Celtics roll to ninth straight victory

WASHINGTON (NBA.com exclusive) -- It remains true to this day that good teams find ways to win games and bad ones will troll the depths of the ocean to find ways to lose.

Such was the case at the sold out Verizon Center in Washington D.C. last night as the Boston Celtics continued their blitzkrieg of a streak with a 104-102 victory over the Wizards.

The Celtics won for the ninth time in a row, and they extended their road record to 10-1, their last loss in enemy territory coming against Indiana back on Nov. 14. The Celtics (18-4) went into the game with the Wizards tied with Orlando for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Millsap's block, D-Will carry Jazz over Magic

SALT LAKE CITY (NBA.com exclusive) -- Deron Williams nearly had a triple-double, the Jazz committed just six turnovers and stunningly turned around a game by 34 points against a defending conference champion.

But if there was one play to look back on that was key in Utah's 120-111 win over Orlando on Thursday night, it was one made by reserve forward Paul Millsap.

Millsap blocked a shot in the paint by Orlando center Dwight Howard late in the second quarter. Williams gathered the loose ball and got it to Carlos Boozer in transition. Boozer made a layup and drew a foul, getting the Jazz within 56-45 with 3:24 left in the half.

Shorthanded Pistons squeeze out close win over Nuggets

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (NBA.com exclusive) -- On paper, the injury-depleted Pistons seem to be overmatched every game. On the court, Detroit keeps receiving unlikely contributions and blindsiding unsuspecting opponents.

Without four key players, the Pistons stretched their winning streak to four games by knocking off Western Conference power Denver 101-99 on Thursday night.

T-Mac's long road back from microfracture a familiar trip

Houston's Tracy McGrady, here in a game last January, has yet to play a game this season.

Microfracture? What's that?

Those probably were the first words out of Tracy McGrady's mouth when he heard the news. I know they were the first out of mine. The short answer is that microfracture surgery is a medical procedure on the knee that creates new cartilage. And it can potentially prolong an athlete's career. Of course, there's a lot more to it than that.

Before I give my perspective on the surgery, let's delve into why it's so prevalent in professional sports. It's not just me or T-Mac or even basketball players in general. This surgery is performed on football, baseball and hockey players, too.

Top scorers (and T-Mac) lead pack in All-Star voting

Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony are rivals now, but they could be teammates in Dallas in February.

There's Kobe and LeBron, D-Wade and 'Melo, Dwight and KG. Many of the usual suspects rank high atop the leaderboard in the first round of All-Star balloting released Thursday

Five of the NBA's top six scorers are in position to start in what promises to be the most-attended basketball game ever. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is shooting for 100,000 fans -- 80,000 might be more realistic -- when the 2010 All-Star Game sets up shop at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 14.

Knicks have eyes on more than just 'Summer of LeBron'

The Knicks' recent upturn has MSG fans thinking playoffs.

• Maybe it's not just about killing time before the Summer of LeBron. All it took was a three-game winning streak to put the Knicks and their thirsty fans in the playoff picture and give them something to think about besides stashing cash for July. Very early or not, 7-15 or not, New York has gone from a brutal start to just 2 1/2 games behind No. 8 Detroit. The Knicks don't have a trip longer than three games until March. This is the chance to show interested free agents-in-waiting that the few players who will be around in 2010-11 can help make something worthwhile.

Hill, Stoudemire offer advice for injured Oden

For Greg Oden, the mental and emotional recovery will be just as important as the physical rehab.

Asked if he had any advice for Greg Oden, Grant Hill paused for a good 10 seconds. Emotions were stirred.
"It's tough," Hill sighed. "It's not the exact same injury, but the idea of being out and getting knocked down, and going through the ordeal of rehab once and then twice ... you have to try to not lose your mind."

Frustration, helplessness, anger, depression and wondering if it's just time to give it all up are feelings all too familiar to Hill. The six-time All-Star had nearly four years of his prime taken away by ankle surgeries, along with other injuries and medical issues.

Eagles foil Tams' bid to wrap-up PCCL title series

Eric Salamat

Reigning two-time UAAP champion Ateneo made sure that it won't give Far Eastern University the national title on a silver platter.

The Blue Eagles bounced back from their disappointing loss the other day by blasting the Tamaraws, 90-63, Thursday to force a pivotal third game for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Behind a second quarter burst and a huge performance from sophomore forward Nico Salva and veteran guard Eric Salamat, the Loyola-based squad kept its hopes of retaining the championship via an easy win.

Game 3 of this titular showdown is set on Sunday.

Former Eagles offset Cone's end-game boo-boo

Even a multi-titled coach like Tim Cone can commit mistakes in a game sometime.

Good thing that the long-time Alaska mentor has players like LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier, who delivered in the clutch to bail the Aces out of trouble against the San Miguel Beermen Wednesday night.

Alaska's Sonny Thoss, center, tries to squeeze out of the double-team defense of San Miguel Beer's Mick Pennisi, left, and Dennis Miranda during their game in the Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Big Dome.

“If we lost that game, I should have personally taken the blame and I don’t know what people would say about it," said Cone minutes after Alaska’s 122-116 overtime win.

“I have to admit I made a stupid mistake. There was a miscommunication as I thought San Miguel no longer has a timeout left," he added

Tenorio and Fonacier were former teammates while playing for Ateneo where they led the Blue Eagles to several UAAP finals appearances and a title win during the 2002 season.

Cone’s error, which nearly cost the Aces the game, happened when the architect of Alaska’s 1996 grand slam ordered Joe Devance to miss his second free throw attempt in regulation with the Aces on top by two, 108-106, with three seconds left.

The Beermen, however, still had a full time out left that Siot Tanquincen used setting up Dondon Hontiveros’ back door, alley hoop play for the equalizer to send the game into overtime.

EVERY GAME IS A MUST-WIN FOR US FROM HEREON – CHOT REYES

 
Just like the rest of the field, their goal is to clinch an outright semifinal berth.

It’s not an impossible task but Talk ‘N Text head coach Chot Reyes knows it would take a lot of hard work to get the job done

Consistency is the key. And right now the Tropang Texters are far from the team their coach has envisioned them to be.

While its bench is deep, defending champion Talk 'N Text seems to have the tendency to become a mediocre team, something that has to be addressed immediately or it may spoil their objective.

ALASKA STOPS SMB STREAK, SOLIDIFIES HOLD OF LEAD

Alaska Milk overcame a late error by its coach with a career-tying effort by LA Tenorio as it nipped a gritty San Miguel Beer, 122-116, in overtime Wednesday to keep its grip of the top spot in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Tenorio, suiting up versus his former team, sizzled with a career-high-tying 27 points he laced with six rebounds and five assists to bail the Aces out of trouble after coach Tim Cone made a glaring mistake late in regulation.

DEFENSE WINS IT ANEW FOR PUREFOODS TJ GIANTS

Roger Yap made key steal in the closing minute to help Purefoods beat the struggling Barako Bull 70-66 Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

 It was another close-shave  win for the Giants, who blew a 21-point second quarter lead and had to play excellent defense in the closing minute to earn their fourth consecutive victory.

Against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, the Giants also squandered a 15-point advantage and needed a late run in the fourth to come away with the win.

GRUDGE REMATCH BETWEEN CONFERENCE LEADERS

Right now only one thing worries San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen: Complacency.

At the moment, though, the Beermen haven’t shown signs that may cause Tanquingcen to worry.

For nearly one month and a half, they’ve been playing great basketball it would be unthinkable if they don’t clinch an outright semifinal spot in the 2009-10 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

ROGER YAP STANDS TALLEST AMONG GIANTS

 Player of the Week - Nov. 30 to Dec. 6

FOR a player dubbed as the "Samboy Lim of the Visayas’ during his amateur days, a lot was expected from Roger Yap when he moved up to the pros.

But that monicker wouldn’t stick as the excitement in is game took a backseat when he concentrated on being a role player.

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