NBA roundup: D'Atonio to coach tonight; Darko may be out in Boston
---New Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni's will make his game debut Tuesday night against the New Jersey Nets, the coach told reporters Tuesday.
"I'm too psyched up and too ready to go, I'll get through this," D'Antoni said.
D'Antoni hopes to coach Sunday, but opted out because of pain caused by his recent knee replacement surgery, according to Lakers spokesman John Black.
After Tuesday, the Lakers travel to Sacramento for a Wednesday game.
"The biggest problem I have is just energy kind of waning toward the end (of the game)," D'Antoni said.
Bernie Bickerstaff has gone 4-1 as interim coach after taking over for the fired Mike Brown. D'Antoni said that Bickerstaff would be part of his staff for the rest of the season.
The team also announced the hiring of Dan D'Antoni -- Mike's older brother -- as an assistant coach.
---The Boston Celtics do not expect center Darko Milicic to return to the team, Coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday.
"Most likely, yes," Rivers told Comcast SportsNet Boston when asked if Milicic's time with Boston was over.
The Celtics signed Milicic to a one-year deal at the veteran's minimum before the season. He has since left the team to be with his ailing mother in Europe.
"We've talked about it three or four times," Rivers said of Milicic leaving the team.
The Celtics would likely buyout Milicic's contract if he announces he wants to stay in Europe and then waive him. Rivers said the team will look around for another veteran to fill his roster spot.
"We're going to look around, but I can tell you that we are in no rush," Rivers said.
The ninth-year pro from Hernoform, Serbia, played five minutes in his only game with the Celtics this season and had one rebound with no points. He 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds a game in a career that included stops in Detroit, Orlando, Memphis, New York and Minnesota.
---Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut will miss at least the next three games as he continues to strengthen his surgically-repaired left ankle.
Bogut underwent ankle surgery in April, and did not see game action until late in the preseason. He was averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game before being shut down Nov. 8 due give the ankle more time to heal. He has missed the Warriors' past six games.
Bogut spent several days in Los Angeles last week receiving treatment under the supervision of Dr. Richard Ferkel. The plan is for Bogut to run on a treadmill later this week and return to practice Monday.
Bogut was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in February.
---The NBA has agreed to a deal with YouTube to televise the remainder of the D-League schedule, the league announced Tuesday.
More than 350 games of the D-League -- the NBA's minor developmental league -- will be broadcast on YouTube.com and via a video player on NBA.com.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
"The NBA's latest initiative with YouTube marks another milestone in our partnership and a great way to tip off the 12th season of the NBA Development League," NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "By turning to our longtime partner, YouTube, we are able to bring the NBA D-League to basketball fans around the world, further expanding the league's growth and showcasing future NBA stars."
The D-League started with eight teams located in the South in 2001 and has expanded to 16 teams spanning from Los Angeles to Maine. All teams have an affiliate agreement with at least one NBA team with some franchises using players from up to four NBA teams.
