Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Spurs will rely on Parker to contain Paul; Gordon and Deng out of action once again for Bulls; Brand begins running program; Nelson still hurting in Orlando; Phoenix rains 17 three-pointers on Cleveland; and more...

SATURDAY SIZZLER 
The Spurs host the Hornets in Saturday night's marquee game between the two Southwest Division heavyweights. New Orleans has youth on their side with 22-year-old Chris Paul and 25-year-old Tyson Chandler leading the way.

San Antonio will rely on experience with 31-year-old Tim Duncan lining up opposite Chandler and his equally impressive frontcourt teammate David West, 27. Despite the age factor, the Spurs have a bit of an advantage with the game coming on their home court and the Hornets playing for the second consecutive night. They beat the Clippers 111-92 on Friday.

The X-factor for the Spurs may well be point guard Tony Parker. The 25-year-old had one of the best games of his season when the two clubs met in early November. Parker scored 27 points and added eight assists and four rebounds while severely limiting Paul's effectiveness in San Antonio's 87-75 victory.

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BULLS  
With Luol Deng (Achilles' tendinitis) and Ben Gordon (wrist) out of the Chicago lineup on Friday, the Bulls were no match for the Bobcats, losing 99-70. Andres Nocioni had 25 points as he once again started for Deng, who has now missed three consecutive games. Deng is expected back in the next one to three weeks. Gordon's sixth man role was filled by rookie Joakim Noah, who scored just seven points in 24 minutes off of the bench. Gordon, the Bulls' leading scorer with 19.6 points per game, is hoping to be back on the floor against Phoenix on Sunday.

CELTICS 
Boston faced Minnesota on Friday in their first regular-season game since the the Timberwolves shipped Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for five players and a couple of first-round draft picks last summer. On paper it looked like Boston would win easily, but in the end it took a put-back basket by Celtics big man Kendrick Perkins with 16 seconds to go to give the Beantowners an 87-86 comeback win. Garnett had 10 points and 16 rebounds against his former team. For the T-Wolves, former Celtics Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Sebastian Telfair all started and contributed 15, 13, and 18 points respectively. Gerald Green, another player involved in the deal, had nine points and three rebounds off the bench for Minny. Veteran Theo Ratliff did not play.

CLIPPERS 
He still has a long way to go, but injured Clippers forward Elton Brand was reportedly cleared by his doctor to resume hard running and jumping exercises. The 28-year-old veteran has missed the entire 2007-08 season to date after tearing his Achilles' tendon during a workout last August. There is no timetable for Brand's return to the team. In Brand's absence, Clippers center Chris Kaman has stepped up his game, averaging 17.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game on the year.

GRIZZLIES 
A sore back kept Pau Gasol out of the Memphis lineup on Friday. Without the seven-footer to anchor the frontcourt, Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni opted to go with a small-ball starting five against Washington. Reserve guard Juan Carlos Navarro joined fellow guards Rudy Gay and Mike Conley for the opening tip, with swingman Mike Miller and forward/center Darko Milicic rounding out the group. Backup power forward Hakim Warrick did see increased playing time, scoring 11 points with six boards in 28 minutes off of the bench. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, the strategy did not work as they dropped a 104-93 decision. They also lost Conley in the third quarter when he was forced to leave with a chest contusion. Kyle Lowry will likely pick up Conley's minutes if he misses any significant time. Gasol is hoping to be back on the hardwood on Saturday against the Clippers.

MAGIC 
Orlando point guard Jameer Nelson missed his fourth consecutive game on Friday as he sat out the Magic's 101-93 loss to the Pistons with a strained tendon in his right foot. Once again, veteran Carlos Arroyo filled in, scoring 16 points with six assists and just one turnover in the loss. The Orlando Sentinel reports that a CT-scan and MRI performed on Friday found no structural damage to Nelson's foot. He remains doubtful for Sunday's tilt with the Celtics.

MAVERICKS 
Dallas will be without Jerry Stackhouse for the next week due to a mildly strained right hamstring. The 33-year-old sustained the injury on Wednesday and an MRI performed on Friday reportedly found no serious damage. While the former Tar Heel is sidelined, look for Eddie Jones, Trenton Hassell and Jason Terry to divide his playing time.

NETS 
New Jersey GM Rod Thorn admitted to the Newark Star-Ledger that trading big salaried players like Jason Kidd--who reportedly wants out of the Garden State--is getting tougher all the time. The story suggests that players on much more modest contracts like Sean Williams and Josh Boone are more likely to be moved. However, it is hard to see New Jersey moving either guy considering the duo will earn a combined $2.7 million in 2008-09 and currently act as the team's top two options at power forward.

SPURS 
San Antonio will reportedly be without the services of swingman Brent Barry for the next one to three weeks due to a muscle strain in his left calf. The 36-year-old previously missed nine games this season with an injury to a different muscle in the same calf. In his absence, Michael Finley, Ime Udoka and Manu Ginobli are the best bets to absorb the sharpshooter's minutes.

SUNS 
Phoenix knocked down a season-best 17 three-pointers in Friday's 110-108 victory over Cleveland. Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash led the way for the Suns, going seven for nine from beyond the arc. He had 26 points in the game. Teammate Raja Bell was also feeling it from long range on Friday. He hit six of his 10 three-point attempts and finished the game with 27 points. It was Phoenix's 15th win over Cleveland in their last 18 meetings.

WIZARDS 
Washington's Caron Butler went 3-for-3 from the charity stripe in Fridays' 104-93 win over Memphis and has now hit 60 consecutive free throws. It is the longest streak since Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant hit 62 in a row back during the 2005-06 season. The Wizards next game comes against the Bucks on Sunday.