FIBA Basketball
USA - Nash finally gets his triple double for the Suns
NEW YORK (NBA) - Reigning league MVP Steve Nash waited until the final game of the season to tally a triple-double. With the play-offs looming, Nash collected 16 points, 12 assists and a season-high 10 rebounds in a 106-96 win for the Phoenix Suns
NEW YORK (NBA) - Reigning league MVP Steve Nash waited until the final game of the season to tally a triple-double.
With the play-offs looming, Nash collected 16 points, 12 assists and a season-high 10 rebounds in a 106-96 win for the Phoenix Suns over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Shawn Marion added 32 points and 11 boards as the Suns cruised to victory.
"It was a nice bonus at the end of the year but it's not much to look back on and really doesn't mean too much," Nash said.
"This was more like a practice for us, preparation for the play-offs. We wanted to go out with the right frame of mind and I think we did that."
The win sets up a first-round meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team Phoenix have beaten three times out of four this season.
Based on this performance, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni cannot wait to get started, convinced his team have found their best form at the right time.
"We left everything on the floor this year and I think we are ready," he said. "We are clicking on all cylinders and it's time for us to go out there and make a run at this championship."
Brazil's Leandro Barbosa, almost certain to feature at the FIBA World Championship, had eight points and three rebounds in the win.
When Nash and his Suns meet the Lakers, they will have to deal with one of the favourites to collect this year's MVP award.
Team USA international Kobe Bryant made one final argument in his case for the honour by scoring 27 of his 35 points in the first half to set up the Lakers for a 115-95 win over the New Orleans Hornets.
Bryant made 13 of 26 shots en route to finishing the campaign with a league-best 35.4 scoring average.
His phenomenal season included an 81-point outburst against Toronto Raptors on January 22 and saw the superstar set the Lakers' single-season scoring record with 2,832 points.
Kwame Brown added 19 points as the Lakers finished the season on a five-game winning streak.
Ray Allen scored 27 points and set the NBA's single-season record for three-pointers in a 109-98 win for the Seattle SuperSonics over the Denver Nuggets.
Making seven of 13 from beyond the arc, Allen finished the campaign with 269 three-pointers, breaking the mark set by Dennis Scott in 1995-1996.
He raised his career total to 1,755, second on the all-time list behind Reggie Miller.
Allen scored 20 of his points in the first half as Seattle took a 55-35 lead into the locker room at the interval.
Rashard Lewis and Luke Ridnour scored 15 points each and Earl Watson added 14 off the bench for the SuperSonics.
Denver were playing without the rested Team USA international Carmelo Anthony, and got 22 points from DerMarr Johnson and 17 from Linas Kleiza.
The Chicago Bulls set up a play-off meeting with the Miami Heat by beating the Raptors 127-106.
Ben Gordon scored 24 points and Luol Deng added 21 points as the Bulls clinched the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with the victory.
Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and 10 assists and Argentina international Andres Nocioni 14 and 11 rebounds as Chicago won their sixth straight game.
Morris Peterson and rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 29 points apiece for the Raptors, who finished the season losing 12 of the final 13 games.
Chicago will meet a Heat side who have limped towards the finish line, losing three as stars Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade continue to take a breather on the sidelines.
Their latest defeat came at Boston as the Celtics snapped a five-game losing streak of their own with an 85-78 win.
Rookie Ryan Gomes scored 19 points and Tony Allen added 17 for the victors in what was a tight game.
Dorell Wright scored 20 points and Antoine Walker contributed 14 for Miami.
Also on the sidelines resting were Tim Duncan and France international Tony Parker but it did not matter to the San Antonio Spurs, who still found a way to beat the Houston Rockets 89-87.
Brent Barry scored 19 points and fellow reserve Michael Finley added 17, while Argentina star Manu Ginobili had 11 for the Spurs.
The Memphis Grizzlies needed two periods of overtime to see off the Minnesota Timberwolves, eventually winning 102-92.
Brian Cardinal had 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and Lawrence Roberts added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who once again rested Spain international Pau Gasol.
Jamal Crawford collected 23 points and 11 assists and Eddy Curry added 18 points as the New York Knicks avoided recording their first-ever 60-loss season by beating the New Jersey Nets 90-83.
Despite the victory, New York (23-59) still finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and tied the 1985-86 team for the franchise's fewest wins since the NBA went to the 82-game schedule in 1967-68.
The Nets (49-33) rested All-Stars Vince Carter and Jason Kidd as they failed in their bid for their second 50-win season. Richard Jefferson was the only regular who played, scoring 15 points in 18 minutes.
New Jersey go forward to the play-offs where they will face an Indiana side who are building momentum.
They closed the regular season with an 89-83 win over the Orlando Magic.
Jermaine O'Neal had 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Stephen Jackson added 22 points and Serbia & Montenegro international Peja Stojakovic 17.
Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo led the Magic with 17 points.
The Washington Wizards set up a play-off meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers by beating the Detroit Pistons 96-80.
Caron Butler had 33 points and 12 rebounds against a Pistons side devoid of most of its resting stars.
Argentina international Carlos Delfino led Detroit with 17 points.
Cleveland also prepared with a victory, edging out the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 as LeBron James again sat out the game.
The Los Angeles Clippers, playing without Team USA's Elton Brand, beat the Dirk-Nowitzki-less Dallas Mavericks 85-71, while Carlos Boozer led the Utah Jazz to a 105-102 win over the Golden State Warriors, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
In North Carolina, the Charlotte Bobcats finished a poor season on a high, winning their franchise-high fourth straight game with a 96-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
PA Sport
With the play-offs looming, Nash collected 16 points, 12 assists and a season-high 10 rebounds in a 106-96 win for the Phoenix Suns over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Shawn Marion added 32 points and 11 boards as the Suns cruised to victory.
"It was a nice bonus at the end of the year but it's not much to look back on and really doesn't mean too much," Nash said.
"This was more like a practice for us, preparation for the play-offs. We wanted to go out with the right frame of mind and I think we did that."
The win sets up a first-round meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team Phoenix have beaten three times out of four this season.
Based on this performance, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni cannot wait to get started, convinced his team have found their best form at the right time.
"We left everything on the floor this year and I think we are ready," he said. "We are clicking on all cylinders and it's time for us to go out there and make a run at this championship."
Brazil's Leandro Barbosa, almost certain to feature at the FIBA World Championship, had eight points and three rebounds in the win.
When Nash and his Suns meet the Lakers, they will have to deal with one of the favourites to collect this year's MVP award.
Team USA international Kobe Bryant made one final argument in his case for the honour by scoring 27 of his 35 points in the first half to set up the Lakers for a 115-95 win over the New Orleans Hornets.
Bryant made 13 of 26 shots en route to finishing the campaign with a league-best 35.4 scoring average.
His phenomenal season included an 81-point outburst against Toronto Raptors on January 22 and saw the superstar set the Lakers' single-season scoring record with 2,832 points.
Kwame Brown added 19 points as the Lakers finished the season on a five-game winning streak.
Ray Allen scored 27 points and set the NBA's single-season record for three-pointers in a 109-98 win for the Seattle SuperSonics over the Denver Nuggets.
Making seven of 13 from beyond the arc, Allen finished the campaign with 269 three-pointers, breaking the mark set by Dennis Scott in 1995-1996.
He raised his career total to 1,755, second on the all-time list behind Reggie Miller.
Allen scored 20 of his points in the first half as Seattle took a 55-35 lead into the locker room at the interval.
Rashard Lewis and Luke Ridnour scored 15 points each and Earl Watson added 14 off the bench for the SuperSonics.
Denver were playing without the rested Team USA international Carmelo Anthony, and got 22 points from DerMarr Johnson and 17 from Linas Kleiza.
The Chicago Bulls set up a play-off meeting with the Miami Heat by beating the Raptors 127-106.
Ben Gordon scored 24 points and Luol Deng added 21 points as the Bulls clinched the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with the victory.
Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and 10 assists and Argentina international Andres Nocioni 14 and 11 rebounds as Chicago won their sixth straight game.
Morris Peterson and rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 29 points apiece for the Raptors, who finished the season losing 12 of the final 13 games.
Chicago will meet a Heat side who have limped towards the finish line, losing three as stars Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade continue to take a breather on the sidelines.
Their latest defeat came at Boston as the Celtics snapped a five-game losing streak of their own with an 85-78 win.
Rookie Ryan Gomes scored 19 points and Tony Allen added 17 for the victors in what was a tight game.
Dorell Wright scored 20 points and Antoine Walker contributed 14 for Miami.
Also on the sidelines resting were Tim Duncan and France international Tony Parker but it did not matter to the San Antonio Spurs, who still found a way to beat the Houston Rockets 89-87.
Brent Barry scored 19 points and fellow reserve Michael Finley added 17, while Argentina star Manu Ginobili had 11 for the Spurs.
The Memphis Grizzlies needed two periods of overtime to see off the Minnesota Timberwolves, eventually winning 102-92.
Brian Cardinal had 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and Lawrence Roberts added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who once again rested Spain international Pau Gasol.
Jamal Crawford collected 23 points and 11 assists and Eddy Curry added 18 points as the New York Knicks avoided recording their first-ever 60-loss season by beating the New Jersey Nets 90-83.
Despite the victory, New York (23-59) still finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and tied the 1985-86 team for the franchise's fewest wins since the NBA went to the 82-game schedule in 1967-68.
The Nets (49-33) rested All-Stars Vince Carter and Jason Kidd as they failed in their bid for their second 50-win season. Richard Jefferson was the only regular who played, scoring 15 points in 18 minutes.
New Jersey go forward to the play-offs where they will face an Indiana side who are building momentum.
They closed the regular season with an 89-83 win over the Orlando Magic.
Jermaine O'Neal had 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Stephen Jackson added 22 points and Serbia & Montenegro international Peja Stojakovic 17.
Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo led the Magic with 17 points.
The Washington Wizards set up a play-off meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers by beating the Detroit Pistons 96-80.
Caron Butler had 33 points and 12 rebounds against a Pistons side devoid of most of its resting stars.
Argentina international Carlos Delfino led Detroit with 17 points.
Cleveland also prepared with a victory, edging out the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 as LeBron James again sat out the game.
The Los Angeles Clippers, playing without Team USA's Elton Brand, beat the Dirk-Nowitzki-less Dallas Mavericks 85-71, while Carlos Boozer led the Utah Jazz to a 105-102 win over the Golden State Warriors, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
In North Carolina, the Charlotte Bobcats finished a poor season on a high, winning their franchise-high fourth straight game with a 96-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
PA Sport