Season 2009-10

[booker]

3. Darren Collison, New Orleans Hornets

Last Week: 4 | Drafted: 21
Quick, who's the leading rookie scorer since the All-Star break? Evans? Nope. Jennings? Wrong. Curry? Guess again. OK, you're reading Collison's blurb, so I'm sure you figured by now it's the Hornets' fill-in point guard. Collison is averaging 22.5 points and 10 assists (also tops since the break) in four games, which included his first career triple-double in a win over the Pacers. "It means a lot, but I was just going out there and my teammates were telling me to lead and they'll be supportive," Collison said. "I was just going out there and playing my game. Hopefully I'll get a lot more in my career as I had one today. I was just going out there and helping the team win."

[zocipro]

Lakers' Bynum fined $25K for criticizing officials

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Bynum was fined for his comments made following the Lakers 101-96 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

[interested]

Suns' Lopez comes up big in 125-112 win over Clippers

Robin Lopez never scored 30 points during his college career in Stanford.

He said he never scored 30 in high school either.

So there wasn't much for the second-year center to compare with Friday's career night when he scored 30 points, grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and led the Suns to the 11th win in their last 13 games, a 125-112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

But it was an experience he could certainly get used to.

"I've never had a night like that, but it's a good feeling and I can see why people enjoy it," said Lopez, who hit 13 of his first 14 shots from the floor and had 19 -- three short of his career high -- in the first half alone. "I just try to be very efficient out there. Whenever my teammates ran an option, I've just got to put the ball in the basket. That tells me I'm doing my job out there."

And since Lopez entered the starting lineup to give the Suns a more physical presence inside, the Suns have done a job on the rest of the NBA. He has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 21 games, and topped a 22-point effort against his twin brother Brook and the New Jersey Nets last month with the night of his basketball life.

Brook still has the Lopez family's career high, scoring 32 against Portland on Nov. 25.

The Suns might not have expected Lopez's numbers Friday, but it's becoming apparent why they were so disappointed when Lopez suffered a broken bone in his left foot in training camp -- forcing him to miss the first 15 games and set back what had been a promising summer.

"What's impressed me the last 10 games has been the offensive rebounds, the put-backs and the screen-and-roll where he's really rolling hard to the basket," said Suns forward Grant Hill, who had a nice night of his own with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. "He's finishing at the rim, finishing with the mid-range jumper, the hook shot is developing ... guys are getting more and more confident throwing the ball into him. Tonight he showed he can score against an All-Star center."

Lopez scored many of his 19 first-half points against that center, Chris Kaman. But Kaman lasted only 20 seconds in the second half after picking up two technical fouls and earning an ejection after complaining about Lopez's physical play.

"Chris crossed the line [with] what he said to the referee," Clippers interim coach Kim Hughes said. "He wasn't getting calls and I agree with him, but [what he said] isn't going to do him any good, and after having one technical you have to be careful. He can't put the team in a position like that. He's too valuable to be thrown out. It was just a bad basketball play."

The Clippers came into the game with three straight wins, but all of them came at home. It's been a different story on the road, where the Clippers have lost 16 of the last 18 and haven't won in Phoenix in their last six tries.

Amar'e Stoudemire added 20 points for the Suns and the duo of Channing Frye and Jared Dudley combined for 27 and five of Phoenix's nine 3-pointers off the bench, including 18 in the fourth quarter when the Suns push their lead from four to 14 points.

"We were playing good defense and then they stretched us out and started knocking down a lot of threes," guard Eric Gordon said. "Channing Frye hit (three) 3-pointers in a row and that's what it came down to. We played pretty good; we just couldn't score as much as they did."

The effort by the bench also allowed the Suns to sit Steve Nash, Jason Richardson and Stoudemire for the entire fourth quarter with a quick turnaround to Sunday's nationally televised afternoon game in San Antonio against the Spurs.

"Getting the rest was very, very important," said Stoudemire, who has scored 20 points or more in 12 of his last 13 games. "We have that early game in San Antonio and that crowd is going to be simply amazing at the Alamo, but we're going to be alright. We just have to come out and play the way we did [Friday] and keep that same focus."

The Suns won their fifth straight overall and swept the season series from the Clippers, whom they have now beaten seven straight times overall. The Suns have swept all seven games against their Pacific Division foes at US Airways Center this season, averaging 117.3 points and winning by an average margin of 16.3 points.

Head coach Alvin Gentry wasn't happy to see what has been an uptick in the Suns defensive effort take a step backward against the Clippers. Hughes said before the game that the plan was to attack the Suns inside with penetrators Eric Gordon (25 points), Baron Davis (13) and Steve Blake, and that mission was accomplished.

"Another good win, but our defense was not so good," Gentry said. "We didn't do a good job of keeping them out of the paint."

But the Clippers had no luck keeping Lopez out of the paint either. He had four of Phoenix's eight offensive rebounds and is taking advantage of being the player left open by defenses.

"I'm not thinking of making a big impact out there. I'm thinking more of the little things," he said. "We've got Steve, Amar'e, J-Rich and Grant Hill out there to do the big things. I'm playing with the greatest passer. Amar'e is in the post, sucking the defender away and we have great shooters. It makes it very easy for me out there."

[sports]

James, Boozer earn Kia Player of the Month Honors

The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Utah Jazz's Carlos Boozer today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played during February.

James paced the league in scoring (32.6 ppg), was fourth in assists (10.5 apg) and added 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 41.4 minutes. James scored at least 20 points in all 11 contests, leading Cleveland to an Eastern Conference-best 8-3 record. James recorded his third triple-double of the season on Feb. 18, with 43 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high tying 15 assists. On Feb. 6, James set a franchise record with 35 points in the first half of Cleveland's 113-106 win at New York. James finished the game with 47 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a season-high five steals.

Boozer topped the Western Conference in rebounds (13.0 rpg) and added 21.2 points on .604 shooting from the field, leading Utah to a 10-3 record. Boozer, who ranks fourth in the league in double-doubles (38), recorded nine in the 11 February games he played. On Feb. 21, Boozer scored 22 points and added a season-high 23 rebounds in a 93-89 win at Portland. Boozer is one of five NBA players averaging at least 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Here is a closer look at the month for James and Boozer:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Feb. 2 vs. Memphis: Totaled 22 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in a 105-89 win over the Grizzlies.

• Feb. 6 vs. New York: Poured in 47 points, and added eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in a 113-106 win over the Knicks.

• Feb. 11 vs. Orlando: Recorded 32 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 115-106 win over the Magic.

• Feb. 18 vs. Denver: Posted 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists and two steals in a 118-116 overtime loss to the Nuggets.

• Feb. 25 @ Boston: Tallied 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a 108-88 win over the Celtics.

Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz

• Feb. 9 @ L.A. Clippers: Recorded 34 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 109-99 win over the Clippers.

• Feb. 19 @ Golden State: Scored 30 points, and added 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 100-89 win over the Warriors.

• Feb. 21 @ Portland: Tallied 22 points, 23 rebounds and five assists in a 93-89 win over the Trail Blazers.

• Feb. 24 vs. Charlotte: Posted 33 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 102-93 win over the Bobcats.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors were Atlanta's Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, Boston's Rajon Rondo, Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala, and Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire.

[nbaaa]

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce was a late addition to the starting lineup Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons.
Pierce, who missed three games with a thumb injury, wasn't listed on a lineup sheet passed out a few minutes before the opening tip, but replaced Marquis Daniels when the introductions were made.

The Chicago Bulls say center Joakim Noah will miss three weeks because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot that has kept him in and out of the rotation the past month.
Noah missed seven straight games at one point in February and played limited minutes in his first three games back before getting 11 rebounds in 27 minutes against Portland on Friday. He did not accompany the team to Indianapolis the following day and sat out the Bulls' loss to Atlanta on Monday.
The injury has interrupted a breakout season for Noah, who is averaging 10.7 points and 11.4 rebounds.

[nbaaa]

Marion's big night leads Mavs to 12th straight win
"He's really sacrificed so much of his game this year to be one of the best defenders, to get rebounds, to be a help defender, to be a screener," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said after the Mavericks extended their winning streak to 12 straight with a 125-112 victory over the Timberwolves. "Every week I tell him how important he is to us, how much, as a coach, I appreciate what he's done for us this year."

[diana_bt]

The Miami Heat are finally protecting their homecourt.
Wednesday's wire-to-wire 108-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers extended the Heat's home win streak to four games, its longest of the season.
Clippers forward Rasual Butler did his best to make a defiant stand, finishing with 31 points in an impressive display against the team that drafted him.
"Normally when I'm aggressive we win ballgames," Butler said.

[zocipro]

Heat open homestand by staving off Butler, Clippers

The Miami Heat are finally protecting their homecourt.

Wednesday's wire-to-wire 108-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers extended the Heat's home win streak to four games, its longest of the season.

Clippers forward Rasual Butler did his best to make a defiant stand, finishing with 31 points in an impressive display against the team that drafted him.

"Normally when I'm aggressive we win ballgames," Butler said.

But in the end he was powerless against a Miami team that held him scoreless in the final period and left him to end just two points from tying his career high, established just two months ago.

The Heat are now 18-14 at home, their first time this season being four games above .500 at the Triple-A, and their timing couldn't be much better.

Miami (33-32), which currently holds the eighth and final postseason berth in the East, is locked in a playoff battle with the other teams that comprise the rest of the Eastern Conference's middle class -- Milwaukee, Toronto, Chicago and Charlotte.

The Clippers game was the first of six consecutive home games for the Heat. It was also the sixth home game in a stretch during which Miami plays 11 of 13 games at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"We have to take care of this place if we want to hold on to our playoff spot," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who finished with 27 points and eight assists Wednesday, and is now averaging 31.8 points and 11.0 assists per game during the home win streak.

As for the Clippers, Wednesday's loss was just more of the same misery. Los Angeles (25-40) has now lost eight consecutive road games and 12 of its past 13.

It didn't help matters for the Clippers that guard Eric Gordon, their leading scorer, missed the game with a sore right leg, his third consecutive absence. Los Angeles is now 4-11 without Gordon.

Further complicating things was guard Baron Davis finishing with 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Davis is now 17-for-56 (.304) from the field in his last five games, including 4-for-19 (.211) on 3-pointers. And center Chris Kaman (16 points) got off to a slow start, missing his first five shots before hitting eight of his final 12.

Miami only had a couple of rough spots Wednesday. The Clippers got their deficit to 75-70 on a Butler 3-pointer, but the Heat closed the third quarter on a 15-2 run to take a 90-72 lead into the fourth quarter that practically ended the competitive stage of the game.

The Clippers posed a mini-threat late as they got within 106-97 with 1:16 left, but the Heat were able to slam the door on the comeback hopes. Butler didn't attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter as the Heat smothered him in a way they didn't through the first three quarters.

"We stopped leaving him [open] in the corner," Wade said. "Rasual knows our defense. He played here for three years. His eyes light up when he plays us because he knows he's going to get a chance to get off."

The Heat have scored 100 or more points in three of their last four games, the lone exception being Tuesday's 83-78 loss at Charlotte. With the Clippers game in its rearview mirror, Miami turns it attention toward Friday's showdown against Chicago.

"It's an important time for us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We know we need to win every game at this time of year, especially on our home floor."

Notes: Heat forward Michael Beasley (15 points) sustained a bruised left thigh in the fourth quarter. He'll be evaluated Thursday...Miami had a 19-point advantage on free throws. The Heat were 29-for-35 from the line while the Clippers were 10-for-13.

[worldfun]

Sixers coach Jordan brushes off speculation about future

Philadelphia 76ers coach Eddie Jordan says he's not worried about a newspaper report stating he could be fired soon.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing unidentified sources, reported on Tuesday that Comcast-Spectator was ready to fire Jordan, likely after his first season with the team is complete.

The 76ers are 23-40 heading into Wednesday night's game against Charlotte, 8 ½ games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jordan signed a four-year contract when he was hired.

He said of the speculation, "that if you know how to handle it, then it won't bother you."

Jordan says he hasn't approached his bosses regarding the report.

[James]

Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison is expecting to play Sunday when Cleveland hosts the Boston Celtics in a game between division leaders.
Jamison missed Friday's win against Philadelphia because of a cyst behind his left knee. He said Saturday he thought he could have played against the 76ers, but team doctors advised him to rest. Jamison did not make the trip to Philadelphia.
He says the knee feels fine and there are no problems.
Jamison is averaging 17 points and 7.5 rebounds since coming to Cleveland in a trade with Washington.