Kings rookie Tyreke Evans once told assistant coach and Princeton legend Pete Carril that he didn't know who Boston Celtics coaching great Red Auerbach was.

Carril shrugged, chalking the somewhat astounding moment up to the fact that Evans was born when Auerbach was in his seventh decade. And besides, the focus as far as the Kings were concerned was that Evans work hard on making a name for himself.
But as the fourth quarter of the Kings' 113-90 blowout over Toronto played out at Arco Arena on Wednesday, it was clear that Evans wasn't entirely out of touch when it came to the game's history. As he sat one assist from his first triple double – a feat that would be timely considering the fanfare of the night centered around him – he walked by Kings radio color man and one of the league's most underappreciated point guards in Fat Lever.

"I told him they cheated me on my assists," Evans would say afterward. "I was just messing with him, trying to get some more assists. I know (his reputation). That's why I went to him to pad my stats."

While the debate over the merits of each of his assists surely will come today, the stat sheet will still read: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. And rest assured, it was a historical night that Evans or anyone else on hand won't soon forget.
"There have been some phenomenal performances by some really talented young players," Westphal began politely. "But when you just look at it objectively from Day One, all the way through now, (Evans) has consistently been up there averaging 20 (points per game), five boards and five assists, and really taking steps to change the culture of this team.

"I just think that his consistency, as well as the obvious talent that he has, just really makes it an open-and-closed vote."
"(Evans) is a phenomenal player," Landry said. "He had a great game today. … (A triple double) is something that a lot of people in this league won't accomplish, and he accomplished it as a rookie."

Eddy Curry planned to resume his Knicks career Wednesday, with earnest hopes that this comeback would be different from the one he began last November, or last summer, or last March, or in January 2009, or in the fall of 2008.

Instead, the night became a microcosm of his Knicks career: anticipation without payoff.

Curry had tightness in his right calf, forcing him to scuttle his planned comeback against the San Antonio Spurs. He has not played since Dec. 17.

It was a torn muscle in Curry’s right calf that caused him to miss most of training camp, derailing his season.

“There’s no need to push it if it’s going to have the same kind of outcome,” Curry said after the Knicks’ 97-87 loss to the Spurs. “So just pretty much going game by game, see if I can get it warmed up.”

 

WHEN LARRY BROWN speaks, particularly in a part of the country where he used to coach (oh, wait a minute, he's coached in all parts), people gather. It was no different when the former 76ers and now Charlotte Bobcats coach met with the media before last night's game.

Brown was here for six seasons, the highlight being 2001, when he was named the NBA's coach of the year, guard Allen Iverson won the MVP award and the team advanced to the Finals, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The two had a tumultuous relationship during Brown's time here, but did wind up forming an inexplicable bond that both have talked glowingly about through the years. Earlier this season, when Iverson was released by the Memphis Grizzlies after just three games, Brown made no secret of his feelings that the game and Iverson needed each other.

Iverson is now out of basketball for the rest of this season to tend to his ill, 4-year-old daughter, Messiah. Recent reports also have painted the former Sixers star as struggling with alcohol and gambling problems.

Despite word that personal turmoil contributed to Rafer Alston's departure from the Miami Heat last week, coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday that "our stance is the same" when it comes to the guard's indefinite suspension without pay.

In breaking his silence about a departure that came a day after he was stripped of his starting role last Thursday, Alston told ESPN.com that his abrupt exit from the team came amid the emotional strain of his twin sister Racine's recent attempted suicide.

Spoelstra said the Heat still has yet to hear from the veteran guard beyond a single text message last Friday informing the team's trainer of his departure.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, but we still have not talked to him," Spoelstra said.

"I think we're all curious just to find out more."

According to NBAdraft.net, Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins are projected as the Nos. 8 and 11 picks in the 2011 draft. That would be just fine with Georgia coach Mark Fox because it would mean both will be back for another season.

Leslie and Thompkins are sophomores. Leslie has said he will return next season (although players have been known to change their mind). Thompkins’ situation is a little more intriguing. He has turned into a strong player and leader for the Bulldogs, and Tuesday was announced as a unanimous All-SEC first-team member — the first Georgia player to earn that honor since Jarvis Hayes in 2003.

Thompkins acknowledged Wednesday that he has been getting more individual attention lately. But he reiterated that he has not made a decision.

20-minute display, Anthony Johnson took his legacy at Montana to legendary status Wednesday night.

Fueling a 20-point comeback while rewriting the Griz record book in the process, the senior led Montana to a 66-65 instant-classic victory over Weber State in the Big Sky Conference championship game, stunning a Dee Events crowd of 6,308 and wowing a national ESPN2 audience.

The senior scored 34 of his career-high, Big Sky tournament record and Montana school record 42 points, including the go-ahead shot with 10.1 seconds remaining that sends the Griz to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006 and the eighth time overall.

Greatest game ever by a Montana player?
“Wow,” Johnson said.

“It’s kind of surreal,” the senior added. “I feel like I’m kind of dreaming. I’m going to have to watch it on television when I get back home to Montana so it can sink in.”

Rockets forward Luis Scola wrapped an arm around Jordan Hill’s shoulders and walked the rookie back to the Rockets bench, delivering instructions throughout the trip.

Before Hill could take a seat, Rockets assistant coach Jack Sikma stopped him for a few words. After he sat, Rockets director of player development Shawn Respert leaned in to offer more counsel.

Hill listened and nodded, having quickly grown accustomed to the attention, knowing that at every time out — or even dead ball — he could be hearing from Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes or Scola, followed by Sikma or Rick Adelman.

He also knew, however, that the amount of attention is a form of praise. It is not just a reflection on how much he has to learn, but on his potential, a form of rookie initiation that offers a far greater compliment than just fetching donuts or carrying bags of basketballs.

Breakthrough trip

"He’s got amazing potential," Battier said. "It’s a matter of trying to unlock that potential. He’s got a lot to learn. It’s almost a wasted year for him. He’s so far behind the curve basketball-wise. We’re trying to get him up to speed. He’s not going to figure it all out by the end of the season, but he’s got some talent. We’re trying to unleash that talent."

The Mavericks looked a lot different with their beef back. And that's the way it's going to be. They survived a lousy start Wednesday night and turned things around behind Haywood, Butler and former Net Jason Kidd, and escaped with a 96-87 victory at American Airlines Center.

That's 13 in a row, if you're counting, tying for the third-longest winning streak in franchise history.

"Our style is different depending on who's in the game," said Haywood, who returned from lower-back tightness. "When I'm in there, we're more of a traditional offensive team. But when we go small, we can really spread you out and give you that up-and-down fast pace.

"It's like two different gears. We can go the speed limit. Or we can gun that thing and go 95 down the highway."

Harris said when he looks back on his time in Dallas, he remembers more than just the NBA Finals run in 2006.

"That sticks out like a sore thumb," he said. "But they're all good memories. We didn't finish some seasons like we would have wanted to, but it's still good things."

Harris remains an interested observer of the Mavs, and he thinks their past should help motivate them.

"We got to the ultimate level," he said. "We just couldn't finish it. But I think it's good for them. Obviously, they're playing at that type of level again, and I'm excited to see what they can do in the playoffs. The way they're playing right now defensively, and the way they're running, they definitely have a shot."

Relationships aren't always easy. Familiarity spawns contempt. Lusty courtship can fade into disenchantment, disappointment.

But here on the slow road to goodbye, a strange thing is happening in Arizona.

Amar'e Stoudemire is winning hearts all over again.

"I see him as improving," Suns point guard Steve Nash said.

Enough to award him a maximum contract, which would start at $17.1 million and increase by 10½ percent annually?

"He's the type of guy who puts up those numbers, but I don't know," Nash said. "If I'm a Mark Cuban-type, maybe."

Late at night, 10 or 11 o'clock on non-game nights, Curry lets himself into the Warriors' practice gym in downtown Oakland, and shoots. Typically, he'll go an hour and a half, long enough to reach a goal, like sinking 500 shots.

He'll bring along a buddy to rebound, and an iPod sound dock loaded with rap (Lupe Fiasco is his favorite), R&B and heavy metal.

These sessions are on top of the half hour or so of extra shooting Curry does after team practices, launching from beyond the three-point arc, a robot rebound machine spitting a ball to him every few seconds.

In the Warriors' most recent game, a 135-131 loss at New Orleans on Monday, Curry was off. He was 3-for-11 from the field until the game's final minute, when he rained home back-to-back three-pointers.

"That tells you about his confidence," fellow marksman Anthony Morrow said after the game. "That's why he's so good. That's why he was good at Davidson. That's why he has been good his whole life.

Even though  Kobe Bryant called the game, uh, "garbage," his last-second winner Tuesday gave him six this season, the most in an NBA season since Elias Sports Bureau began tracking the stat in 2000-01.

Denver forward Carmelo Anthony had five in 2005-06, according to Elias, which defines the category as a shot that proved to be a game-winner in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
Bryant wasn't happy with his latest effort — make that his team's latest effort — in a near-loss to the Raptors.

The Lakers had fewer rebounds and assists and were undeniably lethargic or lackadaisical, depending on perspective, leading Bryant to say afterward that, "This thing tonight was garbage."

Gasol, for one, had nicer things to say.

"His capability of finishing games and knocking down those shots under that much pressure…it's just easy money to him," Gasol said. "We're all very impressed. No matter how many times he does it, it's still incredible and it's still unbelievable. I give him a lot of credit because not many players — one, maybe, or two — could knock down those kind of shots."

Bryant isn't perfect in the final 10 seconds this season.

He missed a 20-footer with 1.2 seconds to play in a 96-94 loss Sunday in Orlando and missed a fadeaway three-point attempt with a high degree of difficulty as time expired in a 106-105 loss to Toronto in January.

The shot sailed through the basket, the brightly colored strips of paper fell from the rafters, the fans stood and screamed.

And then, see ya.

The only thing quicker than Kobe Bryant's game-winning basket against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night was the celebration afterward.

The fans hustled out of Staples Center as if leaving a bad movie. The Lakers hustled off the floor as if leaving a messy house.

They all know. The NBA knows. If we're going to be honest with ourselves, all of Los Angeles should know.

Based on their current attitude and work ethic, the Lakers are not a championship team. If they can't summon the consistent urgency of last season, they are not even a Finals team.

Can they beat a Cleveland team that just keeps getting better? Not without home-court advantage, they can't.

Can they beat a Denver or Dallas team that finally, truly believes it is better than the Lakers? Not without an effort adjustment, they can't.

Guard Monta Ellis revealed Wednesday that he was born with a small hole at the base of his spine, a condition that he says started causing back pain in high school and still is a problem periodically.

The Warriors said the condition is called spondylolysis, a defect that occurs in up to 6 percent of the population and one that doesn't cause future concerns for the team.

Ellis was immobilized for the better part of the past 12 days but is "leaning" toward playing tonight. "Sometimes it bothers me, but not to the point where I can't move."

Don Nelson is ascending to the pinnacle of his profession, within walking distance of history, soon to be king of the NBA coaching jungle.

Where is the roar?

The Warriors coach is seven wins away from surpassing Lenny Wilkens to become the league's all-time leader in wins by a coach. Yet he approaches the finish line not to the sound of cheers, or even a visible or audible countdown. Any sign of anticipation for consummating this lifetime achievement is muffled, if not utterly muted.

"I'm OK with that," Nelson said after practice Wednesday. "I really think I prefer it that way.''
"Just means I've been coaching a long time, 30-something years," Nelson said. "Coach that many games, you're bound to win a good number of them."

Francisco García has been proving his value on a young team lately.

He has played at least 23 minutes in each of the Kings' past six games. He's been a much-needed help as an extra perimeter shooter and ballhandler.

Kings coach Paul Westphal, however, isn't one to wonder what the season might have been like if García hadn't been out until Feb. 16 because of a broken wrist suffered in a weightlifting accident before the season.

Westphal managed to find the positive in the time García missed.

"Probably, if we had 'Cisco, we wouldn't have gone down the road with Omri (Casspi) and Donté (Greene) as far as we have gone," Westphal said. "We're glad to have (García), and he's helping us."

The firing of Mike Dunleavy leaves open all kinds of possibilities with writer's favorite owner, including the return of Larry Brown.