FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Antawn Jamison: (Knee) Inactive Friday
Update: Jamison (knee) will be inactive Friday night, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Leon Powe is expected to start at power forward in his place, as coach Mike Brown likes Anderson Varejao coming off the bench.
Michael Beasley: (Thigh) Not Looking Good for Friday
Update: Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said Beasley (thigh) "probably won't be ready" for Friday night's game against the Bulls, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Analysis: Beasley suffered a bruised thigh on Wednesday and was unable to practice Thursday. We expect Joel Anthony to start in his place, though Udonis Haslem will get the biggest bump in minutes.
Luol Deng: (Calf) Out Friday
Update: Deng (calf) will not play Friday night against Miami, according to Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky.
Analysis: Deng also missed Thursday's loss to the Magic.
Marco Belinelli: Sore Back
Update: Belinelli has a sore back and his status for Saturday night's game against Golden State is unknown, the Toronto Star reports.
Analysis: We'll know more about Belinelli's back after the team goes through Friday's practice.
Dorell Wright: Suspended by Heat
Update: Wright has been suspended two games by the Heat after a DUI citation on Thursday, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: He'll miss Friday's game against the Bulls and Sunday's game against the 76ers. Wright will again be available for Tuesday's game against the Spurs.
Ben Wallace: Out Friday
Update: Wallace (knee) will miss Friday's game against the Wizards, the Pistons' official site reports.
Analysis: That's five straight games missed for Wallace. There's no timetable for his return. Jason Maxiell will once again get the start at center.
Rodney Stuckey: Out Friday
Update: Stuckey (head) has been officially ruled out of Friday's game against the Wizards, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: No timetable has been set for his return. Stuckey will have to show progress in practice before the Pistons return him to the lineup.
Jason Terry: Practiced on Friday
Update: Terry (fractured orbital bone) practiced with the Mavericks on Friday, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Terry said that he hopes to return to the lineup before the end of the four-game homestand. If that time-table is correct, Terry will either be back on the court Wednesday against the Bulls, or Saturday against the Celtics.
Derrick Rose: (Wrist) Out Friday, MRI Confirms Sprain
Update: Rose will not play Friday night against the Miami Heat after an MRI exam confirmed he has a sprained left wrist, ESPNChicago.com reports.
Analysis: The Bulls, in a news release, said there was no fracture or ligament damage. Rose is listed as day to day and the injury occurred during Thursday's loss to the Magic when he was knocked to the court by Dwight Howard.
Jason Kapono: Game Time Decision on Friday
Update: Kapono (sinuses) will be a game-time decision on Friday against the Cavaliers, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Kapono is only averaging 3.9 points in 13.4 minutes per game, so his absence shouldn't hurt any fantasy owners.
Andersen Andersen: Could Return Saturday
Update: Andersen (back) took part in Rockets practice on Friday, cites Rockets beat writer Jason Friedman.
Analysis: Andersen said that he's feeling better and that he should be able to play Saturday against the Nets.
Ty Lawson: Out on Friday Night
Update: Lawson (shoulder) will not play in Friday night's game against the Hornets, Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports.
Analysis: Friday's game will be the sixth straight Lawson has missed, but he remains day-to-day at this point. Lawson's status for Saturday's game at Memphis has yet to be determined.
Derrick Rose: Will Undergo MRI On Friday
Update: Rose is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his wrist, which he sprained during Thursday's game against the Magic, ESPNChicago.com reports.
Analysis: "Derrick has a sprained wrist," Head Coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I have no idea how bad it is. He's going to get an MRI [Friday] to see how bad the damage is and see how he feels." The Bulls are now riddled with injuries -- Joakim Noah is out with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and forward Luol Deng missed Thursday's game due to a strained calf muscle. Meanwhile, center Brad Miller has a thumb injury and rookie guard Taj Gibson has plantar fasciitis in both feet, though both started Thursday's game.
Shaquille O'Neal: Expected Back In Mid-April
Update: O'Neal (thumb) and GM Danny Ferry sat down this week and discussed a timetable for O'Neal's return. He is not expected to return to the lineup until the playoffs in mid-April, the Cleveland News Herald reports.
Analysis: The report said that the two discussed when O'Neal would begin working out, but that information was not disclosed. If the mid-April assessment is correct, O'Neal would likely be back on the court for Cleveland's first-round playoff series.
Antawn Jamison: Unlikely to Play Against 76ers
Update: Jamison (knee) is unlikely to play in Friday's game against the 76ers, Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst reports.
Analysis: It has already been announced that Leon Powe will start at power forward on Friday, so don't expect Jamison to see any action. The Cavaliers take on the Celtics on Sunday, so expect Jamison to do everything possible to suit up for that contest.
Leon Powe: Will Start in Place of Injured Jamison
Update: Powe will start in place of Antawn Jamison (knee) in Friday's game against the 76ers, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst reports.
Analysis: Powe has seen inconsistent minutes since returning from offseason knee surgery just seven games ago. He'll get some extra playing time on Friday night -- and a shot to work his way into the rotation.
Kevin Love: Out on Friday
Update: Love will not play in Friday's game against the Spurs due to a mid-left foot sprain, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Analysis: It remains to be seen if Love's public comments on Thursday about the team's direction (in which he said head coach Kurt Rambis' triangle offense is too confusing) had any effect on his status for Friday's game. He does plan to travel with the T-Wolves for an upcoming four-game road trip.
Mike Miller: Double Figures in Loss
Update: Miller reached double figures in points for the first time since Feb. 26 as he had 11 points to go along with seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal in the Wizards' 105-99 loss to the Hawks Thursday.
Analysis: Miller's scoring average on the season has now dipped to 9.7 points per game. At least he is still averaging decent rebound (5.9 per game) and assist (3.6 per game) numbers for a shooting guard but his scoring continues to disappoint from a fantasy perspective.
Kenyon Martin: May Only Miss Two Weeks
Update: Martin (knee) may end up coming back to play in less than three weeks, the Denver Post reports.
Analysis: Initial reports about Martin's severe knee tendinitis and the platelet plasma therapy he's currently receiving suggested he may not return until the playoffs, if at all. Now reports like the one in The Post are surfacing suggesting he could be back on the court in as little as two weeks. Regardless, Martin remains an extremely risky guy to keep on your roster as the club is sure to err on the side of caution because they know they need Martin more for a long playoff run than for wins down the regular season stretch.
Rodney Stuckey: On the Mend
Update: Stuckey (head) took shots during Thursday's practice, Mlive.com reports.
Analysis: While he didn't participate fully, it's nice too see him back on the court so soon. Stuckey is officially listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Wizards, but he'll need to become a full-time participant in a practice or two before the team seriously considers allowing him into a game.
Ronnie Brewer: Plays Some 3-on-3
Update: Brewer (hamstring) played in a 3-on-3 game Thursday, the Commercial Appeal reports.
Analysis: There are now just a few steps left before he can return. That return should come next week, March 16, against the Bulls.
Goran Dragic: Should Play Friday
Update: Dragic (ankle) said he's ready to go Friday after taking part in Thursday's practice, the Arizona Republic reports.
Analysis: Leandro Barbosa, however, will remain sidelined, so there should be decent minutes available for Dragic upon his return.
Dorell Wright: Charged with DUI
Update: Wright was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday morning for driving under the influence and knowingly driving with a suspended license, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Wright is expected to face a suspension for the incident, his third off-court brush with Florida law officials since becoming a member of the Heat.
Michael Beasley: (Thigh) Gets Treatment
Update: Beasley received treatment for his bruised left thigh on Thursday and is questionable for Friday's game against the Bulls, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Analysis: The decision on whether Beasley will play will likely be made at game time. Joel Anthony started at power forward in both other games Beasley missed this season.
|
   |
||||||
Copyright © NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights and Terms of Use.
NBA.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
