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David Stern has no problem with teams miking players

NBA Commissioner David Stern has no problem with teams aiming microphones at their own players during games. If anything, he wants more mikes on the court.

Talking ahead of the New York Knicks’ game in London against Detroit on Thursday, Stern shrugged off a report that MSG chairman James Dolan used listening devices at Madison Square Garden to record everything said to and by Carmelo Anthony.

With the league and media already recording most things that are said during games, Stern said that adding more microphones can only be a good thing.

”Anything that is said on the court is really subject to being picked up,” Stern said. ”For my money, I’d like to see the audio track of our games be a little bit more robust, anyway. … If anything, there are going to be more mikes around the game rather than fewer.”

The Newark Star-Ledger reported Monday that Dolan had two MSG Network audio technicians record Anthony’s interactions following his suspension after exchanging words with Boston forward Kevin Garnett. Stern pointed out that the Knicks have not confirmed the report, but that no league rules were broken in any case.

— Reported by Mattias Karen of the Associated Press

Heat recall Dexter Pittman from D-League

The Miami HEAT announced today that center Dexter Pittman has been recalled from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. He was assigned to the HEAT’s D-League affiliate on December 26.

Pittman appeared in 10 games (seven starts) and averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.90 blocks, 1.20 steals and 25.1 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. He posted four double-doubles and was named to the 2013 NBA D-League Showcase Second Team. In his last game on January 15 vs. Santa Cruz, he posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double while blocking six shots in the 99-83 win.

Pittman will rejoin the HEAT and be available for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

76ers sign guard Shelvin Mack to 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have signed guard Shelvin Mack to a 10-day contract. He is the 15th Call-Up of the 2012-13 NBA Development League season. Mack will wear #14.

Mack (6-3, 215) was originally the 34th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Washington. He spent all of last season with the Wizards being waived prior to the start of the 2012-13 season. Mack re-signed with Washington on Christmas Day and appeared in seven games before being waived on January 7.

In 71 career games with two starts, Mack has averaged 3.8 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game while shooting 40.0% from the floor, 29.1% from 3-point range and 70.5% from the line. For his career, he has a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio.

In 14 games for the Maine Red Claws of the D-League this season, Mack averaged 20.5 points, 8.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.43 steals while shooting 46.2% from the floor, 41.8% from 3-point range and 89.6% from the line. He ranks third in the D-League in scoring and first in assists.

Additionally, the 10-day contract guard Maalik Wayns signed on January 8 has expired. He appeared in 21 games for the Sixers, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 7.9 minutes per game.

Stephen Curry hurts right ankle in practice

Stephen Curry has injured his right ankle again.

The Golden State Warriors point guard sat out Wednesday night against the Miami Heat after spraining his twice surgically repaired ankle during the team’s morning practice. Warriors coach Mark Jackson said Curry, who already had been nursing a sprained right knee, injured his ankle going for a loose ball.

The team said X-rays on Curry’s ankle were negative. Jackson said the injury doesn’t appear serious and he doesn’t expect Curry to be sidelined long. Jarrett Jack started in Curry’s place.

“It was really a freak injury,” Jackson said. “I’m not a doctor, but I can’t imagine it turning into something more. I won’t get into timetables and all of that, but we’re not concerned.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Red-hot Hornets beat Celtics 90-78

New Orleans Hornets rookie Austin Rivers sank a layup and ran past the Boston Celtics’ bench on his way back down the floor.

Doc Rivers had to fight his fatherly instinct and ignore him.

”I was about to say something and I didn’t; I caught myself. I forgot he was on the other team,” the Celtics coach said after facing his son for the first time. ”It’s just a strange dynamic. I didn’t enjoy it, honestly. I know it’s neat for everyone else, but as a father, I don’t know if I enjoyed that.”

Greivis Vasquez had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Austin Rivers won his first NBA game against his father on Wednesday night as the Hornets beat Boston 90-78. New Orleans has won six of its last seven games to escape the Western Conference cellar.

”I knew it was a different game and I didn’t try to pretend like it wasn’t, and I think that helped me,” the younger Rivers said. ”Now that this is out of the way, it will be a lot easier. I can just go out there and not worry about, ‘Oh man, this is weird.”’

Paul Pierce scored 12 points with 10 rebounds before fouling out in the final minutes as the Celtics’ six-game winning streak came to an end. Kevin Garnett scored 15 and Rajon Rondo had 11 assists.

Pierce shot 5 for 16 from the floor and made one of seven 3-point attempts as Boston went 4 for 18 from beyond the arc.

The Hornets were worse, going 2 of 17 from 3-point range. But they have won eight of 12 since an 11-game losing streak that stretched through much of December…

Al-Farouq Aminu had 18 points and nine rebounds and Anthony Davis had 10 of each for New Orleans. Rivers scored eight points, going 3 for 6 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line while adding two fouls and an assist in 23 minutes.

— Reported by Jimmy Golen of the Associated Press

Ricky Rubio hopes for more playing time

Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio plans to meet with the team’s medical staff Thursday, Jan. 17, to determine if his playing time will be increased.

Rubio, who has been limited to 18 to 22 minutes off the bench in his comeback from a major knee injury, played a season-high 26 minutes in the Wolves’ 113-98 loss at Dallas on Monday night.

“I’m ready to play more minutes,” Rubio said after practice Wednesday. “I will talk to them. It’s my feelings against theirs. I hope to know tomorrow.”

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Will Atlanta Hawks trade Josh Smith?

The Hawks, losers of six of their last seven before Wednesday – including an embarrassing 39-point loss to the Bulls on Monday – now find themselves in a combustible situation with a lame-duck coach and an unhappy star on an expiring contract. Among their options: trade Smith before the February deadline, or attempt to re-sign him while chasing pending free agent Dwight Howard.

Drew said he can’t speak on plans regarding Smith, deflecting such questions to GM Danny Ferry.

“We look at Josh as we do any player is in a situation of having a year left on his contract,” Drew said. “Josh is a talented player. He’s a big part of what we do. He’s a guy that we count on, rely on in what we do. Hopefully he’ll be a Hawk for a long time. He’s a phenomenal talent.”

— Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Blog)

Dan Gilbert buying hotel-casino in Detroit

Rock Gaming Chairman Dan Gilbert announced Wednesday that he has acquired a majority interest of the Greektown Casino-Hotel in downtown Detroit.

Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans and the Cleveland Cavaliers owner who triggered the building of the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland, moved his Quicken Loans headquarters to downtown Detroit. His family of companies are expected to help lead a revitalization of the city’s urban core.

— Reported by Pat Galbincea of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Unclear when Rasheed Wallace will return for Knicks

As the uncertainty surrounding Rasheed Wallace’s left foot injury lingers, members of the New York Knicks organization fear Wallace will be out for an extended period of time, possibly for the entire season, two league sources told ESPNNewYork.com.

Wallace has been out since Dec. 15 with a stress reaction in his left foot.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson said last week that he hoped Wallace would begin running this week, but he told reporters in London on Wednesday that Wallace, 38, has yet to do so.

“He’ll be back — but when, I don’t know. We’re gradually trying to get him back where he can run again so he can get back in a uniform. But when, we don’t know when yet,” Woodson said.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Timberwolves guard Malcolm Lee undergoes two surgeries

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that guard Malcolm Lee underwent two successful surgeries this week. On Monday, January 14, Lee underwent a successful right knee cartilage repair. The surgery was performed by Dr. Jonathan Glashow at Midtown Surgical Center in New York. This afternoon Lee underwent successful surgery on his right hip. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Lee is expected to miss the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Lee, 6-5, played in 19 games for the Wolves this season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.1 minutes per game. The Wolves originally acquired Lee from the Chicago Bulls on June 23, 2011.