NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog
NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
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An MRI revealed today that Hornets forward Trevor Ariza has a right medial ankle sprain. He is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Lakers.
Ariza suffered the injury last night when he came down on the back of Thunder forward Jeff Green’s foot in the third quarter of last night’s game in Oklahoma City.
The NBA announced today that New York Knicks scout Rodney Heard has been fined $20,000 for violating league rules restricting contact between NBA teams and players eligible for the NBA Draft. The Knicks’ organization has also been also fined $200,000 for Heard’s actions.
Heard violated NBA rules on two occasions, once in May 2007 and again in May 2010.
Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times reports:
The punishments stem from workouts conducted by Heard in Atlanta in May 2007 and May 2010.Heard, who has been with the club since 2006, is the Knicks’ East Coast scouting director. The punishment is generally in line with previous cases that involved violations of draft workout rules, although some team executives had expected the Knicks to be forced to forfeit future draft picks as part of any punishment.
The Knicks were perhaps lucky to only get fined and not suffer any additional penalties.
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The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday forward Linas Kleiza (LYNN-as CLAY-za) underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday to address both a meniscal tear and chondral defect of his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. J. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colorado.
Due to the nature of the microfracture procedure performed, the recovery time is expected to be nine to 12 months.
Kleiza appeared in 39 games with 23 starts, averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 26.5 minutes. He had six games of 20 or more points, including a season-best 26 December 10 versus Denver and December 19 versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Raptors play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Air Canada Centre on Friday at 7 p.m. (TSN/Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590).
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Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has assigned center Byron Mullens to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
In his first stint in Tulsa, Mullens appeared in one game, recording 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes.
This season, the center is averaging 1.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in 12 games for Oklahoma City.
Mullens will be in uniform tomorrow night when the 66ers take on the Utah Flash at the Tulsa Convention Center.
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The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that they have assigned rookie guard Willie Warren to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.
Warren, 21, has appeared in 14 games with the Clippers this season and is averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 assists in 7.8 minutes per game.
The former Oklahoma University standout was selected by the Clippers in the second round (54th overall pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:
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Free-agent point guard Jason Williams has agreed in principle to sign with the Grizzlies, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Barring an unforeseen development, the 35-year-old will join the team by Monday.
Williams informed Griz management of his decision Wednesday night while the team played on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Orlando Magic waived Williams on Jan. 26. Williams and the Magic agreed to part ways over a lack of playing time. He became a fourth-string player after Orlando acquired Gilbert Arenas in a trade with Washington.
Behind a ridiculous 43 points from Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing at home, beat the New Orleans Hornets 104-93.
Durant was sensational. He shot 14-of-19, including 5-of-7 three-pointers, and hit 10-of-11 free throws to get his points. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists.
The AP reports:
The league’s scoring leader hit two free throws, a jumper and a 3-pointer from the right wing, and then a driving foul-line jumper that made it 98-84 with 5:44 to play.
“Durant hit some shots that there’s no defense for,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said. “Some of that stuff is the same thing Chris does, the same thing David does, and you can’t overcome that.
“What I didn’t like was I thought a couple of our guys put their heads down tonight and let that get to them, and I thought some of our bench guys didn’t compete.”
Durant scored 47 points at Minnesota and then 40 against Washington in back-to-back victories last week that both went past regulation, and he shot 14 for 19 from the field in his latest scoring outburst.
“Amazing,” Jeff Green said. “He’s been scoring the ball with ease, getting any kind of shot he wants. He’s been playing well, and hopefully it continues.”
The Thunder and Hornets are both dark horse teams who could pull off an upset or two in the postseason. They’re worth keeping an eye on. Especially OKC, with a guy like Durant on their side.
The AP reports:
New Jersey coach Avery Johnson has been ejected from the game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Johnson was tossed with 7:47 left in the third quarter after being hit with two technical fouls for arguing the lack of a call after Nets guard Devin Harris was stripped by Elton Brand.
Replays showed that Brand’s hand never touched the ball and seemed to paw at Harris’ chest.
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Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled center Cole Aldrich from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
During his two assignments this season with the 66ers, Aldrich has appeared in 19 games (19 starts) and averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots in 29.2 minutes. Aldrich has recorded three consecutive double-doubles with Tulsa and the 66ers own a 15-4 mark this season with him in the lineup.
Aldrich has joined the Thunder in Oklahoma City for tonight’s 7:00 PM game against the New Orleans Hornets at the Oklahoma City Arena.
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Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced the following medical update on forward Drew Gooden:
“After seeking multiple medical opinions on his left foot (plantar fasciitis), Drew Gooden will undergo treatment beginning today in Los Angeles under the direction of foot and ankle specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel. Gooden is expected to be out of action for four-to-six weeks.”
Gooden has missed 21 games this season with left foot plantar fasciitis, including the last six contests. He is averaging 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 23.6 minutes in 25 games (15 starts) on the season.
