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NBA: Marbury, Knicks continue turnaround
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 | No comments posted.
What a difference two weeks make.
It’s been two weeks since New York coach Isiah Thomas decreed that he didn’t think his point guard was worthy of starting. Now, he can’t stop gushing about him.
Stephon Marbury continued his turnaround with a season-high 28 points, and the New York Knicks beat the Utah Jazz 113-109 on Monday night.
“I thought Marbury was great,” Thomas said. “His leadership throughout the game, during the course of the game, his decision-making, his defense, his shot-making ability. Just from start to finish he was great. Overall a good team effort, but No. 3 was really good tonight.”
Marbury was still hearing pregame boos along with Thomas after ditching the team for a game in Phoenix when the coach told him of plans to remove him from the starting lineup. Marbury regained his starting spot last week, and on Monday he keyed one of the Knicks’ best offensive performances of the season.
Thomas stressed it was his disappointment in Marbury’s defense and leadership that led to the demotion, but Marbury has shown his offense is rounding into shape. He scored 19 points Saturday against Chicago, and followed that by going 9-for-14 and making all three 3-pointers Monday.
Zach Randolph had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Jamal Crawford added 22 points for the Knicks, who have won two in a row following an eight-game losing streak. Randolph, who grabbed a huge offensive rebound in the final seconds, has eight double-doubles in the 10 games he has played this season.
Carlos Boozer scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz had their three-game winning streak snapped. Deron Williams added 26 points and eight assists for Utah, which played Sunday in Detroit and seemed a step slow on defense, allowing the Knicks to shoot 53 percent from the field.
Wizards 110, Mavericks 98
At Dallas, Caron Butler scored 35 points and Antawn Jamison added 27 to help Washington hand Dallas its first home loss of the season and third straight overall.
Dallas, which started the season 6-0 at home, got 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Dirk Nowitzki.
Kings 112, Spurs 99
At Sacramento, Calif., Beno Udrih scored a career-high 27 points against his former team and Sacramento snapped San Antonio’s five-game winning streak.
Ron Artest added 20 points and Brad Miller had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Udrih was 8-for-12 from the field and made all nine of his free throws.
Tony Parker scored 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting and Tim Duncan had 15 points and five rebounds in just the third loss this season for San Antonio.
Warriors 129, Suns 114
At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 15 consecutive points in the fourth quarter and matched his career high with 31 points and Golden State snapped Phoenix’s eight-game winning streak.
Stephen Jackson scored a season-high 32 points in his first home appearance of the season, and Baron Davis had 28 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in Golden State’s sixth victory in seven games following an 0-6 start.
Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists for Phoenix, which lost for the first time since Nov. 7. Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill both scored 17 points for the Suns.
Timberwolves 103, Hornets 94
At New Orleans, Marko Jaric scored 21 points and Minnesota got its second victory of the season.
Sebastian Telfair scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, while fellow reserve Antoine Walker scored 17, hitting three 3-pointers and following his own miss for a key basket with 1:04 to go to stifle New Orleans’ last-gasp rally.
Chris Paul scored 31 points to lead New Orleans.
Rockets 88, Clippers 71
At Los Angeles, Tracy McGrady scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and Houston capitalized on another key injury for Los Angeles.
Rafer Alston added 17 points for the Rockets, who have consecutive wins following a six-game losing streak, and have beaten the Clippers four straight times at Staples Center. Yao Ming had 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Clippers lost point guard Sam Cassell with 8:18 left in the first quarter after he strained his left calf defending Alston away from the ball in front of the Houston bench. Cassell is one of only five Clippers to play in every game this season.
It’s been two weeks since New York coach Isiah Thomas decreed that he didn’t think his point guard was worthy of starting. Now, he can’t stop gushing about him.
Stephon Marbury continued his turnaround with a season-high 28 points, and the New York Knicks beat the Utah Jazz 113-109 on Monday night.
“I thought Marbury was great,” Thomas said. “His leadership throughout the game, during the course of the game, his decision-making, his defense, his shot-making ability. Just from start to finish he was great. Overall a good team effort, but No. 3 was really good tonight.”
Marbury was still hearing pregame boos along with Thomas after ditching the team for a game in Phoenix when the coach told him of plans to remove him from the starting lineup. Marbury regained his starting spot last week, and on Monday he keyed one of the Knicks’ best offensive performances of the season.
Thomas stressed it was his disappointment in Marbury’s defense and leadership that led to the demotion, but Marbury has shown his offense is rounding into shape. He scored 19 points Saturday against Chicago, and followed that by going 9-for-14 and making all three 3-pointers Monday.
Zach Randolph had 25 points and 14 rebounds. Jamal Crawford added 22 points for the Knicks, who have won two in a row following an eight-game losing streak. Randolph, who grabbed a huge offensive rebound in the final seconds, has eight double-doubles in the 10 games he has played this season.
Carlos Boozer scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz had their three-game winning streak snapped. Deron Williams added 26 points and eight assists for Utah, which played Sunday in Detroit and seemed a step slow on defense, allowing the Knicks to shoot 53 percent from the field.
Wizards 110, Mavericks 98
At Dallas, Caron Butler scored 35 points and Antawn Jamison added 27 to help Washington hand Dallas its first home loss of the season and third straight overall.
Dallas, which started the season 6-0 at home, got 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Dirk Nowitzki.
Kings 112, Spurs 99
At Sacramento, Calif., Beno Udrih scored a career-high 27 points against his former team and Sacramento snapped San Antonio’s five-game winning streak.
Ron Artest added 20 points and Brad Miller had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Udrih was 8-for-12 from the field and made all nine of his free throws.
Tony Parker scored 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting and Tim Duncan had 15 points and five rebounds in just the third loss this season for San Antonio.
Warriors 129, Suns 114
At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 15 consecutive points in the fourth quarter and matched his career high with 31 points and Golden State snapped Phoenix’s eight-game winning streak.
Stephen Jackson scored a season-high 32 points in his first home appearance of the season, and Baron Davis had 28 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in Golden State’s sixth victory in seven games following an 0-6 start.
Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists for Phoenix, which lost for the first time since Nov. 7. Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill both scored 17 points for the Suns.
Timberwolves 103, Hornets 94
At New Orleans, Marko Jaric scored 21 points and Minnesota got its second victory of the season.
Sebastian Telfair scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, while fellow reserve Antoine Walker scored 17, hitting three 3-pointers and following his own miss for a key basket with 1:04 to go to stifle New Orleans’ last-gasp rally.
Chris Paul scored 31 points to lead New Orleans.
Rockets 88, Clippers 71
At Los Angeles, Tracy McGrady scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and Houston capitalized on another key injury for Los Angeles.
Rafer Alston added 17 points for the Rockets, who have consecutive wins following a six-game losing streak, and have beaten the Clippers four straight times at Staples Center. Yao Ming had 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Clippers lost point guard Sam Cassell with 8:18 left in the first quarter after he strained his left calf defending Alston away from the ball in front of the Houston bench. Cassell is one of only five Clippers to play in every game this season.
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