NBA News/Injuries/etc. (4/24/12)

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Caron Butler - G/F - Clippers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Caron Butler (hip) is listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Hawks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Butler just bruised his hip when he took a spill on Sunday. He should be fine for his usual 22-27 minutes as the starting small forward. Randy Foye, Nick Young and Mo Williams will also be vying for minutes on the wing.
Apr. 24 - 4:31 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Nick Young - G/F - Clippers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Nick Young (flu) is listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Hawks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Young is apparently over the bug that kept him out of Sunday's win over the Hornets. Look for 20-25 minutes off the bench.
Apr. 24 - 4:28 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Lou Williams - G - 76ers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Lou Williams (rest) is not expected to play in the Sixers' final two regular season games.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Sixers are angling for a matchup with the top-seeded Bulls, not the second-seeded Heat. Therefore, they need to lose their final two games to ensure the eighth seed. Williams, Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand are all expected to be rested. Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks figure to see a ton of burn on the wings.
Apr. 24 - 4:19 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<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">Al Harrington (knee) is expected to play on Wednesday and then rest on Thursday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Harrington is gutting it out through a torn meniscus and there's little reason for him to play on both sides of a back-to-back with the playoffs starting this weekend. Look for 23-28 minutes on Tuesday.
Apr. 24 - 4:07 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Amare Stoudemire - F/C - Knicks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Amare Stoudemire said he will play Wednesday and Thursday if the Knicks can move up in the Eastern Conference standings.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Knicks are currently tied with the Sixers for the seventh seed and two games behind the Magic for the sixth seed. At this point, it sounds like Stoudemire will at least play in Wednesday's game against the Clippers. The second half of that back-to-back could be trickier.
Apr. 24 - 3:53 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Jason Kidd - G - Mavericks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach Rick Carlisle suggested that Jason Kidd could be rested in Thursday's regular season finale at Atlanta.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This is a no-brainer for the Mavs as the 39-year-old Kidd gets set for a playoff run.
Apr. 24 - 3:07 p.m. ET
</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Marcus Thornton - G - Kings </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Marcus Thornton (quad) is listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup with the Thunder.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Thornton doesn't have much incentive to push himself into the lineup for the final two games, but the fact that he hasn't been ruled out suggests he's itching to play. We probably won't know his official status until roughly 7 p.m. ET. Travis Outlaw started in Thornton's place last time out, but that might have been a one-game experiment.
Apr. 24 - 2:44 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 · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Channing Frye - F/C - Suns </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Channing Frye (shoulder) has a "very slim" chance to play in Tuesday's showdown with the Jazz.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Frye is with the team in Utah, but it sounds like his shoulder is still in bad shape. Even if he makes a surprise appearance, in-game injury and/or ineffectiveness appears likely. Markieff Morris has been prepped to start at power forward. The inconsistent yet versatile rookie has averaged 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 3-pointers as a bench player over his last 12 games.
Apr. 24 - 2:38 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 · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Kevin Durant - F - Thunder </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach Scott Brooks said said he will "definitely" play his normal starters in the final two games of the season.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Thunder are locked into the West's No. 2 seed, but they aren't expected to rest anyone. Brooks said to expect mid-to-low 30s in minutes for guys like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Apr. 24 - 2:35 p.m. ET
</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<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 (concussion) has not yet been cleared to play in Tuesday's game against the Kings.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Harden was able to go through a portion of the morning shootaround, another sign that his concussion isn't overly severe. But he was still going through league-mandated testing, and coach Scott Brooks did not sound optimistic. With nothing to gain in the Western Conference standings, it would be a little surprising to see Harden in uniform on Tuesday night.
Apr. 24 - 2:32 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Nate Robinson (hamstring) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Hornets.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Robinson seems unlikely to play in Thursday's season finale as well. Charles Jenkins has logged 32 or more minutes in four straight games, averaging 14.0 points and 9.5 assists during that span.
Apr. 24 - 2:25 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 · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>LeBron James - F - Heat </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Dwyane Wade (thumb) and LeBron James (rest) are both unlikely to play on Tuesday against the Celtics.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Erik Spoelstra continues to adhere to his program of resting players, and it sounds like the Heat will roll with a lineup that doesn't feature any of the "Big Three" on Tuesday night. There is no official word that James and Wade will sit, but it's looking like Boston will face a very different-looking Miami team on Tuesday night.
Apr. 24 - 12:12 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<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">Chris Bosh (hamstring) is not expected to play on Tuesday against the Celtics.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Bosh confirmed that he's dealing with a hamstring issue and not just "muscle fatigue" as had been previously reported. Bosh said he'd be ready for the postseason, so it sounds like a minor issue. Udonis Haslem should once again start in his place on Tuesday. Bosh is unlikely to play in Thursday's regular season finale as well.
Apr. 24 - 12:07 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Ethan J. Skolnick on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Apr 24, 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 (calf) did not practice on Tuesday, but he is expected to play on Wednesday against the Bobcats.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">On Monday, Nelson had "no timetable" for his return, so it's encouraging that he's expected to play on Wednesday. Nelson played just under two minutes before leaving in his last game, but Nelson was absolutely rolling before that with four straight games of at least 16 points and nine assists. The Magic will need him to get healthy and continue to produce without Dwight Howard (back) in the lineup.
Apr. 24 - 11:52 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Zaza Pachulia (sprained foot ligament) has been ruled out of Tuesday's game against the Clippers.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">This will mark Pachulia's sixth straight game on the sidelines. Larry Drew is calling Pachulia "day-to-day," but his status for the remainder of the regular season is very much up in the air. Jason Collins will once again start at center, but Ivan Johnson remains the preferred fantasy play.
Apr. 24 - 11:44 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Apr 24, 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">Dwight Howard (back) will remain in Los Angeles for the next three weeks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Howard won't be with the team during the next three weeks, as the big man will continue his rehab and have scheduled checkups with his doctor. Stan Van Gundy said it was a decision made by both Howard's camp and the Magic, but this isn't going to help Howard's public image.
Apr. 24 - 11:41 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<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">Jeremy Lin is experiencing swelling in his knee and is "at least three weeks away" from returning, a source tells the NY Post.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Post uses "sources" to cite almost all information about a player, and while it should always be taken with a grain of salt, it's sounding like Lin isn't all that close to returning to action. Because Lin's meniscus tear was of the "lateral" variety, it takes longer to rehab than a "medial" tear. With swelling in his surgically-repaired knee and the fact that he's still at least three weeks (possibly more) away, we're not counting on seeing Lin in the starting lineup any time soon.
Apr. 24 - 11:33 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<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">Updating a previous item, Rajon Rondo (back) did not participate in shootaround and is a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Heat.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Rondo hasn't practiced in over a week, and the Celtics reportedly value health of their players over home court advantage. It sound as if Rondo will be a true game-time call, so owners will need to check back for another update before game time. Keyon Dooling, who had 17 points, three assists and a steal in a start last Friday, would likely draw the nod again if Rondo can't play.
Apr. 24 - 11:25 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Rodney Stuckey - G - Pistons </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Rodney Stuckey's recent slump may be due to a sore knee.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Stuckey has scored 10 or fewer points in eight of his last nine games, and Stuckey's slump started when he banged knees with Jason Richardson back on April 9. It's worth noting considering Stuckey had been playing well before that, and his knee could certainly be dogging him at this point in the campaign.
Apr. 24 - 9:14 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 24, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Russell Westbrook - G - Thunder </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Russell Westbrook is shooting just 38.4 percent from the floor through 13 games in April.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Westbrook shot 49.2 percent from the field in March, and until the Thunder develop an actual offensive system then he will continue to ride the roller coaster. Westbrook has shot under 35 percent in six of his 13 games in April, and Oklahoma City has to be hopeful that he works out the kinks before the playoffs begin.
Apr. 24 - 7:22 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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