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Mavericks’ guard Roddy Beaubois had to be helped off the court with 1:16 to go in the third quarter Saturday after injuring his left ankle.
Beaubois hit the floor and quickly grabbed his left ankle. He could not put any weight on his left foot as Maverick personnel on each side helped him limp off the court to the locker room.
The injury was diagnosed as a sprain, team officials said.
— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News
The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward/center Jarrid Famous and guard/forward D.J. Kennedy, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
Neither player appeared last night in Memphis’ first preseason game, a 105-93 victory over Real Madrid.
Famous (6-11, 240) played in Slovakia, the NBA Development League and the Philippines last season following a four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida. The 24-year-old averaged 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 29.4 minutes in 16 D-League games with Iowa and Fort Wayne.
Kennedy (6-6, 215) averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes in two games last season as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 22-year-old also posted 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.3 minutes in 44 D-League games with Erie last season.
Both players originally signed as free agents on Sept. 29, 2012.
Memphis’ current roster stands at 18.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived guard Courtney Fortson and forward Chris Johnson.
The Clippers roster now stands at 18 players.
NBA preseason began on Friday. The Clippers opened preseason on Saturday with a loss to the Denver Nuggets. Guard Eric Bledsoe led Los Angeles with 12-of-15 shooting for 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals. Clippers guard Chris Paul did not play.
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Evans shot 60 percent (295 of 492) within five feet of the rim last season and 27.7 percent (113 of 408) from beyond. He won the 2010 Rookie of the Year award based on his driving ability.
It looked too easy. Then injuries and collapsing defenses dared Evans to rely on an unreliable jump shot.
“People just started looking at film and started trying to keep me from going to the basket,” he said. “This year, I’m going to have to go to the pull-up (jump shot). I’m still going to go in there, no matter what, but I want to go to the pull-up too.”
Smart believes Evans’ work isn’t motivated by the prospect of a new contract. The deadline for Evans to receive an extension is Oct. 31. The coach says Evans is simply growing up.
— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee
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As promised, Woodson has been big on conditioning and running in the first few days of camp. The coach is starting to back off and said today’s session will be light. There have been no two-a-days — just one three-hour session.
It is unknown whether Wallace will scrimmage before the Washington game. The 38-year-old has been on the side doing core exercises. The Knicks are treating him like fine china following a two-year absence.
“He’s not ready yet,’’ said Woodson, who hasn’t guaranteed Wallace a roster spot. “It’s conditioning. He’s just not there where you want him to be. He’ll get there eventually. We’re doing things to get him in shape. It’s not always running up and down the floor to get in shape. Other things you can do as well.”
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post
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Marcus Camby has picked up where he left off during his first Knicks stint.
Fears this graybeard team would be susceptible to health woes already are being realized as the Knicks announced Camby will miss seven to 10 days with a left calf strain after an MRI exam.
In addition, Amar’e Stoudemire missed practice yesterday with a sore ankle after being held out of Friday’s scrimmage. To boot, Rasheed Wallace has not been cleared to scrimmage, deemed not in good enough shape.
Camby, 38, has called the Knicks frontcourt the deepest in the NBA, and all that depth may be needed. The average age of their top 13 players is a league-record-high 32.8 years old.
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post
Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived forward Jeff Adrien and guard Paris Horne.
The Bobcats roster now stands at 16 players.
NBA preseason began on Friday. The first Bobcats preseason game is Sunday afternoon against the Washington Wizards.
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It comes as no surprise, but after four days of training camp James Harden continues to practice with the second team despite starter Thabo Sefolosha nursing a leg injury.
Harden, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is expected to remain in his role this season once the Thunder returns to full strength. Harden, however, took his assignment in stride when told he just can’t seem to crack the first unit.
“Can’t,” Harden said, laughing. “Can’t do it. Them my guys. Me and Nick Collison, that’s my guy.”
Harden then said players have just filled in for starters Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins (wrist) and the second unit has remained largely intact.
— Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman
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It is out with the old (Grant Hill turned 40 on Friday) and in with the new (Beasley is 23) for the Suns at small forward, where Beasley is expected to take the starting role Hill held for the past five seasons. Beasley is learning two positions because of his size (6 feet 10, 235 pounds) and athleticism at power forward.
That transition has been smooth on offense, but his attention and focus, two areas he has lacked as a pro, have been on defense.
“This is the first year I really applied 100 percent to the defensive side,” Beasley said. “I’m not really worried about the offense. Offense, I’m just trying to learn the plays. Defense, I’m just trying to be aggressive, trying to kind of guard two people at one time, trying to learn both positions and trying to stay on the glass as much as I can.”
In between two-a-day sessions during training camp at the University of California-San Diego, Beasley said he has been watching video of his defense.
— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic
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J.R. Smith always had been content to be a backup — the mercurial sixth-man gunner. Not this October. The controversial Smith made it clear he prefers to start for the first time in his career.
He has a good chance, because free-agent signee Ronnie Brewer had knee surgery in early September and won’t start practicing for two weeks. Iman Shumpert, incumbent starter at shooting guard, may not be back until January as he rehabs from ACL surgery. The shooting guard position is Smith’s for the taking. He admitted concern about being pegged as a bench player, perhaps because of a bad-boy rep.
“I’d rather start. I’ve been playing [eight] years, coming off the bench,’’ Smith said yesterday. “Whether it stays [that way] or goes, I’m going to be same person I am. I prefer to start. I’d rather be a starter. If not, I understand that.’’
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post