Tyreke Evans left Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a concussion and is having X-rays taken currently to see if he has a fractured jaw according to the Kings’ broadcast crew. Needless to say he will not return, and his season would likely be over if he suffered a fractured jaw.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Phoenix: Robin Lopez took advantage of the Jazz’s small lineup on Friday, scoring 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting with 10 rebounds, no assists, one steal, and four blocks in 34 minutes. Mehmet Okur (stomach virus) and his backup, Kyrylo Fesenko (fouls), both exited the game early which left Utah Jazz with just Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap to defend the paint. It’s good to see him get back on track, but we’d like to see him do it against a team with their frontcourt in tact.

Phoenix: Leandro Barbosa played just 11 minutes in Friday’s win over the Jazz, scoring four points on 1-of-2 shooting with two rebounds, one assist, and one 3-pointer. His return-game on Tuesday yielded a decent stat line because the benches were emptied during a blowout, but this game is more in line with what to expect, at least for the time being. He’s not worth adding unless he shows that he’s ready to produce.

Utah: Sundiata Gaines may have passed up Ronnie Price for backup point guard duties, as he played over Price during the second half of Friday’s game and finished with eight points on 2-of-4 shooting with four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just 12 minutes. Price had just two points and a turnover in nine minutes of run. Gaines’ line is stat-packed for just 12 minutes of run, but the only reason it’s generating a blurb is the fact that Deron Williams is banged up, and if he gets a day off in the future it could be Gaines, and not Price, that reaps the benefits.

Washington: Andray Blatche played through his ankle sprain and had 12 points, five rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes on Friday night. It’s Blatche’s worst game since he entered the starting lineup in early February, and the ankle is likely to blame. The good news is that he played a full complement of minutes and didn’t suffer a setback.

Portland: Marcus Camby had 19 rebounds, four blocks and two steals in Friday’s win over the Wizards. It was Camby’s best game in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform and his minutes are on the rise. After playing 36 on Sunday, the veteran logged 36 again tonight.

Utah: Deron Williams aggravated his shoulder during Sunday’s loss to the Thunder, and briefly left the game, but returned and finished with 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting (including a three) with two rebounds, 14 assists, and a steal.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Miami: Dwyane Wade scored 38 points on 14-of-25 shooting (including a three) with five rebounds, two assists, five steals, and a block in the Miami Heat’s 104-91 win over the Sixers on Sunday.

Miami: Jermaine O’Neal was ejected during the second half of Sunday’s game against the Sixers after grabbing Samuel Dalembert’s face in retaliation for an accidental poke in the eye by Dalembert. He finished with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting with eight rebounds and a block. He could be facing a suspension from the league

Utah: Wesley Matthews scored a career-high 29 points with the Jazz missing Andrei Kirilenko (calf) and Mehmet Okur (back) on Sunday, hitting 9-of-11 shots from the field including six 3-pointers, three rebounds, and no assists in 35 minutes. He has been starting and playing a very consistent 25 mpg over the past few weeks, but with the Utah Jazz ailing they needed him to step up — and he did.

Orlando: Matt Barnes told reporters that he expects to play Wednesday against the Spurs despite a sprained big toe in his left foot that caused him to miss Sunday’s game. Coach Stan Van Gundy was reportedly optimistic about his chances even if his words were measured, saying “I would hope with us not playing again until Wednesday that this would be the only one he’d miss, but you never know.” With the Orlando Magic playing just two games this week, we’re not sure if it matters.

Orlando: Mickael Pietrus started for injured Matt Barnes (sprained toe) on Sunday, and scored 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting (5-of-7 from downtown) with five rebounds and no assists in 42 minutes of action.

Charlotte: Stephen Jackson scored 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting (including three 3-pointers) with six rebounds, six assists, and a steal as the Charlotte Bobcats went into Orlando and beat the Magic by a score of 96-89. The win ties a franchise record for consecutive wins with six, and for Jackson we may be seeing the beginning of a hot streak, as he has scored at least 24 points in three straight games.

Cleveland: Antawn Jamison returned from a one-game absence due to a sore knee on Sunday, and double-doubled with 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds, no assists, and two blocks in 30 minutes.

Terrence Williams came off the bench for 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of work on Thursday. With Yi Jianian (ankle) out 7-10 days and Chris Douglas-Roberts (ankle) also sidelined, Williams is going to get consistent minutes. The rookie is averaging 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists over his last six games.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Chicago: Luol Deng is expected to miss at least two games due to a strained right calf. At this point, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit out longer, but his timetable beyond Friday is unclear.

Miami: Michael Beasley had 15 points before leaving Wednesday’s game with a thigh bruise in the third quarter. We should have more details on Thursday, but Beasley should be considered day-to-day for now. If he misses time, Quentin Richardson, James Jones and Dorell Wright will all see a boost in minutes.

New Jersey: Brook Lopez made just five of his 16 shot attempts on Wednesday en route to 10 points, six rebounds and one block. That’s two straight bad showings for Lopez, who hasn’t missed a game all season and is averaging 37 minutes a game. It’s a ton of burn for a 7-footer that bangs on the blocks every night and we suspect he’s wearing down a little. It’s not a major concern, but something to monitor.

Los Angeles: DeAndre Jordan had eight points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block in Wednesday’s loss.
He played just 14 minutes, but managed to put down a 60-foot alley-oop on a pass from Baron Davis.

Detroit: Charlie Villanueva hit 8-of-18 shots and three 3-pointers for 19 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block in Wednesday’s loss to the Utah Jazz.

Charlotte: Emeka Okafor had two points, three rebounds and two blocks on Wednesday, after going for 22 points and 11 boards on Monday. He simply can’t get things figured out, nor can he post more than one solid line in a row. We assumed he would have a solid game against Serge Ibaka and Nenad Krstic, but it was not meant to be. He even airballed both of his free throw attempts, which is probably not going to help his confidence.

The streaking Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics on Tuesday behind a huge game from Andrew Bogut, who posted 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, with 17 rebounds, two assists, one steal and four blocks. Bogut has finally figured out how to play well consistently, and the Bucks are reaping the rewards. They are 9-1 in the past 10 games, fueled by Bogut’s surge and the seamless addition of John Salmons

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Cleveland: LeBron James (rest) is expected to play against the Sixers on Friday. The Cleveland Cavaliers decided to give The King two games off as he’s dealing with a left quad bruise, a right ankle tweak and a sore back. He won’t practice on Tuesday or Wednesday before getting back on the court Thursday. With a full seven days off between games, look for James to be especially fresh and focused on Friday night.

Cleveland: An MRI on Antawn Jamison’s left knee showed no serious problems and he plans on playing against the Sixers on Friday. Sore knees are nothing new for Jamison, who left Monday’s win in the third quarter after the back of his knee got tight. We’d expect him to sit out practice on Tuesday and Wednesday but be fine for his full complement of minutes on Friday.

Utah: C.J. Miles exploded for 26 points in a mere 18 minutes off Utah Jazz bench on Tuesday, draining 9-of-12 field goals, including six 3-pointers.

Chicago: Luol Deng strained his calf during Tuesday’s game and will not return. Deng was already battling the flu, and he’s recently dealt with a sore and swollen knee. The severity of the strain will likely determine his status for Thursday’s game at Orlando, so check back soon for more information.

Houston: Trevor Ariza (hip) came off the bench on Monday for 13 points (4-of-13 shooting), three 3-pointers, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 28 minutes. This was his first game since Feb. 21 and clearly conditioning was an issue. Presumably he will overtake Shane Battier (zero points, seven rebounds, two blocks) for the starting SF job before long, but we’ll keep a close eye on this situation.

Joe Johnson made 12-of-19 FGs in Monday’s win over the Jazz, scoring 28 points with two 3-pointers, six rebounds, six assists, one steal and one turnover. Atlanta hadn’t won in Utah Jazz in 17 years. JJ came into this game averaging a season-high 23 ppg in February, making 1.9 threes on 47% from downtown.

He’s rested and raring to go as the Hawks cruise into homecourt advantage in the first round — they sit in 4th place, one game behind Boston and 3 1/2 games ahead of Toronto.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Boston: Paul Pierce isn’t sure whether his sore thumb will allow him to play vs. the Knicks on Tuesday — according to Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated, Pierce will “likely” rest for one week. “It’s pretty banged up right now,” said Pierce. The injury is to his shooting hand, and considering his recent struggles his fantasy owners should start considering the alternatives. Marquis Daniels, Ray Allen and Nate Robinson should each pick up a few minutes and shots with Pierce sidelined.

Utah: Deron Williams said he will play on Wednesday after missing Monday’s game with a right quad contusion. This takes some sting out of his sudden DNP, and it doesn’t sound like the bruise was too severe.

New York: Tracy McGrady’s status for Tuesday’s game is unclear, after he pulled himself out of Monday’s game with an obvious left leg issue. His left knee is the one that needed surgery last season, and this is exactly why we weren’t sold on his durability.

Dallas: Brendan Haywood propelled the Dallas Mavericks to a win on Monday with 13 points, a career-high-tying 20 rebounds, and three blocks in 33 minutes.

New York: Knicks point guard Sergio Rodriguez moved into the starting lineup on Monday, replacing struggling Chris Duhon. He only had four points (2-of-8 FGs) and one assist, but racked up a whopping eight steals in 29 minutes. Mike D’Antoni had endorsed Rodriguez’s “speed and rhythm,” though the Knicks stagnated in this game and would up with just 67 points on 34% shooting. Still, Rodriguez played 29 minutes while Duhon never left the bench, and opportunistic owners should grab him while they still can.

Milwaukee: Brandon Jennings had eight rebounds and seven assists on Monday, but scored just four points on 1-of-9 shooting. Jennings’ FG% has been sliding all season, from 51.6% in October to a paltry 31.3% in February. He shot under 40% from the field while playing in Europe last season, so these struggles aren’t exactly shocking.

Milwaukee: Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut dominated the Knicks in New York on Monday, piling up 24 points on 12-of-15 shooting, 28 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Wizards and Mavericks seven-player trade is official — Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson are headed to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, and James Singleton. Butler could still be the Mavericks’ #2 option on offense, but he’s joining a more talented team that won’t lean on him nearly as much as Washington did. Then again, he was struggling under Flip Saunders and has a history of elevating his game after being traded, so his owners shouldn’t be overly concerned.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Boston: Paul Pierce saved his best for last during Saturday’s 3-point shootout, winning with a competition-high score of 20. Golden State Warriors rookie Stephen Curry finished second, followed by Chauncey Billups, Danilo Gallinari, Channing Frye and last year’s winner Daequan Cook.

New York: Nate Robinson won his third Slam Dunk contest on Saturday, beating out impressive rookie DeMar DeRozan, as well as Shannon Brown and Gerald Wallace. Nate and DeMar both had a few impressive moments, but this tweet from Utah Jazz beat writer Ross Siler tells the true story — “Nate Robinson won with 51 percent of the vote. The other 49 percent voted to end the dunk contest for good.”

Oklahoma City: Kevin Durant successfully defended his H-O-R-S-E title during All-Star festivities on Saturday. Omri Casspi airballed his first shot and was the first player to lose, then Durant defeated Rajon Rondo in a surprisingly long sudden-death 3-point shootout from the top of the arc.

Washington: Wizards beat writer Michael Lee tweeted on Saturday, “For the 1st time in weeks, I finally got the impression that the Wizards ARE open to moving Antawn Jamison.” Ken Berger of CBSSports.com also writes that the Wizards seem “committed to trading Jamison.” The Cavaliers seem to be the primary target, but haven’t officially made any offers as they consider adding Amare Stoudemire instead.

New Jersey: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Louisville coach Rick Pitino have both denied that the Nets are interested in hiring them to take over head coaching duties next season. “No one’s contacted me,” said Coach K, “And if they do, I think ‘nyet’ would be easy for me to say.” There have also been rumors that New Jersey wants to pry GM Bryan Colangelo away from the Raptors this summer, when his current contract is set to expire.

Milwaukee: Jerry Stackhouse hasn’t ruled out returning for another season with the Bucks.
“If anything significant happens again, as far as injuries, I would come to that point of retiring,’’ Stackhouse said. “But, hopefully, I can help the Bucks get into the playoffs and then come back next year with them. That would be a no-brainer.’’ He’s giving Milwaukee a nice boost off the bench but remains a questionable fantasy player.

Lakers G Kobe Bryant missed Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz with a sprained left ankle. After playing through a multitude of injuries, Kobe has finally succumbed to them. If he skips the All-Star game he’ll have 10 days of rest under his belt and should be able to start the second half of the season strong, pushing for home court advantage in the playoffs. Of course, this logically means that he will suit up for the All-Start game and probably log big minutes.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

New Jersey: Devin Harris returned from a shoulder injury Wednesday and had 27 points, nine assists and a 3-pointer in another loss.

Philadelphia: Sam Dalembert tweaked his back at the end of the first half on Wednesday night and ended up sitting out the majority of the second half. Dalembert tried to go in the second half, but came out of the game quickly and never went back in. The good news is that he didn’t go to the locker room and didn’t seem to be in pain. He simply watched the second half from the bench. We’d expect that he’ll be fine after the All-Star break.

Chicago: Derrick Rose left Wednesday’s game in the first quarter with a right hip injury and will not return.
X-rays were negative, but this will leave his status for the All-Star Game in doubt. He finished with just three points in two minutes, and Kirk Hinrich will take over at point guard, while John Salmons should also see the ball a lot tonight.

Atlanta: Jamal Crawford was a late scratch for Wednesday’s game due to a sore shoulder. Expect Crawford to be back at 100 percent after the All-Star break.

Oakland: Monta Ellis (knee) will not play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. An MRI on Tuesday revealed that Ellis’ knee injury is only a mild sprain.

Utah: Jazz PF Carlos Boozer poured in 34 points (13-of-17 FGs, 8-of-9 FTs), 14 rebounds, four assists and four steals in Tuesday’s win over the Clippers, Utah’s ninth consecutive victory. The Jazz are red-hot going into the All-Star break, and Boozer hasn’t missed a beat since returning from his calf injury. His name is no longer appearing in many trade rumors and it seems like Utah hopes to keep this chemistry going into the postseason.

Orlando: Vince Carter came back to earth on Wednesday with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Magic were up 41-17 after one quarter, so Carter and the rest of the Orlando Magic starters played limited minutes. Still, this type of game is more in line with what we’d expect from Carter going forward.

Charlotte: Peja Stojakovic hit 7-of-16 shots and four more 3-pointers on his way to 20 points, four boards, an assist, two steals and a block in Wednesday’s win over the Celtics.

Lakers G Kobe Bryant tied his season-high with 44 points on Monday (making 16-of-28 FGs, 4-of-7 threes, and 8-of-13 FTs) and in the process he passed Jerry West as the all-time leading scorer in Lakers’ history. Kobe now has 25,208 points for his career, incredible by any standard. His competitive fire continues to elevate his game even when nagging injuries (ankle, finger, elbow) are conspiring to bring him down. Bryant has proven himself to be one of the best players in NBA history.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Washington: Antawn Jamison was bothered by a sore left knee during warmups on Monday, but played 40 minutes but shot just 2-of-17 from the field. Jamison was frustrated all night and thought he deserved more foul calls than the referees gave him.

Utah: As expected, Paul Millsap exploded for 25 points, nine rebounds and four blocks on Monday, while starting in place of injured Carlos Boozer (calf). There’s a reason money-conscious Utah Jazz lavished a four-year, $32+ million contract on Millsap this summer. Boozer could return this week but coach Jerry Sloan has already said he’ll find more minutes for Millsap in the rotation.

Dallas: Josh Howard played a season-low 11 minutes off the Mavericks bench on Monday, contributing just two points, three rebounds, two turnovers and three personal fouls.

Charlotte: Hornets rookie Marcus Thornton got hot in the second half on Monday, finishing with a team-high 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting (including 5-of-9 from downtown). He added four rebounds, four assists and one steal in 39 minutes. Chris Paul is sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury that likely will require surgery, which means Thornton will earn minutes at backup point guard.

Charlotte: Charlotte Hornets rookie Darren Collison racked up 16 points, four rebounds, 14 assists, one steal and four turnovers in another start for injured Chris Paul (knee) on Monday.

Sacramento: Kings center Spencer Hawes scored 23 points on Monday, making 10-of-18 FGs with seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 40 minutes of action. As the saying goes, “What goes up must come down.” He had played sub-20 minutes in four of the past seven games, and his erratic role changes depending upon matchups.

Denver: Kenyon Martin’s uncanny streak of double-doubles continued on Monday — he posted 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks in a win over the Sacramento Kings. Kenyon looks spry and rejuvenated lately, and this is the healthiest he’s been since missing just five games in 2002-03.

Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard reiterated the thoughts offered by Greg Oden leaving open the possibility that he could return before season’s end. “It’s possible, but you know, we’ll play this by ear, and we’ll be very cautious,” Pritchard says. His return will depend entirely upon how his body responds and how quickly he recovers. Oden has had a very poor history dealing with injuries.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Utah: Deron Williams (wrist) will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against the Bucks. It sounds like a simple aggravation of the sprain/bruise he dealt with last week and he’s considered day-to-day. Ronnie Price would start if Williams can’t go Saturday.

Boston: Doc Rivers says there’s a chance Kevin Garnett could return to action a week from today on Friday, Jan. 22, although it doesn’t exactly sound like a done deal. “There is an outside chance that that would be the return date,” Rivers said. “I am just glad that he’s running.” There’s also an outside chance the Nets will win 40 games this year. Garnett’s been out since Dec. 28 and for those of you scoring at home, was projected to miss a couple games. Then he was out for 10 days, which quickly became another 10 days, so the 22nd at home against Portland could be wishful thinking for Rivers and the Boston Celtics. But at least it sounds like he’s getting closer to playing again.

Washington: The Wizards released a statement Friday that distanced themselves from Gilbert Arenas.
“We are deeply saddened and disappointed in his actions that have led to the events of this afternoon. Gilbert used extremely poor judgment and is ultimately responsible for his own actions,” read the statement. Again, it appears as if Arenas will not suit up for the Wizards again.

Denver: Ty Lawson (ankle) is expected to make his return from an ankle injury against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
Lawson has been out the last four games and will be out tonight as well, but it hasn’t hurt the Nuggets too badly with Chauncey Billups (groin) back and healthy.

Sacramento: ESPN’s Chad Ford says there have been “rumblings” of a Jose Calderon for Kevin Martin swap. Don’t expect this trade to happen any time soon. Martin is far more talented than Calderon and the Sacramento Kings need a big man.

New Jersey: Keyon Dooling will play through the recurring pain in his hip Friday night. Dooling is gutting it out all season as he tries to hang on in the NBA. The 10th overall pick in the 2000 draft is in a contract year and is a candidate to be traded.

Kings SG Kevin Martin (wrist) has been cleared to play by the doctor that performed his Nov. 9 surgery. Martin will practice the next couple days to see if he’s ready to go by Friday’s game at Philadelphia.

Martin has been working out for the last three weeks, so getting back into shape shouldn’t be too much of an issue. It will be interesting to see how the chemistry of the young Kings team changes with Martin entering the starting lineup. The new leader and future superstar, Evans, has come accustom to leading the team and taking the majority of the shots.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Orlando: Orlando  Magic SG Vince Carter (shoulder) will not play against the Kings on Tuesday night. J.J. Redick draws another start while Carter’s status for Wednesday and Friday remains up in the air. “I would hope by the end of the trip,” coach Stan Van Gundy said after Tuesday’s shootaround. “There has been some improvement. He said he can raise his (left) arm up but not across his body.” Look for Carter to start against the Lakers on Monday.

Portland: Rudy Fernandez (back) has been upgraded to “questionable” for Wednesday’s game against the Bucks. This is certainly good news for the injury plagued Portland Trail blazers, who where originally expecting Fernandez back on Friday.

Chicago: Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro revealed that Taj Gibson has been playing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and he is scheduled for a doctor’s visit Tuesday. Gibson aggravated the problem in Saturday’s win over the Wolves but still played 21 minutes on Monday.

Utah: Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said after Monday’s game that he may “settle down” the team’s rotation of wing players. Sloan is eager to give more minutes to Andrei Kirilenko because, ” he’s a guy that can make plays.”

Indiana: Pacers coach Jim O’Brien says that Dahntay Jones has fallen out of the rotation because “I’m trying to put guys on the court that can space the court. We need to make threes.”
O’Brien, a coach that always has been infatuated with the 3-pointer, thinks that Jones inability to shoot clogs up the middle too much.

Milwaukee: The Bucks confirmed that Michael Redd has torn both the ACL and MCL in his left knee.
Redd’s career is in serious jeopardy. He says he fully expects to come back from this devastating injury, but we have to have our doubts. He’ll be 31 next season and this is the same knee he tore up last season.

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.

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.

Fox Sports’ Stephen A. Smith is reporting that the Sixers appear to be on the verge of signing Allen Iverson, possibly as early as in the upcoming week. With rookie Jrue Holiday set to fill in for Lou Williams over the next two months, the Sixers could use the help. In addition, the number of tickets that Iverson would sell has to interest Philly. “We simply can’t just ignore the upside he’d bring,” a team source said. “Not with our situation.” Iverson appears to be buncing around the league like a pin-ball this season.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Orlando: The Orlando Magic narrowly defeated the Bucks on Saturday, 100-98, led by Dwight Howard’s 25 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks. In the past two games, Howard is averaging 3.5 points, 18.5 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks. Even though he went 5-of-10 from the free-throw line, Howard is emerging as the leagues most dominate center.

Milwakee: Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova scored 20 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds vs. the Magic on Saturday. Ilyasova shed his protective facemask before the game, but he wasn’t tentative whatsoever. He connected on 8-of-18 FGs, including two 3-pointers, and looks like a waiver wire steal.

Utah: Jazz PF Carlos Boozer’s continued his stellar play on Saturday, as he led the Utah Jazz with 26 points (11-of-16 FGs), 12 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. Boozer has been on fire as of late, scoring 20+ points in seven of the last eight games. He is also averaging 5.0 assists over the past five games, a trend we hope (but are skeptical) he can sustain.

Utah: Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko strained his back during Saturday’s game and will not return in the second half. Kirilenko has been playing well recently and hopes to make it back on the court soon.

Cleveland: Cavs PG Mo Williams made 7-of-7 three-pointers on Saturday, scoring 25 points in a win over the Mavericks. He had one assist, zero steals and four turnovers (atrocious numbers for any PG), but we’re still seeing sevens. And if you had lingering questions about his sore right middle finger, consider this the answer.

Cleveland: Delonte West racked up 10 points and 10 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, playing 28 inspired minutes off the bench.

Charlotte: Gerald Wallace posted 14 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday, leading the Bobcats to their fourth straight victory. Wallace has six consecutive double-doubles, and he’s starting to make his three-pointers. He has made 5-of-10 threes in the past two games after shooting 3-of-21 (14%) in the first 14 games

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans wasn’t slowed by his recent finger and ankle injuries on Monday, as he posted 28 points (10-of-18 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), four rebounds, four assists in yet another very good game in a loss to Memphis. Evans has now scored 20+ points in seven consecutive games. Without Kevin Martin he’s firmly established as the Sacramento Kings No. 1 option offensively, which is great news for the young Kings.

Elsewhere around the NBA:

Milwaukee: Bucks SG Michael Redd will come off the Bucks’ bench on Monday, his first action after missing nine games with a strained left patella tendon. “[Redd will] probably not play a lot of minutes or anything,” said coach Scott Skiles. “Just get his feet back under him in a game and see how it goes.” This should hurt the production of Luke Ridnour and Carlos Delfino, but the Bucks went 7-2 without Redd and it sounds like he’ll be worked back slowly.

Utah: Utah Jazz C Mehmet Okur returned to practice Monday after missing three games with flu-like symptoms.
Okur tested negative for the H1N1 virus. He should be ready to go against the Thunder on Tuesday and Kyrylo Fesenko will take his rightful place on the bench.

Washington: An MRI revealed no structural damage in Caron Butler’s right foot/ankle and he is considered a game-time decision on Tuesday.

Washington: Wizards guard Mike Miller will miss three-to-six weeks with a strained calf. Nick Young will start at SG on Tuesday, but but DeShawn Stevenson and Randy Foye will also get increased minutes in Miller’s absence.

Houston: Rockets G Tracy McGrady (knee) practiced Monday, but his status for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks remains in doubt. The Rockets aren’t eager to insert McGrady into a lineup, but if he does suit up he will eat into the minutes of Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier and Chase Budinger.

Memphis: Memphis Grizzlies F/C Marc Gasol had another solid game in the teams victory on Monday, posting 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocks. For the season, Gasol is averaging 15.2 points on 61% shooting, 11.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks.

Dallas: Mavericks SF Shawn Marion (ankle) went through some of Monday’s practice and is questionable to play on Tuesday. “It’s still tender,” Marion said. “I can’t push off the way I want to. We want to get it back as close to 100 percent as we can.” Expect Marion to be a game-time decision.

The Los Angeles Clippers have long been considered L.A.’s “other” NBA team. The team plays its home games in the Staples Center, just like the Lakers, but they aren’t associated with the same kind of glamour as the Lakers. The reason? Championships.

The Early Years

The Clippers joined the NBA in 1970, under the name Buffalo Braves. They played in upstate New York until 1978. At the end of the 1978 season, the team was relocated to San Diego, Calif., and renamed the San Diego Clippers.

The Clippers had a winning record in 1978-79, posting a 43-39 record, but it would be a while – 13 years, in fact – before they would have another winning season.

After the 1983-84 season, another unsuccessful campaign, owner Donald Sterling asked for and obtained the right to more the Clippers to Los Angeles.

Playoff appearances

The Clippers have yet to win an NBA championship and went an astounding 13 years without even reaching the playoffs. In 1991-92, new head coach Larry Brown led them to a regular-season record of 45-37. The Utah Jazz bounced the Clippers in five games, but things were looking up.

The Clippers went .500 (41-41) the following year, but lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round. The itinerant coach Brown left the Clippers after that season, to be replaced by Bob Weiss. Weiss lasted a season before being fired and replaced by Bill Fitch. Fitch got the Clippers to the playoffs in 1997, but they suffered another first-round loss, to the Utah Jazz.

In the 2005-06 season, led by power forward Elton Brand and swingman Corey Maggette, the Clippers posted a 47-35 record and made the playoffs. They beat the Denver Nuggets in five games to win their first playoff series since their Buffalo days. The Clippers fell to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinal in seven games.

2007-08 season

The 2007-08 campaign was a rocky one for the Clippers. Their woes actually began the season before, when talented young point guard Shaun Livingston dislocated his knee in a gruesome, non-contact injury. Elton Brand also ruptured his left Achilles tendon, putting him out of action for much of the 2007-08 season. As a result, the team was never competitive in the tough Western Conference. They posted a 23-59 record and finished 12^th in the conference. What’s more, after the season, Elton Brand departed for the Philadelphia 76ers and Maggette bolted to the Golden State Warriors.

2008-09 Outlook

With Brand and Maggette gone, and an influx of new players, the 2008-09 Clippers will hardly be recognizable. Point guard Baron Davis signed with the team in July (reportedly under the impression that Brand would stay). Center Marcus Camby was acquired from the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers have also signed veteran scorer Ricky Davis, and drafted Indiana star guard Eric Gordon with the 7^th pick in this year’s draft. With an overhauled roster, head coach Mike Dunleavy has his work cut out for him, especially in the super-competitive West, where the Lakers, Hornets, Suns, Jazz, and Spurs all have their own respective plans to wrest the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy from the hands of the Boston Celtics.

The Utah Jazz is, quite possibly, the most oddly juxtaposed team name in sports (the mention of the state of Utah does not inspire visions of jazz bands). The team is also one of the most consistently successful franchises in the NBA. In the late 1980s and 1990s, they were playoff perennials, and they have recently regained their status as a tough Western Conference contender. They play their home games at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Early Years

The Jazz began their NBA life in New Orleans, La., in 1974. As an expansion team, they didn’t win many games, but with high-scoring, flamboyant guard “Pistol” Pete Maravich, they were always entertaining to watch.

The team moved to Salt Lake City in 1979 and decided to keep the name “Jazz” even though the region was hardly known for its jazz music.

John Stockton and Karl Malone

Two draft picks in the mid-1980s helped cement the Jazz’ success for years to come. The team drafted point guard John Stockton out of Gonzaga University in 1984, followed by brick-solid power forward Karl Malone (Louisiana Tech) in 1985. Together, they ran one of the game’s oldest offensive plays, the pick and roll, to such perfection that it was nearly impossible to stop. Teams knew the pick and roll was coming, because it was the basis of the Utah offense. But try as they might, they could not shut it down. The names “Stockton and Malone” became a package deal; you didn’t hear one name without the other. The two greats would both go on to join the list of the “NBA’s 50 Greatest Players.” Though some might debate the whether certain names belong on that list, no one can dispute Stockton and Malone, who are considered by some to be the best point guard and power forward in the history of professional basketball.

NBA Finals Appearances

Several teams – in both the Eastern and Western conferences – have had the misfortune of playing in the Michael Jordan era. The Jazz, who were one of the best teams in the West for much of the 1990s, can rightfully claim such misfortune. During their two NBA Finals seasons, they could arguably have beaten any other team in the league except Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

In 1996-97, the Jazz were dominant, posting a 64-18 record and breezing through the Eastern Conference playoffs. They only lost three games in beating the L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, and Houston Rockets. Malone won the regular-season MVP, but he couldn’t get his team past the Bulls and Jordan, the Finals MVP. The Bulls won in six games, two of which went down to the final seconds.

In the 1997-98 season, the Jazz were dominant again despite losing John Stockton to a knee injury for nearly 20 games. Again they only lost three games on their way to the Finals, beating the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Lakers. Again they lost to the Bulls in six games. Game Six of that Finals series is remembered for Jordan’s game-winning shot in the final seconds. The Bulls won that game, 87-86. The Jazz have not appeared in the NBA Finals since.

2007-08 Season

The roster is new, but the coach, Jerry Sloan, remains the same. The team’s hard-nosed approach to the game has not changed, either.

Stockton and Malone, both retired, have given way to Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Andrei Kirilenko and sharpshooter Kyle Korver help round out the roster.

After a 54-28 regular season, the Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets, 4-2, in the first round of the playoffs. They lost the conference semifinals in six games to the eventual West champion L.A. Lakers.

2008-09 Outlook

With the nucleus of Olympians Williams and Boozer, along with Kirilenko, the Jazz have high expectations entering the 2008-09 season. They were just a couple of victories away from defeating the Lakers in the playoffs, and in Williams and Boozer they boast two of the NBA’s best young players. If that duo continues to evolve, the Utah Jazz will make noise on the playoffs for years to come.