NBA News/Injuries/etc. (2/28/12)

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Jameer Nelson - G - Magic </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Jameer Nelson (knee) practiced in full Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Nelson sat out the final game before the All-Star break, but did participate in the Shooting Stars Competition over the weekend. He'll be a full go for Wednesday's game against the Wizards, thus sending Chris Duhon back to the bench.
Feb. 28 - 6:08 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Josh Robbins on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Brandon Bass - F - Celtics </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Brandon Bass is expected to start in place of Jermaine O'Neal (wrist) Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Bass slides in at power forward, Kevin Garnett moves to center and Chris Wilcox will back up both. With O'Neal seeking a second opinion on his troublesome wrist, there could be some long-term upside with Bass. His knee is healthy and he's averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in just 29.0 minutes on the season. As long as he's starting, Bass projects for 30-plus minutes with ease.
Feb. 28 - 6:13 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: A. Sherrod Blakely on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Stephen Curry - G - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Stephen Curry (foot) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Pacers.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Warriors are simply listing Curry as day-to-day and they don't appear overly concerned about his latest foot/ankle injury. He's with the team, but didn't practice on Monday and didn't go through shootaround Tuesday. We'll consider Curry very questionable for Wednesday's game in Atlanta. Charles Jenkins will start at point guard, but Nate Robinson is the preferred fantasy play.
Feb. 28 - 5:40 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<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) might be targeting Saturday's game against the Cavs for his return, according to beat writer Craig Stouffer.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">After a back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday, the Wizards have two full days off before the Saturday home game. If Blatche can get through practice on Thursday and Friday without issue, it sounds like he'll be cleared to return. Blatche projects to share time with Trevor Booker initially before eventually taking over the starting gig.
Feb. 28 - 5:38 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Craig Stouffer on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Devin Harris - G - Jazz </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Jazz are "open" to trading Devin Harris, sources tell the Salt Lake Tribune.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Backup swingman C.J. Miles is also available. It doesn't sound like the Jazz are anxious to make a trade and we doubt teams will be beating the door down for Harris or Miles. Harris is averaging just 9.1 points and 4.5 assists as the starting point guard this season, thus losing minutes to Earl Watson over the last few weeks.
Feb. 28 - 4:44 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Dwight Howard - C - Magic </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Warriors are continuing their push to trade for Dwight Howard, according to NBA.com.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Warriors know that Howard won't commit to signing an extension with them, but they apparently don't care. They are probably dangling the likes of Monta Ellis, Klay Thompson, Ekpe Udoh and others. It's a huge risk as Howard still lists only the Nets, Lakers and Mavs as teams he wants to play for long-term. Howard is expected to have a sitdown with the Magic brass on Thursday.
Feb. 28 - 4:37 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Scott Howard-Cooper on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Kris Humphries - F - Nets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Kris Humphries (calf) will play in Tuesday's game against the Mavs.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The calf strain that caused Humphries to miss the final game before the All-Star break was never considered severe. We'd expect his usual 33-37 minutes Tuesday night.
Feb. 28 - 4:11 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Dwain Price on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<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) is expected to play about 30 minutes in Tuesday's game against the Mavs, according to coach Avery Johnson.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Slowly but surely, the Nets are taking the shackles off Lopez. He played 21 minutes in his first game back, was held out of the second game and then played 27 minutes in the final game before the All-Star break. The Nets don't have a back-to-back scheduled until March 6/7. Last season, Johnson used Lopez for 35.2 minutes per night.
Feb. 28 - 4:05 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Newark Star-Ledger</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andrew Bogut - C - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andrew Bogut (fractured ankle) admitted that "it's going to be close" as far as making it back this season.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Bogut did not have surgery on his ankle, but the healing process is a long one. We'll know more after he has another scan in late March. Looking to next season, the long-term outlook for Bogut remains positive. "I don't think this is one of those injuries that will have any repercussions, like my elbow," he said. "Once it heals, it heals."
Feb. 28 - 3:54 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>anilo Gallinari - F - Nuggets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Danilo Gallinari (ankle) said Monday that he could be ready to play by the end of the week.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Gallinari was able to do some running on Monday. "It's feeling much better and I'm happy with the recovery," he said. It sounds likely that Gallo will be back at some point during the Nuggets' nine-game homestand that begins on March 5. He was leading the team in points (17.0), 3-pointers made per game (1.4) and free-throw percentage (89.0) before going down.
Feb. 28 - 3:43 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Gerald Henderson - G/F - Bobcats </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Gerald Henderson (hamstring) practiced in full Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Henderson will make his return Wednesday after a nine-game absence. He'll start off as a bench player behind Reggie Williams, but will reclaim his starting gig as soon as Friday. Henderson was leading the team in both points (15.0) and minutes (33.9) before going down.
Feb. 28 - 3:29 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Rick Bonnell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Al Horford (pectoral surgery) could be cleared to begin his rehab on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Horford is out of his sling, but he still has a long way to go in the rehab process. He was originally slapped with a 3-4 month recovery timetable after tearing his left pectoral on Jan. 11. Horford said his "expectation" is to play at some point this season, but a best-case scenario looks like early April. Horford will be reevaluated after two weeks of initial rehab.
Feb. 28 - 3:22 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Joe Johnson - G/F - Hawks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Joe Johnson (knee) returned to practice Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Johnson says he feels "great" after a week resting and rehabbing the tendinitis in his knee. He's officially a game-time call for Wednesday's game against the Warriors and hinted that he'll take it right up to tip. "I don't want to get everybody's hopes up," Johnson said. Willie Green and Kirk Hinrich are no longer spot-start options if Johnson does return.
Feb. 28 - 2:31 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<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">Coach Gregg Popovich clarified that Manu Ginobili (oblique) was only a "partial" participant in Tuesday's practice.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ginobili is only one week into a two-week timetable. "He just wanted to test it a little bit, see how it's feeling," Popovich said. "He's not ready to play yet." With Kawhi Leonard (calf) out and Gary Neal (hamstring) questionable, Danny Green is looking at a heavy workload Wednesday.
Feb. 28 - 2:25 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Jeff McDonald on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>C.J. Watson - G - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">C.J. Watson (concussion) will return to the lineup on Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">As expected. Watson will return to his usual reserve role behind Derrick Rose and has very limited fantasy appeal with Rose healthy.
Feb. 28 - 12:49 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Nick Friedell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<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) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Hornets.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Hamilton went through a full practice, but Chicago will err on the side of caution with the veteran shooting guard. He's missed the bulk of the season due to injuries, and Hamilton will be monitored closely even when he does return. In 11 games this season, Hamilton is averaging 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Feb. 28 - 12:46 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Nick Friedell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<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 (personal) will be away from the Mavericks for at least two more games.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Odom has become irrelevant in standard-sized leagues and it doesn't appear that a rebirth is coming any time soon. He should be avoided by owners, and the Mavericks aren't sure when he'll be back with the team.
Feb. 28 - 12:28 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Andy Vasquez on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Brandon Roy - G/F - Trail Blazers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Brandon Roy is reportedly considering an attempt to return to basketball.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"I've been doing some treatment and I'm trying to leave the window open to returning to basketball," said Roy. He added "it's really hard being so far away from the game." Roy faces an uphill battle in his quest to return to the NBA thanks to his crippling knee condition.
Feb. 28 - 11:44 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Anthony Parker - G - Cavaliers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Anthony Parker (back) will return to the starting lineup on Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Parker has missed 12 straight games with a bad back but is finally feeling well enough to play. Despite starting, his minutes are expected to be limited, which is the right move considering his age and how his body has responded previously to extended action. Daniel Gibson heads back to his reserve role with Parker back in the fold.
Feb. 28 - 11:35 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Plain Dealer on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Feb 28, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Elton Brand - F/C - 76ers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">As expected, Elton Brand (thumb) will start on Tuesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Brand practiced fully on Monday and will start in the Sixers first game out of the break. Lavoy Allen will also start for the Sixers as the team will be without Spencer Hawes (Achilles) for at least two more weeks.
Feb. 28 - 11:13 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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