NBA
KOBE, LAKERS RACE PAST SHAQ, SUNS
This was a midseason NBA game worth the price of admission. The Los Angeles Lakers took on the new-look Phoenix Suns and left a message for the Suns: We’re here and we’re serious about winning the West.
Kobe Bryant was unstoppable, pouring in 41 points on just 25 shots (16 for 25). He got some bigtime help from his new best friend Pau Gasol, who continues to appear to be the happiest player in the NBA after escaping Memphis. He scored 29 points, and Lamar Odom continued to shine from his forward position, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Suns simply could not stop the Lakers, who now are tied with Phoenix at the top of the Pacific Division with an identical record of 37-17.
Amare Stoudemire did his best to keep up with the Lakers, scoring 37 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. And Steve Nash had 26 points and eight assists.
Newcomer Shaquille O’Neal scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in his first game for Phoenix.
OTHER NBA SCORES
LA Clippers 100, Memphis 86
Cleveland 106, Indiana 97
Philadelphia 124, New York 84
Toronto 127, Orlando 110
New Orleans 104, Dallas 93
New Jersey 110, Chicago 102 (OT)
Golden State 119, Boston 117
Sacramento 119, Atlanta 107
Milwaukee 103, Detroit 98
NBA NOTES
• You just have to wonder how long a franchise like the New York Knicks can continue to allow Isiah Thomas to oversee its continual slide. There is simply nothing in Thomas’ background as a coach to suggest that he can turn around a team so mired in despair. His continual proclamations that the team will turn it around or that they need to work harder or that the guys are worried about other things like trade deadlines simply cannot be seen as confidence builders. This man was a great player, but he is in over his head as an NBA coach, and the sooner the Knicks understand that the sooner the rebuilding can begin. Until then, more nights like a 40-point loss to Philadelphia are in store.
• Things might work out for Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, and Shaquille O’Neal with their new teams, but so far, not so much. Bibby is 0-2 with the Atlanta Hawks after they lost to the Lakers on Tuesday and the Kings on Wednesday. Kidd is 0-1 after his new Mavs fell to Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. And, of course, Shaq is 0-1 with the Suns. Sometimes it takes a while for guys to get acclimated to a new team.
• How good is Chris Paul? He continues to get better and better as he leads the New Orleans Hornets to new heights. He scored 31 points on Wednesday, grabbed five rebounds, dished out 11 assists, and had nine steals. And in the third quarter, he was magical, scoring 19 of New Orleans’ 28 points. He hit all seven of his shots in that quarter. No wonder New Orleans fans are starting to chant, “MVP” in the direction of Chris Paul.
NHL
PENGUINS THIRD-PERIOD RALLY STUNS PANTHERS
You’ve heard the phrase; fight fire with fire. Well, that’s exactly what it took to cool off the NHL’s hottest team on Wednesday night. The Calgary Flames battled the red-hot Dallas Stars tough for the whole contest—the finally came away with a victory thanks to their captain.
Calgary captain Jarome Iginla scored the go-ahead goal with 2:27 remaining to help the Flames cool off the Stars 3-2. Iginla beat Stars goalie Marty Turco for his 38th goal of the season.
Alex Tanguay tallied the Flames first two goals. He scored on a power play in the first period, then beat Turco with a wrister early in the third.
NHL veteran Curtis Joseph stopped 29 Dallas shots to earn the win in just his third game with the Flames.
Dallas had won nine of its last 10 games.
OTHER NHL SCORES
New Jersey 3, San Jose 2
Chicago 3, Minnesota 0
Anaheim 3, Colorado 2 Shootout
Buffalo 4, Tampa Bay 3 – OT
New York Islanders 3, Washington 2 Shootout
FACTS OF THE DAY
NBA LEADERS
Here’s a look at some of the offensive leaders in the NBA as they head into the final 2 months of the season.
SCORING
LeBron James 30.2
Kobe Bryant 28.1
Allen Iverson 26.5
Carmelo Anthony 26.3
Dwyane Wade 24.3
Amare Stoudemire 24.3
Richard Jefferson 23.1
Michael Redd 22.9
Dirk Nowitzki 22.9
Chris Bosh 22.9
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Andris Biedrins .622
Tyson Chandler .607
Dwight Howard .601
Amare Stoudemire .589
Josh Childress .583
THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE
Jason Kapono .505
James Jones .483
Peja Stojakovic .481
Jose Calderon .480
Anthony Parker .477
REBOUNDS PER GAME
Dwight Howard 14.5
Marcus Camby 14.3
Chris Kaman 13.4
Tyson Chandler 12.4
Al Jefferson 12.1
ASSISTS PER GAME
Steve Nash 11.7
Chris Paul 10.9
Jason Kidd 10.3
Deron Williams 9.7
Jose Calderon 8.9
SPORTS SPECTRUM INSIDER
Getting to the heart of what matters in life
TODAY'S FEATURE: JAROME IGINLA, CALGARY FLAMES
BIO NOTE: Iginla began this NHL season with 324 goals and 340 assists.
RECENT NEWS: Iginla scored the game-winning goal for Calgary on Wednesday as they beat the Dallas Stars 3-2.
FAITH QUOTE: "Growing up I always had a faith, but it was an unclear faith. I was playing in Kamloops as a junior when I actually accepted Christ as my Savior. I don't really have that one date or story that I would consider to be my testimony, but I do remember the change. When I was younger, one of my best friends and I were talking and he asked me, 'What do you think happens when we die? Is it just black? Is it nothing? What do you think?' I started to think about it and I got this pit of worry in my stomach. I told him, 'Oh don't worry, God will take care of us.' But deep down it really scared me. I would try to put it out of my mind, but whenever I would think about it, this empty feeling in my stomach would come back." "This feeling of fear was there for some time until I went to my dad and asked him for help. He said to me 'Why don't you ask Jesus to come into your life, forgive your sins, and take that feeling away? If He doesn't, then you haven't lost anything, but if He does, look at what you've gained.' So that's what I did and to this day, that feeling in my stomach hasn't come back."
MINI MEMOS
Putting the SS spin on today's sports news
TALK BASEBALL, PLEASE
Day one of spring training and already Alex Rodriguez has to answer questions about performance-enhancing drugs. He shouldn’t have to answer those questions. Baseball should have in place a drug-testing program that eliminates any doubt. Talented players who are competing fairly should not have to be badgered with questions about PEDs just because baseball’s blind eye allowed the game to be sullied by a number of players who knew the game was not paying attention to what they were putting into their bodies. Guys like Alex Rodriguez should be able to report to camp, play baseball, and be asked about things like the Boston Red Sox and his place in history—not steroids. Those questions should be answered without question by a strict drug-testing program. Get it done, baseball, so we can stop having to hear about this day after day.
BONDS MARKET?
It’s almost comical to see the comments of Barry Bonds’ agent as he explains why his client would be a good pickup for any team. He talks about the fact that Bonds is in playing shape, that he had good stats last year, that he would be perfect for any team committed to winning. All of this is whistling into the wind because there is one element of the acquisition of Barry Bonds that his agent will never acknowledge: The distraction factor. Imagine how good it must feel to be in the San Francisco Giants’ training camp this year and know that there is not a side circus going on every single day of the season with Bonds as the star attraction. Fair or unfair, the mere presence of Barry Bonds is a distraction for any team. Suddenly, the relative quiet of a training camp dedicated to getting guys in shape would turn into a sideshow of reporters swarming around looking for stories about Bonds. It’s hard to imagine that any team wants to put up with the extra baggage that signing a 44-year-old slugger would bring to the team.
SPURS GET IN ON THE ACTION
The San Antonio Spurs are tweaking. They have joined the Suns, the Mavs, and the Lakers in a quest to add the one more puzzle piece that will complete their playoff picture. The Spurs sent Brent Barry and Francisco Elson to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Tim Thomas. This will give Tim Duncan some help inside. Thomas, who is 6-9 and in his 13th season in the Association, averaged 8.8 rebounds for the Sonics. Unlike the New Jersey-Dallas deal, no retired players were included in this deal.
WHO IS HE?
Testing your knowledge of past sports stars—taken from “Legends” articles from the pages of Sports Spectrum magazine
WEDNESDAY’S MYSTERY PERSON
• He attended the University of Washington, where he ran for
• Played for the Oakland Raiders from 1995-2000.
• Rushed for
• Rushed for
• Retired early from his NFL career to become a pastor in Dublin, California.
• Currently pastor of The Well, a non-denominational church in that city.
WHO IS HE? NAPOLEON KAUFMAN
THURSDAY’S MYSTERY PERSON
• He won the French Open when he was just 17
• He won 34 ATP titles during his career.
• He won nearly $20 million in prize money
• He was ranked No.
• In 1994, he won six tournaments
WHO IS HE?
SPECTRUM RADIO
SS DAILY INTERVIEW
To hear today's interview, go to the Sports Spectrum radio home page. It can be found at www.sport.org.
THE THURSDAY GUEST
RON WOLFLEY, former running back, Arizona Cardinals
Ron knows the Cards, because he not only used to play for them but he also does some announcing for them on their radio network. So, he is the right person to talk about whether the Cardinals will be moving up the feeding chain next year after an 8-8 2007. He also has some opinions about the Cardinals’ young quarterback Matt Leinart.
