Terry Porter News

By Neil Tardy Special to ESPN.com December 3, 2008, 1:10 PM Matchups for Thursday, Dec.

He had only his second double-figure rebounding game since Nov. 5. After going to the free-throw line only 49 times in the last 10 games, he visited the stripe 10 times in the first quarter alone.

News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA. Kings at Trail Blazers Scoring: Kings 10th , Trail Blazers 14th .

Shaquille O'Neal can add this moniker to the already-long list of self-describing nicknames: The Big Dictator.

In a league seeking any marketing edge it can muster, Mike D'Antoni should be wildly encouraged.

Forgive the Suns if they seem like a team in search of an identity early this season.

So I guess that's why they don't want Shaquille O'Neal playing back-to-backs. Daily Gems John Hollinger takes a look at Tuesday's matchups and gives us five observations to look out for.

Finley steps up for Spurs : Michael Finley started at small forward Sunday at Sacramento and finished the game with 21 points off 8-for-17 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Shaq targets 60 games this year : The Arizona Republic reports that Shaquille O'Neal s says he is targeting playing in 60 games this season.

Last year, no one would believe that the Hornets -- near the top of the West pretty much all season -- were for real.

Tony Parker sprained his left ankle Friday against Miami and is expected to miss at least two weeks, adding more misery to the already short-handed San Antonio Spurs.

SI.com NBA writers will analyze the latest news and address hot topics from around the league each week.

Boston 103, Houston 99: Yao and Ron Artest shot a combined 7-of-30, and despite the best efforts of T-Mac, the Celtics held on in Clutch City.

By Neil Tardy Special to ESPN.com November 7, 2008, 12:46 PM I'm looking at the numbers, but at the moment the calendar offers the most meaningful figures.

I know that this is just the second game of the season, but every good team learns from their failures, after all Isn't that how life works? This team is a work in progress and I have to admit that it felt ...

Steve Nash played 34 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. "Thirty-four minutes is about right for him," coach Terry Porter said.

About Me: The Sports Culture is the brainchild of B-Reezy, who enslaved close friend, colleague and bodyguard Lance to work with him.

Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and four other Phoenix players scored in double figures to help the Suns beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-98 in the regular-season opener for both teams Wednesday night, giving ...

In the NBA, assistant coaches are like backup quarterbacks: They are beloved for the abilities they show in practice and praised for how well they support the man in front of them on the sideline.

There have been more Suns wins in the past four seasons than in any previous four-year run.