Dallas Mavericks News Blog @newzblogz.com

At the other end of the NBA standings are the Boston Celtics, who are so bad that their coach opened his postgame remarks by saying that he wasn't trying to lose.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points for the Mavs, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that started with a victory over Detroit, the other top team in the Eastern Conference.

"Tonight wasn't about West vs. East, it's about us getting better, getting ready for the playoffs," Nowitzki said.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

With the best record in the NBA and their sights set squarely on winning the NBA championship in June, the Dallas Mavericks are the powerhouse the Cavaliers someday would like to be.

The Mavericks carried a 55-11 record into Wednesday night's game against the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

They left 56-11 after downing the Cavaliers, 98-90, in front of a sellout crowd.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND — Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates.

Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

"That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates. Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night. "That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists. The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56...

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that has included victories over Detroit and New York.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND ? Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates. Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

"That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists.

The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that's included victories over Detroit and New York.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

A light mist began to fall Tuesday morning just as family members took their seats at the Catholic Cemetery and Monsignor James Harris began reciting the final blessing and prayers during Border Patrol Agent Ramon Nevarez Jr.?s funeral.The ceremony was completed with full honors as Nevarez and his closest friends and family were escorted by a multitude of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol vehicles from St. John Neumann Catholic Church to the cemetery. Border Patrol officers and a riderless horse le...

Nevarez, 23, and a Border Patrol agent from Pennsylvania, died Thursday, March 15, in a single-vehicle rollover accident on New Mexico Highway 338 near Cotton City, N.M. Nevarez had been stationed in Lordsburg, N.M, part of the El Paso Border Patrol Sector, since August 2005.

?He smiled a lot; he had a very winning smile,? said Acting Chief Paul Beeson, El Paso Sector, after the ceremony. ?He loved his co-workers. He was a good kid. He was very eager to learn.?

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND - With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that's included victories over Detroit and New York.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Cavaliers must come to grips with a very sobering fact: No matter how well they play, they can't beat the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs (56-11) have their sights set on winning an NBA championship, and they have the necessary ingredients to get the job done.

For the second time this season, the Mavs withstood everything the Cavs had to offer and prevailed, 98-90, before a sold-out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND - It lacks grace and classic technique, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas' hook shot is starting to become quite fashionable because it's going in the basket.

The Cavaliers' veteran center has been working on the move since training camp and recently has started to find success with it. In the loss Tuesday in Charlotte, Ilgauskas' sweeping maneuver, which sometimes starts not far above the waist, got him three hoops. He has been going to it, and making it, with regularity the past several weeks.

``It is something we've been working on every day,'' said Cavs assistant coach Kenny Natt, who works with the team's big men. ``It is a shot he's always had. It was just a matter of developing it.''

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND ? Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James struggled. Fortunately for Nowitzki, the rest of the Dallas Mavericks outplayed James' teammates.

Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

"That's why we are a great team, because other guys stepped up when we needed them," said Nowitzki, who added nine rebounds and six assists.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND ? With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

The Mavericks, who have the NBA?s best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that has included victories over Detroit and New York.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND (AP) With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CLEVELAND - The Dallas Mavericks are the NBA's stress test.

If you have a weakness, they'll find it. If you make a mistake, they'll exploit it. If they need a stop or a basket, they'll usually get it.

Which is why the mighty Mavericks have won just about 85 percent of their games this season, including a 98-90 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Feigen: Bigger tests await Rockets Justice & McClain: Rockets and their winning ways ...

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Although no one would acknowledge it, the Cavaliers might owe one to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs (55-11) took the Cavs' best shot March 1 at American Airlines Center and still prevailed, 95-92.

Cavs forward LeBron James missed two 3-point goals and two free throws in the last 13.9 seconds.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Although no one would acknowledge it, the Cavaliers might owe one to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs (54-11, before yesterday's game) took the Cavs' best shot on March 1 at American Airlines Center and still prevailed, 95-92. Cavs forward LeBron James missed two 3-point goals and two free throws in the last 13.9 seconds.

''I don't look at it like (the Cavs owe them one),'' he said. ''We played a great game down there. (Tonight) will be a very good game between two powerhouses.''

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Los Angeles Lakers star, on the strength of his 65-point outing against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, followed by a 50-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, has stormed past Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and now leads the NBA in scoring with a 30.0 average.

Bryant is doing a lot more than just scoring, as he has put himself back in the thick of the MVP race. Using USA TODAY's MVP Index, Bryant has jumped to third in the MVP rankings, only one point behind co-leaders Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves.

USA TODAY subjectively picked 10 candidates and ranked them in six statistical categories that measure every aspect of the game.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) After starting the month 0-6, the New Orleans Hornets are starting to string together some wins, even if it's against the league's cellar-dwellers.

David West scored 26 points, and Chris Paul added 23 points and nine assists to lead the Hornets to a 114-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Western Conference's worst, on Tuesday night.

The victory came on the heels of Monday night's 106-88 triumph over the Boston Celtics, who sit in the Eastern Conference basement. The wins are part of the Hornets winning three of their last four after starting March with six straight losses.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

For late NBA game stories, visit www.theledger.com on the Internet, click on Sports, then click on Latest AP News.

NEW YORK- Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard each scored 24 points, and the Dallas Mavericks hit the 55-win mark for the third straight season by beating the New York Knicks, 92-77, Tuesday night.

Jason Terry added 15 points for the Mavericks, who pulled away from the short-handed Knicks early in the second half and improved the NBA's best record to 55-11. They have won three in a row after losing consecutive games for first time since starting 0-4.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

NEW YORK ? Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard each scored 24 points, and the Dallas Mavericks hit the 55-win mark for the third straight season by beating the New York Knicks 92-77 Tuesday night.

Jason Terry added 15 points for the Mavericks, who pulled away from the short-handed Knicks early in the second half and improved the NBA?s best record to 55-11. They have won three in a row after losing straight games for first time since starting 0-4.

Erick Dampier had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Howard grabbed 10 boards as the deeper Mavs wore down the Knicks and shot 53 percent from the field. Reserve Jerry Stackhouse scored 10 points.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The end to this winning streak was premature.

The Cavaliers have little but themselves to blame for bungling away a game to a woeful and depleted Charlotte Bobcats outfit on Tuesday, kicking away a late lead to lose 108-100 in overtime. They wasted 37 points from LeBron James and ended the their run of eight consecutive victories and in rather humbling fashion. It was not just because it came against a team 20 games under .500, but because of some mindless mistakes made in the stretch run.

The Cavs led by 10 points with eight minutes to play and had the ball and were ahead by four points in the final minute of regulation, but a series of strange and misguided decisions were made on the court and on the sidelines that caused them to stumble into extra time, where they were overwhelmed.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Cavaliers will look to bounce back from their first loss in nine games when they host the Dallas Mavericks (55-11) on Wednesday night.

Cleveland's longest winning streak of the season came ended Tuesday night with a 108-100 overtime loss in Charlotte. The Cavaliers (41-26) fell 2 1/2 games behind Eastern Conference-leading Detroit, which routed Philadelphia 96-75.

``We gave ourselves a chance to win at the end of regulation, and I didn't come through for the team,'' said LeBron James, who scored 30 of his 37 points after halftime but missed a runner in the lane and a 3-pointer in the closing seconds. ``We had a lot of unforced errors at the end of the game and we paid for it.''

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

NEW YORK Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard scored 24 points apiece as the Dallas Mavericks pulled away for a 92-to-77 triumph at New York.Howard also had ten rebounds for the Mavericks, who improved to 2-and-0 on their six-game road trip. Jason Terry finished with 15 points to help the Mavericks reach the 55-win mark for the third straight season.The Knicks couldn't overcome the Mavericks' 53-percent shooting and lost for the third time in four games. Eddy Curry contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds...

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Dallas Mavericks are loaded. The New York Knicks are short-handed.

Not surprisingly, the result was lopsided.

Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard each scored 24 points, and the Mavericks hit the 55-win mark for the third straight season by beating the Knicks 92-77 Tuesday night.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

PORTLAND, Ore. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 points and had eight rebounds in Portland's 100-to-98 win over Washington.Fellow rookie Brandon Roy helped the Trail Blazers end a four-game losing streak, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three key baskets in the final three minutes.The Blazers erased a nine-point halftime lead and won without leading scorer and rebounder Zach Randolph, who was granted bereavement leave Monday.Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Gilb...

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Warriors? Well, they're 3-for-3 after hounding and harassing those aforementioned superstars into those feeble shooting nights as Golden State beat the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics last week to complete a stretch of six wins in seven games.

After spending much of the season fighting to learn coach Don Nelson's principles of man-to-man defense, then fighting to get healthy enough to implement them, the Warriors are showing some surprising wrinkles — "gimmicks," as Nelson refers to them — of late.

"We can do more because we're more athletic now, and we've got more interchangeable pieces," Warriors forward Al Harrington said. "Whenever you've got guys that can guard multiple positions ithelps, because it allows you to be more aggressive in going for steals. And that's what we want to do anyways, so we can speed the game up. That just plays into our team."

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Warriors? Well, they're three-for-three after hounding and harassing those aforementioned superstars into those feeble shooting nights as Golden State beat the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics last week to complete a stretch of six wins in seven games.

After spending much of the season fighting to learn coach Don Nelson's principles of man-to-man defense, then fighting to get healthy enough to implement them, the Warriors are showing some surprising wrinkles -- "gimmicks," as Nelson refers to them -- of late.

"We can do more because we're more athletic now and we've got more interchangeable pieces," Warriors forward Al Harrington said. "Whenever you've got guys that can guard multiple positions it helps, because it allows you to be more aggressive in going for steals. And that's what we want to do anyways, so we can speed the game up. That just plays into our team."

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

SALT LAKE CITY — The coach of one of the biggest surprise teams in the NBA is arguably the biggest surprise of the Utah Jazz.

Jerry Sloan, hard-nosed as a defensive bull of a player for 11 years and hard-line with young players as a coach the last 21, has relaxed his drill-sergeant tactics and shown patience with his youthful team.

The payoff: The Jazz, picked to battle for a playoff spot, own the league's fourth-best record (43-23) going into tonight's home game against the Golden State Warriors.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Well into the final quarter of the NBA?s regular season, here are nine burning questions that are just begging for answers:

Nash or Nowitzki ? who?s the MVP? Last week?s classic between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns may be a microcosm of the season. It took two overtimes before the two best teams in the league settled things, and they were settled in favor of the Suns because of the most clutch player in the league: The two-time defending MVP. It?s not fair to argue in favor of Nowitzki just because he?s the best player on the team with the best record. Nash makes the good players around him look like stars, and the stars like superstars. Make it three in a row.

So, which of them will emerge from the flames of the red-hot West? Actually, neither. The Mavs and Suns are the two best teams, but neither of them will reach the Finals. That?s because the most fundamentally sound team, quiet and efficient all season, then lethal in the playoffs ? when defense matters ? is the San Antonio Spurs.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Media Credit: APLos Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant gets fouled by Minessota Timberwolves' Mark Blount while scoring two in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game, Sunday in Los Angeles.

The Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns have held the NBA's best records for much of the season, but many teams have put up impressive runs to enter the ever-so-popular debate over "who is the best?"

Although Sunday's loss to the Orlando Magic snapped the Miami Heat's nine-game winning streak, the Heat have a remarkable 10-3 record since losing Dwyane Wade to injury. Shaquille O'Neal, averaging 20.5 points and 8 rebounds per game after Wade's injury, has led the Heat to victories over several quality teams.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

North Texas software engineers and systems analysts dreaming of small-town living need look no further than Corsicana.

In a first-of-its-kind pilot project, Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. has tapped the small city south of Dallas to locate a so-called national work center.

This article is for Paid Print Subscribers ONLY.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Dallas Mavericks fans think they have every reason in the world to be in panic mode right now.

Even though the Mavs are 54-11.

Even though they have the best record in the NBA.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

In a close game between two NBA title contenders, one bad stretch, however small, is enough to turn the outcome.

The Detroit Pistons (42-23) had too many of those bad spells in the second half and lost to the Dallas Mavericks, 92-88, at the Palace on Sunday.

Advertisement

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Kobe Bryant credits the return of teammates Lamar Odom and Luke Walton from injuries for making things easy for him.

The All-Star MVP became the first Los Angeles player in 44 seasons to score at least 50 points in consecutive games, following a 65-point effort with 50 in the Lakers' 109-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Bryant became the first Lakers player to accomplish the feat since Elgin Baylor did it in three straight games in December 1962.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

AUBURN HILLS Richard Hamilton has played a lot of basketball in his life, and almost all of it has gone better than Sunday.

In a nationally televised game between the top teams from the Eastern and Western conferences, Hamilton missed five fourth-quarter free throws before ending the game on the Detroit Pistons bench, bleeding heavily from a cut inflicted by one of his teammates.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

AUBURN HILLS -- By now, we know how this thing goes. It's hard to take stock in much you see until the NBA playoffs start.

Too often, you want to believe your team is good enough and is going to get there, only to be disappointed in the end.

That's why Pistons fans went running for Doubtsville after those back-to-back losses to Golden State and Cleveland at home. No matter how much this team has accomplished the last six years, many have still been ready to fold up the tent and go home at the first sign of trouble.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Kobe Bryant credits the return of teammates Lamar Odom and Luke Walton from injuries for making things easy for him.

The All-Star MVP became the first Los Angeles player in 44 seasons to score at least 50 points in consecutive games, following a 65-point effort with 50 in the Lakers' 109-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

Bryant became the first Lakers player to accomplish the feat since Elgin Baylor did it in three straight games in December 1962.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Dirk Nowitzki posted his 40th double- double of the year, scoring 28 points to go along with 12 rebounds, Devin Harris scored 22 points for Dallas.Monday, March 19, 2007

College Hoops Madness: Brackets, news, polls and more!

Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki posted his 40th double- double of the year, scoring 28 points to go along with 12 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks held off the Detroit Pistons, 92-88, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

All-Star guard Chauncey Billups will miss Detroit's matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday due to a groin injury.

"I had a pretty good indication he wasn't going to go when I saw him walk in," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said before the game. "He had on a really nice suit, so I suspected he knew he'd be wearing it on the bench."

Billups sustained the injury in Saturday's win in Phoenix. Flip Murray, who had a season-best 25 points against the Suns, will start against the Mavericks.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Statewide debate over TXU Corp.'s plans to build five coal-fired power plants has sparked debate about Texas' ability to meet ever-increasing electricity needs. (TXU plans to build three traditional coal plants plus two experimental coal gasification plants.)

The issue has some observers panicked. Others -- scientists and engineers from the world of renewable energy and energy efficiency -- not so much.

This article is for Paid Print Subscribers ONLY.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Ahead of speech, writer talks managers, Mavs and a certain star player

12:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 19, 2007

Malcolm Gladwell wants to talk about outsourcing.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Texas Legislature has been in session a little more than two months, and already it looks nothing like it did when it started.

And when the session ends in two more months, it most likely will look nothing like it does now.

This article is for Paid Print Subscribers ONLY.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Henry Lessner has made a substantial commitment to the arts.As president of the Arts of Collin County Foundation, he's charged with bringing private and corporate sponsors together to help educate and promote the art programs and facilities Collin County is developing.The total budget for Phase I of the Arts of Collin County project is $100 million, which includes the value of the donated land. Of this amount, more than $57 million has already been raised through public bond elections ...

"I have a reputation up there as they see me coming and they hide their wallets because they know I'm going to ask for money," Lessner said. "I give my time and my money so I don't feel bad asking people for theirs."The once-upon-a-time musician left the art world for a more technical degree in engineering. His passion, though, lies with the arts. He feels children aren't experiencing and communicating through art because of the high-tech, fast-paced world that exists now. The value of a piece of art hanging in on

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Growing up in Oklahoma, movies were an introduction to the world for Leiner Temerlin.

"I was born in a very small town," says Temerlin, who hails from Ardmore. "The way we got wind of the world was through movies."

This article is for Paid Print Subscribers ONLY.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Richard Hamilton has played a lot of basketball in his life, and almost all of it has gone better than Sunday.

In a nationally televised game between the top teams from the Eastern and Western conferences, Hamilton missed five fourth-quarter free throws before ending the game on the Detroit Pistons bench, bleeding heavily from a cut inflicted by one of his teammates.

Adding insult to injury, the Pistons lost 92-88 to the Dallas Mavericks to end their five-game winning streak.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Richard Hamilton has played a lot of basketball in his life, and almost all of it has gone better than Sunday. In a nationally televised game between the top teams from the Eastern and Western conferences, Hamilton missed five fourth-quarter free throws before ending the game on the Detroit Pistons bench, bleeding heavily from a cut inflicted by one of his teammates. Adding insult to injury, the Pistons lost 92-88 to the Dallas Mavericks to end their five-game winning streak.

"It was crazy," said Hamilton, who came into the game shooting 87.1 percent from the line. "I never expect to miss back-to-back free throws twice in a row. That's crazy to me."

Hamilton talked after getting three stitches over his left eye thanks to a collision with teammate Chris Webber's elbow. His trademark mask protected his nose, but dug into his eyelid.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

SAN ANTONIO -- Paul Pierce gave the Boston Celtics an unexpected victory in the most unlikely of places.

The Celtics ended a 17-year drought in San Antonio -- fittingly on St. Patrick's Day.

Pierce led Boston with 30 points as the Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 on Saturday night. The Celtics last beat the Spurs in San Antonio on Feb. 14, 1990. The Spurs had won 18 straight against the Celtics and 15 straight at home.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

SAN ANTONIO ? Paul Pierce led Boston with 30 points as the Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 on Saturday night for their first victory in San Antonio in more than 17 years.

Delonte West had 23 points, Al Jefferson added 20 points and 12 rebounds and Rajon Rondo grabbed 14 rebounds during the Celtics' St. Patrick's Day matchup.

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 30 points. Tim Duncan added 20 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Finley had 10 points.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Not even flipping channels ? "I think I watched 'Police Academy 15,' just garbage," Nowitzki said ? could distract him. Only sleep stopped the clock.

"I put a whole lot of responsibility on myself," Nowitzki said Thursday. "I'm very, very hard on myself. That's also something that pushed me forward and got me to this point. Even after a good game, I think, 'I missed a couple of rebounds there, missed a couple of chippies there.' I'm never satisfied."

That relentlessness has propelled the Mavericks (53-11) to three double-digit winning streaks, the best record in the league and Nowitzki to his most dominating season. The Mavericks' goal is all or nothing: returning to the NBA Finals and not letting another opportunity slip.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

We know there aren't many of you who even want to think about the NBA right now, much less hear about it smack dab in the middle of March Madness.

Well, we're going to stick up for the much-maligned pro game anyway.

For those of you who missed it, the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns played one of the most wildly entertaining games in years last Wednesday in Dallas, with the Suns pulling out a 129-127 victory in overtime.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Michael Jordan is now on the hook to hire a coach in the same offseason when he'll have a choice lottery pick, two of his core players to re-sign and salary cap space for another major move, making the summer a crossroads for the Charlotte Bobcats and Jordan. And not necessarily in that order.

If MJ is a superhero in his native North Carolina, the kid who went from being cut from the high school team to helping the Tar Heels to an NCAA championship to ruling Chicago and the world, he's still living down the Washington years everywhere else. A little more than three years running basketball operations for the Wizards was all it took to bring on a level of scorn he had never experienced. His tenure included a wasted No. 1 pick for the ages (Kwame Brown), two failed coaching hires (Leona...

The chance at redemption, or permanent damage to the reputation, comes as the Bobcats arrive at an offseason of several critical moves, including re-signing Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor, hiring a new coach and choosing high in the draft. If Greg Oden and Kevin Durant enter the draft, no sure thing, and Charlotte picks first or second, Jordan has it easy. If at least one stays in school and Charlotte lands at three or four, he's back to a tough call and hearing a lot about the Brown miss.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

PHOENIX -- If you think the Pistons are heading into tonight's game looking to measure themselves against the Suns, forget about it.

"It's not like this is going to be a measuring stick or anything like that," Chris Webber said.

If you think the Pistons are in awe of the Suns, well, forget about that, too.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

The Detroit Pistons whipped Phoenix, 105-83, last night, finishing a West Coast road trip with a perfect 5-0 mark for the first time since 1992.

But the victory came with a dear price. Point guard and team leader Chauncey Billups suffered a groin injury in the second quarter, left the game and did not return.

His status is questionable for tomorrow's game against the Dallas Mavericks, who have the best record in the NBA. The Pistons lead their division and have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

SAN ANTONIO — Paul Pierce gave the Boston Celtics an unexpected victory in the most unlikely of places.

The Celtics ended a 17-year drought in San Antonio — fittingly on St. Patrick's Day.

Pierce led Boston with 30 points as the Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 on Saturday night. The Celtics last beat the Spurs in San Antonio on Feb. 14, 1990. The Spurs had won 18 straight against the Celtics and 15 straight at home.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Guard Baron Davis, whose presence in back-to-back finale victories over the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks was more than mere coincidence, thinks the Warriors can keep up their pace. Along with tonight's game against the SuperSonics, the Warriors close back-to-backs against the San Antonio Spurs (at home on March 26 and in Texas on April 7) and the Portland Trail Blazers (in Oregon on April 18).

"I think we're maturing a lot as a team," Davis said. "We understand now the importance of the first game and coming back after that and playing well enough and with enough energy to keep ourselves in the second game."

Warriors forward Matt Barnes thinks it's not even worth discussing the 1-15 mark, since those games were so rife with various injuries on Golden State's part.

Link to full article

Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This | Post to Reddit

Sure, Barry Bonds looks great. It?s spring training, everybody looks great.

But if Jason Ellison?s amazing run of reaching base 15 out of 16 times doesn?t mean anything, then Bonds? sparkling spring as a 42-year-old superstar apparently defying his age doesn?t mean anything, either. You can?t have it both ways.

I have to hand it to Bonds, though, he?s lost a bit of weight, he?s moving well, and he appears to have a bounce in his step and plenty of pop in his bat. Who cares if he loses a couple of balls in the sun?

Link to full article