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Kemba Walker out 10-14 days with ankle sprain

Kemba Walker out 10-14 days with ankle sprain

Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker is expected to miss 10-14 days after an MRI today confirmed a second degree sprain in his left ankle. Walker suffered the injury in the third quarter of last night’s game against Miami. X-rays taken at Time Warner Cable Arena following the injury were negative.

Walker has played in all 42 games for the Bobcats this season, averaging team highs of 18.7 points, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.7 minutes, along with 4.2 rebounds. He has scored in double figures 37 times, including 18 games with 20 points or more and four games with 30 points or more. He entered today’s games ranked 22nd in the NBA in minutes played, tied for 26th in assists, ranked 27th in scoring and ranked 27th in steals.

Dennis Rodman checks into alcohol treatment program

Here is Reuters reporting on the latest Dennis Rodman saga:

Retired basketball star Dennis Rodman has checked himself into an alcohol treatment program, his spokesman said Saturday, just days after returning to the United States from North Korea, where he ignited a furor over comments he made about an American citizen held prisoner there.

Rodman voluntarily entered an alcohol rehabilitation facility several days ago, according to agent Darren Prince. The location of the facility was not disclosed.

Rodman returned to the United States this week after a trip to North Korea where he attended the birthday party of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Mavs assign Ricky Ledo to D-League

Mavs assign Ricky Ledo to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have assigned Ricky Ledo to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Ledo (6-7, 200) has seen action in nine games for the Mavericks and holds averages of 1.9 points and 3.3 minutes per game.

Ledo will join the Legends and be available for tonight’s game when they take on the Austin Toros at 7:00 pm CT at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco.

Pelicans center Jason Smith out with knee injury

Pelicans center Jason Smith out with knee injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that center Jason Smith will be out indefinitely with a right knee injury. An MRI revealed Smith suffered cartilage damage in his right knee. More details will be released as they become available.

In 31 games (27 starts) this season, Smith is averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. The 7’0” center holds career averages of 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 331 games.

Suns sign Leandro Barbosa to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns announced today that they have signed guard Leandro Barbosa (lee-AN-dro BAR-bow-sa) to a second 10-day contract.

Barbosa signed his first 10-day contract with the club on Jan. 8. The 31-year-old guard has appeared in four games with Phoenix this season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 21.5 minutes. In the Suns’ game at New York on Jan. 13, Barbosa came off the bench to score 21 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, in 30 minutes of action.

The 6-3, 194-pound Barbosa is in his 11th season in the NBA, the first seven of which were played with the Suns, as he averaged 12.6 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 466 games with Phoenix from 2003-10. Barbosa won the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with the Suns after posting career-highs of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists per game.

The Suns continue a season-long five-game home stand on Sunday night as they host the Denver Nuggets with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (Phoenix time). The game will be televised on FOX Sports Arizona, and carried on Arizona Sports 620 (KTAR-AM).

Thunder re-assign Andre Roberson to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Andre Roberson to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Roberson has appeared in 16 games (four starts) for the Thunder this season, averaging 1.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game.

This will mark Roberson’s third assignment to the 66ers this season. In five previous games (all starts) with Tulsa, he has averaged 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.8 steals in 35.8 minutes per game.

He is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Tulsa 66ers take on the Bakersfield Jam at Dignity Health Event Center in Bakersfield, Calif.

Mavs guard Gal Mekel out after knee surgery

Gal Mekel out after knee surgery

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that guard Gal Mekel underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The surgery was performed by TO Souryal at Texas Sports Medicine in Dallas.

No timetable has been set for his return.

According to the Dallas Morning News blog, “This means Shane Larkin will continue to log meaningful minutes, even when Devin Harris returns, possibly as soon as Saturday. Harris will not play in tonight’s game at Phoenix, but nobody would rule out the possibility that he could make his season debut Saturday in Dallas against Portland.”

Warriors assign Ognjen Kuzmic to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned center Ognjen Kuzmic to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. Santa Cruz plays the Idaho Stampede in Boise tomorrow night.

Kuzmic made his D-League debut on December 28 against the Bakersfield Jam, registering two points, nine rebounds and one block in 16 minutes.

For the Warriors this season Kuzmic has played just 3.9 minutes per game, in a total of 13 games. Golden State is 25-15 so far this season.

Celtics sign Chris Johnson to 10-day contract

celtics

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard/forward Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Johnson, a 6’6” guard/forward, appeared in 20 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League this season and has averaged 19.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block in 37.2 minutes per game. The 14th Call-Up from the D-League this season, Johnson was shooting 47.0 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from three-point territory and 84.1 percent from the free throw line.

Johnson also has recorded the sixth highest offensive rating in the D-League this season amongst all players that have played 10 games or more with a rating of 114.6.

The former University of Dayton Flyer appeared in eight games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2012-13 season and averaged 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game.