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NBA.com Magic make NBA-record 23 3s in rout of Kings
Magic make NBA-record 23 3s in rout of Kings

Posted Jan 14 2009 12:55AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif.(AP) Even the guys at the end of the bench were making 3-pointers on a record-setting night for the Orlando Magic.

Seldom-used Jeremy Richardson's lone basket proved the most memorable Tuesday night, a 3-pointer with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter that gave the Magic an NBA-record 23 3s in a 139-107 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The Magic made 23 of 37 attempts (62 percent) in breaking the old mark of 21, set by Toronto on March 13, 2005, against Philadelphia. Orlando rang up its highest point total since scoring 152 at Milwaukee on Feb. 20, 1995.

"I knew it was close to a record, but I really didn't know, I just took the shot,'' Richardson said in a jovial Orlando locker room. "It was a great record for the team, I was just happy to play and be a part of it.''

The Magic proved unstoppable from the perimeter in part because Dwight Howard was so dominant inside. Despite spending the entire fourth quarter on the bench, Howard had 25 points and 15 rebounds in helping Orlando win its fifth straight game and improve to an NBA-best 15-5 on the road.

Jameer Nelson made all five 3-point attempts and had 23 points and 11 assists, Rashard Lewis scored 19 points, Hedo Turkoglu contributed 17 points and eight assists, and J.J. Redick added 15 points.

"No disrespect to the other team, but we're excited about getting the record, an NBA record,'' Nelson said. "Everyone is going to have trouble guarding the 3 against us because Dwight is so tough to stop in the middle.''

Kevin Martin scored 30 points for the Kings, who allowed a season-high point total. Francisco Garcia scored 15 points, Spencer Hawes had 14 and Bobby Jackson added 13.

"It's going to be a tough time sleeping tonight, but tomorrow we have to put this behind us,'' Garcia said. "That's the price you pay. We weren't playing any defense.''

That was evident from the start. Showing no letdown coming off a big road win Sunday in San Antonio, the Magic shot 62 percent in the opening half, when they never cooled off during an impressive offensive showing that resulted in a 75-56 lead.

Orlando had the listless Kings defense to thank as well. Open shots were everywhere in the half, when the Magic went a staggering 13-of-19 from 3-point range in establishing new franchise records for 3-pointers and total points in a half.

"We won't come out like that again,'' Martin said. "It's time to make people accountable because that was just embarrassing to me. We are a joke right now, that's how people look at us. They just keep launching 3s away. You should be pretty angry about that.''

The 3-point barrage continued in the third quarter. Nelson connected on a pair in the first 80 seconds and the Magic made seven overall in hiking their lead to 107-85 heading into the fourth.

It felt a little like old times to Turkoglu, who broke into the NBA as a reserve when the Kings were putting up big offensive numbers and regularly posting lopsided wins from 2001 to 2003.

"It actually did feel (like one of those Kings games),'' Turkoglu said. "But I'm with the Magic now and we're playing really well. We felt really hot tonight and we broke the record.''

Orlando improved to 16-4 this season against the Western Conference. The Magic continue a four-game road trip Friday against the Lakers and meet Denver on Saturday.

The loss was the 12th in 14 games for the Kings, who have not strung together two straight victories since early November.

The Kings had no answer in the opening half for the athletic Howard, whose most impressive feat was an alley-oop dunk with his back to the basket. He scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds against an array of Sacramento defenders. Lewis and Redick both had 12 points for Orlando, which outscored the Kings 41-29 in the opening half.

Notes: Redick connected on four 3-pointers in the first half and two fans in the lower level repeatedly stood and chanted his name after each basket. The Kings are now 7-13 at Arco Arena and are on pace to have their worst home record in franchise history. Kenny Thomas made a rare appearance for the Kings, playing his fifth game this season and going scoreless in three minutes.

Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

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NBA.com: Magic's Nelson and Hornets' Paul named Players of the Week
Magic's Nelson and Hornets' Paul named Players of the Week

By Official Release
Posted Jan 20 2009 5:22PM

NEW YORK -- The Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 12, through Sunday, Jan. 18. Nelson and Paul also shared Player of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 15.

Nelson helped the Magic to a 3-0 week on a West Coast road trip, averaging 24.7 points, 8.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals. On Jan. 16, Nelson scored 15 of his game-high-tying 28 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining in Orlando's 109-103 win, as the Magic swept their season series with the Lakers for the first time in franchise history. In a win over Sacramento on Jan. 13, Nelson went 5-for-5 from three-point range, as the Magic set an NBA record with 23 three-pointers in the game. This marks Nelson's second Player of the Week award of the season.

Paul earns his third Player of the Week award of the season after averaging 24.3 points, 9.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals. On Jan. 14, Paul recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in New Orleans' 104-97 win over Dallas. With seven assists on Jan. 16 at Cleveland, Paul surpassed the 2,500 assist mark for his career. He accomplished the feat in 258 games, becoming the second-fastest player in NBA history to do so; Oscar Robertson hit 2,500 assists in 247 career games.

Here is a recap of the week for Nelson and Paul:

Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic

Jan. 13 @ Sacramento: Tallied 23 points, 11 assists and five steals in a 139-107 win over the Kings.

Jan. 16 @ LA Lakers: Scored 28 points and added eight assists and six rebounds in a 109-103 win over the Lakers.

Jan. 17 @ Denver: Posted 23 points and five assists in a 106-88 win over the Nuggets.

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Jan. 12 vs. New York: Posted 23 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in a 101-95 loss to the Knicks.

Jan. 14 @ Dallas: Tallied 33 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and seven steals in a 104-97 win over the Mavericks.

Jan. 16 @ Cleveland: Scored 18 points and added six assists and seven rebounds in a 92-78 loss to the Cavaliers.

Jan. 17 @ Detroit: Tallied 23 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in a 91-85 win over the Pistons.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland's LeBron James, Houston's Yao Ming, Indiana's Danny Granger, Miami's Dwyane Wade, New York's David Lee, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Utah's Deron Williams.

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NBA.com: Former All-Star, defensive standout Mourning retires
Former All-Star, defensive standout Mourning retires

Posted Jan 22 2009 7:57PM


Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

MIAMI (AP) -- The last question at Alonzo Mourning's retirement news conference came from the front row.

"So, Alonzo," said his wife, Tracy, "what are you going to do with all of this spare time you have?"

"Sweetheart, I think we've already talked about that," Mourning said with a smile.

"I want it on record," Tracy said.

"Well, I'll wash the dishes and take out the trash and clean the windows," Mourning said. "Whatever you want me to do, dear."

So it's official: Mourning's calling it quits. He'll do chores and play with his two kids and work on his golf game and promote his charitable causes. But after 15 seasons and countless career comebacks, he's done chasing championships.

The seven-time All-Star center said Thursday he won't return from a devastating leg injury Dec. 19, 2007 -- the fourth anniversary of his lifesaving kidney transplant. He had been working out at the Miami Heat complex and said he's running and jumping again, but he feared another leg injury if he returned.

Helping to cement the decision was Mourning's trip to Washington this week to attend President Obama's inauguration.

"People would come up to me and they would ask me, 'How are you doing? How is your health?'" Mourning said. "It kind of struck a chord. I knew that's what it's all about -- my health. ... God willing I'll be able to live another 40 or 50 years, and I want to do it in a comfortable state. Right now I'm there."

Mourning, who turns 39 next month, played at Georgetown and was the second overall pick in the 1992 draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He also played for New Jersey but spent the majority of his career with the Heat, helping them reach the playoffs six consecutive years. He was the backup center to Shaquille O'Neal when Miami won the NBA title in 2006.

If he didn't have a championship ring, Mourning said, he might keep playing.

"When you've got something you love and you're passionate about, it's hard to let that go," Mourning said. "But at 38 I feel I've physically done all I can for this game. It has been an amazing ride."

Mourning was diagnosed in October 2000 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a career-threatening kidney disease. He missed most of the ensuing season but rejoined the Heat in March 2001 and made the All-Star team the following year.

When his condition worsened, he missed the entire 2002-03 season and underwent a transplant in 2003. Again he returned, but for three consecutive summers beginning in 2005, Mourning considered retirement.

He hasn't played since tearing the patella tendon and quadriceps muscle in his right leg 13 months ago. Even before Mourning was helped off the court that night, part of him knew he wouldn't be back.

"I was banging on the floor, and the words I was saying over and over were, 'It's over. It's over,'" he recalled.

The start in Miami came in 1995, when Pat Riley took over as Heat coach and swung the trade that brought Mourning from the Hornets.

"He was the very best thing that ever happened to this franchise," said Riley, sitting between Mourning and owner Micky Arison at the news conference. "He will always be respected by Micky and myself for being the taproot of a culture that we're really proud of. He embodies that."

Riley's voice cracked as he finished his thought.

"We love you, Zo," he said. "You will wear that jersey one more time -- when we rip it off your back and hang it from the rafters."

Mourning visited the Heat locker room before Wednesday's game against Boston and told former teammates Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem he planned to retire.

"We've lost him as a basketball player, but he's still going to be around," Wade said. "He's still what Miami Heat basketball is all about. For any player who comes here, Alonzo is always going to be the mirror image of what you would like to be."

In 15 seasons, Mourning averaged 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds and twice was chosen NBA defensive player of the year. His total of 2,356 blocks ranks 10th in league history, and he's the Heat's career leader in points, rebounds and games.

Mourning said he and his family will remain in Miami, where he has long supported charitable causes and campaigned for better education.

"I feel like my true purpose here is service to others," he said. "It's bigger than basketball."

As the news of Mourning's decision spread around the league, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and assistant coach Patrick Ewing -- a Hall of Fame player and, like Mourning, a former Georgetown star -- reminisced about Mourning's career.

"He was a guy who played as hard as anybody who's ever played in this league," Van Gundy said.

Van Gundy, Wade and others said Mourning's decision is the right one if he's at peace with it. And Mourning said he has no doubt the time is right to retire.

"I'm excited about what the future is going to bring," he said, nodding at the woman in the front row. "I see my wife there, glowing and smiling. We'll see how she looks in two or three weeks when I'm home on a regular basis."

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NBA.com: Jackson to coach West All-Stars
Jackson to coach West All-Stars

Posted Jan 22 2009 2:23AM

LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers raised their record to a Western Conference-best 33-8 record at the halfway point of the season Wednesday night, earning Phil Jackson a coaching spot in the NBA All-Star game Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

It's the fourth time Jackson has been an All-Star coach and first since 2000 -- his first year with the Lakers. His previous two assignments were in 1992 and 1996 with the Chicago Bulls, when he coached the East in the midseason game.

The Lakers' 108-97 victory over the Clippers means they've clinched at least a tie for the best record in the Western Conference through Feb. 1. The San Antonio Spurs are five games back at 28-13. Jackson earns the spot to coach the West All-Stars since San Antonio's Gregg Popovich has coached an All-Star team more recently, in 2005.

Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on the best winning percentage in each conference. Last year's coaches, Boston's Doc Rivers and New Orleans' Byron Scott, are not eligible.

The 63-year-old Jackson is in his ninth year as coach of the Lakers. He coached the Bulls for nine seasons, leading them to six championships. He has three with the Lakers, giving him nine overall and a tie with former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the record. Jackson had a record 193 postseason wins.

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NBA.com: Howard tops balloting for 2009 NBA All-Star Game
Howard tops balloting for 2009 NBA All-Star Game

By Official Release
Posted Jan 22 2009 7:04PM


Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, this year's leading vote-getter in the NBA All-Star Balloting program presented by T-Mobile with 3,150,181 votes, became the first player in balloting history to crack the 3 million-vote ceiling. Howard, who is making his third All-Star appearance, will start as the Eastern Conference's center for the second time in his career.

Through the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, fans worldwide were responsible for voting in the starters for the 58th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Phoenix on Sunday, Feb. 15. The game will air live (8 p.m. ET) on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The NBA All-Star Game was played in Phoenix in both 1975 and 1995.

Four other starters for this year's All-Star Game each eclipsed the previous record of 2,558,278 votes received by Houston's Yao Ming in 2004-05: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (2,940,823), Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant (2,805,397), Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and San Antonio forward Tim Duncan (2,578,168).

Joining Howard, James and Wade in the Eastern Conference starting lineup are Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), last year's top vote-getter and the 2003 All-Star MVP, and Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson, the 2001 and 2005 All-Star Game MVP. James, who was the leading vote-getter in 2006-07 as well as the 2006 and 2008 All-Star Game MVP, and Wade each will make his fifth midseason classic appearance. Iverson will appear in his ninth All-Star Game. Among active players, Garnett's 12th All-Star selection ranks second to Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal (14).

Bryant, the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998 as well as a two-time All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007), and Duncan, who is making his 11th appearance and was the co-MVP along with Shaquille O'Neal of the 2000 All-Star Game, are joined in the Western Conference starting lineup by New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (2,134,798), Phoenix Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire (1,460,429) and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (2,532,958). Paul will make his second All-Star Game appearance; Stoudemire his fourth; and Yao his sixth.

In selecting the reserves, the 30 NBA head coaches NBA head coaches must vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their team. After the coaches select the reserves, if a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner David Stern will select a replacement.

Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson and the Lakers coaching staff earned the honor to coach the Western Conference All-Stars by clinching the best winning percentage in the conference through games of Feb. 1. The Eastern Conference Coach is yet to be determined. Last year's East All-Star coach -- Boston's Doc Rivers -- is not eligible to coach this year.

Howard, James, Bryant, Wade, Duncan and the rest of year's All-Star participants will join members of the NBA Family for the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service on Friday, Feb. 13. The volunteers will participate in one of three projects in the Phoenix community.

As the presenting partner of the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, and in support of the NBA's season-long effort to better the various communities in Phoenix, T-Mobile will donate $1 for every ballot cast on t-zones, T-Mobile's wireless Web portal, to help the youth of Phoenix. The week leading up to the 58th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the opportunity to experience Phoenix and the best of basketball by entering the NBA 2K9 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2009 and to have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year's game, NBA 2K10.

NBA All-Star 2009 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world's greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

Copyright © 2008 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights and Terms of Use.

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