USA - Monsieur Gelabale to the rescue for Seattle

NEW YORK (NBA) - French international Mickael Gelabale is coming of age with the Seattle SuperSonics.

The former Real Madrid star, who collected a season-high 17 points and eight rebounds, delivered a pair of key plays in the final 30 seconds to help the Sonics ally for a 102-100 victory over the slumping Timberwolves on Friday.

Ray Allen scored 36 points to pace the SuperSonics, who have won four of their last five games.

Seattle trailed, 100-95, before Allen nailed a three-pointer with 1:01 remaining.

After a Minnesota turnover, Gelabale made a jump shot from the right wing to forge a tie with 29 seconds to play.

"I just hoped that I could hit the shot because it's my job," Gelabale said.

"I think as a team we give him the confidence," Allen said. "He has shot enough jump shots and made enough moves in practice. That's where it is the toughest. In games I hope it becomes a little easier for him. He has definitely grown a lot."

With 13 seconds left, Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Garnett missed a jumper and Gelabale snared the rebound in traffic, getting fouled by fellow rookie Craig Smith in the process.

The Frenchman split a pair of free throws, giving the hosts a 101-100 edge with 11.8 seconds to go.

"Mickael Gelabale hit some big shots tonight, but if we had the tape of the game of the things he did defensively, the stops he made, the steals he go, the rebounds he got, I mean, the kid played," Sonics coach Bob Hill said.

"His points were important but all the other things that the guy did were just as important in the game."

After a time-out, the Timberwolves got the ball into the hands of Garnett, who immediately was double-teamed by Allen and Chris Wilcox.

Garnett passed the ball to Trenton Hassell, but the forward missed a jumper from the left baseline and Garnett was whistled for shoving Earl Watson out of the way to grab the rebound with three-tenths of a second left.

Watson made one of two free throws for a two-point edge and Minnesota could not get a shot off before time expired.

Jamison carries Wizards past Pistons

Washington Wizards captain Antawn Jamison did not receive much playing time for Team USA at last summer’s FIBA World Championship but that may change next summer if he continues to put up big numbers as he did in Friday’s 99-96 triumph at Detroit.

Jamison scored 35 points and Gilbert Arenas chipped in 25 and 10 assists as the Wizards held on for victory, leaving the team from the nation’s capital atop the Eastern Conference with a 25 wins and 17 defeats.

Arenas has received most of the attention in the Wizards’ success this season and was this week voted into the starting five for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

He was just 10 of 27 (37%) from the field against the Pistons, however.

Jamison came to the rescue.

He was 13 of 23 (56.5%) from the floor and coach Eddie Jordan said: "Antawn is our captain, and he showed why.”

In the fourth quarter, Richard Hamilton's floater helped the Pistons break a 92-92 tie with 1:05 remaining, but on the next possession, Jamison hit a wide-open three-pointer from the left corner as the Wizards grabbed a one-point advantage.

After Detroit's Rasheed Wallace missed a shot from the arc, Caron Butler sank a pair of foul shots for 99-96 Washington lead with five seconds to go.

The Pistons had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Wallace misfired once again from three-point range as time expired.

Team USA will host the FIBA Americas Championship later this year in a bid to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Nuggets, Heat lose

Two of Team USA’s three captains - Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade - were on the losing end of their games with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, respectively.

Jamal Crawford nailed 16 consecutive field goals en route to a career-high 52 points as the New York Knicks routed the Heat, 116-96, to break a two-game skid.

Wade scored 37 points for Miami, who shot just 43% (31 of 72) and have dropped four of their last five games.

"Guys got to look at themselves in the mirror more than anything and try to put their best foot forward," Wade said.

"But I'm not a motivator. I have never been. Everybody is looking for me to say a speech and it is not going to happen. That is not my job. My job is to go out there, every night, and prove to my team what I bring to the table."

The game was also frustrating for Shaquille O’Neal, who scored 11 points in 15 minutes in just his second game back from injury.

"I am getting sick and tired of this," O'Neal said. "I have never been five games under .500 for my career. It is embarrassing."

Carlos Boozer scored 25 points and tied a season high by grabbing 19 rebounds as the Jazz posted a 116-111 victory over the Nuggets.

Deron Williams had 16 points and handed out 12 assists and Turkish international Mehmet Okur added 14 and five rebounds for Utah (29-15), who increased their lead in the division to five games over Denver (22-18).

Anthony scored 37 points in defeat.

Team USA's other captain, LeBron James, sat out Cleveland’s game with a toe injury, but they won anyway, beating Philadelphia 105-97.

Bobcats sweep Lakers

Emeka Okafor and the Charlotte Bobcats have the Los Angeles Lakers' number this season - even if it does take a little extra time.

Despite superstar Kobe Bryant reaching an impressive milestone, Okafor was the star, collecting 20 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks as the Bobcats took over in overtime en route to a 106-97 victory over the Lakers to sweep the season series.

Matt Carroll added 20 points for Charlotte, who beat Los Angeles in the extra period for the second time this season, notching a 133-124 triple-overtime victory on December 29.

Duncan swats nine in Spurs victory

Tim Duncan scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had a career-high nine blocks as the San Antonio Spurs posted a 112-96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Argentina’s Manu Ginobili had 17 points and French point guard Tony Parker added 18 and eight assists for San Antonio.

Pau Gasol missed the game for Memphis with a strained left hamstring.

Anthony Parker leads Raptors

A career game by former Maccabi Tel Aviv star Anthony Parker kept the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics going in opposite directions.

Parker collected career highs of 23 points and seven three-pointers, including two during a key fourth-quarter run, as the Raptors posted a 96-90 comeback victory over the sinking Celtics, who lost their 10th straight game for the first time since 2000.

Team USA center Chris Bosh added 26 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors, who completed a 4-1 homestand, reached .500 for the first time since November 11 and won their ninth game in their last 12.

Bell is hottest of Suns

Raja Bell scored 27 points and nailed a huge three-pointer down the stretch to hold off a furious fourth-quarter comeback as the Phoenix Suns won 98-90 over the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks.

The Suns set a franchise record with their 16th consecutive victory, surpassing their 15-game streak from November 20-December 19.
Their franchise-best string gives them 32 wins in their last 34 contests.

Kings stung by Brown three-ball

Devin Brown nailed a crushing three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring with 11.3 seconds left, helping the New Orleans Hornets hold on for an 88-84 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Desmond Mason collected 24 points and eight rebounds for the Hornets, who had lost three of their previous four games.

In Friday's other game, Tracy McGrady scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter and led four players in double figures as the Rockets coasted to a 99-69 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

By PA Sport