NBA News for 4/17/2008
Suns Beat Trail Blazers, End Up With Sixth Seed
Little-used Sean Marks had 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns rested their regulars in a 100-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. - Read More...
Spurs Wrap Up Third Seed With Win Over Jazz
The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs in dominant fashion, routing the Utah Jazz 109-80 on Wednesday night. The Spurs will face the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round. The Jazz will take on the Housto - Read More...
Wolves End Season with OT Win Over Bucks
Randy Foye scored 10 of his career-high 32 points in overtime and Ryan Gomes added 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves blew by the Milwaukee Bucks 110-101 on Wednesday. - Read More...
Heat Go Out with Win over Hawks
Jason Williams scored 17 points, Mark Blount and Daequan Cook each added 16 and the Heat ended their season with a 113-99 victory over the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks. - Read More...
Spurs look ready to defend title
By routing Utah, the Spurs finished 3rd in the West — just like last year. Charley Rosen says the champs are primed for the playoffs.
Around the Association presented by T-Mobile: April 16
Miss something from the NBA? Catch up by going Around the Association presented by T-Mobile, a complete recap of all the night's action. - Read More...
Raptors' Moon Has Had Storybook Season
In the TORONTO STAR, Doug Smith writes "the regular season ended where it really began for Jamario Moon, his season a surprising rise from obscurity to a starting NBA job on a playoff-bound team. A season few, if any, saw coming. And as he prepares for that playoff debut, he sees his true jumping off point as a start in a game here in early November. Moon's presence in the starting lineup has created the best feel-good story of a rocky season for the Raptors.? - Read More...
Breaking down the first-round playoff series
Will Steve Nash and the Suns get past the Spurs this time? Mike Kahn breaks down each of the NBA's first-round playoff series.
What we do (and don't) want to see in NBA playoffs
Shaq vs. Kobe is a storyline we'd love to see in the playoffs. But Randy Hill also offers matchups (Cavs-Spurs!) we could do without.
Rivers, Jackson Named Coaches of the Month
The Boston Celtics' Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Lakers' Phil Jackson today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for regular season games played in April. - Read More...
Bucks, with new GM, dismiss Krystkowiak as coach
Larry Krystkowiak said Thursday he has been fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. - Read More...
Bucks fire Krystkowiak as coach
The Milwaukee Bucks have fired Larry Krystkowiak after his first full season as an NBA head coach. "Larry and I met this morning, and came to the decision that he would not return," new Bucks manager John Hammond said Thursday. The move has been expected since Larry Harris was dismissed as general manager last month. Bucks owner and U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl hired Hammond to replace Harris, and Hammond had promised to quickly deal with the coaching situation and make it a top priority.
Bulls cut ties to interim coach Boylan
The Chicago Bulls fired interim coach Jim Boylan on Thursday, one day after the team closed a tumultuous season that saw it fall ...
Bulls Relieve Boylan of Coaching Duties
Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson issued a statement regarding the team's decision to relieve Interim Head Coach Jim Boylan on Thursday. - Read More...
Adande: Sixteen teams, sixteen individual dramas
Here's how the playoffs look from the viewpoint of the person who has the most to gain or lose from the postseason, J.A. Adande writes. - Read More...
Kansas stars Rush, Arthur declare for NBA draft
Kansas stars Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur declared themselves eligible for the NBA draft Thursday, less than two weeks after leading the Jayhawks to their second national title in 20 years. - Read More...
UCLA's Love says he's headed to the NBA
UCLA's Kevin Love is NBA-bound. The All-American freshman announced Thursday that he'll skip his final three college seasons ...
Wade says he'll be ready to play in Olympics
Dwyane Wade has a message for USA Basketball: He'll be ready for the Olympics. - Read More...
Without Oden, Blazers Still Show Marked Improvement
When prized rookie Greg Oden went down for the season, it looked like it was going to be a long campaign for the Portland Trail Blazers. Instead, the team rattled off 13 straight wins, landed Brandon Roy in the All-Star Game and has a very bright future. - Read More...
Sonics owner accuses Seattle of duplicity
In filings in federal court in Seattle, Clay Bennett's ownership group for the Seattle SuperSonics says the city has participated ...
Knicks need change, but no Isiah decision yet
Changes already started in the front office, are expected soon with the coach and are sorely needed among the players. Donnie Walsh has plenty to do in his first offseason running the New York Knicks. Walsh replaced Isiah Thomas as team president two weeks ago, and could fire him as coach shortly. Then he'll begin trying to figure out how to upgrade the roster of a team that went 23-59, matching the franchise record for losses.
USC's Mayo speaks to media, anticipates draft
Since Southern California lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, freshman guard O.J. Mayo has been working on his ball-handling skills. - Read More...
Spurs' super sixth-man Ginobili hellbent on winning
He's never averaged 20 points in an NBA season. He's never been an All-Star starter. He doesn't even start.
Western Conference playoff preview
USA TODAY's NBA experts analyze the first-round playoff matchups
Sonics' Sene has Knee Surgery
SuperSonics center Mouhamed Sene had microfracture surgery on his right knee earlier this week, another setback for Seattle and its glut of underperforming centers. - Read More...
Durant, Green Lead Sonics over Warriors
Kevin Durant set career highs with 42 points and 13 rebounds in his first professional double-double, and Jeff Green added 27 points to help the SuperSonics win what could have been their final game as a Seattle team, beating the Golden State Warriors 126 - Read More...
Anthony Leads Nuggets to 50th Win
Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets reached 50 wins for the first time in 20 years with a 120-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. - Read More...
Young Bulls Bring Down Raptors in Season Finale
Tyrus Thomas scored a season-high 26 to lead Chicago to a 107-97 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night in what might have been interim coach Jim Boylan's last game with the Bulls. - Read More...
Rockets Beat Clippers, Secure No. 5 seed
Luis Scola had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets locked up the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 93-75 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. - Read More...
Carmelo leads Nuggets to 50th win, matchup with Lakers
Carmelo Anthony appreciated the cheers, relieved there weren't any jeers.
Heat's Riley Remains Quiet About Future
In the MIAMI HERALD, Israel Gutierrez writes "the question, amazingly, came more often than the losses did down the home stretch of this tormenting Heat season. Everyone wants to know, again, if Pat Riley is coming back, again, to coach a rebuilding Heat team, again. And they want to know if his feelings today are any different than the previous day, or if there are any hints as to where his 63-year-old mind is leaning. He will get the questions again Thursday as he eulogizes the season, and he will be hounded to discuss the subject of his potential return.? - Read More...
T-Mobile Around the Association Regular-Season Review: MVP Race
Ben Hubner reviews the 2007-08 MVP race. - Read More...
Bulls dismiss Boylan
The Bulls fired interim coach Jim Boylan on Thursday, likely the first of several changes after a disappointing season. - Read More...
Turkoglu, Bryant Named Players of the Month
The Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played in April. - Read More...
Bucks Relieve Krystkowiak of Head Coaching Duties
The Milwaukee Bucks today relieved Larry Krystkowiak of his head coaching duties, General Manager John Hammond announced. The decision was made after Hammond met with Krystkowiak Thursday morning at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI. The search for the Bucks new head coach begins immediately. - Read More...
Bulls fire interim coach Boylan
The Chicago Bulls fired interim coach Jim Boylan on Thursday, likely the first of many changes after a disappointing season. Boylan was let go after a morning meeting with general manager John Paxson, according to a person close to the situation who requested anonymity because the official announcement had not yet been made.
Bucks let Krystkowiak go after 26-56 campaign
The Milwaukee Bucks have fired Larry Krystkowiak after his first full season as an NBA head coach. The move has been expected ...
Sessions, Durant Named T-Mobile Rookies of the Month
The Milwaukee Bucks' Ramon Sessions and the Seattle SuperSonics' Kevin Durant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April. - Read More...
Handing out the 3rd annual Rosen awards
The Ferris Bueller Award for skipping out? The Peter Pan Award for not growing up? Charley Rosen hands out his (ahem) honors.
Following his true Love: UCLA frosh enters draft
All-American freshman Kevin Love announced Thursday that he'll skip his final three college seasons at UCLA and enter the NBA draft. - Read More...
WhatIfSports.com: Computers like Jazz
After simulating the playoffs 10,000 times, WhatIfSports.com found upsets galore out West. See who emerged as NBA champ.
Wiz near full strength; Arenas will come off bench
The Washington Wizards, who lost 225 man-games due to injuries this season, had a full contingent on the floor Thursday for their first practice in preparation for the opening-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. - Read More...
Wizards close to full strength vs. Cavaliers
The Washington Wizards, who lost 225 man-games due to injuries this season, had a full contingent on the floor Thursday for their first practice in preparation for the opening-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those taking part included Caron Butler, who sat out the final three games of the regular season with a bruised right knee, DeShawn Stevenson, who has been bothered by a sore back, and Gilbert Arenas, who has been coming off the bench since returning from knee surgery.
Suns ready to take on Spurs in first round
The Phoenix Suns studied film of the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. They probably didn't need to. The Suns are almost too familiar with the Spurs, who have eliminated them in three of their last four postseason appearances. The sixth-seeded Suns and third-seeded Spurs will renew their rivalry in Game 1 in San Antonio on Saturday afternoon. Game 2 is set for Tuesday, and the best-of-seven series shifts to the desert on April 25.
NBA vote not likely to end Sonics' relocation saga
This two-year saga will likely be settled in court or with Sonics owner and Oklahoma City tycoon Clay Bennett writing a huge check to avoid the courts, a windfall Seattle might not be able to refuse. - Read More...
Jazz hit road for Houston, where they were 17-24
The NBA's top home team is starting the playoffs on the road. Utah's chances at getting home-court advantage in the opening round were soundly crushed by the San Antonio Spurs in a regular season finale that showed just how vulnerable the Jazz have been on the road. Because of the 109-80 loss Wednesday, the Jazz will be opening the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Houston. Utah was an NBA-best 37-4 at home, but just 17-24 on the road this season.
Path to Finals rugged in wild West
Does pro basketball's best team really reside in the West or will the league's eventual playoff beast emerge from the East?
Eastern Conference playoff preview
USA TODAY's NBA experts analyze the first-round playoff matchups
Trail Blazers Re-Assign McRoberts to Idaho Stampede
The Portland Trail Blazers today re-assigned rookie forward Josh McRoberts to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, it was announced by Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. McRoberts was previously on assignment with Idaho from Jan. 9-Feb. 3 and from March 17-April 7. - Read More...
Bryant, Garnett look to rekindle old-school rivalry
They are a pair of gilded franchises, traditional pro basketball heavyweights separated by geography and philosophy but joined ...