James, Cavs rally past Raptors

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored 24 of his game-high 39 points in the fourth quarter as Cleveland roared back to beat Toronto, 93-90, at Air Canada Centre.

James added 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their third straight game. Larry Hughes donated 14 points and Drew Gooden chipped in with 10 points and 12 boards.

Chris Bosh had 23 points for the Raptors, who have dropped two straight and six of eight. Anthony Parker finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Jose Calderon contributed a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists.

The Cavs trailed by 13 points entering the final frame and barely showed a pulse to that point. But, James took over in a 19-6 run to open the fourth. The dynamic swingman drained a pair of threes and finally evened things at 76 by sticking a jumper with 6:26 left.

James continued to explode from there. After Bosh scored on a layup, James dropped in two more threes to put Cleveland on top, 84-80, with 3:21 remaining....Full Story

Butler leads Wizards over Sonics

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Caron Butler exploded for 33 points as the Washington Wizards dominated the Seattle SuperSonics, earning a 108-86 victory.
Antawn Jamison notched a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who won their second consecutive game. DeShawn Stevenson added 13 points, while Brendan Haywood scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards. Antonio Daniels dished out 10 assists to go with 13 points, as Washington had all five of its starters score in double-figures.
Kevin Durant had 19 points for the Sonics, as the team dropped its third straight and fifth of its last six contests. Wally Szczerbiak contributed 18 points off the bench. Nick Collison pulled down 17 rebounds while scoring 13 points, and Seattle dropped to 4-13 as the visitor this season.
In the fourth, the Wizards wasted no time putting the game out of reach, opening the period with a 14-2 burst. Darius Songalia stroked a jump hook with 7:41 to go, pushing the Washington lead to 92-71...Full Story

Warriors wrap up road trip against LeBron, Cavs

(Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors finish a five-game road trip this evening, as they battle the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.
This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the squads. On November 6th, Daniel Gibson drained five three-pointers to lift Cleveland to a 108-104 victory over Golden State at ORACLE Arena.
The Cavaliers have won three in a row in the series. Golden State has lost two of three and 14 of its last 16 at Cleveland.
Golden State is 2-2 on the swing, and will try and get back on the winning track against the Cavaliers. On Saturday, Vince Carter's three-pointer with 24.6 seconds left gave New Jersey the lead, and the Nets didn't allow the Warriors to score over the final 3:12 in a 100-95 victory over Golden State at the Izod Center.
Stephen Jackson ended with 21 points to lead Golden State, which shot just 38.6 percent from the field, including 6-of-25 from three-point range. Monta Ellis had 19 points and Andris Biedrins finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who have dropped two in a row...Full Story

Knicks, Lakers battle at MSG

(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers wrap up a four-game road trip, as they visit the New York Knicks this afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. The Lakers are scheduled to host the Knicks on January 29, 2008 at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks were 2-0 against the Lakers last season. The Lakers have lost two of their last three at New York.
Los Angeles is 2-1 on the swing. On Friday, Andrew Bynum scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-101, at the Wachovia Center.
Derek Fisher finished with 21 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who won despite a quiet 19-point, seven-rebound performance by superstar Kobe Bryant. Lamar Odom had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won three of four, and seven of their last nine games overall.
After tonight's contest, the Lakers return home for a five-game homestand. They will host Phoenix, Utah, Boston, Philadelphia and Indiana at the Staples Center on the upcoming stand....Full Story

Kings open homestand against Iverson, Nuggets

(Sports Network) - The Sacramento Kings begin a four-game homestand when they welcome the Denver Nuggets tonight to ARCO Arena.
This is the second meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On December 8th, Allen Iverson scored 23 points, handed out 10 assists and hit the game-sealing free throws as the Nuggets survived multiple rallies by the Kings to earn a 101-97 victory at the Pepsi Center.
Denver has won three in a row over Sacramento. The Nuggets snapped a 20-game series road losing streak on March 11, 2007.
Sacramento goes for its third straight victory this evening. On Wednesday, Ron Artest scored 26 points and handed out eight assists to lift the Kings over the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-89, at the Bradley Center...Full Story

Pistons try to extend winning streak against Rockets

(Sports Network) - The streaking Detroit Pistons conclude a two-game homestand when they host the Houston Rockets tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On December 12, Tracy McGrady scored a game-high 29 points as the Rockets survived a tense final minute to beat the Pistons, 80-77, at the Toyota Center.
Houston has won two in a row in the series. The Rockets have lost six straight and 10 of its last 11 at Detroit.
Detroit enters tonight's contest on a four-game winning streak. Tayshaun Prince led a well-balanced Detroit attack with 16 points, and the Pistons cruised to a 94-67 stomping of the Memphis Grizzlies at The Palace.
Chauncey Billups ended with 14 points and seven assists, while Richard Hamilton also scored 14 points for the Pistons, who have won 11 of their last 13 games overall. Rookie Arron Afflalo scored 12 points off the bench, and Antonio McDyess collected 11 points and 11 rebounds in the victory...Full Story

Kidd disputes report about purposely sitting out

New York, NY (Sports Network) - New Jersey Nets star point guard Jason Kidd disputed a newspaper report that said he intentionally skipped Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks in hopes of gaining a contract extension or a trade.
Kidd told WFAN-AM radio in New York that he had a migraine headache and was unable to play in New Jersey's 100-93 loss. The migraine was the official reason given by the Nets for Kidd's absence on Wednesday.
"I did have a migraine and I was sick," Kidd said Thursday afternoon on the Mike and the Mad Dog program. "I would never disrespect the game, first of all, by not playing because the game has been so good to me."
The New York Post, citing team sources, said Kidd simply decided to sit out the game.
"He's on strike," the Post quoted one team source as saying.
There were reports last week that the Nets turned down Kidd's request for a one-year contract extension. Kidd also said those reports were false...Full Story

Suns go for eight straight wins vs. Clippers

(Sports Network) - Pacific Division rivals battle tonight, as the scorching Phoenix Suns welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to US Airways Center.
The Clippers and Suns split four contests last season, while Los Angeles has won two of the last three games at Phoenix.
Phoenix wraps up a two-game homestand tonight. On Wednesday, Shawn Marion scored 25 points and Steve Nash finished with 18 and 15 assists to lead the Suns to an easy 127-111 win over the Sacramento Kings at US Airways Center.
Leandro Barbosa also had 18 points and Grant Hill recorded 15 points and six assists for the Suns, who have won seven straight, with the last two coming against the Kings. Amare Stoudemire ended with 13 points and six boards for Phoenix, which edged Sacramento 100-98 on Tuesday night at ARCO Arena.
The Suns are scheduled to visit the Golden State Warriors on Monday at ORACLE Arena. Phoenix is 4-1 at home this season...Full Story

Jazz begin road trip in Toronto

(Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz are on a roll and open a three-game road trip against the Toronto Raptors tonight at Air Canada Centre.
Utah is 6-2 on the season and has won four straight games, including Monday's 117-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings at EnergySolutions Arena. Carlos Boozer scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Jazz, who have scored more than 100 points in each game during their winning streak and are averaging 110.3 during that span.
Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Ronnie Brewer had 13 points in the win. Mehmet Okur and Gordan Giricek each recorded 12 points for Utah, which will also visit Cleveland and Indiana on the trek....Full Story

James leads Cavs into Utah

(Sports Network) - The defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers continue their road trip when they visit the Utah Jazz tonight at EnergySolutions Arena.
Cleveland is 1-1 on its season-long six-game road trip. On Tuesday, Daniel Gibson drained five three-pointers as Cleveland knocked off the Golden State Warriors, 108-104, at ORACLE Arena.
Gibson finished with 22 points and LeBron James scored a team-best 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out nine assists. Zydrunas Ilgauskas ended with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Drew Gooden added 16 points and eight boards in the victory.
Guard Larry Hughes (bruised left knee) is expected to miss tonight's game. Hughes, who is averaging 7.3 points and 3.7 assists per game this season, did not play against Golden State...Full Story

Felton leads Bobcats over Bucks

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Raymond Felton scored 26 points and added 12 assists, and the Charlotte Bobcats won their first season opener in franchise history, 102-99, over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Gerald Wallace scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who had lost each of their previous three season openers, but held off the Bucks for a win in Sam Vincent's first game as Bobcats head coach. Jason Richardson, in his first game for Charlotte after being acquired in the offseason from Golden State, finished with 21 points. Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Bobcats, who are coming off a 33-49 campaign last season that represented the franchise-high in wins.
Michael Redd scored 21 points, and Mo Williams added 20 points for the Bucks, who have dropped two in a row to open the season. Andrew Bogut had 11 points and 17 rebounds, and Charlie Villanueva scored 14 points for Milwaukee. Highly touted prospect Yi JianLian started, and finished with two points and four rebounds in 15 minutes...Full Story

Marion wants out of Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - According to a published report, Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion feels it is time to move on and for the franchise to trade him.
According to the Arizona Republic, Marion is unhappy that the team has not initiated talks concerning a contract extension and of hearing his name in various trade rumors.
"I'm tired of hearing my name in trades," Marion told the paper late Tuesday. "I love my fans in Phoenix but I think it's time for me to move on."
Marion, who has two years left on his current contract, averaged 17.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last season for the Suns.
For his eight-year career with Phoenix, the former UNLV product has career averages of 18.6 points and 10 boards.

Don't forget about the Pistons

(Sports Network) - It has been a very quiet offseason for president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons. However, the one move that the organization had to make during the summer was accomplished.
The Pistons, who have lost in the Eastern Conference finals two straight years, re-signed All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups to a lucrative, multi- year contract. Billups is the glue of the Pistons, and is the catalyst for everything that makes them successful.
Billups, who was the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals, averaged 17.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-best 7.2 assists in 70 games during the 2006-07 regular season. The 6-3 Billups, who has also spent time with Boston, Toronto, Denver and Minnesota during his 10-year career, has found a home in Detroit.
A two-time All-Star, Billups teams with Richard Hamilton to make up arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. By keeping Billups in the fold, Dumars has made sure that his squad will once again be one of the top teams in the East. The nucleus of Billups, Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace will try to get the Pistons back into the championship round for the first time since 2005, when San Antonio defeated Detroit in seven games to win the title...Full Story

Change of heart: Yi Jianlian signs with Bucks

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Bucks signed 2007 first- round draft pick Yi Jianlian on Wednesday to a multi-year contract despite reports that his agent wanted him to play in another city.
Jianlian, who was selected sixth overall in the draft by Milwaukee this past June, was not planning on signing with the franchise after his agent Dan Fegan stated he wanted his client to play in a city with a more prominent Asian community.
All of that changed after the Bucks front office recently met with Jianlian, his family and Mr. Chen Haitao, owner of Yi's team in the Chinese Basketball Association, in Hong Kong...Full Story

Spurs' Parker sprains ankle, will miss Paris event

San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker sprained his left ankle during a practice with the French National Team, and announced Wednesday that he will pull out of the Basketball without Borders event in Paris as a result.
Parker has returned to San Antonio to be examined by Spurs team doctors and will begin rehabilitating the ankle immediately. He will be returning to the French team once he is granted medical clearance.

Pistons sign Samb

Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons signed center Cheick Samb on Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Samb, 22, was the 51st pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2006 draft and his right were then traded to the Pistons in exchange for forward Maurice Evans.
"We're happy to add Cheick Samb as a member of our organization," said Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. "Cheick has intriguing potential and our intention is to bring him along slowly."
The Senegalese native spent last season playing in the Spanish League, averaging 9.6 points with WTC Cornella. In the recently concluded 2007 Summer League, the seven-footer averaged 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Orlando is still on the outside looking in

(Sports Network) - The addition of Rashard Lewis does not make the Orlando Magic a team that will be feared in the Eastern Conference. He is a scorer, but will not be a difference maker.
Lewis, who turns 28 on August 8th, is coming off the best campaign of his nine-year career and was awarded with a lucrative contract. He averaged 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 60 games this past season for the SuperSonics, who originally selected Lewis out of Alief Elsik High School in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft...Full Story

Warriors sign Belinelli

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Golden State Warriors announced Monday the signing of guard Marco Belinelli, the team's first-round pick in this year's draft. Terms of the deal were not released.
The Warriors selected Belinelli with the 18th overall pick. The 6-foot-5 guard from Bologna, Italy recently averaged 22.8 points for Golden State's summer league team.
Belinelli has played the past five seasons professionally in Italy and last year averaged 16.4 points per game with Fortitudo Bologna in Serie A, the top professional league in Italy.

Artest, Jackson suspended seven games

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Basketball League suspended Sacramento's Ron Artest and Golden State's Stephen Jackson seven games without pay each for their recent off-the-court troubles with the law.
Jackson was suspended for pleading guilty to criminal recklessness, in violation of the law of the State of Indiana.
Ron Artest was suspended without pay for seven games for pleading nolo contendre to infliction of injury on a spouse, in violation of the law of the State of California.
Both suspensions will commence with the first game of the 2007-08 NBA regular season.

Nets agree to terms with Magloire

East Rutherford, NJ (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets have agreed in principle with free agent forward/center Jamaal Magloire on a contract, team President Rod Thorn announced today. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not released and the agreement is contingent on Magloire passing a required physical.
"We are very pleased to add Jamaal to our roster," Thorn said. "He is an experienced low post player who will add depth to our frontcourt rotation."
The 29-year-old veteran, and 2004 All-Star selection, averaged 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 81 games for the Portland Trail Blazers last season.
Magloire, who was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets out of Kentucky, is averaging 9.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in seven seasons with Charlotte/New Orleans, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland.