NBA: Veteran center Joakim Noah likely to retire -- report

Veteran center Joakim Noah is expected to retire after the Los Angeles Clippers decided to waive him, ESPN reported on Tuesday night.

Noah's agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the 35-year-old big man is "likely headed toward retirement."

The 6-foot-11 center appeared in 672 games (512 starts) across 13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Clippers. He averaged 8.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game to go along with 1.3 blocks per game.

Noah was a two-time All-Star and a three-time selection to the NBA's All-Defensive Team. He was the league's defensive player of the year in the 2013-14 season.

The Bulls drafted Noah in the first round (No. 9 overall) out of Florida in 2007. 

He helped the Bulls reach the playoffs seven times in his nine seasons in Chicago, where he also became deeply involved in charitable efforts through his Noah's Arc Foundation.

-reuters-

Noah, Ibaka named to All-Defensive First Team

NEW YORK - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah and Oklahoma City shot-blocker Serge Ibaka were among five players named Monday to the 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Indiana forward Paul George, Golden State swingman Andre Iguodala and Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul were also voted onto the select squad by a North American media panel.

Noah, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, ranked sixth in the NBA with 11.3 rebounds a game and added 1.51 blocked shots and 1.24 steals a game.

Sparked by Noah's efforts, the Bulls kept opponents to 43 percent shooting accuracy from the field, the second-lowest mark in the NBA this past season.

Paul led the NBA in steals for the fourth season in a row and sixth time in his career with 2.48 swipes a game, earning a place on the all-defensive team for the fourth time in his career.

Ibaka, a Congolese-born Spaniard, ranked third in the NBA with 2.47 blocked shots a game.

George ranked fifth in the NBA with 1.89 steals a game and was the only NBA player with 1.8 steals and at least 6.5 rebounds a game.

Iguodala averaged 1.50 steals a game for Golden State, who finished 10th in points allowed in the NBA last season after placing 19th in the prior campaign.

Noah received 223 votes to 161 for George, 156 for Paul, 152 for Ibaka and Angeles Clippers and 148 for Iguodala.

LeBron James, who will lead the Miami Heat in search of a third consecutive NBA title when the best-of-seven championship series opens Thursday in San Antonio, leads the All-Defensive Second Team.

James was joined on the second team by Houston guard Patrick Beverley, Chicago guard Jimmy Butler, San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard and Indiana's Roy Hibbert.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Noah's triple-double lifts Bulls over 76ers

CHICAGO - Joakim Noah notched the third triple-double of his NBA career Thursday, scoring 23 points with 21 rebounds and 11 blocked shots to lead Chicago to a 93-82 win over stumbling Philadelphia.

Carlos Boozer added 21 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago, with Luol Deng contributing 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The victory was a boost for a Bulls team that had dropped their prior three games at home.

Britain's Deng took an elbow to the face from 76ers forward Spencer Hawes in the waning seconds. He remained on court for several minutes before proceeding to the locker room.

Noah's 11 blocked shots were a career high and matched a Bulls record for blocks in a regulation game.

He became the fourth player in the last 25 years to post a triple-double featuring at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks, joining former Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal and Shawn Bradley.

The Bulls beat the 76ers for the third straight time, posting their first season sweep since Chicago won all four meetings with Philadelphia in the 1996-97 season.

The defeat stretched the Sixers' losing streak to seven games, and saw their playoff hopes dwindle further.

Philadelphia went into the game 5 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Jrue Holiday scored 22 points for Philadelphia and Hawes added 20 points and 15 rebounds.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers 94, Chicago 89

Blake Griffin was a workhorse for the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a 94-89 road win over the Chicago Bulls.

Griffin also had a steal and three assists and went 10-of-19 from the field in 37 minutes to lead Los Angeles to its seventh consecutive win.

Chris Paul added 18 points for Los Angeles and Matt Barnes scored 14 off the bench.

Carlos Boozer led Chicago with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Marco Belinelli added 18 and Taj Gibson scored 10.

Joakim Noah pulled the Bulls to within two points with a jumper with 22 seconds to play in the game, but Paul sank three free throws in the closing seconds to close out the scoring.

The Bulls, who had won five of six heading into the game, also closed to within 1 point of the lead with 2:44 to play in the second quarter but did not score again in the period and went to the locker room at halftime trailing 47-40.

source: upi.com