Kirk Hinrich out 1-2 weeks with thumb sprain

Kirk Hinrich out 1-2 weeks with thumb sprain

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich was examined this morning by Bulls head team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialists Dr. John Fernandez and Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University.  Their examination confirmed the earlier diagnosis of a left thumb sprain.  He is expected to miss 1-2 weeks.

Hinrich this season is fifth on the Bulls in scoring with 8.9 points per game. He’s shooting just 36.8% from the field and an unimpressive 32.5% from three-point range, and only making 68.0% of his free throws. The guard is also getting 2.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists, in 28.5 minutes per game.

The Bulls are currently 6-8 this season.

Bobcats assign Alexis Ajinca to D-League

The Charlotte Bobcats have assigned Alexis Ajinca to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.  Ajinca is expected to see his first action with the Red Claws on Friday, December 4, when the Red Claws host the Springfield Armor.

The 7-1 Ajinca has seen action in six games for the Bobcats this season, averaging 1.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.2 steals and 0.2 blocks in 5.0 minutes per game.

As a rookie in 2008-09, Ajinca averaged 2.3 points, 1.0 rebound, 0.4 blocks and 0.2 steals in 5.9 minutes per game in 31 games played for the Bobcats.  Ajinca was assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, then the Bobcats D-League affiliate, from March 9-April 12, 2009, averaging 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 0.8 steals and 0.4 assists in 22.7 minutes per game in 11 games played.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, return to action Tuesday when they host the Boston Celtics at 7:00pm ET.  The game can be seen on SportSouth and heard on WBCN 1660 AM.

Father of Josh Childress dies

The AP reports:

Veteran guard Theodoros Papaloukas scored 20 points to lead Olympiakos to an 87-76 victory over archrival Panathinaikos on Sunday.

The win left Olympiakos alone on top of the Greek league standings, the only undefeated team after six rounds.

Olympiakos forward Josh Childress, who played despite his father’s death on Friday, had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds and his contribution to the win was decisive. Childress will fly to the United States Monday to attend his father’s funeral. His father died following a car accident he had over a month ago.

NBA fines Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Rasheed Wallace

Phoenix Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler of the Charlotte Bobcats and Boston’s Rasheed Wallace have been fined, it was announced today by NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations Stu Jackson.

Stoudemire and Chandler were each fined $7,500 for the posting of messages on their Twitter accounts during games, in violation of NBA rules. On Wednesday, November 25, messages were posted on Stoudemire’s Twitter account during the Suns 126-111 victory over Memphis in Phoenix and on Chandler’s account during the Bobcats 116-81 win in Charlotte over the Raptors.

Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace has been fined $30,000 for public criticism of the officials following the Celtics 116-103 win over Toronto on Friday, November 27 in Boston.

Allen Iverson possible return to 76ers no sure thing

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

Eddie Jordan is making it sound as if the 76ers’ consideration of free agent guard Allen Iverson isn’t as serious as it has been portrayed.

Speaking before this morning’s shootaround in San Antonio, Jordan said he has not spoken with Iverson and that the Sixers are not seriously looking at any free agents.

”It’s something that’s probably more in the media than it actually is,” the Sixers’ coach told reporters. ”We’re just going about our daily operation of practicing and trying to win a game. But certainly I have not talked to anybody about Allen Iverson.”

Leandro Barbosa out at least two games

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will sit out for at least the remainder of this road trip, which continues Tuesday in New York and Wednesday in Cleveland.Barbosa sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 113-94 victory at Toronto.

Barbosa was fouled from the side by Toronto’s Marco Belinelli as he made a jump shot but his left foot landed on the foot of Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani, who was in front of him.

Charlie Villanueva suffers broken nose

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Villanueva suffered a broken nose with 9:30 left when he was fouled by the Hawks’ Zaza Pachulia on a drive to the basket. As he was falling his face appeared to hit near the hip of teammate Ben Wallace.

His nose started bleeding profusely and a time-out was taken. Pistons personnel was able to slow the bleeding just enough so Villanueva could make the two free throws. He then went to the locker room and never returned.

Nets fire Lawrence Frank

New Jersey Nets fire coach Lawrence Frank

The New Jersey Nets have relieved Head Coach Lawrence Frank of his coaching duties effective immediately, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.  Nets assistant coach Tom Barrise will assume the head coaching responsibilities for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.  A permanent replacement for Coach Frank has not been determined.

“I want to thank Lawrence for his more than a decade of service to the Nets, first as an assistant coach and then as the head coach for the past six and a half seasons. Lawrence always approached every day with a passion for his craft that was infectious, and his dedication to the game as well as his work ethic are to be both admired and appreciated.  I wish he and his family only the best of good fortune in the future.”

Since being named head coach of the Nets on January 26, 2004, Frank compiled a career coaching record of 225-241, and led the team to the postseason in four consecutive years (2004-2007) with a playoff record of 18-20.  Frank leaves the Nets as the franchise’s all-time NBA leader in coaching victories with 225.

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Carmelo Anthony scores 50

Friday night in Denver the Nuggets edged the New York Knicks 128-125 in a wild shootout that featured one member of the losing squad, Al Harrington, come off the bench to shoot 14-of-24 with four three pointers and 9-of-13 free throws for 41 points and 10 rebounds.

While Harrington’s individual scoring output would normally be the best in the league on any given NBA basketball night, it was second best in this game as Nuggets small forward Carmelo Anthony erupted for 50.

Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reports:

carmelo anthony

As if turkey wasn’t enough, [Carmelo] Anthony gorged himself on a diet of open shots provided by New York. And he made them count. The Nuggets forward knocked down 17-of-28 shots to finish with a career-high 50 points.

“It feels good,” said Anthony, whose previous career high was 49 at Washington in 2008. “I have not been (to 50 points) a lot of times, and never got over that hump (in the NBA).”

Anthony had 10 in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 15 in the third and 11 in the fourth.

And a shot chart full of filled-in circles.

Anthony, so far, is having the best season of his career. MVP chants are becoming common in the Pepsi Center, and they revved up again in the fourth quarter when Anthony stepped to the free-throw line.

The AP reports:

With the game in the balance, the crowd chanting “MVP! MVP!” and Anthony’s sights set on an offensive milestone, the Nuggets forward sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining to finish off a career-high, 50-point performance and help Denver beat the New York Knicks 128-125 Friday night.

“They might have been the two toughest free throws I’ve shot in a while,” Anthony said. “We’ve got the game on the line, 50, you’re right there and you want to get it. If I didn’t say I wanted to get it, I’d be lying to you. I’m right there. But most importantly they were two big free throws.”

Matt Gagne of the New York Daily News reports:

“He’s got the total package right now,” Al Harrington said after the Knicks finished 0-3 on their West Coast swing and dropped to 3-13. “He’s hitting threes, he’s got a mid-range jumper, he can get to the free throw line whenever he wants to. Whenever you’re playing a guy like that, there’s nothing you can do. “I think our guys did a pretty good job, because if we didn’t, he would’ve had 70.”

Including Friday’s games, Melo leads the entire NBA in scoring with 30.9 points per game. Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings), who is injured and has played in just five games this season, is at 30.6 ppg. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) is at 30.1 ppg, followed by LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) with 29.4 ppg and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) with 27.5 ppg.

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