Tue, Apr 11, 2006 - Page 19 News List

Brewers kill Hunters' postseason hopes

HOOPS ACTION The overtime win ended Taiwan Beer's three-game losing streak as well as shooting down any chance of the Hunters participating in the coming playoffs

By Paul Huang  /  CONTRIBUTING REPORTER

Raja Bell led Phoenix with 23 points, while Boris Diaw and Shawn Marion both finished with 22. Diaw added 12 rebounds. Steve Nash had 13 points and 11 assists in 30 minutes.

Lakers 100, Clippers 83

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 17 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, Lamar Odom had 23 points and 15 rebounds, and the Lakers beat the playoff-bound Clippers.

Luke Walton added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers (41-37), who outscored the Clippers 20-6 to finish the game.

The Lakers are tied for seventh place with Sacramento in the Western Conference -- three games ahead of Utah and New Orleans, who are tied for ninth.

The top eight teams advance to the playoffs.

Elton Brand had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Sam Cassell also scored 24 for the Clippers (44-32), who had less to play for, having clinched the seventh playoff berth in the 36-year history of the franchise on Saturday when New Orleans lost at Dallas.

Denver Nuggets rookie Julius Hodge was released from a hospital on Sunday, a day after shots fired into his car on a highway wounded his legs.

Hodge released a statement through the team expressing thanks, especially to the Good Samaritan who stopped on the highway and drove Hodge and his passenger to the hospital.

"I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this time. The Nuggets have the best fans in the world and they have truly shown me some love. I have also really appreciated the heartfelt support from my family, teammates and the Denver Nuggets organization," Hodge said in a written statement.

"I'm feeling good, keeping my spirits up and looking forward to wearing a Nuggets uniform again."

The Nuggets said earlier Hodge was expected to recover and could play in two to three weeks. Coach George Karl said Hodge was shot three times.

Adams County sheriff's deputies said the 22-year-old was shot while driving on Interstate 76 in north Denver at about 2am on Saturday. Investigators said they had no suspects and did not have a motive.

Investigators said Hodge had been at the Paladium nightclub, where he had met with hip-hop artist Juelz Santana, who was performing there. Investigators and the Paladium manager said there had been no fight at the club.

After Hodge left, another car pulled alongside his and someone inside fired several times into Hodge's vehicle, authorities said. Hodge stopped and a passenger flagged down a motorist, who took both men to a hospital.

The passenger, whose name was not released, sustained minor injuries, investigators said.

Hodge has appeared in 14 NBA games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 0.9 points in 2.4 minutes.

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