NBA News, Rumors 2014: Thunder, Pacers, Pelicans, Kings, Grizzlies, Hornets, Bulls Latest

NBA News, Rumors 2014: Thunder, Pacers, Pelicans, Kings, Grizzlies, Hornets, Bulls Latest
Injured Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, confers with injured guard Russell Westbrook during a timeout against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of the Nuggets' 107-100 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Zachary Stieber
11/28/2014
Updated:
11/28/2014

The NBA has lots of action on Friday night after an off-day on Thursday, and the news and rumors are ramping up.

Check out the latest buzz below.

Westbrook to Return Friday Night

Russell Westbrook finally gets to put his fashionable suit collection away.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks said after Friday’s shootaround that his ultra-athletic point guard will return to action Friday night and start against the New York Knicks.

Westbrook, a three-time All-Star, broke a bone in his right hand against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second game of the season, and he hasn’t played since. He was reevaluated this week and finally was cleared to play.

“I’m just excited to get back to my game routine,” he said. “Go home, take my nap — normal things I usually do to get myself prepared for a game. You kind of miss all that stuff when you’re sitting on the sideline in a suit. I’m about to take all my suits to the cleaners and pick them up at the end of the season.”

Westbrook averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 19 playoff games last season. He was expected to pick up the slack after MVP Kevin Durant broke a bone in his right foot before the season began. Westbrook opened the season with a 38-point effort at Portland before getting hurt against the Los Angeles Clippers. Without the pair, the Thunder won just four of their first 16 games.

Even as the losses piled up, Westbrook felt the team showed determination. The Thunder entered Friday’s action fourth in the league in defensive field-goal percentage and fourth in points allowed.

“They compete,” Westbrook said. “We’ve got a group of guys that compete every night. Regardless of whether we win or lose, we know our guys came out and gave it all we had. They compete. That’s the best thing about our team.”

Westbrook will wear a brace on the hand.

“It’s cool,” he said. “I'd rather not wear it, but I have to wear it. I got used to it over the past few weeks.”

Reggie Jackson, who filled in and averages 20.2 points and 7.8 assists, will return to his backup role. Durant is still unavailable, but at least Brooks has one of his stars.

“Russell has great passion for the game,” Brooks said. “He’s been a great, tremendous leader for us. He brings toughness, the emotional part, what it takes for a team to be successful. He’s obviously one of the best players in the league, so we’re all excited to have him back.”

Pacers Get Players Back

Indiana Pacers forward David West, left, drives into Dallas Mavericks forward Ivan Johnson in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/R Brent Smith)
Indiana Pacers forward David West, left, drives into Dallas Mavericks forward Ivan Johnson in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/R Brent Smith)

 

Injured players are also returning for the Indiana Pacers.

Paul George is still out and will be for a while longer--possibly the whole season--and George Hill won’t return yet, but C.J. Watson and David West are expected to make their debuts on Friday night.

The Pacers have been competing even without the four players, staying close in many games and winning 6 out of 15.

In the Eastern Conference, that’s good enough for 9th place, just 0.5 games outside of the playoff positioning.

To make room for the players, the Pacers waived A.J. Price, despite the guard averaging 10.5 points and 2.7 assists over 10 games. The Pacers were 5-5 with Price in uniform, and 1-4 without him.

Hill is expected back in mid-December.

Davis Plans to Stay in New Orleans

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is fouled by Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) as he tries to slam dunk the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is fouled by Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) as he tries to slam dunk the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

 

Anthony Davis indicated in a new interview that he plans to stay in New Orleans.

Davis said the Pelicans, who are in playoff contention, are on the “right path.”

“We know what we got in this locker room,” he told Yahoo. “We know what direction we want to go in and our identity to be.”

Davis, 21, will make $7 million next year in the final year of his rookie contract.

He’s eligible for an extension next summer that could be worth about $90 million over five years. If the extension isn’t signed he'd be a restricted free agent in July 2016.

But Davis indicated that he'd like to stay where he is now.

“Great city. Great atmosphere. …We’re getting the fans back and New Orleans back buzzing for the Pelicans, a great organization. I love my team here,” he said.

“We’re definitely moving in the right direction. I don’t know what the future holds, but right now I’m definitely loving the team and the organization.”

Meanwhile, coach Monty Williams gathered his players this week for a meeting, and told them he wants Davis to take at least 20 shots a game.

Davis had 12 shots and 14 points in the 99-89 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

‘‘Anthony cannot be in a game and not touch the ball,’' Williams told The Times Picayune after his meeting with players.

‘‘We have to have an effort to get him at least 20 shots every night. ’‘And that’s on me too. As much as I draw up plays for him, run the offense through him, the guys on the floor has to know it. When they don’t do it, I’ve got to make sure they get him the ball. Because he’s not a selfish player, he’s going to make the right plays. And our guys know that.’’

Kings Lose Protest Over Last-Second Loss

The NBA has denied a protest filed by the Sacramento Kings after a last-second loss to the Memphis Grizzlies two weeks ago.

The Kings contested that Courtney Lee’s game-winning shot that gave the Grizzlies a 111-110 victory on Nov. 13 should not have counted because it came after time expired. But the league said in a statement Friday that Commissioner Adam Silver determined the officials’ call was correct “and not a misapplication of the playing rules.”

“Sacramento’s protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game’s result,” the statement said.

Stephenson May be Problem in Charlotte

The Hornets are not doing well and could miss the playoffs if they don’t improve, and Lance Stephenson may be the biggest problem.

The swingman came over from Indiana during the offseason but the move hasn’t panned out so far.

Bill Reiter of Fox Sports said this week that he was told that Stephenson, not Paul George or anyone else, impacted Pacers center Roy Hibbert negatively last season.

“Looking accurate,” he said.

“Also told me that, from the start, folks in Charlotte started to realize in Lance they‘d bitten off more than they’d planned on chewing.”

Charlotte Hornets' Lance Stephenson, left, and P.J. Hairston, right, watch the action from the bench late during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. The Trail Blazers won 105-97. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Charlotte Hornets' Lance Stephenson, left, and P.J. Hairston, right, watch the action from the bench late during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. The Trail Blazers won 105-97. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

 

The report comes after Hornets coach Steve Clifford said recently that Stephenson isn’t a star and that he has a lot of work to do on his game.

“To be fair, one of the things that’s made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar,” Clifford told ESPN. “He’s not a star. He’s a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years.”

Stephenson has been pulled in fourth quarters recently, but the player said he'll keep working hard and respect the decisions.

“I think I’m getting there, getting more comfortable on the floor,” Stephenson said. “I just need to work harder. Hopefully we can get through it and Coach can figure out what we need to do to win games.”

Butler, Rose Carry Bulls Past Celtics

It’s no secret that the Chicago Bulls are a much better team with a healthy Derrick Rose.

He showed that again on Friday afternoon when the Bulls were struggling to get consistent offense.

Rose scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half — 12 coming early in the third quarter — to help the Bulls pull away for a 109-102 win over the Boston Celtics.

“When he plays like that, it’s huge for our team,” Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said. “When you look at his plus-minus when he’s on the floor for our team this year, it’s off the charts. When he’s on the floor it makes a big difference for our team. I think we all know that.”

Rose missed large portions of the past two seasons with serious knee injuries. He’s been struggling to stay in the lineup this year due to ankle and hamstring injuries.

“The confidence is through the roof,” he said. “I don’t need more confidence. I just need to play. I know how good I am and how good I can be. It’s just I need to be out there playing.”

Jimmy Butler hit four free throws late in the game and finished with 22 points for Chicago, which had lost four of its previous six games.

Pau Gasol had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Joakim Noah added 15 points and 14 boards for the Bulls.

“Every time he’s on the court he makes our team better,” Noah said of Rose. “Any time he’s on the court it just makes us that much more dangerous.”

Rose was held to seven points in the opening half before the 2010-11 MVP scored the 12 in the opening 4 minutes of the second half. After he went to the bench with 4:52 left in the third, he didn’t return until 7:02 remained in the game.

Jared Sullinger led Boston with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Avery Bradley had 18 points and Brandon Bass 16 with nine boards. Rajon Rondo had eight points, seven rebounds and nine assists for the Celtics, who have lost six of seven.

Boston shot 19.2 percent (5 of 26) in the final quarter.

“I’m not going to lose any sleep over the ball not going into the basket,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said. “We’ve got to finish. That’s the bottom line.”

With the score tied at 100, Jeff Green’s driving basket put the Celtics ahead with 2 1/2 minutes left. After each team failed to score on a couple of possessions, Butler’s two free throws tied it with 80 seconds to play.

Rondo missed two free throws and Sullinger front-rimmed an attempted 3 before Butler’s two free throws moved the Bulls ahead for good, 104-102, with 51 seconds left. Noah then nailed a short jumper on their next possession.

“We had a lot of open shots that didn’t fall in the fourth,” Sullinger said.

Boston missed 17 of its first 20 shots in the final quarter before Sullinger’s conventional 3-point play tied it at 100 with 3 minutes to play. He was fouled driving down the lane by Noah, who was attempting to draw a charge.

The Celtics held a 91-85 edge after three periods when Sullinger made a 3 with four-tenths of a second left in the quarter.

___

TIP-INS

Bulls: Rose played his third straight game after missing four with a strained left hamstring. Thibodeau said recent criticism is fair of Rose’s decision to miss games with injuries. “Yes. Because it’s really not that important and I’ve told him this: ‘Whether it’s praise or criticism, it’s all the same.’ It’s really what he thinks.” he said. “Only he knows if he’s putting everything he has into each and every day. Once he know he’s done all you can do, you should feel good about it. I’ve told him this many times, ‘If he’s injured, I don’t want him out there, and if he’s healthy, I want him to go.’ Hopefully we’re moving forward.”

Celtics: G Marcus Smart missed his eighth straight game with a sprained left ankle. “He pulled himself out (of practice) after a few minutes on Wednesday,” coach Stevens said. “The ankle was still tender.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.