- Bob Finnan of The News-Herald: "The 'historians' in the Cavaliers' locker room likened center Zydrunas Ilgauskas' return to the team to Michael Jordan's comeback with the Chicago Bulls on March 19, 1995. 'It was probably the most anticipated comeback since Jordan retired,' LeBron James joked after the Cavs' 97-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday. The roar from the sold-out crowd was deafening, as the fans came out to honor their hero. ... Ilgauskas was re-signed last Tuesday after being traded to Washington on Feb. 17. He missed 17 games during his 34-day exile. Sunday marked his third game back, but the first at The Q. 'It was tough emotionally, coming back and everything else,' he said. 'The crowd was awesome. It will be something I'll remember for a long time. (It was) probably one of my favorite experiences as a Cavalier.' As far as it being like Jordan's comeback, Ilgauskas said he wouldn't go that far. 'I'm sure people appreciate what I've done and what I've stood for over the years,' he said. 'It's been a great ride.' "
- Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel: "At the risk of evoking unnecessary melodrama at a time in the season when room for error still exists, the Milwaukee Bucks were facing what could be reasonably called a defining moment with a little more than seven minutes left in regulation Sunday. Coming out of a timeout, they were down by seven points to a good, young team in the Memphis Grizzlies. The Bucks had lost back-to-back games for the first time in 10 weeks, including a real demoralizer two nights prior to Miami, were down a couple of important players and, face it, you were probably thinking what Scott Skiles was thinking from the bench. 'It was a big moment in our season,' the Bucks coach said. 'We hadn't played well lately. Are we going to hang in the game? Are we going to battle or fold it up?' To the delight of a Bradley Center crowd that was playoff-worthy in size and volume, the Bucks did what was expected of a playoff-worthy team. They made hustle plays, with three from Ersan Ilyasova. They got nasty on defense, holding the Grizzlies to a single field goal in 4 minutes. They forced turnovers. Bad back and all, Andrew Bogut stood firm and took a charge. And, yeah, they should have won in regulation, but that's quibbling."
- Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Well, the Heat's dirty little secret came out in a big way Sunday
night: Udonis Haslem is a better power forward than Michael Beasley. He's flat better. It's not even close, really. Haslem isn't as athletic as Beasley. He's not instant offense. He'll never be a fan favorite, or a media story in the way Beasley is. And Haslem gets all that. He even has fun with it. 'All these people for me?' he said upon walking to his locker through the cameras and notepads after scoring 23 points in Sunday's 97-94 win against Toronto. ... 'I just told Dwyane [Wade], ‘I feel like a '72 Chevy with the ball bearings and carburetor shot, a couple of flat tires and the engine light on,' ‘ Haslem said. Right now, today, this year, and probably next year, that '72 Chevy runs better than the new-model Corvette. And Haslem being better than Beasley carries all sorts of unwanted conclusions and untidy decisions for the Heat about the future. The question, you see, isn't whether Beasley is on the trading block this summer, considering he's the Heat's lone chip to play. The question is this: What can they possibly get for him? This isn't picking on Beasley when he's down as much as wondering what has happened to his game. Again on Sunday, he looked like the typical 20-year-old kid who lost his confidence and panicked." - Israel Gutierrez of The Miami Herald: "Michael Beasley recognizes it. He didn't hesitate to admit he gets 'antsy' after missing a couple of shots. Think Wade worries if he starts a game missing five in a row? He just makes sure the next five are easier shots. Even Beasley's explanations sounded tense, as he was snapping while explaining his struggles. 'My first shot, second shot doesn't go down, I try to pick up the intensity,' Beasley said, a couple of snaps tossed in for effect. 'I just have to slow down, that's it -- from start to finish. Slow down and let the game come to me. I think lately I've done a poor job of that. I've been thinking, thinking, thinking a whole lot. It's hurting my game. I just have to get back to what I know.' What he knows, and probably doesn't want to admit, is that his future with this team might hinge on whether he snaps out of this funk. Although the Heat has plenty of cap space with which to sign talent this summer, sign-and-trade scenarios will be floating around aplenty. And you can bet Beasley's name will be in those conversations. He needs to reconnect with this surging Heat team before it goes places without him."
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: "As a fourth quarter collapse was in full swing and the offence was sputtering along, the guy with the $53 million (U.S.) contract to be the team's late-game facilitator sat on the bench, cheering intermittently, his sweats still on. Hedo Turkoglu did not play as the Raptors stumbled to a dispiriting 97-94 loss to the Heat Sunday night, reduced to the role of spectator despite being on the active list, a strange and curious twist in an ongoing saga. ... Coach Jay Triano would only say it was his decision to play the entire game without Turkoglu, who'd missed the last game and a half with a stomach virus. ... When asked if the move was intended to send a message to the 31-year-old or if the benching was due to health concerns, the coach said: 'Both.' Pressed on what the message was, Triano responded: 'Not healthy,' before the post-game media session ended. But the issue becomes more clouded with suggestions Turkoglu may have fallen out of favour by his actions during his illness. Team officials say they are aware of unconfirmed reports Turkoglu was seen out socially after missing Friday's game with his illness and, pressed, general manager Bryan Colangelo said the matter is being handled internally."
- Ross Siler of The Salt Lake Tribune: "With every three-pointer he's hit since returning from knee surgery, Kyle Korver likely has moved a step closer to a big summer as a free agent. How many teams, after all, wouldn't want to sign a shooter about to write his name in the NBA record books Not only is he leading the league in shooting 55.9 percent on three-pointers, but with eight games remaining in the Jazz's season, Korver is threatening to break Steve Kerr's single-season record for three-point accuracy of 52.4 percent with Chicago in 1994-95. As far as his future, though, Korver is quiet but clear. He'd prefer a layup to a three-pointer when it comes to free agency, saying that he'd give strong consideration to signing an extension to stay in Utah if an agreement could be reached before June 30. 'If the Jazz came to us and wanted to do something, I would definitely be very open to it,' Korver said, adding, 'I like it in Utah. I've said that all along and I mean it when I say it.' It's far from his biggest concern, with Korver saying he is focused on the present and this season. Make no mistake, though, he'd like to come back. 'I would love to finish my career here,' he said, 'and if they came with an offer that made sense, I would get it done.' "
- Jason Quick of The Oregonian: "The franchise is still Brandon Roy. And part of the foundation still rests on LaMarcus Aldridge. And the future still includes Nicolas Batum. But right now, during what is turning out to be a flying sprint to the regular-season finish line, the heart and soul of the Trail Blazers are the team's three veterans: Andre Miller, Marcus Camby and Juwan Howard. Led by their ageless and dynamic elder statesmen, the Blazers on Sunday validated their late-season push with an impressive and emphatic 92-87 win over the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder at the raucous and sold-out Ford Center. ... 'This has been going on for a while now,' coach Nate McMillan said. 'Andre, Marcus and Howard ... there is more talk now among the team. They are challenging each other, holding each other accountable. And tonight, Andre was the quarterback once again and Marcus was just good again. And Juwan has been there for us all season.' "
- Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "Kevin Durant will appear in an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated as one of the magazine’s most influential athletes. Durant had a photo shoot for the magazine last week and called his inclusion one of his biggest honors to date. 'It’s a major honor,' Durant said. 'It’s good to be recognized on the floor, but to be recognized both on the floor and off the floor feels good. It’s a testament to my family and how my mom and dad raised me. I never thought I could be in that category with those people. Hopefully I can continue to influence people to be better people and hopefully be better basketball people as well.' When asked why he should be among a list of influential athletes, he pointed to his personality. 'How humble I am and how I approach the game and the kind of person I am off the floor as well,' Durant said. 'I’m just always about the right stuff.' "
- Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News: "Four weeks ago, Michael Finley came to Gregg Popovich's home to tell the coach he didn't want to play for him anymore. Popovich was initially surprised by Finley's request that the Spurs buy out his contract and waive him. 'I didn't think that would be something that Michael Finley would ask to do,' Popovich said. ... Calling Finley 'one of the greatest guys I've ever coached,' Popovich said he harbors no resentment over Finley's abrupt departure. 'You have to put oneself in those shoes,' Popovich said. 'If you are toward the end of your career, and someone is not going to play you, and you still want to play more basketball -- what's wrong with asking to play elsewhere and trying to play as long as you possibly can? That's what he did, and I don't blame him for that a lick.' Though Finley had been playing well, averaging 5.8 points and shooting 55.1 percent in his first 11 games with Boston, Sunday's game was more forgettable. He went scoreless in 13 minutes, 23 seconds."
- Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: "The Celtics were great last night. The way they played in the first quarter against the Spurs is the kind of stuff that will send them far in the postseason. The local quintet hustled all over the defensive end of the floor, holding San Antonio to 19 points on 31.6 percent shooting. Rasheed Wallace, starting in place of the sore-kneed Kendrick Perkins, helped to hold Tim Duncan to an 0-for-4 period, and the team’s rotations were energetic and on the mark. Kevin Garnett was aggressive with his shot, scoring eight points to match Paul Pierce as the Celts took a 23-19 lead. But then the Celtics were awful last night. They were outscored by five in the second quarter and by 16 in the third as Manu Ginobili took them apart. The Spurs began getting to virtually every loose ball. The Celts seemed sound asleep while their guests were kicking sand in their faces on the way to a 94-73 loss. It is the kind of stuff that will send them home early from the postseason. With nine games and a little more than two weeks left in this fall turned winter turned spring training, it is impossible to predict with any certainty what this team will do once push comes to playoffs. There are clubs at the top of the expectation spectrum and those who are longshots at best. The Celtics are the team behind Door No. 2."
- Phil Miller of the Star Tribune: "The Timberwolves have been gruesome for six months now, but Sunday they attached the imprimatur of history to their ineptitude. Wherever Bill Blair and Sean Rooks and Greg Foster and Isaiah Rider are today, someone should let them know they officially have company in the record books: The Wolves have lost 16 in a row once more. 'Everybody is frustrated,' coach Kurt Rambis said after Phoenix extended Minnesota's skid with a 111-105 victory at Target Center. 'I'm frustrated, the coaches are, the players are, the front office is, the fans are.' Yet here's the odd thing about these modern-day Minnesota misadventurers. Even as their failures stretched over a fifth consecutive week without respite, the Wolves found signs of hope amid the despair, glimmers of progress under the avalanche of L's. What does it say about a team that can point to a franchise-record losing streak -- and see improvement?"
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