Tyreke Evans (concussion) will miss the Kings’ next two games after he felt dizzy during Thursday’s practice. With the current climate around professional sports surrounding concussions, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Sacramento Kings are out of the playoff chase and will not rush him back just so he can win the Rookie of the Year award. He’s in danger of missing more than just two games. Meanwhile, Beno Udrih’s piping hot streak stands to continue while Francisco Garcia will stick in the starting five.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Memphis: Marc Gasol (strained neck) says he is targeting Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks for his return. Gasol worked out on Monday, practiced on Tuesday and the Grizz have three days off before taking on the Bucks. If he’s going to come back, this is a perfect spot.

Houston: Trevor Ariza was productive in the Rockets’ 99-93 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, scoring 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting (including three 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block.

Houston: Luis Scola scored 16 points on 7-of-21 shooting with 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals on Thursday. It marks the 30th double-double he has secured this year, and during the month of march, Scola is averaging a robust 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

Los Angelas: Craig Smith scored a season-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 25 minutes off the bench against the Rockets on Thursday.

Miami: Udonis Haslem (ankle) returned to action against the Bulls on Thursday, and scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting with six rebounds, no assists, and a steal in 23 minutes.

Chicago: Joakim Noah played just 10 minutes in the Bulls’ blowout loss to the Heat on Thursday, and chipped in four points on 1-of-5 shooting with two rebounds and no assists. He was scheduled to play 15 minutes, and if there is any positive takeaway from their embarrassing night it’s that Bulls got to rest him a little bit more than was planned.

Miami: Jermaine O’Neal scored 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 24 minutes of the Heat’s dominating win over the Bulls on Thursday.

Rafer Alston, whose contract was recently bought out by the Nets, is poised to be signed by the Miami Heat and become the teams starting point guard. Alston, who is expected to replace current starter Carlos Arroyo if he does officially sign with Miami, has to be excited about escapting one of the worst teams in the league for a playoff contender. The Nets acquired backup point guard Chris Quinn for a heavily protected draft pick on Tuesday, clearing the way for Alston to go to the Heat.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Washington:  In the continuing saga that is Gilbert Arenas, the NBA is reportedly considering suspending Arenas before the legal process involving his gun possession concludes. While the league usually waits until the courts have made a decision, “Arenas has already admitted to breaking league rules on gun possession both publicly and to federal investigators.” The incident took place in a lockerroom is already smearing the NBA’s public image and most expect David Stern to come down hard on Arenas.

Los Angeles:  Ron Artest (concussion) and Lamar Odom (flu) are expected to play Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.

Utah:  Jazz PG Deron Williams (bruised and sprained right wrist) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday vs. the Grizzlies. X-rays were negative but Williams will have an MRI on Tuesday afternoon, which should determine his status. He is officially listed as day-to-day.

Portland:  Brandon Roy is dealing with a sore right hamstring, which bothered him Monday, when he scored just six points and had his streak of scoring at least 23 points in a game broken at 15. “It’s pretty sore,” Roy said. He suffered the injury during Saturday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors. Roy should be able to play on Tuesday.

Toronto:  Hedo Turkoglu is expected to resume starting at SF on Wednesday after missing one game with the flu. Turk has also been battling a knee injury lately, making him a shaky start until he gets going.

Indiana:  Coach Jim O’Brien said Tuesday that he thinks Danny Granger (heel) is still about two weeks away from returning to action. O’Brien’s estimate would bring Granger back by around Jan. 20, on the long end of the original 4-to-6 week prognosis Granger received Dec. 8.

Philadelphia:  The Philadelphia 76ers have announced that Allen Iverson’s contract has been extended for the remainder of the season.

Iverson has played decently through injury this season, averaging 15.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in nine games with the 76ers. While he’s not the star he once was, he continues to put up consistent stats.

A grand jury could soon decide whether the gun case involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton merits weapons and assault charges. Arenas met with police on Monday and released his official statement: “I took the unloaded guns out in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate,” said Arenas. “I never threatened or assaulted anyone…I now recognize that what I did was a mistake.

I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place.” The question now seems to be not whether Arenas will be punished, but how severely. If Arenas is not prosecuted, he will be punished by the NBA. The league has a strict policy of not bringing any weapons to an NBA facility.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Denver: Carmelo Anthony (knee) and Chauncey Billups (groin) don’t sound likely to play on Tuesday, according to the Colorado Sports Desk. The report says “it is likely they will both get rest again before the high-key match up this Friday against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.”

Los Angelas: Lakers PF Pau Gasol has a mild-to-moderate hamstring strain and is doubtful to play vs. Houston on Tuesday. The Los Angelas Lakers are smart to rest their injuryed players to ensure they’re healthy come playoff time.

Sacramento: Kins G/F Francisco Garcia practiced for a short while on Monday, his first action since breaking his wrist on October 9th. Garcia left to a round of applause from his teammates, but his return will likely drag on for quite some time.

Boston: Paul Pierce’s (knee) status for Wednesday’s game will likely be determined after Tuesday’s practice. He shot around on Monday but did not participate in any drills, and ESPNBoston reports that the Boston Celtics prepared as if he wouldn’t be available.

Orlando: As expected, Vince Carter practiced on Monday and expects to start Tuesday’s game vs. the Pacers. Orlando Magic practiced for 2 1/2 hours and both Carter and coach Stan Vandy reported that he was fine.

Washington: Mike Miller will definitely play vs. the Magic on Friday, according to coach Flip Saunders, and he could return even sooner.

Indiana: Stacy Paetz reported on the Pacers’ broadcast Sunday that Danny Granger’s workout prior to the game went well and he appears to be nearing a return. He reportedly went through extensive shooting and movement drills, and while no return date has been set, it sounds like he could play in the next 10 days or so.

Oakland: The Warriors have waived veteran C Mikki Moore, in order to clear a roster spot for rookie big man Chris Hunter. The league had granted Golden State a special roster exemption because of all their injuries, but Hunter’s contract would have been ineligible once it becomes guaranteed on Wednesday

Celtics G/F Paul Pierce revealed on Saturday that he underwent a second procedure on his right knee after the first one wasn’t effective in removing an infection just before Christmas.

There is still no timetable on his return, but it isn’t thought that the second procedure should keep him out much longer than the first one would have. “It’s getting better,” said Pierce. “I’m feeling pretty good. Right now it’s day-to-day. There’s no timetable on it.” However, it is interesting that the Boston organization has not commented on the second surgery.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Boston: Doc Rivers indicated Saturday that Kevin Garnett’s hyperextended right knee injury could keep him out 10 more days. The Boston Celtics are dealing with a plethora of injuries at the moment, so Rivers is likely going to be even more cautious with his stars than normal. A logical return date for Garnett might be the 13th of January.

Utah: Jazz PG Deron Williams will play for the Utah Jazz on Saturday, according to beat writer Ross Siler.

Toronto: Despite an earlier report in the Toronto Star, Hedo Turkoglu will now play on Saturday according to beat writer Doug Smith. Turkoglu is bothered by a sore knee and was originally ruled out. But in his pre-game live chat, Smith writes that Turkoglu will give it a shot tonight.

Indiana: T.J. Ford may have been bumped completely out of the Pacers’ rotation, according to a tweet from beat writer Mike Wells. Wells writes that Ford is now the third-string point guard, behind Earl Watson and rookie A.J. Price. We doubt this is a long-term move and our guess that making their best point guard irrelevant is not going to help them break their eight-game losing streak. If the Pacers cannot beat the lonely Wolves at home tonight, they have bigger problems to worry about.

Los Angelas: Los Angelas Lakers F Ron Artest worked out Saturday for a neurologist and a decision about his availablity won’t be made until Sunday. Artest is still suffering the effects of a concussion suffered in his home and has missed four straight games. He’ll be evaluated after Sunday’s shootaround, so its likely that he will play in a limited capacity.

Miami: Dwyane Wade had 29 points, 11 assists, three rebounds, two steals, a block, four 3-pointers and six turnovers in Saturday’s loss to the Bobcats. Things are only going to get worse for the Heat, who play 20 of their next 27 games on the road.

Charlotte: Stephen Jackson hit 11-of-20 shots and four 3-pointers on his way to a season-high 35 points to go along with eight rebounds and two steals as the Charlotte Bobcats overcame an early 19-point deficit to beat the Heat in Miami for just their second road win of the season.

1. Lakers (26-6): They’re the best team by default.
2. Cavaliers (27-8): The Cavs should attempt a trade to get the missing piece.
3. Magic (24-8): The scoring options on this team scare me.
4. Celtics (23-8): Dealing with a plethora of injuries at the moment.
5. Mavericks (22-10): Coming on of late, this could be a very good team.
6. Suns (21-12): Nash can still create problems around the league.
7. Hawks (21-11): This team is under the radar in my opinion.
8. Spurs (19-11): Starting to play better, should be good by the playoffs.
9. Nuggets (20-12): Lost a tough game on the road to the Kings.
10. Trail Blazers (21-13): To say they’re dealing with injuries is an understatement.
11. Rockets (20-13): They amazingly keep wining…not sure how though.
12. Thunder (18-14): Very young and climbing up this list each week.
13. Jazz (18-14): Consistently a good team, what else is new?
14. Heat (16-15): Starting to fall back a bit, where they belong.
15. Hornets (14-16): This is a good team, watch out.
16. Grizzlies (15-16): I think they should finish above .500 this year.
17. Kings (14-18): They improved, but can they win the close games and beat good teams?
18. Raptors (16-17): I think they should finish above .500 this year.
19. Bulls (13-17): The new coach search must not be going well.
20. Bobcats (13-18): They keep trying new coaches and players, same result.
21. Clippers (14-18): How is the No. 1 overall pick doing? He dresses nice.
22. Knicks (13-20): Surprisingly playing better, paging James…
23. Bucks (12-18): I really don’t have anything to say about this team.
24. Pistons (11-21): Yikes, spent a lot of money in the offseason.
25. Wizard (10-20): The team is a candidate to dump salary and players.
26. Pacers (9-22): Sinking fast.
27. 76ers (9-23): A.I. is not going to help this team.
28. Warriors (9-22): Nelson needs to go, fast.
29. Timberwolves (7-27): Have never recovered since trading the bit ticket.
30. Nets (3-30): Worst in the league, start scouting for the draft.

Wizards G Gilbert Arenas is considering suing the NY Post over their recent story claiming that he and teammate Javaris Crittenton pulled guns on each other in the Wizards’ locker room.

“That’s not the real story,” said Arenas. “I saw the story. Very compelling. Some real O.K. Corral stuff.” The Post cited unidentified sources, so it’s anybody’s guess what actually happened, but this still lends a worrisome angle to Agent Zero’s firearms fracas.

The NBA is currently investigating the wild-wild-west gun battle that “supposedly” happened in the locker room.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Boston: Boston  Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said that Kevin Garnett (knee) would probably be out until January 6 against the Heat, or longer. Rivers also said that he was “leaning heavily” towards doing this, and then added “if I do decide to sit [Garnett], I’m not sitting him for one game. I can tell you that.” The wise move would be to sit Garnett for a week or two to ensure that he is 100%.

Boston: Rajon Rondo (hamstring) will not play against the Raptors on Saturday, according to coach Doc Rivers.

Boston: Paul Pierce has been ruled out for Saturday’s game with an ongoing knee injury. Coach Doc Rivers recently said Pierce could realistically return for their game vs. the Heat on Wednesday. Tony Allen will continue to start until Pierce returns.

Okalahoma City: Kevin Durant tied the franchise record for consecutive 30-point games on Thursday with six, finishing the game with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting (including a three) with eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. Aside from personal marks, the Okalahoma City Thunder won their fifth straight game for the first time in over four years. Its clear that Durant is emerging as one of the top players in the NBA and he appears to be taking the team with him.

Portland: LaMarcus Aldridge (sprained left ankle) has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Saturday’s game, and could sit out even longer. “L.A. might be out a couple games,” Brandon Roy said after Friday’s morning practice. Portland’s trainer said Aldridge is improving and that “when he will play again is kind of up to LaMarcus.”

New Orleans: Hornets F Peja Stojakovic sat out Friday’s practice because of a sore back that he sustained in Wednesday’s win over the Heat. Stojakovic received treatment and has rested his surgically-repaired back, but coach Jeff Bower said that (barring any setbacks) he should play on Saturday. “He…did some light shooting and stretching,” said Bower. “We’ll see how he is, but from his comments today, he expects to play.”

Toronto: Hedo Turkoglu (knee) is doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Celtics. “There is a good chance that Turk is not going to play,” Triano said. “I would probably start Antoine (Wright).”

Philadelphia: Andre Iguodala’s name has surfaced in trade rumors for Tracy McGrady, but it doesn’t sound like any deal is imminent. The Philadelphia 76ers would reportedly need to “knock the Rockets over” with the amount of talent in the deal, and Houston has no interest in trading T-Mac for Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert.

Kevin Garnett (thigh) went through a full shootaround on Wednesday, but the Celtics may opt to hold him out of games on Wednesday and Saturday. The Boston Celtics are reporting that Garnett’s current trouble is related to his bruised thigh, which got kicked in Monday’s game against the Warriors.

The good news is that this sounds precautionary and the Celtics see an opportunity to get Garnett a week of rest with only two games scheduled in the next seven days. In the long run we remain concerned about KG holding up, especially considering his injury plagued 2009 season, but it looks like the thigh isn’t a major issue.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

New Jersey: Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Chris Douglas-Roberts (ankle) has been cleared to return to action on Wednesday. CDR tweeted earlier that he’d be back in action, but it’s good to see the official news coming from a New Jersey Nets beat reporter. It should be safe to activate him in daily leagues, though it’s possible he’ll be rusty in his first game since Dec. 19.

Los Angeles: Lakers G Kobe Bryant’s offensive tear continued on Tuesday, as he scored a season-high 44 points (13-of-27 FGs, 16-of-16 FTs) against the Warriors. He added four rebounds and 11 assists, with just one turnover. Kobe came into this game 0.1 ppg behind Carmelo Anthony for the league lead in scoring, and will be #1 after this gem. This was the 103rd game in his career that he’s scored at least 40 points.

Los Angeles: As expected, Ron Artest did not play in Tuesday’s game vs. the Warriors. He is hoping to return against Sacramento on Friday. “He’ll get a workout in [Wednesday],” said Phil Jackson. “The big danger is obviously elevating heart rate and blood pressure in this type of situation, so that’s going to be something that we monitor.” When Artest returns to the lineup, expect reduced minutes.

Washington: The Wizards allowed the Thunder to score 110 points on 54% shooting, coach Flip Saunders hinted that a lineup change could be imminent. “Spots will be open. If guys don’t like it, that’s fine,” said Saunders. “Guys want to come out of the zone [defense] and play man-to-man, but they can’t guard anybody. The Wizards have been on of the biggest disappointment thus far in 2010.

New Orleans: David West scored a career-high 44 points vs. the Houston  Rockets on Tuesday — he made 18-of-30 FGs, 2-of-4 three-pointers, and 6-of-8 FTs. West even pitched in 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals, but New Orleans couldn’t pull out the victory and dropped to 13-16 on the season.

Tracy McGrady is unlikely to rejoin the Houston Rockets this season, according to Yahoo! Sports. McGrady and his agent will meet with Rockets’ management over the next two days and the likely resolution is T-Mac heading to Chicago to work at the famed Attack Athletics facility.

The Rockets are willing to take on long-term salary to unload McGrady. Kings G Kevin Martin’s name has surfaced in the past, mainly as interest coming out of Chicago, but there are multiple obstacles to any such blockbuster deal. It appears that a buyout is the best resolution to deal with McGrady, in any event we should know the details within the next day or two.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Houston: Rockets guard Trevor Ariza suffered a deep tissue bruise on his left shin in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. X-rays were negative, but he was limping. “I got kicked,” Ariza said. “It’s still throbbing. Hopefully, by tomorrow it will be all right.” The Rockets’ next game is on Tuesday (they play three times this week) and we should have more information after Monday’s practice.

Los Angeles: Ron Artest has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Sun due to a concussion.
His condition is improving, and he could play later in the week, but get him on your bench for Monday.

Chicago: Beat writer Mike McGraw writes that “the Bulls are NOT anxious to fire [Vinny] Del Negro. They’d rather he finish the season…and help him clean out his office.” McGraw feels that “if the Bulls stay competitive for a playoff spot, Del Negro should be fine.” He has covered the Bulls since 1995 and would have as good a feel for this situation as anyone, so his opinions are not easy to dismiss.

Toronto: There is still no timetable for Jose Calderon’s return from a hip injury. The Toronto Raptors PG has been working out off the court but did not join his teammates for practice on Saturday. The Raptors have gone 8-4 in his absence, with fill-in starter Jarrett Jack playing well, so the team doesn’t have any incentive to rush him back.

Indiana: Danny Granger did some light shooting on Saturday as he continues to rehabilitate his torn right plantar fascia, and he thinks he will be back in “another two to three weeks.” Granger wants to get onto the court as fast as he can, but with the Pacers suddenly playing for ping pong balls, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him forced to return slower than he would like.

The decision to fire coach Vinny Del Negro has already been made and the only thing keeping him employed is the fact that the Bulls have not found a replacement. The Bulls would like to have a coach that appeals to the potential free agents available this summer, but they may have to settle for assistants Bernie Bickerstaff or Pete Myers and seek out a better option in the offseason. Once it becomes clear who will be coaching in Chicago, we’ll have a better idea of what system will be installed and what free agents, if any, will be interested in playing for the Bulls.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Clippers F Blake Griffin (knee) continues to progress in his rehabilitation, and said that he expects to make his season debut in three weeks. Coach Mike Dunleavy agreed, saying he expects him back in the second or third week of January. This timetable appears to be solid Dunleavy will have to sort out minutes between Griffin, Marcus Camby, Rasual Butler and Al Thornton.

Sacramento: Tyreke Evans is considered to be doubtful for Monday’s game against the Nuggets after spraining his ankle in Saturday’s game against the Lakers. Evans missed Sunday’s practice after he woke up with swelling in the ankle. Beno Udrih and Donte’ Greene would be the likely starting backcourt in his absence, as this was the lineup Nov. 21 when Evans missed his only game of the season.

Houston: The Houston Rockets have told Tracy McGrady that he will not see an increase in playing time, and that they will address his situation Monday when they return from their road trip. This comes after the team gave McGrady permission to take the weekend off to be home for his son’s birthday.

Detroit: Pistons F Charlie Villanueva (foot) is in uniform and has been seen loosening up prior to Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

San Antonio: DeJuan Blair played for a season-high 35 minutes on Sunday, and ended up with eight points on 4-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.

Denver: Carmelo Anthony struggled with foul trouble on Sunday, scoring just 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting with 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block in 30 minutes of action. He missed tying his lowest-scoring game of the season by just two points, but on the bright side his 12 rebounds were a season-high.

Dallas: Drew Gooden (back spasms) returned to action Sunday and scored 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and a block in 27 minutes of run on Sunday.
Gooden may have gotten some extra run after Erick Dampier (10 points, nine rebounds, 20 minutes) played 35 minutes in his absence Saturday.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his Home on Friday night. Artest apparently tripped over a box and fell down a flight of stairs and did not travel with the team to Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Artest was treated at UCLA Medical Center, undergoing a CT scan and receiving stitches in the back of his head and his elbow.

A neurologist examined him on Saturday and confirmed he had a concussion and would only be day to day. Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson seemed a bit annoyed with reporters after being asked to “interpret” the accident: “Let me see, my interpretation is that an accident happened, he fell down, he ended up in the hospital, and he came out with some stitches. Other than that, I can’t add anything to it.” Los Angeles began a stretch with four games in five days on Christmas, culminating in a home game against Golden State on Tuesday. “What I was telling the team is that he brings a certain physical presence to our game,” Jackson said. “And we’ll miss that part of his game.”

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Oakland: Warriors G/F Corey Maggette was on fire in Saturday’s thrilling 132-127 win over the Suns, scoring 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting. He made all seven of his FT attempts and had eight rebounds and one steal in 35 minutes. His move into the starting lineup proved to be the right decision, as he’s now topped 20 points in seven consecutive games.

Chicago: Chicago Bulls F Tyrus Thomas returned from his broken forearm on Saturday, posting a team-high 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks.

New Orleans: New Orleans Hornets swingman Devin Brown hit 6-of-7 three-pointers against the Bulls, finishing with a team-high 22 points, four rebounds and two steals. All of his points came in the first half. So far this season, Brown’s field goal percentage is a measly 38.5%.

Atlanta: Hawks center Al Horford dominated the Pacers in Saturday’s victory, racking up 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting, 19 rebounds, two assists and five blocks. Horford averaging a career high 13.8 ppg, while shooting 58% to lead the surging Atlanta Hawks to a record of 21-8 thus far this season.

Phoenix: Steve Nash led the Suns in an old-fashioned shootout with the Warriors, scoring a season-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including 6-of-12 three-pointers.

Mo Williams scored 28 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists and three 3-pointers, and LeBron James added 26 points and nine assists as the Cavaliers easily beat the Lakers in L.A. on Christmas Day. Kobe Bryant paced the Los Angeles Lakers with 35 points and a near triple-double, but took 32 shots to reach 35 points, as the Cavs controlled the pace and tempo of the game from the opening tip. Tempers flared on the court, as Lamar Odom was ejected with two technical fouls, while Williams, LeBron, Kobe and Derek Fisher all confronted each other, leading to angry fans littering the floor with foam fingers. This may now be the most contested rivalry in the NBA.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Los Angeles: Marcus Camby, who was iffy coming into Friday’s game with a hyperextended left knee, started, but then left the game after aggravating the injury and will not return. Camby’s injuries are always a major concern and his status for his next game is automatically in doubt.

Los Angeles: Kobe Bryant scored 35 points, but made just 11-of-32 shots in a loss to the Cavaliers on Christmas Day. The Cavs easily won today’s game, although Kobe’s fantasy line included a 3-pointers, 12-of-12 free throw shooting, nine boards, eight assists and two steals. He has been dealing with a sore knee and a broken finger coming in, but looked to be moving at full speed in this one.

Phoenix: Phoenix Suns G Leandro Barbosa returned from a sprained ankle on Christmas Day and had 12 points, four assists, a steal and a block on 4-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench.

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett, who clearly landed hard on his back and tailbone on Friday, also hit his head on the court during the fall. He didn’t return to the game, but says he’s fine. “I’m ok,” Garnett said. “I’ve had harder falls. I’m just glad we won to be honest. I’m sure I’ll feel it in the morning. But for now, I’m all right.” The key words are “for now,” but it sounds like KG is planning to play on Sunday at the Clippers.

Boston: Glen Davis returned from a broken thumb on Friday and failed to score in four minutes.
He’ll be worked into the mix slowly, but if Kevin Garnett is ever going to miss a string of game due to injuries, Davis should have some immediate value in deep leagues.

Orlando: Vince Carter hit 10-of-20 shots and a 3-pointer for a game-high 27 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists and four steals as the Magic fell to the Celtics on Christmas Day.

The NBA acknowledged that they are investigating Gilbert Arenas’ violation of league rules that prohibit players from bringing firearms onto league property. The NBA released the following statement, “We’re aware of the situation and are working to gain a full understanding of the facts and relevant legal issues.” Now that the league has acknowledged the situation, we’re just waiting for that investigation to be completed and to see if Arenas gets a suspension or not.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Free Agency: Estimates are starting to come in regarding ticket revenues and the news is worse than expected. The question for teams now becomes how much the salary cap is expected to drop. This means that several notable teams (Knicks, Nets, Heat) who have been setting themselves up for this summer’s blockbuster free agency class (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson) will have less money to lure key players.

Los Angeles: Lakers G Kobe Bryant made it through practice Thursday without any pain in the knee he tweaked during Tuesday’s game against the Thunder. Kobe said of his knee, “It’s good. No problems. I feel fine.” All of the Los Angeles Laker fans should consider this the vote of confidence as Bryant seems to be fine.

Portland: An MRI on Brandon Roy’s shoulder revealed no tears, but he will be a game-time decision for Friday’s game against the Nuggets. The Portland Trail Blazers are calling the injury a shoulder muscle strain. The good news is the injury is not serious, but the bad news is it could possibly force him to miss another game or two. Check back before Friday’s game for a final update.

Boston: Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said Thursday Paul Pierce (infected knee) could miss at least two weeks, and is doubtful to travel on the team’s upcoming road trip. Boston Celtics returns home to play on Jan. 2, but if he skips that game he’ll get four days of rest to play on Jan. 6. It was reported that he called team trainers at 3 a.m. Wednesday due to intense pain, and was taken to the hospital to have his knee drained. Owners should have him sidelined until further notice.

Miami: Miami  Heat C Jermaine O’Neal lasted just three minutes into Wednesday’s game before being shutdown for the night with a groin injury. Information is scarce right now, but we’re going to guess he’s day-to-day.

Indiana: Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said Thursday that they are no hurry to bring back Jeff Foster, who injured his back last week playing against Dwight Howard and the Magic. “We don’t want to have him go seven minutes and have (the back) go out again. He’ll be back when we think we can play him for an extended period of time without risking further problems,” said O’Brien

The Sacramento Kings trailed the Bulls by as many as 35 points on Monday, but Tyreke Evans led a stunning late-game charge as Sacramento stole a road victory in Chicago. Evans started slow but finished with 23 points (8-of-19 FGs, 6-of-9 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. He even knocked down his only 3-point attempt. The 35 point comeback was the second largest in NBA history.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks C Andrew Bogut dominated the Pacers’ frontcourt in Monday’s road victory, scoring a career-high 31 points and grabbing a season-high 18 rebounds. He shot 14-of-19 from the field, adding three assists, one steal and three blocks.

Dallas: Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki (elbow) is on the active list and will play on Tuesday against the Trail Blazers, according to beat writer Eddie Sefko.

Sacramento: Kevin Martin (wrist) is scheduled to have a CT scan on December 30th. If all goes well he could return in early January. “I’ll know more after that,” Martin said. “It could be (early January).” He began shooting again nearly two weeks ago, and recently began doing dribbling drills with both hands.

Detroit: Detroit Pistons F Charlie Villanueva said he will play Tuesday despite plantar fasciitis, which causes “a sharp pain every step I make.” “I can’t really move out there. I’m very limited,” said Villanueva. It seems like only a matter of time before CV needs to take time off and rest his heel, but for the immediate future he sounds like he’ll keep suiting up. On a side note, he is no longer wearing a mask to protect his recently broken nose.

Detroit: Ben Gordon missed his ninth straight game on Tuesday as he recovers from a sprained ankle.
He said he “wasn’t quite ready,” which seems to have been the case for weeks now. Keep him benched until we get a concrete report that he’s ready to suck it up and play.

San Antonio: Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair moved into the starting lineup on Monday, posting eight points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.

Indiana: Pacers center Jeff Foster is out indefinitely with back pain. Foster joined the team in Boston on Tuesday but for the immediate future Roy Hibbert and Solomon Jones will hold down the C spot for Indiana Pacers.

Oklahoma City: Injured veteran Matt Harpring (knee) has been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of Tuesday’s trade for Eric Maynor. Harpring’s career is almost certainly over, and he’s currently working as a commentator for NBATV. OKC gains an expiring contract, and Utah gets to slash his salary from their luxury tax.

Jonny Flynn had 14 points and set a career high with nine assists in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets. Flynn was beaten by Chris Paul for the game-winner, but is playing well. He also had a steal and a three tonight, and is averaging 13 points, seven assists and more than a steal and three over his last five games. Obviously, he’s becoming more comfortable in his role. Ramon Sessions came off the bench for just two points and six assists and is averaging just six points and three dimes over his last five games.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks PG Brandon Jennings got hot early and finished with 22 points, four 3-pointers, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 8-of-14 shooting in Wednesday’s win over Toronto, snapping a four-game losing streak for the Bucks. Jennings came in shooting just 32 percent in his last nine games, which was a far cry from his hot start. However, the news was not all good as he left early with a left knee injury. He returned briefly after getting hurt, but was not able to finish the game. Hopefully he just banged knees with another player.

Houston: Rockets F Trevor Ariza hit 11-of-19 shots and four 3-pointers for 26 points, five boards, two assists and two steals in Wednesday’s impressive win over the Cavaliers. Ariza has not been a good shooter from the floor this season, but we think his percentage will continue to improve as he gets more selective with his shots. Ariza’s strong play this season is probably one of the reasons the Houston Rockets are in no rush to bring Tracy McGrady back from knee surgery.

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul had 15 points and 14 assists, and hit the game-winning layup after blowing by Jonny Flynn near the buzzer for a tough win over the Timberwolves.

Oakland: Warriors F Anthony Randolph returned from a personal leave on Wednesday and came off the bench for 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and three blocks on 4-of-7 shooting in just 20 minutes of action.

Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson hit just 3-of-10 shots for 11 points, three assists, two steals and a block in Wednesday’s loss – the 11th in a row for Philly.

Blazers G Rudy Fernandez will miss 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing a microdiscectomy Tuesday to relieve leg pain caused by a nerve root in lower back. “He can get going right away on conditioning… He can swim, it’s more the impact of running and jumping [that might take longer],” Dr. Rich Edelson of Sports Medicine Oregon said Tuesday. Martell Webster, Andre Miller and Jarryd Bayless should pick up extra minutes in Fernandez’s absence, although Miller isn’t willing to play small forward.

Denver: Kenyon Martin will not play Tuesday against the Charlotte Bobcats because of a dislocated pinkie finger.

Toronto: Jose Calderon (hip) will not play Tuesday against the Timberwolves. Calderon went through shootaround and sounded like he might play, but a hip flexor injury flared up after practice and the Toronto Raptors decided to have him sit. Coach Jay Triano said Jarrett Jack will start in Calderon’s place.

Oakland: Warriors F Anthony Randolph flew to Arkansas to deal with a family emergency instead of New York for Wednesday’s game against the Nets. The team said that it hopes Randolph will be back with the team in the “next couple of days,” leaving his availability for Wednesday in doubt.

Indiana: Danny Granger will miss four-to-six weeks with torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

New Jersey: In addition to drawing the ire of the New Jersey Nets‘ braintrust with his recent posts on Twitter, Terrence Williams appears to be at odds with some of his teammates. Dave D’Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that at Tuesday’s shootaround, Williams “seemed more isolated than ever before.” And teammate Rafer Alston added, “Every day he comes in, he just looks like he’s in a funk and he looks like he’s just not there. I asked him yesterday on the bus how he’s doing, and he just had nothing to say. He had this blank look on his face, like he’s just confused.”

Chicago: K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune Tyrus Thomas’ broken forearm is not yet ready to absorb contact. This Friday will mark five weeks that Thomas has been sidelined, and though no return date has been set, it looks like fantasy owners will need to be patient for at least another week or two. Taj Gibson will continue to get the majority of minutes at PF in Thomas’ absence.

Dallas: Mavs GM Donnie Nelson says that Tim Thomas’ alleged involvement in a brawl at Denny’s early Wednesday morning is being “overblown.”
“What I can tell you is that Tim was not involved,” he said. “He’s 30 years old with a wife and kids. When the situation started to escalate, he left the property immediately. Certainly we’re working with authorities and our security folks to get to the bottom of it. But this is something that’s way, way, way overblown.” It is possible that media reports have overstated Thomas’ involvement in the incident, and we’ll continue to track this story as more developments surface.

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy says he refused to make calls to affect games even if it meant he lost money and it angered the mob. In one game where he bet on San Antonio Spurs, Donaghy ejected Coach Gregg Popovich midway through the first quarter and the Spurs eventually lost the game. After Donaghy threw Popovich out of the game and the Spurs subsequently lost the game, the mob was reportedly very upset. “I just told them that I wasn’t making calls in games to influence the outcome,” Donaghy said in an interview on “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday night on CBS. “And I’m not going to be able to obviously predict the winner every night, and they have to accept that’s what’s going to happen.”

Donaghy still contends that he made wagers on NBA games based on his knowledge of other officials’ biases for certain players, teams and that his officiating was not compromised. Even though Donaghy statement sounds ridicules, the FBI has publicly backed this fact. “Watching the tapes, we could see there was never anything outlandish where he called a foul or he omitted a foul because he wanted to see a certain team win” retired FBI special agent Philip Scala told the news show. “We never saw that.” Donaghy made his wagers through a high school friend and used a code to indicate his picks. “If I wanted them to bet the home team, I would discuss his brother Chuck,” he said. “If I wanted him to bet the visiting team, I would mention his brother Johnny.”

Donaghy claims he was winning 75 percent of the time, which drew the attention of the mob, which he said threatened his family to ensure he provided his insider picks to inform betting on games. “They basically told me that I needed to give them the picks and if I didn’t, that it’s a possibility that somebody would go down and visit my wife and kids in Florida,” he said. His connection with the mob caught the attention of the FBI, which overheard something on a wiretap that led them to believe an NBA referee may be involved. After he was caught, Donaghy said he cooperated with investigators because he believed it was in his and his family’s best interests.

After cooperating with authorities, Donaghy claims that his family has received death threats and is still worried about retribution from the mob. “Certainly it’s in the back of my mind, but I’m not going to live my life in fear,” he said. “I was informed by the FBI agents that they certainly had an eye on what they called these wiseguys and that if anything would come up they would inform me immediately.”

Following the airing of the interview, NBA commissioner David Stern released a statement saying any allegations about officials will be referred to Lawrence Pedowitz, a former investigator in the U.S. attorney’s office who led a review of the league’s officiating. “Mr. Pedowitz’s review revealed that the NBA’s core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy,” Stern said.

Danny Granger will have an MRI on his foot/heel on Monday, while coach Jim O’Brien is expecting the worst in what the results will tell on Tuesday. “That’s my mindset,” O’Brien said Monday. “I’d like to be pleasantly surprised, but I’m preparing for the worst.” Granger was taken off a plane on Sunday in a wheel chair because he was in so much pain and it sounds like he’s in serious doubt to play in any of the Pacers’ three games this week. Granger is a tough player and has played through some pain in the past, but playing this week seems like a real long shot.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Utah: Utah Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko couldn’t get any lift on his jumpshot in pre-game warmups Monday and will miss the game with his lingering back injury. He was feeling better this morning, but it tightened up on him again today.

Toronto: Andrea Bargnani will “try to give it a go” on Tuesday against the Timberwolves despite a sprained ankle.

Oakland: Anthony Morrow is having problems with his flight out of Detroit and may not get to the arena in Oklahoma City Thunder until the second quarter of Monday’s game.

Dallas: Mavericks PG Jason Williams bruised his elbow on Saturday, but played through it to finish with 12 points, five boards, eight assists and five 3-pointers. No significant reports have been released by the Dallas Mavericks this week regarding the injury, so it looks as if Williams is ready to play.

Sacramento: Kings rookie PG Tyreke Evans continued his torrid play by scoring a team-high 30 points in the Sacramento Kings’ 115-102 loss to the Heat on Sunday, hitting 10-of-19 shots from the field and 10-of-12 shots from the foul line. He added four rebounds, four assists, and three steals but didn’t hit a 3-point shot. It appears that Evans has the inside track for rookie of the year.

Portland: Rudy Fernandez, who will miss the Portland Trail Blazers next two games, is seeking a second opinion on his painful back. He was supposed to have an MRI on Friday but the team hasn’t released the results. His back has been bothering him since last summer, but according to his agent, “This latest came from a week ago in practice, during a pick and roll he was bumped, and it was a different pain.”

Philadelphia: Elton Brand will start for the Sixers on Monday, along with Allen Iverson. Perhaps the most underperforming team in the league will feature Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Samuel Dalembert in the starting lineup as well.

The Nets announced Sunday that Yi Jianlian suffered an upper lip laceration on Saturday that required 50 stitches to close. This puts the breaks on the Yi Jianlian show for at least one more week. He will be re-evaluated next Monday, so it appears we’ll be getting geared up for his return prior to Week Nine. Can it get any worse for the 1-19 Nets?

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Indiana: Pacers F Danny Granger left the arena in a walking boot on Saturday night and will have an MRI to determine the severity of his heel injury. “We won’t know more until he gets an MRI when we get back to Indianapolis,” coach Jim O’Brien said. The Pacers are off until Wednesday and play three games in Week 7. Granger might be healthy enough to play in all three, but is probably too risky to start unless we get the MRI results on Monday afternoon.

New York: Despite missing Saturday’s practice, Danilo Gallinari is expected to play through a sore forearm on Sunday, according to the New York Times. We’re not convinced Gallo’s a great play today, but you might as well throw him out there if he’s going to play. Our guess is that he’s a game-time decision, dependent on how he’s feeling in pre-game warmups.

Philadelphia: Coach Eddie Jordan said that he “anticipates” putting Allen Iverson in the starting lineup against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. This isn’t a huge surprise, but it’s nice to get some confirmation heading into the Sixers’ three-game week.

Philadelphia: Andre Iguodala (ankle) missed practice Sunday, and is a game-time decision for Monday’s game against the Nuggets.

Portland: Greg Oden underwent successful surgery on his fractured left patella and, as expected, will miss the rest of the year according to a statement released by the Portland Trail Blazers. Joel Przybilla should step in and become the starting center, and now there is a greater urgency for the Blazers to move Andre Miller in order to shore up their frontcourt. Oden’s absence may actually help the offense, allowing Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge more space to operate with.

Detroit: Pistons G Ben Gordon played just 11 minutes on his sprained ankle, managing just five points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal on Sunday. Gordon has said he wouldn’t be playing unless the team needed him, but hobbling through 11 minutes can’t be helping the team that much, and it’s certainly not helping his fantasy owners. He should be benched until he gets a clean bill of health, or turns in a game with significant minutes

Blazers center Greg Oden has a fractured left kneecap that will require surgery and he is expected to miss the rest of the season. This was not only a huge blow to the Blazers organization, but Oden himself, who was certainly breaking out this season averaging 11.7 points on 61% shooting, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in just 25 minutes per game. Oden’s statistics do not represent that fact that he is on of the top defensive players in the NBA. Joel Przybilla will likely become the Portland Trail Blazers starting center, but we’ll keep a close eye on the Blazers’ rotations over the next few games.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Oakland: Oakland Warriors F Anthony Randolph (ankle) made a surprise return on Saturday, lighting up Orlando for a career-high 28 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block off the bench.

Oakland: Warriors G Monta Ellis scored 33 points vs. the Magic on Saturday, adding two rebounds and seven assists, but he also turned the ball over seven times. The dark side of Ellis’ hot start this season is his 4.1 turnovers per game — he almost has as many TOs (74) as rebounds (79).

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash scored 32 points in Saturday’s win over the Kings, making 11-of-23 FGs, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 7-of-7 FTs. Just two assists and six assists on the night, but nobody can complain on a night when the 35-year-old point guard scores 32 points.

Indiana: Danny Granger left Saturday’s game with a bruised right heel and will not return. Uh oh. It seems like the clock has been ticking for Granger (he has been dealing with this heel injury for weeks) but hopefully it’s nothing that will require an extended absence. We’re just not sure how his heel will ever get better if he’s constantly running, jumping and cutting on it.

Atlanta: Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds on Saturday, adding three steals and one block in 36 minutes. Marvin scored just three points on 1-of-7 shooting, but he’s normally a solid shooter and it’s nice to see him contributing in other categories. J

Toronto: Jose Calderon played only 19 minutes on Saturday due to a combination of a lopsided score and a sore groin. While it doesn’t sound like this is too serious, groin injuries tend to linger and Calderon hasn’t exactly been a picture of health since joining the NBA.

Minnesota: In his second game back from a broken hand, Kevin Love had 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Wolves defeated the Jazz in Minnesota. Love was 6-of-9 from the field, 2-of-3 from downtown and 4-of-4 from the FT line, with two steals and one block. And he only played 26 minutes.

Courtney Lee moved into the starting lineup and hit 11-of-16 shots to score a career-high 27 points as the Nets broke an 18-game losing streak, logging their first win of the season by beating the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. Lee added four boards, three steals and three 3-pointers in the win and appears to finally be healthy and playing well. Brook Lopez also added 31 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks on 12-of-22 shooting.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Los Angeles: Lakers G Kobe Bryant threw up a running 3-pointer at the buzzer of Friday’s game with Dwyane Wade draped all over him, banking in the shot for a one-point win over the Heat. The Los Angeles Lakers, who have won eight straight games, appeared to have lost this one at home to Dwyane Wade and company before Kobe hit the miracle shot. Kobe scored 17 in the fourth quarter and finished with 33 points, and could be on his way to another MVP trophy this year.

Boston: Celtics F Kevin Garnett hit 10-of-11 shots for 23 points and eight rebounds in Friday’s win over the Thunder, the seventh in a row for the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce scored 21 first-half points and had seven players in double figures scoring, but KG was the star. He’s averaging 19 points, 7.4 boards and 3.6 assists over his last five, hitting connecting on 41-of-52 shots and 13-of-13 free throws.

Charlotte: Raymond Felton got hot on Friday, hitting 11-of-14 shots and all four of his 3-pointers for a season-high 28 points to go along with five boards, four assists and two steals. We’re not sure where this came from, as Felton had scored in single digits in six of his last nine games, although there are signs that he’s ready to turn it around. Outside of tonight’s huge line, he posted 12 and 14 points in his previous two games.

New Orleans: Chris Paul had 16 points, 15 assists and a season-high eight steals in Friday’s win over the Timberwolves after being out since Nov. 13 with a sprained ankle. Wow. Welcome back, CP3. Go ahead and get him into your lineup as soon as possible, obviously.

New York: Nate Robinson was a DNP-CD again on Friday, as he remains in coach Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse. Robinson will likely enter the fray again at some point, or will be traded, but if you want to drop him for a hot free agent like Courtney Lee, go for it.

New York: Chris Duhon finally got aggressive and took the ball to the rack on Friday, finishing with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting as the Knicks beat the Hawks in Atlanta. Duhon also had 10 assists for a double-double, and hit four 3-pointers, easily posting his best line of the season. He’d scored just 13 total points in his last two and came in shooting 29 percent on the season. Don’t expect consistent play from him, but it’s possible that he’s ready to start producing