NEWS/NOTES:
- Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks is likely to miss the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee.
- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose missed his 10th consecutive game Sunday afternoon because of a groin injury. He remains unsure of when he’ll return to the floor, but he doesn’t expect to miss the remainder of the regular season. Rose, the NBA’s reigning MVP, injured his groin in a March 12 game against the New York Knicks and admitted there was some bleeding in the area after the contest. “It’s the same thing every day, just trying to improve,” Rose said after the Bulls’ 92-78 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “Where (I’m running) a little bit more and lifting weights so if anything I should be stronger than ever.”ESPN.com
- Dwight Howard will not play when the Orlando Magic host the Denver Nuggets tonight, a Magic spokesman said. Howard is suffering from back spasms, and his status for the game was in doubt until several minutes ago. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy alleged that Howard was punched in his lower back during Friday night’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks by Mavericks center Brendan Haywood. Orlando Sentinel
- Marc J. Spears: Warriors sign rookie Mickell Gladness for the rest of the season. Twitter
- Mavericks center Brendan Haywood declared Sunday that he doesn’t have a problem with Dwight Howard and doesn’t have any idea what Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy is talking about. Van Gundy accused Haywood of punching Howard in the lower back during the Mavericks’ come-from-behind victory Friday night in Orlando. Van Gundy vowed that he would send video of the play to the NBA office. ESPN.com
RUMORS:
- New York coach Mike Woodson, addressing reporters before the Cavaliers game, said it will be unlikely the team signs any point guards. In addition to Davis and Mike Bibby off the bench, Woodson said Toney Douglas can expect to see an increased role. “I haven’t had a chance to sit down with [general manager] Glen [Grunwald] and [owner] Mr. [James] Dolan and see. My thinking is that we’ll probably go with what we have,” Woodson said. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot out there right now who will make a big difference for our ball club.” ESPN.com
- Frank Isola: Steve Nash, I’m hearing, will not rule out Knicks even though Mike D’Antoni is no longer here. Nash the starter, Lin the back-up. Good, no? Twitter
- Kidd doesn’t know what will happen this summer, but he’s open to anything. “We’ll see what happens,” Kidd told HOOPSWORLD. “[I’ll go to] whatever team wants me. I would love to end my career in Dallas, but we’ll see what happens this offseason.” HoopsWorld