Kidd assists Mavericks in firing down Rockets
Jason Kidd moved into second place on the National Basketball Association\’s all-time assist list as the Dallas Mavericks thumped Texas rivals the Houston Rockets 130-99 on Wednesday.
Kidd made seven assists to move to 10,337 and pass Mark Jackson (10,334) on the list, though he still trails John Stockton (15,806), as the Southwest division leading Dallas (11-4) continued its strong start to the season.
"The big thing is to just play the game. The stats and stuff will take care of themselves," Kidd told reporters. "At the end of your career you can look back and see what you achieved."
Jason Terry had 27 points and 10 assists while Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 and Dallas used an 18-4 run in the fourth quarter to blow the game open.
Carl Landry recorded a team-high 24 points and Trevor Ariza added 20 for the Rockets (8-7).
Following a disappointing 103-111 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the Mavericks rebounded well and avoided successive defeats for the first time this season.
Elsewhere in the NBA, it was: Pacers 86, Clippers 73; Bobcats 116, Raptors 81; Celtics 113, 76ers 110; Heat 99, Magic 98; Hornets 102, Bucks 99 (in overtime); Cavaliers 98, Pistons 88; Nuggets 124, Timberwolves 111; Spurs 118, Warriors 104; Suns 126, Grizzlies 111; Kings 111, Knicks 97; and Trail Blazers 93, Nets 83.
Three-pointers
In Houston, Dallas shot 65 percent from the field while making 9-for-17 three-pointers to knock off Houston for the 14th time in their last 18 meetings.
Reserve Tim Thomas had a season-high 23 points after making his season debut a week ago following offseason knee surgery, and Shawn Marion had 12 points while playing for the first time since missing three games with an ankle injury.
The Mavericks are still depleted and played without Josh Howard (ankle), Erick Dampier (illness), and Quinton Ross (back).
The Rockets got off to a promising start and led 25-13 midway through the first quarter before surrendering 26 unanswered points.
"We should be able to hang in there when they make their run," Houston forward Luis Scola said after tallying 15 points. "Everything that they wanted to do, they did. We are not going to beat anybody playing like this."
Former NBA players seeking jobs in China
Dozens of former players of America\’s National Basketball Association (NBA) are seeking for jobs in the upcoming domestic league, the Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA).
John Lucas III, who played for the Houston Rockets, had joined in the Shanghai Sharks, which was bought by the Rockets\’ center Yao Ming during the offseason, local reports said.
Lucas signed a three-year contract with the Rockets in the 2006-07 season when Lucas teamed up Yao to the playoffs. ?He was cut off in October, 2007.
The Sharks are having trials with Garret Siler, an Augustana senior who played the 2009 summer league for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The center avergaed 8.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in five games with the Timberwolves.
Forward DerMarr Johnson is weighing his chance with the Jiangsu Dragons after he arrived in Nanjing at the weekend.
Johnson, who was drafted sixth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2000,averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds during the two seasons with the Hawks before he was injured in a car-crash in 2002.
The 29-year-old also played in the San Antonio Spurs, New Yorks Knicks and Denver Nuggets in his NBA career.
Ansu Sesay, who averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds with the Dallas Mavericks and the former Seattle SuperSonics (Okolahoma Thunders), had contacted with several CBA teams and is taking trials at Shannxi Zhongyu.
Sesay is vying one of the two positions at Shannxi against Donta Smith, Lee Benson and Morris Taylor.
Taylor had spells with the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings, and Benson was one of the best foreign players in the CBA when he played for the Yunnan Honghe.
CBA teams are busy with testing and signing foreign players as the deadline of December 4 is approaching.
The preseason matches will start on Friday and the 2009-2010 CBA league will set off on December 19.
Knicks taste third straight victory
New York Knicks seemed to be back on track after extending their winning streak to three by edging out Portland Trail Blazers 93-84 on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The victories over Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets and Trail Blazers, two of which ranked in top ten of NBA week power standings, helped the lowly Knicks rebuild morale after a dismal season start.
The most defense-less franchise of NBA just gradually built up defense and nailed four wins out of the past five as the only defeat went to Orlando Magic, the NBA finalists last season.
The 27-point crush on Dec. 1 upon Phoenix Suns, the league leaders before the matchup, functioned as a catalyst for Knicks, which fell to 3-14 before the astonishing 126-99 outcome.
In the lastest four triumphs over Suns, Hawks, Nets and Blazers, Knicks allowed points of 99, 107, 97, 84 respectively, far less the average of 110 plus prior to the spell of rebound thanks to reinforced defense.
The Knicks were propelled by shooting well in the wave of victories averaging around 45 percentage point in total field goals and also 3-pointers.
In the win over injury-depleted Blazers, Larry Hughes scored 21 points, David Lee had 17 points and 10 rebounds for their season-high third straight victory. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler each added 14 points.
Knicks discovered the way to play better basketball after coach Mike D\’Antoni shortened his rotation and has found a squad willing to defend.
Brandon Roy scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, whose injuries startat the center spot and extend right through the coach\’s seat.
Greg Oden underwent a surgery Sunday after breaking his left kneecap in the Blazers\’ victory over Houston. Rudy Fernandez (sciatic pain) was also out, joining Travis Outlaw (broken left foot) and Nicolas Batum (right shoulder surgery).
And coach Nate McMillan wasn\’t around, either, after having surgery Monday in Vancouver. McMillan ruptured his right Achilles\’ tendon during practice Friday after taking the floor with a team missing so many bodies.
Anybody would have helped in the third quarter, when the Knicks closed the period with an 18-4 spurt to open a 78-55 bulge on Hughes\’ 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left. New York outscored Portland 60-37 across the middle two quarters to snap a five-game losing streak in the series.
Portland tried to muster a rally, pulling within nine midway through the fourth after consecutive baskets by Jerryd Bayless.
Gallinari ended the run with a 3-pointer, then fed Hughes for a3-point play that quickly made it 86-71 with 5:40 remaining.
Bosh, 7 first-timers headed to All-Star game
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Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh reacts after a basket against the Miami Heat during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto January 27, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
Local products Chris Bosh of Toronto and Deron Williams of Utah are headed back to Dallas for next month\’s NBA All-Star game, which will include seven first-time selections.
The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks each had two players picked as reserves on Thursday for the February 14 game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were chosen from the Celtics, while the Hawks are sending Joe Johnson and Al Horford.
Rondo and Horford will both make their first All-Star appearances, as will Oklahoma City swingman Kevin Durant, Charlotte\’s Gerald Wallace, Memphis forward Zach Randolph, Chicago\’s Derrick Rose and Williams.
Among those missing out were New York\’s David Lee and Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman.
Bosh, from Dallas, is an All-Star for the fifth straight season.
"Just to be able to be an All-Star year in and year out, that\’s a special feeling, but the fact that it\’s in Dallas is kind of a bittersweet thing," Bosh said. "Sweet because I get to play in front of my home crowd and it\’s bitter because everybody wants tickets."
Bosh, Pierce and Johnson are the only reserves on the Eastern Conference roster with All-Star game experience.
"There\’s going to come a day that they don\’t pick me," Pierce said. "So every time I get a chance to make it, it\’s definitely an honor."
The remainder of the Western Conference reserves were guards Chris Paul of New Orleans and Brandon Roy of Portland, forward Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers and forward Dirk Nowitzki, who was picked for the ninth time and will represent the home Dallas Mavericks.
"It is an honor to represent the Mavericks in my new hometown of Dallas," Nowitzki said. "I am always thankful for the opportunity to play in the All-Star game. We hope to put on a good show for our fans."
Pistons beat Celtics in Wallace\’s return
Rasheed Wallace walked into The Palace like he owned the place, strutting into his old lockerroom and joking around with ex-teammates.
Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace (L) interacts with guard Eddie House as Wallace is introduced in the starting line-up of their NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Michigan January 20, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
"This is my building," he said before the game.
Wallace\’s mood soured a few hours later.
Rodney Stuckey scored 27 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 92-86 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Charlie Villanueva, who essentially replaced Wallace in the offseason, enjoyed spoiling Wallace\’s first game as an ex-Piston at The Palace.
"Of course, he wanted to show the fans what they\’ve been missing," Villanueva said. "But Charlie V\’s here."
Villanueva scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter but Wallace wasn\’t impressed.
"Chuck hit a couple 3s," Wallace said. "He didn\’t do anything extravagant."
Wallace had 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting in the arena where the once-adored player received a mixed welcome during a special introduction and was booed late in the closely contested game.
"That\’s how it\’s supposed to be," he said.
Nothing, though, will diminish his memories from the Motor City.
He was a trade-deadline acquisition during Detroit\’s 2004 championship season and he helped the franchise be a contender for four more years until it went into a rebuilding mode by trading Chauncey Billups last season.
"It was the best time of my career," Wallace said. "We had an awesome team and a (heck) of a run.
"We won it once and we definitely felt we could\’ve won it a whole lot more but that\’s the way the cookie crumbles."
Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo each scored 21 points for the Celtics, who have lost three straight for the second time in less than a month.
The Celtics are 4-8 since they had a 23-5 record after winning on Christmas Day at Orlando.
"Our guys are frustrated right now, but I told them that we have to do something about this," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I think we think that we\’re a better team than we really are and we\’re trying to win games on cruise control."
Wallace agreed.
"We\’re not that team that can turn it on and off," Wallace said. "Sometimes we think just because we\’re the Celtics and we go into a team\’s building that they\’re going to back down. We\’re a good team on paper but other teams get up for us as a measuring stick."
The Pistons won despite missing three key players: Ben Gordon (right groin), Tayshaun Prince (left knee) and Will Bynum (left ankle).
"Every win is a quality win but this was really important because Boston are one of the best teams in the East," Detroit coach John Kuester said.
Boston did not have Kevin Garnett for the 11th time this season but his right knee is expected to be healthy enough for him to play on Friday at home against Portland.
"It is going to be huge to get him back but we can\’t just rely on that," Eddie House said. "We were pretty good without him last year so we know we can do it. We just have to play harder."
Even without their All-Star forward, the Celtics led by as much as 12 and were ahead by eight early in the third.
The Pistons responded with a 19-6 run that included seven points from Stuckey.
Boston were ahead by five with nine minutes left, then Stuckey had six points in an 11-0 surge that set the Pistons up for the victory.
"He was phenomenal," Kuester said.
MLB and CBA extend contract for training of players and coaches
Jim Small (right), vice president of MLB Asia, and Lei Jun, chairman of the Chinese Baseball Association, shake hands after signing the strategic partnership contract in Beijing on Wednesday. (China Daily/HighTeam)
If Jim Small is to be believed, China could be crowned world baseball champions in the very near future.
Small, vice president of MLB Asia, said at a strategic partnership signing ceremony between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Chinese Baseball Association (CBA) on Wednesday that not that long ago nobody believed Chinese swimmers would win at the Olympics or Chinese athletes would excel at the Winter Games.
"There is no reason to doubt that in the near future some of the world\’s best baseball players will be Chinese," Small said. "It will take some time but it\’s definitely going to happen."
MLB and CBA extended their cooperation for another four years to help grow baseball in China despite the fact the game has been kicked out of the Summer Olympics, for now.
During this coming four-year period, MLB will help the CBA in training players, coaches and umpires, with an aim to further spreading the US pastime in the world\’s most populous nation.
The cooperation between the two organizations started in 2002 and both sides are happy with the results and they should be.
The Chinese national team, coached by Jim Lefebvre, who recently became the San Diego Padres\’ hitting coach, shocked the baseball world by beating Chinese Taipei at the Beijing Olympics and repeated that feat at the World Classics. The team also took a South Korean team that beat the US to 12 innings in a 1-0 loss at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"MLB is prepared to do whatever it takes to help develop baseball in China. We plan to bring the team to the United States in July in preparation for the Guangzhou Asian Games," Small said. "But as to who manages the team next, it\’s up to the CBA."
Baseball is still a medal sport at the Asian Games and the Chinese pro league is set to swing away later this year.
"The partnership with MLB since 2002 has borne a strategic significance with Chinese players going to play in the US and national team coaches getting training from MLB experts," Lei Jun, chairman of the CBA, said.
"We did achieve some progress (the two wins over Chinese Taipei) but that\’s not much compared with the real strength of other Asian countries as well as the world\’s power teams.
"The road of baseball development has been and will still be bumpy. That\’s why we need the help of MLB," Lei said.
"Our goal (of the partnership with CBA) is to have baseball reach a significant level in the world\’s largest country," Small said.
For that, Small said there were two areas of focus.
That is to make the game more visible and more popular through road shows, the setting up of clubs at college campuses, the continuation of the Play Ball! Program in 120 schools and increased TV coverage in China. The other focus is to increase the level of play in China through MLB providing coaches and inviting the national squad to the US for training each year.
Small said a MLB Development Center was set up in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, last September to target potential national team talent.
"The result of the long and important partnership between MLB and CBA for the past 10 years is nothing short of astonishing," Small said. "Several players went to play in the pro leagues in the US, the national team grew and most surprising is that more people play baseball today than before.
"The passion in kids we have seen shows that, no doubt, China will reach the goal of becoming a strong baseball nation," Small said, adding MLB\’s ultimate goal was to make the game a Chinese sport.
"Our goal is to not to have a foreign coach; it is to be played by the Chinese, coached by the Chinese and umpired by the Chinese."
On Saturday, the MLB Baseball Park will be held at the Beijing Solana, where people can go and experience the excitement of playing the game.
"The ballpark is a fine form of spreading the sport. The CBA will send national team players or local outstanding players to get involved in the project in order to let more people know about baseball," said Shen Wei, secretary-general of the CBA.
Knicks beat Nuggets 109-104
Danilo Gallinari (R) of New York Knicks goes up for a shot in the NBA basketball game against Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden in New York March 23, 2010. Knicks won 109-104. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
LeBron beats Kobe\’s record
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James became the youngest player to reach 15,000 points, breaking Kobe Bryant\’s mark in a National Basketball Association game.
James, who had 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, scored the historic basket in the opening quarter of Cleveland\’s 92-85 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
He finished with 29 points for a career total of 15,026 and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who posted their 12th win in their last 13 games.
"I was born with a God-given gift," he said. "I take full advantage of it by being able to do what I do on the basketball court. Hopefully, I can continue to stay healthy, and hopefully, I\’ll continue to break records."
Three points off the milestone when the game started, James scored his first points on a dunk and then hit two free throws about 40 seconds later, giving him 15,001 career points.
James broke Bryant\’s record by more than two years, reaching the mark at 25 years, 79 days while Bryant was 27 years, 136 days when he did it for the Los Angeles Lakers. He did it in his 540th game compared to 657 for Bryant.
Elsewhere in the NBA, it was: Suns 110, Jazz 100; Lakers 104, Timberwolves 96; Hawks 93, Bobcats 92 (in overtime); Celtics 94, Rockets 87; Thunder 115, Raptors 89; Knicks 92, 76ers 88; Spurs 147, Warriors 116; Trail Blazers 76, Wizards 74; Bucks 114, Kings 108 (in double OT); and Pacers 106, Pistons 102.
In Chicago, James scored seven straight points late in the game as Cleveland increased its lead to 10, sending Chicago to its 10th consecutive loss.
Mo Williams chipped in 18 points for the Cavaliers, who continued to thrive despite losing Shaquille O\’Neal to an injury. Cleveland has 10 wins and one loss with O\’Neal out with a thumb injury.
The Bulls were shorthanded, missing Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah with injuries.
Chicago was led by Taj Gibson (20 points, 13 rebounds) and James Johnson (16 points) but it wasn\’t enough to halt its longest losing skid since November 2001.
"It\’s really frustrating right now," veteran Kirk Hinrich said. "I don\’t know how else to explain it."
Deng could miss two to three more weeks because of a strained right calf while Rose has missed four consecutive games because of a sprained left wrist he suffered in a collision with center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.
France\’s Noah has missed the past 10 games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Bogut, Roy named NBA Players of the Week
The Milwaukee Bucks\’ Andrew Bogut and the Portland Trail Blazers\’ Brandon Roy were named on Monday the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 8-14.
Bogut led Milwaukee to a 3-0 week, which included wins over the Celtics and Jazz. Bogut led the league in blocks of 3.67 and was second in rebounding of 13.7, while scoring 19.3 points per game.
With a point-rebound double-double in each game, Bogut now has 32 double-doubles on the season, placing him eighth in the NBA.
The Trail Blazers posted a 4-0 week behind Roy, who scored 27.0 points on 56.7 percentage of shooting. Roy\’s 41-point effort on March 11, in a win at Golden State marked his third 40-plus point effort of the season.
With his two three-point makes against the Kings on March 12, Roy moved into ninth place on the Trail Blazers\’ all-time three- point field goals list.
Bryant makes game winner in return as Lakers beat Grizzlies
Kobe Bryant returned to the court in spectacular fashion, making a game-winning three-pointer to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 99-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dunks over Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the first half of NBA basketball action in Memphis, Tennessee February 23, 2010. [Agencies]
Bryant recorded 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists in his first appearance since missing five games with an injured ankle.
His winning three-pointer came with 4.3 seconds remaining, after he had tied the game with another three-pointer with 54 seconds left on the clock.
The Grizzlies had a final opportunity to win the game but guard O.J. Mayo missed a jump shot at the buzzer.
"I\’ve spent time and time again shooting thousands of shots. The way I look at it is I only have to make one," Bryant told reporters after converting 13 of his 19 attempts from the field.
"I missed being out there with the guys. I felt like my mum said I could go to the playground again."
It was the fifth win in six games for Los Angeles (43-14) who had a 4-1 record while Bryant was sidelined.
