NBA News Blog – Page 926 – NBA Blog

No date for John Wall return, yet

John Wall plans to visit a doctor in Washington on Thursday to get an update on the stress injury in his left knee. Wall found out about the problem five weeks ago, when he visited orthopedic specialist David Altchek in New York and the Wizards projected that he would miss at least eight weeks.

He isn’t expected to return until close to December, and while those close to him have hoped that he could return by Nov. 30 in New York, Wall said he doesn’t have a scheduled return in his mind.

“No target at all,” Wall said, shaking his head. “No. I wish I did.”

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Blog)

Mehmet Okur retiring from basketball

Mehmet Okur announced his retirement from basketball at age 33.

The Turkish forward played for nine years in the NBA averaging 13.5ppg and 7rpg in 634 games (460 in the starting five) with the Pistons, Jazz and Nets.

Last season, Okur started with Turk Telekom Ankara, averaging 12ppg and 8.2rpg in the TBL. When the NBA lockout ended he returned to the United States, where he played 17 games with the Nets, scoring 7.6ppg and pulling down 4.8rpg.

Okur decided to retire because of injuries that affected him over the last three seasons of his career.

— Reported by Sportando

Kobe Bryant starting to appear frustrated

Kobe Bryant didn’t waste any time leaving the court after the Los Angeles Lakers lost 95-86 to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Bryant made a beeline to the locker room with a scowl on his face as the Lakers fell to 1-4 to start a season for the first time in his 17-year career.

Dwight Howard, meanwhile, was the last Lakers player to make his way through the tunnel, lingering on the court to hug a fan and toss each of his arm sleeves, as well as his uniform, into the crowd.

Bryant’s frustration was apparent long before his final exit: He got into it with referee Ed Malloy after being called for a charge in the second quarter; he punched the ball inbounds rather than passed it when there was less than a second left in the third quarter; and he was caught on camera staring down coach Mike Brown when he was sitting on the bench during a timeout in the waning moments of the fourth.

Howard said after the game the Lakers would be better off bottling up those negative emotions.

“I think sometimes as a team we got to be able to not really show our frustrations that much,” Howard said after L.A. fell to 1-12 with their preseason record included.

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Jazz beat Lakers, who fall to 1-4

Al Jefferson scored 18 points and Randy Foye added 17 on five 3-pointers to lift the Utah Jazz over the Los Angeles Lakers, 95-86 on Wednesday night.

Mo Williams added 16 points on 8 of 13 shooting for Utah (2-3).

Kobe Bryant entered the game shooting nearly 60 percent but started 3 of 10 and finished 7 of 17 for 29 points as the Lakers fell to 1-4.

Dwight Howard added 19 points for the Lakers and Metta World Peace had 15.

The Jazz led by as many as 16 points early, but the Lakers were within five with 8:27 left before Foye hit three straight 3-pointers to give Utah a 79-68 lead with 6:40 remaining.

The Lakers held a huge advantage at the free throw line, making 32 of 46, including 15 of 17 for Bryant. The Jazz were 16 of 18 from the line.

— Reported by Lynn DeBruin of the Associated Press

Sixers hold Hornets to franchise low 62 points

Jrue Holiday had 14 points and 12 assists, and the Philadelphia 76ers held New Orleans to its lowest point total ever in a 77-62 victory over the Hornets on Wednesday night.

Evan Turner also scored 14, and Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen each added 12 points for the Sixers, who dominated the second half defensively. The Hornets committed 14 of their 24 turnovers after halftime and scored only 25 points during the final two quarters. Young also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Al-Farouq Aminu was the only Hornets player to score in double figures with 10 points to go with a career-high 16 rebounds. Ryan Anderson grabbed 10 rebounds and 7-foot reserve Jason Smith blocked five shots.

The Hornets, who lost for the first time in three games, played without first-round draft choices Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. Davis was not cleared to return from a recent concussion and Rivers had a sprained finger on his left hand.

— Reported by Brett Martel of the Associated Press

InsideHoops.com notes: This game was an ugly brickfest… Hornets guard Eric Gordon also remains out… This game was a mess… Philly enjoyed a balanced scoring effort… This game was a disaster.

Zach Randolph leads Grizzlies to win over Bucks

Zach Randolph had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies shot 53 percent from the floor in a 108-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

Rudy Gay added 17 points and Marreese Speights contributed 16 off the bench to help Memphis win its third straight after a season-opening loss.

Milwaukee, which was looking to start 3-0 for the first time since the 2005-06 season, shot just 38.5 percent from the field. Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 19 points, but he was only 6 of 20 from the field. Monta Ellis added 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

The Grizzlies withstood a third-quarter rally and pulled away in the fourth.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Heat beat Nets by 30 in Miami

Dwyane Wade scored 22 points on 10 for 14 shooting, LeBron James finished two assists shy of a triple-double and the Miami Heat improved to 4-0 at home for the first time in franchise history by beating the Brooklyn Nets 103-73 on Wednesday night.

James had 20 points and 12 rebounds in only 30 minutes, and Rashard Lewis scored 13 points for the Heat (4-1). Miami – which plays its next six games on the road – has won its four home games by an average of 17.8 points.

Kris Humphries had a double-double by halftime, then was silent in the second half and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets (1-2). Deron Williams scored 14 for Brooklyn, which got 12 off the bench from MarShon Brooks.

The Nets had 19 turnovers, which Miami turned into 31 points…

The Nets were without Gerald Wallace, who missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

InsideHoops.com notes: Deron Williams dished just three assists while committing seven turnovers… Keith Bogans, who started at shooting guard for Brooklyn, contributed just three points and two rebounds… Nets swingman Joe Johnson shot just 4-of-14 for nine points and little else… The Heat as a team shot 52 percent from the field.

Kings assign Tyler Honeycutt to D-League

The Sacramento Kings assigned second-year forward Tyler Honeycutt to the Reno Bighorns, the Kings’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.

The assignment is the first of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, and the second for Honeycutt in his career. He was assigned last season from Jan. 2 – Jan. 22, 2012.

Honeycutt (6-8, 188, UCLA) appeared in 15 games for the Kings as a rookie last season, averaging 1.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 5.9 minutes. In one preseason game this year, he scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in 14 minutes.

In 10 games on assignment with the Bighorns last season, Honeycutt averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 12.7 minutes.

Originally selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Kings, Honeycutt appeared in 59 career games for the Bruins, averaging 10.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 31.7 minutes.

Honeycutt, who will be available to play tonight in Sacramento, is expected to join the Bighorns in time for their 2012 NBA D-League training camp which opens on Nov. 12 in Reno.

Kobe Bryant still trying to rest his strained foot

Kobe Bryant still trying to rest his strained right foot

Out of interest that he heals his strained right foot, Kobe Bryant sat out of practice Tuesday for the second consecutive time this week.

Out of interest to stop the Lakers’ sluggish start, Coach Mike Brown has kept Bryant on the floor longer than planned.

Bryant expressed optimism the past two days of treatment and rest will make his foot feel “90 percent” when the Lakers (1-3) play tonight at Utah (1-2). Brown expressed optimism he’ll reduce Bryant’s current playing time, which has hovered at an average of 37 minutes through four games.

“I want to try to really be conscious of Kobe’s minutes, Brown said. “What I can do is as we go on, is continue to be more conscious of not throwing him out there.”

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Daily Breeze

Indiana Pacers lose forward Danny Granger for 3 months

Danny Granger injury update: The news is bad

The Indiana Pacers announced that Danny Granger received an injection Tuesday to treat left patellar tendinosis. The procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Team medical personnel are looking at a recovery time of approximately three months. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.

According to the Associated Press, “Without Granger, the Pacers will be searching for offense to offset his loss. Granger averaged 18.3 points per game last season and led Indiana to the Eastern Conference semifinals. He has led the team in scoring the past five seasons. Gerald Green had started at forward in Granger’s absence before coach Frank Vogel turned to Sam Young this week.”