Blake Griffin playing through elbow injury

Blake Griffin playing through elbow injury

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin reportedly has a ruptured bursa sac in his right elbow, but the ailment won’t keep him out of action.

According to the Orange County Register, Griffin said the problem has occurred in the past, but “never this bad.”

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro told ESPNLosAngeles.com that Griffin also is battling through a neck strain. The website reported that Griffin participated in only half of Tuesday’s practice in advance of Wednesday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Hornets coach Monty Williams fined for public criticism of NBA concussion policy

New Orleans Hornets head coach Monty Williams has been fined $25,000 for public comments that were critical of the NBA’s concussion policy, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

Williams’ comments were made prior to the Hornets game against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, Nov. 3.

More info will be added to this page later today.

Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson out 2-4 weeks

Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson out 2-4 weeks

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that guard Gerald Henderson could miss approximately 2-4 weeks after further examination on his left foot confirmed the mid-foot sprain he suffered November 3 at Dallas.

Through two games, Henderson is averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 28.0 minutes.

According to the Charlotte Obsever, “I drove down the middle of the lane and got fouled. I slipped, and my foot kind of dragged on the ground and turned a little weird,’’ Henderson described. “I got up and felt something was wrong. I just couldn’t put a whole bunch of pressure on it, so I knew something was wrong.’’ The Bobcats will be scrambling to fill all the things Henderson does. Along with being the starting shooting guard he’s been the backup small forward this season. He’s third on the Bobcats in scoring at 12.5 points per game and sixth in the NBA in steals at three per game.”

Steve Blake fined for directing inappropriate language at a fan

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 29.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 105-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, November 2 at Staples Center.

According to the Los Angeles Times, ” Steve Blake has been punished by the league office for yelling at Lance Jackson, the adult son of Steve Jackson, a footwear mogul and longtime Lakers fan known for his block of eight courtside seats. Next thing you know, Laker Girls will be sprouting whiskers. Said Blake: “It’s one of those moments you’re not proud of.” Said Lance Jackson: “I’m just sorry it got to this point.” That’s not exactly what they were saying to each other during Friday night’s Lakers loss to the Clippers at Staples Center. While playing for the injured Steve Nash, Blake was struggling, hitting just two of his six shots while the Lakers were falling to 0-3.”

Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion out with MCL sprain

shawn marion

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that an MRI confirmed forward Shawn Marion has a sprained left medial collateral ligament (MCL).  He will be listed as out tomorrow and will not travel with the team to New York and Charlotte later this week.  He will be re-evaluated next week.

In four games this season, Marion has averaged 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 27.0 minutes while shooting 51.9% (14-27 FGs) from the field.

Cavs step up and beat Clippers

Cavs step up and beat Clippers

Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were apt to follow up a tough loss with another defeat. Things are slowly changing.

Rookie Dion Waiters hit seven 3-pointers in scoring 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 24 points in a 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night that snapped a two-game skid two nights after losing by three to Milwaukee.

Some of the biggest shots were hit by Waiters, whose points and 3-pointers set career highs in his fourth NBA game…

Tyler Zeller added 15 points and Anderson Varejao had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, who took the lead for good late in the first quarter.

Blake Griffin scored 20 points, Jamal Crawford added 19 and Chris Paul had 17 for the Clippers, who lost their second straight after opening the season with two wins. Their 25 turnovers led to 21 points for the Cavs.

— Reported by Beth Harris of the Associated Press

Jose Juan Barea warned by NBA about flopping

Jose Juan Barea warned by NBA about flopping

Believe it or not, but he was among the first two NBA players to receive a warning under the league’s new flopping fine policy.

He got a warning for flailing his arms but not falling Friday night on a play when Sacramento’s Jimmer Fredette gave him a stiff arm and got called for the offensive foul for driving into him.

The NBA considered that some over-acting by Barea.

Barea expressed surprise — almost bordering on pride — that he received a warning, even though he claimed the league hadn’t yet told him.

— Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

No Avery Bradley for Celtics anytime soon

No Avery Bradley for Celtics anytime soon

Avery Bradley’s return from shoulder surgery is still on pace, but, according to Rivers, he’s six weeks or more away.

Said Bradley: “We’ve got a timetable, but at the end of the day it comes down to how I feel.”

He has still not been cleared for contact. . . .

The Celts and Wizards are in the midst of a home-and-home that will be completed Wednesday in Boston. The quick series brings together head coaching pals Rivers and Randy Wittman, who were once the Hawks’ backcourt.

— Reported by Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald

President Obama will play basketball on Election Day

The president will observe his most time-honored Election Day ritual.

Former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, who has joined the campaign on its final day to travel with President Obama, said his former boss sent an e-mail to his former personal aide, Reggie Love, to start organizing his regular pickup basketball game in Chicago for Tuesday.

Love is a former Duke University basketball player and regular hoops buddy of Obama’s, as is Chicago pal Martin Nesbitt, who has been traveling with Obama this week. The president will return to Chicago late Monday night to spend election day in his home town.

— Reported by David Nakamura of the Washington Post

Brandon Jennings and James Harden named NBA Players of Week

Brandon Jennings

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Brandon Jennings and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden were today named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 4.

Jennings guided the Bucks to a 2-0 record to start the season, a first for the team since the 2005-06 campaign.  Jennings led the league in assists (13.0 apg) and paced the conference in steals (4.0 spg), while finishing third on the team in scoring (17.0 ppg).  He recorded point/assist double-doubles in consecutive games for the second time in his career, hitting a game-winning three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 3.  His 13 assists in each game tied his career high.

james harden

Harden led Houston to a 2-1 mark to open the season while pacing the league in scoring (35.3 ppg). In his debut as a Rocket, Harden scored 37 points, dished out 12 assists, grabbed six rebounds and collected four steals at Detroit on Oct. 31. Harden joined Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade as the only NBA players in the last 25 years to post at least 37 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, four steals and one block in a single game. His 37 points was the third-highest point total for any Rocket player in his debut, while the 82 points he scored in the Rockets’ first two outings was the most by any NBA player in his first two games with a team in NBA history.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Miami’s Chris Bosh, Orlando’s Glen Davis, Golden State’s Carl Landry, Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, San Antonio’s Tony Parker, Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao and Charlotte’s Kemba Walker.

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