In the News

Lakers beat Nuggets in return to Staples (AP)

Kobe Bryant had 18 points and eight rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter and Lamar Odom teamed with four Los Angeles Lakers reserves to help preserve a 17-point lead and hold off the Denver Nuggets for a 102-95 exhibition victory Saturday night. Odom and reserve Devin Ebanks each had 14 points for the Lakers, who returned to Staples Center for the first time since beating the Boston...

Johnson, Love help Wolves improve to 3-0 (AP)

Preseason means different things to different teams. The veteran-laden Denver Nuggets are more concerned with keeping their legs fresh and getting healthy for the grind of the NBA season. The success-starved Minnesota Timberwolves, they just want to win. Rookie Wesley Johnson scored 16 points and the new-look Timberwolves remained undefeated in the preseason with a 122-108 victory over the Denver...

Hornets beat Wizards again in Europe (AP)
Life without Gilbert Arenas isn't getting any easier for the Washington Wizards, who dropped their second straight European exhibition game to the New Orleans Hornets, 102-80 in Barcelona on Friday. Melvin Ely had 19 points and eight rebounds and Chris Paul added 10 points and eight assists to help the Hornets wrap up the NBA's annual preseason tour of Europe with another strong performance.

Nuggets' Martin suspended for flagrant foul
Denver forward Kenyon Martin was suspended Saturday by the NBA for one game without pay for a flagrant foul and will sit out the game against San Antonio. Martin was assessed a flagrant foul against Melvin Ely, striking him in the head with an elbow in the second period of the Nuggets' 105-99 win Wednesday over New Orleans. Ely has a fractured left eye socket and missed the Hornets' 89-80 loss at Dallas on Friday night. Martin, who is averaging 9.0 points and 5.

Ely to miss Hornets game at Dallas
New Orleans center Melvin Ely has a fractured left eye socket that will keep him out of the lineup when the Hornets play at Dallas on Friday night. Ely was hurt when he was elbowed by the Nuggets' Kenyon Martin during the second quarter of the Hornets' 105-99 loss in Denver on Wednesday night. A Hornets spokesman said Thursday that a timetable for Ely's return will be set following further examination.

Hornets C Ely has fractured eye socket (AP)
New Orleans center Melvin Ely has a fractured left eye socket that will keep him out of the lineup when the Hornets play at Dallas on Friday night. Ely was hurt when he was elbowed by the Nuggets' Kenyon Martin during the second quarter of the Hornets' 105-99 loss in Denver on Wednesday night. A Hornets spokesman said Thursday that a timetable for Ely's return will be set following further...

Hornets beat turnover-plagued Hawks (AP)

The New Orleans Hornets like playing on the road this season. They like playing the Atlanta Hawks anywhere. David West had 22 points and 17 rebounds and the Hornets won for the eighth time in 10 road games this season, beating the turnover-plagued Hawks 92-86 on Friday night. The Hornets moved to 17-9 in their last 26 games against the Hawks.

Murphy leads O'Neal-less Pacers to win (AP)

Troy Murphy made up for the absence of Jermaine O'Neal with 23 points, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 105-93 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night. Jamaal Tinsley added 18 points and 13 assists, while Danny Granger scored 22 points and Mike Dunleavy had 18. Greg Foster grabbed 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who have won two of three after dropping seven of their previous eight...

Melvin Ely, F/C - NO
Ely returns from viral infection Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.