NBA News/Injuries/etc. (3/20/11)

[HacheMan]

Richard Hamilton - G/F - Pistons

Rip Hamilton is back for the Pistons on Saturday after missing Friday's game due to his grandfather's funeral.
We're guessing he'll start and can be used in fantasy again, as he's scored in double digits in all of his March games, including scoring between 15 and 24 points in his last four. Mar. 20 - 1:42 p.m. ET
Source: Keith Langlois on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

DeAndre Jordan - F/C - Clippers

DeAndre Jordan has pneumonia and will miss the Clippers game vs. Phoenix on Sunday.
Mar. 20 - 1:51 p.m. ET
Source: Alex Raskin on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Zach Randolph - F/C - Grizzlies

Zach Randolph's agent, Raymond Brothers, and the Memphis Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace are in serious talks about extending out Randolph's contract.
The Grizzlies don't want to lose him for nothing and Randolph wants a big payday. Randolph is set to become an unrestricted free agent if an agreement isn't made so all parties are pushing for something to happen. Mar. 20 - 2:48 p.m. ET
Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

 

[HacheMan]

Kobe Bryant - G - Lakers

Lakers coach Phil Jackson confirmed that Kobe Bryant (neck) will be in the starting lineup on Sunday.
This comes in the wake of news that Andrew Bynum will be out serving a suspension. Bryant has an incredible pain tolerance and shouldn't be bothered too much by these nagging injuries. Start him with confidence. Mar. 20 - 2:40 p.m. ET
Source: Mike Trudell on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Tyreke Evans - G - Kings

Tyreke Evans continues to hit benchmarks for his return, this time participating in a 2-on-2 practice on Saturday.
He's still about a week from playing and the team wants to ease him back into the lineup but there is a light at the end of this injury tunnel. Be mindful. There's enough season left for Evans to make a late run. Mar. 20 - 4:01 p.m. ET
Source: Jason Jones on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Will Bynum - G - Pistons

Will Bynum received a dreaded DNP-CD on Sunday.
The Piston rotation merry-go-round continues. About a month ago it was looking like Bynum's stock was on the rise in Detroit. Now he's firmly in the tank. Mar. 20 - 4:40 p.m. ET

 

[HacheMan]

Kevin Love - F/C - Timberwolves

Kevin Love has left Sunday's game late in the second quarter with an apparent left groin injury and will not return.
Uh oh. Groin injuries are unpredictable and temperamental. This could be a minor deal or this could shelve Love depending on prognosis. Mar. 20 - 4:52 p.m. ET
Source: Minnesota Timberwolves on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Deron Williams - G - Nets

Deron Williams (wrist) said there is a "strong possibility" he plays again this season and hope to return Friday against the Magic.
Mar. 20 - 7:34 p.m. ET
Source: ESPN.com

 

[HacheMan]

Andris Biedrins - C - Warriors

According to team sources, the Golden State Warriors are expected to shut down Andris Biedrins (ankle) for the remainder of the season.
This puts an exclamation point on another disappointing season for Andris Biedrins. With Biedrins gone the front court will be Ekpe Udoh's to manage, though the Warriors may end up being creative with rotating David Lee and Vladimir Radmanovic as well. Mar. 20 - 7:25 p.m. ET
Source: Art Garcia on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

Taj Gibson - F - Bulls

Taj Gibson (toe) missed practice Sunday and was spotted in a walking boot.
Gibson injured the toe in Friday's game against the Pacers. . Mar. 20 - 8:06 p.m. ET
Source: ESPN Chicago

 

[HacheMan]

Carlos Boozer - F - Bulls

Carlos Boozer practiced Sunday but admitted that he still feels pain in his sprained left ankle.
Boozer is tentatively expected to play on Monday against the Kings, but is far from a certainty. "The pain's still there. You don't want to be stupid and come back too soon and have a nagging injury," Boozer said. Consider him a true game-time decision, with Kurt Thomas starting if Boozer can't. Mar. 20 - 7:59 p.m. ET
Source: ESPN Chicago

 

[HacheMan]

Mike Bibby - G - Heat

Beat writer Michael Wallace confirms that Mike Bibby is expected to start while Mario Chalmers (knee) is out.
Chalmers is expected to miss about two weeks. Although Bibby can no longer get to the rim or set people up, he remains one of the premier 3-point shooters in the game. If you need treys, he figures to make at least two per game while playing 30-plus minutes over the next two weeks. Mar. 20 - 7:53 p.m. ET
Source: ESPN.com

 

[HacheMan]

Chase Budinger - G/F - Rockets

Chase Budinger left Sunday's game against the Jazz in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain and will not return.
Budinger turned his ankle pretty badly under the hoop and had to be helped to the locker room. The Rockets are calling it a "mild to moderate" sprain and it sounds like Budinger will miss some time. Courtney Lee would be the prime beneficiary, and Terrence Williams may even have to see the court. Mar. 20 - 7:41 p.m. ET
Source: Jason Friedman on Twitter

 

[HacheMan]

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Deron Williams - G - Nets </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Deron Williams (wrist) said there is a "strong possibility" he plays again this season and he hopes to return Friday against the Magic.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Williams has already been ruled out of Monday's game against the Pacers and Wednesday's matchup with the Cavs. After that, he'll be reevaluated. While Williams surely wants to keep playing, the Nets could decide that the better long-term decision is to shut it down. We would hold Williams as long as possible and get Jordan Farmar into all lineups.
Mar. 20 - 7:34 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: ESPN.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

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Gilbert Arenas - G - Magic </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Gilbert Arenas (calf) didn't practice Sunday and is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Cavs.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>The calf tightness is related to the knee issues Arenas has been dealing with for years now. This constant soreness is the main reason the man formerly known as Agent Zero is a shell of himself.
Mar. 20 - 9:08 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: Orlando Sentinel</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HacheMan]

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Kevin Love - F/C - Timberwolves </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>The Wolves did not update the status of Kevin Love's left groin following Sunday's loss to the Kings.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Love left in the second quarter and did not return. With the Wolves off Monday, we likely won't have an update on the breakout stud's status until Tuesday at the earliest. Considering the Wolves are 17-54 and Love was already nursing a sore knee, we'd consider him very questionable for Thursday's game against the Mavs. Anthony Tolliver and Anthony Randolph would likely chop up the minutes if Love misses time.
Mar. 20 - 8:50 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>