NBA: Injuries frustrate Ginóbili, Bogut, & Turiaf
It hasn’t been a great week for international players in the NBA, as Manu Ginobili, Andrew Bogut and Ronny Turiaf will miss time with injuries. Here’s a Saturday roundup of the last few days in the NBA:
- According to the San Antonio Express-News, Manu Ginóbili has a groin injury that will likely force the 6-6 Argentinian out for 3-5 games. His groin injury is unrelated to the hamstring troubles he has been battling the last couple of seasons.
After suffering a shooting slump in early November, Rudy Fernández has been hitting a groove as of late, hitting 23-43 shots in the last six games (53.5%); and reaching double-figures in four of those contests. Portland has won four of their last six games.
- Without Hornet’s floor leader Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic hit a season-high seven threes last night in a win over the Phoenix Suns Thursday night, who had the league’s best record. Stojakovic recorded 25 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
- Dirk Nowitzki has led the Dallas Mavericks to a 10-3 record, under the radar it seems. the 7-0 German has scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season, and is averaging 26.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and blocking shots at a career-high pace with 1.6 a game.
- It’s been a frustrating season for Ronny Turiaf, who has spent nearly the entire season injured with a sprained right knee suffered on October 30th. The prognosis may say day-to-day, but it looks as if the 6-11 French shot-blocker will likely not see action until December.
- Danilo Gallinari recorded his first scoreless game of the season after scoring in double-figures in eight of the Knick’s first ten games. The 6-10 Gallinari missed both his shot attempts in a season-low 16 minutes. The good news? The Knicks won their second game of the season, 110-103 over the Indiana Pacers. Gallinari had double figures in just six of the 28 games he played during his rookie season.
- Andrew Bogut will miss up to four weeks of action after suffering a lower left leg sprain and contusion. The injury is similar to the one the 7-0 Aussie suffered two seasons ago. Bogut was having his best NBA season with 16.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocked shots in 9 games.
- Even if Anderson Varejão goes on to average 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Cleveland Cavs, the 6-10 Brazilian’s season will still be remembered for being Dwyane Wade‘s dunk prop.
