24-second clock

Most NBA coaches would love the chance to get their key players some rest in the final games before the playoffs.

Not Byron Scott. He wants to see them on the floor.

The New Orleans coach hasn't been able to send his preferred starting five out together for some time because of injuries, and he acknowledges that's a concern with the playoffs only two weeks away.

"I haven't seen them together in a while. It's been a long time since our starting five has been together, and that's the scary part," Scott said. "But the one thing that I do feel pretty comfortable about is the fact that they have been together last year most of the season, so they have a pretty good idea about each other. We have a pretty good idea about them as a group."

Tyson Chandler hasn't played since the middle of March because of swollen tendons in his left ankle and was recently placed in a walking boot to immobilize it. Peja Stojakovic, the Hornets' best outside shooter, hasn't played since March 2 because of back spasms.

The Hornets have managed to keep winning behind All-Stars Chris Paul and David West. …

Ray Allen can become a two-time winner this season even if the Boston Celtics don't repeat as NBA champions.

Allen has a chance to pick up a second NBA Sportsmanship Award as one of six players — one from each division — nominated by a seven-member panel of former players.

Along with Allen, the Atlantic Division selection, the panel chose Denver's Chauncey Billups (Northwest), Washington's Antawn Jamison (Southeast), Detroit's Antonio McDyess (Central), San Antonio's Michael Finley (Southwest) and Golden State's Ronny Turiaf (Pacific).

The Joe Dumars Trophy, voted on by NBA players, honors a player who best reflects the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. The Detroit Hall of Famer won the first sportsmanship award in 1996. …

They are second-class citizens in their own city to a college team, and the Memphis Grizzlies seem to understand that.

After all, how can they expect crowd support in their building when they never seem to win there?

"We have to bring them back. We know it's tough, and it's not easy to support a team that is just starting right now, but we need them," center Marc Gasol said.

The Grizzlies' 112-107 victory over Washington on Wednesday was their first at home since the All-Star break.

The win didn't get much notice at home. An announced crowd of just 10,013 showed up at the FedEx Forum, where the Grizzlies' average attendance of 12,595 through 37 games ranked 29th in the league, ahead of only Sacramento.

— Associated Press

Game of the week

Nuggets at Lakers, Thursday

The L.A. Lakers are clearly the top team in the West, but Denver is one of several teams trying to earn the coveted No. 2 seed in the conference. A Denver victory in this TNT-televised game would go a long way toward the Nuggets keeping the Spurs, Rockets and others at bay.