Wake Forest Athletics
Wednesday Morning Basketball Report
2/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2009
Tim Duncan and Chris Paul are both slated to start for the Western Conference in the 58th NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
Each of the four former Demon Deacons in the National Basketball Association has just one game left before the All-Star festivities begin.
Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs have played in only two games since last Wednesday's update, winning both matchups. The Spurs now lead by 4.5 games in the Southwest Division.
Last night at New Jersey, Duncan neared a triple-double performance. He finished with 27 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in the Spurs' 15-point victory and led the team in all three categories.
Duncan currently ranks third in the NBA with 31 double-doubles this season.
On Feb. 8, Duncan recorded another double-double in the Spurs' 105-99 victory at Boston. In the win, Duncan had 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and one block. He shot 9-of-16 from the floor and converted on all five free throw attempts.
The Spurs play tonight at Toronto at 7 p.m. ET.
Josh Howard and the Dallas Mavericks have climbed to within 4.5 games of the Spurs after winning six of their past seven matchups.
Leading the Mavs, Howard finished with 23 points, with 16 coming in the first quarter, in an 18-point win over Sacramento last night. He shot 9-of-14 from the floor, grabbed six boards, totaled five assists and recorded a steal and block.
In another strong performance last Wednesday, Howard helped propel the Mavs to a 104-99 victory versus Portland. He went 11-of-17 from the floor and recorded 23 points. His 11 baskets fell one shy of his season-high mark on Nov. 16 at New York.
On Feb. 7, against Chicago, Howard got into foul trouble early but made his 27 minutes count, finishing 5-of-9 and totaling five rebounds. The Mavs pulled out a one-point victory, 115-114.
In Thursday's 115-87 loss at Utah, Howard was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line but struggled a bit from the floor, finishing 7-of-18 shooting. He also added three steals to go with his 18 points.
The Mavs will host Boston on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on TNT.
Darius Songaila, who recorded his highest-scoring game since Dec. 9 on Sunday, has seen action in four games over the past week.
On Feb. 8, the Wizards finished their five-game homestretch with a 119-117 win over Indiana, in which Songaila was 4-of-6 shooting and 5-of-5 from the line. Along with his 13 points, he also added two assists and one steal.
In games versus Denver and New Jersey, Songaila went a combined 5-of-11 from the floor with 14 total points.
Last night, Songaila was forced to leave the game during the second quarter because of an elbow injury sustained in the Wizards' 111-90 loss to Atlanta. There is no word yet on the severity of this injury.
The Wizards travel to Charlotte for both teams' final game before the All-Star break. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Paul has been sidelined with a groin injury all week and has missed the last four New Orleans Hornets' contests. However, he remains atop the NBA in assists per game (10.9) and steals per game (2.78).
The Hornets will host Boston at 8 p.m. ET tonight.
