Wake Forest Athletics
Wednesday Morning Basketball Report
4/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 8, 2009
Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets was named the Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Kia for games played in March, as announced by the National Basketball Association on April 3. He has received this honor three other times: December 2007, March 2008 and October-November 2008. Paul and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers are the only two players in the West to receive this honor twice to-date this season.
In March, Paul and the Hornets went 11-5. He averaged 24.2 points, 10.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals in these games, shooting 52 percent from the floor and 94 percent from the free throw line.
On the same day Paul was announced as Player of the Month, Paul had a career-best performance in the Hornets' 111-103 loss at Golden State. He tied a career-best 43 points on 16-of-28 shooting. His field goals attempted, field goals made and three-pointers attempted (9) were all season-high marks. Paul also added nine assists, four rebounds and three steals in the contest.
Paul led the Hornets to a playoff-clinching overtime win, 93-87, last night against Miami with 26 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and six steals.
In the Hornets' win last Wednesday, Paul had another strong offensive performance, shooting 13-of-19 for 30 points. In the 104-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul totaled 14 assists and six steals.
On Sunday, Paul netted 19 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-12 from the floor in the Hornets' loss to Utah, 108-94.
He continues to lead the league in multiple categories, including total assists (800) and steals (210).
The playoff-bound Hornets (48-29) host Phoenix tonight at 8 p.m. (ET).
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs had his 46th and 47th double-double this week, which ranks him third - also Paul - in the NBA.
On Tuesday night, Duncan led the Spurs with 25 points and 15 rebounds in the 99-89 win over Oklahoma City. In the Spurs' 126-121 win over Indiana on Friday, Duncan recorded 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 11 assists.
Duncan finished with only six points in the Spurs' 101-81 loss at Cleveland on Sunday. He added seven rebounds.
The Southwest Division-leading Spurs (50-27) play Portland tonight at 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.
In a close Dallas Mavericks' victory, 98-96, last Wednesday vs. Miami, Josh Howard drew a late foul with 2.3 seconds remaining against rookie Mario Chalmers to help seal the win. Howard finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists.
Howard did not play on Friday in the Mavs' 107-102 loss at Memphis. He was a game-time decision but was able to return to the lineup on Sunday.
Howard helped lift the Mavs to a 140-116 win against Phoenix with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting after sitting out the previous game. He also added four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
Tonight, the Mavs' (46-31) game against Utah will be nationally televised on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. (ET). Currently, Dallas is eighth in Western Conference standings and is battling Phoenix (42-35) for the remaining playoff berth.
Darius Songaila came off the bench on Thursday to aid the Washington Wizards to a 109-101 victory at home against Cleveland. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting with six rebounds, one steal and one block in 24 minutes of action.
In games on Saturday and last Wednesday, Songaila totaled 20 minutes of playing time and six points, three rebounds and two assists. The Wizards lost both games, finishing with more than 100 points against Memphis and Miami.
Washington (18-60) plays at Cleveland tonight at 7 p.m. (ET).
Check back next week for more updates on the Deacons in the NBA as the regular season winds down.
- WakeForestSports.com -
