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Possible playoff seeds: The Hawks and Pistons are the No. 4 and 6 playoff seeds, respectively, in the Eastern Conference. (Miami holds the tiebreaker and is No. 5; Philly is No. 7.) The East scenario:
Team Record GB
1. Boston 42-11 --
2. Cleveland 40-11 1
3. Orlando 38-13 3
4. Atlanta 31-21 10 1/2
5. Miami 27-24 14
6. Detroit 27-24 14
7. Philadelphia 27-24 14
8. Milwaukee 26-29 17
Pistons at the break: The Pistons have led the Central Division at the All-Star break and won the division each of the previous four seasons. An inside look:
Year Record Central Finish
2008-09 27-24 -13 behind Cavs ?
2007-08 39-13 +10 over Cavs 59-23
2006-07 32-19 +2 over Cavs 53-29
2005-06 42-9 +11 1/2 over Cavs 64-18
2004-05 32-19 +2 over Cavs 54-28
Due to his ongoing left knee problems, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady did not play in Wednesday's 94-82 win over the Sacramento Kings.
McGrady, who has missed 16 contests this season while trying to rehabilitate his knee after last May's surgery, underwent an MRI on Wednesday, which revealed no change in the injury from prior diagnosis. "I got an MRI this morning and we didn't like what we saw," McGrady said. "I have to wait it out."
The seven-time All-Star is expected to seek additional medical opinions in the coming days. "It hasn't gotten any better," McGrady said. "It's not any worse, but it hasn't gotten any better. It hasn't really healed. That's the problem."
Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen suffered a hyperextended right thumb in the first quarter of Wednesday's 89-77 win over the New Orleans Hornets.
The sharpshooter hurt his thumb when he got it caught in the jersey of teammate Kendrick Perkins underneath the basket. The thumb stiffened up so much in the second quarter that Allen did not play in the second half.
He is questionable to play Thursday at the Dallas Mavericks. "I tried to catch the ball and I couldn't because it was jammed all the way down," Allen said. "As I was running, I started yanking on it and tried to hold it in. I tried to catch the ball but I couldn't hold onto the ball any more. ... I'm going to try and play tomorrow. I'll get out there and work out and see how I feel."
The Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons could very well meet in the first round of the playoffs this spring. After Wednesday's showdown, the former officially has the upper hand. Joe Johnson scored 25 points to lead the Hawks to a 99-95 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday, officially clinching the season series in the process. "I don't know if this was a statement," Johnson said. "We've got a long way to go and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. It was definitely a big win because these guys have given us trouble for the last few years." The teams have just three head-to-head meetings on the slate this season and the Hawks have won the first two. They made it 2-for-2 thanks to a clean and explosive offensive showing, as they connected at a 51-percent rate (38-of-74) and committed just seven turnovers on the night. "We're fighting for a playoff spot with them, and there's a big difference between the fourth and fifth spot," Hawks guard Flip Murray said. "That means the home court advantage. This was a big win for us to gain some advantage on them."
After a back-and-forth affair for 2 1/2 quarters, the Hawks took control late in the third. After Rodney Stuckey's layup gave Detroit a two-point edge, Atlanta responded with a 14-4 run to close the period. Most of the damage was done by Murray, who scored 10 points in the spurt - including a three-point play and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions. "I was trying to be aggressive and give us a spark off the bench," Murray said. "There were a lot of mismatches with switches and I had big guys on me, so I was just trying to penetrate and get to the hole for an easy basket." The Hawks had to overcome a big effort from Allen Iverson to close the game out, as the All-Star scorer - who has endured a down season, numbers-wise - caught a hot streak in the fourth. Iverson, who has been battling the flu, hit back-to-back threes midway through the quarter to cut the deficit to 84-81 and scored 15 of his 28 points in the final frame. "I'm still just real light-headed. That was my problem," Iverson said. "I was just dizzy at times and I actually threw up in a timeout, so I was struggling." "I thought he came out and was aggressive and fought his way through the game," Pistons coach Michael Curry said. "He continued to help us get to the paint. I thought we did a tremendous job in the paint." Josh Smith stripped Iverson with just 1:06 remaining to set up a pair of free throws by Joe Johnson and make it a seven-point game. Iverson answered with an off-balance drive to the basket, finishing with a layup to cut it to five, but it was hardly enough.
With just under 10 seconds remaining and the Pistons down by four, Iverson turned down a three and cut to the basket, finishing with a layup to make it a two-point game. But Johnson buried both free throws on the other end to double the lead and all but put away the game. It was the third consecutive loss for the Pistons (27-23), who hold the fifth spot in the East but are 3 1/2 games behind No. 4 Atlanta (31-21) for home court in a potential first-round series. "It's definitely a good time for us to have (the break) right now," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said. "We definitely need this, especially the way we're playing right now." The Hawks have won four of five since struggling throughout January. "They played hard. This team pushes you to play hard," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "If you don't meet their intensity, they can embarrass you. This was a big game going into the break because you have two teams, along with Miami, that's fighting for that fourth spot." Smith had a strong all-around outing, collecting 10 points, seven boards, seven assists and four steals. Murray provided a lift off the bench, falling two points short of a season high with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting. However, the Hawks have a tough slate ahead of them after the All-Star break, continuing their road trip against the likes of the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Jazz and Nuggets.
Veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen left Wednesday's victory over the Hornets in the first quarter with a hyperextended right thumb. He will be re-examined on Thursday and is listed questionable for the game against the Mavericks.
Allen is supposed to be on the court in Phoenix on Sunday for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, but his status seems up in the air.
Atlanta (30-21) at Detroit (27-23) 7:30 p.m. EST -- It has been a long time since the Detroit Pistons were looking up at the Atlanta Hawks in the standings at the All-Star break. The Pistons will look to save some face with a win when the teams square off on Wednesday. Detroit has enjoyed a spot at the top of the Eastern Conference for the better part of the last decade while the Hawks have struggled through one rebuilding plan after another. An aging roster for the Pistons and a solid core in Atlanta has shifted the balance. Known for its defense throughout the last several years, Detroit has seen itself slip recently, allowing over 111 points over the past three games. The Pistons were outscored, 17-2, over the last 3:33 of the game on Tuesday, squandering a lead and falling to the Chicago Bulls, 107-102. Instead of being sharp and closing the contest out, Rasheed Wallace rushed a 3-point attempt with under a minute left and Richard Hamilton committed a turnover on their last possession. Meanwhile, Atlanta has won three of four and is coming off a strong performance in a 111-90 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Joe Johnson scored 22 points and eight assists as seven players reached double figures. The Hawks are beginning a six-game road trip at Detroit, though the remaining five contests are all on the West Coast after the All-Star break.
ATLANTA 99, DETROIT 95 --- The Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons could very well meet in the first round of the playoffs this spring. After Wednesday's showdown, the former officially has the upper hand. Joe Johnson scored 25 points to lead the Hawks to a 99-95 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday, officially clinching the season series in the process. "I don't know if this was a statement," Johnson said. "We've got a long way to go and we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. It was definitely a big win because these guys have given us trouble for the last few years." The teams have just three head-to-head meetings on the slate this season and the Hawks have won the first two. They made it 2-for-2 thanks to a clean and explosive offensive showing, as they connected at a 51-percent rate (38-of-74) and committed just seven turnovers on the night. "We're fighting for a playoff spot with them, and there's a big difference between the fourth and fifth spot," Hawks guard Flip Murray said. "That means the home court advantage. This was a big win for us to gain some advantage on them." After a back-and-forth affair for 2 1/2 quarters, the Hawks took control late in the third. After Rodney Stuckey's layup gave Detroit a two-point edge, Atlanta responded with a 14-4 run to close the period. Most of the damage was done by Murray, who scored 10 points in the spurt - including a three-point play and a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions. "I was trying to be aggressive and give us a spark off the bench," Murray said. "There were a lot of mismatches with switches and I had big guys on me, so I was just trying to penetrate and get to the hole for an easy basket." The Hawks had to overcome a big effort from Allen Iverson to close the game out, as the All-Star scorer - who has endured a down season, numbers-wise - caught a hot streak in the fourth. Iverson, who has been battling the flu, hit back-to-back threes midway through the quarter to cut the deficit to 84-81 and scored 15 of his 28 points in the final frame. "I'm still just real light-headed. That was my problem," Iverson said. "I was just dizzy at times and I actually threw up in a timeout, so I was struggling." "I thought he came out and was aggressive and fought his way through the game," Pistons coach Michael Curry said. "He continued to help us get to the paint. I thought we did a tremendous job in the paint." Josh Smith stripped Iverson with just 1:06 remaining to set up a pair of free throws by Joe Johnson and make it a seven-point game. Iverson answered with an off-balance drive to the basket, finishing with a layup to cut it to five, but it was hardly enough. With just under 10 seconds remaining and the Pistons down by four, Iverson turned down a three and cut to the basket, finishing with a layup to make it a two-point game. But Johnson buried both free throws on the other end to double the lead and all but put away the game. It was the third consecutive loss for the Pistons (27-23), who hold the fifth spot in the East but are 3 1/2 games behind No. 4 Atlanta (31-21) for home court in a potential first-round series. "It's definitely a good time for us to have (the break) right now," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said. "We definitely need this, especially the way we're playing right now." The Hawks have won four of five since struggling throughout January. "They played hard. This team pushes you to play hard," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "If you don't meet their intensity, they can embarrass you. This was a big game going into the break because you have two teams, along with Miami, that's fighting for that fourth spot." Smith had a strong all-around outing, collecting 10 points, seven boards, seven assists and four steals. Murray provided a lift off the bench, falling two points short of a season high with 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting. However, the Hawks have a tough slate ahead of them after the All-Star break, continuing their road trip against the likes of the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Jazz and Nuggets.
Curry eyes second-half rebound in tough East
The All-Star break comes at an opportune time for the struggling Pistons.
After Tuesday's loss in Chicago, the Pistons will hit the break with the fewest wins since 2001-02, when coach Michael Curry was playing. "I think the break's coming at a good time," Curry said. "I think the guys, watching some of (them) the last couple games, I think physically some guys really need a break. And I think mentally, this is, for them, the biggest challenge mentally as they've had."
Curry knows firsthand that teams can rebound from tough starts. The 2001-02 team finished 24-11 and went on to win the Central Division. "To get to that point where your team is competing in the Eastern Conference Finals every year, somebody had to go through some heartbreaks to get to that point," Curry said. "Unfortunately, we're having to go through it again to get back up there, but that's all part of trying to win and build an elite team in this league."
RIGHT BACK AT IT: When Curry was a player, he welcomed playing the very next night after a poor effort. He feels the same way as a coach, after seeing his team blow a 15-point lead in a 107-102 loss to the Bulls on Tuesday.
"As a player, as a coach, the quicker you can play again, and try to get that one out, it's good," Curry said before Wednesday's game against the Hawks. "Going over, watching the game, we did a lot of great things in that game. I still don't understand how they can shoot 16 free throws and we can shoot three. ... We knew all along that (Joakim) Noah and (Tyrus) Thomas offensive rebound-wise were going to be tough to keep off the boards, especially when you're trapping their guards. But it was a game we needed our two bigs to play and play well."
Amir Johnson had one defensive rebound in 19 minutes, and Jason Maxiell had no defensive rebounds in 13 1/2 minutes. Because Johnson and Maxiell were ineffective, Curry had to play Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess more. "Dice and 'Sheed had to be out there longer against younger, more athletic guys, and over the course of the night I thought that kind of hurt us," Curry said.
INJURY UPDATE: Rookie guard Rodney Stuckey suffered a right ankle sprain Tuesday night but got treatment and was able to start against the Hawks. Allen Iverson was starting against Atlanta after missing Tuesday's game with flu-like symptoms.
The loss guaranteed the Wizards (11-42) a losing final record, but a team that again played without injured regulars Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson, Andray Blatche and Etan Thomas still has 29 games remaining in what promises to be a slow, painful march toward the NBA draft lottery.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Pistons and Hawks would have been playoff opponents if the playoffs had started Wednesday. Curry said he viewed the Hawks as a potential playoff opponent when they met in December and the Pistons lost, 85-78.
"You can of see how things unfold, you continue to push for the best record you can," Curry said. "But you kind of see them, Miami and ourselves right there together right now."
'SHEED FATIGUED: Rasheed Wallace did not play in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Hawks, which dropped the Pistons to the No. 6 seed. "He said he was fatigued and tendinitis in his knee was bothering him," said Curry. "I think it was 6 minutes left in the third, he asked to come out. Asked a couple times if he could go back and he didn't think he could go back." Wallace finished with nine points on 4-for-8 shooting and seven rebounds in 24:55.
TAKE FIVE: A five-point dissection of the Pistons’ third straight loss. 1. COSTLY LOSS - The blueprint for beating Atlanta is about as straightforward as it gets: Keep the Hawks’ athletic young frontcourt of Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams off the offensive glass; don’t let Mike Bibby alone at the 3-point line; and make Joe Johnson become a volume shooter to get his 20 points. Those things might be difficult to achieve, but they’re pretty simple to comprehend. The Pistons succeeded across the board about as well as they could have hoped in their final game before hitting the All-Star break Wednesday night – and lost anyway. The X-factor for Atlanta – make that the X, Y and Z factors – was Flip Murray. The ex-Piston came off of Atlanta’s bench to light them up for 23 points, 14 in the second half. Johnson got away from them late, scoring 10 of his 27 in the fourth quarter, and Atlanta won a game that could have huge playoff implications. “We go into the game and say Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby and Josh Smith were the three keys,” Michael Curry said as the Pistons lost their third straight game. “I thought we did an excellent job on Bibby (five points, 1 of 5) and an excellent job on Josh (10 points, seven rebounds). Joe had a good game. Flip Murray, 23 points – that’s a killer.” The Hawks are now three games ahead of the Pistons in the loss column and hold a 2-0 edge in the season series between the two as they fight for the No. 4 playoff seed in the East behind runaway leaders Boston, Cleveland and Orlando. Adding injury to the insult of another home loss, Rasheed Wallace asked out of the game with 4:18 left in the third quarter and never returned, bothered by tendinitis in his knee. The Pistons, who were 10 games over .500 at 22-12 about a month ago, have lost 12 of their last 17 games.
TEAM COLORS : 2. White Hot - If Flip Murray had done that a little more often in his almost two seasons with the Pistons, well … he’d still be a Piston. Murray scored Atlanta’s last 10 points of the third quarter on just four possessions, taking Amir Johnson to the basket when he caught him in a mismatch to score a layup, getting loose again for another layup with no help coming, and then closing the quarter with consecutive three-point trips at Arron Afflalo’s expense, knocking down a jump shot over him while drawing a foul and then nailing a triple. “I just came out and tried to be aggressive, tried to give us a spark off the bench,” Murray said. “There were a lot of mismatches, a lot of switching, and I had a lot of big guys on me, so I just tried to penetrate the defense and get to the hole for easy baskets.” 3. BLUE COLLAR - For a guy who missed Tuesday’s loss at Chicago with the flu and wasn’t sure if he could play Wednesday until about 90 minutes before tipoff, Allen Iverson left everything but his pregame meal on the floor. He left that on the sideline. “I was still just real lightheaded,” Iverson said after the game. “That was my problem out there tonight. I was just dizzy at times. I actually threw up at a timeout. I was struggling. I was just real weak.” That must have come as a revelation to the Hawks, who played a game-high 40 minutes and scored a game-high 28 points, including a 3 of 6 night from the 3-point line. Iverson also provided one of the Pistons’ real hustle plays of the night when he dived to the floor to beat the sauntering Murray to a loose ball in Atlanta’s end, flinging it ahead to Rip Hamilton for a layup.
4. RED FLAG - The Pistons still rank among the top third of teams in points allowed (94.2, fifth) and field-goal percentage defense (seventh), but their defense has sprung a leak over the last week, allowing 111.7 a game over the last three coming into Atlanta. Even though the Hawks fell one point short of triple digits, they went on a tear late in the second and early in the third quarters – scoring on 11 straight possessions – in a game where both teams appeared to have heavy legs after playing Tuesday night. Fueled by Murray, Atlanta finished the third quarter with 14 points squeezed out of its last six possessions. “We have to talk and communicate, especially on the defensive end,” Tayshaun Prince said. “In the past, we were better at communicating and our half-court defense was better. Now we’re struggling in that area. Hopefully, the break will help us.” THE LAST CALL : A little perspective on the final game before the All-Star break. 5. WELCOME BREAK - Right about now, the only thing better than a four-day break for the Pistons would be a four-week break. Curry, Iverson and Prince admitted it was coming at a good time, and not just because the Pistons have played four games in the past five nights and put heavy wear on the legs of their oldest players, Wallace and Antonio McDyess especially. Perhaps even more than the physical toll, the first 51 games have exacted an even heavier psychological toll on a veteran team that’s no stranger to challenges but is accustomed to getting overwhelmingly positive results when they push back. “Physically, some guys really need a break,” Curry said. “And it’s probably been as challenging mentally as (any stretch) they’ve had, at least while they’ve been here. That’s how good they’ve had it since they’ve been here. “But, believe me, to get to that point to where your team is competing in the Eastern Conference finals every year, somebody had to go through some heartbreaks to get to that point. It’s unfortunate we’re having to go through that again to get back up there, but that’s all part of trying to win and be an elite team in this league.”
Heat forward Shawn Marion was knocked out of Wednesday's practice because of an eye injury and is questionable for Thursday's game at Chicago.
Marion was injured late in the workout, when forward Michael Beasley inadvertently hit him in the left eye during a drill. Marion was taken to a doctor for treatment and diagnosed with a bruised left eye orbit. Marion, the Heat's leading rebounder, traveled with the team Wednesday and will be evaluated Thursday.
It was the second time in a week that Marion was hit in the left eye. He caught an inadvertent elbow from Allen Iverson in the first half of a loss at Detroit on Feb. 7. Marion was taken to the locker room but returned shortly to finish the game. The incident at practice Wednesday was the latest in a line of freak injuries Marion has sustained.He was forced to wear a protective mask for several games after he broke his nose in a Nov. 1 game at Charlotte. He missed six games because of a strained left groin he sustained on a dunk attempt during a loss at Houston on Jan. 17, and he also has missed time because of back spasms.
Sounds like coach Larry Brown is leaning toward keeping D-Leaguer Cartier Martin for the rest of the season. Brown loves Martin's attitude, particularly his work ethic.
The one player the Knicks could ill-afford to lose sat out last night's game against the Clippers, which only added to the despondency of a road trip gone terribly wrong. Chris Duhon today will have an MRI on his left ankle, which, for now, has been labeled as sprained but could be worse.
The timing is somewhat fortunate because this weekend's All-Star break allows Duhon five days of rest and rehabilitation before the team's next game, Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs at the Garden. For that, Duhon remains cautiously optimistic.
But Duhon's durability - he was once among the NBA's leaders in minutes played before his workload was cut back over the past month - will be a concern for the Knicks down the stretch as they try desperately to stay in the playoff hunt despite the recent slide of five straight losses going into last night's game.
INJURIES MOUNT: Quentin Richardson was expected to miss his second straight game due to a bruised chest. The injuries to Richardson and Duhon leave Mike D'Antoni with nine available players, including seldom-used Anthony Roberson and Malik Rose.
Heat forward Shawn Marion was knocked out of Wednesday's practice because of an eye injury and is questionable for Thursday's game at Chicago.
Marion was injured late in the workout, when forward Michael Beasley inadvertently hit him in the left eye during a drill. Marion was taken to a doctor for treatment and diagnosed with a bruised left eye orbit. Marion, the Heat's leading rebounder, traveled with the team Wednesday and will be evaluated Thursday.
It was the second time in a week that Marion was hit in the left eye. He caught an inadvertent elbow from Allen Iverson in the first half of a loss at Detroit on Feb. 7. Marion was taken to the locker room but returned shortly to finish the game.