In the News

Kobe leads Lakers past Thunder in 99-96 thriller (Yahoo! Sports)

LOS ANGELES (AP) After two straight exhausting playoff games that went down to the last gasp, Kobe Bryant knows the Los Angeles Lakers can't hope to keep up with the younger, faster Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kobe: I don't take charges (Yahoo! Sports)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Lakers star Kobe Bryant says he doesn't take charges, and he's got a reason for it.

Thunder get time to rest after 1st-round sweep (Yahoo! Sports)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Starting the playoffs against the defending NBA champions provided the Oklahoma City Thunder a chance to show how far they've come after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in last year's playoffs.

Thunder rally from 16 down back, beat Suns 115-104 (Yahoo! Sports)

Russell Westbrook scored 31 points, James Harden added a career-high 30 off the bench and the Oklahoma City Thunder roared back for a 115-104 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night for their 14th straight home win. Kevin Durant also chipped in 30 points and Serge Ibaka contributed 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as the Thunder overcame a 16-point deficit late in the third...

Thunder sweep home-and-home with Rockets (AP)

Kevin Durant hit a jumper with 22 seconds left and nailed two free throws to give the Oklahoma City Thunder a 98-95 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Durant finished with 27 points and six rebounds, Russell Westbrook added 25 points and six assists, and reserve Nazr Mohammed had a season-high 17 points and six rebounds for the Thunder.

Mohammed signs extension, stays with Thunder
Veteran center Nazr Mohammed is staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder, avoiding free agency with the possibility of an NBA lockout this offseason.

C Mohammed re-signs with Thunder (AP)

Veteran center Nazr Mohammed is staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder, avoiding free agency with the possibility of an NBA lockout this offseason. General manager Sam Presti announced Wednesday that Oklahoma City had signed Mohammed to an extension, calling him a "valuable part of our organization both on and off the floor." The Thunder didn't release terms of his new contract.

Mohammed re-signs with Thunder
Veteran center Nazr Mohammed is staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder, avoiding free agency with the possibility of an NBA lockout this offseason.

Bobcats lose Jackson in win over Raptors (AP)

D.J. Augustin had 23 points and eight assists and the Charlotte Bobcats cruised past the listless Toronto Raptors 114-101 Tuesday night despite losing top scorer Stephen Jackson to a strained left hamstring. Gerald Wallace added 20 points and Boris Diaw added 16 points and nine assists for the Bobcats, who took control with a dominant second quarter before Jackson got hurt midway through the third.

Bobcats' Jackson, Wallace, Mohammed out (AP)
Things aren't getting any easier for Paul Silas and the Charlotte Bobcats. Silas was missing his two leading scorers against Minnesota on Wednesday night. Stephen Jackson missed the game with a hyperextended left knee and Gerald Wallace has a sprained left ankle. Center Nazr Mohammed also missed the game with a bruised right knee and forward Tyrus Thomas played with tendinitis in his right knee.

Bobcats shake Jackson's off night to top Raptors
Nazr Mohammed had 18 points and eight rebounds, Tyrus Thomas hit the go-ahead jumper with just over a minute left, and the Charlotte Bobcats overcame Stephen Jackson's poor night to beat the Toronto Raptors 97-91 on Tuesday night.

Bobcats' bench keys win over Raptors (AP)

Nazr Mohammed had 18 points and eight rebounds, Tyrus Thomas hit the go-ahead jumper with just over a minute left, and the Charlotte Bobcats overcame Stephen Jackson's poor night to beat the Toronto Raptors 97-91 on Tuesday night. With Jackson held to seven points before fouling out, reserves played key roles as the Bobcats snapped a two-game skid.

Jazz rally once more, down Bobcats 96-95 (AP)

Deron Williams hit a running hook shot with 0.8 seconds left to cap a fourth-quarter rally and the Utah Jazz beat the Charlotte Bobcats 96-95 on Saturday night. Williams finished with 17 points and nine assists for the Jazz, who overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to win their fifth straight game and fourth on the road.

Charlotte Bobcats forward Nazr Mohammed misses 17th straight game with back injury
Charlotte Bobcats center Nazr Mohammed says his troublesome back injury is tied to a nerve problem, but is targeting a return sometime on the team's current five-game homestand.

Bobcats C Mohammed hopes to return soon (AP)
Charlotte Bobcats center Nazr Mohammed says his troublesome back injury is tied to a nerve problem, but is targeting a return sometime on the team's current five-game homestand. Mohammed went through a light workout Wednesday before missing his 17th straight game with what was initially called back spasms.

Charlotte Hornets big men Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler and DeSagana Diop will not play against the Los Angeles Lakers
The Charlotte Bobcats will again be without three injured centers against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nazr Mohammed and Tyson Chandler return to Charlotte Bobcats practice
Charlotte Bobcats centers Nazr Mohammed and Tyson Chandler have returned to practice following injuries.

Charlotte Bobcats frontcourt swamped by injuries
Starting center Nazr Mohammed and backup Tyson Chandler missed Charlotte Bobcats practice for a second straight day Thursday, just as the team announced reserve DeSagana Diop will be sidelined up to two weeks with an injury.

Charlotte Bobcats' Nazr Mohammed sits out practice because of back spasms
Charlotte Bobcats starting center Nazr Mohammed has sat out the latest practice because of lingering back spasms, but is hopeful to play against Cleveland.

Nets beat Bobcats again, get fifth win (AP)

If only the Nets could play the Bobcats more, the worst record in NBA history might not be in jeopardy. Courtney Lee scored 21 points, Devin Harris added 17 and New Jersey never trailed in beating Charlotte 103-94 on Tuesday night for only its fifth win of the season. Two of them have come against the Bobcats, who were the first team to lose to the Nets after their 0-18 start.

Bobcats post first win in Phoenix in OT (AP)

Stephen Jackson scored 30 points and Charlotte scored nine of the first 11 points in overtime to beat the Suns 114-109 Tuesday night for the Bobcats first victory in Phoenix in their six seasons in the NBA. Jackson, who tied the game at 98 on a 3-pointer with 19.9 seconds remaining, hit a 20-foot jump shot on the Bobcats' first possession of overtime to give Charlotte only its second lead of...

Bobcats continue surge, rip Heat 104-65 (AP)

Stephen Jackson scored 24 points, Gerald Wallace added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Charlotte Bobcats completed a 6-0 homestand with their most lopsided victory in team history, 104-65 over the listless Miami Heat on Wednesday night. The matchup to determine fifth place in the Eastern Conference was no matchup at all.

Bobcats win on Wallace's tip at buzzer (AP)

Gerald Wallace tipped in Raymond Felton's missed shot at the buzzer to give the Charlotte Bobcats an 89-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, continuing their home dominance. Moments after O.J. Mayo's 3-pointer tied it, Felton drove to the basket on DeMarre Carroll. His floater was too strong and didn't hit iron, but Wallace leaped over Zach Randolph and put it through...

Surprising Thunder climb back above .500 (AP)

Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook had 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Charlotte Bobcats 98-91 on Saturday night. Nenad Krstic added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the surprising Thunder, who improved to 15-14. They didn't earn their 15th win last season until the 60th game, on March 2.

Bobcats snap Nuggets' 4-game win streak (AP)

Gerald Wallace had 25 points and 16 rebounds and the Charlotte Bobcats frustrated Carmelo Anthony and Denver in a 107-95 victory Tuesday night that snapped the Nuggets' four-game winning streak. Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer, had 34 points and seven rebounds, but Wallace outplayed him down the stretch and a frustrated Anthony picked up a technical foul with just under a minute left to...

Bobcats' pounding of Pacers halts 7-game skid
Nazr Mohammed scored 18 points, Boris Diaw added 17 and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Indiana Pacers 104-88 on Sunday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Bobcats snap 7-game losing streak (AP)

Nazr Mohammed scored 18 points, Boris Diaw added 17 and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Indiana Pacers 104-88 on Sunday to snap a seven-game losing streak. Rookie Derrick Brown scored a season-high 13 and Stephen Jackson added 10 in his first home game with Charlotte, helping the NBA's lowest-scoring team to its best offensive performance in weeks.

Pistons avoid collapse, beat Bobcats (AP)

Allen Iverson scored 20 points, Rasheed Wallace hit a 3-pointer with 10.4 seconds left to avoid an embarrassing collapse, and the Detroit Pistons held off the new-look Charlotte Bobcats 90-86 on Saturday night. Taking advantage of the ragged debut by Charlotte newcomers Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, the Pistons led by 29 points in the third quarter and by 24 with 9 minutes left.

Pistons bringing back F Herrmann (AP)
The Detroit Pistons re-signed forward Walter Herrmann on Monday. "He is a player with tremendous work ethic and showed last year that he is a player that can contribute," Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement. The 6-foot-9, 229-pound Herrmann was acquired by the Pistons in 2007 along with Primoz Brezec in a trade that sent Nazr Mohammed to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Bobcats hold off Timberwolves 121-119 (AP)

Jason Richardson scored 36 points and the Charlotte Bobcats avoided a collapse against one of the league's worst teams to hold off the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-119 on Tuesday. The Bobcats coughed up an 18-point, first-half lead and gave the lowly Timberwolves a chance to tie the game. But Al Jefferson, who matched a career high with 40 points, missed an open 19-foot jumper at the buzzer.

Slumping Wizards down Bobcats 110-95 (AP)

It's been a difficult few weeks for the Washington Wizards. Despite their win Saturday night, it doesn't look as if things will get any easier any time soon. Antawn Jamison scored 22 points to lead the Wizards to just their second victory in their last 12 games, 110-95 over the Charlotte Bobcats. Washington then got ready for a three-game roadtrip to New Orleans, Houston and Chicago without Caron...

Kidd's triple-double leads Nets to win (AP)

Jason Kidd has his first triple-double since demanding a trade, Richard Jefferson scored 23 points and the New Jersey Nets turned in a rare strong performance in beating the Charlotte Bobcats 104-90 on Friday night. Kidd had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists in his NBA-leading 12th triple-double, but his first since Jan.

Bobcats sign Boykins for rest of season
The Charlotte Bobcats signed Earl Boykins on Thursday, adding depth at point guard. The 5-foot-5 Boykins, the second-shortest player in NBA history, has been out of the league since he decided last summer not to exercise the $3 million player option on his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Boykins' agent, Mark Termini, said the deal is for the remainder of the season, but provided no other details. The Bobcats have had an open roster spot since acquiring Nazr Mohammed from Detroit on Dec.

Spurs avoid 3-game skid, beat Bobcats (AP)

Tim Duncan had 19 points and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs ended their offensive doldrums in a 95-86 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday afternoon. Behind a balanced effort with five players in double figures, the Spurs snapped a two-game losing streak and ended a three-game stretch where they failed to reach 90 points.

Kidd has another triple-double in loss (AP)

Jason Richardson scored 25 points and the hot-shooting Charlotte Bobcats overcame Jason Kidd's third consecutive triple-double to beat the New Jersey Nets 115-99 on Tuesday night. Gerald Wallace added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed added 17 points apiece for the Bobcats, who shot 59 percent in their highest-scoring game of the season.

Bell, Bogut rally Bucks by Bobcats 93-89 (AP)

Reserve Charlie Bell scored 27 points and Andrew Bogut added 25, including a short hook shot with 19 seconds left, to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 93-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. Bogut's hoop capped Milwaukee's comeback from an eight-point deficit with 3:51 remaining. Mo Williams scored 17 for the Bucks.

Surging Hornets roll past Bobcats 99-85 (AP)

David West had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets turned in another dominating performance in a 99-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night. Quietly coming into the game with the third-best record in the Western Conference, the Hornets posted their fourth straight blowout win by quickly putting away the sleepwalking Bobcats with alley-oop dunks, uncontested shots...

Wallace's 27 help Bobcats roll by Knicks (AP)

Gerald Wallace scored 27 points and the Charlotte Bobcats dominated New York 105-95 on Friday to send the listless Knicks back to their losing ways. Nazr Mohammed added 20 points and 14 rebounds and Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafor scored 17 points apiece for the Bobcats, who rolled out to a 24-point second-quarter lead.

Howard leads Magic past Bobcats (AP)

The Charlotte Bobcats finally addressed their biggest need Friday night by acquiring big man Nazr Mohammed. The timing of the trade, though, left the Bobcats as no match for one of the league's top centers. Dwight Howard had 33 points and 18 rebounds and the Orlando Magic beat the undermanned Bobcats 103-87 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Bobcats acquire C Mohammed from Pistons (AP)
The Charlotte Bobcats' search for a big man ended Friday when they acquired center Nazr Mohammed from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center Primoz Brezec and forward Walter Herrmann. Mohammed, averaging 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 games for the Pistons, will provide the Bobcats depth they've been missing since Sean May underwent season-ending knee surgery during training camp.

LeBron to miss 5th straight game
LeBron James didn't practice Friday and will miss his fifth straight game with a sprained left index finger when the Cavaliers play Saturday night at Charlotte. In speaking to reporters for the first time since he sprained the finger at Detroit on Nov. 28, when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as he attempted to shoot, James had a message for the Cavaliers' opponents. "Teams better get their wins now," he said. "They try to kill us and talk trash about us now ...

LeBron to miss 4th straight game
LeBron James will sit out his fourth straight game Wednesday night because of a sprained left index finger, the most games he's missed because of an injury. The Cavaliers are 0-3 without James and have lost four straight. They were embarrassed by New Jersey 100-79 Tuesday night and criticized by coach Mike Brown afterward for a lack of intensity. James was hurt a week ago at Detroit when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as James attempted to shoot.

LeBron to miss 3rd straight game
LeBron James missed his third straight game Tuesday night because of a sprained left index finger. The Cavaliers (9-9) are 0-2 without their superstar forward. Coach Mike Brown wouldn't comment on whether James' injury is worse than first anticipated. James was hurt in the second quarter Wednesday night in a loss to Detroit, when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as James began to shoot.

LeBron James out again with sprained finger
LeBron James missed his second straight game with a sprained left index finger when the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Boston Celtics on Sunday. He was hurt in the second quarter Wednesday night in a loss to Detroit when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as James began to shoot. Devin Brown started in his place against Boston, which entered with an NBA best 13-2 record. James leads the NBA with 30.7 points per game. He's also averaging 7.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists.

Cavaliers' James sits out vs. Celtics (AP)
LeBron James missed his second straight game with a sprained left index finger when the Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Boston Celtics on Sunday. He was hurt in the second quarter Wednesday night in a loss to Detroit when Nazr Mohammed slapped at the ball as James began to shoot. Devin Brown started in his place against Boston, which entered with an NBA best 13-2 record.

LeBron day-to-day with sprained finger
An MRI on LeBron James' injured left finger in Toronto revealed a sprain, and the Cleveland Cavaliers said their superstar would be a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Raptors. James hurt his index finger with 4:41 left in the second quarter on Wednesday night against Detroit when he was fouled on a drive by Pistons center Nazr Mohammed, who slapped at the ball as James began to shoot. James stayed in the game and made both free throws.

LeBron day-to-day with sprained finger (AP)
An MRI on LeBron James' injured left finger in Toronto revealed a sprain, and the Cleveland Cavaliers said their superstar would be a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Raptors. James hurt his index finger with 4:41 left in the second quarter on Wednesday night against Detroit when he was fouled on a drive by Pistons center Nazr Mohammed, who slapped at the ball as James began to...

Perfection eludes Clippers in Detroit
Chauncey Billups scored 23 points and Antonio McDyess added 14 Friday night to help the Pistons hand the Los Angeles Clippers their first loss, 103-79. Billups made five 3-pointers in the second half in a victory that left Boston as the NBA's lone unbeaten team. Nazr Mohammed came off the bench to score 15 points and Richard Hamilton added 10 and 10 assists.

Nazr Mohammed, C - DET
Mohammed looking sharp at camp Visit Rotoworld.com for more analysis on this update.