Lakers 101 – 99 Wolves
The Lakers win 101-99 Wolves in overtime. Clarkson takes 20 points and two steals.
I think I took a few steps back. I didn’t take care of the ball well, held the ball a little too much on the offensive end. I’ve just got to keep growing, man, go back and watch the film, learn from it
Rockets 95 – 93 Pelicans
The Rockets wins 95-93 Pelicans. Harden has 25 points and 10 assists. Howard had seven rebounds and a block on Anthony Davis. Howard:
We came back from a big deficit and the one thing I kept telling the fellas was, we’ve got to stop playing around with the game. We’re on a big mission to win a championship, and we’ve got to wake up and play. I felt pretty good. It seemed like as soon as I got out there it was time to sit back down, so it was kind of an adjustment. I’m just happy to be back out there playing. The main thing for me is just really helping the team on the defensive end. The other stuff will come.
Cavaliers 111 – 89 Grizzlies
The Cavaliers wins 111-89 Grizzlies. Love has 20 points and 10 rebounds, James scores 20 points. Coach Blatt:
We came to play. We were focused on having a defensive presence in the first quarter, and I thought we had that right from the get go
Love:
Everyone really stepped up in the third quarter. So it was really, really good basketball.
James:
We obviously know how great they are defensively, especially in this building. For us to move the ball and share the ball like we did in the facet that we did was very impressive.
Spurs 130 – 91 Thunder
The Spurs win 130-91 The Thunder. Parker gets 21 points and six assists. Coach Popovich:
I think in general we played the way that we have to play to win a basketball game.
Thunder 127 -117 Lakers
Thunder wins 127-117 against the Lakers. Westbrook has a double-double (27 points, 11 assists).
We did a good job of just staying in attack mode and finishing well in the paint
Warriors 122 -108 Blazers
The Warriors wins 122-108 Blazers and clinch their first Division Title in 39 years. Stephen Curry:
We might be a little subdued, but I think everybody is proud of what we’ve done. We still have 11 games left to keep getting better so I think everybody is focused on that.
‘We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem.’
After the Mavericks’ loss to the Phoenix Suns, Carlisle rips into his team. He said the team didn’t show up in the first half of the game and that was flat-out embarrassing. The Mavs are 8-8 since the All-Star break. Seven of those losses have been decided by ten or more points.
This is a Dallas Mavericks hard-play problem, all right? We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem…It’s pretty clear that’s where our inconsistency is, and we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to be a more together team. I believe that we can do it. We did it in the second half, but it’s work. It takes effort. It takes effort in the locker room, it takes sacrifice, and we’ve got to be willing to do those things.
Retires after 19 years
After 19 years in the NBA, Nash announces his retirement. During his career, he won the MVP twice and he accumulated the third-most assists in NBA history.
The greatest gift has been to be completely immersed in my passion and striving for something I loved so much — visualizing a ladder, climbing up to my heroes. The obsession became my best friend. I talked to her, cherished her, fought with her and got knocked on my ass by her.
And that is what I’m most thankful for in my career. In my entire life, in some ways. Obviously, I value my kids and my family more than the game, but in some ways having this friend — this ever-present pursuit — has made me who I am, taught me and tested me, and given me a mission that feels irreplaceable. I am so thankful. I’ve learned so many invaluable lessons about myself and about life. And of course I still have so much to learn. Another incredible gift.
I'm retiring from basketball. Thanks for all the love through the years. http://t.co/CMqDBSYIrr pic.twitter.com/iNTG6eap4D
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) March 21, 2015
Sign player out of desperation
With eight players on their injured list and without eight healthy players that could play, the Timberwolves sign Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract just hours before their game against the Knicks. After learning he was signed, Kilpatrick quickly gathered his belongings and drove from Delaware to New York, arriving at the Timberwolves’ locker room in Madison Square Garden about 45 minutes before the start of the game. T-Wolves coach Flip Saunders:
We had to fulfill our rules, so we had to go find somebody that was within a train ride away…We had him in before so we worked him out, so we knew about him and we’ve been following him, but there’s no question that geography helped. We had to have a guy here ready to play at 7:30.
Kilpatrick:
I was just getting ready. We had practice today to get ready to play one of the other D-League teams. I didn’t think I was going to end up here. It’s kind of a blessing.
Interested in front office position
Iverson says he is interested in working within the team’s front office.
I would like to be even in that war room. Even if they don’t go with my decision or whatever, just to have an opinion and putting out what I think and trusting the organization to do what’s right.
Their fight. Their fight. The fight in a guy. I’m the biggest [Russell] Westbrook fan I think there is. You know what I mean? Because he reminds me so much of myself as far as his heart and laying it on the line night in and night out. This is a guy who’s going to bring it every single night.
Fined $5k for flopping
The NBA fines Gortat $5,000 for violating the league’s anti-flopping policy. The flop occurred when Gortat was fighting with another player for rebound positioning when Gortat exaggerated a slight push by this other player and stumbled into the stanchion under the net. This is Gortat’s second flopping offense of the season.
Files for divorce
Fisher files for divorce from his wife of ten years. The Fishers have two children together, as well as another child from a previous relationship.
This is a difficult time for me personally. For the sake of our children, I ask that everyone respects our privacy during this process.
Retires after 16 seasons
After 16 seasons in the NBA, Harrington retires. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game through a career in which he played for seven NBA teams. He is only one of five players to play more than 15 seasons after making the leap from high school to the NBA.
I’m very happy with what I was able to accomplish. I was able to change a lot of people’s lives in my family, including myself, in a game that I eventually fell in love with and will always be in love with. And hopefully, I can stay around the game until I die.
It was a fun ride. It went by fast, too. It was like one minute I was 18, the next I was 25, then was 30 and now I’m 35. It was a fun run. Met a lot of great people.
Out four to six weeks
Ibaka is out four to six weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic knee procedure to address swelling and soreness. Ibaka had been averaging 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game this season. His four-season streak of leading the NBA in total blocked shots will come to an end.
Serge is a guy that always wants to be out on the floor, rarely misses time, but we felt like with where the symptoms were, we didn’t think it was going to be improving, and because of that, this was the necessary step.
Jack Haley dies at 51
Haley passes away from heart disease at the age of 51. Foul play is not suspected, but an autopsy will be performed. Family statement:
He cherished every moment and gave 100 percent whether on or off the court. And more than anything, Jack dearly loved his family. We are humbled and grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers from around the country.
The Bulls:
The Chicago Bulls family was saddened to hear of the passing of former Bull Jack Haley. Jack was always a supportive and enthusiastic teammate and a valued member of the 1995-96 championship team that went 72-10. He always brought energy and enthusiasm to our organization and we send our condolences to Jack’s family.
Breaks nose; out three games
Korver is expected to miss at least three games after breaking his nose in a game against the Lakers. He is injured after he took an offensive foul from Davis in the first half of the game.
36 points against Bulls
Westbrook talks about the game against the Chicago Bulls. Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, including one to Morrow for a 3-pointer in the final minute, helping the Thunder hold off Bulls 109-100.
We did a good job of learning from our mistakes. The first time we played them, I had a chance to hit Serge [Ibaka] on a kickback [when] two guys was on me. Tonight, same situation — two guys on me. I kicked to A-Mo and trusted my teammate and he knocked it down, so it was good.
Brawl
Freeland and Williams headbutt after Williams exchanges words with Blazer center Meyers Leonard. The referee ejects both players and NBA will sanction their conduct Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IGwg-0mwyA
21st on all-time scoring list
James passes Ray Allen to climb to No. 21 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. James’ fast-break layup pushed him past Allen.
I didn’t know until I came to the bench and the guys congratulated me, and I was like, ‘For what? For making a layup?’ They go, ‘You passed Ray Allen.’ That’s one of my best friends. That’s a guy that I competed against, I grew up watching and then to be able to team with him the last two years when I was in Miami, I learned so much from him about work ethic, about being a professional, and it just added on to my game…To know that I passed him tonight, it’s very humbling. I guess I’ve done some pretty good things in this league so far.
Suspended one game
The NBA suspends Harden for one game without pay for kicking James in the groin during a recent game. Harden says the kick was a reaction to what was happening after he fell to the floor while getting double-teamed. While he was on his back, he kicked James in the groin. Harden:
It’s a reaction. They called a flagrant. Next play we moved on.
James:
Obviously that’s not a basketball play. Obviously the league will probably take a look at it. I have no idea why he would do that, but two competitors just trying to go at it and he won this one.
