Friday News and Notest

Friday, March 31, 2006

Darn, only three games left in college basketball. We hit our only hoop Wise Guy play last night on the ‘Cocks in a rout.  At this point it looks like at least one Wise Guy side for tomorrow’s Final Four and a Major on the other.  We still have some research on the totals.  But tonight we have three NBA Major plays. 

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NBA

Grizzlies-Hornets

New Orleans Times Picayune

New Orleans is after a 4-14 showing since the All-Star break outside the playoff teams. Yes, the swooning, slapdash Hornets (33-37) remain in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Entering tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (41-31) at Ford Center, the Hornets are two games out—with 12 to go. In the conference, six teams are established in playoff position, while four others vie for the final two spots. The Los Angeles Lakers (38-34) played the late game Thursday, but entered that day in the seventh spot and two games ahead of the Sacramento Kings (36-36). They returned to Oklahoma City from a 1-3 road trip after stealing an 86-85 victory from Golden State late Wednesday night, despite missing four key players in the final minutes. Entering tonight’s game, forward Desmond Mason (knee) is doubtful, and center P.J. Brown (ankle), guard Speedy Claxton (toe) and forward David West (ankle) are questionable.

Mavericks-Magic

Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks put up a good fight. But it’s clear now that they can’t get it done in the NBA’s high-rent district without Josh Howard. Their record since he went out with a strained left hamstring is 8-6. He came back for 13 minutes in one game. But since that false start nine games ago, they’re 5-4. Avery Johnson hasn’t lost three games in a row in his coaching career, and he doesn’t want to change that now. The Orlando Magic may be headed to the lottery. But at this point, with the Mavericks on a downturn, nothing can be taken for granted. None of the Mavericks believe their recent mediocrity is reason to fret.

Howard will be back, presumably healthy and rested. Adrian Griffin isn’t far behind. Devin Harris is due back next week, perhaps. Each absence cannot be overstated. Harris has missed 10 consecutive games and the Mavericks are 5-5. Harris, Griffin and Howard are the Mavericks’ three best perimeter defenders. Getting them all back soon ensures the future isn’t bleak.

Nuggets-Timberwolves

Daily Camera

Despite being third in the Northwest Division, Minnesota is dangerously close to being eliminated from playoff contention.  The T-wolves got their second win in a row on Wednesday, beating Orlando 103-91.  Kevin Garnett scored 27 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.  Minnesota is 0-8 on the road this month and 8-27 for the season, including 0-1 in Denver. With 10 games to go, Denver’s magic number for clinching the Northwest Division is 61/2.  The Nuggets fell at home to second-place Utah 115-104 on Wednesday.

Wizards-Rockets

Washington Times

The Wizards had put the finishing touches on preparations for tonight’s game against the Houston Rockets, and the light mood was understandable considering what the Wizards have endured on this six-game road trip, which has thus far produced three wins in four games.     Most recently, the Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night without the league’s fourth-leading scorer, Gilbert Arenas, who had flu-like symptoms, and reserve center Brendan Haywood (back).     It was a remarkable win, considering the Wizards have relied on Arenas (fifth in the league in minutes a game) perhaps as much as any team in the league has relied on one player. And the Wizards hadn’t won in Sacramento since 1996. The Wizards (37-33) have won three games in six days, a showing that belies their struggles on the road: It took them four months just to win 10 road games before this Western Conference road trip began.