful for the Pistons: Rodney Stuckey. You've read in this space since summer league that Billups was being shopped because of the emergence of Stuckey, and his swift and steady rise to prominence was a major factor in the decision to deal Billups to Denver. As it pertains to Iverson, though, Stuckey has a chance to be the perfect complement to one of the greatest scorers in league history.

Take a minute and ponder when Iverson had the most success in his career, both from an individual and team perspective. The answer is the 2000-01 season. Iverson won a MVP award and the Philadelphia 76ers qualified for The NBA Finals. During that season, Iverson was playing next to a point guard named Eric Snow, a player who because of his size could guard opposing shooting guards on the defensive end. This allowed Iverson to guard the opposing team's point guard. Offensively, Snow was the epitome of unselfishness, could make open jumpers consistently and was a solid facilitator for his teammates. The key here is that Iverson didn't have to play the point guard position, which allowed him to focus on what he does best which is score the basketball, but Philadelphia also didn't have to pay the price of starting Iverson at the two offensively because of Snow's defensive versatility.

As a result of his 6-foot-5 frame, Stuckey has a chance to afford Iverson the same luxuries Snow did during the 2000-01 season. Dumars and head coach Michael Curry should give Stuckey tapes of Eric Snow and demand he start watching them immediately. Talent-wise, Snow really isn't comparable to Stuckey simply because Stuckey has many more physical tools. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Stuckey has the same kind of basketball IQ and ability to lead a basketball team like Snow did in Philly and Billups before him did in Detroit. If he does, though, this could turn out to be a special trade for the Pistons this season.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Five games didn't seem too harsh when the penalty was handed out in July. But while serving the suspension, Brad Miller said time dragged on."The last two games were definitely the toughest," Miller said Thursday, a towel draped over his head after working on his three-point shot with assistant coach Randy Brown.

But today marks a transition. Miller, the remorseful center, is moving on. "You have to. I learned from it already," said Miller, who lost approximately $693,000 of his $11.3 million salary for failing his third drug test because of marijuana use. "There is nothing you can do except look forward to the next 77 games." Which, for Miller, begins tonight as the Kings take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. at Arco Arena. The Timberwolves already have beaten the Kings, taking the season opener 98-96 in Minneapolis. Three games later, Minnesota has not won since.

The Kings are coming off a 100-95 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, with the win providing a morale boost for a team hampered by a 0-4 start. "We need to come out and play with similar defensive intensity," said Miller, who watched the game from home because of an NBA rule prohibiting players from being in the arena while serving a suspension. "Really, we can build off that." And Miller's presence on the court promises to be additional motivation, Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "He is energetic, and he looks really anxious to get out there," Theus said. "A lot of times, what happens is, you are either really good or really bad when you've had a long layoff like that." Theus said he is waiting until today to finalize his starting lineup. With second-year center Spencer Hawes having played well in Miller's absence, Theus said he wasn't ready to determine how he will integrate his veteran.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

This time isn't quite like the last time for Chauncey Billups. "Same person, different player," the Nuggets' newly acquired point guard said. The first time, Billups was a 22-year-old playing for his third team in his first two NBA seasons, a player seeking to validate that he belonged as a point guard. Thursday, when Billups met with the media at the Pepsi Center after passing his physical and partaking in his first practice, the 32-year-old Denver native returned as an NBA champion, a three-time All-Star and one widely regarded among the best at his position - point guard. He even acquired a nickname along the way that encapsulated his six seasons in Detroit - "Mr. Big Shot."

When I first came back here, I was the hometown kid coming back," Billups said of his 1999 trade from Toronto. "Now, I'm a man. It's good to be coming home in a time where I've established who I've always wanted to be." Billups, acquired along with forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb from Detroit for guard Allen Iverson, is aiming to crystallize a talented but unbalanced Nuggets squad that has sought a true point guard since Andre Miller was traded for Iverson two seasons ago. Known for his smooth demeanor and calming veteran presence, Billups also adds a sense of professionalism many believe that at times, the undisciplined Nuggets sorely have needed. "We have lacked an orchestrator of the team, a leader of the team, a guy that makes good decisions for the team," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Chauncey has an incredible dignity for the game."

Billups wasted no time getting acclimated, as he was one of the final players to leave the court Thursday. Karl said Billups undoubtedly will play tonight against Dallas but wouldn't say whether the newcomer would start.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

For those holding out hope Antonio McDyess will report to the Nuggets, don't count on it."Very, very low to zero," McDyess' agent, Andy Miller, said Thursday in labeling the percentages his client will come to Denver for a third stint with the team. McDyess was packaged with Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb on Monday in a trade that sent guard Allen Iverson to Detroit, but it widely has been speculated since the deal was announced the Nuggets would buy out McDyess' contract.

McDyess, who wanted to finish his career in Detroit, would become a free agent if bought out, but he would have to wait 30 days before re-signing with Detroit. "For Chauncey, this was a no-brainer," said Miller, who also represents Billups. "For Antonio, this was never a possibility."

Miller said when McDyess signed with Detroit two seasons ago, he believed it would be his final contract and would finish his career a Piston. Miller said he is "having discussions" with the Nuggets and expects a resolution shortly. "I don't want people to be confused because some people have said 'Dice' doesn't want to come to Denver," Billups said. "Dice loves Denver. He's come here twice. . . . He has a decision to make. He's in the latter part of his career and is tired of moving."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1378529.html

Five games didn't seem too harsh when the penalty was handed out in July. But while serving the suspension, Brad Miller said time dragged on. "The last two games were definitely the toughest," Miller said Thursday, a towel draped over his head after working on his three-point shot with assistant coach Randy Brown.

But today marks a transition. Miller, the remorseful center, is moving on. "You have to. I learned from it already," said Miller, who lost approximately $693,000 of his $11.3 million salary for failing his third drug test because of marijuana use. "There is nothing you can do except look forward to the next 77 games."

Which, for Miller, begins tonight as the Kings take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7 p.m. at Arco Arena. The Timberwolves already have beaten the Kings, taking the season opener 98-96 in Minneapolis. Three games later, Minnesota has not won since.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/index. ... ichigannba

Allen Iverson was in the starting lineup for Detroit on Friday night, making his delayed debut for the Pistons against the New Jersey Nets.

Detroit (4-0) played twice since the trade Monday with Denver that sent Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Nuggets for the nine-time All-Star. Iverson was not available for the first game and was not permitted to play in second because Billups had not completed his physical with the Nuggets.

Iverson joined Rip Hamilton in the Detroit backcourt, replacing Rodney Stuckey. Iverson got a rousing cheer from the crowd at the Izod Center when he was introduced with the starters.

[nasty daddy]

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/ ... logid=1626

A lot of folks have asked me who the captain is now that Chauncey Billups is gone. It's captains, plural. Billups, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince were the captains, now it will just be Tay and Rip.

Nets coach Lawrence Frank was talking about Allen Iverson before the game, remembering all the times he's torched the Nets over the years. "This guy has given us plenty of nights," he said. "Remember the move he did on Jacque Vaughn. He broke his ankles four times. He broke my ankles."

Iverson, by the way, got a huge roar out of this small crowd during intros at what they now call the Izod Center. Detroiter Chris Douglas-Roberts is out a couple of weeks with a knee injury.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... ns_de.html

Allen Iverson was in Detroit's starting lineup Friday as he made his delayed debut for the Pistons against the New Jersey Nets.

Detroit (4-0) played twice since the Monday trade that sent Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to Denver for the nine-time All-Star.

Iverson wasn't available for the first game and couldn't play in the second because Billups hadn't completed his physical with the Nuggets. Iverson got a rousing cheer from the crowd at the Izod Center when he was introduced with the starters.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Devin Harris scored a career-high 38 points Friday night to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 103-96 victory over Detroit, spoiling Allen Iverson's debut with the Pistons.New Jersey, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, played some of its best basketball of the season in the final two periods to hand the Pistons their first loss after four wins to open the season. Vince Carter and Josh Boone each scored 18 for New Jersey, which got its first home win after two losses. Boone also pulled down 14 rebounds. Iverson had 24 points and six assists after finally getting to suit up. Detroit played twice since the trade Monday with Denver that sent Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Nuggets for the nine-time All-Star. Iverson was not available for the first game and was not permitted to play the second because Billups had not completed his physical with the Nuggets.

Rip Hamilton had 22 points, while Tayshaun Prince added 19 points and 11 rebounds.It looked like an easy win for Detroit at the start. Iverson stepped right in, joining Hamilton in the Detroit backcourt, replacing Rodney Stuckey. He got a rousing cheer from the crowd at the Izod Center when he was introduced with the starters.Iverson immediately took over the game, factoring in the Pistons' first three scores. Iverson dished off to Hamilton for the game's first basket, scored on a finger-roll layup and kicked the ball out to Prince for a 3-pointer as Detroit took a 9-6 lead. Iverson played the entire opening quarter, scoring 11 points, making all three shots from the field, including a 3-pointer, while going 4-for-4 from the free throw line as the Pistons raced to a 27-14 lead. New Jersey cut the deficit to 44-39 at the half, thanks to eight points in the period from Boone.New Jersey, led by Harris, came back to take a 72-70 lead after three quarters. Badly outplayed by Iverson in their first-quarter matchup, Harris turned the tables in the third. Harris had 19 in period, going 13-for-15 from the free throw line while forcing Iverson into four fouls. Iverson had a quiet quarter with only four points. In the fourth quarter, Boone scored on a dunk midway through to give New Jersey an 87-79 lead that Detroit never overcame. Hamilton nailed a 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining to cut the Nets' lead to 98-94, only to have Harris answer back with a basket at the other end.

Notes:@ Nets coach Lawrence Frank said Stromile Swift might begin practicing next week. He has yet to play this season with a sore back. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Trenton Hassell were also inactive for the Nets. ... Walter Sharpe was the lone inactive for Detroit. ... Wallace was whistled for a technical foul with 5:47 remaining in the third for profanity-laced complaint when he failed to draw a foul call. ... Yi Jianlain fouled out for the Nets with 3:40 remaining. Carter also fouled out with 1:53 left.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/games/20081107/DETNJN/recap.html

Iverson had 24 points and six assists after finally getting to suit up. Detroit played twice since the trade Monday with Denver that sent Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Nuggets for the nine-time All-Star. Iverson was not available for the first game and was not permitted to play the second because Billups had not completed his physical with the Nuggets.

Rip Hamilton had 22 points, while Tayshaun Prince added 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Iverson stepped right in, joining Hamilton in the Detroit backcourt, replacing Rodney Stuckey. He got a rousing cheer from the crowd at the Izod Center when he was introduced with the starters. Iverson immediately took over the game, factoring in the Pistons' first three scores. Iverson dished off to Hamilton for the game's first basket, scored on a finger-roll layup and kicked the ball out to Prince for a 3-pointer as Detroit took a 9-6 lead.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/DETNJN_ ... recap.html

TAKE FIVE : 1. A MIXED BAG – For one exhilarating quarter, the Pistons saw the dazzling possibilities adding Allen Iverson to their offense offered. The rest of the night … not so much. The rest of the night, they were dazzled by Devin Harris, who outanswered “The Answer.” Iverson and Rip Hamilton sparked a dynamic offense and the Pistons toyed with New Jersey in a first quarter that ended with them ahead 27-14, but when they went to bench along with Rasheed Wallace to start the second quarter, the Pistons’ mojo went with them. Led by Harris, who scored 19 points in the third quarter alone and 31 in the second half en route to a career-best 38 for the game – 20 of 24 at the line - the Nets caught the Pistons shortly past halftime and bumped their lead to nine points before the Pistons, with Harris and Vince Carter on the bench, went on a 7-0 run to end the third quarter. The Pistons came within a point once but never again caught New Jersey in losing their first game of the season. The Nets made great use of a zone defense they began employing in the second quarter to keep the Pistons on the perimeter – a tactic that Chauncey Billups would often foil - without giving up offensive rebounds. Iverson finished with 24 points and six assists in 37 minutes, shooting 6 of 12 from the field and knocking down 11 of 13 at the free-throw line. “I thought AI played really good – moved the basketball, tried to do the things we wanted to do defensively and played within himself offensively,” said Pistons coach Michael Curry, who lost his first game. “Those guys, they’re good enough scorers, they’ll figure it out. We had open shots – a ton of them – that we missed. I’ll take that. We’ll make shots, as I’ve said all along.” “It’s been a long time since we’ve beaten Detroit,” said Nets coach Lawrence Frank, whose team lost all three to the Pistons last year and all four the previous season. “We’ve gotten some butt-kickings and it’s one game, but it’s good to get (rid of) that losing taste.”

2. White Hot – Iverson scored 11 in the first quarter while taking only three shots that ran the gamut – a driving layup through traffic that showed off his jet propulsion, a mid-range jumper knocked down by creating space after taking advantage of a big-man mismatch, a 3-point bomb – and adding four free throws when he got fouled while going to the rim, exactly the aggression Curry craves and the ingredient Joe Dumars wanted to add. Hamilton added 22 points and Tayshaun Prince 19 despite shooting only 4 of 15 from the floor. The combination of the Pistons’ passivity against the zone and the ineffectiveness of their bench – which came into the game averaging 38 points but scored only 18 and shot 6 of 18 – negated what otherwise might have been an offensive performance to be applauded. “Offensively, we’ll be OK,” Curry said. “We shot quick. We let the zone … it took our aggressiveness away and we didn’t throw the ball into the post as designed. We’re supposed to play out of the post and we stayed out on the perimeter too much. They went to the zone because we were doing a good job of attacking.” 3. BLUE COLLAR – The star power the Pistons possess in their backcourt aside, the clear advantage they had coming into the game against New Jersey was in the frontcourt, where the Nets are trying to get by with no proven scorer and relying on rookies Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson behind young starters Josh Boone, in his third year, and Yi Jianlian, in his second. But if it weren’t for Harris’ career day, the story would have been Boone, who gave the Nets 18 points and 14 rebounds, including five big ones off the offensive glass when he went to the rim when the Pistons got scrambled in rotations caused by Harris’ penetration. Boone hit 9 of 12 shots in 35 gritty minutes.

4. RED FLAG – Harris’ career night might have been just that: A good player – the key piece in the trade that pried Jason Kidd away from New Jersey last winter – having a career performance. And Harris’ best attribute is his speed and quickness, so no one should be terribly surprised that he did damage getting inside the defense and induced the Pistons into so many fouls.But it’s at least mildly concerning that the opposition point guard had 38 points in Iverson’s debut, given the book on Iverson coming in was that he can be attacked defensively. When Iverson and Hamilton went back in the game in the fourth quarter, the Pistons chose to guard him with Hamilton, putting Iverson on 6-foot-8 ex-Piston Jarvis Hayes. 5. WAYWARD SHOT – The Pistons need Rodney Stuckey to find his stroke from 15 feet and out, the thing that helped his game blossom in the latter stages of his rookie season and into the playoffs. When Stuckey ran the team to start the second quarter with Prince next to him in the backcourt and Walter Herrmann, Kwame Brown and Jason Maxiell up front, the offense lost its momentum, scoring nine points in seven minutes – seven from Prince, two from Brown on a post-up move. Curry wants to get Prince out of the game midway through the first quarter so he can bring him back to start the second with the second unit, but without Antonio McDyess around the Pistons need Stuckey to be a reliable second scorer to Prince. If his shot remains AWOL, Curry might have to start splitting up Hamilton and Iverson so he always has another scorer on the floor. Stuckey finished 2 of 7, both of his baskets inside – one of them a goaltending when Hayes grabbed the rim. For the season, Stuckey is shooting 18 of 45.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 70470/1127

Allen Iverson was pretty good in his debut with the Pistons on Friday, at least offensively. The rest of the team, especially defensively -- not so much. Iverson scored 24, hit 11 of 13 free throws and had six assists. Devin Harris, bettered that with 38 points, leading the Nets to a 103-96 win over the Pistons at the Izod Center. It was the Pistons' first loss of the season and the first time they didn't score at least 100 points. As expected, with Iverson just having one practice before the game, the offense lacked some fluidity. But it still got more than enough quality shots. The Pistons just didn't finish them. Tayshaun Prince (19 points) missed 11 of 15 shots. Richard Hamilton (22 points), who was in foul trouble late, missed 12 of 20. The Pistons shot 37 percent on the night. But the defense was awful. Nobody -- Iverson, Rodney Stuckey, Prince -- contained the Nets' dribble penetration. That resulted in Harris' production, as well as 18 second-chance points. The Pistons were in scramble mode most of the last three quarters.

Josh Boone had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Nets. The Pistons got plenty of offense down the stretch, but couldn't get the necessary stops. The Nets scored on their last seven possessions -- the clincher, a three-point play by Harris. The best they could do with Harris was foul him. Harris made 13 of 15 free throws in a 19-point third quarter. He scored one in the fourth. On the night, he made 20 of 24 free throws.

Iverson scored his first basket on the Pistons' second possession of the game, a driving lay-up. He had 11 points in the first quarter, making all three of his field goals and all four of his free throws. In the second quarter he buckled Eduardo Najera with a stop-and-go move that brought the crowd to its feet. But as the game wore on, he seemed to wear down and the offense became more and more disjointed. That's part of the process. The defensive lapses, however, is not. • Notes: Rasheed Wallace picked up his second technical foul of the season with 5:47 left in the third quarter. He felt he was fouled on a runner in the lane. The shot went over top of the backboard.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3689140

Michael Redd missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle when the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

He was replaced in the lineup by Charlie Bell, who made his second start of the season. Redd is day to day.

Redd, averaging a team-best 21.3 points per game, was injured Sunday when he landed awkwardly while chasing a ball in the Bucks' 94-86 victory over the New York Knicks.