This is the November 17, 2012 news archive. View today's NBA news and rumors.

National Basketball League News and Rumors

Rajon Rondo Moves One Step Closer To A Record; Kyrie Irving Nearly Beats Dallas By Himself Dime Magazine, dimemag.com In one of those dreaded Saturday afternoon Atlantic Division games (seriously, who came up with these?), Boston turned a close game against Toronto into a rout during the second half of a 107-89 beatdown. Jason Terry, still starting in the Bean, went of…
	Bosh, James boost Wade-less Heat past Suns Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Chris Bosh scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting, ailing LeBron James added 21 and the Miami Heat closed a six-game road trip with a 97-88 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.
	Celtics' Rondo says winning MVP is 'in the picture' Nov 17, 2012 CNNSI.com Celtics' Rondo says winning MVP is 'in the picture' Related: ESPN.com
	Grizzlies down Bobcats for 8th straight win Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Mike Conley scored 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Bobcats 94-87 on Saturday night for their eighth consecutive victory. Related: CNNSI.com
	Mayo, Mavericks clutch late, shoot by Cavaliers Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com O.J. Mayo scored 19 points and the Dallas Mavericks used a pair of 9-0 runs in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-95 on Saturday night.
	Beer Of The Week: Stella Artois, Belgium's Allegedly French Beer Nov 17, 2012 Sam Eifling, deadspin.com Apparently Stella Artois used to be advertised in the U.K. under the slogan "reassuringly expensive." Without knowing the relative merits of price and quality across the pond, I can only rejoice that such a snotty tagline has gone the way of d…
	Jefferson, Jazz keep hapless Wizards winless Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Al Jefferson scored 21 points, Gordon Hayward added 15 in his first game as a reserve this season, and the Utah Jazz kept the Washington Wizards winless with an 83-76 victory on Saturday night.
	NY Knicks' meltdown against Memphis Grizzlies leads to first loss of the season, shows team must control its emotions Nov 17, 2012 nydailynews.com The Knicks kept their composure to topple the Spurs, but the next night in Memphis, they lost their cool in a team-wide meltdown that cost them a chance to defeat the Grizzlies and remain the last undefeated team.
	Former NY Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni wins big in Laker shakeup, but his hiring is a gamble for Kobe Bryant Nov 17, 2012 nydailynews.com Still hard to believe, but Mike D’Antoni beat out Phil Jackson for the Lakers job, and the D’Antoni era is expected to start Sunday against the Rockets.
	Cavailers' Zeller back from concussion Nov 17, 2012 nba.com Cavaliers rookie center Tyler Zeller has returned after missing four games with a fractured left orbital bone and a concussion.
	D'Antoni to coach Sunday pending energy level Nov 17, 2012 Brian Kamenetzky, ESPN.com New Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni hopes finally to get on the bench Sunday and coach his new team as they host the Rockets.
	Knicks' Road Test Will Conclude With a Lin Reunion Nov 17, 2012 Benjamin Hoffman, nytimes.com In starting the season 6-1, the Knicks have played three fewer games than some teams. The light schedule served two purposes, allowing the veterans to rest and frustrating the fans.
	The Ballad Of The Other J.R. Smith, Web Designer And Recipient Of Much Of The Praise And Scorn Meant For The Knicks' J.R. Smith Nov 17, 2012 Isaac Rauch, deadspin.com Via Trey Kerby, the above mournful tweet, from J.R. Smith, the web designer (and, as his Twitter bio puts it, "NOT A BASKETBALL PLAYER"). If you're wondering how the other J.R. Smith can tell basketball season has started up, well, social medi…
	Amazing Damian Lillard Alley Oop to Meyers Leonard Nov 17, 2012 Dime Magazine, dimemag.com From last night’s NBA action, watch super rookie Damian Lillard push the fast break and toss a great alley oop to a streaking Meyers Leonard over the outstretched hands of Jeremy Lin. Gotta love fellow rookie Leonard calling for the oop mid-stride: For …
	University Of Florida Outlaws The Acrobatic Parts Of Cheerleading In Response To An Orlando Magic Cheerleader Injury, UF Cheerle Nov 17, 2012 Isaac Rauch, deadspin.com On Tuesday, Jamie Woode, a member of the Orlando Magic cheerleading squad and "stunt team"—that's where they throw you around—fell during a between-quarter routine and landed on her head and neck, fracturing three vertebrae and breaking a rib.…
	D'Antoni's scoring goal tough to achieve Nov 17, 2012 CNNSI.com Mike D'Antoni has high expectations for a team he sees having a high-scoring offense. But meeting those lofty goals won't be easy, even for the star-studded Lakers, writes Ben Golliver.
	"I'm 38 Years Old, Baby": Things Rasheed Wallace Said, Did, And Pointed At During Last Night's Knicks Game Nov 17, 2012 Isaac Rauch, deadspin.com Rasheed Wallace: lover, fighter, hilarious training camp invitee, and talker of the best trash in the NBA. On Tuesday, he yelled "Yeah, Aflac!" at Aaron Afflalo after Afflalo bricked a free throw; last night, he yelled everything at everybody …
	In His Battle With The Rockets, Royce White Throws Out The Nuclear Option And Takes A Stand Against Professional Sports Nov 17, 2012 Isaac Rauch, deadspin.com Royce White's been struggling. Picked 16th by the Rockets this summer, the hybrid forward was demoted to the D-League on Monday, went AWOL for about a day, and resurfaced to accuse the Rockets of mishandling his increasingly famous anxiety disorder. The… Related: ESPN.com
	The Grizzlies’ Matchup Nightmare Blows Up The Knicks; Portland’s Duo Outshines James Harden Nov 17, 2012 Dime Magazine, dimemag.com One day after New York stayed as the NBA’s last unbeaten team by being selfless and smart (and ridiculously accurate from range), Memphis usurped the Knicks as the NBA’s best team right now by luring them in, then springing the trap. Start spreading t…
	Lillard spurs Blazers to win in OT vs. Rockets Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Nicolas Batum had 35 points, rookie Damian Lillard sparked a late comeback and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Houston Rockets 119-117 in overtime Friday night.
	Lakers show up-tempo style in win over Suns Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Kobe Bryant had 31 points, Metta World Peace hit five 3-pointers while scoring 22 points and the Los Angeles Lakers played Mike D'Antoni's style of up-tempo basketball in a 114-102 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
	Undefeated no more: Knicks fall in Memphis Nov 17, 2012 Associated Press, ESPN.com Zach Randolph had 20 points and 15 rebounds, Marc Gasol added 24 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies handed the New York Knicks their first loss of the season with a 105-95 victory Friday night.
	Grizzles win 7th straight, hand Knicks first defeat Nov 17, 2012 CNNSI.com You're not going to win them all. Marc Gasol scored 24 as the Grizzlies won their seventh straight, a 105-95 verdict over the Knicks, who had been the last undefeated team in the NBA.