'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol: 54

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Bell 'Pretty Encouraged'; May Play in 1 Wk
Raja Bell wants to tough it out without being a liability. The Charlotte Bobcats likely need their starting shooting guard if they want a realistic shot at the playoffs.

Tuesday was a day of optimism for both sides, with Bell hopeful he'll be able to play this season with a torn ligament in his left wrist and put off surgery that would sideline him up to four months. ''I'm going to (sit out) for another week to see if it continues to progress as it has, then I'll probably wind up playing,'' Bell said after participating practice with his non-shooting hand heavily taped. ''If it doesn't, then we'll go back to the drawing board.''

Bell was injured when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried grab a loose ball in an exhibition game on Oct. 18. He sat out the final two preseason games after tests revealed the torn ligament. Bell got a second opinion from a Chicago hand specialist who told him if he can withstand the pain, he can play. ''I'm pretty encouraged,'' Bell said. ''It's feeling a lot better than it did. I still have some hurdles to clear with it, but I feel good.''

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Warriors' Injuries Accumulating
Nothing can guarantee a bad season like injuries. The Warriors had 240 total games missed last season. Already, forward Brandan Wright is out, possibly for the year, after left shoulder surgery. Nelson said center Ronny Turiaf has torn cartilage in his left knee, and Randolph (sore back) and swingman Kelenna Azubuike (bone bruise, left ankle) are hobbling into the season. Not to mention forward Corey Maggette's propensity for injury. The season could get ugly fast if the Warriors have to deal with too many injuries.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Love Has Surgery; Big Al to Play Opener
Minnesota big man Al Jefferson will play in the opener tonight against New Jersey despite battling an Achilles injury in recent weeks. T'wolves forward Kevin Love had surgery on a broken hand last week.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Battie, Yi and Alston Battle Injuries
I walked into the gym today all pumped up to talk to Yi (Jianlian), who I hadn't spoken to much since the start of camp. So imagine my surprise when he was nowhere to be found then finally appeared with his right knee wrapped.

But do like I did when I finally found him - breathe easy. Yi is alright. He banged his knee late in practice, during the scrimmage portion, and had to leave the court. But he thinks he'll be fine for practice tomorrow and then Game 1 of his second season with the Nets on Wednesday night.

There were plenty of other banged up bodies too. Tony Battie will go for an MRI on his knee tomorrow. Josh Boone tweaked his right ankle and had it heavily wrapped. And Rafer Alston tweaked his left knee. No, we're not exactly sure what tweaked means either, but it's apparently an official medical term now.

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.html

Eddy Curry Not in Miami for Opener
Walsh announced Tuesday that Eddy Curry did not travel to Miami with the team. Curry hasn't practiced since the first day of training camp.

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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/10/28/jazz ... index.html

Okur injures left leg trying to draw charge
Mehmet Okur hobbled to the locker room with a left leg injury 24 seconds into the game after the Utah Jazz center tried to draw a charge on Nene in the season opener against the Denver Nuggets.

Okur stayed on the ground for a few minutes Wednesday night, clutching his left leg. He gingerly hopped to the bench before heading off the floor.

The Jazz were already short-handed as Matt Harpring (ankle, knee), C.J. Miles (left thumb) and Kyle Korver (left knee) were not with the team for the game. Okur attempted to get in the path of Nene as he barreled in for a layup, but was called for the foul. Nene made the basket and the free throw to complete a three-point play.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20091028/S ... son-opener

Pistons cruise to easy victory in season opener
Richard Hamilton scored 25 points, Ben Gordon added 22, and the Detroit Pistons ran away from the Memphis Grizzlies 96-74 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

The two guards were a combined 17 of 31 from the floor, and that was after Hamilton started the game missing five of his first six shots. Hamilton left the game after spraining his right ankle on a shot with just under 5 minutes to play. He hit one of the two ensuing free throws, then went straight to the dressing room on the next dead ball.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, and Zach Randolph recorded 14 points and nine rebounds in his Memphis debut.

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http://stats.mlive.com/nba/recap.asp?g= ... e=29&vis=8

Hamilton, Gordon lead Pistons past Grizzlies
Richard Hamilton scored 25 points, Ben Gordon added 22, and the Detroit Pistons ran away from the Memphis Grizzlies 96-74 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

The two guards were a combined 17 of 31 from the floor, and that was after Hamilton started the game missing five of his first six shots. Hamilton left the game after spraining his right ankle on a shot with just under 5 minutes to play. He hit one of the two ensuing free throws, then went straight to the dressing room on the next dead ball.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, and Zach Randolph recorded 14 points and nine rebounds in his Memphis debut.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009 ... son-opener

Pistons cruise to victory in season opener
Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon gave doubters their first answer as to whether they could coexist. The answer was a resounding yes. Hamilton scored 25 and Gordon 22 as the Pistons defeated Memphis, 96-74, in the season opener for both teams. The victory made coach John Kuester a winner in his NBA head coaching debut. "Butterflies? No question," Kuester said before the game. "You're anxious to get going. I'm fortunate to have a great group of guys who've worked hard and given me everything they have every practice." Kuester added it'll be important for the Pistons to improve as the season progresses. In that case, Wednesday's opener was a good base to build from. After a roller coaster exhibition season, the Pistons looked robust offensively and downright stingy defensively, where the success for this season largely rests. "Offensively we can hold it down man to man with anybody," Hamilton said toward the end of the exhibition season. "In order for us to be great, we have do what we do defensively, and that's stop people."

Hamilton left the game in the fourth quarter because of an apparent left ankle injury, but it's not thought to be serious. The Pistons held Memphis to 36-percent shooting (26-of-72). Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 21 points, while Rudy Gay scored 16 and Zach Randolph (Michigan State) scored 14. It was the Grizzlies, you may remember, who scored 115 points and shot over 50 percent two weeks ago in an exhibition game. "They have a very good team," Kuester said. "They showed us that in the pre-season." But the Grizzlies, though an interesting collection of young talent, never got going Wednesday. Playing minus Allen Iverson (hamstring), the Grizzlies struggled to put down shots. The Pistons, on the other hand, had no such problem. Hamilton had 17 points in the first half (on 7-for-14 shooting) and Gordon 15 points (5-for-7). Each made all three of his 3-point attempts, as the Pistons sprinted to a 53-41 halftime lead.

Gordon came off the bench firing, and obviously in a groove. That was apparent early when he sank an off-balance 3-point shot, was fouled, and made the free throw for a 4-point play, giving the Pistons an 18-16 lead. The Pistons led 24-20 after one quarter, then gradually pulled away, holding the Grizzlies to 43-percent shooting in the first half (16-for-37). Jason Maxiell's dunk gave the Pistons their first 10-point lead, 39-29. They stretched the lead to 53-41 as the first half ended on a Hamilton jumper. The Pistons lengthened the lead to 17 points in the third quarter and over 20 in the final 12 minutes. Getting the Grizzlies on opening night was a stroke of luck in itself for the Pistons. The Grizzlies have not won an opening night game since the team relocated to Memphis prior to the 2001-02 season from Vancouver.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4603597

Iverson (hamstring) out vs. Pistons
The Memphis Grizzlies will have to wait a while longer for the debut of veteran guard Allen Iverson.Iverson, the Grizzlies' highly publicized free-agent signing, was listed as inactive Wednesday night for the season opener against his former team, the Detroit Pistons. Iverson is still recovering from a partially torn left hamstring he sustained early in the preseason. When an MRI revealed the tear on Oct. 7, the initial scheduled return was Wednesday's opening night.

But Iverson has been unable to practice while rehabilitating the injury and was not game ready. "He's starting to work with us in a non-contact aspect, so that's a positive," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "That makes me feel good that it won't be long." Iverson, who is entering his 14th season, signed with the Grizzlies on Sept. 10. The four-time NBA scoring champ is the biggest name ever to join the franchise, and his arrival has created a buzz for the team and the city.

The signing also raised questions regarding who will start. Mike Conley, the Grizzlies' first-round draft choice in 2007, is the incumbent at the point, but Iverson balked at coming off the bench last season in Detroit. With Iverson on the shelf, Conley was expected to start against the Pistons, while Marcus Williams, an offseason signee who played nine games last season with Golden State, backed up Conley.

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028029

Richard Hamilton scored 25 points, Ben Gordon added 22, and the Detroit Pistons ran away from the Memphis Grizzlies 96-74 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The two guards were a combined 17 of 31 from the floor, and that was after Hamilton started the game missing five of his first six shots.

Tayshaun Prince finished with 14 points for Detroit in new coach John Kuester's debut, while Rodney Stuckey scored 12.

Already leading by 14 entering the final quarter, Detroit clicked off eight unanswered points to open the period, including consecutive 3-pointers by Gordon. That gave Detroit a 20-point lead, and Memphis was on its way to losing its ninth straight season-opener.

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http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... ankle.html

Pistons' Richard Hamilton injures ankle
The Detroit Pistons easily defeated Memphis 96-74 on Wednesday, but the victory might prove to be quite costly.

With less than 5 minutes to play in the game, Pistons guard Richard Hamilton injured his right ankle when he was fouled by O.J. Mayo. After making one of two free throws, Detroit had to call a 20-second timeout to get him out of the game.

X-rays were negative, but that doesn't mean Hamilton is out of the woods yet. The ankle is sore to the point where he had to be carted into the locker room afterward in a wheelchair. "Usually, I try to walk it off, but when I went to the free throw line, I couldn't push off of it," Hamilton said. The Pistons said Hamilton will be re-evaluated Thursday.

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http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... 96-74.html

Pistons open season with 96-74 win against Grizzlies
Richard Hamilton scored 25 points, Ben Gordon had 22 and the Detroit Pistons ran away from the Memphis Grizzlies 96-74 on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The two guards were a combined 17-of-31 from the floor, and that was after Hamilton started the game missing five of his first six shots. Hamilton left the game after spraining his right ankle on a shot with just under 5 minutes to play. He hit one of the two ensuing free throws, then went straight to the dressing room on the next dead ball.

Marc Gasol led Memphis with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, and Zach Randolph recorded 14 points and nine rebounds in his first game with the Grizzlies, who were without the injured Allen Iverson. After shooting well at the start, Memphis struggled to 36 percent from the field, while Detroit finished at 51 percent. Leading by 14 entering the final quarter, Detroit clicked off eight unanswered points to open the period, including consecutive 3-pointers by Gordon. That gave Detroit a 20-point lead, and Memphis was on its way to losing its ninth consecutive season opener. The Grizzlies shot well early, but the turnover problems that plagued the Grizzlies in the preseason continued. The Detroit pressure defense caused some of the miscues; some came as Memphis tried to run.

Hamilton got untracked in the second quarter, connecting on 6-of-7 shots en route to 17 first-half points. That helped Detroit carry a 53-41 lead into the dressing room. Gordon came off the bench to hit five of his first six shots for 15 points in the half. His 3-pointer near the midway point of the second period extended the Pistons' lead to double digits. Memphis guards Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo combined to shoot only 3-of-16 from the floor in the game. Detroit led by 17 in the third quarter and brought a 71-57 lead into the fourth, which Memphis never really threatened.

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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/10/28/magi ... index.html

Magic waive Johnson, have only 11 players for opener
The Orlando Magic are taking a smaller lineup into opening night this season after waiving reserve forward Linton Johnson III.

The move Wednesday trimmed Orlando's roster to 13 players, hours before the team opened the regular season against Philadelphia. The Magic will also be without Rashard Lewis for the first 10 games after the All-Star forward was suspended by the league for testing positive for an elevated level of testosterone.

Reserve center Adonal Foyle is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, leaving only 11 players available.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028002

Kevin Garnett returned to the Boston parquet and slipped on it, putting a bigger scare into the Celtics than the Charlotte Bobcats could. In his first game back in Boston since the injury that knocked him out of last year's playoffs, Garnett scored 10 points with seven rebounds over 26 easy minutes and the Celtics held Charlotte to a franchise-low in scoring to coast to a 92-59 victory.

Ray Allen was the only Boston starter to play in the fourth, scoring 18 points in all. Rajon Rondo scored 10 with 11 assists, and newcomers Rasheed Wallace and Shelden Williams came off the bench to help; Wallace had three 3-pointers and Williams had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Gerald Wallace had 10 points and 12 rebounds -- the only Bobcat to reach double digits in scoring.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028001

The result was a season-opening 120-109 victory Wednesday night that didn't feel all that satisfying to the home team. "We were giving them way too many layups," said Joe Johnson, who began what could be his final season in Atlanta by scoring 25 points. "The win was great, but I thought our play was ugly -- especially on defense."

Al Horford chipped in with 24 points and 16 rebounds, helping to slice into Indiana's dominance on the boards for much of the game. Smith scored 18 points and led the Hawks in the beginning. Mike Bibby took over at the end, scoring eight of his 10 points in the final period. The bulked-up Atlanta bench also contributed valuable minutes that kept the starters fresh for the deciding quarter.

Granger's main offensive help came from the bench. Earl Watson had 20 points and Dahntay Jones 17.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028019

Dwight Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Vince Carter scored 15 points and the new-look Magic rolled to a 120-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Ryan Anderson added 16 points, and Jason Williams had 15 points to highlight a deep Magic bench. Orlando went ahead by 23 points at the half, scored 100 through three quarters and showed no signs of a finals hangover after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers on the same floor in June.

Marreese Speights had 26 points, and Elton Brand added eight points in his first regular-season game since missing most of 2008-09 with a right shoulder injury for Philadelphia.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028028

Andrea Bargnani scored 28 points, Chris Bosh had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors overcame James' 25th career triple-double to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 on Wednesday night.

James had 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, but Cleveland opened its season with consecutive losses for the first time since an 0-3 start in 2004-05. James scored 38 points in Tuesday's 95-89 home loss to Boston.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 12 points in his Raptors debut and Marco Belinelli had 10. Jose Calderon had 11 assists for Toronto, but Bargnani's performance was the talk of the locker room.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028014

Wade began defense of his NBA scoring title with 26 points, Jermaine O'Neal finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the Miami Heat opened with a 115-93 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.

New starting power forward Michael Beasley scored 21 for Miami, which made 26 of 31 shots in a staggering 20-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters, turning a close game into a blowout.

David Lee scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds for New York. Danilo Gallinari added 22 off the bench for the Knicks, who were 10 of 39 from 3-point range.

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http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291028016

Flynn scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to help the Wolves erase a 19-point deficit and Damien Wilkins' putback at the buzzer lifted Minnesota to a 95-93 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night.

Brook Lopez had 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for the Nets. But he didn't score in the final period and Jefferson blocked a shot with 25 seconds to go that would have given New Jersey the lead.

Devin Harris had a rough shooting night for the Nets. He managed just 14 points on 4 for 13 shooting to go with eight assists and six rebounds.