The new-look Nuggets had their hands full because Ben Gordon couldn’t miss. Starting for Rodney Stuckey, Gordon was 13-22 from the floor — including a perfect 9-9 from deep — and hit 10 of 11 free throws for a 45-point outburst. However, Ty Lawson (25) and Arron Afflalo (23) played well, Wilson Chandler double-doubled in his first start since last April and JaVale McGee came off the bench for 15 PTS, 7 REB, 3 BLK and the winning putback dunk
The Rockets have struggled offensively out of the gates after the All-Star break. Facing the Nuggets at home may just be the cure they needed, because Denver is the worst defensive road team in the league. The Houston Rockets (21-15) look to regain their offensive form against the Denver Nuggets (19-17) as both teams fight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference in Friday’s game of the night. The odds favor Houston (the line is 3.5) as they sit 15-4 at home this
When it comes to running franchises, David Stern is doing a great impersonation of Ted Stepien. Stepien owned the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s and spent most of his time firing coaches, overpaying mediocre players and trading away so many draft picks that the NBA instituted the “Ted Stepien Rule,” which now prevents teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive years. Stepien’s mismanagement of the Cavaliers had to be fixed by the NBA. But the NBA – led by Stern –
NEW YORK — Busy morning in Stu Jackson’s office, with another suspension announced in addition to the one given to Lakers coach Mike Brown. Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves won’t have a double-double Tuesday night or Wednesday night when the Wolves play a back-to-back set against Sacramento and Memphis. The Timberwolves forward was hit with a two-game suspension Monday by NBA vice president Stu Jackson “for driving his foot into the upper body and face of the Houston Rockets’ Luis Scola
Guys were losing their cool all over the league Saturday night. Coaches, players, winners, losers – it didn’t matter. Things got out of control in Utah, Minnesota and Indiana, and fines and suspensions should be coming. Let’s start in Salt Lake City, where Lakers coach Mike Brown totally lost it in the fourth quarter of a 96-87 loss to the Jazz. LA trailed, 72-68, and Pau Gasol had possession at the top of the circle. Utah guard Earl Watson came from his blind
They chanted “O-le, Ole Ole Ole” for Ricky Rubio in Minneapolis, and an M-V-P” chant was bestowed on — of all people — Renaldo Balkman of the Knicks at the Prudential Center in Newark. There was real basketball played Friday and Saturday around the NBA as the truncated preseason began, so let’s take a quick look at who was turning heads: SATURDAY: Knicks 92, Nets 83 With the off-the-court focus on whether Baron Davis will join the Knicks (or the Lakers, or the Heat)
Mark Heisler was the first to tell you this was a possibility nearly two weeks ago. Now, it appears it is happening. Multiple news outlets are reporting that the Lakers, Rockets and Hornets have agreed to a three-way deal sending Chris Paul to the Lakers. New Orleans will receive Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic and the New York Knicks’ first-round draft pick in 2012. The Rockets are getting Pau Gasol from the Lakers. There could be other pieces in
We will not try to separate truth from fiction here. We’ll just tell you what is being reported, and we’ll see how it all shakes out tomorrow at 2 p.m. when signings can officially begin. But remember when we told you there were going to be a ton of bad contracts signed because of the stretch exception? That madness is beginning. _ The Knicks are making a big (foolish?) move to address their need for a center. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com