NBA News Blog – Page 1073 – NBA Blog

Celtics waive Jermaine O`Neal and sign Sean Williams

Out with the very old, in with something new.

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed center/forward Sean Williams.

To make room on the roster for Williams, the Celtics requested waivers on center Jermaine O’Neal.

Williams, a 6’10″ center/forward, appeared in eight games for the Dallas Mavericks this season averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The product of Boston College also appeared in 27 games for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League this season averaging 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. Williams was originally drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and has posted career averages of 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 134 career games split between New Jersey and Dallas. Williams was named to the NBA’s 2008 Rookie/Sophomore game and recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. He recorded his best statistical season as a rookie with the Nets when he averaged 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.45 blocks per game.

Dwight Howard to have back surgery

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery Friday morning in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disk, effectively ending his season and eliminating him from participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics, Howard’s agent said Thursday night.

Howard has been complaining of back problems since early March, but it wasn’t until Los Angeles-based spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins examined him last week that the herniated disk was discovered.

Howard received an epidural to alleviate the pain at that time and the plan was that he’d rest and rehabilitate his back for 10-14 days before deciding if he could return to play or further treatment might be necessary.

But his back has worsened and both Watkins and the Magic’s medical staff determined that surgery is necessary.

— Reported by Ric Bucher of ESPN the Magazine

Wilson Chandler is done for the season

Wilson Chandler’s season started late and is finishing early.

The Denver Nuggets’ versatile forward needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip and is done for the season.

Chandler arrived in Denver last February as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout and rejoined the Nuggets a month ago, signing a five-year deal worth nearly $37 million.

The 24-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight games, including six starts but spent more time on the sideline than on the court after hurting his hip.

— Reported by the Associated Press

James Harden drops 40 on the Suns

James Harden scored a career-high 40 points, including making 5 of 8 3-pointers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dealt Phoenix a blow in its scramble to make the playoffs with a 109-97 victory over the Suns on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant added 29 points and Russell Westbrook 15 for the Thunder, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

Phoenix’s loss, coupled with Utah’s’ victory over Portland, moved the Jazz a half-game ahead of the Suns for the West’s eighth and final playoff spot.

Jared Dudley scored 21 points for Phoenix.

Harden, who starred at nearby Arizona State, made 12 of 17 shots overall and was 11 of 11 from the free throw line. The Thunder’s superb, bearded reserve played 33 minutes. His previous high was 33 against Charlotte on March 10.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Stephen Curry may not play again this season

After trying so hard to get back in the court, Warriors point guard Stephen Curry sounded as if he’d embraced the truth his season is over.

“You can ask our trainers and all that,” Curry said, “(about) me fighting them every day about how fast I need to get back to a certain level and how fast I need to be getting back on the court. And them keeping me patient. … Once we came to the conclusion we only had a week left and I wasn’t going to be able to play, I guess the decision was pretty much made for me.”

Curry is going to miss 40 games this season of that ankle. He sprained the ankle five times (at Sacramento on Dec. 20, vs. Chicago on Dec. 26, atPhoenixon February 22, and vs.Dallason March 19) this season. Last season, he missed a total of eight games thanks to four ankle sprains.

Like most Warriors fans, Curry’s sights are now set for next year. He now that he’s done for the year, everything will slow down. He said in about a month his ankle should be healed.

— Reported by Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times Blog

Pierce leads Celtics to win over Magic

Paul Pierce had 29 points and a career-high 14 assists and the Boston Celtics clinched at least a tie for the Atlantic Division title as they held off a late charge by the Orlando Magic for a 102-98 win Wednesday night.

Boston (37-26) has a 3 1-2-game lead over New York (33-29). The Celtics have three games left and the Knicks, who beat the New Jersey Nets 104-95, have four.

Division winners are guaranteed to be seeded no worse than fourth in the conference and wouldn’t have to face Chicago or Miami in the first round…

The Celtics played without their starting backcourt. Point guard Rajon Rondo, who has at least 10 assists in each of his last 23 games, had a sore lower back after landing hard on it in Tuesday night’s 118-110 loss at New York. Ray Allen missed his sixth straight game with a right ankle injury.

Avery Bradley started for Rondo and finished with 23 points. Bass added 21.

Davis, starting in place of Dwight Howard, led Orlando with 27 points. Nelson had 19 points and nine assists. Howard missed his sixth consecutive game because of a herniated disc.

— Reported by Howard Ulman of the Associated Press

Kyrie Irving returns for Cavaliers

Kyrie Irving wanted to finish his rookie season on the floor. Despite some worry, the Cleveland Cavaliers will let him do it.

The NBA’s presumptive rookie of the year returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday night against Philadelphia after missing nine straight games with a sprained right shoulder.

Irving, who hasn’t played since April 3 when he re-injured his shoulder against San Antonio, will play limited minutes.

Cavs coach Byron Scott said the team considered shutting Irving down for the final six games of the season, but decided to let him play after he was given a clean bill of health by trainer Max Benton and team physician Dr. Richard Parker.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Basketball Wives star Jennifer Williams sues castmate`s personal assistant over slap

“Basketball Wives” star Jennifer Williams is filing a lawsuit Wednesday accusing a Manhattan woman of a flagrant foul for viciously slapping her face during a taping of the reality show.

Williams, ex-wife of NBA player Eric Williams, also has filed a complaint with the state attorney’s office in Florida, said lawyer Sanford Rubenstein.

“Violence used against any person is wrong but when a woman hits another woman it sets a horrible example for young girls everywhere,” Williams told the Daily News.

“I choose to use the justice system to fight back,” she said in an exclusive interview.

The defendant, Nia Crooks, is a personal assistant to “Basketball Wives” co-star Evelyn Lozada. Crooks belted Williams while VH1 cameras were rolling Jan. 21 in the presidential suite of the Gulfstream Park racetrack in South Florida.

— Reported by John Marzulli of the New York Daily News

Cavaliers recall Luke Harangody from D-League, again

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Luke Harangody from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Harangody was assigned to Canton on April 15th and recently took part in an extremely rare four-games-in-four-nights set while leading the Canton Charge to their first-ever playoff series victory. Already on assignment with Canton, Harangody led the Charge to a Game 1 victory over the Springfield Armor in Canton on April 13th with 16 points on 6-12 shooting (.500), nine rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. The following day he was recalled by the Cavaliers and started at Washington, recording a double-double with 16 points on 6-11 (.545) shooting, 10 rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes in a 98-89 victory.

The Notre Dame alumnus was re-assigned to Canton on Sunday, April 15th for Game 2 at Springfield, where he scored a team-high 26 points in 39 minutes in a 125-116 overtime loss. The following night in the decisive Game 3 matchup against Springfield, he grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and added seven points in 25 minutes in a 115-106 win. In the four games, Harangody averaged 16.3 points on .500 shooting and 8.0 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-8 forward has appeared in 16 games with Cleveland this season, posting averages of 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game. He is available for the Cavaliers’ game tonight versus Philadelphia.

Hornets sign Darryl Watkins to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed center Darryl Watkins to a 10-day contract.

The 6’11” center is in his second NBA season, originally appearing in nine games for the Sacramento Kings during the 2007-08 season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. Undrafted out of Syracuse in 2007 after four seasons with the Orange, Watkins has appeared in preseason games for the Kings (2007-08), San Antonio Spurs (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10) and most recently the Hornets in 2010-11, where he played three games, scoring 2.0 points and pulling down 3.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes of action.

To make room for Watkins, the Hornets announced today they have waived center Chris Johnson. Johnson has missed the last eight games with a concussion, suffered Apr. 1 against the Phoenix Suns. Originally claimed off waivers on Mar. 20, Johnson played in seven games for New Orleans this season, averaging 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.

The roster currently stands at 15.