Latest headlines - nba news !!

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Warriors add depth to frontcourt, sign Barron

Posted Jan 14 2012 3:19PM


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Earl Barron, giving the team another big man with backup Kwame Brown likely sidelined for the season with a chest injury.

The Warriors announced Barron's signing before they played at the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.
Barron appeared in 21 games last season with Portland, Phoenix and Milwaukee. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game and also made seven starts.
The 7-footer is expected to fill the backup role behind starter Andris Biedrins after Brown was injured in Golden State's 111-106 overtime victory over Miami on Tuesday night. Brown is having surgery on his pectoralis major, the large chest muscle that attaches to his right shoulder, and is expected to miss at least three months.

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Love offers to buy tickets for Timberwolves fans

Posted Jan 14 2012 12:26PM


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Love is trying to make Minnesota Timberwolves fans an offer they can't refuse.
Love tweeted that if a fan buys a ticket to their game against Sacramento on Monday, he will then buy that fan the same ticket for their game Wednesday against Detroit.
"It's a simple way to say thank you to our fans," Love said on Friday before the team beat New Orleans. "They've been behind us all the way and the crowds thus far have been amazing."
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Love approached team officials with his idea earlier this week. So far the limit has been set at 500 tickets, but Love and the team will re-evaluate that if and when the number is reached.
"It's awesome," said Ryan Tanke, Timberwolves senior vice president of tickets and premium seating. "For our staff to see your star player wanting to do something like this, it gives everyone an extra bounce in their step. It's pretty unique."
Love entered the game against the Hornets leading the team with 24.6 points per game and 14.7 rebounds. Coming off his first All-Star appearance last season, Love is the only player in the league to register a double-double in each of the first 10 games of the season.
Even though the Wolves have won just three of those games, the Target Center has had a new energy this season with the arrivals of Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and coach Rick Adelman.
Last year, the Wolves averaged 15,243 fans per game, good for 24th in the league. This year, with the help of Rubio, Love and a star-studded schedule that has included games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, average attendance has jumped more than 2,000 per game to 17,442, which is 14th in the league.
The Kings are drawing the fewest fans in the league in their road games and the Pistons lack the star power that will induce people to buy tickets as well. So Love is doing his part to keep the momentum going.
"We're a team that feeds off their energy," Love said. "Their support means a lot and I hope everyone can take advantage of the offer and make it out on the 16th and 18th.

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'Melo to sit out game vs. Thunder with sprained ankle


Posted Jan 14 2012 12:08PM


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony is expected to miss the New York Knicks' game at Oklahoma City on Saturday night because of a sprained right ankle.

Coach Mike D'Antoni gave the update before the morning shootaround.
Anthony is the league's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points. He was hurt early in the second half of New York's loss at Memphis on Thursday night. He also hurt his left wrist during that game but played through that injury.

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Mavs' Nowitzki 23rd NBA player to 23,000 points

Posted Jan 13 2012 10:12PM - Updated Jan 13 2012 11:28PM


DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki became the 23rd NBA player to score 23,000 career points, reaching the milestone with a free throw with 7 minutes left in the second quarter in the Dallas Mavericks' game against Milwaukee on Friday night.

During a timeout less than 2 minutes later, fans stood and cheered when the milestone was announced. Nowitzki, who has spent all of his 14 NBA seasons in Dallas, acknowledged the crowd.
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"He's had a staggeringly awesome career," coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. "He's right up there (with the best ever)."
Nowitzki, playing his 1,005th game, recently made his 8,000th field goal.
Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett are the only active players with more points than Nowitzki. Elgin Baylor is next on the career list with 23,149 points.
Nowitzki, the 2007 NBA MVP, was the MVP of the NBA finals last season when the Mavericks won their first championship.

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Derrick Rose out again for Bulls against Suns


Posted Jan 17 2012 7:35PM


CHICAGO (AP) -- Bulls guard Derrick Rose was held out of the starting lineup for Chicago's game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night because of a sprained left big toe.
Rose has now missed three of Chicago's last five games because of the injury, suffered last Tuesday at Minnesota.

"It was a collective decision," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We gathered the information, looked at where we were in the schedule and we decided it was in the best interest of everyone to have him sit this one out."
Chicago, playing its league-high 16th game in the season's 24 days, is off the next two days, giving Rose five days of rest since he played Saturday against Toronto.
Rose, the NBA's reigning MVP, was replaced by C.J. Watson in the starting lineup.

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Paul, Williams miss game for Clippers


Posted Jan 17 2012 9:11PM


SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Chris Paul missed his second straight game with a left hamstring injury and did not play Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Paul is feeling better but he wanted to be smart about the injury and wouldn't rush his superstar point guard back. Paul's backup, Mo Williams, was also out against the Jazz.
The Clippers beat New Jersey on Monday night without Paul, who is averaging 18 points and 8.4 assists per game.
Utah was without backup forward Derrick Favors (sprained left ankle) and swingman Josh Howard (strained left quad).
Del Negro said Paul won't play until he shows in workouts he is ready. Del Negro believes Williams might be back as soon as Wednesday against Dallas or Friday against Minnesota.
The Clippers have lost 15 straight visits to Salt Lake City, last winning in 2003.

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NBA, broadcast partners tip off Chinese New Year Celebration


Posted Jan 17 2012 5:33PM


The NBA announced Tuesday it will host its first-ever NBA Chinese New Year Celebration Jan 21-28. The comprehensive, week-long NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2012 will pay tribute to the league's Chinese fan base with live games, customized coverage and a variety of NBA-themed events in China and the U.S.
The NBA, with the support of its television and digital partners in China, will recognize and celebrate the Year of the Dragon with customized coverage of 21 games across CCTV 5, BTV, GDTV, GZTV, NowTV, NBA TV, Sina, and Tencent. NBA China marketing partners Boshiwa International Holding Limited, Dongfeng Aeolus and PEAK Sports are co-presenting partners of the NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2012.
During the celebration, Chinese fans will be able to watch top NBA teams, including the 2010-11 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, featuring Chinese player Yi Jianlian, as well as the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
To tip off Chinese New Year and continue throughout the week, the Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors will host in-arena celebrations on Jan. 23 and Jan. 28 respectively. Fans in attendance will experience a variety of elements and activities that pay tribute to Chinese culture. In addition, the players will wear specially designed Chinese New Year shooting shirts from adidas, the league's official on court apparel outfitter, which will be available for fans worldwide at NBAStore.com.
Fans in China will be able to vote for the most valuable player of all games broadcast on Sina and Tencent on the official NBA microblogs on Sina, Tencent and Tencent Q zone.
"Chinese New Year is a fun time of year and we wanted to join in the festivities and show appreciation to our fans," NBA President of International Heidi Ueberroth. "With the help of our great partners, we will celebrate the Year of the Dragon with exciting matchups, customized content, and a variety of Chinese New Year-themed fan activities in China and the U.S."
"We are pleased to provide our viewers with a special week of NBA games as they enjoy the Spring Festival holidays with their families," said Jiang Heping, CCTV 5 Head of Sports.
There will be special programming, features and player greetings throughout the week on NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA.com/China and NBA Zhizao, an NBA lifestyle program that airs throughout China.
To tip off the 21-game schedule, CCTV 5 will televise the Jan. 21 game between the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by the league's reigning Most Improved Player, Kevin Love, and rookie Ricky Rubio, and the Los Angeles Clippers featuring the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin and All-Star guard Chris Paul.
To wrap up the festivities, the league will host a fan viewing party in Beijing on Jan 28.

NBA CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2012

All dates and times are Beijing time

Game Date Time Broadcaster Chicago @ Cleveland Jan. 21 8:30 a.m. SINA LA Lakers @ Orlando Jan. 21 9:00 a.m. GDTV Minnesota @ LA Clippers Jan. 21 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5/GZTV Philadelphia @ Miami Jan. 22 8:30a.m. BTV San Antonio @ Houston Jan. 22 9:00 a.m. SINA Charlotte @ Chicago Jan. 22 9:00 a.m. GDTV Dallas @ New Orleans Jan. 22 9:00a.m. CCTV 5 Boston @ Washington Jan. 23 9:00am NBA TV/CCTV 5 Indiana @ LA Lakers Jan. 23 10:30a.m. GZTV/BTV/SINA Orlando @ Boston Jan. 24 8:30 a.m. BTV Phoenix @ Dallas Jan. 24 9:30 a.m. CCTV 5/GDTV/SINA Memphis @ Golden State Jan. 24 11:30 a.m. GZTV Cleveland @ Miami Jan. 25 8:30 a.m. GDTV/SINA/TENCENT/CCTV 5 LA Clippers @ LA Lakers Jan. 26 11:30 a.m. GDTV/BTV/SINA/CCTV 5 Miami @ Detroit Jan.26 8:30 a.m. TENCENT Boston @ Orlando Jan. 27 9:00 a.m. GDTV/SINA Memphis @ LA Clippers Jan. 27 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5 New York @ Miami Jan. 28 9:00 a.m. GDTV/TENCENT Milwaukee @ Chicago Jan. 28 9:00 a.m. SINA Utah @ Dallas Jan. 28 9:30 a.m. GZTV/BTV Oklahoma @ Golden State Jan. 28 11:30 a.m. CCTV 5/NBA TV/GDTV

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Webster's back better, returns to Wolves practice



Posted Jan 17 2012 4:38PM


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Martell Webster says his back is feeling good after his first contact practice in more than three months.
Webster practiced with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday for the first time since he had back surgery in September. The swingman says he felt a little rusty, but his back held up well while scrimmaging with his teammates.
The banged-up Timberwolves could use Webster's size and shooting on the perimeter. Coach Rick Adelman says it's too soon to tell when Webster will be ready to play in a game.
Guard J.J. Barea also practiced on Tuesday after missing the last three games with a sprained left ankle. Barea says the hamstring injury that bothered him earlier in the season is fully healed, but he is still listed as day-to-day.

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Hawks' Horford undergoes successful surgery, out 3-4 months

Posted Jan 17 2012 4:35PM


ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks say All-Star center Al Horford has undergone successful surgery to repair his torn left pectoral muscle.
The procedure was performed Tuesday by Dr. Xavier Duralde of Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic. He was assisted by Hawks team physicians Michael Bernot and Ashok Reddy.
Horford sustained the injury going for a rebound in a Jan. 11 game at Indiana. He is expected to be out from three-to-four months.
The Hawks have won three straight since Horford went down. Atlanta hosts Portland on Wednesday.

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Cavs owner buys Cleveland Arena Football League team

Posted Jan 17 2012 2:03PM


CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert added a football team to his burgeoning sports empire.
Gilbert has purchased the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, a team that plays its games in Quicken Loans Arena. Gilbert, who bought the Cavaliers in 2005, also owns the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and is opening two casinos in the next year.
The Cavaliers, Gladiators and Monsters all play at Gilbert's arena.
Gilbert's acquisition of the Gladiators was announced Tuesday. He bought the club from area attorney Jim Ferraro, who moved the franchise from Las Vegas in 2007.
Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar is a team advisor.