NEWS
- The Celtics are playing without Rajon Rondo after he hurt his back in Boston’s game against New York the previous night
- Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip and is done for the season.
- Baron Davis missed the Knicks’ game at New Jersey on Wednesday night because of a stomach virus and was replaced in the starting lineup by Mike Bibby.
- Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says the team’s leading scorers Derrick Rose and Luol Deng will not play Wednesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
NOTES
- Cavaliers rookie guard Kyrie Irving is back in the starting lineup after missing nine straight games with a shoulder injury.
- Mavericks guard Delonte West has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for jabbing his finger into the ear of Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward during the second quarter of Utah’s 123-121 triple-overtime win over Dallas on Monday.
- Asked if he was in favor of keeping the Big Three together, Rivers added, “I wouldn’t want to see Ray, Paul [Pierce], or Kevin [Garnett] ever moved. That’s just how you are. Even if you got the best deal in the world, you’re still losing guys you have an attachment with. That would be scary for me, or any of us.” Rivers tried to dismiss Wednesday’s hoopla, suggesting it was old news for Boston. “I don’t see what the big deal is, that was a month ago,” said Rivers. “I’m serious, I don’t get the big deal of it.”ESPN.com
- Dave McMenamin: Word from @John Ireland is that Kobe was out on the court shooting more than 3 hours before tipoff. We’ll find out soon if he’ll play Twitter
- Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas shoved 6-foot-10 forward Tyrus Thomas after a postgame screaming match Sunday night, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Several players intervened immediately and separated the coach and player, and no punches were thrown, sources said. Yahoo! Sports
- Coach John Calipari said the five underclassmen leaving early for the NBA will all finish out the semester, which ends May 4. “They understand why they’re in school,” Calipari said. “They’re here to get an education. They’re all doing very well academically.” CBSSports.com
RUMORS