NBA News/Injuries/etc. (2/22/12)

[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 (knee) is expected to have his first contact practice after the All-Star break.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Randolph will work with the Memphis athletic trainer and strength coach during the break, and all indications are that he remains on track to come back in early March. Randolph's exact date of return is up on the air, but he shouldn't be floating around on waiver wires any longer. Z-Bo will be an impact player down the stretch and was averaging 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in four games before going down.
Feb. 22 - 8:44 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">LeBron James says he's expecting to end up guarding Jeremy Lin "at some point" on Thursday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">It's unclear how much time LeBron will spend covering Lin, but some combo of LeBron, Dwyane Wade and anyone else Miami deploys will represent Lin's toughest test yet. And if he finds a way to light up Miami, the Linsanity meter might just explode Thursday night.
Feb. 22 - 5:39 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Linas Kleiza - G/F - Raptors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Linas Kleiza (knee) won't play on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This marks the third straight absence for the Raptors' second-unit scorer, who is averaging 10.7 points and 1.2 3s in 22 minutes per game.
Feb. 22 - 6:02 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Matt Devlin on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andray Blatche - F/C - Wizards </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andray Blatche (calf) was seen working out on the court prior to Wednesday's game.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This represents the first on-court work for Blatche, who has been out since Jan. 28. It's worth noting that Randy Wittman wouldn't give an estimate as to when Blatche might return, which is hopefully just a case of a coach not committing to anything when he doesn't have to. A Washington Post report from Tuesday indicated that Blatche is expected back shortly after the All-Star break, and though he might not be back immediately next week, he's clearly getting closer.
Feb. 22 - 6:00 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Michael Lee on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>James Harden - G/F - Thunder </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">James Harden (ankle) is expected to play against the Celtics on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Harden was a game-time call coming in, and should be activated in daily leagues now that we know he's playing. The OKC sixth man is averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 3s in February.
Feb. 22 - 5:49 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Darnell Mayberry on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>John Salmons - G/F - Kings </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">John Salmons will miss Wednesday's game due to his lingering hip injury.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Feb. 22 - 6:49 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Jason Jones on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Drew Gooden - F/C - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Drew Gooden said Wednesday that he has a torn ligment in his right wrist, but hopes to be ready to return after the All-Star break.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Exactly when that return would happen remains anyone's guess, but the fact there's no mention of surgery and he's planning to play again this season is good news. Hopefully we'll get a timetable of exactly when he hopes to play again before the weekend. And yes, it is possible that he's talking about returning just after the All-Star break.
Feb. 22 - 6:53 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Gery Woelfel on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Derrick Rose - G - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Derrick Rose said Wednesday his back is no longer and issue and that he is ready for the All-Star game.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"My back is feeling good," he said. "I’m not worried about it anymore. I don’t feel any pain." This is great news and after missing 10 games this season, Rose could be healthy enough to make it through the entire second half without missing many more.
Feb. 22 - 7:18 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: K.C. Johnson on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Lamar Odom - F - Mavericks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Lamar Odom will miss Wednesday's game due to a family matter.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">That should mean more minutes for Shawn Marion tonight.
Feb. 22 - 8:08 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Mavs Stats on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>