Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your turkey bacon.

Brett Pollakoff, NBC Los Angeles: "Ricky Davis has been suspended for five games by the NBA for violating terms of the league's drug program. As is always the case in these situations, details are scarce. [...] Ricky will be unavailable to the Clippers for five games, but which five games remain a mystery. That's because the suspension will begin 'with the next game for which he is eligible and physically able to play.' And for Davis, that might be a while. Ricky has been sidelined with a knee injury since November 22nd, and the timetable for his return was set for sometime in January."

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune: "Almost casually, Del Negro let slip that guard Kirk Hinrich could be back in 'two to three weeks.' That would be far ahead of the Bulls' original prognosis for Hinrich to return in mid-February, though Hinrich privately has been optimistic about returning sooner. Questioned further, Del Negro quickly backpedaled about the guard, who has been sidelined since right thumb surgery Nov. 11. 'I'm being very optimistic,' he said. 'The sooner, the better for me. Kirk's been running a little bit. But we're going to be cautious.'"

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald: "Doc Rivers plans to lighten the load on Kevin Garnett, if possible. The idea is to get him fresher for the more critical points in the game. 'That’s something we’re going to do more, just to give him more rest,' the coach said. 'I just think playing him less than eight minutes in a row is solid because it gives him a chance to come back in the game. We’re finding the longer you keep him on the floor, then he doesn’t have much coming back in. So if we can keep doing it, it would be great.' The C’s regulars were able to get a break against the Kings and they were given yesterday off here."

Melody Gutierrez, Sacramento Bee: "While there are indications Kevin Martin could return as soon as tonight, the Kings will learn this morning whether another of their pieces will be missing. Natt said Martin could return as soon as tonight from a left ankle injury. Martin, who has missed the last 10 games, has played in only nine games this season. 'We are talking about it,' Natt said. 'Obviously, if there is any opportunity to play him, I'd be happy to have him out there. But that's not my decision to make. That's the medical staff's decision.' The Kings' medical staff has been mum on Martin's status."

Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: "Rockets guard Tracy McGrady returned to the court Monday after missing Saturday’s game, but said he and the team have agreed he will not play both games when the Rockets play two games in as many nights. After struggling in New Orleans on Friday, McGrady sat out Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz. 'Me and coach talked about it, and I think when we do have back-to-backs, we’ll really have communication to decide which game I should play and which game I should sit out.'"

Lisa Dillman, LA Times: "Warriors swingman Stephen Jackson spent some quality time with Baron Davis, his buddy and former teammate, over the weekend in Los Angeles, bonding and talking about old times. Jackson said that Davis wants to return to the Warriors. 'That's all we talked about. ... He wants to come back. And if he wants to come back, I want him back,' Jackson told the Contra Costa Times. Davis denied that he is ready to bail off the listing 8-21 Clippers ship. 'No, I don't want out,' he told The Times on Monday at practice. 'I don't know what Stephen Jackson got from my conversation. That never came out of my mouth.'"

John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle: "Baron Davis wants to be a Warrior again. But, no, Corey Maggette doesn't want to be a Clipper again. 'Who me? No. I love it here, man,' Maggette said. 'It's been a big change for me. Fans here are absolutely great. That's the biggest thing coming from Los Angeles. They have a mixture of Lakers and Clippers fans. Here, it's the Bay Area team. They love their Warriors. That's what's great about them.' Maggette missed his 13th straight game with a strained right hamstring."

John Reid, The Times Picayune: "In its speculation regarding five trades that need to happen before the upcoming February 19 trade deadline, Sports Illustrated mentioned Hornets center Tyson Chandler for Detroit Pistons' Rasheed Wallace. 'Honestly, at this point in my career, I don't pay attention to it,' Chandler said in his response to the speculation Monday. 'I've only been involved in trade rumors once during my final year in Chicago. Once you start focusing on that stuff, you lose track on what you are trying to do. I don't even read newspapers or watch the sports channels.' Chandler has another year remaining on his contract after this season before he can possibly opt of his contract and become a free agent in 2010. Wallace is in the final year of his contract with the Pistons."

Marc Stein, ESPN.com: "The agent for veteran guard Earl Boykins said Monday that Boykins is on his way back to Italy despite overseas reports that he would be leaving his Italian club and possibly returning to the NBA. Cleveland-based Mark Termini told ESPN.com that Boykins will be rejoining Virtus Bologna this week after Boykins ignored his club's denial of a request to return to the United States for a four-day break at Christmas. 'Earl flew home [to Cleveland] due to a medical situation with his young son,' Termini said. 'The club preferred to have his child receive treatment in Italy, but that was not comfortable for Earl and his family.'"

Chris McCosky, Detroit News: "Antonio McDyess had his ribs X-rayed after the game. He took a hard shot to the ribs in the fourth quarter. 'It's horrible, I can't bend down,' he said, after his 11-point, eight-rebound effort. 'The last game it was my thigh. I think my ribs have made me forget about that, though.' The X-rays were negative. 'I think its just bruised,' he said. 'I don't think it's nothing major.' McDyess' performance was major. He took over the game down the stretch with nine points, four rebounds and three assists. He made every hustle play there was to make."

East Valley Tribune, via HW: "Two-time MVP Steve Nash doesn't expect the back spasms that forced him out of Phoenix's game Monday night at Oklahoma City to be a long-term problem. Nash played nine minutes before his bad back flared up and he had to leave the Suns' 110-102 win against the Thunder. 'The negative is that I didn't get to contribute, but the positive is I didn't have one incident that jarred it and it was a huge reaction that could keep me out for an extended period of time,' Nash said. 'We'll see how I feel (Tuesday). I'm very questionable for (Tuesday) but I think it's something that definitely won't keep me out after the new year.'"

David Waldstein, Newark Star-Ledger: "The Nets sent Sean Williams to the NBA's equivalent of Siberia Monday, shipping him to the Colorado 14ers of the Development League, a place from which few players return. The move is the culmination of Williams' quick fall from favor in coach Lawrence Frank's rotation this season, as he had not played a minute in the last nine games dating to Dec. 12, when he was on the court for six minutes against Toronto. In one year Williams has gone from promising rookie to near oblivion."

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