In the News

Parker helps Spurs end 4-game road skid (AP)

Tony Parker scored 26 points and San Antonio moved closer to home-court advantage in the playoffs by ending a four-game road losing streak with a 97-90 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. Manu Ginobili had 18 points and Tim Duncan had 17 for the Spurs, who had been 0-6 on the road against Eastern Conference teams which have clinched playoff berths.

Atlanta Hawks sign veteran center Etan Thomas
The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas to add bulk in the frontcourt.

Hawks sign free agent C Etan Thomas (AP)
The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Etan Thomas to add bulk in the frontcourt. The 6-foot-10 Thomas spent most of his career with the Washington Wizards but finished last season with Oklahoma City. He's averaged 5.8 point and 4.8 rebounds per game over his eight-year career, which includes 74 starts.

Brooks, Landry power Rockets by Thunder (AP)

Aaron Brooks scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, Carl Landry had 21 points and 10 rebounds after replacing injured Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-91 on Sunday night. Already without All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, the Rockets lost Scola 22 seconds into the game when he was poked in the right eye by Oklahoma City's Etan Thomas.

Rockets' Scola leaves after poked in eye (AP)
Houston forward Luis Scola has left the Rockets' game at Oklahoma City after being poked in the right eye. Scola appeared to be bleeding after Oklahoma City's Etan Thomas poked him in the eye with his left hand while dunking with his right hand on the Thunder's opening possession of the game Sunday night.

Minnesota Timberwolves trade Etan Thomas, picks to Oklahoma City Thunder for Damien Wilkins, Chucky Atkins
The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up another point guard in a swap of veteran backups that will send Etan Thomas to Oklahoma City.

Thunder, Wolves swap veteran backups (AP)

The Minnesota Timberwolves picked up point guard Chucky Atkins from Oklahoma City on Monday in exchange for veteran center Etan Thomas and four second-round draft picks next year. Minnesota also got Oklahoma City guard Damien Wilkins in the deal. Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn, who has been busy reshaping the roster he inherited from Kevin McHale, said the swap gives the...

Thunder, Timberwolves swap veterans
The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up another point guard in a swap of veteran backups that will send Etan Thomas to Oklahoma City. Along with Thomas, Minnesota is sending two of its four second-round picks in the 2010 draft to Oklahoma City in exchange for guards Damien Wilkins and Chucky Atkins. Thomas will head to his home state after spending less than a month with the Timberwolves. He came in the trade that eventually landed unsigned No. 5 overall draft pick Ricky Rubio in Minnesota.

Wizards' Thomas out with torn knee ligament
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas has a torn ligament in his left knee, the latest setback for a last-place team already without Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

Magic extend road win streak to 6 (AP)

Dwight Howard had 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, and Hedo Turkoglu added 20 points and a season-high 10 rebounds to help the Orlando Magic beat the Washington Wizards 105-90 on Thursday night. Orlando has won eight of its last nine games and six in a row on the road. Caron Butler scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half for Washington, and Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Williams' late 3 lifts Hawks by Wizards (AP)

Injuries to Josh Smith and Al Horford left Marvin Williams as the only healthy starter on Atlanta's front line. Williams moved from small forward to power forward and showed he can play big when needed. Williams hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 26 seconds left and matched his career high with 14 rebounds, and the Hawks overcame Caron Butler's 32-point effort to beat the Washington Wizards 91-87 on...

Wizards' Thomas back from heart surgery (AP)
Etan Thomas is a strong man with strong opinions, a politically active poet with an awesome set of dreadlocks. Throughout his NBA career, there was never a reason to question his desire, his passion, his heart. So it was both humbling and ironic a year ago when, on the eve of training camp, doctors informed the Washington Wizards center that he needed open-heart surgery.

Butler, Thomas both have setbacks for Wizards
Bad news from the medical front keeps piling on for the Washington Wizards, who reported setbacks for both All-Star forward Caron Butler and center Etan Thomas on Tuesday. Butler missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday night after another flare-up of his strained left hip flexor during the morning shootaround.

Butler, Thomas suffer setbacks for injury-filled Wiz
Bad news from the medical front keeps piling on for the Washington Wizards, who reported setbacks for both All-Star forward Caron Butler and center Etan Thomas on Tuesday.

Wizards' Butler, Thomas have setbacks (AP)
Bad news from the medical front keeps piling on for the Washington Wizards, who reported setbacks for both All-Star forward Caron Butler and center Etan Thomas on Tuesday. Butler missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday night after another flare-up of his strained left hip flexor during the morning shootaround.

Wizards' Arenas, Thomas move closer to returns
Gilbert Arenas was cleared to participate in light, non-contact drills by the Washington Wizards on Monday, a step forward in his return from left knee surgery. Arenas has said he hopes to return to the Wizards in the coming weeks. The team has not said when he can return to full-contact practice. Another injured Wizards player, center Etan Thomas, was cleared to practice for the first time since he had open-heart surgery in October. No timetable has been set for him to play in a game.

Wizards' Arenas cleared for drills (AP)
Gilbert Arenas was cleared to participate in light, non-contact drills by the Washington Wizards on Monday, a step forward in his return from left knee surgery. Arenas has said he hopes to return to the Wizards in the coming weeks. The team has not said when he can return to full-contact practice. Another injured Wizards player, center Etan Thomas, was cleared to practice for the first time since he...

Wiz' Thomas hopes to return from heart surgery
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas hopes to return from open heart surgery this season. Thomas said in a radio interview Friday that he should be able to practice with his teammates soon, the next step in getting back on the court after having a 4 1/2-hour operation in October to replace a leaking aortic valve. "I definitely plan on returning this year," Thomas said on "The John Thompson Show" on WTEM. "My recovery is going well," Thomas said. "I'm able to do more and more.

Wizards' Thomas hopes to rejoin team this season
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas hopes to return from open heart surgery this season.

Wizards' Thomas eyes return from surgery (AP)
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas hopes to return from open heart surgery this season. Thomas said in a radio interview Friday that he should be able to practice with his teammates soon, the next step in getting back on the court after having a 4 1/2 -hour operation in October to replace a leaking aortic valve.

Thomas recovering from heart surgery
Etan Thomas was recovering from open heart surgery Friday, and the doctor who performed the operation did not rule out the possibility of the Washington Wizards center returning to play in the NBA this season. "We think the function of his heart and lungs should return to normal," said Dr. Hartzell Schaff, a cardiovascular surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "And it's possible he could get back to playing professional-level basketball.

Doctors: Wizards' Thomas could return to NBA
Etan Thomas was recovering from open heart surgery Friday, and the doctor who performed the operation did not rule out the possibility of the Washington Wizards center returning to play in the NBA this season.

Wizards center Thomas has open-heart surgery
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas underwent open heart surgery Thursday at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to repair a leak of the aortic valve, an irregularity discovered during a routine physical before start of training camp.

Wiz wait as Thomas has heart surgery
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas underwent open heart surgery Thursday at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to repair a leak of the aortic valve, an irregularity discovered during a routine physical before start of training camp. The Wizards were expected to make a statement later Thursday, and the doctor and team president Ernie Grunfeld were expected to comment Friday. "Hopefully they can correct the problem," forward Antawn Jamison said following the team's practice.

Wizards C Thomas undergoes heart surgery (AP)

Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas underwent open heart surgery Thursday at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to repair a leak of the aortic valve, an irregularity discovered during a routine physical before start of training camp. The Wizards were expected to make a statement later Thursday, and the doctor and team president Ernie Grunfeld were expected to comment Friday.

Etan Thomas to have surgery
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that after further evaluation it was determined that center Etan Thomas will require surgery to repair a leak of the aortic valve. Thomas’ surgery will be performed on Thursday, October 11th, and the Wizards will provide an update regarding Thomas’ condition following his surgery tomorrow. Thomas, a six-year veteran, was [...]

Wizards' Thomas to undergo heart surgery
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas will undergo heart surgery Thursday. Thomas, a six-year veteran, missed the start of training camp after a routine physical revealed an abnormality. After further evaluation, the team announced Wednesday that surgery would be required to repair a torn aortic valve.

Wizards center Thomas to have surgery on heart
Wizards center Etan Thomas will have heart surgery to repair a valve.

Wizards C Thomas to have heart surgery (AP)
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas will undergo heart surgery Thursday. Thomas, a six-year veteran, missed the start of training camp after a routine physical revealed an abnormality. After further evaluation, the team announced Wednesday that surgery would be required to repair a torn aortic valve.

Cardiac test in physical sidelines Wizards' Thomas
Wizards center Etan Thomas missed the start of training camp Tuesday because a cardiac test showed an irregularity during a routine checkup.

Wizards' Thomas has cardiac irregularity (AP)
Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas missed the start of training camp Tuesday because a cardiac test showed an irregularity during a routine checkup. Thomas will receive more tests before his status is determined. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said last week that Thomas would compete in preseason with Brendan Haywood for a spot in the starting lineup.

Etan Thomas cardiac test reveals irregularity; more tests coming
InsideHoops.com Newswire: Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that during a routine team physical, Wizards Center Etan Thomas had a cardiac test that revealed an irregularity.  Thomas has not been cleared to play, and will have further tests before his status is determined.

Etan Thomas, F/C - WAS
Etan Thomas sidelined by heart trouble Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.