November 19, 2012 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas injured, out two months

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that forward Tyrus Thomas is expected to miss approximately two months after an MRI revealed a second-degree strain of his left calf muscle and a tear of the plantaris muscle, a smaller muscle that assists the calf in plantar flexing the ankle.

No surgery will be needed for the injury, which Thomas suffered during Saturday night’s game against Memphis.

In eight games played this season, Thomas is averaging 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 17.8 minutes per game.

Brandon Roy to miss one month after knee surgery

Brandon Roy out one month after knee surgery

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today on his right knee. The surgery was performed by Timberwolves team orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Fischer at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, Minn. Roy is expected to be out approximately one month.

“Brandon had been experiencing some right knee pain, dating back to Oct. 26, when he banged knees with a Milwaukee Bucks player in a preseason game,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn. “The pain became more pronounced on Nov. 9 during our game against Indiana. We fully support Brandon’s decision to have today’s arthroscopic procedure, and look forward to his return when he feels ready to play.”

Roy has played in five games this season, averaging 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Roy was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Wolves on July 31, 2012.

Cavs guard Kyrie Irving out 4 weeks with broken finger

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving received an MRI and CT Scan of his contused left index finger (3rd quarter of Saturday night’s game at The Q vs. Dallas) today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. The results of the MRI and CT Scan revealed a hairline/non-displaced fracture in the finger. The injury will be treated with taping and a splint. He is currently projected to be Out for the next four weeks while the fracture heals, and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate at that point.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson has a contused right elbow experienced in Saturday’s game at The Q vs. Dallas. He continued to play and be available for play during that game. He traveled with the team to Philadelphia, and continued to receive treatment immediately prior to the Sunday game vs. the Sixers and during the first quarter in the locker room. He returned to the bench for the remainder of the game, but did not play. Gibson underwent an x-ray and MRI today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, both of which were negative. He is cleared to play.

Cavaliers forward/center Tristan Thompson experienced a nasal contusion during the second quarter of the game in Philadelphia last night. An x-ray at the Cleveland Clinic today revealed a nasal fracture. He will have a protective mask fitted and is projected to be ready to play in Wednesday’s game at The Q also vs. the Sixers.

NBA Fines Zach Randolph for confronting Kendrick Perkins

Memphis forward Zach Randolph has been fined $25,000 for confronting Oklahoma City’s Kendrick Perkins in the lockerroom area following their ejections with 2:05 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies at Thunder game on Nov. 14, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

LeBron, Durant named NBA Players of Week through November 18

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant were today named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 12, through Sunday, Nov. 18.

In guiding the Heat to a 3-1 week, James averaged a league-best 29.0, while adding 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.25 blocks. James’ week included a personal season-high 38 points Nov. 12 at Houston in which he scored 32 in the second half while leading the Heat to a come-from-behind 113-110 victory. The 32 second-half points tied the franchise record for points in any half.

Durant helped the Thunder to a 3-1 week by averaging a point/rebound double-double, which included a Western Conference-best 28.0 ppg and a team-high 10.3 rpg. Durant added 5.8 apg, 1.75 spg and 1.75 bpg. He capped off his week by posting his first career triple-double – 25 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists – in the Thunder’s 119-109 win over the Golden State Warriors Sunday.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Kyle Korver, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Memphis’ Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, New York’s Raymond Felton, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Portland’s Nicolas Batum, and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon.

Mike D`Antoni coaching debut for Lakers coming soon

In their first game after Mike D’Antoni got to town, the Lakers reached the 100-point plateau with 9:26 still left in the contest Friday night against Phoenix.

In the follow-up Sunday night, the Lakers got there with 11:16 to play in their 119-108 victory over the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Just imagine all the garish point totals and lopsided victories once D’Antoni actually coaches a game. Or Steve Nash’s leg heals.

Lakers fans certainly can start thinking about how good this will get with their team at 5-5 after starting 1-4 under Mike Brown.

D’Antoni decided about three hours before tipoff Sunday to give his reconstructed right knee more time to heal before his Lakers debut, probably Tuesday night against Brooklyn.

— Reported by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register

Kings change starting lineup, keep losing

The Kings suffered their fifth consecutive loss, 99-90, to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at Sleep Train Arena.

After a two-game winning streak, the Kings have fallen to 2-8. The last time the Kings had a record that bad through 10 games was in the 1990-91 season.

The new starting lineup consisted of Aaron Brooks and Tyreke Evans at guard, John Salmons and Jason Thompson at forward, and DeMarcus Cousins at center.

It was the fourth different starting lineup the Kings have used this season, but the first time coach Keith Smart changed it because of performance instead of suspensions.

Brooks replaced Isaiah Thomas, and Salmons replaced James Johnson.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Late-game Damian Lillard dunk angers Bulls

In the closing seconds of a game the Trail Blazers were guaranteed to win, a rookie made a rookie mistake by sprinting down the court and dunking instead of cradling the ball and waiting for the final horn to sound.

The Chicago Bulls didn’t like it.

After Damian Lillard iced the Blazers’ 102-94 victory over the Bulls with a dunk with 1.9 seconds left, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson bee-lined toward the rookie point guard at center court to express their displeasure.

LaMarcus Aldridge and other Blazers prevented a post-game incident by intervening, but Lillard’s late-game display caused quite a commotion Sunday night at the Rose Garden.

“I just told him he can’t do that,” Gibson said.

— Reported by Joe Freeman of the Oregonian

Zach Randolph glad to bounce back after knee injury

Randolph , 31, rightfully points out that he’s just re-establishing his worth as the bang-for-buck big man the league revered before a knee injury cost him most of last season.

“This feels good because I worked hard this summer and when people last year said, ‘Is he going to be the same Zach of old?’ I heard that,” Randolph said. “I just wanted to come out and prove people wrong. I still got it and I’m still in my prime.”

If you didn’t think it was possible for Randolph to be more relentless then consider this: He leads the NBA in rebounding with a career-high 13.9 per game and is second in the league behind Denver’s Kenneth Faried with 5.4 offensive rebounds per game.

“He’s got a strong upper body. He hits you first to get you off balance,” Griz center Marc Gasol said of Randolph. “And then he has great hands.”

— Reported by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal

Dwight Howard looking forward to playing against Nets

Dwight Howard had just come off a 28-point, 13-rebound, three-block detonation against the Rockets Sunday. And he announced that A) he and Kobe Bryant — who had a triple double — still are not on the same page and B) he still is only at 75 to 80 percent health following back surgery.

Good luck, Nets.

“They have a great point guard and a pretty good team, so we just have to play hard,” Howard, leading with Deron Williams, said of the Nets who visit Staples Center here Tuesday night.

And then Howard turned his attention to Brook Lopez.

“He’s tough. He knows how to score,” Howard, who has averaged 17.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in 28 career games against the Nets, said of Lopez. “They look for him a lot in the offense, they have a lot of great plays.”

— Reported by Fred Kerber of the New York Post