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MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the team has assigned rookie guard Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) to the Tulsa 66ers (Okla.) of the NBA Development League. Tulsa is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer and has served as the Bucks D-League affiliate since the 2005-06 season.

“This is an opportunity for Ramon to see regular minutes and further develop his skills,” said Harris. “Coach Meyer and the Tulsa organization are receiving a talented, young player, and we look forward to watching Ramon’s progress as a member of the 66ers.”

Sessions, 21, was selected by the Bucks with the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 assists in four NBA Summer league contests. He played three seasons at the University of Nevada as a point guard and earned Second Team All-WAC honors during his junior season, in addition to being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. During the 2006-07 season, he was third on the team in scoring (12.3), second in rebounding (4.7) and first in assists (4.7, second in the WAC).

Damir Markota (2007) and Ersan Ilyasova (2005-06) have also played with the 66ers in the D-League over the last two seasons for the Bucks. The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (TX), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Utah Flash (Provo). MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris announced today that the team has assigned rookie guard Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) to the Tulsa 66ers (Okla.) of the NBA Development League. Tulsa is led by Head Coach Joey Meyer and has served as the Bucks D-League affiliate since the 2005-06 season.

“This is an opportunity for Ramon to see regular minutes and further develop his skills,” said Harris. “Coach Meyer and the Tulsa organization are receiving a talented, young player, and we look forward to watching Ramon’s progress as a member of the 66ers.”

Sessions, 21, was selected by the Bucks with the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft and averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 assists in four NBA Summer league contests. He played three seasons at the University of Nevada as a point guard and earned Second Team All-WAC honors during his junior season, in addition to being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. During the 2006-07 season, he was third on the team in scoring (12.3), second in rebounding (4.7) and first in assists (4.7, second in the WAC).

Damir Markota (2007) and Ersan Ilyasova (2005-06) have also played with the 66ers in the D-League over the last two seasons for the Bucks. The NBA Development League also includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (TX), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Utah Flash (Provo).

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv has suffered a major blow as All-Euroleague center Nikola Vujcic will most miss four to six weeks due to a knee injury. Vujcic fell and injured his right knee in the closing minutes of Maccabi's win over Galil Elyon in the Israeli League on Sunday. Test results on Tuesday revealed a partial ligament tear that will require at least a month of rest, bringing up the possibility that Vujcic might not return to full strength until the beginning of the new year.


Maccabi's loss is a huge one. Vujcic has been chose All-Euroleague center for three consecutive seasons and owns a pair of continental titles from the club's 2004 and 2005 campaigns. He is arguably the most versatile player in the Euroleague, having posted the only two triple-doubles in competition history and ranking higher in more statistical categories than any other player the last two seasons. Last season, Vujcic posted the single best average performance index rating of all Euroleague players. In the two Euroleague games he played so far this season, Vujcic averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.


His first game out will be Thursday's home game against Efes Pilsen in Group B.

* Washington @ New Jersey

* Detroit @ Chicago

* Dallas @ Golden State

Kevin Durant shot miserably from the field last night in the Sonics’ fourth loss in a row. How much more should the ’rook be doing to help the Sonics win? What’s up when Shaq lets Francisco Elson run the show under the glass? Could it be time for Shaq to step away from the game? Who said Sam Cassell’s tank was empty? He’ll bring the Clips back to the brink of an NBA finals again this season. An all C’s NBA final, Clippers and Celtics...Will Boston even lose this season? How about Kobe buying Jordan’s old house in Chicago, is Bryant preparing his family for a move? Click above for more of today’s NBA buzz.

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SECAUCUS, N.J., Nov. 8, 2007 --It is bad enough when I get e-mails from readers questioning my player rankings in the Race to the MVP, but now I have a co-worker coming at me sideways.

Here is an instant messenger conversation I had with NBA.com editor John Jacobson.

John: Mo, take this as constructive criticism. There is no way that the Jazz’s Deron Williams is better than the Hornets Chris Paul.
Maurice: Good afternoon to you too.
John:: Oh my bad, how’s it going?
Maurice: Anyway, I don’t know about that. I originally thought that Paul was the more talented of the two, but last season Williams passed him by.
John: How do you figure?
Maurice: Where do you work at again? With the exception of Phoenix’s Steve Nash and New Jersey’s Jason Kidd, Williams was the best point guard in the league last season. He averaged 16.2 points, 9.3 assists and 3.3 boards a game and he led the Jazz to the Northwest Division title.
John: Williams' postseason performance and Paul's injury woes have wrongly convinced people that Deron had a better season, but if you look beyond the most basic statistics you would see that Paul was more productive. The Jazz would be better off with Paul at the helm and any Gm would be crazy not to take CP3 over his Utah rival.
John: And by the way, if you want to simply compare basic stats, Paul's numbers were great. He put up 17.2 points, 8.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Across the board, he had better stats.
Maurice: Last time I checked, 9.3 was greater than 8.9. I thought you graduated from Princeton? Check out what some fans e-mailed me:

Craig in Utah: I enjoy the column but I have one big complaint. There is no way that Chris Paul deserves to be ranked ahead of Deron Williams. Williams does it all for the Jazz. He is like having a second coach on the floor.

Donnie in Salt Lake City: Not only should Deron not be behind Paul, he also shouldn’t be behind Boozer. Ask any Jazz fan and they will tell you that Deron is the most important player on the team. Other than that, keep doing what you do.

John: They are both from Utah so of course they are going to say Williams is the best.
Maurice: The Jazz won 12 more games than the Hornets last season. And Williams and Carlos Boozer might be the best tag team in the league. You can argue that Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson in Denver or Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady in Houston are better but that’s about it.
John: Which is exactly my point. Williams has a better team, meaning Paul is doing more with less.
Maurice: Deron had a higher field-goal percentage (45.6 to 43.7). Paul had a higher free-throw percentage (81.8 to 76.7) and he took care of the ball better (2.52 turnovers to 3.08).
Maurice: Paul is better in the open floor because of his athleticism and despite being smaller, rebounds better. Deron is a better shooter and defender and the perfect fit for Utah’s style of play.
John: Did you see the numbers Paul put up the other night against the Lakers? He had 19 points and a franchise-record 21 assists … That’s sick.
Maurice: And one day later, Deron upstaged him by going coast-to-coast for the winning layup with a second left to offset LeBron’s Cavs.
John: Fine, we agree. They are both pretty good.
Maurice: Yeah, I would love to have either one of them on my Sixers.
Maurice: By the way, what is your beef with my rankings? This season, Paul, who is averaging 18.6 points, 12.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds for the surprisingly good Hornets (4-1) is ranked sixth, while Williams, who is averaging 22.6, 9.8 and 3.0 for the first-place Jazz (3-2) occupies the 10th spot.
John: Hmmm… I guess I shouldn’t have complained to begin with.
Maurice: Nope.

# Let me respond to some of your e-mails. And if you read this, you know I don't have a bunch of free time. Therefore, for one week, you get two-word responses.

In the DENVER POST, Benjamin Hochman writes “the evolution of Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, from great to greatness, can be attributed to his NBA maturity. But even his coach, George Karl, said Anthony's development with Team USA has been vital. Anthony entered Wednesday third in the NBA with 27.3 points per game, following a season when he finished second (28.9). Karl smiled when telling the story of the 2006 Team USA tryouts, when Karl was accompanied by a friend who worked in the front office.”

Each day during the 2007-8 season, HoopsVibe The Blog will highlight one ‘Must-See’ NBA game. The ‘Must-See’ game is our pick as the day’s best match-up.

Of course, we’re tuning in to all the day’s action and want to know what games interest you, so hit us up in the comment box below with your NBA plans for this evening.

NBA schedule for November 8th, 2007

* Washington @ New Jersey

* Detroit @ Chicago

* Dallas @ Golden State

Our Must-See game: Dallas @ Golden State.

Why: Flashback to HoopsVibe The Blog’s post on May 4th, 2007.

They can now move on from the past. Run TMC no longer casts such a large shadow. Chris Webber’s one year legacy is forgotten. And Latrell Sprewell’s assault on Coach P.J. Carlesimo is finally over.

Yes, the Golden State Warriors shocked the basketball world by beating the Dallas Mavericks 111-86 on Thursday night, taking the series 4-2.

Make no mistake about it, history was made in Oakland. This was the first time the #8 seed has ever upset the #1 seed in a best of seven playoff series.

But the win did something much more important. It buried Golden State’s ugly past. After all, the Warriors had become the Clippers’ northern cousins, missing out on the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons.

That was then. And this is now. And right now, the Golden State Warriors don’t resemble the squad that pulled off the biggest upset in NBA history. Jason Richardson is shooting three-pointers for Charlotte, while Stephen Jackson hasn’t played because of a suspension.

But something else is missing. ’We Believe’ created momentum which was supposed to change the Golden State franchise. Unfortunately, things haven’t changed. And the Warriors are still looking for their first win of the season.

Meanwhile, Dallas must beat Golden State and exercise their demons from last year’s choke job. Of course, the Mavericks also need the win because the NBA’s Southwest Division is shaping up to be the toughest in pro sports.

Mike McGraw reports on Jay Williams retiring from the NBA:

Former Bulls guard Jay Williams has no plans to resume his basketball career. Williams is working for a fitness company, doing motivational speaking and wants to advance in the business world, according to agent Kevin Bradbury.

The No. 2 pick of the 2002 draft, Williams attempted an NBA comeback last season after taking three years to recover from serious injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident on Chicago’s North Side.

The 6-foot-2 guard played five preseason games with the New Jersey Nets, then spent about a month with the Austin Toros in the D-League before being released Dec. 31.

My Quick Take: I hated Jay Williams. Actually, I hated Jason Williams, who played for Duke and dominated college basketball for three years. It was nothing personal. I just never liked the Blue Devils.

My grudge ended once Williams entered the NBA. This was when the lightning quick guard changed his first name from Jason to Jay. A new beginning for both of us, I guess.

What happened next was tragic. After completing a so-so rookie season, Williams sustained a serious leg injury riding on a motorcycle.

This was an unfortunate decision. Players, according to NBA contracts, are forbidden from riding motorcycles.

Contracts were the least of his worries. The accident was serious. Doctors believed Williams would never walk again and basketball was over.

Through years of hard work, Williams regained the use of his leg and even tried out for the New Jersey Nets in 2005.

Unfortunately, his comeback didn’t work out. But Williams has a great story, something much more inspiring, special, and important than your typical NBA career.

He’ll make a great motivational speaker. I can even forgive him for playing for Duke.

What do you think of Jay Williams’ story? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.

Can Steve Francis Accept Reserve Role On Contending Houston Rockets?


November 07 07

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports on Steve Francis accepting his new role with the Rockets:

Rockets guard Steve Francis said he appreciated fans in Toyota Center on Saturday calling for him to get playing time, but that it would not and should not influence coach Rick Adelman’s

"It was unbelievable," Francis said. "The fans always embraced me, even when I wasn’t a member of the Houston Rockets. It meant a lot to me. The thing that is scary is what if I come in and miss my first two shots?

"I definitely love the support, but that should not make a difference to the coach’s decisions. I not going to say that it should, but do I want to play? Hell, yes."

"It’s not my decision," he said. "We’re 3-0 right now. Nothing is going to change. I’m just going to be patient and stay mentally strong. It’s hard."

My Quick Take: Fair or not, Francis has been tagged as selfish. Years ago, he pouted when drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. In Orlando, he complained when best friend Cat Mobley got traded to the L.A. Clippers. And New York was a disaster.

Give Francis credit. Five games into the season and he hasn’t seen the court. But the former Franchise has kept his mouth shut and handled his lack of minutes like a true professional.

Houston hasn’t given Francis much of a choice. The Rockets are 4-1. Last night, they beat the world champion San Antonio Spurs. And the team’s perimeter players are performing.

Right now, no minutes are available. However, Houston superstar Tracy McGrady is injury-prone and Francis could fill-in as a short-term, emergency replacement.

Will Francis, a former All-Star, accept his role as cheap insurance and wait for an opportunity to play? Time will tell.

Does Francis deserve minutes with Houston? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.

In the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, Don Walker writes “when Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, two of China's best-known basketball stars, face each other Friday night in Houston, you can bet that millions of fans in their homeland will be watching. In all, the NBA has deals with 51 TV stations in the country, including CCTV, a government network. In addition, the NBA has marketing deals with 20 different companies. Millions watch NBA games, and 30% of the traffic to NBA.com, comes from China.”

In the ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Paul Coro writes “Suns center Amaré Stoudemire worked up a sweat Wednesday night on the Philips Arena court, but it all came before tipoff as he sat out a third consecutive game because of his sore right knee. He said his hope was to use today's practice to be ready to play Friday in Miami. He said his day-to-day status has created pressure but he emphasized that the staff has not pushed him.”

* Phoenix 115, Charlotte 83
* New Jersey 87, Atlanta 82
* New York 119, Denver 112
* Milwaukee 112, Toronto 85
* Orlando 111, Minnesota 103
* L.A. Clippers 97, Chicago 91
* Houston 89, San Antonio 81
* Sacramento 104, Seattle 98
* New Orleans 118, L.A. Lakers 104
* Cleveland 108, Golden State 104

Ljublijana 74-72 victory over Euroleague giants CSKA Moscow was the shock result on busy night of Euroleague basketball.
BASKETBALL Euroleague 2007/08 Siena-Kaunas - 0

Group A:

Siena 89-64 Zalgiris (Pictured)

Montepaschi Siena turned in another spectacular home performance to beat Zalgiris Kaunas 89-64.

Tomas Ress came off the bench to lead five Montepaschi scorers in double figures with 16 points as the hosts improved to 2-1 before visiting Tau Ceramica next week.

Ljubljana 74-72 CSKA

Union Olimpija rounded a historical night in club history by edging mighty CSKA Moscow 74-72 in front of a sellout crowd in Tivoli Arena

Marko Milic became the game hero by hitting the game-winning driving layup with 0.8 seconds to go in a special game for Union Olimpija, who honoured European basketball legend Ivo Daneu by retiring his number in a pre-game ceremony.

Group B:

Aris 77-73 Cibona

Aris TT remain undefeated atop Group B after surviving a game-long challenge by Cibona to win their showdown 77-73. Cibona led for much of the last three quarters before a series of late-game mistakes cost the visitors.

Jeremiah Massey was unstoppable for Aris amassing 28 points on 12-for-14 two-point shooting and pulling 11 rebounds for the winners.

Le Mans 77-83 Lietuvos Rytas

Hollis Price top scored with 32 points as Lietuvos Rytas enjoyed a big 83-77 road victory in Le Mans.

The Lithuanians edged the match thanks to a big final quarter when they outscored the French 25-17.

Group C:

Partizan 90-94 Panathinaikos

Kostas Tsartsaris and Dimitrios Diamantidis both scored 21 points as defending champions Panathinaikos survived a big scare in Serbia.

The Greeks were trailing by a point before finally digging out the victory at the death.

Brose 49-59 Real Madrid

Real Madrid stayed unbeaten in Group C and joined Panathinaikos atop the standings by downing Brose Baskets 49-59 on the road in Bamberg.

Felipe Reyes showed he is recovered from his back problems, as he led the winners with a double-double of 21 points on 8-of-9 two-pointers and 12 rebounds.
Eurosport

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7 (AP) -- After helping his teammates handle most of the scoring with 12 assists, Deron Williams decided to keep it for himself at the end.

Williams drove the length of the floor for a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining Wednesday night to give the Utah Jazz a 103-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, overcoming LeBron James' triple-double and tying 3-pointer just seconds before.

James, who had a triple-double before the end of the third quarter, tied it with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6 seconds left to play. But before the Cavs could revel in the comeback, Williams was off and running toward the other end and the game-winner.

"We just get it and go. We find that works for us,'' said Williams, who finished with 15 points. "I think they felt we were going to call a timeout. They're looking back to see what we're doing and while they're doing that we're racing up the court.''

Williams got around Zydrunas Ilgauskas, scooped the ball under the rim and laid it in for the Jazz, who left the door open for James to make it a thrilling finish.

James scored the final seven points for the Cavs and finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists - his 11th career triple-double. But he and the rest of the Cavs were caught by surprise by Williams' mad dash at the end.

"Great move. We expected him to call a timeout. But I should have known,'' James said. "Great play. Nothing we could do.''

Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Paul Millsap scored a career-high 24 points for the Jazz as the held off the Cavaliers, who had played the night before and were without three regulars.

Cleveland trailed by as much as nine but never let the Jazz pull away down the stretch. With Utah leading 99-94, James drove for a layup that also got Millsap out of the game with his sixth foul. James missed the free throw that would have converted the three-point play, but the Cavs got a break when the rebound bounced straight to Ilgauskas, and Cleveland called timeout with 17 seconds left.

Rather than go for the tying 3-pointer, James drove for a layup that cut the lead to 99-98.

Cleveland had to foul and Utah's Ronnie Brewer made it a three-point game with two free throws with 9 seconds to play. But that was plenty of time for James, who hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie it three seconds later.

"I tried to call timeout,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "Fortunately we got it inbounds and he knew what to do with it.''

Damon Jones' desperation shot at the end was way off and the Jazz had survived a game they nearly blew.

The Jazz left themselves vulnerable for a comeback by struggling at the line in the fourth quarter. After making 26 of their first 27, the Jazz cooled off and missed five of their final 13, giving James just enough room for a comeback.

"LeBron gets a triple-double like that and you hope to come away with the win, but not tonight,'' Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "Our guys could have caved here a couple of times, but our guys kept fighting and fighting.''

The Cavs got 18 points and 14 rebounds from Ilgauskas, 17 points from Sasha Pavlovic and 12 points from Daniel Gibson. The Cleveland reserves were no help, scoring a combined 14 points.

Mehmet Okur had 10 rebounds and Matt Harpring scored 10 points for the Jazz.

Notes: First-round draft pick Morris Almond made his NBA debut late in the first quarter when he entered the game as a sub for Gordan Giricek. Almond had been inactive for the first four games. ... Jones made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut Utah's lead to 29-26 at the end of the first quarter. ... Millsap's previous high for points was 20 against the Raptors last November. ... The Cavs were without G Larry Hughes (knee), F Donyell Marshall (wrist) and G Eric Snow (knee).

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 7 (AP) -- When Jarrett Jack got pulled from the Portland Trail Blazers' starting lineup, he responded with zeal.

Jack scored 20 points, nine in the fourth quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers earned their first victory of the season by beating the previously undefeated New Orleans Hornets 93-90 on Wednesday night.

"I just try to embrace my role,'' Jack said. "He (coach Nate McMillan) wants me to be more aggressive, so I came out with a sense of urgency.''

Martell Webster added 20 points, and Brandon Roy had 17 points and seven assists for the Blazers (1-3), playing their home opener.

David West had 34 points and 18 rebounds for the Hornets (4-1), who had matched last season's start for the best in franchise history with four straight wins. One of their season-opening victories came last Friday when they beat the Blazers 113-93.

West scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds in the first half alone for the Hornets, coming off a 118-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers the night before. Peja Stojakovic made a franchise-record 10 3-pointers and Chris Paul set a team record with 21 assists against the Lakers.

Stojakovic had one 3-pointer and just five points against the Blazers. Paul finished with 18 points and 12 assists.

"It's their opening night, they had the crowd behind them and they had a lot of energy,'' Paul said. "I don't think we did a great job of getting good quality shots and it was one of those nights.''

The Blazers led by as many as 15 points, but went cold and the Hornets narrowed it with an 11-0 run capped by West's jumper that closed the margin to 81-77. But New Orleans was unable to pull ahead.

The Trail Blazers had a seven-point lead in the second quarter, but Paul's free throws with 3:14 left put the Hornets ahead 41-40. Stojakovic's 3-pointer extended the lead, and New Orleans went on lead 49-44 at the half.

The Blazers regained the lead when LaMarcus Aldridge's jumper made it 61-60, and Webster added a 3-pointer.

It was part of an 18-5 run to open the second half, capped by Webster's 3-pointer that put Portland up 72-60. Soon thereafter, Hornets center Tyson Chandler elbowed Webster under New Orleans' basket and was ejected from the game.

"We didn't play smart down the stretch. We lost our composure in the third, not being smart, technical fouls,'' West said. "Tyson lost his cool. I told him he can't do that. He's got to be in the game for us. It's not a smart play at that point of the game.''

The Blazers were coming off an 89-80 loss - marked by 18 turnovers - at Houston on Saturday night. In response, McMillan shook up the starting lineup, replacing Joel Przybilla with Channing Frye at center, and Jack with Steve Blake at the point.

"We really got that spark off the bench that we were looking for from Jack tonight,'' McMillan said.

A big part of Portland's home opener wasn't on the court. Top NBA draft pick Greg Oden, who is recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee, was the first Blazer introduced.

Oden, walking without the aid of his crutches, did the honor of introducing his teammates, who came down to the court through the stands.

Notes: The O'Jays opened the pregame festivities with a performance of "Give the People What They Want.'' ... The Blazers hoisted a banner to the ceiling of the Rose Garden emblazoned with the team's slogan "Rise With Us.'' ... Paul said afterward: "I didn't think we'd go 82-0. It was nice to be 4-0 but now we realize we can lose.''

SEATTLE, Nov. 8 (AP) -- Kevin Durant doesn't want to hear that nights like this are as a much a part of the NBA as pick-and-rolls.

The second overall pick in June's draft also wants none of the consensus that his remodeled, learning-on-the-fly SuperSonics are destined for a season like this. After all, he hadn't lost five games in a row in his life - until now.

Rudy Gay warmed from a cold start to score 25 points and determined Kyle Lowry hit a clinching 3-pointer as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half Wednesday night to beat the winless Sonics 105-98, sending Seattle to its worst start in 38 years.

"I hate to lose, basically. I don't care if it's an 82-game season and people say you have to lose - I hate to lose. Period,'' Durant said, in a quiet voice that matched the locker room vibe.

Lowry, who missed five of his first six shots, got a rebound off his missed layup and then swished a 3-pointer with 11.3 seconds remaining to clinch the first win of the season for the Grizzlies, in their first road game.

"I did not want to go into another town with zero victories. And I think the guys felt that way,'' said Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni, the former NBA player and then assistant coach who won his first game as a head man.

Durant, playing for the third time in four nights in a welcome-to-NBA-life stretch, scored a season-low 17 points and was a woeful 3-for-17 from the field for the Sonics, the league's only 0-5 team. After he missed his first four shots, including one that banged off the backboard about six inches to the left and below the rim, coach P.J. Carlesimo sat his franchise cornerstone for 10 minutes.

Durant finally scored midway through the second quarter.

The key to stifling the skinny, 6-foot-9 Durant?

"Getting into his body and try to alter his shot,'' Gay said.

With Seattle trying to rally from a 98-94 deficit with 2:14 left, Durant charged down the lane into Brian Cardinal for a key offensive foul. Durant pounded the floor with his hands and stomped away in protest of the call.

It was perhaps the first sign of outward emotion from the rookie who has been mostly quiet through this opening free fall. The Sonics play Utah, a playoff team last season, at home on Friday in an attempt to avoid tying their franchise-worst start from 1969.

Carlesimo, who called allowing Memphis 21 offensive rebounds "atrocious,'' again stressed patience. Yet he also said the status quo is a no-go.

"We're learning. It's a hard way to learn,'' he said. "We've going to start making some changes, looking at different rotations.''

Durant said fatigue had nothing to do with his night, but his coach thought it did.

"I think the three-in-four had something to do with it, the back-to-back had something to do with it. Some of it was the defense they played,'' Carlesimo said.

"I'm saying this all the time: He's 19. He's five games into his career. There are veterans that have nights like this.''

One night after blowing a 20-point lead and losing at Sacramento, Seattle pulled to 100-98 with 48 seconds left on Durant's fifth and sixth consecutive free throws in the last 2:14. But then they let Lowry get free - twice - on the decisive possession.

Mike Miller added 20 points for Memphis, which is playing three games in four days on its initial trip. The Grizzlies didn't always follow Iavaroni's pregame hope for smarter, simpler play on offense and often ran wildly down the floor into missed shots. But they erased a 14-point deficit early in the second half with a 23-8 run.

Gay, who made just three of his first 12 shots, ended the spurt with a fadeaway that put the Grizzlies ahead 74-73. Consecutive three-point plays by Gay, Pau Gasol and Lowry in the final 1:20 of the third quarter gave Memphis an 87-81 lead entering the final period.

Notes: One night after scoring 32 points in 31 minutes off the bench, Wally Szczerbiak scored just six for Seattle. ... Sonics C Robert Swift started for the second consecutive night, a milestone after a preseason of tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee that caused him to miss all of last season. "Four (games) in five days is going to be another matter,'' he said with a smile. Then he looked tired, got in early foul trouble and finished with five fouls and four points. ... Grizzlies F-C Stromile Swift missed the game with a sore neck and shoulders. Iavaroni said he is day-to-day. ... Sonics F-C Kurt Thomas, who has yet to play a game this season, got his strained right hamstring tested and learned there is no structural damage.

TORONTO, Nov. 7 (AP) -- Thanks to a newfound focus on toughness and togetherness, the Orlando Magic are off to a perfect start away from home.

Hedo Turkoglu had 24 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, Rashard Lewis scored 24 points, and the Magic beat the Toronto Raptors 105-96 on Wednesday night to earn their third straight road victory.

Keith Bogans had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Dwight Howard added 17 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, which won at Washington on Saturday and beat Minnesota on Tuesday.

"Any time you can get road wins is good,'' Orlando guard Jameer Nelson said. "You're always going to be able to protect your home court because you've got your fans around you. When you come up to a hostile environment like Toronto, New York or Minnesota, you've got to stick together. Everybody who's on that bench and everybody on the court has got to stick together.''

One night after he failed to make a field goal for just the second time in his NBA career, Toronto's Chris Bosh scored 26 points, going 6-for-15 from the floor and making all 14 of his free throw attempts. Bosh also had 10 rebounds.

Andrea Bargnani had 16 points for Toronto, while T.J. Ford had 12 points and eight assists. Toronto has lost three straight after winning its opening two games of the season.

"We have to do a better job of concentrating on getting to the bucket,'' Bosh said. "We're settling for a lot of jump shots and everybody on the team is falling victim to that.''

A 3-pointer by Bargnani with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter gave Toronto its first lead of the game at 92-91. Orlando responded with eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Lewis and Nelson and a driving layup by Nelson to take a 99-92 edge with 2:23 remaining.

"Last year, when somebody made a big run at the end of the game, we kind of just folded over,'' Howard said. "In the last two games, teams have been making big pushes at the end of the game and we've held our ground. We didn't get mad or frustrated at each other. We went out there and tried to do the best job we can on defense.''

Nelson finished with 10 points and six assists for the Magic, who had all five starters reach double figures in scoring.

"I like the way our team is responding,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Of course, I'd like it better if we'd just win by 15, but I like the way our team is responding. That's the way you're going to have to play to win games on the road in this league. I'm very, very pleased with them right now.''

Orlando wraps up its road trip at New York on Friday.

"We've got one more test coming up Friday,'' Nelson said. "We have to take care of business.''

Howard said the Magic know they need to do better than the 15-26 road record they posted last season.

"In order for us to become a great team and get respect around the league, we've got to win these games on the road,'' Howard said. "We've been doing an awesome job so far of just concentrating. We trying to mature as a team and every game is a stepping stone for us.''

Turkoglu played 45 minutes, including the entire second half, despite a tender ankle. Van Gundy said it was hard to take him out because of foul trouble to Lewis and Howard.

"It was hurting before the game, but I always tell myself when I'm on the court it means I've got enough,'' Turkoglu said. "I didn't want think about it too much, let it get into my head. I just played through it. I know there's going to be a day off tomorrow. I'll get it treated and feel a bit better on Friday.''

Nelson returned to the starting lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game in Minnesota with a slight concussion, the result of an inadvertent elbow to the head during practice on Monday. He was cleared to play Wednesday night after riding an exercise bike during the morning shootaround, and said he felt no ill-effects.

"The doctors did a good job getting me ready to play and being cautious,'' Nelson said. "I appreciate those guys being cautious and just allowing me to get back to being healthy.''

Orlando led 52-47 at the half.

Notes: NBA executive VP of basketball operations Stu Jackson attended the game. ... Toronto activated forward Maceo Baston before the game and placed forward Jamario Moon on the inactive list.

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 7 (AP) -- There was Manu Ginobili, hitting yet another 3-pointer for the San Antonio Spurs and scoring 25 points. And there were the Miami Heat, who looked as if, even if they'd had Dwyane Wade back, it might not have been enough.

"Ginobili is a handful,'' Heat coach Pat Riley said Wednesday night after his team lost 88-78 and fell to 0-4 this season. "He's unpredictable. It's hard to defend him.''

But, even adding Tony Parker's 23 points to the mix, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wasn't ready to claim too much credit.

"Of course you don't take huge satisfaction out of the win with Dwyane Wade not there,'' Popovich said. "But we're going to take the win, we worked hard for it. But we realize they were pretty undermanned.''

Riley nor the team would hide behind the Wade excuse, but they did acknowledge what the recovering star creates for the Heat. Riley said Wade has been participating in full-contact drills over the last two or three days.

"I think that's where (the Spurs), a lot of times they scored in the last six or seven seconds of the shot clock with'' Parker and Ginobili, Riley said. "Right now, when we break down, we don't have anybody that's doing that. He happens to be sitting on the bench. That's what we used to do.''

Ginobili hit four of the Spurs' seven 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the third quarter, after San Antonio led by only one at halftime.

"In the first half we didn't have it, that was pretty obvious,'' Ginobili said. "Then in the third quarter we tried to change the pace a little bit - play more, play faster, better, more passes - and I think it worked. We changed the attitude totally in the third quarter.''

Tim Duncan scored 12 points and Francisco Elson had 12 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio. Parker had eight assists and Duncan grabbed eight rebounds.

The Spurs bounced back from their first loss of the season Tuesday night in Houston.

Shaquille O'Neal led the Heat with 17 points. Ricky Davis had 14 and Udonis Haslem scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. And while the Heat anxiously await Wade's return, they're still doing their best without him.

"We all have to come together as a team without D-Wade right now. We have to find ourselves,'' said Smush Parker. "And when he comes back it's going to be a tremendous help to us.''

For most of the second half, the game between the most recent two NBA champions wasn't much of a matchup. The Spurs were up by as many as 17.

"At times we played pretty good. But games like this, we've just got to go back to the lab and stay positive,'' O'Neal said. "Right now, it's character time.''

After O'Neal caught an alley-oop pass from Jason Williams for a dunk to open the third quarter, the Spurs went on a 10-2 run spearheaded by Ginobili, who hit a free throw after exchanging words with Williams after the Spurs guard was fouled, then added a basket and a 3-pointer.

"The edge on our defense that we had in the first half - that we felt was good enough to win - was flat, soft,'' Riley said.

The Spurs went ahead for good, 41-40, off a jumper from Francisco Oberto with 11:28 left in the third.

Ginobili's third 3 of the night boosted the lead to 56-44 with 6:03 left. His fourth 3, just 47 seconds later, made it 59-46.

After trailing by as many as 15, the Heat inched their way back within five. Davis scored seven points in the last 2:35 to lead a 10-2 Heat run to close the quarter.

The Spurs were up 65-58 heading into the final period.

And the Spurs opened the fourth with a 10-2 run that put them back up by 15 points.

The teams traded leads in the first half, with the Spurs up 23-21 after one and 39-38 at the break.

The Heat had a hard time containing Parker, who scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first half, including a 3-pointer in the first quarter. It's a shot Parker, who is usually seen cutting through the lane on his way to the basket, has been testing out a bit more.

Haslem and Williams were each 4-of-5 in the first half, for eight points apiece.

Notes: Spurs G Brent Barry fell while diving for the ball early in the fourth quarter. He limped out of the arena accompanied but unassisted. The team said he sprained his right ankle. ... Heat G Wade was seen working out on the floor pregame. ... Spurs F Robert Horry was at the game but remained on the inactive list. He has been tending to personal business early this season. ... The Spurs outrebounded the Heat 42-33.

BOSTON, Nov. 7 (AP) -- Hard to believe, but Boston's newest Big Three thinks it can play even better.

Paul Pierce scored 26 points, Kevin Garnett added 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Celtics shot 72 percent during an overpowering first half en route to a 119-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

"We are just scratching the surface on what we can do,'' Pierce said. "We enjoy seeing the next player make a great play and no one cares who gets credit.''

Boston improved to 3-0 overall and has won both its home games by an average of 24 points. Ray Allen scored 22 points and is shooting 63 percent since joining the Celtics.

"They (Garnett, Pierce and Allen) like each other,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They've all decided that they don't need anything individually and it is all about what's best for the team.''

The Celtics barely broke a sweat in building a 77-38 halftime lead. Boston had multiple uncontested layups, dunks and an array of dazzling passes, outrebounded Denver 25-9 and dominated essentially every statistic on the box score.

Allen Iverson led the Nuggets with 22 points, but Carmelo Anthony was held to only 11 on 3-of-13 shooting. Denver dropped an emotional game on Tuesday in New York, 119-112, after blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and has lost three straight overall.

"It's a game we never had a shot in,'' Iverson said. "They jumped right on us and we were never able to take care of business.''

Iverson appeared to be the only Nuggets player fazed by the huge early deficit. After Eduardo Najera picked up a technical early in the second quarter with Denver trailing 50-25, Iverson barked to referee Scott Wall, "We're down 25, isn't that enough?''

Rivers returned for Boston after missing a game due to the death of his father.

"Doc has been preaching to us about repetition,'' Garnett said. "We knew Denver could put up 150 points if they wanted to, but we want to be known as a defensive team.''

Garnett, who also chipped in with seven assists, gave Boston its biggest lead of the game at 91-50 when he converted an alley-oop dunk from Pierce with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Boston shot 65 percent for the game and has won 16 of the last 18 home games against the Nuggets.

Boston jumped ahead 38-22 after the first quarter behind 28 points from the trio of Garnett, Allen and Pierce. The Celtics extended the lead to 47-22 with a 9-0 run to begin the second quarter.

"I don't remember getting down by that much even on the bad teams in Toronto,'' Nuggets center Marcus Camby said.

Boston recorded its franchise high of 85 points in a half two separate times, both against the Nuggets.

Notes: San Antonio has the NBA record for highest field goal percentage in a game, shooting .707 against Dallas on April 16, 1983. ... Camby had only eight rebounds after totaling 70 through the first four games. ... Kenyon Martin had four fouls in the first half. ... Celtics forward James Posey and Nuggets forward Nene left the game with injuries and did not return.

ATLANTA, Nov. 17 (AP) -- The stands were packed, and the home team made every big shot down the stretch. Could this possibly be an Atlanta Hawks game?

Josh Smith scored 22 points, rookie Al Horford led a dominant performance on the boards and the Hawks beat another 60-win team from last season, holding off Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns 105-96 on Wednesday night.

Atlanta, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, got back to .500 in a brutal opening stretch of games and added to its opening-night win over Dallas. Once again, the Hawks drew a sellout crowd to watch them beat a Western Conference powerhouse.

"The atmosphere here this year is incredible,'' said Marvin Williams, one of three Hawks to put up a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. "It really gives us a boost of confidence.''

Atlanta led throughout the second half, but the Suns were right there when Nash drove for a basket with 4:42 remaining. Williams responded by hitting back-to-back jumpers when left open at the top of the key.

"I guess it was my night,'' he said.

Actually, several players came up huge. Smith sealed it in the final 2 minutes, fighting hard on the offensive boards to get a couple of chances off Joe Johnson's missed jumper. The second one rolled in, and Smith was fouled by Grant Hill.

The Atlanta forward let out a yell and slapped hands hard with Acie Law, then went to the line and finished off the three-point play that gave the Hawks a 99-89 lead with 1:47 remaining.

"We feel good about our chances this year,'' Smith said. "This is the team (Phoenix) that everyone has winning the NBA title this year. To play the way we played against them shows we belong in this league.''

Horford grabbed 15 rebounds to lead four Atlanta players in double figures. Smith had 10 rebounds for a double-double and the Hawks finished with a 56-40 rebounding edge, leading to a 29-9 advantage in second-chance points. Josh Childress also had 10 rebounds to go along with 19 points.

Nash scored 34 points, but Shawn Marion, with 20, was the only other significant offensive contributor. The Suns played their third straight game without Amare Stoudemire, who sat out because of a sore knee.

"We ran into a team that's more athletic than we are,'' Nash said, a huge compliment to the Hawks.

In a strange second quarter, all the Suns' field goals came from beyond the 3-point stripe. Led by Nash, they were 6-of-13 outside the arc, 0-of-11 from in closer.

While the Hawks failed to hit any 3s in the period, they still managed to seize control. Atlanta led 55-47 at the break and zealously guarded its advantage over the final two periods, beating the Suns at their own game with plenty of hustle plays.

Phoenix was held to its fewest points in five games this season, shooting just 41 percent (35-of-86) from the field. Nash was 7-of-10 from 3-point range.

"They cleaned up everything on the glass,'' he said. "We missed a lot of shots and couldn't overcome that lack of efficiency.''

The Hawks played another close one. They opened the season at home with a 101-94 win over Dallas, then lost two straight road games at Detroit and New Jersey by a total of six points.

"We should be 4-0,'' Smith said.

But Atlanta can't complain about breaking even against a brutal opening stretch, which includes five playoff teams among the first six games. The Hawks already have beaten two teams - Dallas and Phoenix - that won more than 60 games last season.

Johnson was held to 15 points, making only 3-of-17 from the field. He offset his poor shooting by doling out 10 assists.

"Joe did a great job all night of finding the open guy,'' Williams said. "It seemed like anytime they left me open, he got me the ball.''

Nash had 11 assists, but the Hawks also swarmed around him to cause six turnovers, including a crucial one with less than a minute to go to finish off the Suns.

Notes: Longtime NBA referee Dick Bavetta is used to hearing boos, but he actually got a request for an autograph on his way back to the court for the second half. He stopped and signed. ... After Horford made a mistake at the defensive end, coach Mike Woodson called the first-round pick over for a quick lecture. "He's a rookie,'' one fan yelled. Then another, clearly a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, chimed in, "Come on, he's from Florida.'' Woodson smiled at that one. ... Stoudemire hopes to return for Friday's game at Miami, but he's not making any promises. "I still don't want to overdo it,'' he said. "I don't want to jump out too soon.''

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7 (AP) -- Somehow, the Los Angeles Clippers keep winning.

Already missing Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston because of injuries, the Clippers lost top scorer Cuttino Mobley and reserve Ruben Patterson in the first quarter Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

Even without all those players, the Clippers still have Sam Cassell. He scored 35 points to lead Los Angeles to a 104-89 win over the Pacers in a matchup of unbeaten teams.

Cassell, within two weeks of his 38th birthday, made 13 of 20 shots to tie his highest point total since he joined the Clippers in 2005.

"He's older than dirt, but he gets it done,'' Clippers center Chris Kaman joked. "He can still shoot the basketball.''

Cassell sent a message to those who wonder if his skills have diminished.

"You think I can't do it? Just sit back and watch,'' he said. "These guys on my team know I can play, I just happen to be 37 years old.''

Kaman did his share, adding 15 points and 22 rebounds for the Clippers (4-0). His rebound total was the highest of any player in the league so far this season.

"I try to take advantage of the opportunities I'm given,'' Kaman said. "I know what I've got to do. I'm no Elton Brand - I don't have that game. I just wanted to try to help fill in where he's missing.''

Mobley left the game in the first quarter holding his right groin. Patterson re-injured a dislocated right pinkie finger and later returned to the bench in street clothes.

None of that mattered Wednesday.

"Collectively as a group, we go into each and every game the underdog,'' Cassell said. "If you don't play hard against us, we will beat you.''

Danny Granger led Indiana with 16 points in his first game since being named Eastern Conference player of the week. Mike Dunleavy added 15 points and Jermaine O'Neal had 13 for the Pacers (3-1).

Kaman helped the Clippers outrebound the Pacers 53-40.

"I think defensive rebounding is every person's job, and I don't think we did a very good job of coming from the perimeter and getting involved,'' O'Brien said.

Indiana shot just 10-for-37 in the second half and scored 31 points.

"I thought we had a lot of great looks at the basket, we just missed shots tonight,'' Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "I don't think our shot selection was necessarily bad, it was just a night where we did not put the ball in the basket, and it allowed them to beat us up on the backboards.''

The Clippers also outscored the Pacers 28-19 from the free-throw line.

Indiana went on an 18-2 run from late in the first quarter to early in the second to take a 30-24 lead. The Pacers led 58-55 at halftime.

The Clippers had a 68-67 advantage in the third quarter before going on a 14-0 run that included seven points by Cassell. Los Angeles held the Pacers to 5-for-21 shooting in the quarter to lead 87-72 at the end of the period.

A jumper by Jeff Foster and a free throw by Granger cut the Clippers' lead to 11 with 7:03 left. Los Angeles answered with a bucket by Cassell and a 3-pointer by Tim Thomas to push the lead to 95-79.

The Clippers led by as many as 21 points in the final quarter.

For the first time this season, the Pacers looked sluggish. Indiana forward Jeff Foster said it was just an off night.

"It happens to everybody in the NBA,'' he said. "You're going to have your cold shooting nights, and we couldn't get the offensive rebounds to have second possessions.''

The Clippers hope to build on Wednesday's win.

"In training camp, our motto was 'Believe,''' Corey Maggette said. "We've gotten off to a great start, and we just have to keep it up.''

Notes: Pacers F Shawne Williams played for the first time after serving a team-imposed three-game suspension for driving without a license. He finished with four points, four rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes. ... Pacers C Troy Murphy played for the first time this season. He entered with 5:23 left in the first quarter after sitting out the first three games with a sore left Achilles tendon. He had 10 points and four rebounds. ... Even without Mobley, Los Angeles' starters outscored Indiana's 85-57. ... Mobley finished with two points in five minutes, and Patterson did not score in four minutes.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 7 (AP) -- The Charlotte Bobcats went from unbeaten in the first two games to beaten badly in the next two.

So much for the confidence and momentum built off their perfect start.

Andre Iguodala scored 19 points, Willie Green had 14 and the Philadelphia 76ers jumped on Charlotte early and never let up in a 94-63 win Wednesday night, sending the Bobcats back to .500 after a brief undefeated streak.

"It all fell apart,'' Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said.

The Bobcats played without point guard Raymond Felton after he hurt his left knee a night earlier against Phoenix. Without the speedy Felton leading Charlotte's up-tempo offense, the Bobcats flopped from the start.

Charlotte's 2-0 start was the first time the fourth-year team had ever been two games above .500 at any point. But the Bobcats were blown out by 32 points against the Suns on Tuesday night and then narrowly avoided a record-low point total, needing one last jumper against the Sixers to surpass the 62 scored against Houston on Dec. 8, 2006.

"We just have to forget about it,'' guard Derek Anderson said. "We've got to figure out a way to do things right.''

Matt Carroll scored 16 points, Emeka Okafor had 11 points and 11 rebounds, but the Bobcats had 29 turnovers.

While Charlotte has the same record (2-2) as the Sixers, the attitude was much more upbeat in the home locker room. Picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Sixers have been competitive in all four games and want to be over .500 by the end of their four-game homestand which ends Sunday.

Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks has stressed the importance of making the most of a favorable schedule that has the Sixers playing 14 of their first 23 games at home.

"It helps when you have a chance to have a game like that,'' Cheeks said.

The Sixers blew open the game in the second quarter and built a 20-point lead in front of about 6,000 fans. Not that the nearly empty arena mattered much to Philly.

"When I'm playing, I'm just focused on the court,'' forward Rodney Carney said. "It could be 20,000 people or 5,000. I'm just concerned about winning.''

Felton wouldn't have made much difference in the final score but the Bobcats were lost without him. Jeff McInnis, who subbed for Felton, and Jason Richardson were a combined 3-for-21 from the floor with 10 turnovers.

"We know Felton has a big impact on our team,'' Vincent said. "We sorely missed him and his calming effect on us. He gets people in the right spots.''

The Sixers led by nine at the end of the first quarter, a score that could have been much worse had their nine turnovers not taken some of the bloom off 9-for-15 shooting. Carney nailed a 3 during a 19-9 run in the second and Lou Williams' bucket brought out an extended "Looooou!'' from the home crowd.

Philly made nine more turnovers in the second, but the Bobcats missed all five three-point attempts in the quarter and went 7-for-22.

"Going into the second half, Coach gave us a big speech about how we have to finish the game off,'' Carney said. "We can't let them come back because they're capable of doing that. I'd say around the fourth quarter, 2 minutes to go, we knew it was done.''

Oh, it was over way earlier than that. The Sixers rolled to a 25-point lead in the third and Kyle Korver hit a 3 during a 6-0 run to open the fourth.

"You always think a team has a run left in them,'' Green said. "Fortunately for us, they didn't.''

Notes: Felton, who averaged 19 points in the first three games, was helped into the locker room against Phoenix without putting any pressure on his left leg. "It scared me at first,'' Felton said. "I had some stiffness and swelling but the swelling has gone down.'' ... Sixers first-round pick Thaddeus Young made his NBA debut with 1:42 left in the second quarter. ... One Bobcats basket made a pair of fans cheer. Carroll, who went to high school in the Philadelphia suburbs, hit a 19-footer and his parents cheered and clapped from their seats six rows off the floor. At least some fans were interested.

In USA TODAY, David Leon Moore writes,"Deron Williams isn't setting out to make anyone forget his legendary predecessor, John Stockton, or his superstar summer-ball teammate, Jason Kidd. But he is drawing comparisons. Just 23 years old, entering his third year in the NBA, the Utah Jazz point guard is positioning himself to be the best in the league at his position."

In the PORTLAND TRIBUNE, Kerry Eggers writes, "Sideline duty has the 7-foot rookie going stir-crazy, and he’ll be more than ready Thursday when doctors allow him to toss away his crutches for good. “I can’t wait,” says the Trail Blazer center, who underwent microfracture knee surgery Sept. 13."

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 7 (AP) -- Golden State forward Matt Barnes has a sprained finger on his shooting hand, adding another injury to the winless Warriors' early woes.

Barnes, a key part of the Warriors' postseason run last spring, was injured in the Warriors' loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night, coach Don Nelson said.

Barnes, who missed Wednesday's practice, dislocated the knuckle on the ring finger of his right hand. The injury could sideline him when Golden State hosts Dallas on Thursday night in a rematch of last season's playoff shocker, when the Warriors became the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed.

"I don't know how he could possibly catch a ball,'' Nelson said. "He played through it, but it's all swollen and discolored now.''

Barnes missed practice Wednesday along with guard Monta Ellis, who felt lightheaded when he reported to the Warriors' training complex.

Ellis, who scored 22 points against the Cavaliers, was sent home with the flu, while starting forward Kelenna Azubuike has a lingering bone bruise in his ankle that hasn't improved much since the summer.

"It just hasn't been right,'' said Azubuike, the Warriors' biggest early-season surprise after averaging 16.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in their first four games. "I might have to just play on it and get treatment. I think it's something I can play with, as long as it feels better than it did last night.''

The Warriors already are without guard Troy Hudson (left hip) and forward Austin Croshere (back).

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 7 (AP) -- Charlotte point guard Raymond Felton missed the Bobcats' game Wednesday night against Philadelphia because of a left knee injury.

Felton said he was day to day and hoped to play Friday night against Indiana.

"If it was up to me, I'd play now,'' he said.

Jeff McInnis started against Philly.

Felton was hurt against Phoenix on Tuesday night when he drove into the lane and made a spin move on Suns guard Steve Nash, who fell down in front of him. Felton tripped over him and landed awkwardly on his left leg.

A foul was called on Nash, and Felton attempted both free throws. But after missing the second, he crumpled to the floor and stayed there during the Suns' possession.

Felton, who averaged 19 points in the first three games, was attended to for several minutes before getting to his feet. He was then helped into the locker room without putting any pressure on his left leg.

"It scared me at first,'' Felton said. "I had some stiffness and swelling but the swelling has gone down.''

PHOENIX, Nov. 7 (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns will host the 2009 NBA All-Star game, the third time the city has held the basketball showcase.

Commissioner David Stern will make the announcement at a news conference Thursday at US Airways Center, where the game will be played.

Former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Suns general manager Steve Kerr also are scheduled to attend.

Phoenix was the site of the All-Star game in 1995 and 1975. Toronto, New York, Oakland and Milwaukee reportedly were contenders for the 2009 contest.

The 2008 All-Star game is Feb. 17 in New Orleans.