Stephen Curry out at least two more weeks

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is still holding out hope to return this season.

The Golden State Warriors announced Wednesday that Curry will be sidelined at least another two weeks with a sprain in his surgically repaired, troublesome right ankle. He will be reevaluated after that time, and it’s still unlikely he’ll play again this season.

Tuesday night’s 104-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers was the 10th straight game – and 21st this season – Curry has missed.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Wizards sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

Cartier Martin

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract.

Martin (6-6, 220), has averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting .489 from the floor and .556 from three-point range in seven games with the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League this season.  He has appeared with the Wizards in the previous two seasons, averaging 4.3 points over 60 games with the team.

Martin was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Wizards on March 30, 2010.  After finishing the season with the team and averaging 6.4 points over eight games, he returned for the 2010-11 season.  Martin averaged 4.0 points over 52 games with the Wizards in 2010-11 before being waived on April 6.

A product of Kansas State, Martin has previously spent time with the Charlotte Bobcats (averaging 2.6 points over 33 games in 2008-09) and Golden State Warriors (averaging 9.0 points over 10 games in 2009-10) in addition to experience overseas in Turkey, Italy and China.  He has also played in 59 NBA D-League games since the 2008-09 season (all with Iowa), where he has compiled averages of 18.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

NBA considers selling ad space on jerseys

In an attempt to generate more revenue, the NBA is pondering the idea of placing ads on the jerseys of every player from the 30 teams.

This transition could create approximately $31.18 million in revenue in TV exposure alone.

The NBA Board of Governors will meet next month to discuss the possibility of adding advertising on jerseys.

The idea has been met with much support from players and coaches.

Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also said it’s an idea whose time has come.

“I’ve been trying to tell [the NBA],” Cuban said. “If someone wants to give us $10 million, I’ll make it happen.”

Cuban believes NBA commissioner David Stern can be convinced that putting ads on jerseys is a viable concept for the league.

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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Kevin Durant to appear on Jimmy Kimmel show

Kevin Durant
kevin durant
May score 80 during the show taping

Two-time scoring champ Kevin Durant will make an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night. The show tapes at 6:30 p.m. and airs at 11 p.m. on KOCO-5 (ABC).

This will be Durant’s first stop on the major talk-show circuit.

“It’s new for me,” Durant said. “It should be fun. I’m excited.”

Asked if he was nervous about his talk-show debut, Durant smiled and said, “Nah, we’re just talkin’.”

— Reported by John Rohde of the Oklahoman

Group led by Magic Johnson is buying the Los Angeles Dodgers

A group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson emerged Tuesday night as the new owners of the Dodgers, ending months of uncertainty for the storied but troubled baseball franchise.

Johnson, who guided the Lakers to five NBA championships during the “Showtime” era of the 1980s, is a partner in the group along with longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten and movie executive Peter Guber. The controlling owner would be Mark Walter, chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a Chicago-based financial services company.

Walter and McCourt met privately in New York on Tuesday, coming to an agreement only hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three final bidders.

The winning group paid $2 billion for the team — a record for a sports franchise — according to an announcement issued jointly with previous owner Frank McCourt.

“I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise,” Johnson said in the statement, adding the new owners “intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section.”

— Reported by Bill Shaikin and David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times

Dennis Rodman says he’s broke

Dennis Rodman can’t afford to pay more than $800,000 in back child support … because he’s dead ass broke — this according to new court documents.

Dennis’ ex-wife Michelle Rodman filed new papers this month, claiming The Worm owes $808,935 in unpaid child support for his 9- and 10-year-old children — and an additional $51,441 in unpaid spousal support.

But Dennis’ attorney responded to the filing, insisting there’s no way the Chicago Bulls legend can pay those bills — because “Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees.”

— Reported by TMZ

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Spurs sign guard Patrick Mills

Patrick Mills

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Patrick Mills. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.

Mills, a 6-0, 185-pound product out of St. Mary’s (CA), was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.  In two seasons with the Blazers, Mills appeared in 74 games, averaging 5.1 points and 1.5 assists in 11.1 minutes.  He has a career-mark of .358 (47-133) from three-point range.

A native of Australia, Mills has spent the 2011-12 season playing overseas in his home country and China. Most recently, Mills played for the Xinjian Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 12 games, he averaged 26.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.  Prior to making the move to China, Mills played in nine games with the Melbourne Tigers, averaging 18.6 points, 5.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds.

Mills is a member of the Australian National Team which qualified for the 2012 Olympics.

Mills will wear No. 8 for the Spurs and is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Silver and Black take on the Suns in Phoenix at 9 p.m.

Raptors sign Ben Uzoh to 10-day contract

Ben Uzoh

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Ben Uzoh (ooh-ZOE) to a 10-day contract. He is the 43rd Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

Uzoh, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, joins the Raptors from the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande (Texas) Valley Vipers. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 30.8 minutes in 20 appearances.

This is Uzoh’s second stint in the NBA this season. He was signed to a 10-day contract by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 10, where he played in two games recording four points with four rebounds in 13 minutes.

Uzoh spent the 2010-11 season with the New Jersey Nets, signing with the club as a free agent July 1, 2010. He saw action in 42 outings with the Nets, averaging 3.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 10.4 minutes. He also appeared in four games last season with the NBADL’s Springfield (N.Y.) Armor.

Uzoh started 140 of 141 career games at the University of Tulsa. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds as a senior en route to first-team All-Conference USA honours. He posted career bests of 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 39 games during his sophomore campaign.

The roster now stands at 14 players heading into Wednesday’s game vs. Denver (TSN2/Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Mike Dunleavy broke Tyler Hansbrough’s nose

Tyler Hansbrough

Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough is a masked man again thanks to former teammate Mike Dunleavy’s elbows.

Hansbrough suffered a broken nose and facial bone from the hard foul Dunleavy delivered with his elbows in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game in Milwaukee.

Hansbrough and Dunleavy, who were teammates for two seasons, were later given technicals when they were talking about the play during a free throw attempt.

When asked if he’s heard from Dunleavy, Hansbrough, said, “No, I don’t need an apology.”

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star