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Court Report: Happy returns

Matt Buser

D.Granger, G.Wallace, and R.Stuckey were back on the court, but it wasn't all good news on Friday.

•Rodney Stuckey(notes) (27 minutes, 25 points, 2 threes, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 3 steals) and Ben Wallace(notes) (24 minutes, 1 points, 7 boards, 3 steals, 1 block) returned to the lineup for the Pistons Friday, both coming off the bench. Stuckey's presence should largely remove Will Bynum(notes) (21 minutes, 9 points, 4 assists, 1 turnover) from fantasy consideration, while Wallace's return coincided with the end of a string of double-doubles for Jason Maxiell(notes) (27 minutes, 10 points, 5 boards, 2 blocks). Maxiell certainly has a reasonable chance to hold on to the starting job, but expectations for minutes should come down from the 30-plus he's been seeing nightly.

• Danny Granger(notes) was a late addition to the Pacers' starting lineup Friday, as he was cleared to return by team doctors after an examination following the team's morning shootaround. Whew. He was very productive in the game (39 minutes, 29 points, 2 threes, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals) and looks to be fine moving forward.

• Gerald Wallace(notes) returned after three games to deal with a left ankle sprain and had a great line (43 minutes, 20 points, 1 three, 16 boards, 3 steals, 1 block), and there was much rejoicing ... Theo Ratliff's(notes) solid play (31 minutes, 9 boards, 3 blocks) kept Tyrus Thomas(notes) from logging major minutes (20 minutes, 11 points, 4 boards).

• Joe Johnson(notes) was back in the starting five for the Hawks after two games off while dealing with a sore Achilles. He had some good and bad in terms of numbers (41 minutes, 18 points, 7 of 21 FG, 1 three, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 3 steals) but nobody is complaining about having him back.

• Tyreke Evans(notes) left the game against the Bucks late after taking an elbow to the mouth and then falling to the floor. What we know is that he has a concussion, gum laceration, and chipped tooth and has already been declared out for Sunday's game. What we don't know yet is if he has a fractured jaw, and he'll undergo X-rays Saturday in order to make a determination. Francisco Garcia(notes), Donte Greene(notes), and Omir Casspi will share his minutes for as long as he ends up being out.

• Another tough night for the Raptors, as they were down 14 to the Thunder after the first quarter, down by 27 after the second, and down by 32 after the third. Understandably, Jay Triano went 12 deep in the rotation and only gave Chris Bosh(notes) (30 minutes, 22 points, 10 boards, 1 block) anything resembling starter's minutes. The Bulls would be looking at the eighth spot in the East if they could win any games at all - Toronto (33-34) is 2-8 over the past ten games, but the Bulls (31-37) have now lost 10 straight.

•Kevin Love(notes) put his issues behind him Friday and posted a strong line (36 minutes, 19 points, 1 three, 11 boards, 4 assists, 2 turnovers) after two down games. The big minutes were obviously a key and let's just hope Kurt Rambis does nothing but keep them coming. And no, I don't think we're in for more double-doubles from Darko Milicic(notes) (29 minutes, 16 points, 12 boards, 1 steal, 1 block).

• Plenty of notables in the Knicks' 92-88 win over the 76ers, including but not necessarily limited to: another solid showing for Jrue Holiday(notes) (42 minutes, 15 points, 2 threes, 8 boards, 2 steals) ... another start for Willie Green(notes) (29 minutes, 3 points, 1 of 7 FG) at the expense of Louis Williams(notes) (21 minutes, 14 points, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, 1 steal) ... although the counting stats have been fine, it was another bad shooting night from Andre Iguodala(notes) (7 of 20 FG, 0 of 4 3PT, 3 of 6 FT) and his percentages are 38/14/60 over the past eight games ... Tracy McGrady(notes) was awful (29 minutes, 0 points, 0 of 7 FG) while Danilo Gallinari(notes) was great (44 minutes, 25 points, 2 threes) ... Toney Douglas(notes) was solid despite foul trouble (24 minutes, 22 points, 4 threes, 5 boards, 2 steals), while Bill Walker(notes) was solid despite not starting (33 minutes, 15 points, 3 threes, 2 steals) ... David Lee(notes) was a late scratch for the Knicks because of right knee tendinitis and is listed as day-to-day. Jonathan Bender(notes) got the start in his place but broke a bone in his hand after nine minutes of action.

• For the Bulls: Luol Deng(notes) will be out at least another two weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a right calf strain. That makes him expendable in most leagues and makes James Johnson(notes) a player of interest in all formats. Johnson was solid again on Friday (36 minutes, 16 points, 1 three, 8 boards, 2 steals, 1 block) and should be in line for heavy minutes for as long as Deng is out. Over the past five games, Johnson has averaged 12.8 points on 57-percent shooting, 1 three, 4.8 boards, 1 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 32 minutes ... Taj Gibson(notes) played like his plantar fasciitis wasn't bothering him (36 minutes, 20 points, 13 boards, 3 steals, 1 block) but all reports are that it most certainly is ... Neither Derrick Rose(notes) (wrist) nor Joakim Noah(notes) (plantar fasciitis) were in the lineup for the Bulls Friday, but all indications are that both will be on Saturday. Keep in mind that Noah will be in for very limited minutes if he does actually return.

• The Spurs steamrolled the Warriors 147-116, so Gregg Popovich gave at least 18 minutes to six reserves and got plenty of rest for his regulars. Manu Ginobili(notes) had 23 points and 11 assists in just 22 minutes, while Tim Duncan(notes) crammed 17 points, six boards, and five assists into just 14 minutes ... Stephen Curry(notes) missed his second straight game because of a left ankle sprain and his status for Saturday is currently unknown.

•Carlos Delfino(notes) returned from a left ankle injury and played huge minutes in the double-overtime win over the Kings (47 minutes, 10 points, 1 three, 4 boards). Brandon Jennings(notes),John Salmons(notes), and Andrew Bogut(notes) combined for 143 minutes, 83 points, 11 threes, 23 boards, 14 assists, eight turnovers, five steals, and two blocks.

• Jordan Hill's(notes) line from Friday certainly jumps out at you (27 minutes, 11 points, 7 boards, 5 blocks) but he had played 102 minutes over the past five games without blocking a shot and his averages over the past six are still fairly modest (22 minutes, 8.8 points, 54% FG, 6.8 boards, 0.8 blocks).

• Injury info for the Jazz: Deron Williams(notes) is playing hurt and sat out the fourth quarter after 31 so-so minutes (4 of 14 FG, 6 assists, 3 turnovers) ... Andrei Kirilenko(notes) sat because of his calf injury and his status for Saturday is unknown at this point ... Mehmet Okur(notes) lasted only 12 minutes in the game because of a stomach illness and received IV fluids during the second half.

• A big night for James Singleton(notes) (36 minutes, 10 points, 16 boards, 1 steal), and he's the reason JaVale McGee(notes) doesn't need to play a ton these days. McGee saw just 23 minutes of action Friday, but he they were a productive 23 (9 points, 9 boards, 3 blocks).

• A few Saturday status updates: Both Devin Harris(notes) (illness) and Yi Jianlian(notes) (ankle) are expected to be back in the lineup for the Nets on Saturday ... Nothing specific on Marc Gasol(notes) (neck), as he's still listed as day-to-day, but he did not practice Friday.

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