Sports

NBA

Celtics trade for Szczerbiak

Associated Press
Published January 27, 2006

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BOSTON - The Celtics acquired Wally Szczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi on Thursday in a multiplayer deal that sent Ricky Davis and three other players to Minnesota.

Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed and two conditional second-round picks are going to the slumping Timberwolves. The Celtics also get Dwayne Jones and a future first-round pick.

"Chemistry's a strange thing. It was a tough decision to trade Wally," Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said. "We've become a much more athletic team."

"You never know in this business," said the 6-7 Szczerbiak, second on Minnesota at 20.1 points.

Asked if occasional clashes with Kevin Garnett drove the deal, Szczerbiak said: "Who knows? I've learned a lot from him. Now we're moving on."

The 7-foot Olowokandi, a former first overall draft pick, has been a big disappointment after signing with the Wolves as a free agent in 2003.

Davis, a 6-foot-7 guard, is the Celtics' second-leading scorer (19.7).

The Timberwolves also sent 7-footer Nikoloz Tskitishvili to the Suns for a 2006 second-round pick. Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni coached Tskitishvili with Benetton Treviso of the Italian league in 2001-02.

Magic wins in OT at Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA - Pat Garrity opened overtime with consecutive 3-pointers and scored a season-high 24, Hedo Turkoglu had 25 and the Magic beat the 76ers 119-115 for a season-high fifth straight win.

Keyon Dooling made the go-ahead free throws with 1:08 left in overtime.

Allen Iverson had 38 points and 15 assists, and Chris Webber used a big second half to finish with 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Iverson hobbled off with a jammed left foot before the Sixers' final shot of the fourth (an open-look miss by Kyle Korver) but returned for OT.

Webber forced OT, following an Andre Iguodala miss to tie it at 103.

SUNS 107, HEAT 98: Steve Nash had 21 points and 14 assists and visiting Phoenix blew most of a 21-point second-half lead before beating Miami. The Heat was within five with 4:15 left, but Nash hit a 3-pointer and added a three-point play a minute later. Miami is 0-6 against the teams with the NBA's four best records: Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas and Detroit.

JAZZ: Center Greg Ostertag was suspended indefinitely for his conduct after a loss to Seattle, when he played less than 10 minutes. He did not show up for practice Thursday, when the team expected him.

PACERS: Leading scorer and rebounder Jermaine O'Neal is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a left groin tear he sustained Tuesday.

RAPTORS: Toronto fired general manager Rob Babcock, saying it should have hired someone with more experience. The Raptors are 14-29. Babcock received little in return when he traded All-Star Vince Carter to the Nets last season, and his first-round pick in 2004, center Rafael Araujo, has been a bust. Senior adviser Wayne Embry takes over on an interim basis.

[Last modified January 27, 2006, 01:22:12]

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