NBA News/Injuries/etc. (4/25/12)

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Dwyane Wade - G - Heat </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Dwyane Wade (finger) may not play in Thursday's season finale, but he said his dislocated finger won't be an issue in the playoffs.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"Second day playing with the finger, so it felt a lot better today," he said after practice on Wednesday. "By the time we get on that court, playoff time, it will be fine."
Apr. 25 - 4:04 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Ira Winderman on Sulia</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Steve Nash - G - Suns </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Steve Nash could play his final game for the Suns on Wednesday, as the team can't make the playoffs and he's headed into unrestricted free agency.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Nash has been unbelievably classy in his devotion to the Suns, even as the team's talent crumbled around the former league MVP. We'll see whether his love for Phoenix inspires him to re-sign, but our guess is he signs a three-year deal with a contender.
Apr. 25 - 3:15 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Kevin Love - F/C - Timberwolves </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Kevin Love will "aggressively" lobby the Wolves to sign veteran players this summer.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Wolves were fighting for the playoffs before Ricky Rubio went down and Nikola Pekovic's ankles started bothering him, at which point the team's lack of depth and experience was painfully obvious. As noted by Jerry Zgoda, the Wolves could clear $12 million in cap space if they don't keep Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph, Darko Milicic, Martell Webster and Brad Miller.
Apr. 25 - 3:12 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table>

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Hedo Turkoglu - G/F - Magic </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Hedo Turkoglu (face) is unlikely to play on Wednesday because he needed adjustments to his protective mask, but he said he will play on Thursday "for sure."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Hedo is ahead of schedule, which is surprising in light of his injury -- three fractures below his right eye, which caused nerve damage and prevented him from sleeping comfortably. He will be rusty and may not play many minutes, but Orlando will take whatever he can give them.
Apr. 25 - 2:34 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Marcus Camby - F/C - Rockets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Marcus Camby (back) is not expected to play on Thursday against the Hornets.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Camby has played less than 24 minutes in each of his last two games and won't play in the regular season finale. Samuel Dalembert should draw the start in Camby's place, and he's averaged 8.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 44 games as a starter this year.
Apr. 25 - 1:47 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Jrue Holiday (rest) will get Thursday's game against the Pistons off.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Holiday will play on Wednesday against the Bucks, but it sounds like that will be his regular-season finale. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams will all sit out on Wednesday, as expected.
Apr. 25 - 1:05 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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">The Hawks are "planning" to be without Zaza Pachulia (foot) for the start of the playoffs.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Pachulia obviously won't play on Thursday against the Mavericks. Brutal news for a team that will be without Al Horford (torn pectoral) in the first round as well. Ivan Johnson is going to be asked to play a physical brand of basketball against Kevin Garnett because Jason Collins just isn't going to cut it.
Apr. 25 - 12:33 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 · Apr 25, 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 (torn pectoral) has been ruled out for the first round of the playoffs against the Celtics.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ouch. Horford had been tentatively expecting to play around 15 minutes per game in the first round against Boston, but he won't be able to make it back in time. Instead, Horford will target the second round to return if the Hawks advance. Ivan Johnson and possibly Zaza Pachulia (foot) will continue to do the heavy lifting.
Apr. 25 - 12:27 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 · Apr 25, 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) said that he's playing on Wednesday against the Bobcats.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"I'm playing, no one has told me otherwise," he said. Owners need to make sure that Nelson is in the lineup, as he had been in a nice little groove over his last handful of games. He will certainly get a ton of offensive opportunities without Dwight Howard (back) on the floor.
Apr. 25 - 11:47 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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 (knee) was seen shooting around on Wednesday, but was moving "awfully slowly."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Lin's lateral movement is a problem as we've previously noted, and there is nothing to suggest he'll be able to rejoin his team at any point in the near future. He's expected to be sidelined for "at least" three more weeks.
Apr. 25 - 10:54 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Kyrie Irving (illness) is doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Wizards.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">We knew there was a possibility Irving didn't play in all of his games down the stretch, and it looks very unlikely he'll be able to go on Wednesday. Donald Sloan would draw the start in Irving's place, and has averaged 9.1 points and 5.7 assists in 10 starts this season.
Apr. 25 - 10:52 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 · Apr 25, 2012

<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">Tom Thibodeau said his starters may not play "extended minutes" on Wednesday against the Pacers.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The Bulls have locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference, so there is no reason for Thibodeau to pound his starters into the ground with the playoffs right around the corner. With Chicago wanting to ensure that everyone is as close to 100 percent healthy as possible for the postseason, we wouldn't expect to see the starters log heavy time on Wednesday.
Apr. 25 - 10:48 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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">Doc Rivers said that Rajon Rondo (back) will "probably" play on Thursday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Rivers previously said that he plans to play his starters in the season finale, but Rondo is "very stiff" despite feeling better. Rondo should be able to give it a go as he gears up for the playoffs, but back issues can be tricky and tend to linger if not treated properly.
Apr. 25 - 9:09 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Ray Allen - G - Celtics </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Ray Allen (ankle) is doubtful for Thursday's game against the Bucks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">At this point, nobody should be surprised. The Celtics need to get Allen healthy for the playoffs, but even that might not be a lock considering how troublesome his ankle has become. Avery Bradley is locked into a huge role at shooting guard for Boston.
Apr. 25 - 9:06 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Chris Paul - G - Clippers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Chris Paul (groin) is questionable to play on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Paul has said that he'll play, but he's at less than 100 percent. "I'm all right," he said. "At some point, something didn't feel right, but I'll be OK." Not exactly an encouraging statement from Paul, but it's not one that was filled with doom and gloom, either. With the Clippers needing to win on Wednesday for postseason seeding, Paul will certainly try to do anything he can to get out on the floor.
Apr. 25 - 9:03 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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's surgeon said that Howard (back) "showed significant improvement," and is "optimistic" that he'll be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Dr. Robert Watkins did not guarantee that Howard would be ready for next season, but it sounds like he'll be fine. Howard is done for the rest of this season, and the Magic will likely struggle in the playoffs without him in the lineup.
Apr. 25 - 8:52 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>David Lee - F/C - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">David Lee (groin) will visit a doctor on Wednesday for his strained groin and stress reaction.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Lee is out for the season, but his course of action to get back on the court will likely be determined by what the doctor says at his appointment. We should have an update on his condition before long, but we'd tentatively expect him to be ready to go for next season.
Apr. 25 - 8:50 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 2012

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Corey Maggette - F - Bobcats </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Corey Maggette will have knee surgery immediately after the season.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Maggette ended his season with a bad Achilles' tendon, but apparently he'll also have knee surgery as well. He's already been mentioned as a candidate for the amnesty clause, and the oft-injured veteran won't shed that label with an offseason surgery.
Apr. 25 - 8:43 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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 available to play on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Harrington did not play on Sunday against the Magic, but he's good to go for this one. He's expected to sit again on Thursday, but George Karl has hinted that Harrington won't see heavy minutes when he's on the court. A reasonable expectation is right around 25 minutes for Harrington.
Apr. 25 - 8:29 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

HacheMan · Apr 25, 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) is "unlikely" to play on Wednesday against the Nuggets.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Harden was not even in the arena on Tuesday night (precautionary reasons), and beat writer Darnell Mayberry does not expect Harden to play on Wednesday. Defensive-minded Thabo Sefolosha will continue to rack up minutes at shooting guard in Harden's absence.
Apr. 25 - 8:21 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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