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NBA Capsules: Duncan lifts Spurs past Hornets
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As Tim Duncan strode forcefully into the lane for a running hook in the final seconds, Tony Parker could not help but be reminded of a couple of the greatest players the NBA has ever known.
"It was a mix of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson —a kind of sky-hook, and we'll take it," Parker said of Duncan's 13-foot game-winner over Hornets center Emeka Okafor with 1.4 seconds left.
The shot capped a season-high 28-point performance by the Spurs' 15-year veteran star forward and sent New Orleans to an eighth straight loss, 104-102 on Monday night.
"Okafor played pretty good defense and that's the shot I had had, and just luckily made it," Duncan said. "I couldn't do it again if I tried, but it went in that time. That's all that matters."
Parker added 20 points and a career-high 17 assists for the Spurs, who snapped a two-game skid, while Richard Jefferson added 14 points and Tiago Splitter added 12 points.
The Hornets inbounded the ball to Carl Landry for a desperation 3-pointer that could have won it as time expired, but the shot fell short, dooming New Orleans to its 14th loss in 15 games.
Jarrett Jack led the Hornets with 26 points and nine assists. Trevor Ariza tied a season high with 18 points and Landry also scored 18.
"Its' extremely frustrating," Jack said. "The good part is that we gave ourselves a chance. ... It just comes down to making plays. There are a couple that I am kicking myself about that I wasn't able to complete."
The Spurs led 102-98 after Duncan's free throws with 1:16 to go, setting up a thrilling finish to a game that included 15 lead changes and eight ties.
Jack hit a reverse layup in a crowd to make it a one-score game, then the Hornets got a pair of critical defensive stops to set up Landry's tip-in of Jack's missed floater, tying it with 5.2 seconds left.
The Spurs immediately took timeout and then fed the ball to Duncan, who had no intention of giving it up as he went strong to the lane for his winning shot, quieting a crowd that was on its feet and begging for one more stop.
Hornets coach Monty Williams said he sensed what was coming when he saw San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich say something to Duncan as the Spurs left their bench after the timeout.
"I told Emeka, 'It's coming to you,'" Williams said. "He made a tough shot. You'd take that defense every time. It's just that (Duncan has) been there, done that. That's why he is one of the best power forwards of all time and one of the best players in the history of the game. Those situations don't bother him."
What did bother Duncan and the Spurs was the trouble they'd been having on the road. The victory in New Orleans was only their second in eight away games.
"I just wanted to win on the road, honestly," Duncan said. "I don't remember the road ever being this tough."
New Orleans led most of the third quarter and was up 80-74 late in the period after Jack's jumper, but Jefferson responded with one of his four 3-pointers and Parker converted a difficult driving scoop to cut it to 80-79 heading into the final quarter.
Popovich credited Parker with picking up all aspects of his game while Manu Ginobili has been has been out with a broken left hand.
"He's scoring for us, but he's finding players and involving everybody," Popovich said. "He's doing a great job of keeping us together."
The Hornets, who had turned the ball over only eight times through the first three quarters, turned it over six times in the fourth, which hurt in a game that went down to the wire and wound up being New Orleans' third-straight two-point loss to a Southwest Division opponent.
Both teams shot well, with the Spurs hitting 55 percent (41 of 75) and the Hornets, who had struggled to break 90 points recently, connecting on nearly 51 percent (42 of 83). New Orleans was strong inside, outscoring San Antonio 42-40 in the paint and outrebounding the Spurs 40-27.
Marco Belinelli had 12 points for New Orleans and Okafor 10.
Gary Neal scored 10 for the Spurs, hitting both 3s he attempted.
Looking to get over the hump after consecutive close losses to Houston and Dallas, New Orleans raced to a 22-13 lead. The Spurs then responded with a 12-2 run that included three jumpers by Duncan — one of them a running bank shot — to go up 25-24.
The Spurs built a first-half lead as large as six when Parker's 22-foot jumper made it 42-36. The game remained tight for the remainder of the opening half, which ended with San Antonio leading 56-55.
Notes: The Hornets reached 100 points for the first time this season. ... Hornets G Xavier Henry, who has been recovering from a right ankle injury, was activated for the first time but did not play. ... The Hornets' home losing streak is now nine games. ... Movie stars Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Brooke Shields, Wanda Sykes and Camryn Manheim took time out from filming a basketball-themed movie in New Orleans to attend the game in courtside seats. They were among the announced crowd of 12,599.
Rockets win seventh straight, 107-92 over Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kevin McHale's first night back at Target Center since his firing in 2009 started with quite a rude reception as the hometown fans who once adored him booed lustily during his introduction.
The night ended on a much better note for him.
Kevin Martin scored 31 points to lead the Houston Rockets to their seventh straight victory, 107-92 over Minnesota on Monday night in coach McHale's first game back on the Timberwolves' homecourt since 2009.
"It's as good as the last one," McHale said when asked if this felt a little extra special. "Hopefully, it feels as good as the next one."
Kyle Lowry had 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his second career triple-double and Samuel Dalembert grabbed 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who put the game away with a 19-1 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.
Kevin Love had 39 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who committed 10 of their 20 turnovers in the fourth quarter in coach Rick Adelman's first game against the team he spent the last four seasons coaching.
Love made 13 of 19 shots, including all five of his 3-pointers, but the rest of his team was just 20 for 61 (33 percent) and 0 for 7 from long range.
Ricky Rubio had 12 assists for short-handed Minnesota, but the rookie scored six points on 2-for-10 shooting and turned the ball over five times.
"It's frustrating," Rubio said. "When you win, no matter how you did, you feel good. When you lost, no matter what you do, you feel bad. That's what it is."
Wes Johnson was out with an illness, Michael Beasley missed his 10th straight game with a sprained right foot and guard J.J. Barea (hamstring) was out for the sixth time in seven games.
"I have three guards and no small forward," Adelman said. "We tried to adjust but you're putting people out of position. ... We just didn't have enough answers."
The Rockets started the season 3-7 and were 0-5 on the road against Western Conference foes entering the game.
But the 6-foot-7 Martin was way too much for Minnesota's small backcourt, overwhelming Luke Ridnour and Wayne Ellington with an array of cuts to the basket, turn-around jumpers and even a one-handed runner off one foot that swished through that gave the Rockets a 50-42 lead late in the first half.
The Wolves turned up the defense to take a 70-65 lead late in the third, but the Rockets blew the doors open with that big run to take control. Goran Dragic scored eight in the surge and finished with 14 points.
"That's just how our team is," Martin said. "We're a team full of good basketball players and that's what happens. Whoever has the ball in their hand makes the best of it and that's what we did once again."
The booing of McHale was a startling reception for someone who once was one of this state's most revered sports heroes.
McHale grew up in Hibbing on Minnesota's Iron Range and starred at the University of Minnesota before a Hall of Fame pro career with the Boston Celtics.
He took over as GM of the Timberwolves in 1995 and helped one of the league's most woeful franchises become relevant when he drafted Kevin Garnett out of high school in June of that year. The Wolves made the playoffs eight straight years, the last a run to the Western Conference finals in 2004.
The Wolves haven't been back to the postseason since, with a series of ill-fated decisions by McHale contributing to their downfall. He was fired in '09 and spent two seasons in television before joining the Rockets this year.
Adelman had a similar exit from Houston, with management deciding not to give him another contract after last season.
Martin, Lowry and Luis Scola all went over to shake Adelman's hand before the game. Adelman spent four seasons in Houston and helped an undermanned team take the Lakers to seven games in the 2009 Western Conference finals.
"It's always good to get balanced scoring and have everyone contributing to a win like that," Lowry said, "especially coming up here against a tough team with an All-Star and a great coach."
NOTES: Minnesota rookie Derrick Williams got his first career start and finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. ... Ridnour had 17 points and eight assists. ... Rockets F Patrick Patterson picked up three fouls in just over 1 minute of playing time in the first quarter. He scored 13 points.
-- Jon Krawczynski
Marion's 29 points lead Mavericks over Suns
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks are looking for offense to make up for the absence of top scorer Dirk Nowitzki and key reserve Vince Carter.
Shawn Marion came through with a season-high 29 points and the Mavericks stretched their home winning streak to seven games with a 93-87 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
"My teammates were looking for me," Marion said. "I've been able to do a lot of different things on the floor."
Marion, who entered with five 3-pointers all season, went 4 of 6 from behind the arc and 11 for 20 from the field.
Marion is averaging 19.3 points over his last four games, helping make up for the loss of Nowitzki (17.5 points per game) and Carter (9.5 ppg).
"Shawn was great," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "A lot of plays he made were very timely. ... We needed someone to step up."
Ian Mahinmi chipped in with 17 points and nine rebounds for the defending NBA champion Mavericks (11-7), who returned home from a 2-2 road trip.
"This was one of those games when we felt we needed that spark," Mahinmi said. "When you come off the bench, you bring that energy, and we got the starters going again."
Nowitzki missed his second game in what has been projected as a four-game stretch to work on his conditioning and allow his sore right knee to improve.
Carter sat out his fourth consecutive game with a sprained left foot.
Carlisle said Nowitzki went through two conditioning sessions on Monday. The MVP of last year's NBA finals will be monitored as the week goes on to determine his progress.
Carlisle said the German star could miss more than four games depending on how much improvement he shows.
"There's some conditioning and some things with the knee that need to be resolved," Carlisle said.
Grant Hill scored a season-high 19 points for Phoenix and Marcin Gortat had 19 points and 17 rebounds, his eighth consecutive double-double. Shannon Brown added 14 points for the Suns, who have lost six of eight.
Phoenix has dropped its last nine games at Dallas.
Dallas continues to play tough defense, holding an opponent under 100 points in its 15th straight game to extend its franchise record.
Marion's nine points sparked a 10-2 third-quarter run. Marion, who had 14 points in the third quarter, converted a three-point play, then hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Dallas a 70-55 advantage with 4:41 left in the quarter.
"Shawn was Dirk tonight," said Phoenix's Jared Dudley of Marion, a former Suns star.
Phoenix ended the third quarter with six unanswered points, narrowing the deficit to 74-65.
Sebastien Telfair of the Suns was called for a flagrant foul with 7:07 left, earning an automatic ejection when he hit Dallas' Roddy Beaubois in the face and hauled him to the floor on Beaubois' layup attempt.
Beaubois made both foul shots, and when Dallas got the ball back, Lamar Odom's basket extended the Mavericks' edge to 88-74.
The Suns made one last push when Steve Nash's jumper with 2:16 left narrowed the gap to 91-84. But Marion's hoop with 35 seconds remaining extended Dallas' lead to 93-84, closing out the Suns.
"I wasn't surprised," Gortat said of Marion's production. "He always has good games against us. We've just got to be smarter against him."
NOTES: Marion's previous season high was 22 points at Utah last Thursday. ... Dallas set a season high with a 32-point first quarter. ... Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith sat courtside with his wife, Pat.
State News & Notes
Back home in Minnesota, Rockets' McHale shrugs off return
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kevin McHale stood surrounded by a swarm of cameras and reporters on the Target Center court, surveying a familiar scene.
He wore a brown winter jacket, just like any other guy his age around Minnesota would.
There were plenty of hints, however, that McHale has moved on emotionally as well as physically from his home state.
McHale coached the Houston Rockets to a 107-92 victory over the Timberwolves on Monday night, his first time at Target Center since he was fired in June 2009 following a 15-year run with the franchise.
For better or worse, McHale has had as big a hand as anyone in leading the Timberwolves over their 23 seasons in the league.
"There's only one guy left on that team, Kevin Love, from when I was here," McHale said before the game. "I've been in the arena a million different times. Been here for a lot of good times and bad times."
That was as deep into feelings as McHale was willing to go. He wore a Rockets shirt underneath the jacket, one of the many signs of this post-Minnesota stage in his life.
The Hall of Fame power forward — who grew into his 6-foot-10 frame in the mining town of Hibbing and used a standout career at the University of Minnesota as a springboard to the NBA with the Boston Celtics — paused for a few seconds when asked if he still considers the area home.
"Four of my five kids were born in New England. They were watching the Patriots yesterday. I'll always have a lake home here I'm sure. I don't know if the Twin Cities will always be home. Northern Minnesota will always be home for me. At the end of the day, I'm just an old country boy from northern Minnesota," McHale said.
McHale's youngest child, Tommy, is a senior on the Totino-Grace High School team this season. McHale was able to stay at his family's home in the northern Minneapolis suburbs, but morning snowfall turned his drive to the arena for the morning shootaround into a 2-hour commute. He sure wasn't wistful about the January weather here, compared to living in Texas.
"When I left it was 80," McHale said.
His competitive desire hasn't dipped. Two years as a TV analyst on TNT merely stoked that inner fire.
"It's fun to have a dog in the fight," McHale said. "Every game I've ever played, I got butterflies before I walked out. If you don't, quit. ... When I don't, I'll go fishing. I don't get butterflies when I'm fishing. I never catch anything."
He still detests the frequent late-night travel around the country and all the nights away from home, his previously stated reluctance to coaching on a permanent basis.
Though he primarily served as the general manager and boss of basketball operations during his time with the Timberwolves, he had two stints as the head coach after midseason changes on the bench. That's what he was doing most recently when he was dismissed nearly three years ago.
"Coaching is fun. I enjoy it. There's highs and lows, just like playing. You're really involved. After losses, you just feel terrible," he said. "After wins, you're exhilarated."
Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, experiencing a reunion of his own on Monday, simply described the profession as "what we chose to do," despite the built-in frustrations that come with the job.
"I think working with the players, working with the team, is special. If you can see success, you can see them growing as a team, I think that makes it worthwhile," said Adelman, who coached the Rockets for the past four seasons.
McHale's departure from Minnesota came too late as far as the majority of Timberwolves fans were concerned.
After drafting Kevin Garnett, hiring his college buddy Flip Saunders to be the head coach and building a team that made the playoffs eight straight times, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2004, the franchise fell apart.
There were too many high draft picks who didn't pan out, too many ill-conceived trades and too many expensive contracts that didn't produce positive results, from Ndudi Ebi to Marko Jaric to Michael Olowokandi. When Garnett won an NBA title with the Celtics after the Wolves traded him, McHale's status with the public was sealed.
But his last big move was the draft-night trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008 that brought Love to Minnesota. Now he's a scoring, rebounding and even 3-point shooting machine.
"I'm thankful for what he did for me, bringing me in here and also working with me in my rookie year, giving me an opportunity to succeed and take my game to the next level," Love said. "So he's somebody that I really respect on and off the court."
Even when he wasn't the coach, McHale worked daily with the team's big men, teaching them the art of the post move and pushing them after practice. But McHale, while praising Love's development, wanted no part of any praise.
"It has nothing to do with me. He's a hard-working guy. I'm happy for him," McHale said.
-- Dave Campbell
Spurs to retire Bowen's No. 12 jersey
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs are retiring Bruce Bowen's No. 12 jersey as tribute to the respected and sometimes reviled defensive stopper who helped the franchise win three championships.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on Monday called Bowen the "premier perimeter defender" in the NBA for nearly a decade. Bowen pestered the league's best players for 12 seasons before retiring in 2009.
His tenacity gave him a reputation as one of the NBA's dirtiest defenders. Critics vilified him as a master of cheap shots but there was no denying Bowen's ability to shutdown opposing scorers. Bowen was named to the NBA's all-defensive team eight times.
His Spurs jersey will be hoisted into the AT&T Center rafters alongside those of David Robinson, George Gervin, James Silas, Johnny Moore, Sean Elliot and Avery Johnson.
Mavs recall G Jones from D-League
DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks have recalled guard Dominique Jones from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. Jones averaged 13.3 points and 2.3 assists in 22 minutes per game in three games with the Legends.
The 6-foot-5 Jones was assigned to the Legends on Jan. 15. In nine games with the Mavericks before then, he scored 16 points with eight rebounds.
The Mavericks made the move Monday, and said Jones would be available for their game that night against the Phoenix Suns.
Other NBA Capsules
Pierce, Bass help Celtics crush Magic
BOSTON (AP) — Paul Pierce and former Magic forward Brandon Bass each scored 19 points to carry the injury-riddled Boston Celtics to an 87-56 win over Orlando on Monday night.
The Magic set franchise lows for points and field goals (16).
Boston was minus starters Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and three bench players, drastically reducing its roster.
Bass and Pierce carried the offense and Boston got some strong play from a cast of down-the-bench reserves. The Celtics snapped a streak of six straight losses against teams with winning records.
Dwight Howard led the Magic with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He needs eight points to surpass Nick Anderson as the Magic's all-time leading scorer.
Kevin Garnett added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Boston.
BULLS 110, NETS 95
CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton each scored 22 points to lead banged-up Chicago to an easy victory over New Jersey.
Hamilton set season highs in points and assists (10). Rose added eight assists and hung with Deron Williams after missing four games with a sprained left big toe.
Joakim Noah chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who cruised to their fourth straight win even though they're hardly a picture of health at the moment.
Rose seemed hobbled at times but was able to stick with one of the game's best point guards, hours after he said the injury could be an issue the rest of the season.
Noah came up big, too, after missing a game with a sprained left ankle. Carlos Boozer had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Ronnie Brewer (11 points) filled in nicely with Luol Deng sidelined by a sprained left wrist.
Williams had 16 points and 10 assists for New Jersey. Jordan Farmar scored 22, but the Nets were overwhelmed playing their third game in three nights.
76ERS 103, WIZARDS 83
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Jrue Holiday also scored 17 to lead Philadelphia over Washington.
Jodie Meeks added 15 points and Andre Iguodala had 11 assists. The Sixers led by 30 in the first half and easily cruised to their third win of the season against the hapless Wizards.
Jordan Crawford led the Wizards (2-15) with 17 points. They lost their third straight game and remained the NBA's only winless road team at 0-7.
Playing without starting center Spencer Hawes (left Achilles strain) and forward Nik Vucevic (quadriceps strain), the Sixers improved to 8-1 at home.
THUNDER 99, PISTONS 79
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook and reserve James Harden each scored 24 points, Kevin Durant added 20 and Oklahoma City beat Detroit for its fourth straight blowout win at home.
The Thunder built a 30-point lead midway through the second quarter and Detroit got no closer than 17 after the opening period.
Oklahoma City's starters had sat out all of the fourth quarter in the previous three games at Chesapeake Energy Arena and that streak was only stopped because Serge Ibaka replaced an injured Nick Collison with the rest of the backups.
Collison sprained his left ankle and didn't play after halftime.
Rookie guard Brandon Knight led Detroit with 13 points. Rodney Stuckey and Greg Monroe added 12 apiece.
HAWKS 97, BUCKS 92
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Joe Johnson scored 14 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, rallying Atlanta past Milwaukee.
Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 15 points for the Hawks in the opener of a five-game road trip.
Brandon Jennings had 21 points and 11 assists to lead Milwaukee, and Mike Dunleavy added 17 points. But the Bucks had no answer for Johnson in the fourth.
Johnson, who came in averaging 18.6 points, was 10 of 22 from the floor and 8 for 8 from the line. He had five rebounds and two steals.
Zaza Pachulia grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds for Atlanta.
TRAIL BLAZERS 101, KINGS 89
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 26 points and Portland picked up a win in its return from a six-game road trip.
Gerald Wallace had 20 points and eight rebounds and LaMarcus Aldridge added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who were coming off a 2-4 trip. Portland improved to 7-1 at the Rose Garden, playing there for the first time since Jan. 11.
DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points and 13 rebounds, his 12th double-double of the season, for the Kings. Jimmer Fredette scored 13 points and Francisco Garcia added 12. Sacramento dropped to 2-9 on the road.
GRIZZLES 91, WARRIORS 90
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Rudy Gay scored 23 points, three in the final 23 seconds, and Memphis rallied from 20 points down in the second half to win its seventh straight.
Mike Conley had 20 points and nine assists for the Grizzlies, who extended their winning streak with one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.
Memphis trailed 63-43 with 3:23 left in the third quarter, then pulled within 16 heading into the fourth. The first-place Grizzlies scored 39 points over the final 12 minutes to remain a half-game ahead of San Antonio in the Southwest Division.
Marc Gasol added 15 points and 11 rebounds while Tony Allen had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Monta Ellis had 20 points and five assists for Golden State, which was outscored 11-5 over the final 2:15.
Other NBA News
Cavaliers reeling as they head to Miami
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio . (AP) — Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison wore a wine-colored practice jersey Monday. Maybe it should have been a much deeper shade of red.
Because after being torn apart in lopsided losses to Chicago and Atlanta, Cleveland is in danger of seeing the life drained from its season.
"We have to stop the bleeding," Jamison said.
After a shocking 6-7 start, the Cavs have lost their last two games by a combined 66 points, blowouts in which they were overwhelmed by two quality opponents who made them look silly. It won't get any easier as Cleveland visits Miami on Tuesday, when the Cavs renew acquaintances with LeBron James, their former teammate who decided to chase an NBA championship on his own.
Last season, the Cavs collapsed after James returned to Cleveland and laid a 28-point thrashing on his former team, who went on to lose a record 26 straight games in one stretch and finished 19-63. Jamison, for one, isn't worried about the Cavs following a similar destructive path.
"Last year is last year and that (stuff) is not going to happen," the 13-year veteran said "This is a different team. This is a better team, so what happened last year happened last year. The biggest thing for us is that we're 6-9, we're tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference, and the most important thing is to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible."
They may need a tourniquet against the Heat.
Miami is smarting after a 91-82 home loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, and if the Cavs aren't careful, they'll be humiliated again.
After coach Byron Scott suffered through watching video of the 114-75 loss to the Bulls — Cleveland's worst home loss in history — and the 121-94 shellacking by the Hawks, he decided it's not the time to do anything rash. Scott's not changing his lineup or benching anyone — at least not yet.
Rather, Scott believes the Cavs can heal themselves.
"We have two bad games and everybody wants to panic and make all these changes," he said. "Like I told our guys today, we've had two bad games, and if the playoffs started today, we'd be in the seventh spot or the eighth spot. So it's not all that bad.
"We've just got to make sure that we go back to the basics and do the things we did the first 13 games, which was compete on the defensive end, play hard. Our effort was unbelievable. We had second and third efforts. The last couple games we haven't been getting that. It's just getting back to the little things we were doing the first 13 games."
Scott said rookie forward Tristan Thompson is questionable against the Heat because of an injured ankle. Thompson, who scored a season-high 16 points and added five rebounds in 23 minutes before he got hurt in the loss to the Hawks, was kept out of Monday's practice to get treatment.
For Thompson and fellow rookie Kyrie Irving, the chance to face James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the powerful Heat will be another learning experience in a season of firsts. Scott isn't concerned about his youngsters getting caught up in all the history between James and his former team.
"They don't realize what's going on," he said. "They probably don't even care. I think most of those guys just want to get back on track of playing good solid basketball. All the hoopla and all that stuff that's going on, those guys who weren't a part of it, I don't think they could care less about it."
Jamison has been through difficult stretches before, and said this one is no different.
However, what concerned him was that the Cavs didn't bounce back from their pummeling by the Bulls. Instead, they repeated their mistakes and failed to play with effort against the Hawks.
"That's unacceptable," he said. "Teams know that we play hard. Teams are going to play hard against us for 48 minutes and for us not to come back and hit first and to continue to get hit and not do anything about it is unacceptable. The biggest thing for us is that we still have some tough opponents coming up but we have to stop the bleeding because you don't want to get into a situation where you dig yourself a hole, and in the last month you're trying to climb yourself out."
Scott put the Cavs through a defensive-heavy practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts before the left for Miami and their dated with James.
Scott had been especially critical of Irving's defense over the weekend, but said the point guard had his best practice this season and understand he has to get better.
"He's 19. It's going to take some time," Scott said. "But I think he's headed in the right direction on that end of the floor."
-- Tom Withers
Davis practices for first time with Knicks
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Baron Davis considered retirement a few months ago, and his stamina was so lacking Monday that he "couldn't play dead right now in a movie if I was asked to."
Still, he knows what's expected of him in New York.
"There's a lot of expectations, expectations that I've never had in my career," Davis said. "But I'm up for the challenge."
The Knicks' season might depend on it.
Davis practiced for the first time this season with the Knicks, who hope he can solve some of their offensive woes when he's ready to play.
New York is desperate for better point guard play, and the 32-year-old Davis is a two-time All-Star. But he's not that player now after sitting out all season with a herniated disc in his back that he said was so troublesome that he almost walked away late last year when he struggled just to move around while working out with his kids.
He complained about his conditioning and timing while scrimmaging, and his scouting report was as much bad as good.
"Made a lot of mistakes, was very rusty, I couldn't play," Davis said. "I didn't play good, but a lot of like instinctual things were there."
The Knicks signed Davis in December, knowing he couldn't play for at least a month. Both he and coach Mike D'Antoni used the word "rusty" to describe Davis, and an offense that hasn't been sharp didn't magically start clicking once Davis put on his No. 85 practice jersey.
"The good is he's back on the floor, and then start getting better. Wasn't really good the whole execution, but that's to be expected," D'Antoni said. "You're throwing a new piece in, it's going to take a little while for him to get his mojo back or whatever it is and it's going to take a while."
The Knicks hope that can be sometime during their four-game road trip that begins Tuesday.
He'll work out again before the game, then discuss his progress with the training staff. D'Antoni said he would like to get him in for short stints, but neither he nor Davis would offer a timetable.
"I think the best workout he can get is in a game," D'Antoni said. "It's hard to simulate what it's really like. We can go this a little bit, but at a certain point he's got to get back in there and play a few minutes, and I don't know when that is yet but it'll probably be how we do it."
The Knicks have lost six in a row and broke 100 points for the first time in eight games Saturday, and that was only because the game went into overtime.
Carmelo Anthony's shooting is too erratic and too often, Amare Stoudemire's explosiveness is down and so are his attempts, and the team hopes a veteran point guard can get it all clicking.
"I know I can definitely help. I know I can definitely do some things out there that can help," Davis said. "We all need each other at this point as a team and we need to just figure out how to play off each other and just play with a style that suits everybody and works to everybody's strengths and talents."
If Davis plays well, the Knicks can reach the contending status that was predicted. That seems unlikely if he struggles, but Anthony said the players realize Davis can't change things immediately.
"It's different for us because we know what to expect and what not to expect. We know he's been out for months, so we're not expecting him to come in and just change everything in the first game or two games," Anthony said. "It's going to take some time, even when you do come back, so we as players and his teammates we know we've got to be patient with that."
Though they didn't expect to be 6-10, the Knicks knew they wouldn't reach their potential until they had Davis. Even as he labored Monday, he envisioned things looking much different.
"Once we hit stride offensively, once our offense catches up with our defense, we're going to be unstoppable, so I'm not really worried about our record," Davis said.
-- Brian Mahoney
Rose says toe might be issue rest of season
CHICAGO (AP) — Bulls star Derrick Rose says his sprained left big toe might bother him the rest of the season. It didn't keep him out of Monday night's game, though.
The reigning NBA MVP was back in the lineup for Chicago against Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets after missing the previous four games, but Bulls forward Luol Deng sat out with a sprained left wrist.
Besides Deng, the Bulls were also without Taj Gibson (sprained left ankle). Joakim Noah (sprained left ankle) returned to the lineup after missing a game. Backup guard John Lucas III has also been bothered by a strained left groin.
Nets guard MarShon Brooks was a late scratch because of a sore right Achilles tendon and was replaced in the lineup by Anthony Morrow.
Rose said the toe "is never going to be right this year." But he said he "felt decent" during Monday's shootaround and was able to start.
The news on Deng wasn't great, with coach Tom Thibodeau saying he was "still consulting some doctors" and remains day to day after being injured late in Saturday's game against Charlotte. Asked if Deng would need surgery, Thibodeau said, "I don't know. I don't think so, would be my guess."
Losing Deng for an extended period would be a big blow for a team that entered Monday's game with the league's best record. He tore a ligament in his right wrist near the end of his 2004-05 rookie season.
''You can't say enough about what he brings to our team in all areas," Thibodeau said. "You start with his leadership and toughness and the fact that he's our best defender, guards multiple positions. He plays to win."
-- Andrew Seligman
Celtics minus Allen and Rondo; three bench players
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics were without starters Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and three bench players, severely depleting their roster for Monday night's game against the Orlando Magic. Boston coach Doc Rivers delivered the news about an hour before the game.
Allen jammed his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's win at Washington and didn't return. Starting point guard Rondo will be missing his third straight after taking a hard fall and bruising his right wrist last Wednesday.
Rondo was sitting in the middle of Boston's locker room, watching tape of the Magic and said he felt "much better" with wrist wrapped in ice. He said it was up to the training staff about 15 minutes before Rivers said he was out.
Fowards Mickael Pietrus (shoulder) and Chris Wilcox (left calf) and guard Keyon Dooling (right knee) were also out. Rivers also said Pietrus hurt his shoulder in Sunday's win and it bothered him when he came to shootaround Monday morning.
"I'd be surprised if (Rondo and Dooling) don't play Thursday," Rivers said.
The teams meet again in Orlando.
"He had trouble lifting his hand above his shoulder to shoot," he said.
Avery Bradley and Sasha Pavlovic were the starting guards along with regulars Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal.
Johnson out with illness for Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Wes Johnson missed Monday night's game against Houston because of an illness, giving rookie Derrick Williams his first career start.
Johnson's absence left the injury-plagued Wolves without a healthy small forward on their roster. Michael Beasley is out with a sprained right foot and Martell Webster has yet to play this season because of a back injury.
The Timberwolves chose Williams with the second overall pick and projected him as a player who could fit in at either small or power forward. But in this lockout-shortened season, coach Rick Adelman has had Williams playing almost exclusively at power forward to ease his transition.
Williams is coming off one of his best games when he scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a loss at Utah.
Cavaliers recall Eyenga
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers recalled swingman Christian Eyenga from Canton of the NBA Development League.
Eyenga was assigned to Canton on Jan. 4. He played nine games with the Charge, averaging 8.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Eyenga played one minute for the Cavs before he was assigned to Canton.
Also, Cavaliers rookie forward Tristan Thompson did not practice Monday because of a sore ankle. Thompson was injured in the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout loss in Atlanta.
Coach Byron Scott said Thompson's ankle looked better, but it will be a gametime decision whether he plays on Tuesday in Miami. Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, is averaging 8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 18 minutes.
WNBA
Lynx re-sign C Taj McWilliams-Franklin
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Lynx have re-signed 41-year-old center Taj McWilliams-Franklin. The Lynx announced the deal on Monday, ensuring that their emotional leader will return to help them defend the WNBA championship.
McWilliams-Franklin averaged 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds last year. Her scoring increased to 10.6 points in the playoffs as she helped the franchise to its first title. The younger Lynx players affectionately called her "Mama Taj" as a tribute to her caretaker role on the team.
Some figured that McWilliams-Franklin would retire after winning the title. But she says she feels good and had a wonderful experience in her first season in Minnesota, so she wants to come back and "do it all over again."
McWilliams-Franklin has averaged 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in 407 games over 13 seasons with Orlando, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Washington, Detroit, New York and the Lynx.
Other Basketball News
Former Illini Richmond gets probation
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — Former University of Illinois basketball player Jereme Richmond received an 18-month probation sentence after pleading guilty to unlawful use of a weapon.
Richmond was arrested in August after police accused him of shoving a girlfriend and threatening to shoot her. Defense attorney Lawrence Wade says Richmond entered the guilty plea Monday, although he never wielded the gun, but bore some legal responsibility for it because it had been in his car.
In addition to probation, Lake County Circuit Judge John Philips ordered Richmond to pay a $500 fine, $3,276 in court costs, donate $250 to a shelter to battered women and 200 hours of community service. Richmond played sparingly in one season at Illinois. He left early for the NBA draft but wasn't drafted.
Former Bulls player named to Chicago Park District Board
CHICAGO (AP) — Former Chicago Bulls player B.J. Armstrong has a new gig on the Chicago Park District Board. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel picked Armstrong to replace Bob Pickens, who played for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s.
Emanuel says Armstrong's passion for sports and experience as an executive make him a good choice to serve on the board and help manage the district's 580 parks.
Armstrong was a starting point guard with the Bulls from 1989 to 1995, and he rejoined the team from 1999 to 2000. After his playing days, he worked for five years in NBA management. He's now an agent for Bulls star Derrick Rose.
