USA - Leg injury knocks out Spain's Garbajosa

TORONTO (NBA) - Spanish international Jorge Garbajosa’s season is in jeopardy after suffering what appeared to be a serious lower leg injury in the Raptors' 95-87 loss to the Celtics on Monday.

The 6ft 9in power forward/center landed awkwardly on his left leg and crumbled to the floor in pain after running at full tilt and leaping to block a dunk attempt by Celtic center Al Jefferson.

Garbajosa motioned to the Raptors bench for help, and medical personnel immediately placed a cast on the leg before carrying him off the court on a stretcher and taking him to hospital.

Toronto hold a six-game lead in the Atlantic Division and likely will earn the third seed in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

But the injury could be devastating for them.

"I hate that it happened because he brings so much to the table on the defensive end, offensive end, his intelligence, his knowledge of the game,” said team-mate TJ Ford.

“For him to go down in this game, it's definitely going to hurt us. Man, it's tough."

Fans in Spain will also be worried about the 29-year-old who is one of the veterans of the country’s national side.

Garbajosa made the all-tournament last year at the FIBA World Championship in Japan after helping his country capture the gold medal with an incredible six of 11 shooting performance from three-point range in the title game.

He finished that game with 20 points and 10 rebounds in that contest.

Solid defensively, a good rebounder and passer, the former Benetton Treviso and Unicaja Malaga star was coming off a season-high 22-point effort against the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

"With Garbo going down, he's a big part of our team so we're definitely going to miss him," Toronto guard TJ Ford said.

The Raptors are going through a difficult period on the injury front.

They are already without Italian rookie Andrea Bargnani, who had his appendix removed on Wednesday.

The seven-footer, who was averaging 11.5 points and earned Rookie of the Month honours in January and February, is out indefinitely.

Pistons win after amazing Wallace shot forces OT

Rasheed Wallace scored 22 points, including an incredible buzzer-beating shot from beyond halfcourt, as the undermanned Detroit Pistons held on for a 113-109 overtime triumph over the Denver Nuggets.

Known most for his fiery play, Wallace made his return to the hardwood after serving an one-game suspension following his 18th technical in a loss at San Antonio on March 23.

On Monday, Wallace connected on six of 15 shots, including two of six from three-point range, and made eight of nine free throws to register back-to-back games with at least 20 points for the first time this season.

At the end of regulation, Tayshaun Prince tipped away the inbound pass intended for Team USA captain Carmelo Anthony to set up Wallace's game-tying three-pointer off the glass from three-quarter court - 62 feet - at the buzzer to force the extra session.

In OT, Allen Iverson fed Nene for an alley-oop as Denver grabbed a 106-103 advantage with 1:14 remaining. But Wallace drained a tying three-pointer from the top of the key 15 seconds later.

After Prince picked off Iverson's pass, reserve Antonio McDyess made one of two free throws and Wallace added two more from the line to extend the lead to three points with 18 seconds left.

Denver had a chance to tie but Lithuanian international Linas Kleiza misfired from the arc and Billups sank a pair of free throws to give Detroit a 111-106 cushion with just six seconds to go and the Pistons held on.

Duncan, Parker Spur San Antonio to win

Superstar Tim Duncan scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half to lead six players in double figures as the Spurs coasted to a 126-89 triumph over the slumping Golden State Warriors.

All-Star Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists and Michael Finley also scored 20 off the bench for San Antonio, which has won at least 50 games for the eighth consecutive season.

Suns sizzle, D'Antoni takes win in stride

Raja Bell scored 29 points and Amare Stoudemire added 27 as the Phoenix Suns rolled to a 105-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies but the performance did not impress Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.

Bell provided the outside shooting for Phoenix, hitting six three-pointers, and Stoudemire was too much for Memphis in the paint as he made 12 of 17 shots and added 12 rebounds.

Already having locked up the Pacific Division title, the Suns had been struggling of late and were just 2-3 in their last five games but a meeting with the Grizzlies helped them get back to their winning ways.

But the win did not do much for D'Antoni, who said: "It is nothing to get excited about, I thought we played okay.

"There were some good things, Raja shot the ball really well and that is key for us. Amare obviously had a big night. We did our job.

"I don't think this was a measuring stick because we need to measure ourselves against Dallas and San Antonio."

Wizards bam-Boozered

Carlos Boozer scored a career-high 41 points - 36 in the second half - as the Utah Jazz notched a 103-97 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Deron Williams scored 16 points and dished out 13 assists, and Derek Fisher hit a backbreaking three-pointer and two clinching free throws in the final minute as the Jazz won for the 12th time in their last 13 home games.

Shaq attack

Shaquille O'Neal, James Posey and a date with the Atlanta Hawks got the Miami Heat back on track.

O'Neal scored 22 points and Posey added 19 as Miami snapped a two-game losing streak with a 106-89 victory over the Hawks.

Miami are now 4-0 against Atlanta this season and has won 17 of the last 19 meetings between the teams.

The Heat also have beaten the Hawks 11 straight times at home.

T-Mac, Yao on song

Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming scored 22 points each as the Houston Rockets easily dispatched the Milwaukee Bucks, 106-87.

Nelson heroics hurt Knick play-off hopes

Jameer Nelson hit consecutive three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to lead the Orlando Magic to a 94-89 victory over the New York Knicks, dealing a serious blow to New York's play-off hopes.

Nelson scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Dwight Howard had two blocks in the final minutes, including a controversial one.

Britain’s Deng hits career-high 38 for Bulls

British international Luol Deng scored a career-high 38 points as the Bulls posted a 100-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Kirk Hinrich scored 21 points and Ben Gordon netted 17 for Chicago (42-30).

The Bulls have won eight of their last 11 contests and are 13-5 since the All-Star break.

Deng, who is to play for Britain this summer in EuroBasket Division B, shot 72% (18 of 25) from the field and sank both of his free throws en route to his career night.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA