Dirk Nowitzki hurts left leg and ankle

The Spurs and Mavericks are playing in Dallas on national ABC television and just as I flipped it on, Ime Udoka (not Tony Parker) went up for a layup from the right side, Dirk Nowitzki jumped trying to block it, landed strangely and appeared to be in serious pain while lying on the floor, clutching the lower part of his left leg, either the ankle or possibly just above it.

And now he’s being helped off the court into the locker room area by two teammates.

Update: ABC says it’s a ‘leg and ankle’ injury, and an X-Ray has been taken but the results aren’t in yet.

4:26 p.m. ET update from the Mavericks: In today’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury to his lower left leg at the 3:19 mark in the third period. The injury occurred when Nowitzki got tangled up with the Spurs’ Ime Udoka after blocking his shot. He did not return to the game. Nowitzki will be reevaluated on Monday, March 24.   “I fell awkwardly and my left leg got caught underneath of me,” Nowitzki said. “I am going to get reevaluated in the morning and I hope to have more information then.”

Ben Wallace back spasms continue

Cavaliers forward/center Ben Wallace suffered back spasms during the second quarter of the Cavaliers game last night versus Toronto and did not return to the game. He did not travel with the team for tonight’s game at Milwaukee and was re-examined today at The Cleveland Clinic. He received a precautionary MRI, the results of which were negative. He will continue to be treated for his back spasms and his status will be listed as day-to-day.

Celtics to be a playoff favorite

The New Orleans Times Picayune (John Reid) writes: “With 14 games remaining on their schedule, all signs appear the Celtics will be the odds-on favorite once the playoffs begin next month. The Celtics (55-13) play the Hornets tonight at the New Orleans Arena having won 14 of 15 games. It had been eight years since a team went to Texas and came away with victories against Southwest Division foes San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. The Celtics became the first since the Sacramento Kings achieved it in 2001. Boston came back from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Spurs and snap their seven-game home winning streak earlier this week. They ended the Rockets’ 22-game consecutive winning streak, the second longest in league history, after holding them to a season-low 34 points in the second half. On Thursday night, Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 31.7 seconds remaining sealed Boston’s 94-90 victory against the Mavericks. The Celtics is 6-0 against Southwest Division opponents, playing the Hornets for the first time tonight.”

Wizards-Pistons team connections

Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace was selected 4th overall by Washington Bullets in the 1995 NBA Draft, and averaged 10.1 points per game for the Wizards in 65 games during the 1995-96 season.

Wallace and Antonio Daniels were teammates during the 2002-2003 season with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Pistons guard Richard Hamilton was selected 7th overall by the Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft, and averaged 15.6 points per game in 212 games for the Wizards from 1999-02.

Pistons guard Juan Dixon was drafted with the 17th overall pick by Washington in the 2002 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.2 points per game in 176 games as a Wizard from 2002-05.

Pistons swingman Jarvis Hayes was selected 10th overall by the Wizards in the 2003 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.9 points per game in 226 games for Washington from 2003-07…Pistons rookie guard Rodney Stuckey was drafted by Detroit with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, one spot before Washington picked Nick Young with the 16th overall selection.

Wizards center Brendan Haywood had a career-high 23 points vs. Detroit on November 29, 2003.

The Jazz future of Paul Millsap

The Salt Lake Tribune (Steve Luhm) reports: The Jazz own an option on Paul Millsap’s contract for next season, when he is scheduled to make $797,000. I’m guessing the club will exercise that bargain-basement option, try to convince Millsap he fits into their long-term plans and attempt to get his signature on a long-term contract after the 2008-09 season.  Every team needs a player like Millsap. He is tough, loves to rebound and is creative around the basket on offense. He must improve his jump shot, which has already gotten better, and he is occasionally overmatched physically when asked to guard opposing power forwards and centers.

Heat sign Blake Ahearn to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
Ahearn, a 6’2”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 41 games (15 starts) with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League averaging 19.0 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point range and 96.0 percent from the free throw line in 29.5 minutes of action. He leads the team in three-point field goals made (108), is second in points (778), field goals made (239), free throws made (192), assists (142) and is third in minutes played (1,208) and steals (30).
 
Since entering Dakota’s starting line-up 15 games ago, Ahearn has averaged 29.1 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.07 steals in 43.3 minutes of action while shooting 53.7 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 97.1 percent from the line. Additionally, Ahearn hit 78 consecutive free throws finishing 102-of-105 over that span.
 
Ahearn was undrafted out of Missouri State where he played four seasons appearing in 128 career games and averaged 13.1 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range and 94.6 percent from the line. He finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading free throw shooter in NCAA Division I history while finishing as Missouri State’s seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,677 points. 
 
After being granted two special roster exemptions by the NBA, the HEAT roster currently stands at 17.
 
Ahearn will wear number 6.

Rockets sign Loren Woods to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed center Loren Woods to a 10-day contract.
 
Woods (7-2, 260, Arizona) has averaged 2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 208 games (47 starts) with Minnesota, Miami and Toronto. Internationally, Woods won the 2006-07 Lithuanian National Championship with BC Zalgiris Kaunas and has been playing this season with Efes Pilsen Istanbul in Euroleague. Woods was named the 2007-08 Euroleague Week 11 MVP, pacing Efes Pilsen with 16 points and 18 rebounds in a 91-84 overtime win against Le Mans. His 18 boards (10 offensive) stood as the second highest total in Euroleague history.
 
Selected by the Timberwolves in the second round (46th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, Woods spent two seasons with Minnesota before signing as a free agent with the Heat in 2003-04. He was chosen by the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA Expansion Draft on June 22, 2004, and later signed with the Raptors on Aug. 18, 2004. With Toronto in 2004-05, Woods averaged career bests of 3.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.87 blocks in 45 games. Woods also averaged 4.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 30 games as a starter that season with the Raptors. In 2005-06, the former standout at Arizona ranked ninth in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes (16.3 rpg) and 16th in blocks per 48 minutes (3.41 bpg) with Toronto.
 
Woods signed on with the Sacramento Kings on Aug.15, 2006, but was waived prior to the regular season. He later joined the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League in 2006-07, averaging 11.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.00 blocks in 15 games with the Toros.

Udonis Haslem has left ankle surgery

The Miami HEAT announced today that forward Udonis Haslem underwent ankle arthroscopy and debridement surgery to remove a large bone spur in his left ankle today.

The procedure lasted 90 minutes and was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and assisted by Dr. Jim Losito at Baptist Doctors Hospital in Miami.

Haslem will be in a walking boot, then on crutches before beginning rehab. Haslem is expected to return to full basketball activity in mid-May.
 
Haslem has appeared in 49 games (48 starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game.

Haslem, the team captain, has recorded a team-high 11 double-doubles this season while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 81.0 percent from the foul line.

Heat give Lasme a shot

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Stephane Lasme to a 10-day contract. Lasme, a 6’8”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in 37 games (14 starts) with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.57 blocks while shooting 52 percent from the field in 29.0 minutes of action. He leads the team in rebounds (276) and blocks (95) and is second in minutes played (1,072), field goals made (140), free throws made (113) and steals (38).

At this point the Heat just have to consider the future, since this season was a horrible disaster. Lasme seems close to getting his foot firmly planted in the NBA. I think he definitely has the physical and athletic ability to stick around. He’ll probably fall in and out of the league and then eventually land a small but real deal as a backup on someone’s bench.

But for now, he gets to quickly try to impress the Heat.