NBA News/Injuries/etc. (4/23/12)

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Luke Ridnour - G - Timberwolves </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Luke Ridnour (ankle) will not play in Thursday's season finale.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ridnour severely sprained his ankle on April 2 and never made it back. He ended up starting 53 games for the Wolves this season, but really came on after Ricky Rubio (knee) went down. After the All-Star break, Ridnour averaged 13.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 21 games. He'll be back next season and his fantasy outlook will depend on the status of Rubio's rehab.
Apr. 23 - 9:19 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Chris Bosh - F/C - Heat </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Heat say that Chris Bosh's four-game absence is due to "muscle fatigue."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">It's all part of the Heat's maintenance program as they get set for the playoffs. Considering they are virtually locked into the No. 2 seed, Bosh's status for the final two games of the regular season is very murky. The same can be said for Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
Apr. 23 - 9:14 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: ESPN.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Metta World Peace - G/F - Lakers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">If Metta World Peace is suspended for multiple games, he will serve the suspension in the playoffs and not in the 2012-13 regular season, a source tells ESPN.com.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Lakers have just one regular season game left and World Peace is almost certainly out for that one after elbowing James Harden in the head Sunday. Any further suspension will cost him first-round playoff games. World Peace had been playing his best ball in recent memory, averaging 14.1 points, 1.7 steals and 1.4 3-pointers in 13 April games.
Apr. 23 - 9:08 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: ESPN Los Angeles</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach George Karl said that Al Harrington (knee) probably won't play in both sides of the Nuggets' back-to-back this week.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Nuggets wrap up the season with a back-to-back road set in Oklahoma City on Wednesday and in Minnesota on Thursday. With the playoffs set to start on Saturday, Harrington will rest his ailing knee in one of those games.
Apr. 23 - 9:03 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Even if the Spurs win on Monday and thus clinch the top seed in the West, Tony Parker expects to play in one of the Spurs final games on Wednesday and Thursday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Parker was asked whether Gregg Popovich might leave Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan behind on the team's two-game road trip. "No, that’s too much time away," he said. "We’ll all play one of the two. I just don’t know which one." He also mentioned that Pop can get "super creative" in the final two games, so throw your expectations out the window.
Apr. 23 - 1:10 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>DeMarcus Cousins - F/C - Kings </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">DeMarcus Cousins could be suspended for Tuesday's game against the Thunder.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Cousins picked up his 13th technical foul of the season on Sunday night. He's likely in the process of an appeal right now, but owners should note that he hasn't had a single tech rescinded this season. Barring something unforeseen, Cousins will not play Tuesday.
Apr. 23 - 5:21 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Danny Granger - F - Pacers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Danny Granger, George Hill and Roy Hibbert are not expected to start or play in Monday's game against the Pistons.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Pacers are locked into the No. 3 seed, so they'll give three starters the night off. The listed starting lineup is A.J. Price, Paul George, Dahntay Jones, David West and Jeff Pendergraph. It's unclear if Granger, Hill, Hibbert or anyone else will rest again in Wednesday's season finale.
Apr. 23 - 6:12 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

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George Hill - G - Pacers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">George Hill (shoulder) will not play in Monday's game against the Pistons.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">
Apr. 23 - 6:44 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: NBA.com</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr></tbody></table>
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Roy Hibbert - C - Pacers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Roy Hibbert (rest) will not play Monday and will see limited minutes Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Pacers are locked into the No. 3 seed and resting their starters. Jeff Pendergraph is starting at center Monday and owners still grinding can safely move on from Hibbert.
Apr. 23 - 6:42 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: NBA.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Luc Richard Mbah a Moute - F - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee) will not play in Monday's game against the Raptors.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Mbah a Moute has been nursing knee woes for much of the season. With the Bucks just about eliminated from the playoffs, he may just shut it down. Shaun Livingston is starting at small forward Monday.
Apr. 23 - 6:54 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Bucks PR on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Carlos Delfino (groin) will not play in Monday's game against the Raptors.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">If the Sixers beat the Nets Monday, the Bucks are eliminated from the playoffs. At that point, Delfino will likely shut it down. Shaun Livingston is starting at small forward with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (knee) also out.
Apr. 23 - 6:51 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Bucks PR on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Metta World Peace - G/F - Lakers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The NBA will not make a ruling on Metta World Peace's suspension Monday, a source tells the Los Angeles Times.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The NBA is going to take their time while reviewing the ugly elbow World Peace threw at James Harden. Estimates have ranged from a two-game ban all the way up to ten games. Artest will be suspended for playoff games.
Apr. 23 - 6:48 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Mike Bresnahan on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Joel Przybilla - C - Trail Blazers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Joel Przybilla is likely out for Monday's game due to bronchitis.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Przybilla is being seen by doctor's right now, and his absence will free up a few minutes for the Blazers' frontcourt rotation and that is it.
Apr. 23 - 7:13 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Chris Haynes 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">Beat writer Darnell Mayberry wrote Monday that "it's pretty much safe to assume that James Harden will not play (on) Tuesday against Sacramento or Wednesday against Denver."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">We don't know if he's speculating or if this is more grounded in fact, and we're expecting at least one more report here shortly. From an owners' point of view, this should serve as reason to find a player with a better shot at 'games played' at this point during the season.
Apr. 23 - 7:11 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>Raymond Felton - G - Trail Blazers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Raymond Felton (Achilles) said that he will decide whether or not he plays on Monday against the Spurs.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This doesn't mean that he will definitely play, but sometimes a player can throw an organizations plans out of whack by demanding to play. Nolan Smith is the odds-on starter as of right now, and we'll update you as soon as we get more details.
Apr. 23 - 7:25 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Nicolas Batum (quad) will not play on Monday against the Spurs, and Luke Babbitt will draw another start in his place.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Batum's absence means that it's more likely that Jamal Crawford (knee) will play, so we'll be on the lookout for that update. Babbitt is an excellent play this week for owners hunting threes.
Apr. 23 - 7:32 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Monta Ellis - G - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Monta Ellis (hand) is a game-time decision for Monday's game against the Raptors.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Tobias Harris will go if Ellis cannot play, and will be a sneaky pickup if Ellis does not go and the Sixers' magic number of 'one' goes to zero tonight. The Sixers take on the Nets in a 7:30 ET tip and it would need to be a serious injury for Ellis to miss a must-win game. One would have to imagine that if Ellis cannot go tonight and the Bucks are eliminated, that his season would be in jeopardy, too.
Apr. 23 - 7:29 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Bucks PR on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Tim Duncan - F/C - Spurs </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Tim Duncan is likely to start on Monday against the Blazers, and he and all of his teammates are "available."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This doesn't mean too much, though we do get the sense that Duncan is going to go and it will be a normal 'everybody plays 20 minutes' game out of Gregg Popovich. Danny Green said he is feeling "no ill-effects" after being poked in the eye on Sunday. The Spurs can clinch the top seed in the West with a win tonight.
Apr. 23 - 8:10 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: NBA.com</td></tr></tbody></table>