Hoops News Blog

Another game, another bruise for Steve Nash. At least he and the Phoenix Suns got a win this time. Jared Dudley made two free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining to lift the Suns to an 86-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. Phoenix snapped a three-game losing streak overall and a three-game home losing streak.

Gordon Hayward scored a season-high 21 points and C.J. Miles added 20 as the Utah Jazz snapped a two-game losing streak, defeating Sacramento 96-93 and spoiling Jimmer Fredette’s return to the state where “Jimmermania” began. Fredette had a chance to give the Kings the win with 4.2 seconds left, but launched an air-ball 3-pointer.

The Houston Rockets thought their depth would be one of their strengths before the season began. The reserves are now playing well enough to give the starters valuable rest during the lockout-compressed season. Chase Budinger scored 19 points, Samuel Dalembert grabbed 14 rebounds and the Rockets beat the New York Knicks 97-84 on Saturday night for their ninth win in 10 games.

Drew Gooden scored 23 points and the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks made sure the Lakers’ road struggles continued, beating Los Angeles 100-89 on Saturday night. Kobe Bryant scored 27 for the Lakers, who are 1-7 on the road this season. Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy added 15 points each for the Bucks, who managed to beat the Lakers without two of their best players.

JaVale McGee scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds as the Washington Wizards defeated the Charlotte Bobcats for the second time in a week, 102-99 on Saturday night. The matchup between two teams tied for the fewest wins in the NBA came down to the final shot, but Matt Carroll’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short.

Andre Iguodala recorded the eighth triple-double of his career with 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers won their second straight game with a 95-74 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Iguodala, who turned 28 on Saturday, received a nice ovation from the crowd when he secured his triple-double with a defensive rebound with 7:34 remaining.

Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson will sit out Saturday night against the Washington Wizards after re-aggravating his back in Friday night’s loss to Philadelphia. Henderson missed Wednesday night’s game against the Wizards, but returned to play against the 76ers. However, coach Paul Silas says he believes Henderson might have injured his back during a fall Friday night.

The NBA has suspended Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Stephen Jackson one game for verbal abuse of an official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner in Friday night’s loss at Chicago. The league announced the suspension Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the Bucks were set to play the Los Angeles Lakers in Milwaukee.

Kevin Durant stood in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s locker room buttoning up a blue-knit sweater atop his beige corduroy pants. Two spots over, Russell Westbrook sat in a chair with his shirt off and ice under his left leg, poking fun at Durant’s outfit. Then both took turns teasing teammate James Harden for his sparkling, spiked black shoes.

Kevin Durant stood in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s locker room buttoning up a blue-knit sweater atop his beige corduroy pants. Two spots over, Russell Westbrook sat in a chair with his shirt off and ice under his left leg, poking fun at Durant’s outfit. Then both took turns teasing teammate James Harden for his sparkling, spiked black shoes.