Kevin Garnett played much better in the 1,000th game of his career than in his first of this season. Boston’s intense leader had 18 points and 10 rebounds three days after a mediocre season opener and became the youngest player in NBA history to play in 1,000 regular-season games when the Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 96-80 Friday night. Read Original Post Here
Injured forward Martell Webster and the Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a four-year contract extension Friday night. The deal is worth $20 million, a person close to the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Trail Blazers did not release the deal’s terms. Read Original Post Here
After coming up short for the second time in as many games, Al Harrington said the Golden State Warriors should have been working harder during the preseason. Chris Bosh scored 31 points, Anthony Parker had 23 and the Toronto Raptors beat Golden State 112-108 in overtime on Friday night. Andrea Bargnani had 19 points off the bench for Toronto (2-0), while Jose Calderon had 16 points and 13 assists. Read Original Post Here
Rudy Gay hit an 18-foot jumper as time expired Friday night to give the Memphis Grizzlies an 86-84 win over the Orlando Magic. The shot over Keith Bogans came as Gay came around a screen by Marc Gasol. It gave Gay 29 points to lead the Grizzlies to their first win in a home opener since moving to Memphis in the 2001-02 season. Read Original Post Here
In Dwyane Wade’s mind, the worst part of last season for the Miami Heat was how they were pushovers on their home floor. “That has to change,” Wade said. Miami is off to a fine start in that quest. Wade had 20 points and eight assists, Michael Beasley finished with 17 and the Heat scored a whopping 41 points off turnovers to easily beat the Sacramento Kings 103-77 in their home opener Friday night. Read Original Post Here
Despite the offensive outburst, it was the Philadelphia 76ers’ defense that really pleased coach Maurice Cheeks on Friday night. “That game was won based on our defense,” Cheeks said of Philadelphia’s 116-87 win over the New York Knicks. “We set the tone early on defense and scored off their misses.” Elton Brand had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Andre Miller added 20 points and eight assists and… Read Original Post Here
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury was placed on the inactive list before Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Marbury, a former All-Star reportedly scheduled to earn $21.9 million this season, did not play in the Knicks’ 120-115 season-opening win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and Marbury met Friday and Marbury asked the coach if he was going to… Read Original Post Here
When James Posey checks into a basketball game, he reaches down below his black knee pads and pulls a mouthpiece out of his sock. Call it the sweet taste of victory for a guy who makes a living playing defense. The New Orleans Hornets certainly didn’t make the acquisition of Posey their top priority in free agency because of his career scoring average of 9.2 points. Read Original Post Here
The Boston Celtics exercised the fourth-year option on 22-year-old guard Rajon Rondo on Friday. He averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 assists last season, when the Celtics’ won their 17th NBA Championship. The former Kentucky Wildcat is entering his third season in the NBA. The 6-foot-1 guard was acquired by Boston in a draft-night trade from the Phoenix Suns. Read Original Post Here
Chris Paul had 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds and the New Orleans Hornets held off a rally, then pulled away to beat Phoenix 108-95 Thursday night and spoil the home debut of new Suns coach Terry Porter. The Hornets, who never trailed, improved to 2-0 on the heels of a season-opening victory at Golden State on Wednesday night. Read Original Post Here
