Month: December 2006

(AP) – Eddy Curry scored 26 points and the Knicks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 98-90 on Monday night for just their second home victory of the season.

David Lee added a season-high 20 points, teaming with Curry to wear out the Grizzlies’ frontcourt. Curry, who had his career-best seventh straight game with 20 or more points, grabbed 15 rebounds before fouling out, and the Knicks shot a season-best 56.3 percent from the field.

Quentin Richardson also had 20 points and Stephon Marbury finished with 16 points and six assists.

The Knicks snapped a four-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden, where they are 2-7. Coach Isiah Thomas said his team’s home woes were mental, with players worried too much about boos from the home fans.

(AP) – Robert Dozier scored 16 points, and Chris Douglas-Roberts added 14 to lead No. 16 Memphis to a 78-59 victory over Marshall on Monday night in the Conference USA opener for both teams.

Memphis (6-1) held the Thundering Herd to 33 percent shooting en route to its fourth straight win. Marshall (2-6) also struggled from the free throw line, hitting 56 percent.

Tre Whited led Marshall with 14 points, and Markel Humphrey had 12 and nine rebounds.

For a full recap, go here.

AP — James Posey hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer Saturday night to give the Miami Heat a 98-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Trailing 97-95, Miami controlled a jump ball with 1.8 seconds left and called timeout to set up the final play. Jason Williams threw the ensuing inbounds pass to Posey on the left baseline, and he launched a shot from 26 feet over the outstretched arms of Mike Miller for the game-winner.

“J-Will made all the reads for the play, and when I got it, I had a good look,” Posey said. “I got a great look. I could see the basket. The only thing I was really worried about was my feet being inbounds.”

Officials reviewed the play before ruling it good both from outside the arc and before time ran out.

For a full recap of the game, go here.

AP — Robert Dozier had 19 points and nine rebounds Saturday as No. 14 Memphis used defensive pressure and inside dominance for a 77-59 victory over Manhattan.

Dozier connected on 7-of-11 shots from the field as Memphis (5-1), which had five players in double figures, never trailed. The Jaspers managed only one tie, midway through the first half.

For the whole story, go here.

It was blessedly brief. It was bizarre. It was for a good
cause.

But is it a good cause when a proud man, Joe Frazier,
former heavyweight champion of the world, a boxer of unbelievable courage, plays the fool? When he staggers across a ring on crippled knees, crippled back, and with a mind that was thinking who knows what to trade three minutes of pulled love taps with the mayor of Memphis?

Sorry, it was like watching Johnny Unitas at 62 trying to
throw a 60-yard spiral or Larry Finch in his later years trying to hit a
three-pointer. It was borderline indecent, especially in the third “round” when
Frazier stumbled, tumbled, and nearly fell through the ropes and out of the
ring. Herenton, as gentlemanly as he is athletic, immediately grasped the
situation and barely laid a glove on the former champ. It was like watching a
grandfather playing with his infant grandchildren.

The mayor, aka “The Duke,” wearing electric blue trunks
with a white stripe, white shoes, and high white socks, looked fit, rangy, and
ready for some actual sparring. He danced backwards, ducked in, and generally
looked like a boxer. Frazier, wearing green and yellow, looked ready for a bed
at the Campbell Clinic.

The money raised from the event at The Peabody will go to
benefit the drug court. It should not be repeated.

John Branston

Four recent Memphis Redbirds — Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Anthony Reyes, and Chris Duncan — played significant roles for the 2006 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. MLB.com has taken a comprehensive look at each big-league team’s minor-league system, with reviews of the top performers in 2006, and a look ahead at what to expect in 2007. Check out the Cardinal report here.