Wake Forest Athletics
Wednesday Morning Basketball Report
4/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 1, 2009
Last night at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., Josh Howard returned to the lineup for the Dallas Mavericks after being sidelined for nearly a month with a left ankle injury. In his first game back since March 5, he was 6-of-12 from the floor for 14 points, to go with six rebounds, two assists and a steal, in the Mavs' win over the Timberwolves, 108-88.
The Mavericks currently are eighth in the Western Conference standings with a 44-30 record. They lead Phoenix by four games. Dallas will host Miami tonight at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
Staying in the Southwest Division, Chris Paul's last-minute heroics lifted the New Orleans Hornets past the San Antonio Spurs, 90-86, on Sunday. With the Spurs storming back, making the game 87-86 with 17.8 seconds remaining in the contest, Paul was fouled by Manu Ginobili near half-court with seven seconds to go. Paul went to the free throw line and sank all three of his attempts to make it a two-possession game.
Last night, Paul recorded 15 points, 15 helpers and eight rebounds in the Hornets' last-second victory, 111-110, over Sacramento.
Following Tuesday night's double-double performance, he now ranks third in the NBA lists with a total of 45 - tied with former Wake Forest standout Tim Duncan. In each of the Hornets' two losses over the past week, Paul had a double-double.
On Friday against the New York Knicks, Paul had 22 points and 10 assists in the 10-point loss. Last Wednesday in Denver's 101-88 win, Paul added 19 points and 13 assists.
With last night's victory, the Hornets (46-27) advance to sixth place in the West. New Orleans plays the Clippers in Los Angeles tonight at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Paul continues to lead the league in assists per game (11.0), assists (756), steals per game (2.81) and steals (194). He is second in triple-doubles (6) and efficiency ranking (29.78).
Securing a playoff berth last night, Tim Duncan and the Spurs are third in the conference with a 48-26 mark - also Houston - on the season.
Duncan led San Antonio in scoring with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting on Tuesday night. In the last minute, he brought the Spurs to within one and then blocked a shot by Jeff Green, but it wasn't enough as the Spurs lost, 96-95, to Oklahoma City. Duncan also added 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the contest.
Against the Hornets on Sunday, Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds.
He played only 14 minutes in the 111-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, but recorded 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the Spurs' victory.
Duncan rested last Wednesday against Atlanta. The Spurs beat the Hawks, 102-92.
Duncan ranks in the top-five players in rebounds per game (10.6), defensive rebounds (538), defensive rebounds per game (7.9), total rebounds (721) and double-doubles (45).
San Antonio plays at Indiana on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (ET).
Darius Songaila (neck) has missed the past three games for the Washington Wizards. The Washington Post reported that an MRI last week did not reveal any serious damage. He is still listed as day-to-day.
The Wizards (17-58) have gone 1-2 since last Wednesday morning and will play at Memphis tonight beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Check back next Wednesday morning for more updates featuring Howard, Paul, Duncan and Songaila and their NBA teams.
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