NBA News Blog – Page 1596 – NBA Blog

Paul Millsap out 7-10 days

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap, who injured his left knee in the first half of the game at Milwaukee on December 23.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests conducted on Millsap’s left knee on Wednesday showed that Millsap suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

Millsap will not play in Friday’s game vs. Dallas, marking the first game he has missed in his NBA career. His streak will end at 194 straight games played, which was the seventh-longest active streak in the NBA. Millsap will not travel with the team to Houston for tomorrow night’s game at the Rockets and is expected to miss seven to 10 days of action.

Damon Jones to join Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks and Damon Jones have mutually decided that he will join the team effective immediately. Jones is scheduled to be with the Bucks Saturday night when they take on the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. at the Bradley Center.

Jones, 32, has been inactive for all 30 games of the Bucks season to date.

Jones (6-3, 195) was acquired from Cleveland on August 13, 2008, in a three-team deal that also included Oklahoma City. Milwaukee also received Adrian Griffin and Luke Ridnour from the Thunder, the Cavaliers added Mo Williams, while Oklahoma City acquired Joe Smith and Desmond Mason.

Rockets assign Joey Dorsey to D-League

Houston Rockets forward Joey Dorsey was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced Friday. Dorsey is the 14th player to be assigned from an NBA team to the NBA D-League this season.

Originally selected in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Dorsey was traded to Houston on Draft night and appeared in three regular season games for the Rockets, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound. In four preseason games, Dorsey averaged 3.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

Dorsey, 6-8, was a four-year contributor at Memphis, where he averaged 6.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks during his NCAA career. For his efforts, he earned First Team All-Conference USA honors as a junior and Second Team honors during his senior season. He was also named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and earned league All-Defensive Team honors during his final two years at Memphis. Dorsey finished his collegiate career as Conference USA’s all-time leader in rebounding (1,209), which also ranks second all-time in Memphis history. Additionally, Dorsey ranks as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.614, 400-of-641), and is second all-time in school history in blocked shots (265).

Spurs assign Malik Hairston to D-League

San Antonio Spurs forward Malik Hairston on Friday was assigned to the Austin Toros, the Spurs NBA D-League affiliate, it was announced today. Hairston is the 13th player to be assigned from an NBA team to the NBA D-League this season.

Originally selected in the second round (48th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Hairston was traded to San Antonio where he spent 2008 training camp. In six preseason games with the Spurs, Hairston averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 assists. Hairston was waived by the Spurs on Oct. 26 before spending 11 games with the Toros and earning a Call-Up to San Antonio on Dec. 22, and has not seen regular season action with Spurs this season.

Hairston started in 11 Toros games this season and where he averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals. He twice scored a career-high 33 points, originally on Nov. 29 and again on Dec. 18 and was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 15.

A four year starter at Oregon, Hairston finished his NCAA career averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while earning Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 during his sophomore and senior seasons.

Suns assign Alando Tucker to D-League

The Phoenix Suns Friday assigned second year forward Alando Tucker to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate Iowa Energy. Tucker is the 12th player assigned from an NBA team to an NBA D-League affiliate this season.

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker was originally selected by the Suns with the 29th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft and played in six games for Phoenix during his rookie season, averaging 3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. Tucker has yet to make an appearance with the Suns this season after missing the first 22 games due to injury, including 19 following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in November.

No stranger to the NBA D-League, Tucker was assigned to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds from Phoenix last season, when he appeared in 21 games and averaged 27.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Suns to assign Alando Tucker to D-League

The Phoenix Suns tomorrow will assign swingman Alando Tucker to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker was selected by Phoenix with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. The second-year player from Wisconsin has not yet made his season debut with the Suns in 2008-09 after missing the first 22 games due to injury, including 19 following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in November.

Nielsen NBA ratings for Christmas games

Nielson.com reports: Since ABC obtained NBA broadcasting rights in 2002, the network’s Christmas Day games have averaged a 4.1 rating and 6.9 million viewers nationally. The highest mark came in 2004 when the Lakers and Heat (featuring a much-anticipated reunion between Kobe and Shaq) pulled a 7.3 rating and 13.2 million viewers. The San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns officially tip off ABC’s broadcast season at 2:40pm ET Christmas Day. Last year, the NBA on ABC averaged a 2.2 national rating, up 10% from 06-07.

InsideHoops.com says: Looking at the Nielson ratings for NBA Christmas games, Phoenix at LA Lakers in 2007 was seen by 5,985,000 people. LA Lakers at Miami in 2006 was seen by 5,464,000 viewers. Miami at Cleveland in 2006 was seen by 5,020,000 people. San Antonio at Detroit in 2005 was viewed by 6,011,000 people. LA Lakers at Miami in 2005 was seen by 8,063,000 viewers. Miami at LA Lakers in 2004 was seen by 13,182,000 people. Dallas at Sacramento in 2003 was seen by 5,030,000 people. Houston at LA Lakers in 2003 was seen by 7,187,000 people. Boston at New Jersey in 2002 was seen by 3,957,000 people. And Sacramento at LA Lakers in 2002 was seen by 7,484,000 viewers.

Jordan Farmar out 8 weeks after surgery

Lakers guard Jordan Farmar underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, it was announced by the team.

The surgery, which took approximately 30 minutes, was performed by Dr. Clarence Shields of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group. Farmar is expected to be out approximately eight weeks.

Farmar suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Lakers game at Miami on Friday night. He is averaging 7.9 points and 2.4 assists in 19.6 minutes this season.

Rockets trade Steve Francis to Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies reacquired its 2009 second-round draft pick from the Houston Rockets and also received guard and former Grizzlies draft selection Steve Francis, and cash considerations in exchange for a 2011 conditional second-round pick, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

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Houston originally received Memphis’ 2009 second-round pick along with the draft rights to Donté Greene (28th overall pick) in exchange for forward Darrell Arthur (27th) in a draft night trade on June 26, 2008. Arthur, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, ranks in the top 10 among NBA rookies in rebounds (4.6, 9th) and blocks (0.81, 7th) and is also averaging 5.8 points in 19.6 minutes in 26 games (21 starts) in 2008-09.

Francis, a three-time All-Star (2002, 2003, 2004), has averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists 37.6 minutes in 576 career games (543 starts) in nine NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.

The 6-3, 210-pound guard was originally selected in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies, but his draft rights were traded by the Grizzlies to Houston on August 27, 1999 in a three-team, 11-player deal.

The 31-year-old, who rejoined the Rockets as a free agent on July 20, 2007, has yet to appear in a game with the Rockets this season. Francis averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 games (three starts) in 2007-08, but underwent successful season-ending surgery to repair a torn quadricep tendon in his right knee on Feb. 26, 2008.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 14 players. Memphis will next host the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26 at the FedExForum.

Grizzlies recall Hamed Haddadi from D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies have recalled center Hamed Haddadi from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Haddadi posted 6.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.55 blocks in 17.7 minutes in 11 games (seven starts) with the Wizards. Memphis assigned the 7-2, 280-pound center to the Wizards on Nov. 24.

Signed by Memphis on Aug. 28, the Ahvaz, Iran native has yet to make his NBA debut.