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Andrew Bynum makes season debut

Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum poses for photos during the basketball team's media day at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 25, 2010. The Lakers will try to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back NBA championship titles. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum played his first game of the 2010-11 regular season Tuesday night in a 103-89 road win in Washington against the Wizards. Coming off the bench, Bynum played over 17 minutes, shooting just 1-of-5 for seven points, four rebounds, an assist and two blocks.

“I thought his first few minutes were good and then he tired after that…noticeable difference,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson after the game. ” He gave us something that we needed at the time. We had both Lamar and Pau with two fouls.”

Jackson does not plan on forcing Bynum into unnecessary action. “I’ll try to work him out somewhat similar to what we did tonight, short minutes, relief minutes and see how he goes in the game. I was ready to put him back in if we needed to tonight but that was a game in which we didn’t have to push it down the end.”

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2011 Knicks Legends Night is February 23

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The Knicks will hold their annual Legends Night Feb. 23 vs. Milwaukee and unveil the player of the past decade, with fans eligible to vote. Two years ago, Legends Night featured winners of the past five decades but left open the 2000’s — an atrocious period in Knick history.

On the ballot for this past decade is current assistant general manager Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, David Lee and Kurt Thomas. Houston is a strong favorite to win, but Sprewell could take the fan vote. The Knicks are assembling a panel to vote and the online fan vote counts as one panel member.

Fans can also select a second player of the decade from the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and they, too will be honored. In 2009, the inaugural class of decade winners were: Carl Braun (1940’s), Richie Guerin (1950’s), Willis Reed (1960’s), Walt Frazier (1970’s), Bernard King (1980’s) and Patrick Ewing (1990’s).

Andrew Bynum making season debut Tuesday

June 15, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02204142 Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum (R) goes to the basket as Boston Celtics' Rasheed Wallace defends during the first half of game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 15 June 2010. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports (via blog):

Andrew Bynum is set to make his season debut Tuesday vs. the Wizards after one final successful practice Monday.

Bynum had surgery to his right knee on July 28 to reattach cartilage damaged last postseason and will have missed this season’s first 24 games.

Bynum has been expected to be the starting center again immediately. Phil Jackson wants Bynum to carry over his knee looseness from pregame warmups to game action instead of stiffening up on the bench.

The Los Angles Times reports:

“I’m definitely playing tomorrow,” said the Lakers’ center, who has not see game action since undergoing knee surgery last July.

The Lakers, on a 9-7 skid after winning their first eight games, have been waiting for Bynum to return, though there was no timetable for how many minutes he might play Tuesday against Washington.

“I don’t know how long,” he said Monday after practicing with teammates before they met with President Obama. “The practice felt very good. Obviously I’m not myself yet, but I can definitely go out there and help the team, and I’m going to go do that.”

Rockets recall Patrick Patterson from D-League

Mar. 25, 2010 - Syracuse, Kentucky, USA - Kentucky's Patrick Patterson was all smiles as he left the floor as Kentucky defeated Cornell 62-45 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament on Thursday March 25, 2010 in Syracuse, NY. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled forward Patrick Patterson from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky) averaged a team-leading 18.3 points (.555, 61-110 FG), 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.56 steals and 1.56 blocks in nine games (nine starts) with the Vipers. Patterson currently ranks tied for first in the D-League in double-doubles with five and stands second in the league in rebounds per game. He is actually one of just three players in the D-League averaging a double-double on the season.

Assigned to Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 9, Patterson was on the inactive list for Houston’s first six games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in six games for the Rockets during the preseason. Patterson also averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games (four starts) with Houston during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft as an early entry candidate, Patterson finished his three-year career at Kentucky with averages of 16.1 points (.585, 617-1054 FG; .329, 24-73 3FG), 8.2 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 97 career games (97 starts). He was one of five Wildcats picked in the opening round of the 2010 NBA Draft, which was the first time five players from one school were chosen in the first round of the draft. A 2007 McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Patterson became the 10th fastest player to reach the 1,000-point club at UK (58 games). He was a two-time All-SEC First-Team pick as a junior and sophomore, as well as a Second-Team selection as a freshman.

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Francisco Elson will miss game while renewing his visa

Utah Jazz center Francisco Elson will miss tonight’s contest vs. Golden State. Elson has traveled to Canada to renew his visa (standard procedure) and is required to remain in the country for 48 hours as a part of the process.

Elson is expected to rejoin the team for Friday’s game at New Orleans.

In addition, guard Raja Bell (strained right adductor) and center Kyrylo Fesenko (sprained left ankle) will each be gametime decisions tonight.

Damion James out 6-8 weeks after foot surgery

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Damion James #5 of the Texas Longhorns looks on while taking on the Baylor Bears during the quarterfinals of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 11, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

New Jersey Nets forward Damion James underwent successful foot surgery today, December 13, to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced.

The surgery, which involved the insertion of a screw in James’ foot, was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by Dr. Martin O’Malley, and Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III.

James will be on crutches for two weeks after which time he will begin rehabilitation. James is expected to be out of action for a period of six to eight weeks.

Currently in his rookie season out of the University of Texas, James has played in 17 games, with averages of 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

Timberwolves recall Jonny Flynn from D-League

March 14, 2010: Jonny Flynn of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA. Ben Munn/CSM.

The Minnesota Timberwolves recalled second-year guard Jonny Flynn from the Sioux Falls Skyforce yesterday. Flynn appeared in one game for the Skyforce during his second stint in the D-League, dishing out 12 assists to go along with eight points and five rebounds in the Skyforce’s game against Tulsa Friday night.

Flynn, the sixth overall pick by Minnesota in last year’s draft, started each of the 81 games he appeared in as a rookie last season. He averaged 13.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a rookie before missing the season finale with the hip injury that ultimately required offseason surgery. He finished his first NBA season ranked fifth among the league’s rookies in scoring (13.5 ppg), fourth in free-throw accuracy (82.6%), fifth in assists (4.4 apg) and seventh in steals (1.01 spg).

Per NBA rules, a first- or second-year player can be assigned to the team’s D-League affiliate a maximum of three times in a season.

Thunder recall Byron Mullens from D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled center Byron Mullens from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Mullens appeared in one game (one start) for the 66ers and recorded 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes.

Mullens will join the Thunder for tonight’s 6:00 PM game against the Cavaliers at the Oklahoma City Arena.

Hornets score just 23 first-half points vs Sixers

The New Orleans Hornets apparently were mislead and thought that today’s game in Philadelphia against the 76ers was being played with golf rules, with victory going to whoever scores the fewest points.

In the first half, the Hornets shot just 14.3% (6-of-42) and missed all five of their three-point attempts. They scored just 13 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second.

Chris Paul was solid with 10 points on four shot attempts. But fellow starters Marco Belinelli shot 1-of-6, Trevor Ariza 1-of-9, David West 1-of-6, and Emeka Okafor 0-of-5.

The Sixers shot 45 percent and were led by Andre Iguodala’s 10 points.

Damion James suffers broken right foot

New Jersey Nets forward Damion James has suffered a broken right foot. It is not yet known how much time he’s expected to miss. More details on the injury will be added to this page later today.

The 6-7, 220-pound rookie, who attended Texas, has played limited minutes in his first professional season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

The 6-17 Nets currently have the worst record in the Eastern conference. They have a higher winning percentage than the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, who are all in the West.

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