NBAFullCourt - Basketball Daily

Stephon Marbury was in uniform for the New York Knicks against Milwaukee on Friday night, but it remained to be seen whether he would actually play for the first time this season. Marbury has been relegated to the bench all season. But the Knicks traded away three players in two separate deals earlier Friday, forcing them to dress Marbury to have eight active players.

Manu Ginobili could return to the San Antonio Spurs' lineup next week, earlier than expected after he had surgery on his left ankle in September to repair ligament damage. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would not specify Ginobili's projected return, but he did say Ginobili has recovered more quickly than expected.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer sat out the Jazz's game Friday night against San Antonio because of a left quadriceps strain. He was hurt Wednesday night in a victory over Milwaukee. "I'm feeling all right, but I think I won't play the next game (Saturday night in Memphis) either," Boozer said. "We just don't want to take any chances." Boozer is Utah's top scorer and rebounder, averaging 20.5 points and...

Hawks center Al Horford returned to the lineup for Friday night's game against Charlotte after missing the previous contest with a sprained right ankle. Horford was injured in the first quarter of a loss at Indiana on Tuesday. He did not return to that game, and sat out the following night against Washington.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was back in the starting lineup Friday night against the Washington Wizards after missing one game with a sore left foot. Yao missed Wednesday's 96-86 loss to Dallas after hurting his foot against Oklahoma City on Monday. He underwent tests on Tuesday and Wednesday that revealed no structural damage.

The Los Angeles Clippers filled their void in the post Friday, acquiring forward Zach Randolph and guard Mardy Collins from the New York Knicks for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. The Clippers had been lacking an inside presence since Elton Brand left in July to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. They were just 2-9 entering Friday's game at Philadelphia, and coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy said...

The Golden State Warriors traded disgruntled forward Al Harrington to the Knicks for guard Jamal Crawford on Friday in a swap that addresses both the Warriors' injury problems and New York's salary cap concerns. "I drafted Al back in 1998, and I think his talents are a great fit for our style of play," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said in announcing the deal in a statement.

The New York Knicks were expected to announce a trade for Golden State Warriors forward Al Harrington on Friday. Media reports had the Knicks sending guard Jamal Crawford to Golden State, though it was unclear if he was the only player. A trade was expected to be announced later Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn't been...

Detroit Pistons forward Walter Herrmann was released from a Boston hospital Friday after suffering a mild concussion in a game against the Boston Celtics. Herrmann, who spent Thursday night at the hospital, is listed as day-to-day. The Celtics won 98-80. He is averaging 4.5 points and 2 rebounds in 10 games this season.

Kobe Bryant had a below-average game. He's got so much help on this Los Angeles Lakers team it didn't matter. Bryant scored 24 points, Vladimir Radmanovic made all five of his 3-pointers and a host of others made significant contributions to help the Lakers past the Phoenix Suns, 105-92 on Thursday night.

The Allen Iverson trade looked good for the Pistons when they handed the Lakers their first loss of the season and snapped Cleveland's eight-game winning streak. It hasn't helped them against the team they need to beat most. Rajon Rondo had 18 points and eight assists, outplaying the recent Pistons acquisition and leading the Boston Celtics to a 98-80 victory over Detroit on Thursday night in a...

Kevin Garnett's return to Target Center after being traded to Boston was as emotional and riveting as it was short. On a chilly February night last season, Minnesota basketball fans packed the arena once more to cheer their departed hero, giving KG a deafening reception when he was introduced before his new team played his old team.

Elton Brand loved LA. He enjoyed the lifestyle and the bright lights of Hollywood, even fancying himself a would-be movie mogul. Yes, Brand even loved playing for the Clippers. He was the face of the long-suffering franchise and called his relationship with coach Mike Dunleavy "as good as player and coach could be." That makes Dunleavy all the more perplexed how his split with Brand has turned out...

Gilbert Arenas is already thinking about the possibility of a last-place finish for his Washington Wizards -- and finding the silver lining. With Arenas still working his way back from a third knee operation in 1 1/2 years, the Wizards are off to a 1-8 start heading into their game Friday against the Houston Rockets.

A sellout crowd of 20,599 fans showed up at the Rose Garden watch Greg Oden make his home debut with the Portland Trail Blazers. By the time Oden, sidelined all of last season by a knee injury, entered the game with 4:28 left in the first quarter, the show was already on in the Trail Blazers' 116-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.