'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 26

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/17/cavs ... index.html

Cavaliers center Ben Wallace needed 14 stitches to close a cut in his right forearm after injuring himself over the NBA All-Star break.

The team said Wallace sustained lacerations from glass while playing catch with a football in Richmond, Va. When he got back to Cleveland on Monday, Wallace underwent further evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic and had more pieces of glass removed from his arm on Tuesday, the Cavs said in a statement.

The Cavaliers listed Wallace as questionable for Wednesday night's game in Toronto.Cleveland's best defensive interior player, Wallace is averaging 3.1 points and 6.7 rebounds this season.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/17/rand ... index.html

Los Angeles Clippers forward Zach Randolph was ejected for throwing a punch at Phoenix's Louis Amundson in the first quarter on Tuesday night.

Amundson and Randolph became tangled up while going for a rebound late in the first quarter. Randolph knocked Amundson to the floor with his left elbow, then glared down at him. When Amundson stood to face Randolph, the Clippers forward threw a punch with his left hand and connected with a solid blow. He was immediately ejected.

The Suns led 41-26 after one quarter.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/02/17/kiri ... index.html

Andrei Kirilenko returned to the Utah Jazz lineup after missing the last 11 games while recovering from ankle surgery.

The forward entered the game with 4:21 left in the first quarter and quickly scored a basket and hit two free throws. Since he joined the Jazz eight years ago, Utah is just 34-57 when Kirilenko does not play. Utah was without Mehmet Okur, who was sidelined with the flu. Okur, who averages 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds, missed five games in November to be with his ailing father in Turkey and also sat out three games in late December with a sore back. The Jazz are 3-5 without Okur.

Through 53 games, the Jazz have posted a total of 136 games missed to injury. In contrast, The Jazz only had 34 injury games at this point last season. Carlos Boozer, who has only played in 12 games this season, originally targeted the Memphis game for his return from left knee surgery but has now backed away from a firm date.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 70428/1127

Pistons lose fourth straight
Evidently, the break didn't help the Pistons. Detroit lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 92-86 Tuesday, the Pistons' fourth consecutive loss. The Pistons rallied in the fourth quarter, helped by a tenacious zone defense, twice cutting the lead to one point. But each time, Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson (29 points) responded with three-point plays to pad the Bucks' cushion.

Jefferson's free throw with 47.2 seconds left gave the Bucks an 89-86 lead. Antonio McDyess missed a jumper, and Milwaukee's Ramon Sessions hit free throws to give the Bucks an 91-86 lead. McDyess was superb in his return to the starting lineup with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Richard Hamilton scored 22.

Sessions added 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Pistons trailed 29-17 after the first quarter, a quarter which they shot 6-for-16 (37.5 percent).Milwaukee led by 17 in the second quarter before the Pistons managed to cut the margin to 50-37 at halftime.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=16717

Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko is expected to play in Tuesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, just 2 1/2 weeks after undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments from his right ankle.Kirilenko was expected to miss three to four weeks after having surgery on January 30.

The Salt Lake City Tribune reported he will need to go through a final evaluation by team doctors before being cleared to play. "As long as I don't feel pain, I can do everything," said Kirilenko, who missed 11 games while recovering.

As expected, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said during Tuesday's shootaround that Kirilenko's minutes will be limited. "You can't just show up and be in great shape after you've been in a boot and that sort of thing for a period of time," Sloan told the Tribune. "We'll play him six, seven minutes at a stretch probably."Kirilenko is averaging 12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 38 games.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/TheWireStory.asp?id=16727

Los Angeles Clippers forward Zach Randolph was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns for throwing a punch at Suns forward Louis Amundson late in the first quarter.

Amundson and Randolph were underneath battling for position for a rebound and got tangled up. Randolph responded by knocking Amundson down with his left elbow, then he stood over him and stared. Amundson got up and stood face-to-face with Randolph, who responded by throwing a punch that hit Amundson in the face.

Randolph was then ejected with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3481

Filed Under Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota T-Wolves, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, News, OKC Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Seattle SuperSonics, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards

The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3480

Hawks assign Othello Hunter to D-League: The Atlanta Hawks today assigned forward Othello Hunter to the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Development League, according to Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.

A rookie from Ohio State, Hunter has averaged 0.6 ppg and 0.7 rpg (.429 FG%) in 10 games with the Hawks.

The Arsenal is the D-League affiliate of the Hawks, as well as the Los Angeles Clippers.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3482

Ben Wallace gets 14 stitches in right arm: The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Brian Windhorst) reports: Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace is being listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game in Toronto after suffering lacerations to his right forearm that required 14 stitches. Wallace was injured while playing catch with a football in Richmond, Va. and received stitches there. He returned to Cleveland on Monday and was treated this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health for removal of additional glass pieces from his arm.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3483

Jermaine O’Neal to wear No.7: The South Florida Sun-Sentinal (Ira Winderman) reports: Jermaine O’Neal will wear No. 7, Shawn Marion’s former number, with Jamario Moon to wear No. 8, which means the Heat will not, after all, be retiring Antoine Walker’s number. (Moon wore No. 33 in Toronto, which soon will be retired in honor of Alonzo Mourning. The late Alec Kessler is the only other Heat player to have worn No. 33.)

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3487

Tony Allen needs thumb surgery: The bench of the Boston Celtics relies on a select few guys, and one of them is going to be unavailable for a while. The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports (via blog):

Celtics president Danny Ainge said that guard Tony Allen is slated to have left thumb surgery tomorrow and he is hopeful he will return to action by the playoffs. The injury-plagued Allen suffered the injury on Feb. 8 versus San Antonio and has already missed 15 games this season to ankle and thumb injuries.

Allen this season is 7th on the team in scoring and in 19.1 minutes per game averages 7.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He’s shooting well from two-point range but his three-point shot has been virtually nonexistent.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3488

Andrew Bynum out 6-10 more weeks: The Los Angeles Times (Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner ) reports: Andrew Bynum is expected to be sidelined six to 10 more weeks because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, which keeps Gasol and Odom in the forefront of every discussion if the Lakers want to stay ahead of the Celtics and Cavaliers. Since Bynum went down seven games ago, Gasol and Odom have stepped up their production. Both have played at a high level with Bynum out, increasing their scoring, rebounding and minutes. Jackson was asked whether the Lakers needed Gasol and Odom to sustain their pace. “Yeah,” Jackson said. “It takes the load off Kobe scoring.”

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=3489

Rockets keeping McGrady and Yao: The AP reports: Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Tuesday that oft-injured star Tracy McGrady won’t be dealt before Thursday’s trade deadline. McGrady sat out Tuesday’s game against New Jersey as he seeks input from doctors on the best course of treatment for his troublesome left knee. He’s missed 18 games this season with the injury, the aftermath of offseason surgery. He sat out another game with a sprained ankle… Alexander also said he wants to keep All-Star center Yao Ming for his entire career. Yao’s contract is due to expire after the 2010-11 season.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217021

Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points and Amare Stoudemire added 23 to help Phoenix rout the Los Angeles Clippers 140-100 in Alvin Gentry's debut as the Suns interim coach on Tuesday night.

Eric Gordon had 24 points for the Clippers.

Randolph knocked Amundson to the floor with his left elbow, then glared down at him. When Amundson stood to face Randolph, the Clippers forward threw a punch with his left hand and connected with a solid blow. He was immediately ejected.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217025

Returning again to the city where his NBA career got started, Paul drove the lane for a layup with 2.7 seconds left to lift the New Orleans Hornets to a 100-98 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

West led the Hornets with 37 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul finished with 21 points and eight assists in the team's first game since trading starting center Tyson Chandler to the Thunder earlier in the day for veterans Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, plus second-round pick DeVon Hardin.

Durant followed an All-Star weekend to remember with a career-high 47 points, capped by his fallaway 3-pointer from the right wing off an inbounds pass from Russell Westbrook. Durant had scored a record 46 points in the Rookie Challenge game and won the HORSE competition during All-Star festivities in Phoenix over the weekend.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217011

Granger had 20 points -- five under his season average -- but five other Pacers finished in double figures to pick up the slack in Indiana's 100-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

Troy Murphy scored 17 points, eight in the fourth quarter, Roy Hibbert and T.J. Ford each had 14, Jarrett Jack chipped in with 12 and Marquis Daniels had 11 for the Pacers, who led by as many as 20 points in the first half.

Andre Iguodala had 20 points and nine assists, Louis Williams scored 17 and Thaddeus Young added 16 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217019

He had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocks, leading the Orlando Magic to a 107-102 overtime victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

The Magic also got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend.

Bell and Gerald Wallace returned to the Charlotte lineup. Wallace had been out since Jan 27 with a partially collapsed lung and a fractured rib and Bell had been out since Feb. 6 with a groin strain.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217027

Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures for the Wizards. Caron Butler added 17 points, six assists and five rebounds before limping off to the locker room in the final minute. Butler fell to the court clutching a rebound and banged his left hip, near the joint where he had a small labral tear that cost him 19 games last season.

Randy Foye scored 23 points, Mike Miller scored 18, and Kevin Love had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who overcame the big first-half deficit but blew a six-point fourth-quarter lead.

"We closed it down in the fourth quarter when it was a struggle," said forward Andray Blatche, who scored 14 points in his first game back after missing nine with a strained left knee. "That's where I feel this team is starting to get more focused -- and not giving up because of our record."

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217018

Robinson continued the best stretch of his career with 32 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday night to lead the New York Knicks to a 112-107 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler each scored 17 points for the Knicks, who snapped a six-game losing streak. They finally broke through against an NBA power, having dropped all three on a homestand against the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics in the first week of February.

Tim Duncan had 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs, but fellow All-Star Tony Parker shot just 5-for-20 and finished with 14 for the Spurs. Roger Mason scored 20.

[nasty daddy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290217010

Yao Ming had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Shane Battier scored a season-high 19 points in the Rockets' 114-88 rout.

Von Wafer scored 19 points and Ron Artest added 18 for the Rockets, who outrebounded New Jersey 56-30 and set season highs in 3-point field goals (15) and assists (27) in their sixth straight win over the Nets.

Vince Carter scored 30 points and Brook Lopez added 21 for the Nets, who have lost three straight after a four-game winning streak.