Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Flip Saunders had John Wall watch John Stockton footage

Frank Hanrahan of CSN Washington reports:

John Wall had a homework assignment this week. After turning the ball over too many times in his first 5 games, Wizards coach Flip Saunders told his prized rookie point guard to watch some game film of one the greatest point guards that ever played in John Stockton.

The shorts were super tight but so was Stockton’s game leading the Utah Jazz for 19 seasons. Stockton was the master of the pick and roll and it didn’t hurt to have another Hall of Famer running that two game man game with him in Karl Malone. Stockton left the NBA in 2003 as the all time assist and steals leader and later was a deserved Hall of Famer.

“It was about a 45 minute tape of Stockton that John (Wall) watched the last two days leading up to the Rockets game,” Saunders said. All he (Wall) was talking about was how Stockton was so deliberate and how he played under control.”

Mike Beasley scores 42 in win over Kings

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

michael beasley

On Wednesday, Beasley scored a career-high 42 points — 18 of them in the game’s first 10 minutes, 27 in the first half alone — on 17-for-31 shooting and on a bruised left hip that delivered the Wolves their first victory since the season’s second game.

“I had my popcorn ready, just watching the show,” Wolves injured point guard Jonny Flynn said as he sat in a joyous locker room afterward. “And that was definitely a show. Mike Beasley put on a show.”

Their nine-point victory followed Tuesday’s five-point loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles, ended a six-game losing streak and avenged a one-point, opening-night loss to the Kings at Target Center.

All this after they lost their first four road games by an average of 30 points.

It also was the Wolves’ first road victory since they won at Miami last February against a Heat team that included a guy named Beasley.

Beasley’s 42-point night puts him among such names in franchise history as Tony Campbell, Wally Szczerbiak, Isaiah Rider, Randy Breuer, Stephon Marbury, Al Jefferson and, of course, Kevin Garnett, all players who scored 40 or more points in a game.

Dirk Nowitzki sprains ankle, plays anyway

Eddie Sefko of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

Dirk Nowitzki sprains ankle, plays anyway

Humming along with a double-digit lead and the look of a team with payback on its mind, the Dallas Mavericks got a scare just before halftime Wednesday night.

Dirk Nowitzki went down in a crumble under the defensive basket with a sprained right ankle.

But rather than a difficult circumstance that could have ended up being an excuse for a letdown, the Mavericks — and Nowitzki — turned it into an opportunity, and a 106-91 thrashing of the Memphis Grizzlies.

At the start of the second half, Nowitzki was back on the court, clearly favoring his right leg, but determined to be there for his team.

In the Mavericks’ huddle, coach Rick Carlisle leaned in to his assistants and said: “He’s one tough dude.”

John Wall gets first NBA triple-double

The AP reports:

John Wall gets first triple-double

Rookie John Wall got his first professional triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 98-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Yao Ming missed most of the game after he strained a tendon in his leg in the first quarter.

Washington used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away after blowing an 11-point lead…

Kevin Martin scored 31 points for the Rockets, who have lost six of seven.

Brandon Roy knee issues continue

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports:

brandon roy

The news, Blazers fans, is not good. Brandon Roy is experiencing swelling and discomfort on his left knee. This is the knee that was operated on in August 2008, not the right knee that was operated on last April.

Roy is concerned about what is going on inside the knee, which he says has been drained of fluid twice this season. His concern is strong enough that he wants a second opinion.

So today, general manager Rich Cho will cart some extra luggage on an already scheduled flight to Los Angeles. Before Tuesday, Cho was planning to fly to Los Angeles with injured center Greg Oden and soon-to-be-operated on guard Elliot Williams. Now, he will also be packing all the “film work” taken on Roy’s knees.

Rockets assign Patrick Patterson to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward Patrick Patterson to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Patterson is expected to join the Vipers on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

“Patrick is making tremendous strides in practice and coach is very comfortable that he could help us win in the NBA right now,” said Morey. “However, our depth at the big spot with Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Brad Miller, Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes and Jared Jeffries means there is no playing time available. We believe strongly that players improve best by playing in games and the upcoming stretch presented a timely opportunity for Patrick to join Vipers training camp.”

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky), who was selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, has been 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.

An early entry candidate out of Kentucky, Patterson finished his three-year career 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.

Aaron Brooks out 4-6 weeks

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Aaron Brooks out 4-6 weeks

Rockets guard Aaron Brooks said after Sunday’s game he was told to expect to miss four to six weeks with a sprained left ankle he suffered at the end of the first half Saturday night in an overtime defeat at San Antonio.

The injury snapped his streak of 119 consecutive games played.

“I don’t think I ever had an ankle injury like this before,” Brooks said. “I did break my hand in college, sat out like eight weeks.

“As far as football, I never had any injury. Luckily, nothing is broken. It’s a sprain. I’ll be back to normal.”

UPDATE FROM THE ROCKETS: Rockets guard Aaron Brooks underwent further medical evaluation from the Rockets medical staff prior to last night’s game.  It was determined that Brooks suffered a moderate to severe left ankle sprain on the last play of the first half of Saturday night’s game at San Antonio.  Brooks is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks.

InsideHoops.com editor says: And the hits just keep coming for the struggling Rockets, who did finally win their first game of the season, recently beating the very beatable Minnesota Timberwolves. Anyway, watch and see if backup point guard Kyle Lowry is able to step up while Brooks is gone.

Rockets will keep Jermaine Taylor and not sign Erick Dampier

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

The Rockets told second-year guard Jermaine Taylor on Sunday they would not release him because they no longer planned to sign center Erick Dampier, Taylor’s agent Michael Whitaker said before Sunday’s game.

“I was actually told that I’m here to stay,” Taylor said. “They told me I was here… “I’m happy to still be here and still have a job, but then again, I kind of wonder what would have happened if I went somewhere else.”

Nick Collison hopes to return soon

John Rohde of the Oklahoman reports:

Nick Collison hopes to return soon

Thunder power forward Nick Collison, who has yet to practice or play this season, had an MRI taken early last week and said the result were good.

Collison said he has intensified his work during rehabilitation. Though he still has no exact timetable on his return, Collison said he is encouraged with the test results. “Still going forward,” Collison said. “It’s good to be moving forward rather than moving backward.”

Backup center Byron Mullens, who has been inactive all season, is battling the flu. He did not make the West Coast trip last week and was not at Saturday’s practice.