Tag: Memphis

No ‘Big Three:’ Hardly any chance to win

The Spurs rested Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in the same game again Monday night at Utah. The result was a 91-84 loss to the Jazz, snapping the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.

The trio have all been held out of the same game seven times in the nine-plus seasons they have played together.

Here’s a list of the games all of them have missed together.

April 16, 2007 — 101-91 loss at Memphis. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Bruce Bowen, Francisco Elson. Leading scorer – White, Michael Finley, 17. Leading rebounder – Butler, Matt Bonner 10. Leading assists – Beno Udrih 9.

April 18, 2007 — 100-77 loss to Denver. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Francisco Elson, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Beno Udrih 13. Leading rebounder – Butler 9. Leading assists – Udrih, Brent Barry 3.  

Feb. 3, 2009 – 104-96 loss at Denver. Starting lineup was George Hill, Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Mason 26. Leading rebounder – Bonner 8. Leading assists – Mason 6.

March 28, 2011 — 100-92 loss to Portland. Starting lineup was George Hill, Richard Jefferson, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, James Anderson. Leading scorer – Hill 27. Leading rebounder – Splitter 9. Leading assists – Hill 6. 

April 12, 2011 — 102-93 loss at Los Angeles Lakers. Starting lineup was Tiago Splitter, George Hill, Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Neal 16. Leading rebounder – Blair 11. Leading assists  – Chris Quinn 9.

Feb. 21, 2012 — 137-97 loss at Portland. Starting lineup was Kawhi Leonard, Cory Joseph, Danny Green, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Leonard 24. Leading rebounder – Leonard 10. Leading assists – Joseph, Jefferson, Gary Neal 3.   

April 9, 2012 — 91-84 loss at Utah. Starting lineup was Danny Green, Stephen Jackson, Patty Mills, DeJuan Blair, Boris Diaw. Leading scorer – Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter 14. Leading rebounder – Blair 8. Leading assists – Neal 5.

Ellis’ big bounce-back game leads Tuesday’s S&Ds

Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles knew that it would only be a matter of time before new acquisition Monta Ellis started producing the big scoring numbers he was known for when playing for Golden State.

Ellis torched Atlanta for 33 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Bucks’ 108-101 victory over the Hawks.

Before the game, Skiles told reporters that he thought Ellis was close to a big game despite some recent struggles.

“You know when you make a move like that to get a significant player, there has got to be some period of time where you have got to allow for the guy to adjust and people to adjust to him,” Skiles told the Associated Press before Tuesday night’s game.  “It wouldn’t surprise me at all for him to have a big breakout game at any moment.”

Skiles’ prediction came correct only a night after Ellis had matched his season low with four points in a loss against New York on Monday night.

In Tuesday’s game, Ellis made 15 of 24 shots, including 7 for 9 in the fourth quarter. He wrapped up the victory with a 15-foot jumper with 1:27 remaining and also added a team-best eight assists.

“I was light on my feet. I was just moving. I went into one of my modes. It felt good,” Ellis told the AP. “I’m glad I was able to show the Bucks tonight. I want to take this game and build off it.”

His big effort helped him lead Tuesday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Milwaukee G Monta Ellis: Erupted for 33 points, eight assists and four rebounds in the Bucks’ victory at Atlanta.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Went for 32 points, eight assists, three steals, three rebounds and was plus-14 in the Thunder’s victory at Portland.

Philadelphia G Jodie Meeks: Tallied 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, and was plus-15 in the Sixers’ victory over Cleveland.

Atlanta F Josh Smith: Stuffed the box score with 30 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, two steals and was plus-3 in the Hawks’ loss to Milwaukee.

San Antonio F Tim Duncan: Went for 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Spurs’ triumph at Phoenix — their fifth straight triumph.

DUDS

Cleveland G Kyrie Irving: Clanked through a 4-for-13 shooting night with five turnovers and was a team-worst minus-13 in the Cavaliers’ loss at Philadelphia.

Houston F Patrick Patterson: Went 1 for 7 from the field and was minus-10 in the Rockets’ loss at Dallas.

Portland G Jamal Crawford: Went 1 for 7 from the field with two turnovers and was a team-worst minus-18 in the Trail Blazers’ loss to Oklahoma City.

Atlanta G Jeff Teague: Had seven turnovers and was minus-1 in the Hawks’ loss at Milwaukee.

Minnesota F Derrick Williams: Went 4 of 15 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-6 in the Timberwolves’ loss at Memphis.

Love goes for 30 and 21 to lead Monday’s S&Ds

Kevin Love’s streak of monster games continued again Sunday night.

Only two days after a career-best 51-point scoring game, Love followed it up with 30 points and 21 rebounds to lead Minnesota’s 117-100 victory over Denver.

“I think we used to call him kind of a poor man’s Larry Bird,” Denver coach George Karl told the Associated Press. “I think you can take `poor man’s’ off that comparison now. His ability to rebound is incredible and his offensive tools and skills are growing.”

 It was Love’s seventh career 30-point, 20-rebound game. During his career, the feat has been accomplished only 11 times by the rest of the league, with Dwight Howard with three the next closest during that span.

And it was  Love’s ninth 30-15 effort this season. Joe Smith is the only other NBA player who has accomplished that feat more than once this season. Smith has done it twice.

“Just another night for him,” Minnesota forward Anthony Tolliver told the AP.

Love’s huge outburst was critical as the Timberwolves attempt to stay relevant in the Western Conference playoff race.

And in the process, his big effort enabled  his team to stay within 2½ games of Houston for the West’s final playoff spot as he led Sunday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Notched 30 points, 21 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, two steals and was a game-high plus-25 in the Timberwolves’ victory over  Denver.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Went for 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and was plus-13 in the Thunder’s victory over the Heat.

Atlanta G Joe Johnson: Erupted for 37 points, eight rebounds, two assists and was plus-7 in the Hawks’ quadruple-overtime victory over Utah.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Went for 30 points and was plus-4 in the Lakers’ loss  to Memphis.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Produced 28 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and was plus-1 in the Jazz’s wild loss at Atlanta.

DUDS

Cleveland F Antawn Jamison: Went 1 for 8 from the field with a turnover and was minus-17 in the Cavaliers’ loss to Phoenix. 

Portland G Jamal Crawford: Clanked through a 1-for-10 shooting effort with a turnover and was minus-8 in the Trail Blazers’ loss to Golden State.

Washington F Trevor Booker: Went 1 of 7 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-14 in the Wizards’ loss at Boston.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Clanked through a 4-for-16 shooting effort with four turnovers in the Thunder’s victory over Miami.

Miami’s “Big Three:” LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade combined for 15 turnovers and were a collective minus-41 in the Heat’s loss at Oklahoma City.