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Lakers assign Darius Morris and Robert Sacre to D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers today assigned Darius Morris and Robert Sacre to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignments are the record 143rd and 144th of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons. Morris becomes the record 55th NBA player to have been assigned to the NBA D-League this season, while Sacre is on his third assignment of the season.

Morris (6-4, 190, Michigan) has played in 42 games this season for Los Angeles, averaging 4.4 points, 1.7 assists and 1.2 rebounds. On Dec. 16, he tallied 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field in a 111-98 win over the 76ers. He appeared in one game on assignment last season for the D-Fenders and scored 21 points in a 99-98 win over the Dakota Wizards.

Sacre (7-0, 260, Gonzaga) has appeared in 27 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 1.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 7.2 minutes. He has played in four games on assignment with the D-Fenders, averaging 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 31.0 minutes. He returned to the Lakers following a 22-point performance vs. Sioux Falls at the 2013 NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nev.

Both players are expected to join the D-Fenders and be available when the team hosts the Austin Toros on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Bobcats guard Ramon Sessions out 2-4 weeks

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that guard Ramon Sessions could miss approximately 2-4 weeks after an MRI on his left knee revealed that he suffered a second degree MCL sprain during last night’s game against Brooklyn. His meniscus and other ligaments are intact and no surgery is needed.

Sessions has appeared in all 61 games this season, with averages of 14.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes.

The Bobcats have a 13-48 record, which is worst in the NBA. They are led in scoring by Kemba Walker at 17.2 points per game. Sessions is their second-leading scorer. He’s followed by Gerald Henderson, who averages 13.2 ppg.

LeBron James to marry longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson in September

LeBron James will marry longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson in mid-September in San Diego, Cal., according to several reports, including Chris Chase’s for USAToday.com.

James, 28, was born in Akron and played his first seven NBA seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers before leaving as a free agent to join the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010.

The USA Today report includes a look at the invitation, which apparently doesn’t give a specific date for the wedding ceremony, referring to “September 13-15, 2013.”

James, a three-time NBA MVP, and Brinson have two sons, LeBron Jr., 8, and Bryce, 5.

— Reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kyrie Irving`s knee still a concern for Cavaliers

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott says he would consider shutting down All-Star guard Kyrie Irving again if his right knee is still sore.

After scoring 20 points and leading the Cavs to a comeback win over Utah on Wednesday night, Irving said his knee still hurt and the only way it would get better is if he sat out the rest of the season. The Cavs recently rested Irving for three games after he hyperextended his knee when he banged it during practice.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Austin Rivers out 4-6 weeks with broken hand

New Orleans Hornets rookie guard Austin Rivers will miss four to six weeks with a broken bone in his right hand, according to a USA Today report.

Rivers fractured fourth metacarpal bone during the first half of Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He smacked his hand on teammate Greivis Vasquez’s body after making a steal. He exited the game for good with 4:28 left in the second quarter.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Suns center Marcin Gortat out 3-4 weeks with foot sprain

Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat today underwent an MRI that revealed a Lisfranc (midfoot) sprain in his right foot. The injury is expected to sideline him for approximately three to four weeks.

The 6-11, 245-pound center sustained the injury with 34.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter of the Suns’ game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Including last night’s game, Gortat has appeared in every game since being acquired by the Suns on Dec. 18, 2010—182 consecutive. He has started 138 consecutive games for Phoenix, every game since March 27, 2011, and is the only Sun to start every game this season. He owns season averages of 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.61 blocks in 61 games (61 starts).

With a 21-40 record, the Suns have been one of the league’s worst teams this season, and being without Gortat will only make things worse.

LeBron hits winner, Heat top Magic for 16th in row

Game on the line, LeBron James knew he was going to get to the rim.

And he delivered.

James scored 26 points, including a go-ahead layup after getting past DeQuan Jones with 3.2 seconds left, and the Heat scrambled late to beat the Orlando Magic 97-96 on Wednesday night and extend their franchise-record winning streak to 16 games.

”I had no intention of shooting another jumper,” James said.

He missed a pair of 3-pointers about 90 seconds earlier, so he went for the 3-footer instead. From the right wing, James drove diagonally through the lane, then used his left hand – after all, he is left-handed – for the basket that won it for Miami. It was the first time he came up with what became a game-winning basket in the final five seconds of a game since a 3-pointer beat the Magic in the 2009 playoffs, according to STATS LLC…

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting – he’s now shooting 62 percent in his last seven games – and Chris Bosh added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who blew a 20-point, second-half lead and then rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minutes.

Nik Vucevic had 25 points and 21 rebounds for the Magic, who got 16 points apiece from Jameer Nelson and Tobias Harris, 13 from Arron Afflalo and 12 from Maurice Harkless…

The foul discrepancy in the game – 30 for the Magic, 17 by Miami – was a hot topic in the Orlando locker room afterward. The Magic went 10 for 12 from the foul line, Miami 27 of 31.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Dion Waiters out Wednesday with flu

Cavaliers starting rookie guard Dion Waiters will miss his second straight game with the flu.

Both Waiters and reserve guard Daniel Gibson are out for Wednesday’s game against Utah. Waiters, selected the Eastern Conference rookie of the month in February, also missed Monday’s game against New York along with rookie Tyler Zeller.

Zeller is feeling better. He practiced on Tuesday, took part in the shoot around and has been cleared to play. Wayne Ellington will make his second straight start for Waiters.

— Reported by the Associated Press

J.J. Redick fitting in well for Bucks

J.J. Redick has played five games with the Bucks and the team has won four, after losing by one point in his debut against Atlanta.

Not a bad start.

And Redick has made a big difference coming off the bench, averaging 15.4 points and providing another backcourt weapon to go along with Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings. Redick scored eight of the Bucks’ 10 points in overtime in their 109-108 victory over Utah on Monday night.

But Redick knows plenty of challenges await his new team, beginning Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Bucks had a team meeting at the hotel Wednesday morning as they prepared for the opener of their three-game California trip.

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Kris Humphries not in rotation for Nets

Kris Humphries’ official divorce from Kim Kardashian is fast approaching, but his divorce from playing time will come much sooner.

According to a league source, Humphries was informed by coach P.J. Carlesimo Wednesday morning that he will no longer be part of the Nets’ shortened rotation.

Carlesimo has said in recent days that he wants to limit the rotation to nine or 10 players as the Nets head into the stretch run before the postseason.

The 6’9″ forward is averaging 18.4 minutes per game this season, a number that has dwindled substantially since the beginning of the year. He has grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game while scoring 5.5 points per contest.

The decision to bench Humphries is curious given how fervently the Nets have worked to keep him.

— Reported by Seth Walder and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News