Duke in the NBA Update: Boozer Heating Up

DURHAM, N.C. - Several Blue Devils are sustaining their success as the NBA regular season is nearing its halfway mark. Carlos Boozer has had the hot scoring hand as of late for the Bulls, as he has scored at least 20 points in each of his past four games and is fifth in the league with 18 double-doubles. Mike Dunleavy is playing an important role off the bench for the Bucks this season and was one rebound and four assists shy of a triple-double in a 104-95 win over the Heat on Dec. 29. Kyrie Irving has continued his impressive year by hitting the game-winner over Charlotte on Jan. 4 to finish with 33 points. The second-year pro also finished with 33 points last night against the Hawks after going 11-of-15 from the floor.

Shane Battier
Forward - Miami Heat
Drafted: 1st Round (6th pick) by the Memphis Grizzlies (2001)
2012-13 Stats: 30 games, 6.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Playing an important role off the bench this season for the Heat, Battier has seen an increase in minutes in his second season with the club, from 23.1 to 25.1 minutes per game. Battier scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three in a game the day after Christmas against the Bobcats, in addition to grabbing three rebounds. The Heat own the best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-10.

Elton Brand
Forward - Dallas Mavericks
Drafted: 1st Round (1st pick) by the Chicago Bulls (1999)
2012-13 Stats: 32 games, 6.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG
In his final game before the New Year, Brand recorded his third double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a loss against the Spurs. Brand, who ranks 20th in blocks per 48 minutes, swatted a season-high five shots in a close 99-96 loss to the Hornets on Jan. 5. The 13-year veteran came within one rebound of recording his fourth double-double of the year in a 100-94 Mavs loss to the Jazz on Jan. 7. Dallas is currently in 12th place in the Western Conference with a 13-23 overall record.

Carlos Boozer
Forward - Chicago Bulls
Drafted: 2nd Round (35th pick) by the Cleveland Cavaliers (2002)
2012-13 Stats: 33 games, 15.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Boozer has continued his consistent play with Bulls, as he has recorded 18 double-doubles for the season to rank fifth in the NBA. Boozer played a key role in Chicago's 96-89 win at Miami on Jan. 4, scoring a team-high 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. The forward shot the ball well in the game, going 12-of-17 for the night, while recording a game-best +19 rating. Boozer scored his season-high 31 points in a 96-94 win over the Magic, on his way to another double-double with 11 boards. The 10-year veteran has had a double-double in each of his past six games, while scoring 20+ points in each of his last four games. Boozer ranks second on the Bulls in scoring this season, averaging 15.4 points per game.

Luol Deng
Forward - Chicago Bulls
Drafted: 1st Round (7th pick) by the Phoenix Suns (2004)
2012-13 Stats: 33 games, 17.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Deng has continued to rise to the occasion for the Bulls this season in the absence of All-Star point guard Derrick Rose. He continues to lead the Bulls in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game, while he is leading the NBA in minutes played per game at 40.3. In the Bulls' last win against the Cavaliers on Jan. 7, he recorded a season-high four steals, while scoring 19 points and adding seven assists. Deng has scored in double figures in 29-of-32 games he has played this season, including scoring 20+ points in 12 games. He recorded his fifth double-double of the year on New Year's Eve in a 91-81 loss against the Bobcats with 20 points and 12 rebounds. The Bulls are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-14 record.

Chris Duhon
Guard - Los Angeles Lakers
Drafted: 2nd Round (38th pick) by the Chicago Bulls (2004)
2012-13 Stats: 29 games, 4.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Duhon missed two consecutive games to start the 2013 portion of the LA Lakers schedule with back spasms. Duhon returned to the lineup Jan. 6 and played 12 minutes in a 112-105 loss against the Nuggets. In the game, the eight-year pro dished five assists. He scored six points on 2-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc in a 125-112 loss to the Rockets. A native of Mamou, La., Duhon ranks second in the NBA with a 4.25 assist per turnover. Duhon is also shooting the ball well from beyond the arc with a .400 three-point shooting percentage.

Mike Dunleavy
Forward - Milwaukee Bucks
Drafted: 1st Round (3rd pick) by the Golden State Warriors (2002)
2012-13 Stats: 27 games, 11.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Dunleavy has rounded back into form for the Bucks since returning to the Milwaukee lineup after missing two weeks with a knee injury. In a 104-95 win over the Heat on Dec. 29, Dunleavy scored 18 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. He also finished with six assists in the game. He continues to play an important role off the bench for the Bucks, scoring in double figures in four of his past seven games and is third on the team averaging 11.3 points per game. He played a season-high 37 minutes in a loss to the Spurs on Jan. 2.

Gerald Henderson
Guard - Charlotte Bobcats
Drafted: 1st Round (12th pick) by the Charlotte Bobcats (2009)
2012-13 Stats: 20 games, 13.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Henderson has scored in double figures in five of the past six games for the Bobcats. He scored 19 points in a hard-fought 98-95 loss to the Hornets on Dec. 29. In the game, Henderson was 6-of-10 from the floor. Against the Cavaliers on Jan. 4, Henderson made a career-high four three pointers as the Bobcats suffered a narrow 96-94 loss. Henderson is tied with Ben Gordon for third on the team averaging 13.5 points per game.

Grant Hill
Forward - Los Angeles Clippers
Drafted: 1st Round (3rd pick) by the Detroit Pistons (1994)
2012-13 Stats: Has not accumulated any stats to date
Hill has been out indefinitely with bone bruises in his right knee. He last played in a preseason game against the Heat in Shanghai on Oct. 14, where he played 19 minutes and scored eight points. Hill returned to the Clippers practice Monday for the first time in more than two months.

Kyrie Irving
Guard - Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted: 1st Round (1st pick) by the Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)
2012-13 Stats: 26 games, 23.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Kyrie Irving ranks fourth in the NBA in field goals per 48 minutes played with 11.33, as he has continued his stellar sophomore season. In an exciting finish against the Bobcats on Jan. 4, Irving hit a 12-foot shot from the top of the lane to propel the Cavs to a 96-94 victory over Charlotte. For the game, Irving finished with 33 points and six assists. Irving continued his stellar shooting with an 11-of-15 performance against the Hawks Wednesday, finishing with 33 points. While scoring in double figures in each of his past four games, the second-year player has scored 20+ points in six of his last eight games. Irving ranks first among all second-year players with 23.5 points per game. He leads the Cavs in scoring and assists with 5.6 per game.

Dahntay Jones
Guard/Forward - Dallas Mavericks
Drafted: 1st Round (20th pick) by the Boston Celtics (2003)
2012-13 Stats: 36 games, 3.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Jones has seen action in each of the Mavericks 36 games this season, while starting 13. Jones registered a season-high two steals in a 119-109 loss at Miami. He has scored a season-best 12 points this season on two separate occasions, with the last coming against Miami.

Corey Maggette
Forward - Detroit Pistons
Drafted: 1st Round (13th pick) by the Seattle SuperSonics (1999)
2012-13 Stats: 18 games, 5.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
After being acquired by the Detroit Pistons over the summer, has appeared in 18 games this season coming off the bench. He has scored in double figures in two contests, with his season-high 11 points coming in a 103-83 Pistons win over the Celtics. He has not played since Dec. 15 against the Pacers.

Josh McRoberts
Forward - Orlando Magic
Drafted: 2nd Round (37th pick) by the Portland Trail Blazers (2007)
2012-13 Stats: 29 games, 4.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
McRoberts has appeared in 29 games for the Magic this season, while starting two. He scored a season-high 12 points on New Year's Eve at Miami, while collecting six rebounds in the two-point loss to the in-state rival Heat. Eight days later, McRoberts matched his season-high 12 points in a 125-119 loss at Portland. In that game, McRoberts displayed his all-around game collecting eight assists and six rebounds.

Miles Plumlee
Forward - Indiana Pacers
Drafted: 1st Round (26th pick) by the Indiana Pacers (2012)
2012-13 NBA Stats: 6 games, 1.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
2012-13 D-League Stats: 7 games, 13.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.6 BPG
Plumlee has been sent back to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League, where he played in two games earlier this season. Plumlee led all scorers in a Mad Ants win against Springfield with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The big man was also impressive in a 107-83 win over Erie on Dec. 29, recording his third double-double of the D-League season with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

J.J. Redick
Guard - Orlando Magic
Drafted: 1st Round (11th pick) by the Orlando Magic (2006)
2012-13 Stats: 34 games, 14.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Redick has started the month of January strong with a season-high 29 points coming Monday at Portland. In the game, Redick, who has always been known for his sharp shooting, knocked down 6-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. He is the leading scorer off the bench for the Magic this season, averaging 14.5 points per game. He has maintained his solid free-throw percentage, ranking third in the league with a .906 percentage.

Austin Rivers
Guard - New Orleans Hornets
Drafted: 1st Round (10th pick) by the New Orleans Hornets (2012)
2012-13 Stats: 34 games, 6.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Austin Rivers continues to enjoy a successful rookie season, as he played a career-high 41 minutes against the Raptors on Dec. 28. In the game, Rivers scored 11 points and was 5-of-12 from the field. He ranks in the top-six among rookie guards in scoring per game. New Orleans owns a 10-25 record this season.

Kyle Singler
Forward - Detroit Pistons
Drafted: 2nd Round (33rd pick) by the Detroit Pistons (2011)
2012-13 Stats: 36 games, 8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Singler continues to put up solid numbers for the Pistons this season. The rookie, who has started 28 games this season, scored 12 key points in a Dec. 28 game against Miami to help the Pistons top the Heat, 109-99. Two nights later against Milwaukee, Singler registered a career-best three steals, while scoring eight points to help Detroit to a 96-94 win. Singler ranks eighth among NBA rookies in scoring this season, averaging 8.3 points per game.

Nolan Smith
Guard - Portland Trail Blazers
Drafted: 1st Round (21st pick) by the Portland Trail Blaizers (2011)
2012-13 Stats: 18 games, 2.5 PPG, 0.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
2012-13 D-League Stats: 2 games, 22.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG
The Trail Blazers assigned Smith to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League Sunday. In his two games since joining the Stampede, Smith has averaged 22.5 points while scoring 28 points in his debut Monday. Prior to the assignment, Smith continued to play limited minutes for the Trail Blazers this season, appearing in 18 games this season. The second-year player scored five points and dished two assists in a 104-87 loss to the Lakers on Dec. 28. He owns a season-high of 11 points, which came in a 92-74 win over the Raptors.

Lance Thomas
Forward - New Orleans Hornets
2012-13 Stats: 29 games, 3.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG
In his second season with the Hornets, Thomas has seen playing time in 29 contests, while starting nine games. He played a season-high 28 minutes in a Dec. 28 game against the Raptors, grabbing four rebounds.

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Duke in the NBA Update: Boozer Heating Up

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