NBA News/Injuries/etc. (2/9/12)

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach Rick Carlisle reiterated that Jason Terry (hip flexor) is not expected to miss any time.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Terry's hip is just a little sore and it came up after he went 1-of-9 on Wednesday night. He'll be ready for his usual 28-32 minutes on Friday.
Feb. 9 - 4:34 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]

<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">Jason Kidd (calf) participated in a light practice Thursday and remains questionable for Friday's game against the Wolves.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Kidd did some light running and shooting Thursday, just like he did on Tuesday. All coach Rick Carlisle would say is that Kidd's status for Friday night is "indefinite." Delonte West is averaging 10.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals over the last two games as the starting point guard.
Feb. 9 - 4:29 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]

<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 (suspension) will return to the lineup for Friday's game against the Mavericks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Derrick Williams will likely head back to the bench. Love should be plenty fresh and hungry after serving his time for stomping on Luis Scola. He's currently averaging career-highs in minutes (39.3), 3-pointers made (1.8), steals (1.0) and points (25.0).
Feb. 9 - 4:26 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<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">The Nets will update Brook Lopez's (foot) status on Friday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Lopez was in the Nets' locker room Wednesday night, but was not allowed to talk to the media. Friday marks seven weeks since he had surgery to repair a fractured right foot. Lopez's original timetable was 6-8 weeks.
Feb. 9 - 3:56 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andrea Bargnani - F/C - Raptors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andrea Bargnani (calf) is not expected to return before the Feb. 23 All-Star break.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Bargnani missed six games in mid-January due to his strained calf. He came back for two games and then severely aggravated the injury. "His timeframe is extended, whether it is two weeks or three weeks, whatever it is," coach Dwane Casey said Thursday. The 8-19 Raptors have no reason to rush their franchise player back.
Feb. 9 - 3:09 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Dirk Nowitzki - F - Mavericks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Dirk Nowitzki said he finally has confidence in his leg strength again.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Over the last three games, Nowitzki is averaging 26.3 points, shooting 61.5 percent from the field and playing 34.4 minutes per game. "I can make moves, I can spin, all of that stuff I need to do to get my shot off. Before that, that wasn't the case," Nowitzki said after Wednesday's win. ESPN Dallas expects Dirk's minutes to continue to trend upward.
Feb. 9 - 2:17 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<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">Magic owner Richard DeVos Sr. said he won't "give up" on trying to sign Dwight Howard to a long-term deal.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Howard is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and has a trade demand on the table. "We like to think we're making headway," DeVos said of talks with Howard and his representatives. "But I don't know. He probably won't know until the end and I won't either." The Howard rumors will start to heat up in a big way after the Feb. 26 All-Star game in Orlando.
Feb. 9 - 2:12 p.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>Kyrie Irving - G - Cavaliers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The concussion Kyrie Irving sustained on Tuesday is the first of his career, sources tell the Plain Dealer.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">As we've seen in other sports, multiple concussions are the ones that can really cripple seasons. So the fact that this is Irving's first blow is a major positive. Still, he's without a timetable for return right now and must be asymptomatic in order to even practice. No update is expected until Friday's shootaround as the rookie is simply listed as "day-to-day." Ramon Sessions will start for as long as Irving is out.
Feb. 9 - 2:06 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

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

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Tyrus Thomas missed Thursday's practice due to an eye infection, but is expected to play Friday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Thomas is just having an issue with his contact lens. The bigger concern for him is the impending returns of Corey Maggette and D.J. Augustin. With Reggie Williams playing well, Thomas' starting small forward job is in real jeopardy. He's shooting just 35.2 percent in his 17 starts this season.
Feb. 9 - 2:03 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]

<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 (hamstring) went through a full contact practice on Thursday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Paul Silas said that Maggette could be back as soon as Friday in limited fashion if his hamstring responds properly. It's unclear how the Bobcats will utilize him with Reggie Williams playing well, but he should find consistent playing time with Gerald Henderson (hamstring) still on the shelf.
Feb. 9 - 1:37 p.m. ET
</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Zach Randolph - F/C - Grizzlies </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Zach Randolph (knee) said he will be allowed to do non-contact drills on the court next week.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Randolph was spotted shooting with a spring in his step prior to Wednesday night's game. Beat writer Ronald Tillery says Z-Bo "just might be" ahead of schedule in his rehab. He was originally slapped with an eight-week timetable in early January. The tea leaves suggest Randolph is on track for a return soon after the Feb. 23 All-Star break.
Feb. 9 - 9:08 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<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">Elton Brand (thumb) admitted that he's "not close to 100 percent."</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">"It's definitely painful," he said. "The swelling has gone down. With Spencer (Hawes) out, you've got to find a way." It's commendable Brand is going out there at less than 100 percent, and he was able to log a double-double on Wednesday despite not being fully healthy. Owners should continue to trot him out there as long as he's in the lineup.
Feb. 9 - 8:22 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<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 (personal) remains on track to return to the Knicks on Monday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Funeral services for Stoudemire's brother will be held in Florida on Saturday. He's expected to practice Monday and then start in Tuesday's game against the Raptors.
Feb. 9 - 5:57 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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

 

[HacheMan]

<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) is out for Friday's game against the Bucks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The fact that Parker has been ruled out so early for the sixth straight game is a sign he's not that close to a return. And with Kyrie Irving (concussion) also likely out, fill-in starting shooting guard Daniel Gibson gets an even bigger boost. Boobie is averaging 11.5 points and 2.0 3-pointers per game in two starts this year, but there's room to improve on those numbers.
Feb. 9 - 6:20 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

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