Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond might miss only one game after a scary head/neck injury suffered Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. He has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Denver Nuggets but is listed as "questionable" for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns, via Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.
NBA news roundup: Andre Drummond (neck) might miss only 1 game
The latest on the injured Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kyrie Irving, plus the Knicks didn’t want Metta World Peace acting like a leader and Drew Gooden is expected to remain in Washington.
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Drummond did not practice with the team on Monday, but was present without the neck brace he was wearing when he talked to reporters on Saturday.
“I got my hand on the ball and the ball rolled between my legs,” he told reporters then, after returning from getting tests done at a hospital. “I reached down and my head hit Roy Hibbert’s thigh and sent a shock through my entire body. Was I scared? No, I knew it wasn’t that severe as I thought it was - just a little bit of a scare. Stiff in the neck, so take precaution with that and make sure everything is all right.”
Detroit is starting a four-game Western Conference road trip on Wednesday. After the Nuggets and Suns, it will face the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz. The Pistons are 5.5 games out of the playoffs with 16 games to play.
Knicks told World Peace not to lead
Ex-New York Knicks forward Metta World Peace said he was fine with being banished to the bench in New York under head coach Mike Woodson, but asked for a buyout after he was told not to take a leadership role in the locker room, via the New York Post's Marc Berman:
“I didn’t mind playing any role, but I didn’t see myself having a role, not even a leadership role,” World Peace said. “I was fine with being on the bench, but at times I wanted to help lead. But at times I tried to lead, it was met with resistance. I backed off a little and tried to blend in with the team. I tried to find where I could complement the players but I couldn’t find any room to complement.”
The Knicks bought World Peace out on Feb. 24 and he has since been a free agent. According to Berman, World Peace “hasn’t ruled out” returning to New York as a free agent in the future and wants to be a coach after playing two more seasons in the league.
Coach World Peace. That has a nice ring to it.
Aldridge likely out for next 2 games
Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who has missed the last two games because of a lower back contusion suffered last Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, will likely miss two more games, via Erik Grunderson of the Columbian:
LaMarcus Aldridge is out tomorrow vs the Bucks. Doubtful for Thursday per Terry Stotts.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) March 17, 2014 Without Aldridge, the Blazers won 111-103 in New Orleans on Friday and lost 113-112 at home to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. The latter was a bit of a heartbreaker.
Portland is fifth in the West, 1.5 games back of the fourth-place Houston Rockets and 1.5 games ahead of the sixth-place Warriors. After this week's home games against the Bucks and Wizards, the Blazers will head on a five-game Eastern Conference road trip, facing the Bobcats, Heat, Magic, Hawks and Bulls.
No word on Irving’s status yet
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving left Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a left biceps injury, and it's possible that he will be sidelined for the rest of the season. His arm was in a sling when he left the Staples Center.
The team did not practice on Monday, and there has been no update on Irving’s status. He was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday, but there was no indication as to the timing.
Cleveland is 26-41 on the season, 10th in the Eastern Conference and 4.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot. With or without their All-Star, the Cavaliers have a mountain to climb, and with the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets visiting Cleveland this week, Irving's postseason hopes were likely about to be dashed soon anyway. Still, this is beyond a bummer in a Cavs season full of disappointment.
Wizards to sign Gooden for the rest of the season
The Washington Wizards will expectedly sign forward Drew Gooden for the remainder of the season, according to Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears. Gooden is in the middle of his second 10-day contract with the team and played a huge role in Washington's 101-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, scoring 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds in 26 minutes.
The 32-year-old scored 11 of those points in the fourth quarter against Brooklyn, including a late-game three-pointer.
“You always joke about me being old, but I’m still Drew Gooden. That’s what I do. Once I see a couple go in, I can’t miss,” Gooden said after the game, via the Washington Post’s Michael Lee.
Farmar strains right groin at practice
In the latest in a long line of Los Angeles Lakers injuries, Jordan Farmar strained his right groin at Monday's practice. The point guard, who has already missed 30 games this season, will see a specialist on Tuesday morning to determine the severity of the injury, via Mike Trudell of Lakers.com:
Jordan Farmar suffered a strain of his right groin strain at today's practice. He'll see Dr. Podesta today or Tues. morning. Info pending.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 17, 2014 His status should be updated on Tuesday. The Lakers play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
See More:
