Tag: Paul Pierce

Jefferson’s late hoop leads Utah’s rally, paces Thursday’s S&Ds

Al Jefferson wasn’t sure Devin Harris’ shot would be close to the basket.

Harris joked after the game that it actually was a pass.

Fortunately for Utah, Jefferson was in the right place at the right time Thursday night. Jefferson rammed home a rebound basket for the game-winning shot with 0.9 seconds left to lead the Jazz to a 103-102 victory at Sacramento.

“It was just great to get the win, man,” Jefferson told the Salt Lake City Deseret News. “We’ll get it any way we have to.”

The final hoop capped a big night for Jefferson that included 26 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

“I honestly thought it was a short shot,” Jefferson told the Associated Press. “I was at the basket by myself and that was the only way he could get it to me. It was a perfect pass.”

Utah rallied after squandering a 14-point second-half  lead, scoring on four of its last five shots after going almost 9 minutes without a basket.

“The greatest thing about it is that we hung in there. We didn’t hang our heads. We continued to fight,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin told the Deseret News. “What a big finish.”

STUDS

Utah C Al Jefferson: Hit the game-winning basket with 0.9 seconds left, part of a strong effort that included 26 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the Jazz’s triumph at Sacramento.

New Orleans’ defense: The Hornets limited the Los Angeles Clippers  to 11 points and 17.4 percent shooting in the fourth quarter and forced them to miss their last 19 3-point attempts in their victory over  the Clippers.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Went for 25 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and was plus-10 in the Celtics’ victory at Milwaukee.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Notched 22 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, two steals and was plus-6 in the Kings’ loss to Utah.

Houston G Goran Dragic: Produced 17 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals and was a game-best plus-27 in the Rockets’ victory over Golden State.

DUDS

Los Angeles Clippers G Randy Foye: Clanked through a miserable 1-for-14 shooting night and was a team-worst minus-7 in the Clippers’ loss at New Orleans.

Houston F Chase Budinger: Missed  all seven shots in the Rockets’ victory at  Golden State.

Sacramento G Isaiah Thomas: Went 4 for 10 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-18 in the Kings’ loss to Utah.

Milwaukee C Drew Gooden: Struggled in a 2-for-12 shooting performance with two turnovers and was minus-4 in the Bucks’ loss to Boston.

Washington G Roger Mason: Missed all five shots with a turnover and was minus-6 in the Wizards’ loss to Indiana.

Manu earns place on ESPN.com’s ‘All-Floppers’ first team

Manu Ginobili’s ability to sell fouls with a little dramatic flair always has been known around the NBA.

So it’s no surprised when he was tabbed on the first team of ESPN.com’s .

Ginobili shares a first-team position at guard with Raja Bell. Other first-team selections on Beckley Mason’s team include Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, Luis Scola and Ben Wallace.

Here’s what Mason has to say about Ginobili’s inclusion with Bell on the team:

“Raja Bell/Manu Ginobili, SG: Controversial decision to include both of them here, but really these two have given so much to the game. Manu with his whiplash-inducing head thrashes as he drives to the basket and Raja Bell with his ability to be thrown backwards by the slightest of contact.”

For proof, Mason even throws a mixtape of some of  both veterans’ more esteemed bits of floppery over the years.

Despite his likely Hall of Fame credentials as a key player in the Spurs dynasty and his memorable international play over the years, Ginobili has never been among the most popular players for opposing teams.

But I’m curious Spurs Nation. Does Ginobili really merit inclusion with the NBA’s most notable floppers?

I’ll be interested in your responses.

TP’s monster game vs. OKC ranks among NBA’s best this season

Tony Parker’s big game Saturday still resonates even 36 hours after it was produced.

Parker erupted for  a season-high 42 points and nine assists to lead the Spurs’ 107-96 victory over Oklahoma City. In the process, it enabled Parker to be included among a handful of the very best all-around games in the NBA so far this season.

The must-read web site compiles a game score for each player and each game under a formula developed  by ESPN.com’s John Hollinger. It’s a convoluted formula ( for those interested) that takes into account all aspects of a player’s statistical performance.

Parker’s game against Oklahoma City ranked as the third-best in the league this season, trailing only Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

Here’s a list of the top individual single-game performers according to their Hollinger game scores.

Dwight Howard, Orlando — 41.3 — 45 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, four steals, two blocks in the Magic’s 117-109 victory over Golden State (Jan. 12).

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers — 36.9 — 48 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals in Lakers’ 99-83 victory over Phoenix (Jan. 10).

Tony Parker, San Antonio — 36.4 — 42 points, three rebounds, nine assists, two steals, one block in the Spurs’ 107-96 victory over Oklahoma City (Feb. 4). 

John Wall, Washington — 35.5 — 38 points, six rebounds, eight assists, four steals, one block in the Wizards’ 114-106 loss to Houston (Jan. 16).   

LeBron James, Miami — 34.1 — 37 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks in Heat’s 105-94 victory at Dallas. (Dec. 25).

LeBron James, Miami — 33.8 — 33 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists, two steals in the Heat’s 118-83 victory over Indiana (Jan. 4).

Deron Williams, New Jersey — 33.6 — 35 points, two rebounds, 14 assists in the Nets’ 110-103 victory at Phoenix (Jan. 13).

LeBron James, Miami — 33.2 — 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, two blocks in the Heat’s 96-95 victory at Charlotte (Dec. 28).

Stephen Curry, Golden State — 32.8 — 32 points, six rebounds, seven assists, four steals in the Warriors’ 101-93 victory over Portland (Jan. 25).

Derrick Rose, Chicago — 32.6 — 29 points, eight rebounds, 16 assists, one steal in the Bulls’ 114-101 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers (Dec. 30). 

Paul George, Indiana — 32.6 — 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals, one block in the Pacers’ 98-87 victory at Dallas. (Feb. 3).

Greg Monroe, Detroit  — 32.5 — 32 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block in the Pistons’ 102-93 loss at Milwaukee (Jan. 12). 

Paul Pierce, Boston — 32.1 — 34 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, three steals in the Celtics’ 100-94 victory at Washington (Jan. 22).

Anthony Morrow, New Jersey — 32.0 — 42 points, four rebounds, two assists in the Nets’ 108-105 loss to Minnesota (Feb. 3)