Tag: Boston

KD’s big game pace S&Ds, keeps OKC in step with Spurs

With basketball legend Oscar Robertson watching from courtside Friday night in Sacramento, Kevin Durant was suitably inspired for a big game.

In 1961-62, Robertson notched 41 triple-doubles during an entire season and showed players like Durant something about versatility.

Durant came close Friday night with 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the Thunder’s 103-92 victory over the Kings, keeping them one-half game from the Spurs for the best record  in the Western Conference.

”I’ve been flirting all season with it but I haven’t been able to seal the deal yet,” Durant told the Associated Press about his near triple-double. ”Hopefully I will get one before my career is over. Oscar Robertson is a legend, someone I really look up to. It was a joy playing in front of him tonight.” 

Thunder coach Scott Brooks raved about Durant’s importance to the team after the game.

”We all know that Kevin can score,” Brooks told the AP. ”But he has to continue making his teammates better. He definitely did that tonight with seven assists. He’s a very unselfish basketball player.”

In the process, Durant led Friday’s Studs and Duds of the top performers across the association.

STUDS

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Filled the stat sheet for 29 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and was plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory at Sacramento.

Atlanta G Joe Johnson: Tallied 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals and was a game-high plus-15 in the Hawks’ triumph over the Celtics.

San Antonio F Tim Duncan: Went for 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks and was a game-high plus-26 in the Spurs’ convincing victory over the Lakers.

Charlotte G Gerald Henderson: Produced 32 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Bobcats’ loss to Memphis.

Boston G Avery Bradley: Notched 28 points, three assists and four steals in the Celtics’ loss at the Hawks.

DUDS

Charlotte G Kemba Walker: Clanked through a 5-for-15 shooting night with seven turnovers in the Bobcats’ loss to Memphis, their 19th consecutive loss.

Memphis G Tony Allen: Missed all three shots, had four turnovers and was minus-6 in the Grizzlies’ victory at Charlotte.

Atlanta G Tracy McGrady: Missed both shots, had five turnovers  and was minus-1 in the Hawks’ victory over Boston.

Memphis F Marreese Speights: Went 2 for 8 from the field with three turnovers in the Grizzlies’  victory at Charlotte.

New York F Carmelo Anthony: Struggled through a 5-for-13 shooting effort with four turnovers and was minus-11 in the Knicks’ loss at Charlotte.

Spurs 50-win streak ranks as NBA’s longest

Several e-mailers were interested in where the Spurs’ streak of 50-win seasons, mentioned in a post yesterday, ranks among teams and current streaks in the NBA.

The Spurs’ current streak of 12 50-win seasons leads the nine NBA teams with a current 50-win season streak after last season.

Here’s a listing of the teams and their current 50-win season streaks.

San Antonio             12

Dallas                        11

Boston                         4

Denver                        4

L.A. Lakers                 4

Orlando                       4

Oklahoma City           2

Chicago                        1

Miami                          1

Chicago is the only team in the league that appears to be able to stretch its current streak with the compacted 66-game season caused by the lockout. The Bulls’ .768 winning percentage prorates to 50.688 wins over 66 games.

The current winning percentages of the rest of the teams in the league won’t reach 50 victories if they play at their current pace.

The Spurs will have to win 12 of their final 14 games to reach 50. And with the playoffs approaching, it’s not a feat that Coach Gregg Popovich will be very interested in extending compared to getting his team ready for the NBA’s second season.

Allen should return, but might not start tonight vs. Spurs

Veteran Boston guard Ray Allen practiced Tuesday with his team and appears ready to return with the Celtics for their game tonight against the Spurs.

Allen has missed the last six games with a sprained right ankle he sustained during the Celtics’ eight-game road trip last month. He continued to play until a March 23 loss at Philadelphia.

Avery Bradley has played well in his place as the Celtics have charged to a five-game winning streak propelling them to a 1½-game lead in the Atlantic Division over the Sixers heading into tonight’s game.

Bradley has bolstered the team’s defense while in the starting lineup. But the real reason has been that Rajon Rondo has picked up his offensive game, notching a triple-double in the Celtics’ last game — a victory over Miami Sunday afternoon.

Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Allen made it through Tuesday’s practice, but added “that still doesn’t mean he’ll play tomorrow. Because the practice could affect his ankle and he can’t practice tomorrow. Right now, he’s playing.”

It’s hard to believe that Allen won’t be in the starting lineup if he’s available. Bradley has played well in his absence, but Allen is a future Hall of Fame player.

“Whatever we need to do as a team, the effort that I’ve seen over the last week-and-a-half, two weeks, has been great,” Allen told . “That’s all we need to make sure we keep up. Whatever combinations we work out there, we’re all good enough and professional enough to understand it. But when we’re out there playing . . . we’re at a point in the season where everybody knows who each other are.”

Allen has never come off the bench for the Celtics since joining the team in the 2007-08 season. He’s played as a reserve only four times in his career — most recently on Dec. 5, 2002, with Milwaukee.

It’s hard to believe that streak would end Wednesday night against the Spurs, who have lost seven of their last nine against the Celtics.

But the Spurs have been successful in Boston over the years, notching an 11-2 record there during the Tim Duncan era.