November 2010 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Dirk Nowitzki sprains ankle, plays anyway

Eddie Sefko of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

Humming along with a double-digit lead and the look of a team with payback on its mind, the Dallas Mavericks got a scare just before halftime Wednesday night.

Dirk Nowitzki went down in a crumble under the defensive basket with a sprained right ankle.

But rather than a difficult circumstance that could have ended up being an excuse for a letdown, the Mavericks — and Nowitzki — turned it into an opportunity, and a 106-91 thrashing of the Memphis Grizzlies.

At the start of the second half, Nowitzki was back on the court, clearly favoring his right leg, but determined to be there for his team.

In the Mavericks’ huddle, coach Rick Carlisle leaned in to his assistants and said: “He’s one tough dude.”

John Wall gets first NBA triple-double

The AP reports:

Rookie John Wall got his first professional triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 98-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Yao Ming missed most of the game after he strained a tendon in his leg in the first quarter.

Washington used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away after blowing an 11-point lead…

Kevin Martin scored 31 points for the Rockets, who have lost six of seven.

Emeka Okafor a big part of early-season Hornets success

Steve Aschburner of NBA.com reports:

Look, no one is going to mix up the reasons for New Orleans’ swift start. Paul is back, healthier than the heavy brace on his left knee makes him appear, playing like the league’s MVP over the first two weeks. “Best pick-and-roll player in the game right now,” Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said, who can “mesmerize” opponents.

David West is profiting again from Paul’s return and drawing rivals’ best big defenders (or two). Williams, in steering a team to a 6-0 start built entirely on victory margins of nine points or less, has matched the work of Red Auerbach with the Washington Capitals in 1948-49. Others have been helpful, too, from Marco Belinelli’s shooting to Jerryd Bayless in relief of Paul to the overlooked likes of Willie Green and Quincy Pondexter.

But Okafor ranks high on any list of reasons for New Orleans’ early success, considering how far he had fallen. Through his first five pro seasons, Okafor had toiled — on the court sometimes, in rehab other times — for a Charlotte club that never reached the playoffs and, in fact, lost 122 more games than it won in that time. In July 2009, he was traded to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler, and while he played in 82 games for the third consecutive season — no small feat with back issues red-flagged even before he left UConn — Okafor’s production waned (10.4 points, 9 rebounds a game).

Brandon Roy knee issues continue

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports:

The news, Blazers fans, is not good. Brandon Roy is experiencing swelling and discomfort on his left knee. This is the knee that was operated on in August 2008, not the right knee that was operated on last April.

Roy is concerned about what is going on inside the knee, which he says has been drained of fluid twice this season. His concern is strong enough that he wants a second opinion.

So today, general manager Rich Cho will cart some extra luggage on an already scheduled flight to Los Angeles. Before Tuesday, Cho was planning to fly to Los Angeles with injured center Greg Oden and soon-to-be-operated on guard Elliot Williams. Now, he will also be packing all the “film work” taken on Roy’s knees.

Rockets assign Patrick Patterson to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward Patrick Patterson to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Patterson is expected to join the Vipers on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

“Patrick is making tremendous strides in practice and coach is very comfortable that he could help us win in the NBA right now,” said Morey. “However, our depth at the big spot with Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Brad Miller, Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes and Jared Jeffries means there is no playing time available. We believe strongly that players improve best by playing in games and the upcoming stretch presented a timely opportunity for Patrick to join Vipers training camp.”

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky), who was selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, has been on the inactive list for Houston’s first six games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in six games for the Rockets during the preseason. Patterson also averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games (four starts) with Houston during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

An early entry candidate out of Kentucky, Patterson finished his three-year career with averages of 16.1 points (.585, 617-1054 FG; .329, 24-73 3FG), 8.2 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 97 career games (97 starts). He was one of five Wildcats picked in the opening round of the 2010 NBA Draft, which was the first time five players from one school were chosen in the first round of the draft. A 2007 McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Patterson became the 10th fastest player to reach the 1,000-point club at UK (58 games). He was a two-time All-SEC First-Team pick as a junior and sophomore, as well as a Second-Team selection as a freshman.

Aaron Brooks out 4-6 weeks

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Rockets guard Aaron Brooks said after Sunday’s game he was told to expect to miss four to six weeks with a sprained left ankle he suffered at the end of the first half Saturday night in an overtime defeat at San Antonio.

The injury snapped his streak of 119 consecutive games played.

“I don’t think I ever had an ankle injury like this before,” Brooks said. “I did break my hand in college, sat out like eight weeks.

“As far as football, I never had any injury. Luckily, nothing is broken. It’s a sprain. I’ll be back to normal.”

UPDATE FROM THE ROCKETS: Rockets guard Aaron Brooks underwent further medical evaluation from the Rockets medical staff prior to last night’s game. It was determined that Brooks suffered a moderate to severe left ankle sprain on the last play of the first half of Saturday night’s game at San Antonio. Brooks is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks.

InsideHoops.com editor says: And the hits just keep coming for the struggling Rockets, who did finally win their first game of the season, recently beating the very beatable Minnesota Timberwolves. Anyway, watch and see if backup point guard Kyle Lowry is able to step up while Brooks is gone.

Peja Stojakovic riding the Hornets bench

Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

He’s on the periphery at present, on the outside looking in at the New Orleans Hornets’ historic 6-0 start.

Since last Wednesday night when New Orleans beat the Houston Rockets, veteran forward Peja Stojakovic has been on the inactive list, three games with no opportunity to contribute as the Hornets sprinted out to an unbeaten start and became relevant once again in the NBA.

They are the surprise team in the league at the outset, fueled by a young, athletic, defensive-minded group that has left a one-dimensional offensive threat a spectator, earning about $183,000 per game for cheering on his teammates.

Stojakovic, at one time one of the most feared scorers in the NBA, finds his career at a crossroads.

He is 33 years old, surrounded by teammates who are younger, more adept at running the floor and more skilled at providing the kind of defense first-year Coach Monty Williams demands of his rotation, leaving Stojakovic now wondering if his time in New Orleans is drawing to a close.

“It’s obvious I’m not in the plans,” Stojakovic said. “I’m not looking long term. I’m looking at this year. I’m real about it. It’s just moving on with our career and lives.”

Chris Bosh still learning to fit in with Heat

Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Bosh admitted to playing passive the first six games. He realized a change was necessary heading into the New Jersey game. It didn’t help he faced criticism for being nearly non-existent in a loss to the New Orleans Hornets the previous night.

So Bosh reverted to the player who was a five-time All-Star with the Toronto Raptors.

He played aggressive. He showed passion. It resulted in a season-high 21 points, easily his best effort with the Heat. After the game, Bosh confidently stated the Nets caught him on the “wrong night” because his frustrations reached an all-time high.

He was having difficulty adjusting to a new role of being the third option behind LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

“This process hasn’t been easy for me,” said Bosh, who is averaging 14.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Rockets will keep Jermaine Taylor and not sign Erick Dampier

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

The Rockets told second-year guard Jermaine Taylor on Sunday they would not release him because they no longer planned to sign center Erick Dampier, Taylor’s agent Michael Whitaker said before Sunday’s game.

“I was actually told that I’m here to stay,” Taylor said. “They told me I was here… “I’m happy to still be here and still have a job, but then again, I kind of wonder what would have happened if I went somewhere else.”

Nick Collison hopes to return soon

John Rohde of the Oklahoman reports:

Thunder power forward Nick Collison, who has yet to practice or play this season, had an MRI taken early last week and said the result were good.

Collison said he has intensified his work during rehabilitation. Though he still has no exact timetable on his return, Collison said he is encouraged with the test results. “Still going forward,” Collison said. “It’s good to be moving forward rather than moving backward.”

Backup center Byron Mullens, who has been inactive all season, is battling the flu. He did not make the West Coast trip last week and was not at Saturday’s practice.