DJ White jaw surgery, out 12-16 weeks

Oklahoma City Thunder forward DJ White underwent successful surgery on his jaw, it was announced by the team.

Team physicians performed the second and final procedure on Sunday, January 4 at Integris Baptist Hospital.  White underwent initial surgery on October 13 to remove a benign growth from his jaw.

Team officials expect White to miss the next 12-16 weeks following the surgery.

White, who was acquired by the Thunder as a part of a draft day trade, has yet to appear in a game this season.

Luke Walton out 2+ weeks

Lakers forward Luke Walton was examined today by Dr. Ken Jung, a foot specialist with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group. Dr. Jung confirmed that Walton is suffering from sesamoiditis (right foot).

Walton will wear a protective boot on his foot for a week and will also begin non-weight bearing rehabilitation exercises in a pool starting today. He is expected to be out a minimum of two weeks.

Clippers waive Paul Davis and Fred Jones

The Los Angeles Clippers today waived forward Paul Davis and guard Fred Jones it was announced by General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy.

Drafted by the Clippers in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft (34th overall) out of Michigan State, Davis appeared in 80 games for the Clippers from 2006-2008, making two starts and averaging 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in his career. This season, Davis played in 27 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

Jones appeared in five games with the Clippers this season after signing with Los Angeles as a free agent on Dec. 28. Jones averaged 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.6 minutes with the Clippers.

Nuggets trade Cheikh Samb to Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired center Cheikh Samb and cash considerations from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future conditional second draft pick.

A 7-foot-1-inch center from Senegal, Samb has played in six games with the Nuggets this season, averaging 0.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 4.0 minutes. Samb came to Denver on Nov. 3 along with Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess in exchange for Allen Iverson. Samb was assigned to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League on Dec. 10 and has averaged 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in 10 games with the 14ers.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 51st overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Samb, was traded to Detroit and started his career with the Pistons, appearing in four games and averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game in 2007-08 while also playing in 19 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.

Samb, 24, also played professionally in Spain before coming to the NBA, appearing for WTC Cornella and Winterthur F.C. Barcelona.

Warriors add Jermareo Davidson, waive DeMarcus Nelson

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Jermareo Davidson to a 10-day contact and placed guard DeMarcus Nelson on waivers, the team announced today.

Discuss your opinion on this news with other fans in this forum thread.

Davidson, 24, is being called-up from the NBA Developmental League’s Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 15 games.  The 6’10’’ forward ranked first in the D-League in double-doubles (10) and third in rebounding (10.8).    He scored a season-high 25 points on December 10 vs. Dakota and grabbed a season-best 14 rebounds against the Los Angeles Defenders on December 12.

Originally selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft (#36 overall), Davidson had his rights traded to the Charlotte Bobcats on June 28, 2007.  The draft-night trade sent Davidson and Jason Richardson to Charlotte in exchange for the rights to the eighth overall selection in the draft, Brandan Wright.

Davidson appeared in 38 games with Charlotte during his rookie campaign in 2007-08, averaging 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds.   Prior to being waived on October 27, 2008, he appeared in three preseason games with the Bobcats this season, averaging 2.0 points in 8.7 minutes.

Nelson, 23, appeared in 13 games with Golden State this season, averaging 4.1 points and 1.0 assists in 13.1 minutes.  Following a four-year college career at Duke, he was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft and was signed by the Warriors as a free agent on September 9, 2008.

Davidson, who will wear jersey #33 with the Warriors, becomes the third player this season and the 75th player overall in the D-League’s eight-year history to receive a call-up to the NBA.  Additionally, Davidson becomes the sixth player called-up from the D-League by Golden State, joining C.J. Watson (2007-08), Kelenna Azubuike (2006-07), Renaldo Major (2006-07), Will Bynum (2005-06) and Rusty LaRue (2003-04).

Lakers beat Blazers 100-86 for 15th straight home win

The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Pau Gasol added 19 and Los Angeles beat the Portland Trail Blazers 100-86 Sunday night for its sixth consecutive victory and 15th straight at home… LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 22 points and 11 rebounds, as all five starters scored in double figures. But the Blazers shot only 39 percent overall… Vujacic, playing despite a case of tonsillitis, had 11 points in 26 minutes. Vladimir Radmanovic had 16 points off the bench for the Lakers, 12 of them in the fourth quarter. Portland made only three of 14 shots during the first 6:06 of the quarter, all of them 3-pointers, and never got closer than 14 points.

Did not play: Brandon Roy

Chandler helps Knicks upset slumping Celtics, 100-88

The AP reports: Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and the Knicks snapped an eight-game losing streak against the sputtering Celtics with a 100-88 victory Sunday night. Al Harrington added 30 for the Knicks, who hadn’t beaten Boston at Madison Square Garden since March 23, 2005, dropping the last six meetings. Capitalizing on a quiet night for Kevin Garnett, they seized control in the third quarter, never let it get too close in the fourth and added to the defending champions’ worst stretch of the season… Paul Pierce scored 31 points for the Celtics, who lost for the fourth time in six games after a 27-2 start. Ray Allen added 16, but Garnett, who hurt his right calf when he was kicked late in the third quarter, had only six points on 1-of-6 shooting with nine rebounds… David Lee had 14 points and 14 rebounds as he and Chandler, who scored 15 points in the decisive third quarter, consistently outworked Garnett and Boston’s front line.

Mayo leads Grizzlies over Mavericks, 102-82

The AP reports: The Grizzlies came out determined to finally beat the Mavericks, and O.J. Mayo made sure they finished off the win. Mayo scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and Memphis snapped a 13-game losing streak to Dallas with a 102-82 victory Sunday… Marc Gasol had 19 points for Memphis, which ended a four-game skid overall. Rudy Gay and Warrick added 18 apiece. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points, hitting 11 of 21 shots. Jason Terry scored 18, and Josh Howard finished with 12 points, including 10 in the third period.

Prince, Stuckey lead Pistons over Clippers 88-87

The AP reports: Allen Iverson got some timely assistance from Al Thornton, who was called for goaltending by referee Tommy Nunez Jr. after swatting away a driving scoop shot with 4.9 seconds on the clock. The ruling gave the Detroit Pistons the deciding points in an 88-87 victory on Sunday. “You know you’re having a bad-shooting game when you get the game-winner— and that don’t even go in,” Iverson said after going 7-for-22 from the field and finishing with 18 points and 10 assists… Rodney Stuckey scored 24 points and Tayshaun Prince added 20, helping extend Detroit’s winning streak to seven games in a matchup of injury-depleted teams. The four-time defending Central Division champs have beaten the Clippers 12 straight times and have won the last six meetings at Staples Center. Rookie guard Eric Gordon scored a career-high 31 points for the Clippers, but missed a 15-footer over Prince as time expired… Antonio McDyess, who missed the previous two because of sore ribs, had 15 rebounds and six points in 24 minutes.

Did not play: Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Zach Randolph, Baron Davis, Chris Kaman