Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Udrih making most of Sacramento opportunity; Free-agent-to-be Jamison upping his market value; Bynum still a month away; Cassell ready to suit up for Boston; Bargnani shows no ill effects from Miami take-down; and more...

SECOND CHANCE 
Minnesota GM Kevin McHale is probably kicking himself right now for allowing Beno Udrih to slip away earlier this season. The Timberwolves obtained the Slovenian point guard from the Spurs in late October in exchange for a 2008 second-round draft pick. Several days later, citing an overabundance of point guards on their roster, McHale cut him loose.

Fast forward to March and Udrih, now a member of the Sacramento Kings, is playing like a man possessed. With Mike Bibby traded to Atlanta last month, the 25-year-old has found himself playing heavy minutes at the point. In the five games prior to Friday's tilt with the T-Wolves, Udrih was averaging 22.6 points and 5.8 assists per game. Against Minnesota, the team that sent him packing without even giving him a chance to show what he could do, Udrih came up with 13 points, seven assists and four rebounds in a disappointing 111-103 loss.

Udrih's emergence this year will definitely pay off during the offseason when he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Look for Udrih to generate plenty of interest.

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BYNUM BUMMED 
According to the Los Angeles Times, injured Lakers center Andrew Bynum (kneecap) isn't likely to return to the lineup until April at the earliest. INTEL: With the 20-year-old big man taking longer than expected to heal (he's been out since early January), the Lakers will stick with their current winning combination in the frontcourt. Pau Gasol will remain the center with Lamar Odom at power forward and Luke Walton at small forward. Once Bynum returns, Gasol will shift to power forward, Odom to small forward, and Walton to a bench role.

HOLDING DOWN THE FORT 
Antawn Jamison is keeping Washington's playoff hopes alive while Gilbert Arenas (knee) and Caron Butler (hip) remain sidelined with injuries. INTEL: Jamison had another big night on Friday, scoring 25 points and adding 16 rebounds in the Wizards' 110-106 overtime win over the Raptors. Washington has now won five of their past seven games despite their missing All-Stars. The former Tar Heel star is averaging 21.1 points and a career-best 10.3 rebounds per game in 2007-08. Set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, Jamison is definitely helping to maximize his market value.

UNDERMANNED 
Dwyane Wade was the highest profile Heat player to sit out Friday's 134-99 loss to the Warriors. Miami had only seven players available to play in the contest. INTEL: The reason for Wade's absence was described as "general soreness" by the Heat. At one point in the first half when Udonis Haslem had to leave the court with a sore ankle, the Heat were down to just six available players. Ricky Davis filled in for Wade, scoring 10 points and adding 12 boards in the loss.

WILD WEST 
New Orleans forward David West missed his second consecutive game on Friday, sitting out the Hornets' 107-96 win over the Nets with a sore left ankle. INTEL: According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, West will likely sit out Saturday's game against the Rockets and won't return until Wednesday against San Antonio at the earliest. Ryan Bowen has filled in for the All-Star forward, averaging 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in the two contests.

HELPING HAND 
Point guard Sam Cassell joined his new Celtics teammates on Friday, but did not play in their 116-93 win over Chicago. INTEL: The 38-year-old is set to become Rajon Rondo's backup in Boston, a role he may find more difficult than he anticipates. Cassell has been a starter most of his career, including this season with the Clippers before he was released. Cassell, who won two NBA titles with Houston in the mid-90's, will add some valuable playoff experience to the East's first-place team.

GOOD TIMING 
A sprained ankle kept Detroit's Rasheed Wallace out of Friday's 101-97 win over New York. INTEL: With Sheed out, new arrival Theo Ratliff got the start at center for the Pistons. The 34-year-old looked a little rusty in 22 minutes of action, scoring five points and adding five rebounds. Power forward Jason Maxiell provided some added frontcourt depth in the game, scoring 12 points in the Detroit victory. Wallace is hoping to be healthy enough to face Chicago on Sunday.

LEAN ON LEE 
Knicks power forward Zach Randolph missed his fourth consecutive game on Friday with a bruised right foot. INTEL: Randolph has been excused from the team to deal with some personal issues. The club does not expect him back for Saturday's tilt with Portland, his former team. Instead, Monday's game against Dallas is a more likely target date for his return. With Randolph out, David Lee started in his place against the Pistons. He scored 12 points and added 15 boards in the loss. In the four games Randolph has missed, Lee has averaged 11.0 points and 11.5 rebounds.

THE ITALIAN JOB 
Andrea Bargnani was back in the Raptors' starting lineup on Friday, just two days after almost being decapitated by a vicious elbow from Heat forward Alexander Johnson. INTEL: The big Italian played a career-high 48 minutes in Toronto's 110-106 overtime loss to Washington. The former first-overall pick in the 2006 draft had 27 points and five rebounds in the contest. Bargnani looks to have turned his season around. After averaging a disappointing 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in November, he has improved dramatically in the interim, posting 15.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in February.

DOUBLE TROUBLE 
Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert had his second consecutive strong outing on Friday, scoring 22 points and adding 13 rebounds in the Sixers' 117-83 win over the SuperSonics. INTEL: It was the second consecutive double-double for the Philly center. He is now averaging a double-double on the season with 10.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

PROBLEM CHILD 
The Pacers have suspended center David Harrison for one game citing conduct detrimental to the team as the reason. INTEL: While no specific details for the suspension have been released, it is highly likely that it stems from a temper tantrum he had the end of Thursday's game with the Spurs. Harrison was also suspended for five games in January for violating the league's anti-drug policy. As the third big man on the depth chart behind Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster, Harrison's absence will have little impact on Indiana.