January 2015 – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Kemba Walker out at least six weeks after knee surgery

Kemba Walker out at least six weeks after knee surgery

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. The procedure was completed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Walker’s recovery time is expected to be a minimum of six weeks.

Walker is the Hornets’ leader in points (18.8), assists (5.2) and steals (1.4). Walker averaged 23.0 points on .429 shooting from the field (171-399), including .355 from beyond the three-point line (43-121) over his last 21 games played. He scored at least 28 points in six straight games from Jan. 3-14, the longest streak of his career and the second-longest streak in the NBA this season behind only Russell Westbrook’s nine straight games from Dec. 12-26. Walker scored 20 or more points in 14 of his last 21 games played.

The Hornets are 19-26 this season, and have been on a roll recently, winning 8 of their last 10 games. They will absolutely miss Walker, though, who along with center Al Jefferson is the heart and soul of the team.

Timberwolves sign Lorenzo Brown to 10-day contract

Timberwolves sign Lorenzo Brown to 10-day contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract.

Originally drafted by Minnesota with the 52nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Brown appeared in three preseason contests with the Wolves before being waived on October 25, 2013. He signed with Philadelphia a month later, averaging 2.5 points and 1.6 assists in 8.6 minutes over 26 games.

This season Brown has played in 19 games (17 starts) with the D-League’s Grand Rapids Drive, averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Brown has appeared in 39 games (31 starts) in the D-League and holds career averages of 17.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game.

In a related transaction, the Timberwolves released center Miroslav Raduljica from his 10-day contract. Raduljica appeared in five games with Minnesota and averaged 1.6 points and 1.0 rebounds.

Mirza Teletovic health update

Mirza Teletovic health update

The following is a statement from Brooklyn Nets team physician Dr. Michael Farber:

“Mirza was diagnosed with pulmonary embolus on January 22 and started on the appropriate medications for this condition. Diagnostic testing was arranged and he was then observed until testing showed that he reached the expected therapeutic range. We are pleased to say that he reports no symptoms at this time and that he will be discharged to return home today.”

“This was a true collaborative effort between our medical team and training staff and the local physicians at the Los Angeles hospital where Mirza was treated. I am really pleased with how Mirza has progressed. We will evaluate him upon return, personally review all of the testing he had done, and arrange for further testing if necessary.”

Pacers assign Shayne Whittington to D-League

Pacers assign Shayne Whittington to D-League

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that 6-11 rookie center Shayne Whittington has been assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.

Whittington has played in 13 games for the Pacers this season with averages of 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.

Whittington was undrafted out of Western Michigan and signed as a free agent, July 2, 2014.

With Paul George out for the season, Lance Stephenson gone to Charlotte, and various injuries and general struggles, it’s a challenging year for the Pacers, who have a 16-31 record.

Bucks sign Jorge Gutierrez to 10-day contract

Bucks sign Jorge Gutierrez to 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Gutierrez is the 23rd Gatorade Call-Up of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

Gutierrez, 26, most recently played for the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League and in six games averaged 15.2 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 35.7 minutes per game. He began the season with Brooklyn where he averaged 1.6 points in 10 games before being traded to Philadelphia on Dec. 11. He was waived by the 76ers on Dec. 12.

Undrafted out of the University of California, Gutierrez began his professional career with Canton in 2012. He started 35 games for the Charge in 2013 before being signed by the Brooklyn Nets where he appeared in 15 games and averaged 4.1 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

Brandon Jennings out for season after surgery

Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings out for season after surgery

The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Brandon Jennings underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. After joint consultations between Dr. Stephen Lemos, team orthopedist for the Detroit Pistons, and Dr. Martin O’Malley, the operating physician, the surgical procedure was implemented and executed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

According to Michigan Live, “Recovery period is projected at six to nine months before Jennings can resume full basketball activities, the player wrote in a weekend Twitter post. “Everything supposedly went well,” with the surgery, [Pistons coach Stan] Van Gundy said. “I mean, I’ve never read anything after a surgery of an athlete where it didn’t say, ‘I had successful surgery.’ I don’t know what the hell that means. I really don’t. He’s still living after the operation? You’d have to go a long way down the road before you know if his surgery’s successful.”

The 6-foot-1 guard has appeared in 41 games this season averaging 15.4 points, 6.6 assists and 1.07 steals in 28.6 minutes per game.

Matt Barnes fined $25,000 by NBA

Matt Barnes fined $25,000 by NBA

Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 4:28 remaining in the second quarter of the Clippers’ 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 25, at US Airways Center.

Barnes responded angrily on Twitter to news he was being fined. Here’s a series of his tweets all together: “Another 25k! The part of the story the nba hasn’t told you was my language wasnt directed at a fan, I was talkn to the owner of the Suns who was sitting on the baseline & I only said something to him AFTER he cussed at me, BUT because I didn’t SNITCH I get fined!! … You can take my money, I care about winning!! … I’ve been fined 50k in the last mnth for kicking a “PAPER”Gatorade cup that had alil bit of water in it that didn’t even hit anyone & responding to an OWNER who cussed at me first.. 50,000 dollars for that?? Come on now!”

Knicks sign Langston Galloway for rest of season

Knicks sign Langston Galloway for rest of season

The New York Knicks have signed guard Langston Galloway for the remainder of the season, President Phil Jackson announced. An expected move, since Galloway has been one of the team’s lone recent bright spots lately.

Galloway, 6-2, 200-pounds, is averaging 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists over 28.0 minutes in eight games (four starts). He re-signed with the Knicks on Jan. 7, with the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts, becoming the NBA D-League Westchester Knicks’ first-ever Call-Up.

The Knicks have an 8-37 record, same as the Philadelphia 76ers, a slightly better winning percentage than the league-worst 7-37 Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kemba Walker injury update: torn lateral meniscus in left knee

Kemba Walker injury update: torn lateral meniscus in left knee

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker received a second opinion on his left knee today in New York. Dr. David Altchek confirmed Hornets team orthopedic physician Dr. Marcus Cook’s previous diagnosis of a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Walker will undergo surgery, performed by Dr. Altchek, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Wednesday, Jan. 28. A timeline for his recovery will be determined following surgery.

Walker is averaging 18.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 35.6 minutes per game, leading the team in points, assists and minutes played. The fourth-year point guard is currently tied for sixth in the NBA in assists per turnover ratio (3.1). In his last 21 games, Walker has averaged 23.0 points, including scoring 20 or more points in 14 contests. Walker was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Jan. 5 through Jan. 11 after leading the Hornets to a perfect 4-0 week in which he led the NBA in scoring (30.3 ppg). He had a streak of three consecutive 30-point games (Jan. 3 – Jan. 7), which tied the longest such streak in the NBA this season.

January 26 Trail Blazers at Nets game postponed, and rescheduled for April 6

The National Basketball Association has announced that tonight’s Portland Trail Blazers at Brooklyn Nets game, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center, has been postponed due to severe weather conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m.

All tickets for tonight’s game will be honored on the rescheduled date, April 6.