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.

Allen Iverson is expected to decide by Wednesday whether he’ll accept the 76ers one-year, prorated, non-guaranteed contract offer. A.I. could be offended by the lack of a guarantee, but his desire to prove that he can still play will most likely weight too heavy on his conscious.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Portland: Portland Trail Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge was a surprise scratch from the Blazers’ lineup on Tuesday, sidelined by a bruised right knee. Aldridge is day-to-day and will be reevaluated prior to Saturday’s home game vs. the Rockets.

Oakland: Oakland Warriors F Anthony Randolph’s sprained left ankle will sideline him for 7-to-14 days. Tough break as assistant coach Keith Smart said that before going down Randolph “was on the verge of having a good game.”

New Jersey: Nets F Yi Jianlian (knee) had an individual workout Tuesday and could return to full-contact practice later this week. Jianlian appears to be on track to play within a week or two.

Milwaukee: Bucks G Michael Redd (knee) said he will not join the Milwaukee Bucks on their upcoming two-game road trip, with games Wednesday and Friday. Hopefully Redd will get more rest and rehabilitation by remaining in Milwaukee. The next game he could play in is Sunday vs. the Cavaliers, though we won’t be surprised if he misses that game too.

Milwaukee: Bucks G Bucks guard Luke Ridnour, who left Monday’s game with a hamstring injury, did not practice Tuesday. Ridnour has made some improvement, however, and will travel with the team for their current two-game roadtrip. Consider him questionable for Wednesday’s game.

Memphis: Rudy Gay is expected to rejoin the Grizzlies in time for Wednesday’s game. Gay wasn’t available on Monday because he was attending the funeral of a family member in Baltimore.

New Orleans: Chris Paul has been working out during morning shootarounds and before games, but he still can’t make cuts on his sprained ankle. The New Orleans Hornets won’t offer a specific timetable (“We continue to wait until he’s able to run, cut and jump,” according to coach Jeff Bower) but beat writer John Reid suspects that Paul could return within 10 days. Stay tuned.

New Orleans: Peja Stojakovic will not play Tuesday against the Lakers because of an illness in his family.
James Posey worked with the first unit at shootaround, and is expected to start in Stojakovic’s place.

Washington: After being held to six points and zero rebounds on Saturday, Antawn Jamison bounced back with 30 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in a win over the Raptors. He made 12-of-22 FGs, 2-of-6 three-pointers, and 4-of-8 FTs.