Month: October 2013

Jazz rookie Trey Burke has finger surgery

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke, who fractured his right index finger during the first half of Saturday’s preseason game vs. the Los Angeles Clippers:

Burke underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the bone fracture in his right index finger. The procedure was performed in Salt Lake City by Dr. Douglas Hutchinson, who reported that the surgery was successful.

Following the procedure, Burke’s index finger was placed in a cast/splint where it will remain for approximately three weeks, at which time he will be re-evaluated by Dr. Hutchinson. Burke will be able to participate in conditioning work during this time period.

He will not travel with the team on its upcoming four-game road trip (October 20-25) that concludes the 2013 preseason schedule.

Selected in the first round (ninth overall pick) of the 2013 NBA Draft, Burke (6-1, 190, Michigan) was acquired by the Jazz in a draft-night trade with Minnesota. Burke spent two seasons at the University of Michigan, where as a sophomore, the point guard led Michigan to the 2013 NCAA Championship Game and was the consensus selection as 2013 National Player of the Year. Burke averaged 18.6 points, 6.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from three-point range in 38 games his sophomore season. His 255 assists set a new Michigan single-season assist record while his 3.02 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked fifth-best in the nation. He also hit the game-tying three pointer to force overtime in a win over Kansas to advance the Wolverines to the Elite Eight.

Atlanta Hawks sign Cartier Martin

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Cartier Martin, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin played in 41 games (three starts) last season for the Washington Wizards, and averaged 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.9 minutes (.381 FG%, .397 3FG%, .714 FT%). The five-year veteran has appeared in 161 career NBA games (nine starting assignments) with Charlotte, Golden State and Washington, averaging 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.2 minutes (.389 FG%, .381 3FG%, .725 FT%). Martin has also seen action in China, Turkey, Italy and in the NBA Development League with Iowa. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward played four seasons collegiately at Kansas State (2003-07).

The training camp roster stands at 18.

Chris Duhon injured during hit-and-run

Chris Duhon injured during hit-and-run

Former Bulls guard Chris Duhon was injured during a hit-and-run incident Saturday at a downtown Orlando parking garage, according to an Orlando police report.

Duhon and his brother-in-law, Julio Hernandez, were walking through the Plaza parking garage when an unidentified man driving a black Lexus honked at them to get out of the way of his vehicle. Hernandez told police Duhon and the driver shouted at each other, then the driver pointed his Lexus toward the men. Hernandez told officers he jumped out of the way, but Duhon was hit and slammed his head against the windshield. The driver of the Lexus left the scene.

Duhon was taken to an Orlando hospital for treatment and told officers he could not recall the incident.

Reported by Iliana Limon Romero of the Orlando Sentinel

Lots of Nets not active vs Celtics tonight

The Brooklyn Nets will be without Deron Williams (right ankle sprain), Kevin Garnett (rest), Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms), Jason Terry (left knee rehab) and Tyshawn Taylor (right ankle sprain) when they play the Boston Celtics in Tuesday night’s preseason game, according to the team’s official media game notes.

Reggie Evans is the probable starter in place of Garnett. Paul Pierce, who took Monday night off to rest and did not travel to Philadelphia, will play against his former team.

Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

Brandon Jennings out 3 weeks with tooth issue

Brandon Jennings out 3 weeks with tooth issue

The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Brandon Jennings will not play at Chicago on Wednesday, October 16 or at Cleveland on Thursday, October 17, or anytime for the next three weeks after missing the last two preseason games with wisdom tooth discomfort.

An examination by Dr. Robert Weaver on Monday revealed an impacted wisdom tooth and a hairline fracture of the mandible at the base of the tooth. Treatment will include immobilization for a three-week period and he will be re-evaluated at that time.

Dirk-Monta duo show positive signs

Dirk-Monta duo show positive signs

There usually isn’t much that’s pretty about a preseason loss to a team that’s likely destined for another high lottery pick.

However, it isn’t hard to find the silver lining from the Dallas Mavericks’ 102-94 defeat by the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

We got a glimpse of just how good the two-man game with Dirk Nowitzki and new sidekick Monta Ellis can be during the second quarter. That duo ran the high pick-and-pop over and over during that frame, filling it up for a combined 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

“That’s probably going to be our bread and butter all season long,” said Nowitzki, who finished with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, although he was more focused on his failure to get a single rebound in 25 minutes.

Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

San Antonio Spurs waive Corey Maggette, Marcus Cousin and Myck Kabongo

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have waived center Marcus Cousin, guard Myck Kabongo and forward Corey Maggette.

Cousin appeared in two preseason games, averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes of action.

Kabongo saw action in one preseason game finishing with six points in five minutes at Denver on Oct. 14.

Maggette appeared in two preseason games, averaging 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.0 minutes.

San Antonio’s roster now stands at 16

76ers: Evan Turner has no interest in losing

76ers: Evan Turner has no interest in losing

“I don’t think we’re going down,” Turner said when asked how he’ll cope with all the losing this season, as the Sixers take a run at the top overall pick in next summer’s draft. “I never woke up and thought I was going to be unsuccessful in my life. Pretty much, my teammates and I are going to go out and play every single game and play hard and take it from there.

“There’s different type of successes, in general, personal and team-wise. We’ve got to keep getting better,” he said. “But I’m not going to sit here and be a loser. … I’m not a loser. Period. Point blank. So I’m not going to sit there and dwell on it. Period.”

Turner (6-7, 205) has failed to live up to fans’ lofty expectations since the Sixers selected the 2009-10 NCAA player of the year out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. The 24-year-old is entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract that pays him approximately $6.7 million this season, making him a possible trade candidate.

Reported by Jason Wolf of Delaware Online (Blog)

NBA might alter start time of games to help international fans

Commissioner David Stern raised the possibility the league will adjust the time some games start in an attempt to appease fans outside North America who now must either stay up late or wake up early to watch games on television.

It’s unclear at this point whether the adjustment will be for regular-season games, preseason games or both.

Speaking before the Warriors beat the Lakers 100-95 before 17,114 at MasterCard Center in the first of two preseason meetings between the teams in China, Stern said former Rockets star Yao Ming brought the idea up in hopes of making future games more accessible to international audiences. Stern gave no indication a decision was near, but was also clear that the league will have to consider what could be a radical suggestion, depending on the new times, at some point.

“I think that the NBA is going to have to wrestle over the next decade as more and more of our viewing audiences are outside the United States is what’s the best time for games to be played so that those fans can enjoy them live as opposed to having to get up in China to watch an NBA game at 7 o’clock in the morning,” Stern said.

Reported by Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com