By Mike Weilamann
February 21, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION
ARCHIVE
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Portland rookie Greg Oden sports a new mohawk haircut during and cheers on his team Thursday's victory over the Sonics at the Rose Garden.Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images/NBAE
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
“I can't believe the Heat have lost 24 of 25 (games). And they play in the Eastern Conference, you'd think they would luck into a win.”-- Former Pacers star and TNT analyst Reggie Miller during Thursday's broadcast of the Rockets' 112-100 victory over the Heat at Toyota Center.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Thursday's top play: Manu Ginobili's behind-the-back game-winner.
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NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
Life is just a fantasy. Can’t you feel this fantasy life? My apologies to Aldo Nova. With all of the deadline wheeling and dealing, many players found new homes. But have they found more or less playing time in their new digs? Erick Dampier becomes the de facto center in Dallas, now that DeSagana Diop is in New Jersey. Dampier posted 11 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes in a loss on Wednesday. Speaking of the Mavs, Josh Howard could reap added rewards with arrival of Jason Kidd, provided his sore back isn’t a lingering problem. For more insight, check out NBA.com's Fantasy Index.
SHOOTING STUDS
Dwyane Wade, Heat112-100 loss at Rockets
33 pts, 13-21 FG, 6-7 FT
Yao Ming, Rockets
112-100 win vs. Heat
21 pts, 10-11 FG
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
100-99 win at Timberwolves
44 pts, 13-18 FG, 7-9 3-pt FG, 11-12 FT
STAT SHEET STUFFER
On any other night, Tim Duncan’s line on Thursday would stand out and make people take notice. Duncan posted 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with his 14 rebounds and seven assists as the Spurs slipped past the Timberwolves. He also was a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line. However, teammate Manu Ginobili stole the show with 44 points, including a game-winning jumper with 6.2 seconds left. Well, Tim, we noticed your efforts.
SHOOTING DUDS
Bruce Bowen, Spurs100-99 win at Timberwolves
0 pts, 0-5 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG
Damien Wilkins, Sonics
92-88 loss at Blazers
7 pts, 3-11 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG
Martell Webster, Blazers
92-88 win vs. Sonics
7 pts, 1-6 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG
YOU GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM AND FOLD ‘EM
The trade winds were blowing at hurricane force as several deals were consummated before Thursday’s deadline. The largest of which involved the Bulls, Cavaliers and Sonics who combined on an 11-player deal. The Cavs sent Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Shannon Brown, Cedric Simmons and a 2009 second-round draft pick to the Bulls, and Donyell Marshall to the Sonics. The Bulls dealt Ben Wallace and Joe Smith to Cleveland, and Adrian Griffin to the Sonics, while Seattle shipped Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Cleveland. The biggest beneficiary of the deal should be the Cavs, who now have a capable point guard in West. They also added some beef up front with Wallace and Smith.
The Rockets acquired Gerald Green from the Timberwolves for Kirk Snyder, a 2010 second-round pick and cash. Detroit traded Primoz Brezec and cash to Toronto for Juan Dixon. Denver sent Von Wafer to Portland for Taurean Green.
ROCKETS ORBITING IN ANOTHER STRATOSPHERE
Break up the Houston Rockets! Yao Ming and his teammates made it 10 straight wins with Thursday’s 112-100 victory over the listless Miami Heat. On a side note, it was the first time in NBA history that one team extended its win streak to 10, while the losing team dropped its 10th straight as was the case with Miami. Earlier in the day, the Rockets made news by shipping Bonzi Wells and Mike James to New Orleans for Bobby Jackson and others in a three-team, seven-player deal. Houston also acquired 2007 Slam Dunk Champion Gerald Green from the Timberwolves. The Rockets have won 10 straight for the first time since a 15-0 start to their championship season in 1993-94. Houston is equally as good on the road -- they haven’t lost a road game since Jan. 2. -- having won nine straight away from Toyota Center. The Rockets are 19-4 since Jan. 1, including 9-0 in February. Tracy McGrady, who missed 11 games from Dec. 24 until Jan. 18 with a knee injury, has been a driving force. The Rockets are 14-1 since his return.
ROOKIE WATCH
Luis Scola did his part in red-hot Houston’s win over Miami on Thursday. The rook posted 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Rockets won for the 10th straight time. … Kevin Durant returned to action in a big way for the Sonics on Thursday after missing Tuesday’s win over the Grizzlies with the Flu. Durant scored a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds as Seattle nearly upset Portland on its home floor in the first of a back-to-back against the Blazers. Sonics teammate Jeff Green added 13 points and nine boards in the tough loss. The two teams will tee it up again Friday night at KeyArena.
SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
Travis Outlaw posted 19 points in nearly 27 minutes for the Blazers, who improved to 20-8 at the Rose Garden this season, with Thursday’s 92-88 victory over the Sonics. Outlaw hit a couple of big shots in the fourth quarter and was 4-of-4 from the foul line. His pair of free throws with 39 seconds left put the Blazers ahead 89-84 as the Sonics were threatening to take control. The win was huge for Portland, which snapped a five-game losing streak and avoided dropping six games back in the loss column for the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.
COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
You can only hope to contain Manu Ginobili. The best-known sixth man was at it again on Thursday, posting a game-high 44 points and sinking the game-winning basket with 6.2 seconds left as San Antonio slipped past Minnesota. Ginobili was 13-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-9 from three-point range. He entered the game averaging 33 points in his last three games and his 19-point streak in the second quarter (during which he hit six straight treys in the final 6:33) helped carry the Spurs to their eighth win in their last nine games and seventh in their last eight road contests.
