Bulls recall JamesOn Curry from D-League

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has recalled rookie guard JamesOn Curry from the Iowa Energy of the D-League.

Curry (6-3, 190) was assigned to the Energy on Nov. 15 and in his nine games with the D-League affiliate he averaged 21.9 ppg (10th in the D-League), 5.8 apg (eighth in D-League), 3.6 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.4 mpg (sixth in D-League). He shot .473 from the field, including .378 from three-point range, and .774 from the free throw line.

Curry was selected by Chicago in the second round (51st overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after three years at Oklahoma State. He practiced with the Bulls today and will be with the team for Tuesday’s home contest versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics playing great defense

NBA.com reports: The Celtics are grooving on defense, and it’s got them riding a nine-game streak. The Celts lead the NBA in points allowed, FG and TP percentage allowed, and rebounding differential. Boston’s PPG differential is +14.2; the diff for the second-best stoppers, the Pistons, is +7.9. The C’s sit at No. 2 and 3 in SPG and steal differential, and are the No. 1 Scrooge with dimes, allowing 17.3 per game – exactly how many they let Toronto have Sunday. The Raptors normally dish 23 APG. “The plays we usually make just weren’t there,” Chris Bosh said after the C’s 90-77 clampdown. Boston is 20-2 because it believes “stop” means “go”: “We’re trying to have the defense fuel the offense,” said Kevin Garnett, “and it’s been working.”

Rockets recall Steve Novak from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that forward Steve Novak has been recalled from Houston’s D-League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. Assigned on Nov. 11, Novak averaged 18.2 points on 46.1 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in nine games with the Vipers. Prior to his assignment, Novak had been designated as an inactive for the Rockets’ first six games of the season.  He is expected to join the Rockets for tomorrow’s practice at Toyota Center.

Shelden Williams carjacked at gunpoint

The AP reports: Atlanta forward Shelden Williams was carjacked at gunpoint Saturday before the Hawks’ game against Charlotte. Douglasville City Police said two suspects were arrested late Saturday afternoon at Arbor Place Mall in Douglas County, near Atlanta. The suspects were in Williams’ car and were attempting a robbery, according to an officer who answered the phone at the Douglasville Police Department. The officer, who declined to give her name, said one suspect was taken to a hospital after suffering dog bites from the police canine unit during the arrest.

Kenyon Martin suspended 1 game

Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has been suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for flagrantly fouling Melvin Ely of the New Orleans Hornets by striking him in the head with an elbow, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 9:40 remaining in the second period of Denver’s 105-99 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Pepsi Center. Martin will serve the suspension tonight when the Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

The following is a statement from Martin: “”I’’m disappointed that I won’’t be out there with my teammates tonight against the Spurs.  What happened with Melvin in Wednesday’’s game was inadvertent.  I apologized to him on the court and again after the game.  He told me he knew it was an accident.””

Antonio Daniels out 2-4 weeks

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Antonio Daniels sustained a MCL sprain in his right knee in the second quarter of Washington’s 104-91 victory at Miami on Thursday, December 13th, and will miss 2-4 weeks.

“This is very disappointing as Antonio was doing an outstanding job as our starting point guard,” said Grunfeld.  “We are confident Antonio will return to action within the next few weeks.  Roger Mason Jr. and Nick Young have been very productive for us off the bench, and we feel they will make the most of this opportunity.”

In his 11th season in the NBA, Daniels has averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 22 contests.  Daniels started Washington’s last 14 games in place of injured All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, and has guided the Wizards to a 9-5 record over that stretch.  Daniels has averaged 11.0 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as a starter this season.

Pistons trade Nazr Mohammed to Bobcats Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann

The Charlotte Bobcats today acquired Nazr Mohammed from Detroit in exchange for Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann. In addition, the Bobcats have rescinded their D-League assignment for Jermareo Davidson. In a related move, the Pistons requested waivers on forward Ronald Dupree.

For more info hit the insidehoops.com front page.

Pau Gasol out with jammed right big toe

The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that forward/center Pau Gasol will be out indefinitely due to a jammed right big toe.

Gasol, who originally suffered the injury in yesterday’s practice, was placed on the team’s inactive list prior to tonight’s contest vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. In his place, the club activated forward Andre Brown.

The 7-0, 260-pound forward/center leads the club in rebounds (7.7, T-31st in NBA) and double-doubles (seven, T-27th), and is second in scoring (17.3, 44th) in 21 games played this season. The seven-year NBA veteran has scored in double figures in 79 consecutive games, which is the third-longest active streak in the NBA behind only Denver’s Carmelo Anthony (152) and Boston’s Ray Allen (118).

Rockets recall Aaron Brooks from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that guard Aaron Brooks has been recalled from Houston’s D-League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. Assigned on Dec. 6, Brooks averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games with the Vipers. Brooks is expected to join the Rockets for tomorrow night’s game vs. Dallas (12/15/07).

Brooks (6-0, 161, Oregon), who was selected by Houston with the 26th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, has averaged 2.5 points in his two appearances with the Rockets this season. He played in his first NBA game vs. Phoenix (11/17/07), notching five points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG).

Brooks also averaged 21.4 points (.461, 35-76 FG) and 5.2 assists over five games with Houston in the 2007 NBA Summer League presented by adidas.

He earned NBA Rookie of the Month honors for Summer League and was named to the 2007 NBA Summer League All-Star Team. In addition to his NBA Summer League honors, Brooks was one of the top-10 young NBA players named to a USA Basketball Men’s Select Team that was chosen to help prepare the 2007 USA Senior National Team for its gold-medal run at the FIBA Americas Championship 2007.

Bobcats assign Jermareo Davidson to D-League

The Charlotte Bobcats have assigned rookie forward Jermareo Davidson to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.  Davidson is expected to see his first action on Sunday, Dec. 16, against the Dakota Wizards.

The 6-10, 230-pound forward has appeared in 11 games this season with averages of 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.1 minutes of action.  His draft rights were acquired by the Bobcats along with guard Jason Richardson from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Brandan Wright, whom the Bobcats selected with eighth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Davidson, the 36th overall selection in the June draft, played four seasons at the University of Alabama and averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 126 collegiate games. He was named All-Southeastern Conference Second Team in 2006-07 by the league’s coaches and Honorable Mention All-SEC by The Associated Press.

As a senior, he ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 points, ranked first in total blocks with 70 and ranked second in rebounding (8.2).  He also reached double-figure scoring 25 times and posted 11 double-doubles on the season.

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) and operates the widely-acclaimed Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.