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NBA Capsules: Kidd moves to 2nd all-time in assists in Mavs' win
Comments 0 | Recommend 0HOUSTON — Jason Kidd is resigned to the reality that he'll never catch John Stockton's all-time assists record.
He'll have to settle for No. 2 on that list.
Kidd passed Mark Jackson for second place in career assists, Jason Terry scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks shot 65.5 percent in a 130-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Kidd delivered seven assists to reach 10,337 in his career. He came in needing five to pass Jackson's career total (10,334), and now trails only Stockton (15,806).
"Some records are meant to stay where they are," Kidd said. "I don't see anybody breaking that any time soon."
Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 and Tim Thomas added a season-high 23 for the Mavericks, who went 9 for 17 from 3-point range. Shawn Marion, who missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle, started and scored 12 in 31 minutes.
Carl Landry scored 24 points for the Rockets, who've lost 14 of their last 18 games against Dallas.
Kidd gave away two turnovers in the first three minutes and the Rockets raced to a 15-2 lead.
Terry, voted the NBA's top reserve last season, checked in with 7:28 left in the first quarter. The Mavericks then hit nine consecutive shots — including four 3-pointers — during a 26-0 spurt to take a 39-25 lead.
"Our start was horrendous," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "The rest of the game was great. Our tempo was perfect."
Nowitzki said the Mavs' defense was more of a catalyst for the run than the offense — Houston missed eight straight shots and committed four turnovers in its scoreless stretch.
"We rotated for each other, took care of the defensive glass," Nowitzki said. "That turned the game around for us."
The Mavericks weren't aware of how many unanswered points they scored until after the game.
"We were just playing," Kidd said. "They had a run right off the bat. And then we went on our run and just kept right on going."
Landry sank two free throws with 11:29 left in the first half, the Rockets' first points in almost six minutes. But Thomas sank a pair of 3-pointers for a 42-27 Dallas lead.
Thomas only made his season debut a week ago after offseason knee surgery. He hit 9 of 13 shots, including four 3-pointers, in Houston.
"Tim played great," Carlisle said. "He brings a playoff mentality to our team, that's evident. He's worked hard to get back to this point, and we're just going to keep bringing him along."
Terry and Thomas scored 15 points apiece in the first half on combined 12-for-14 shooting. The Mavs hit 29 of 42 shots in the half (69 percent), and that was after they missed four of their first five attempts.
"There wasn't any defense," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "We didn't even get close enough to them to even foul them in the first half. I don't know what happened."
Kidd passed Jackson on the career assists list with an alley-oop pass to Rodrigue Beaubois with 10:53 left in the third quarter.
"The big thing is to just play the game," Kidd said. "The stats and stuff will take care of themselves, and then at the end of your career, you can look back and see what you achieved."
The Mavericks led 68-51 at halftime and started 6 for 11 in the second half to maintain an 18-point cushion. Houston made a mild run, but Thomas dunked over Landry in the last minute of the third quarter for a 91-77 lead.
Terry hit an off-balance shot with 6:45 left to put Dallas up 108-87, its biggest lead to that point. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle used mostly reserves from there, and the Mavs still reached their season-high point total.
"Our start was horrendous," Carlisle said. "The rest of the game was great."
NOTES: Nowitzki deflected a shot by Chuck Hayes in the first quarter and has a block in 10 consecutive games. ... Rockets F Shane Battier has a 3-pointer in 27 consecutive regular-season games, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history. ... Dallas G Quinton Ross did not travel with the team to Houston after leaving Tuesday's game against Golden State with back soreness. Carlisle said Ross met with doctors on Wednesday and would join the team for its game in Indiana on Friday.
Spurs overcome Ellis' 42 points, win 3rd straight
SAN ANTONIO — After a tough 2½ quarters against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs sensed it was time to turn it up a few notches.
Tony Parker scored 32 points and the Spurs overcame another iron man performance by Monta Ellis in a 118-104 victory on Wednesday.
Tim Duncan had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who used a 22-3 run spanning the third and fourth quarters for their season-best third consecutive victory.
"We knew that they were going to get tired. I think three of their guys played 48 minutes (Tuesday) night," Parker said. "So we wanted to keep attacking and somewhere in the game, they'll miss three, four, five shots in a row and we can get a lead."
One night after a season-high, 37-point performance in a 111-103 victory at Dallas, Ellis topped it by scoring 42 points on 16-of-25 shooting to tie his career high.
After playing all 48 minutes in each of the Warriors' previous two games, Ellis finally left Wednesday's midway through the fourth quarter but came back in with a little more than 3 minutes remaining. He finished with 44 minutes.
"I'd rather get 42 and the win than 42 and the loss," Ellis said. "We had a chance to win. We had it right there. We made mistakes and they converted.
"But, man, we're only playing with six or seven guys. We left it all on the court."
Even with superior depth and with the Warriors playing on the road for the second straight night, the Spurs struggled to put away Golden State. San Antonio trailed with 3:52 remaining in the third period and didn't take its first double-figure lead until the closing seconds of the quarter.
Parker, who finished 10 of 17 from the field, scored 12 points in the third as the Spurs upped the tempo and increased their defensive pressure. Golden State committed six turnovers in the period and shot 43.5 percent from the field after a 51 percent first half.
"We had a good run there at the end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth where we made some stops and followed with some scores," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the 33-10 burst that lasted nearly nine minutes.
"It's always good to get a win the day before Thanksgiving. Makes the meal taste a lot better."
Duncan and Parker returned to the San Antonio lineup in the fourth after the Warriors cut a 22-point lead to 12. Golden State closed the gap to 10 but got no closer the rest of the way.
Roger Mason Jr. scored 17 points, Richard Jefferson and George Hill added 12 apiece, and Antonio McDyess had 10 for the Spurs, who beat Golden State at home for the 23rd consecutive time.
The Warriors already had used more players by the 4:17 mark of the first quarter than they used Tuesday in Dallas, bringing in three substitutes at once after using just one the previous night.
Reserve Corey Maggette scored 14 points after missing the Dallas game. Anthony Randolph had 12 points and rookie Stephen Curry 11 for Golden State.
By the second period, Ellis was the only Warriors starter who hadn't been relieved. He finished the first half 12 of 15 from the field, but was limited to 12 second-half points on 4-of-10 shooting.
Golden State led by five with 3:05 left in the first half, but the Spurs' depth and balance began to show as halftime approached.
"We hope the worst is over," said Warriors assistant Keith Smart, who led an injury-riddled team for the second straight game in place of Don Nelson, who remained in California with pneumonia. "You play a high-energy game in Dallas, then you fly here to get yourself ready to go and give everything you can.
"They just didn't have enough."
Parker, who finished the half with 18 points and four assists, gave San Antonio the lead with a fast-break layup and a basket on a drive down the lane in the final minute. The Spurs were up 60-58 at the break.
NOTES: No timetable for Nelson's return has been announced. ... The Warriors' last win in San Antonio came on Feb. 14, 1997.
NBA Glance
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 11 | 4 | .733 | — |
| Toronto | 7 | 9 | .438 | 4½ |
| Philadelphia | 5 | 10 | .333 | 6 |
| New York | 3 | 12 | .200 | 8 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 15 | .000 | 11 |
| Southeast Division | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Atlanta | 11 | 3 | .786 | — |
| Orlando | 11 | 4 | .733 | ½ |
| Miami | 9 | 5 | .643 | 2 |
| Charlotte | 5 | 9 | .357 | 6 |
| Washington | 4 | 9 | .308 | 6½ |
| Central Division | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Cleveland | 11 | 4 | .733 | — |
| Milwaukee | 8 | 5 | .615 | 2 |
| Chicago | 6 | 7 | .462 | 4 |
| Indiana | 6 | 7 | .462 | 4 |
| Detroit | 5 | 10 | .333 | 6 |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||
| Southwest Division | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Dallas | 11 | 4 | .733 | — |
| San Antonio | 7 | 6 | .538 | 3 |
| Houston | 8 | 7 | .533 | 3 |
| New Orleans | 7 | 9 | .438 | 4½ |
| Memphis | 5 | 10 | .333 | 6 |
| Northwest Division | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Denver | 11 | 4 | .733 | — |
| Portland | 12 | 5 | .706 | — |
| Oklahoma City | 8 | 7 | .533 | 3 |
| Utah | 7 | 7 | .500 | 3½ |
| Minnesota | 1 | 14 | .067 | 10 |
| Pacific Division | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Phoenix | 12 | 3 | .800 | — |
| L.A. Lakers | 11 | 3 | .786 | ½ |
| Sacramento | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5½ |
| L.A. Clippers | 6 | 10 | .375 | 6½ |
| Golden State | 5 | 9 | .357 | 6½ |
| Tuesday's Games |
|---|
Toronto 123, Indiana 112
Washington 108, Philadelphia 107
Golden State 111, Dallas 103
Denver 101, New Jersey 87
Oklahoma City 104, Utah 94
L.A. Lakers 100, New York 90
| Wednesday's Games |
|---|
Indiana 86, L.A. Clippers 73
Charlotte 116, Toronto 81
Boston 113, Philadelphia 110
Miami 99, Orlando 98
New Orleans 102, Milwaukee 99, OT
Cleveland 98, Detroit 88
Denver 124, Minnesota 111
San Antonio 118, Golden State 104
Dallas 130, Houston 99
Phoenix 126, Memphis 111
Sacramento 111, New York 97
Portland 93, New Jersey 83
| Thursday's Games |
|---|
Orlando at Atlanta, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Utah, 10:30 p.m.
| Friday's Games |
|---|
Washington at Miami, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Indiana, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
New York at Denver, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m.
New Jersey at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
Memphis at Portland, 10 p.m.
News & Notes
Report: Iverson set to retire
PHILADELPHIA — With no apparent interest from NBA teams, Allen Iverson is set to retire, according to an online report.
Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site Wednesday attributed to Iverson. It said Iverson plans to retire but also that "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."
The statement also said Iverson has tremendous love for the game and the desire to play, adding there is "a whole lot left in my tank."
"His legacy would be huge," Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James said. "He's one of the best when you talk about guys 6-foot and under in the game of basketball. He played injured and he played hard every single night. I don't think it should end this way, but if it does, he's left a lot of great things behind."
The 10-time All-Star played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
It was the second straight ugly ending for Iverson, who was unhappy last season playing for the Pistons. He was upset that Detroit coach Michael Curry and Memphis' Lionel Hollins used the former MVP as a reserve.
The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson last week after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time away from younger players they are trying to develop.
The Knicks seemed to be the only team who would consider bringing in Iverson, so there was no guarantee he'd play in the NBA this season, anyway. Still, the announcement Wednesday came as a surprise to George Karl, who coached Iverson in Denver.
"I think he still has something left to give some team out there. If that's his decision, he'll go down in history, I think, as the greatest little guard ever to play the game of basketball," Karl said.
"I was happy to have him for a couple years and hopefully our paths will cross. But I have a sneaky feeling that somewhere along the way an injury or a circumstance with a team will open that window back up."
One of the NBA's great scorers, Iverson entered this season with a career average of 27.1 points that ranked fifth all time. Yet there was almost no interest in him this summer before he went to the Grizzlies on a one-year deal.
Iverson can still score, as he averaged 17.4 points with the Pistons last season. Yet he has made it clear he doesn't view himself as a backup, which has likely hurt his chances of signing with a contending team.
"It's sad man, especially coming from a guy that's close to me and a friend," former Nuggets teammate Carmelo Anthony said. "To see him go out the way he's going out right now, it's not like he wants to go out, he's almost being forced to retire. It's a bad situation right now.
"It was just, he got dealt a bad hand from when he went to Detroit up to right now. Everything kind of spiraled downhill. I never want to see nobody go through nothing like that, especially a guy with his talent, somebody who can still go out there and be productive."
The 6-foot guard thanked former players and coaches in the statement, plus the fans in Memphis and Philadelphia, where he spent his best years. He said stepping away would allow him to spend more time with his wife and kids.
He also said he thought he could still play after 14 seasons.
"I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn't help my team the way that I was accustomed to," it read. "However, that is not the case."
Messages were left for Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, and his business manager, Gary Moore.
If this is the end for Iverson, he leaves with four scoring titles and a playoff scoring average of 29.7 points that ranks second only to Michael Jordan. He led the 76ers to the 2001 NBA finals but never won a championship.
Or he could choose to wait and see if a team in need of a scorer comes looking for him later this season.
"I don't ever believe anyone retires until they get to the point they have to," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "He had a great career if it is true, but I still think he has more to offer."
Funeral for Wizards owner Pollin to be held Friday
WASHINGTON — The funeral for Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin will be held Friday.
The team said Wednesday that a public memorial service will also be held on Dec. 8 at Pollin's Verizon Center, the arena that spurred development in a downtrodden area of the city.
Pollin died Tuesday at the age of 85. Team spokesman Matt Williams said Pollin suffered from corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain disease. Williams said that Pollin had originally been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy but the diagnosis was later changed. The conditions are similar, both affecting mobility, balance and speech.
Pollin made an initial donation of $1 million to the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in hopes of finding a cure and later donated another $2 million.
President Barack Obama issued a statement paying tribute to Pollin, who bought his NBA franchise in 1964 and was the league's longest-tenured owner.
"Abe believed in Washington, D.C., when many others didn't — putting his own fortune on the line to help revitalize the city he loved," the president's statement said. "He was committed to the teams he guided, generous to those who needed it most, and as loyal to the people of D.C. as they were to him."
Pair of 76ers' starters out against Boston
BOSTON — Philadelphia guard Louis Williams will miss Wednesday's game against Boston with a fractured jaw.
Williams was hurt in Tuesday night's loss against Washington and the team is uncertain when he'll be back in the lineup.
"He's going to be evaluated extensively (Thursday)," coach Eddie Jordan said before his team's game against Boston. "That's when we'll have a better indication of his timetable."
Williams, in his fourth season, has been one of the team's better players during the 5-9 start. He's averaged 17.4 points and 5.1 assists.
"He's been a team leader. He's been terrific for us," Jordan said.
Williams, who was elbowed in the jaw, missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer that rimmed out in the 108-107 loss.
X-rays taken earlier Wednesday revealed the fracture.
Rookie Jrue Holiday is expected to replace Williams in the starting lineup.
The 76ers will also be without another starter for their game against the Celtics. Forward Elton Brand is sidelined with a sore right hamstring.
"Another day or two," Jordan said.
Shaq says he will play for Cavs on Friday night
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Shaq is ready to be back.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said he'll know Friday if Shaquille O'Neal will return from his shoulder injury to play the Charlotte Bobcats.
O'Neal doesn't sound like he needs to wait that long.
"I'm playing," he said Wednesday night after the Cavs beat Detroit without him.
O'Neal has missed six straight games since getting hurt Nov. 12 against Miami, trying to block a dunk.
The Cavs have been cautious with O'Neal after acquiring him from Phoenix in an offseason trade in the hopes of keeping the 37-year-old center healthy for the second half of the season and playoffs.
He hoped to play against the Pistons after practicing Monday.
O'Neal has averaged 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1½ blocks in nine games.
The Central Division-leading Cavs are 6-3 with O'Neal in the lineup and 5-1 without him.
-- Larry Lage
Bobcats C Chandler returns from back spasms
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler will play against Toronto after missing two games with back spasms.
Chandler had practiced the past two days and coach Larry Brown said before Wednesday’s game that he would start out guarding Raptors big man Chris Bosh
Chandler is averaging just 6.1 points and 6.5 assists since being acquired in the offseason from New Orleans in exchange for Emeka Okafor.
NBA: Former Kings employee gambled
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings said Wednesday they were informed by the NBA that a former employee gambled while on their staff.
Jack Mai, the team's former assistant director of scouting, was found to have gambled while with the Kings, who fired him in January. Last season was his eighth with the franchise and third as assistant director of scouting.
Kings owner Joe Maloof said the team fired Mai as soon as it found out through general manager Geoff Petrie that Mai had been wagering.
"I wasn't aware that he was betting. But the minute we found out he was doing something wrong we had to let him go," Maloof said. "People should know that you are not allowed to bet on NBA games. It's against the bylaws, it's against the rules."
The Kings' release said the "investigation revealed that Mr. Mai participated in improper wagering activities while a member of this organization." The Kings said Mai had been disqualified from further association with the NBA and its teams.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed Mai's disqualification and said reinstatement was not possible, but said the league would have no other comment.
The league has taken gambling especially seriously since former referee Tim Donaghy admitted taking thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips, including games he worked.
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