Hornets post win in Rivers reunion
BOSTON - Austin Rivers had been looking forward to this game since he was drafted 10th by the New Orleans Hornets. Doc Rivers had been dreading it almost as long.
The Hornets rookie visited Boston on Wednesday night to face his father's team, just the fourth father to coach against his son in an NBA game.
"It's something I really did not look forward to," Doc Rivers said before the Hornets' 90-78 win. "You're trying to win a game, and you're trying to win a game that your son is playing in. You raise your kid; you want them to do well. It's strange."
Denver coach George Karl faced his son, Lakers guard Coby Karl, in 2007. Mike Dunleavy Sr. was coaching the Clippers in 2003 when they faced his son, Mike Jr., and Golden State. In 1976, Jan van Breda Kolff played for the Nets against his father, Butch van Breda Kolff, and the Jazz.
Most of the Rivers family was in Boston for the event, including Doc's wife and Austin's mom, Kristen.
Austin Rivers was confident he knew whom his mother was rooting for. "Me," he said with a mischievous smile. "Because she loves me more."
He finished with eight points in 22 minutes.
around the League
• JAMES HITS MILESTONES - At Oakland, Calif., LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to score 20,000 points and recorded his 5,000th assist in Miami's 92-75 win over Golden State. James, who had 25 points and 10 assists Wednesday, is the 13th NBA player with 20,000 points and 5,000 assists.
• SPURS STAY HOT AT HOME - At San Antonio, Tony Parker had 17 points and 11 assists as San Antonio shot 58 percent and won its 13th straight home game, 103-82 over Memphis.
• BULLS WIN IN OT - At Toronto, Luol Deng hit a go-ahead jumper with three seconds left in overtime, and Carlos Boozer scored 36 points as Chicago beat Toronto for the eighth time in nine meetings, 107-105.
• HAWKS SIT SMITH - Atlanta suspended top scorer Josh Smith for Wednesday's home game against Brooklyn for "conduct detrimental to the team." The one-game suspension included an undisclosed fine. The Hawks did not reveal the conduct that led to the suspension.
