Caron Butler enters play having connected on his last 33 free throw attempts. Butler last missed a free throw on December 28th in New Jersey. In that game, Butler missed his first free throw — a technical — but connected on his final three foul shot attempts in that game. He has since made 30 more consecutive free throws over the last seven games, brining his streak to 33 consecutive free throws made. On the season, Butler is 136-of-152 from the charity stripe; a career-high .895 clip.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Joakim Noah benched by teammates
The AP reports: Chicago Bulls rookie Joakim Noah was benched for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks — by his teammates. They delivered a unanimous vote after the rookie from Florida was involved in a confrontation with assistant coach Ron Adams in practice before Friday’s game at Philadelphia. Noah was inactive for the Philadelphia game for internal disciplinary reasons, but the players told interim coach Jim Boylan one game was not enough.
Shaq returns to practice
SportsTicker reports: Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal may be close to getting back into the lineup. O’Neal returned to practice Sunday after spending five days in Los Angeles receiving treatment for bursitis in his left hip, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Marbury misses game with sore ankle
The AP reports: Point guard Stephon Marbury missed the Knicks’ game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night because of a sore left ankle. The Knicks don’t believe there was a specific play where Marbury was hurt. He scored 13 points Friday night in a loss to Toronto, then didn’t practice Saturday.
McGrady out 3+ more games
The AP reports: Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady is expected to miss three more games as he recovers from a left knee injury. McGrady, averaging 23 points and five assists per game, has sat out the last eight games with strained tendons, tendinitis and a bone bruise in the knee. The Rockets are 6-2 in the stretch without him heading into Friday night’s game against Minnesota.
Judge dismisses petiton against future Brooklyn arena
The AP reports: A judge threw out a petition by neighbourhood groups to stop the US$4 billion redevelopment of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards, where construction of an arena for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets is planned. U.S. State Supreme Court Justice Joan Madden ruled Friday that developers of the 22-acre site did enough studies on the impact of traffic, crowds, potential terrorism and other environmental factors on the area to satisfy legal requirements. The petitioners, a coalition of 26 neighbourhood groups, had claimed they would be “directly affected” and “harmed by the substantial adverse environmental impacts of a project of such enormous scale.”
Troy Hudson out 3-4 months after hip surgery
Golden State Warriors guard Troy Hudson underwent successful surgery on his left hip on Thursday, January 10, the team announced today. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for SpecialSurgery in New York and involved the repair of a torn labrum.
Hudson, 31, will commence basic rehabilitation immediately and advance as his progress allows. He is expected to be sidelined for 3-4 months.
In nine games this season, Hudson has averaged 3.1 points and 1.0 assists in 10.4 minutes per contest. Originally signed as a free agent by the Warriors on September 24, 2007, Hudson last appeared in a game on December 12 at Portland, where he tallied a season-high 10 points in 17 minutes of action.
Nene takes indefinite leave due to personal medical issue
Beginning today, Nuggets F Nenê will take an indefinite leave of absence from the team to tend to a personal medical issue.
“I’m very upset that I have to put a little delay on being with the team to take care of my health,” said Nenê. “It is hard to go through when things seem to be going so well. I thank God that he showed me this issue so I can take care of it. I want to get back on the court as soon as possible to help my teammates. My family and I ask that you respect our privacy during this time.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Nenê and his family,” said Nuggets Head Coach George Karl. “Our main focus is to support him as a family and as teammates.”
The Nuggets organization will continue to support Nene’s wishes and respect his privacy. The team will provide further information when it becomes available.
Nenê, 6-11, 260, is in his sixth season with the Nuggets.
Glen Rice arrested for battery charge
The AP reports: Former Miami Heat star Glen Rice was arrested Friday on a felony battery charge after police say he beat a man he found hiding in his estranged wife’s closet. Rice went to the home of estranged wife Christina Rice and punched Alberto Perez several times, police said. Perez fled the home and called police. He received a cut to his forehead that needed nine stitches, police said.
Bulls bench Joakim Noah after verbal altercation with assistant
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports: Bulls rookie Joakim Noah was placed on the inactive list for Friday’s game at Philadelphia due to a disciplinary action. Noah admitted getting into a verbal altercation with one of the assistant coaches at the morning shootaround, but chose not to provide reporters with many details.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports: The altercation is believed to have been verbal with Ron Adams. Noah’s also been late on several occasions this season.