Nuggets re-assign Sonny Weems to D-League

The Denver Nuggets have re-assigned G/F Sonny Weems to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Weems, 6-6, 203, has averaged 1.6 ppg in 12 games with the Nuggets this season. In two previous stints with the 14ers this season, Weems has averaged 20.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.9 apg and 1.05 spg in 19 outings. His second stint was highlighted by several big games, including a 36 point (15-22 FG), nine rebound outburst at Erie on March 27.

This assignment marks the 44th player assignment to the NBA Development League this season and the Nuggets’ fourth to the 14ers in 2008-09.

Weems was acquired by Denver in a draft-night trade with the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a 2009 second round draft pick.

Bryant scores 33, Lakers beat Nuggets 116-102

The AP reports: Pau Gasol was impressed with Andrew Bynum’s comeback. A decrease in his own minutes to accommodate his fellow 7-footer wasn’t too shabby, either. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points, Gasol added 27 points and 19 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers welcomed back Bynum in a 116-102 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. The win was the fifth straight for the Lakers (63-16) and tied them with the idle Cleveland Cavaliers (63-15) for the league lead. Bynum, playing in his first game since tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on Jan. 31, had 16 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes…  Carmelo Anthony had 23 points to lead the Nuggets, who lost for the first time in nine games and failed to secure the number two seed in the Western Conference. J.R. Smith had 19 points, while Chauncey Billups and Nene each added 17.

Artest scores 26, Rockets beat Kings 115-98

The AP reports: Cheered in pre-game warmups for his tenure in Sacramento, Ron Artest responded by scoring 26 points and the Houston Rockets used a big third quarter to pull away for a 115-98 victory over the Kings, Adelman’s first at Arco since being fired by the team after eight seasons… Yao Ming had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who trailed by five at halftime but dominated the third quarter, taking an 11-point lead that never dipped back into single digits in the fourth. Luis Scola scored 15 points, Von Wafer had 13 and Shane Battier added 12. Spencer Hawes had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the struggling Kings, while Francisco Garcia and Andres Nocioni scored 17 each and rookie Jason Thompson added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Thomas, Gordon lead Bulls over 76ers, 113-99

The AP reports: There’s no denying the Bulls have come a long way in recent weeks, though. Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon each scored 24 points, and Chicago closed in on its fourth playoff appearance in five years with a 113-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night… Thomas set a season-high for points while converting a career-best 14 of 14 free throws. He scored 10 in the third quarter and Gordon added seven as the Bulls turned a 50-50 halftime tie into an 82-72 lead, before pulling away in the fourth for their 13th home win in 14 games… Andre Miller scored 20 points—none in the fourth quarter—and Andre Iguodala added 19 for the 76ers, who trail Miami by a game and lead Chicago by just 1 1/2.

Bulls sign DeMarcus Nelson

The Chicago Bulls today signed rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

Nelson joins the Bulls after playing 20 games in the NBA D-League this season, most recently with the Austin Toros.  He has split the season with the Toros and the Bakersfield Jam.  On the year, he has averaged 19.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.1 apg and 1.65 spg in 37.5 mpg.  He has made .540 from the field, .420 on three-point field goals and .723 from the line.  The 23-year-old Nelson is the 23rd Call-Up of the NBA D-League this season.

Undrafted out of Duke, the 6-4, 200-pound guard originally signed a free-agent contract with the Golden State Warriors on Sept. 9, 2008.  He appeared in 13 games (five starts) with the Warriors, and averaged 4.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.0 apg in 13.2 mpg.

Following a four-year career with the Blue Devils, he left Duke as one of six players in school history to record over 1,300 points, 600 rebounds, 200 assists and 125 steals.  In 124 collegiate contests, he averaged 10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.17 spg in 26.2 mpg.  He also shot .466 from the field, .373 from behind the arc and .586 from the free throw line.  He earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors his senior season.

With Nelson’s signing, Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.

Martell Webster out until next season

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Martell Webster will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 regular season and the 2009 NBA Playoffs, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Webster underwent surgery on Oct. 9 to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.  After being sidelined nearly two months, Webster returned to the court on Dec. 7 for Portland’s game at Toronto, but re-aggravated the injury.

“This was not an easy decision to make knowing just how hard Martell has worked to get back on the court this season,” said Pritchard.  “The X-rays show significant progress, but the bone has not completely healed.  We feel strongly that an extended period of rest will ensure a full recovery and allow Martell to be ready for fall training camp.”

A fourth-year Trail Blazer, Webster initially suffered the injury in an Oct. 7 preseason game vs. Sacramento.

“Throughout the course of the rehab I worked my tail off to get back out there and to come up short is disappointing,” said Webster.  “Now I just have to refocus my energy on getting better, getting stronger, and being ready for the start of next season.”

There are no changes planned to Webster’s physical activity level.  He will continue to rehabilitate on the stationary bike and elliptical trainer.

Webster, 22, has career averages of 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists while averaging 37.2% (279-for-750) from 3-point range in 219 games (115 starts) with the Trail Blazers.

Right leg pain will keep Phil Jackson home

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson will remain in Los Angeles instead of accompanying the team on its road trip to Portland, due to pain and swelling in his lower right leg caused by plantar fasciitis, it was announced today.

The Lakers will fly to Portland following tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets, and will play the Trail Blazers in Portland tomorrow night.  The team will be coached by assistant coach Kurt Rambis in Jackson’s absence.

Jackson missed the Lakers’ first preseason game back on October 7 in Anaheim versus the Utah Jazz.  He will rejoin the team for Saturday’s practice and is not expected to miss any additional games.

Knicks sign Mouhamed Sene

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent center Mouhamed Sene has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Sene, a member of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, became the 21st Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Sene, 6-11, 230-pounds, averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in five games this season with Oklahoma City before being released by the Thunder on Feb. 19. Sene then signed with Albuquerque and averaged 10.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in nine games. A native of Senegal, Sene was selected in the first round in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 10th overall pick. Sene has career averages of 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 46 NBA games over three seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City.

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

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Cavaliers sign Jawad Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Jawad Williams to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams (6-9, 220 pounds) played in nine games this season with the Cavaliers. In 10 total minutes, Williams scored four points and recorded one steal. The Cleveland native and St. Edward H.S. graduate made the Cavaliers’ 2008-09 opening day roster as a training camp invite. He was waived by the Cavaliers on January 7th and signed to consecutive 10-day contracts on Jan. 12 and 23.

Following his stint with the Cavaliers this season, Williams played in 19 games (18 starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. He averaged 25.7 points on .454 shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 36.5 minutes per game.

The rookie forward is eligible to be on the Cavaliers’ postseason roster and will wear No. 31. The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15.

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Marvin Webster dead at 56

The AP reports: Marvin Webster, a fierce shot-blocking centre who helped lead the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1978 NBA finals, was found dead in a hotel bathtub. He was 56. His body was discovered in his room Monday morning in the downtown Ambassador Hotel, police said yesterday. Foul play is not suspected and the death apparently stemmed from an illness, police spokesman Jason Willingham said. Webster had been living at the hotel and employees grew concerned after not seeing him for several days.