The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Craig Smith is expected to miss at least the next two weeks after X-rays revealed a small break in his injured ribs, coach Kevin McHale said today. McHale also said in the strongest possible terms that the team is not looking to trade shooting guard Mike Miller before the Feb. 19 NBA deadline. “As I always say, if they offer Kobe (Bryant), we’ll definitely consider that,” McHale said after today’s practice. “But are we looking to trade him? No.”
Category: NBA News Blog
NBA news blog
No LeBron James triple-double in NY: NBA rescinds 10th rebound
The NBA announced today that a statistical error was made during the Cleveland Cavaliers-New York Knicks game on Feb. 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Cavaliers forward LeBron James was incorrectly credited with a rebound with 39.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that should have been awarded to Cleveland forward Ben Wallace. Due to the correction, James finished Wednesday’s game with nine rebounds – one rebound short of a triple-double – while Wallace ended with two rebounds.
All NBA games are reviewed to ensure the accuracy of the game statistics.
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Luke Ridnour out four weeks with broken thumb
Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today that guard Luke Ridnour (6-2, 175) will miss approximately four weeks of action with a fractured right thumb. Ridnour sustained the injury during yesterday’s practice at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI.
Ridnour, 27, has appeared in 49 games this season (all starts) and averaged 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and team-highs of 5.7 assists (20th in the NBA) and 1.4 steals (18th in the NBA) per game. His 2.84 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks him 15th in the league and his 89.4 free throw percentage is 10th best in the NBA.
Brian Scalabrine out until mid February
The Boston Globe reports: Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine, who will miss his fifth straight game tonight while recovering from a concussion, talked with reporters before Thursday’s game against the Lakers and noted he’d be out until at least after the All-Star break. “I’m improving,” said Scalabrine. “I am getting better.”
Elton Brand to have season-ending shoulder surgery
Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that forward Elton Brand will undergo surgery on his right shoulder, which he dislocated on December 17, 2008 against the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result of the surgery, Brand will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season.
The surgery is scheduled for Monday afternoon at the Wilmington Surgery Center.
Brand’s MRI results were reviewed by team orthopedist and medical director Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health System and Dr. Craig Morgan of the Morgan-Kalman Clinic in Wilmington, DE, who concluded that the initial tear of the labrum in Brand’s right shoulder is responsible for a considerable decrease in the range of motion and instability, both of which would not allow him to be effective on the court.
Following six weeks of non-operative and conservative treatment, including two weeks of testing it on a daily basis in live action, a determination was made that in order to reduce the risk of any further damage to the shoulder, surgery would be required.
“Elton wanted to do whatever he could to get back on the court and initially elected to forgo surgery in order to help his teammates,” Stefanski said. “He worked as hard as he could over the past six weeks to return, however the scope the injury would not allow it.”
Ray Allen replaces Jameer Nelson in All-Star game
Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Jameer Nelson (torn labrum, right shoulder) of the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Allen will be making his ninth All-Star appearance.
The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 215 countries and territories, and in 44 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15.
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Chris Bosh day-to-day with sprained right knee
Chris Bosh left Wednesday’s game versus Los Angeles in the fourth quarter with a sprained right knee. Images taken postgame revealed no structural damage. He will travel with the team to New Orleans and his status is doubtful for Friday night’s game and day-to-day for the remainder of the trip.
Jose Calderon sat out last night’s game against the Lakers to rest his sore right hamstring. He will accompany the team and is listed as probable for Friday’s game in New Orleans.
Celtics ticket prices stay same for 2009-10
The 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics announced today that they will not increase season ticket holder loge and balcony ticket prices for the 2009-10 season. The Celtics have experienced enormous success over the last two seasons capturing the 2008 World Championship title, along with selling out 85 consecutive home games and doubling their season ticket holder account base.
“We are extremely lucky to have such a loyal and passionate season ticket holder base and we want them to know how much we truly appreciate their support. While we have continued to invest in a championship caliber team, we recognize the economic climate has changed and we want to make it easier for our fans to continue to cheer for the Celtics at the Garden next season,” Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said.
Along with keeping prices flat, the team will introduce a first of its kind 12 month interest-free payment plan option, allowing season ticket holders to spread both their 2009 Playoffs and 2009-10 season ticket payments over the next year. The Celtics will also continue to provide league leading benefits for their ticket holders and introduce a new tenure based rewards system, giving special event and gift access to season ticket holders that have been with the team for numerous years.
“We have made the decision to allow season ticket holders to spread out their entire playoff and season ticket invoice over 12 months, interest free, to ease the burden of heavier upfront payments this spring. We know flexible payment options are a necessity right now for our clients and we’re happy to deliver just that,” Boston Celtics CMO Shawn Sullivan said.
Bucks trade Tyronn Lue to Magic for Keith Bogans
The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard-forward Keith Bogans and cash considerations, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.
“Tyronn is a veteran point guard who fits in well with our style of play,” said Smith. “He shoots well from three-point range and adds needed depth at that position. We thank Keith for everything he gave to us and wish him all the best.”
Lue (6’0”, 175, 5/3/77) has played in 30 games this season for Milwaukee, averaging 4.7 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 13.1 minpg. He is shooting .467 (21-of-45) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 14 points on Nov. 24 @ Orlando. Lue led (or tied) the Bucks in assists three times.
Lue returns for a second stint with Orlando. He played in 76 games (69 starts) for the Magic in 2003-04, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg. Lue was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
Lue was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Denver. He has appeared in 540 career NBA regular season games with eight different teams (the L.A. Lakers, Washington, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, Dallas and Milwaukee), averaging 8.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.7 rpg. in 23.0 minpg. Lue has also shot .392 (454-of-1,158) from beyond the three-point arc during his career.
Bogans, 28, has appeared in 35 games this season for the Orlando Magic and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game. Last season, Bogans played in all 82 games for the Magic and tallied 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes. He shot a career-high 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from the three-point arc, connecting on a career-high 148-of-409 attempts. Bogans appeared in all 10 of Orlando’s post-season contests in 2008 and averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.3 minutes.
Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations. His resume spans five-plus NBA seasons and includes time spent with Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. In 395 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
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Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League
Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second. Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.
In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field. Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.
Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico. During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.
Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.