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Blake Griffin injury update

L.A. Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent a successful routine arthroscopic procedure on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to remove loose bodies from his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and assisted by Dr. Steve Shimoyama at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Griffin is expected to miss approximately four-to-six weeks and will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the Clippers medical staff.

The five-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 26 games and is averaging 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season.

DeMarcus Cousins scores 55 points, gets un-ejected in wild game

Following a tumultuous day for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, he scores a season-high 55 points to help his team defeat Portland 126-121. The game was not without drama, however, and a late technical foul call on Cousins that was overturned.

Ty Lawson, Aaron Afflalo and Anthony Tolliver combine for 38 points off the bench in the Kings’ win over the Trail Blazers.

The Kings fined DeMarcus Cousins $50,000 on Tuesday, but overall, they’re almost shameless apologists for their All-Star center’s poor behavior.

— Sacramento Bee

Quick Take: I think Cousins has always felt that some people were out to get him. He’s had that chip on his shoulder throughout his NBA career. What that stems from might require a psychologist (not saying that as an insult). In some cases, like bad techs, it’s understandable. But in other cases it’s mostly on him.

Ian Mahinmi will have surgery on both knees

Wizards center Ian Mahinmi will undergo PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment on both knees following consultation with Dr. James Andrews and Wizards Head Team Physician Wiemi Douoguih. He is expected to miss approximately six weeks.

Mahinmi underwent surgery to repair a partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee on Oct. 14. During the rehabilitation process, he aggravated patellar tendinitis in his right knee and sustained a bone bruise to his left knee. The PRP treatment will be administered at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Pensacola, FL.

Derrick Rose returning for Knicks tonight

Knicks point guard Derrick Rose was one of the last players to leave the court after Monday’s practice as he tested his back to make sure he will be able to return to the lineup.

Rose went through the entire practice and reported no lower-back pain. He said the plan is for him to play Tuesday night when the Knicks face the Indiana Pacers to start a three-game homestand.

The former MVP, who missed about 58 percent of his team’s games during the previous five seasons as a member of the Chicago Bulls, said he’s not concerned that this will be a lingering issue despite missing the past two games and four of the last six with the back issue.

— NY Newsday

Quick Take: The Knicks are 14-13 this season, which is tied with the Bulls for the 6th best record in the Eastern conference. The 3rd and 8th seeds in the East are only separated by one game. As for the Knicks, they need Rose healthy and effective if they hope to leapfrog that group.

Blake Griffin will have knee surgery, out 3-6 weeks

After playing just 35 games last season, Clippers forward Blake Griffin is hurt again.

Griffin will undergo a routine arthroscopic procedure on Tuesday, December 20 to remove loose bodies from his right knee.

Griffin is expected to miss approximately three-to-six weeks and will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the Clippers medical staff.

The five-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 26 games and is averaging 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season

DeMar DeRozan, James Harden named NBA Players of Week

Raptors scoring guard DeMar DeRozan and Rockets do-everything guard James Harden were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week today, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 18.

DeRozan led Toronto to a 3-1 week, averaging a league-high 31.5 points on 60.5 percent shooting to go with 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. This marks the second time this season he has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games. DeRozan also shot over 50.0 percent from the field in all four games. On Dec. 16, he tallied 34 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 125-121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. On Dec. 18, he finished with 31 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 109-79 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Harden led Houston to a 4-0 week behind averages of 27.0 points (third in the West), a league-best 12.8 assists, 9.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals. He recorded back-to-back triple-doubles in victories over the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, giving him six for the season and 15 for his career. Harden surpassed Hakeem Olajuwon for most triple-doubles in Rockets franchise history. He tallied at least 20 points and 10 assists in three of four games, giving him 18 such games this season, tops in the league.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week include Golden State’s Kevin Durant, the LA Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Washington’s Bradley Beal and John Wall.

Report: Blake Griffin needs minor knee surgery

Clippers forward Blake Griffin is expected to undergo a minor knee surgery that will sideline him through the remainder of the month.

News of the surgery, which could allow for a January return, was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
Griffin played in the Clippers’ 117-110 loss to Washington on Sunday, scoring 26 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists.

— OC Register

Quick Take: The Clippers have proven in the past that they can continue to play well while Blake Griffin is out. Still, it’s unfortunate that they need to go through this again. Hope Griffin recovers soon.

Russell Westbrook dishes career-high 22 assists

Russell Westbrook could have taken a 3-pointer, but he stutter-stopped and drove left. The slight hesitation and a screen from Steven Adams was enough to provide a mismatch Westbrook identified immediately.

When he picked up his dribble, the 7-foot Adams was on the weak side towering over Westbrook’s initial defender, 6-5 P.J. Tucker. Westbrook saw it and lofted a perfectly-weighted pass over Tucker to Adams for an easy layup.

It was one of a gamut of brilliant passes from Westbrook, as the assists reached double digits before the points or rebounds in his league-leading 13th triple-double.

In the Thunder’s 114-101 win, Westbrook finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 22 assists.

— Oklahoman

Quick Take: Victor Oladipo was out, so Westbrook had to do even more than usual. His production is incredible. Westbrook is doing things few players in the modern era of pro basketball are capable of doing.

Derrick Rose dealing with back spasms

Carmelo Anthony will return to the Knicks’ lineup Saturday against Denver after missing Thursday’s game because of soreness in his shoulder, the team said. Derrick Rose, however, will sit because of lingering discomfort from back spasms. He has missed four of the Knicks’ past six games because of the ailment.

Brandon Jennings is likely to start at point guard in place of Rose on Saturday.

Anthony’s return against his former team will be a welcome one for the Knicks, who are 0-11 in games Anthony has missed over the past two seasons.

— ESPN NY

Quick Take: Knicks fans definitely don’t want to hear the words “Derrick Rose” and “injury concerns.” I felt uncomfortable even typing that sentence. Hopefully he recovers soon.

Hassan Whiteside clarifies comments about DeAndre Jordan

Hassan Whiteside added clarification to comments he recently made about Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.

The Miami Heat shot-blocking center took time pregame to clarify that he never meant any disrespect when he said a day earlier of Jordan, “He catches lobs. I shoot jumpers, catch lobs and block shots. I do a lot. He just catches lobs.”

Whiteside stressed Friday his point was that with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick alongside, Jordan had more leeway to focus on his All-NBA-level shot-blocking and rebounding.

“Definitely misconstrued,” Whiteside said in front of his locker. “First, I would never diss another big fella. I’m all for the big guys in the game. I was just saying on the offensive end, our roles are different. Obviously, he’s a top-three rebounder and one of the best defensive players in the game. I didn’t think I had to explain that, but I see I do. Quote me on that.”

— South Florida Sun Sentinel

Quick Take: Whether all in fun or actually serious, a little trash-talking never hurt anybody. It’s part of the game. Especially if there’s some truth to it. Anyway, this whole thing is no big deal. And it’s fun.