|
Home>News Center>Sports | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Kobe will consider playing for Nuggets
Kobe Bryant will consider playing for the Denver Nuggets next season, and he gave them a tantalizing look at the talent they might get.
Bryant said he'll consider the Nuggets among various free-agent suitors.
"As I've been saying, at the end of the season I'm going to sit down and evaluate every option and break down every team, and Denver is one of them," Bryant said.
Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe had urged Denver fans to use their energy cheering for the Nuggets instead of directing negative comments toward Bryant, and Bryant heard fewer boos that he did in the Lakers' first visit to Denver.
"I appreciate that," Bryant said. "That's something that he didn't have to do, but he did it. It shows a lot of support on his part. It goes a long way with me."
Also Wednesday, Minnesota defeated New Jersey 81-68 to end the Nets' 14-game winning streak.
In other games, Golden State downed Memphis 99-92, Phoenix crushed New York 113-95, Milwaukee edged Boston 106-104, Houston topped Cleveland 90-84, Utah edged Seattle 93-92 in overtime, New Orleans downed the Los Angeles Clippers 99-93, Detroit beat Chicago 107-88 and Washington defeated Toronto 76-74,
The Lakers, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, pulled to 111-109 when Luke Walton stole the ball and hit a layup with 53 seconds remaining.
Denver's Andre Miller appeared to brush the rim with a shot that barely beat the shot clock, but the whistle blew for a violation. The officials huddled and ruled it an inadvertent whistle, resulting in a jump ball.
Shaquille O'Neal tipped the ball to Payton, and Walton drove the lane and kicked the ball out to Rush for the clincher.
"I've knocked down that shot a thousand times in my life, but I haven't been in that position since college," Rush said.
Carmelo Anthony had 35 points for Denver, whose losing streak was stretched to a season-high four games.
Timberwolves 81, Nets 68
At Minneapolis, Troy Hudson made his first start of the season in place of the injured Sam Cassell and scored a season-high 29 points to hand Nets coach Lawrence Frank his first loss.
The Nets' winning streak was the longest in the NBA this season.
Hudson and Fred Hoiberg scored Minnesota's first 20 points of the fourth quarter, and the Wolves used a 15-0 run to open a 75-58 lead.
Warriors 99, Grizzlies 92 At Memphis, Speedy Claxton scored a career-high 28 points and handed out seven assists as Golden State snapped Memphis' five-game winning streak. It was a sloppy game with 29 turnovers and 62 fouls — 31 on each team. Four players fouled out, and Memphis coach Hubie Brown was ejected for two of the seven technical fouls. Claxton, who had been struggling with a sprained right thumb, shot only 6-of-18 from the field but was 16-of-18 from the line. James Posey led Memphis with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Suns 113, Knicks 95 At Phoenix, the Suns snapped an eight-game losing streak and spoiled Stephon Marbury's return. Joe Johnson scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and 14 rebounds as the Suns dominated the boards 58-26 and handed the Knicks their fourth straight loss. Bucks 106, Celtics 104 At Boston, Walter McCarty's 3-pointer was waved off at the buzzer, the referees ruling it came too late as the Celtics lost their seventh in a row. Rockets 90, Cavaliers 84 At Houston, Cuttino Mobley scored 22 points and fed the ball to Yao Ming for a crucial dunk in the closing seconds. The loss snapped Cleveland's three-game winning streak. Jazz 93, SuperSonics 92, OT At Seattle, Andrei Kirilenko scored two critical baskets in overtime and the Jazz beat the SuperSonics for the second time in two nights. Ray Allen scored 40 for Seattle. Hornets 99, Clippers 93 At New Orleans, Baron Davis' 26 points and nine assists led the Hornets out of a two-game losing skid. Jamaal Magloire had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Pistons 107, Bulls 88 At Chicago, Richard Hamilton scored 21 points for the Pistons, who have beaten the Bulls eight straight times. Chicago has lost three straight and is tied with Orlando for the fewest wins in the NBA — 16. Wizards 76, Raptors 74 At Toronto, Gilbert Arenas scored all seven of his points in the final five minutes as the Wizards ended a five-game losing streak. |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
