NBA News/Injuries/etc. (1/31/12)

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Michael Beasley - F - Timberwolves </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Michael Beasley insisted that he is fine with coming off the bench.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Beasley logged 32 minutes as the sixth man on Monday night and racked up 34 points, so his willingness to be a reserve isn't a surprise. With starting small forward Wes Johnson struggling so badly, Beasley is a safe bet for 29-33 minutes nightly even as a bench player.
Jan. 31 - 4:39 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andris Biedrins - C - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andris Biedrins and coach Mark Jackson had a chat to clear the air on Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Biedrins complained to the media about his rapidly declining playing time on Monday. Jackson essentially wants the 7-foot Latvian to earn his minutes. "I think he's more than capable of doing what I ask of him and I think he feels the same way," Jackson said. Biedrins' hasn't sustained quality on-court production in about three years. There's little reason to think a chat will change that.
Jan. 31 - 3:17 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: CSN Bay Area</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Stephen Jackson - G/F - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Stephen Jackson practiced on Tuesday but coach Scott Skiles hinted that another DNP-CD may be coming Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">On Monday night, Jackson made comments that suggested a trade may be in the works. Skiles had this to say when asked if S-Jax will be in the rotation Wednesday: "We're game by game with basically everything we're doing now. ... We're playing pretty well right now so I'm going to make the best decisions I can to stick with what's working." Jackson hasn't played a single minute in the last two games and the Bucks are 2-0.
Jan. 31 - 3:06 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Rajon Rondo - G - Celtics </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach Doc Rivers suggested that Rajon Rondo (wrist) is probably targeting Friday for his return.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Rondo won't play Tuesday and sounds doubtful for Wednesday. "He's back pretty soon," coach Doc Rivers said. "He may play tomorrow (versus Toronto), but I'd say closer to Friday would be the target date." The damage is on Rondo's right (shooting) wrist, meaning he needs to be closer to 100 percent to play effectively.
Jan. 31 - 2:30 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: CSN New England</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Luol Deng - F - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Luol Deng has been told by doctors that he can not make his wrist injury worse by playing on it.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The ligament in Deng's left (non-shooting) wrist is torn and there's nothing he can do about it now. It will remain a story throughout the year, but opting against surgery allows Deng to gut it out. He has a chance to make his return either Wednesday or Thursday.
Jan. 31 - 2:22 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Chicago Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Steve Nash - G - Suns </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Steve Nash (thigh) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Nash did some exercise and shooting at practice, but he was limited to just that. He did say that he was feeling a lot better, and the Phoenix offense looked lost without him on the court on Monday, so the Suns are hoping that he'll be back very shortly. Nash is averaging 14.3 points, 9.9 assists and 1.1 treys this year. Ronnie Price will likely start once again if Nash can't suit up.
Jan. 31 - 1:29 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Paul Coro on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Al Jefferson - F/C - Jazz </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Al Jefferson (ankle) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Jazz have made no decisions as to how to handle Jefferson's ankle tendinitis and inflammation, but he's being called a game-time call for the matchup against the Clippers. If he can't go, Derrick Favors will once again draw the start in his place while Paul Millsap will be the man beneath the hoop.
Jan. 31 - 12:10 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Brian T. Smith on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Richard Hamilton - G/F - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Richard Hamilton (groin) admitted that he's likely to sit out for "a while."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"It's frustrating, but I have to get healthy," said Hamilton. He added that he feels as if he's been playing on one leg at times, and it's important that he gets his long-term health right for the Bulls chances of succeeding later this season. Unfortunately for his owners, it doesn't sound like Hamilton will attempt to play through it this time around. He's averaging 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists, but he's played in just 11 of a possible 23 games to date. Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver will both see a bump in value for however long Hamilton is shelved.
Jan. 31 - 11:38 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Chicago Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Mehmet Okur - F/C - Nets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Mehmet Okur (back) "had a procedure" and will be sidelined until at least Saturday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Back troubles have been persistent for Okur all season. That leaves Johan Petro as the starting center for the Nets, but owners in standard sized leagues shouldn't be viewing him a as a spot-start. He's averaging just 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds this year and doesn't figure to be an integral part of the offense despite all of the injuries the team is currently dealing with at this time.
Jan. 31 - 11:30 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Colin Stephenson on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Brook Lopez - C - Nets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Brook Lopez (foot) ran for the first time on Monday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Avery Johnson said he didn't expect Lopez back "anytime soon," but the fact that he's running is a positive step in his rehab process. Lopez was "pretty excited about it," and we've been expecting a mid-to-late February return. That remains our outlook unless an official report in his recovery goes against that.
Jan. 31 - 11:26 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Colin Stephenson on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Baron Davis - G - Knicks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Baron Davis (conditioning, back) is not expected to debut until next week.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Davis hasn't had a setback, but both he and the training staff aren't comfortable yet. With Iman Shumpert no longer a candidate to play the point, Toney Douglas appears locked into the starting role. Davis, 32, is going to need to be eased in slowly.
Jan. 31 - 11:24 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: ESPN New York</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Carmelo Anthony - F - Knicks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Carmelo Anthony (wrist, ankle) is listed as a game-time decision on Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Beat writer Frank Isola says there is a "good chance" he'll play against the Pistons, but he's officially a game-time call. We're getting the sense that he'll be out there after sitting out the last two games, and he's likely eager to prove that his shooting woes are in the rear view mirror. Regardless, owners will have to check back for a definitive update on his status closer to tipoff.
Jan. 31 - 11:13 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Frank Isola on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Manu Ginobili - G - Spurs </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Manu Ginobili (hand) has been cleared to do some basketball work and is about a week away from participating in one-on-one drills.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ginobili is still targeting a return in mid-February when the Spurs go on a nine-game road trip. "He's shooting mid-range shots, lefty," said Gregg Popovich, indicating that Ginobili's rehab has gone well to date. Owners who have been holding onto him should continue to monitor his progress over the next couple of weeks. He was averaging 17.4 points, 1.2 steals and 2.8 treys on a ridiculous 59.2 percent shooting before getting injured.
Jan. 31 - 7:21 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: San Antonio Express-News</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Carmelo Anthony - F - Knicks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Knicks still don't know if Carmelo Anthony (ankle, wrist) will play in Tuesday's game against the Pistons.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Anthony is taking this one right up to the last second. He's going to test the ankle in pregame warmups ahead of the 7:30 EST tip. For what it's worth, Melo says it's looking good.
Jan. 31 - 6:18 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Frank Isola on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Zach Randolph - F/C - Grizzlies </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Zach Randolph was expected to have an MRI on his right knee Tuesday, but it was postponed for unknown reasons.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">It was also postponed on Monday due to Randolph suffering from an illness, which is probably the reason it didn't happen today. There are conflicting reports about when Randolph might be ready to play again, but we'll hopefully have a better idea once this MRI finally happens.
Jan. 31 - 7:54 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Chris Herrington on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>