MJ says he gave Monk love tap
Hornets owner Michael Jordan says lightly smacking guard Malik Monk on the back of the head was a “tap of endearment.” Monk and teammate Bismack Biyombo gave the Hornets a technical foul for running on the court too early after a game-winning shot by Jeremy Lamb in the closing seconds of Wednesday night’s 108-107 victory against the Pistons.
Jordan said that “it was like a big brother and little brother tap. No negative intent. Only love!”
Monk went on to say, “It’s Mike, and whatever he does is going to make [news] because nowadays it’s all social media and everybody has their phone out there and I wasn’t surprised.”
♦ James Harden had 50 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, scoring 11 points during a big fourthquarter run to lead the Rockets to a 126-111 victory over the Lakers. Harden grabbed his 10th rebound with less than 90 seconds left to give him his second triple-double this season and the 37th of his career.
LeBron James finished with 29 points for the Lakers, who had won their previous two games.
♦ Guard Spencer Dinwiddie agreed to a threeyear, $34 million contract extension with the Nets. Dinwiddie, 25, is averaging 16.9 points per game. He scored 39 on Wednesday against the Sixers.
♦ Knicks guard Allonzo Trier — a rookie revelation on a two-way contract — signed a two-year, $7 million deal with a team option for the second year.
♦ Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas will miss at least four weeks after having surgery on his left thumb.