Wake Forest Athletics
Wednesday Morning Basketball Report
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 4, 2009
Tim Duncan and Josh Howard battle injuries, while Chris Paul nears Hornets' franchise mark in assists and Darius Songaila records a perfect day from the floor for the Wizards in National Basketball Association action.
Paul and the New Orleans Hornets have won four games over the past week and five straight. They are now 37-22 and fifth in the Western Conference standings.
In a one-point victory, 95-94, at home against Milwaukee, Paul had a season-high 20 assists to go with nine points and seven rebounds. In the first game all season he didn't score in double-figures, Paul came within one assist of tying the franchise-record mark of 21 he set in 2007. The previous record had been 19 set in 1989 by another name familiar to Wake Forest fans - Muggsy Bogues.
Paul also recorded two double-doubles this past week. On Monday night in the Hornets' 98-91 win at Philadelphia, Paul netted 16 points and 12 rebounds on 6-of-16 shooting. Last Wednesday, Paul had 20 points, 13 assists and was a perfect 7-of-7 at the line, in a 90-87 victory over Detroit.
Nearing a triple-double in his other performance this week at New Jersey on Sunday, Paul had 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and four thefts in the Hornets' 99-96 victory. He came up with the go-ahead jumper and two key steals late in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Paul remains atop the league in assists (604), steals (150), assists per game (11.0) and steals per game (2.73).
Howard and the Dallas Mavericks also have had a solid week of action in the Southwest Division. After going 3-1 since last Wednesday, they are now 36-24 and eighth in conference standings.
Last Wednesday night in a 116-96 victory over Milwaukee, Howard had 27 points and was 10-of-16 from the floor, including a 4-of-6 mark from behind the arc. He added a season-high five steals to go with seven rebounds and three blocks.
On Sunday at home in a 109-98 victory against Toronto, Howard notched 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Two days prior, Howard had 13 points in the Mavs' 110-108 overtime victory vs. Oklahoma City.
In the Mavs' most-recent game on Monday night, Howard did not start the second half after aggravating an injury to his left ankle, according to the Associated Press. Before leaving the game, he recorded seven points in the first half, breaking a streak of 32 straight games in double figures.
Duncan was also plagued by an injury this week.
After being sidelined for three games because of quad tendonosis, Duncan returned to the Spurs' starting lineup on Sunday.
In his first game since Feb. 21, Duncan had 14 points in 26 minutes of action. The Spurs lost 102-84 at Portland but Duncan set his season-high steals in a game with three.
Duncan was 7-of-11 from the floor with 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the Spurs' win against the Los Angeles Clippers the following game. He also matched his season-high steal mark of three for the second night in a row.
The Spurs continue to lead the Southwest Division with a record of 40-19 and currently boast the second-best record in the Western Conference.
The Washington Wizards remain at the bottom of the Eastern Division with a disappointing 14-46 mark, but Songaila has played well this past week.
Songaila had a perfect evening, going 6-for-6 in the Wizards' 113-90 win over Chicago, on Friday night. He recorded 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 22 minutes of play.
In other action this week, Songaila had 12 points at home in a 98-89 loss against Atlanta on Monday.
He added nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in 16 minutes at Milwaukee in a 109-93 loss on Saturday.
Last Wednesday, Songaila finished with six points in the 106-98 loss to Philadelphia.
This upcoming week boasts several important games that feature each of the former Wake Forest standouts squaring off against another Deacon currently in the NBA. Several of the matchups will be featured on national television.
Tonight, Duncan and the Spurs play Howard and the Mavericks in Dallas on ESPN at 9 p.m. (ET) in a key Southwest Division matchup.
On Thursday, Dallas will be at New Orleans to face Paul and the Hornets on TNT at 8 p.m.
Washington plays at San Antonio on Friday at 8:30 p.m., and then travels across the state to play at Dallas at 8:30 p.m. the following night. The matchup between Washington and Dallas will be aired on NBA TV.
Check back next week for additional updates on Duncan, Howard, Paul and Songaila.
- WakeForestSports.com -
