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| To help the Seattle SuperSonics end the season on a high note, rookie forward Jeff Green posted a double-double, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 11-of-14 from the charity stripe to score 27 points, adding 10 rebounds to complete a strong performance. |
Our View: With Green and Durant going off in the season finale, at least Seattle fans can hope for a better tomorrow (assuming the team doesn't leave by next season... a big assumption).
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| To end the season with a bang (a bang that should have happened much earlier in his rookie season), Seattle SG Kevin Durant put the hurt to the Golden State Warriors in leading his team to a 126-121 win over the Golden State Warriors. Durant shot 18-of-25 from the field to score 42 points. Durant also added 13 rebounds, six assists, and two blocked shots. |
Our View: This was Durant's top single-game point total this season and serves as a sign of hope that the vast potential held in that skinny frame may still come to fruition next season.
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| The bulk of the starters for the Phoenix Suns saw limited playing time this evening, giving veteran forward Sean Marks a rare chance to shine. Marks played 24 minutes, going 6-of-8 from the field with 3-of-4 from the free-throw line to score 16 points, adding 13 rebounds to the effort to secure the double-double, his first (and, obviously, his last) double-double of the season. |
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| With the season ending and the Portland Trail Blazers ready to leave it behind with hopes for bigger and better returns next season, the team did little to avoid the 91-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns (lead mostly by backups) this evening. However, veteran forward Travis Outlaw found opportunity and did what he could to enjoy it, going 8-of-19 from the floor, 2-of-5 from the three-point line, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to score 24 points, also adding 12 rebounds to the top effort for Portland on the evening. |
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| With both teams looking to save health and assertion for the playoffs, Spurs PG Tony Parker was the only player of note in San Antonio's 80-109 win over Utah. Parker shot 10-of-17 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line to score 24 points, adding 12 assists to pick up the double-double in the regular-season finale for these teams. |
Our View: Parker has been rolling in offense of late and could be a big factor for an aging Spurs squad this season.
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| Memphis guard Kyle Lowry did what he could to put a damper on the end of the regular season for the Denver Nuggets, but his effort was for naught as the Grizzlies fell to the Nuggets 111-120. Lowry shot 8-of-21 from the field, 3-of-7 from the three-point line, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line to score 22 points. |
Our View: His other numbers were nothing to brag about, but Lowry can certainly shoot the rock.
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| Houston forward Luis Scola used tonight's 75-93 beatdown of the LA Clippers to get his game in tune for the coming playoffs. Scola shot 10-of-14 from the field to score 22 points with 10 rebounds, leading the Rockets in both. |
Our View: The rise of Scola is what has helped this team overcome the loss of Yao Ming, so this shows others in the Western Conference that the Houston Rockets are a team to fear.
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| To add one positive note to the end of an abhorrent season for the LA Clippers, center and team leader Elton Brand was on the floor in the Clips' 75-93 season-finale loss to the Rockets and all signs point to reason for positive hopes in 2009. Brand shot 5-of-14 from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line to score 18 points, adding 12 rebounds and three blocked shots in just under 41 minutes of play.
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Our View: Add Brand to the mix and the Clippers' results could be significantly different this season. Getting him back to full health will be priority #1 for next season in LA.
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| With the playoffs well out of reach and the end of another disappointing season fast approaching, Chicago rookie center Aaron Gray earned 35 minutes of playing time and made the best of them all. Gray shot just 5-of-13 from the floor, but he was a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe to score 19 points, adding an outstanding 22 rebounds to the stat line. |
Our View: Don't get too excited. Gray may get more playing time next year (the Bulls could definitely use the rebounding), but his worrisome offensive skills are a prohibitive factor to his future in the NBA.
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| The Timberwolves may not be headed to the playoffs, but Randy Foye hopes to lead them away from mediocrity in the future, and his performance in tonight's season finale shows he has the game to do it. |
Our View: Foye shot 13-of-18 from the field, 4-of-5 from the three-point line, and 2-of-4 from the charity stripe to score 32 points in the 101-110 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Foye has enjoyed a breakout season and should entrenched on your fantasy radar for next season.
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| Milwaukee guard Ramon Sessions averaged just 24.8 minutes and 7.0 points per game this season, but the rookie out of Nevada-Reno got a chance to show and prove in the 101-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. |
Our View: Sessions shot 11-of-17 from the field to score 25 points, adding 14 assists and seven rebounds to give the young guard a positive ending note to his first NBA season.
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| It was a disappointing season for the Milwaukee Bucks, but center Andrew Bogut tried to end the campaign on a high note, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor to score 24 points, adding a whopping 15 rebounds to complete one of the best games of his season. |
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| With the playoffs looming the and Hawks hoping to keep their key pieces in tune for games that truly matter, the full starting lineup worked tonight's 99-113 loss to the Miami Heat. Forward Josh Smith was the leading scorer, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-9 from the charity stripe to score 20 points, adding seven rebound to the effort. |
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| With the season all but over and the Nets on the outside of the playoff circus looking in, forward Richard Jefferson used the final game of the year to vent some frustration and score a few points. Jefferson shot 10-of-15 from the field to score 24 points, the leading scorer for New Jersey in a 94-105 loss to the Boston Celtics. |
Our View: The Nets were a major disappointment this season and you can bet Jefferson is as frustrated as anyone about the end result.
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| The Celtics got a few minutes for all of their starters, but none played extensively as the Celtics put the final dagger in the hearts of the New Jersey Nets, winning 94-105. With all of the primary stars taking it easy, it was forward Leon Powe doing work on the floor, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 9-of-13 from the free-throw line to score 27 points, adding an impressive 11 rebounds to give Powe his third double-double of the season. |
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| Chris Paul ended the regular season with yet another double-double, though you can bet he'd give it up in exchange for the win, but the Hornets fell 98-111 to the Dallas Mavericks. |
Our View: Paul shot 6-of-12 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line to score 20 points, adding 10 assists to end an outstanding campaign for the player many now view as the class of the point guard position.
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| Jason Kidd picked up his 100th career triple-double in the Mavericks' 98-111 win over the New Orleans Hornets. Kidd shot 9-of-14 from the floor, 5-of-8 from three-point range, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to score 27 points, adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Mavs to victory in the season finale. |
Our View: It now appears the Dallas Mavericks are finding their optimal chemistry just as the playoffs begin, bad news for teams in the West but great news for fans of the NBA.
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| With LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas resting for the playoffs, it was forward Wally Szczerbiak carrying the load in the Cavs' 84-74 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Szczerbiak shot 8-of-18 from the field to score a team-high 18 points, adding five assists in a night otherwise void of noteworthy performance for Cleveland. |
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| In a game of little meaning and with teams looking for health as the playoffs approach, the Detroit Pistons gave each of their starters one period to do work and then they were pulled. Tayshaun Prince , Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Antonio McDyess all played 12 minutes, none scored more than four points, and that was the evening for the Pistons, happy to take the 84-74 win over the also-cautious Cleveland Cavaliers. |
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| Indiana guard Danny Granger put the regular season to bed with yet another strong performance, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point range, not to mention a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, giving him 26 points on the evening. |
Our View: Granger also added six rebounds and two blocked shots to the stat line, rounding out a respectable season for the up-and-coming young shooter for the Pacers.
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| Indiana forward Mike Dunleavy enjoyed an outstanding evening of hoops in the Pacers' 123-132 win over the New York Knicks. Dunleavy shot an impressive 12-of-19 from the floor, 6-of-8 from three-point land, and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line to score 36 points. |
Our View: Dunleavy also added seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals to what may be his best performance of the season.
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| Three of the starters for the New York Knicks scored 20 points this evening, but the effort fell short at the Indiana Pacers snatched the win, 123-132. Center Zach Randolph scored 23 points going just 9-of-22 from the floor and 2-of-6 from three-point range. Both guards, Jamal Crawford and Fred Jones, scored 25 and 20 respectively. |
Our View: This seems all too fitting an end to a season of horror for the Knicks, and now the hope for next season can begin.
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| Raymond Felton used tonight's season finale end on a high note as his Charlotte Bobcats put the Philadelphia 76ers to bed, 109-115. Felton went 6-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line to score 18 points, adding 12 assists to complete the double-double effort. |
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| Veteran forward Jason Richardson capped a strong individual season in tonight's 109-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, playing 45 minutes to go 9-of-18 from the floor, 3-of-7 from three-point range, and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe, scoring 29 points with seven rebounds, two assists, and three blocked shots. |
Our View: Richardson was the guiding light for a troubled Charlotte squad this season and it's only fitting to end the campaign with a strong night on the hardwood.
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| Philadelphia guard Willie Green enjoyed a strong performance in tonight's season finale against the Charlotte Bobcats, shooting 11-of-21 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line to score 27 points. Green also added seven assists and a steal to the evening, ending the season on a high note. |
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| Philadelphia forward Andre Iguodala used the 76ers' season finale to enjoy one last flurry of scoring on the hardwood, shooting 10-of-21 from the floor and 4-of-10 from long range to score 24 points. Iguodala added six rebounds, three assists, and four steals to the cause. |
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| The normal starters for the Orlando Magic got limited playing time as the playoffs approach, giving former college star and backup PG J.J. Redick an opportunity to shine. Redick went 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-8 from the three-point line to score 18 points. |
Our View: The rest of Redick's numbers fail to impress (four rebounds, three assists), but Redick has always been a scorer and tonight's opportunity to play gave him an avenue to do just that.
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| With the bulk of the regular starters resting for the playoffs, PF Andray Blatche , a 2nd-year player out of South Kent Prep in Connecticut, led the Wizards' in their 83-103 loss to the Orlando Magic. Blatche went 9-of-13 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line to finish with a team-high 20 points, also adding 11 rebounds and four assists to the stat line. |
Our View: Blatche entered the game averaging 20 minutes and 7.4 points per game, so the surge is not a shocking surprise, but future events of this magnitude seem unlikely (at least for now).
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| The Washington wizards, in preparation for the playoffs, have held Antawn Jamison , Caron Butler, and Gilbert Arenas out of action tonight as the Wiz face the Orlando Magic. |
Our View: The desire to stay healthy and have all hands on deck for the playoffs, especially considering the Wizards' atrocious luck with injuries this season, is understandable and, to some extent, expected.
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| Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has been held from tonight's season finale against the Detroit Pistons, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Ilgauskas missed substantial time earlier this season with back issues and the team simply wants him to rest for the playoffs.
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| Updating an earlier report, LeBron James will not be in uniform for the Cavaliers' season finale against the Detroit Pistons this evening, according to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: James has been hampered in recent weeks by back spasms and there is little to gain with tonight's battle with the Pistons, thus it makes perfect sense to leave the franchise out of harm's way.
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| Grant Hill has been ruled out of the Suns season finale on Wednesday due to a sore groin, this according to the East Valley Tribune. "Grant should be good to go by [the playoffs], and this rest will only help him," HC Mike D’Antoni said. |
Our View: Hill has suited up for 70 games this season averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and he will look to provide at least that level of production come playoff time.
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| Manu Ginobili should play for the Spurs in their final regular season game on Wednesday night after missing three games with a strained groin, this according to the San Antonio Express News. |
Our View: The Spurs still haven't secured home court advantage in the first round, so this final game is of utmost important for the squad. Look for Ginobili to play, but don't look for big minutes.
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| Royal Ivey was suspended for three games by the NBA for punching Aaron Gray of the Bulls in the groin, this according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. |
Our View: Really classy move Ivey. The NBA has always dealt out quick punishment, and in this matter they acted swiftly once again. As a result Ivey, a fantasy non-factor, will miss the final game this season and the first two of next year.
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| Amare Stoudemire will be a game-time decision for tonight, according to the East Valley Tribune. Stoudemire was reportedly sick during Monday's win over the Warriors and said he felt very fatigued after the game. He took part in Tuesday's practice, but wasn't able to go at practice on Wednesday. |
Our View: His services will be missed if he ultimately cannot play, as he averages 25.3 points and 9.2 boards per contest.
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| LeBron James is likely to sit in the Cavs' regular season finale tonight, according to the Beacon Journal. It is unofficial, but he is believed to sit out to rest his back before the playoffs. |
Our View: He scored 30 points and just under eight boards over 75 games this season, and would best serve the team by resting up tonight.
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