Battie To Sign With Celtics? Shaq's Thumb Injury Serious?

Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Al Jefferson was arrested and booked into jail early this morning for allegedly driving drunk, according to jail records. Jefferson was arrested by the State Patrol at 1:08 a.m., and was brought to the Hennepin County Jail shorty after 2 a.m., according to the State Patrol and jail records. He was released at 3:19 a.m. - Minneapolis Star-Tribune

How bad was it for the Heat after its 94-71 meltdown against the Bucks? Kids were among those who stuck around to boo at the finish. Burnie, Miami's orange mascot, might want to celebrate next year's bash on the road. ``I hope it don't get no worse than this,'' forward Michael Beasley said after another disappointing effort in yet another demoralizing home loss. ``This feels bad. You can only work hard from here and just pray it don't get no worse for us from here.'' - Miami Herald

Before the regular season ends, the Spurs will have played seven more sets of back-to-back games, and coach Gregg Popovich reiterated his intention to minimize the debilitating effect such sets have on team captain Tim Duncan. Even with his team mired in seventh place in a tight Western Conference race, Popovich has no intention of altering his plan to sit Duncan in some games. “Timmy will get some rest during back-to-back situations,” he said. “That's the priority, no matter what our record might be.” - San Antonio Express-News

Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said he doesn't think rookie Tyler Hansbrough will return to the lineup this season. O'Brien, speaking on his weekly radio show on WFNI-1070 AM, said there's probably not enough time remaining in the season for Hansbrough to get back. - Indianapolis Star

The Warriors are planning to call-up Reggie Williams from the D-League on Tuesday, according to Marcus Thompson of the Oakland Tribune. The NBA will give Golden State another roster exemption. - San Jose Mercury News

And his reasoning, the most rational amid a recent stream of fan fantasies, best explains why the Thunder isn’t likely to land Bosh, one of the premier players expected to be available in this summer’s free-agent market. "The Thunder is already committed to 11 players (next season), totaling about $40 million,” said Coon, who is widely regarded as the leading authority on the NBA salary cap. "Since Bosh will be eligible to earn about $16.6 million, the Thunder won’t have the cap room for him.” - Oklahoman

It’s been a baptism by fire for DeMar DeRozan in his rookie year in the NBA and the Raptors rookie appears to be feeling the heat just a little bit more, right now. In the past three games — a pair of losses and a win over the Washington Wizards — DeRozan has all but disappeared. A total of eight points in the three games is what he normally averages in a single game. - Toronto Sun

It’s going to be at least two more games before the Raptors get the franchise back on the floor. Chris Bosh and his sprained left ankle weren’t on the team charter when it took off for Oklahoma City on Saturday and he won’t be with the club in Houston on Monday either. - Toronto Sun

Six Knicks were dealt at the Feb. 18 trade deadline and, |in an upset, Al Harrington wasn’t one of them. Harrington, an expiring contract, was nearly sent to Chicago in a Tyrus Thomas deal two days before the deadline, according to a source. The Bulls eventually traded the coveted Thomas to Charlotte. - New York Post

Barrios Upholds Referee’s Call

(From Manila Standard Today)

MAUI Maurillo, the controversial referee who made a questionable call against Alaska’s Joe Devance on Purefoods’ Kerby Raymundo, made the right decision.

Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios justified Maurillo’s call in the dying seconds of Game 2 of the best-of-seven finals series between the Giants and the Aces as a correct call.

The Giants won, 86-85, after Maurillo’s call rewarded Raymundo two free throws on the foul called on Devance with 1.7 seconds left, shattering the game’s final deadlock.

“My question to the referee was, ‘was there a contact?’ Nagkaroon ba ng epekto sa play? If there’s any, then he made the right call,” Barrios told Standard Today.

Barrios said he and the technical committee viewed the play on different footages to verify if the call deserves a merit.

“The PBA office has six cameras installed on the venue aside from the seven which our television coveror is using during game time,” said Barrios. “This is to evaluate clearly whether there was a contact or if it should have been let go.”

Maurillo’s call in the dying seconds of the game helped Purefoods gain a 2-0 lead in the race-to-four series.

But it also drew flak, especially from the Alaska bench as coach Tim Cone and team manager Joaqui Trillo stormed the scorer’s table to question the call.

“Purefoods did a great job coming back into the game. They didn’t need the referees’ help. I’m sure, Purefoods wasn’t happy with their win, which was given to them on a silver platter by the referee,” said Trillo.

Even multi-titled coach Norman Black, who worked on the television panel as an analyst in Game 2, was surprised Maurillo made such a crucial call with the game hanging in the balance.

A fan, who requested anonymity, also shared his disappointment in the outcome.

“Yung mga ganu’ng situation na hindi naman obvious na foul, hindi na dapat tawagan, especially if the game is tied in the dying seconds. Kung maski hindi tawagan ‘yun, the game would go into overtime. Walang epekto to both teams ‘yun,” said the fan.