Players of the Week: Garnett, Paul
The Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 17 through Sunday, March 13. Garnett led the Celtics to a 3-1 week, as Boston became the first team since the Sacramento Kings in 2001 to sweep the Texas Triangle (Dallas, Houston and San Antonio). The last time Boston accomplished the feat was in 1987. Garnett had 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in Boston’s 94-74 win over the Rockets, snapping the team’s 22-game winning streak. For the week, Garnett averaged 20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals... Paul led the Hornets to a 3-0 week, averaging 25.7 points, 10.0 assists and 3.0 steals. Paul has scored 20-plus points in 15 of the team’s last 19 games. In a 113-106 win over the Celtics, New Orleans came back from a 15-point deficit as Paul scored seven of his 19 points in the final 2:12 of the game. The Celtics were 36-0 when leading by 15 or more. Paul had 37 points, 13 assists and three steals in a 108-97 victory over the Bulls. He recorded 16 fourth-quarter points to help the Hornets finish the game on a 24-4 run.
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 Monthly Awards
Adelman Records Victory No. 800
Rafer Alston scored 28 points and Tracy McGrady added 17 as the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 108-100, making Adelman the 13th coach to reach 800 wins. Adelman, who won 395 games coaching the Kings from 1998-2006, is one of six active coaches with 800 wins, joining Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Don Nelson and George Karl.
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Mavericks Set No Timetable For Nowitzki’s Return
In the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Eddie Sefko writes “the panic about whether Dirk Nowitzki is out a week, two weeks, three or longer paled Monday in comparison to the more important piece of information from the Dallas Mavericks forward.'I was really lucky,' Nowitzki said.’ That, more than anything, was the bottom line as the Mavericks prepared to start an extended stretch without the center of their universe. The 7-foot forward suffered a moderate high left ankle sprain as well as a mild left knee sprain. during the horrific fall he took in the third quarter against San Antonio on Sunday. The Mavericks made no reference to a timetable for Nowitzki's return, but one expert said Monday the normal recovery time for a high ankle sprain is three to six weeks.”
Rockets Down Kings, Hand Adelman Win No. 800
In the HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Jonathan Feigen writes “the Rockets have not lacked for variety this season, but they have not won games at the line. Then Monday morning, they talked about it; Monday night they did it. When nothing else would let them leave the Sacramento Kings behind, the Rockets made a season-high 33 free throws, including 15 of 18 in the fourth quarter to beat Sacramento 108-100 at Toyota Center. That gave Adelman his 800th career win (against 504 defeats) — sixth among active coaches and 13th all-time — against the team he guided to 395 of those victories.”
Billups Scores 32 to Extinguish the Suns In OT
In the DETROIT NEWS, Chris McCosky writes “not much happened here Monday. Rookie Rodney Stuckey played his best game of the season. Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace reminded everyone why they are elite players. And the Pistons, showing their playoff-tested toughness after two ugly losses, secured their franchise-best seventh straight 50-victory season, with a rousing 110-105 overtime victory over a Phoenix Suns team that had won seven straight games. ‘It was a big game for us,’ Billups said. ‘A lot of people have been saying we don't have any big games left because we can't move up or down in the conference, but I thought this was a big game. We had struggled the last two games, mightily. This (Phoenix) team is looking to be a No. 1 seed and they are playing for a lot. And we were short-handed. It was a good opportunity for guys to step up and they did."
Lakers Hang On, Drop Warriors in OT
In the L.A. TIMES, Mike Bresnahan writes “the comeback was much smaller, but the reward so much larger. The Lakers found themselves in an all-too-familiar position, flailing on defense and trailing the Golden State Warriors by double figures in the third quarter, but they managed to win this time, a scintillating 123-119 overtime victory Monday night at Oracle Arena. Sasha Vujacic made a key three-pointer, Lamar Odom continued to put up video-game numbers (23 points, 21 rebounds), and the Lakers (49-22) regained a half-game lead over New Orleans at the top of the Western Conference standings, after a typically frenetic game against the Warriors."
CEO Walsh To Leave Pacers After Season
In the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, Mike Wells writes “Larry Bird never had a problem winning during his 13-year NBA playing career. But now the Hall of Famer is putting his legendary status on the line. The Indiana Pacers president no longer will have CEO Donnie Walsh to turn to when he needs a second opinion about making a trade, drafting a player or signing a free agent. ‘Now it's one voice; it's mine,’ Bird said Monday after officially being handed all basketball decision-making responsibilities. The Pacers announced Walsh will leave after this season, his 24th with the organization. Walsh, 67, arrived as an assistant coach in 1984 and became general manager two years later.”
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