Kobe Bryant participated in Tuesday's practice, and told reporters after that he could see himself returning sooner rather than later. He injured his Achilles tendon in mid-April against the Golden State Warriors.
NBA news roundup: Kobe could return in November and more
Kobe Bryant told reporters that he could see himself playing this month, Deron Williams said he’s playing Wednesday in Charlotte and more.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Bryant, voted the toughest NBA player by 31 percent of NBA GMs, returned to practice three days ago after seven months of rehabilitation.
More: Silver Screen and Roll
Asked if he could see himself playing this month, Kobe said he could.
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) November 19, 2013 Bryant had one of his most efficient seasons last year, averaging 27 points, six assist and nearly six rebounds on the highest effective field goal percentage (.504) of his career, via Basketball-Reference.
Kobe on his teammates and being back at practice: "They can't f*** around."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 19, 2013 Yup. He’s back.
Deron Williams to play Wednesday
Deron Williams injured his ankle last Friday night against the Phoenix Suns and has missed Brooklyn's last two games, but plans to return Wednesday in Charlotte, according to TheBrooklynGame.com. Through eight games, the 29-year-old point guard is averaging just 10 points and 6.5 assists per game.
Brooklyn has won just two of its last eight games after beating Miami in the second game of the season. The Nets defense is the fourth worst in the league and the offense is below average, per Basketball-Reference.
In his column The Hook, SB Nation’s Tom Ziller said that Brooklyn “doesn’t have a team of stars, they have a team of stars masquerading as role players.”
“(There’s) a sense of urgency,” Williams told TheBrooklynGame.com. “We’ve got to turn it around, fast. We’ve dug ourselves a bit of a hole and now it’s time to fight out of it.”
Jimmy Butler may miss time with toe injury
Chicago Bulls 24-year-old swingman Jimmy Butler suffered a toe injury during Chicago's win Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats and, according to Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago, his status is "uncertain."
More: Blog a Bull
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said that Butler didn't practice Tuesday and that he'd have an MRI in the afternoon after initial X-rays came back negative.
Butler is averaging 11 points, six rebounds and two steals per game, and is shooting 39 percent from long range.
Stephen Curry will not play Wednesday night
Stephen Curry, 25, suffered a "mild" concussion Monday night against the Jazz and will not play Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies, the team announced Tuesday.
Curry is averaging a career-high 8.7 assists per game this season and has orchestrated one of the league’s most diverse offenses.
The Warriors have played without Curry once this season, losing to the San Antonio Spurs and scoring just 74 points.
Don't want to make light of this, but unfortunate timing with Curry bobblehead night as the game he misses with a concussion.
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) November 19, 2013 Tony Allen suspended one game for leg kick
Tony Allen is suspended for Memphis' game against the Warriors on Wednesday night , the league announced Tuesday. This kick earned him the suspension:
Was that roundhouse to Chris Paul's chompers more vicious than Bruce Bowen's flying leg kick? SB Nation's Seth Rosenthal says no.
Allen took to Twitter to show his distaste for the league’s decision to suspend him:
Wow.
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) November 19, 2013 Accident Just being #Honest
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) November 19, 2013 Question: What do Tony Allen and Future have in common? Answer: #Honest
Allen is averaging nearly 10 points and 1.9 steals per game for a Memphis team that has won its last three games. His absence, along with Curry’s absence, in the Grizzlies-Warriors game Wednesday night could be a buzzkill for fans.
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