Yi Jianlian gets 50 Stitches

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