Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Nash and McGrady keep title hopes alive Saturday; Butler back on track; LeBron sets another record; Gasol to return next week?; Bogut back Saturday?; Granger gets back in; and more...

WINDOWS CLOSING? 
Not every great NBA player wins an NBA title. League history is full of examples of all-time greats who never got a ring, but Steve Nash and Tracy McGrady obviously don't want to be on that list.

Not that either is nearing his final season. But former league scoring champ McGrady will be 29 later this season, and having started in the NBA at the age of 18 the superstar swingman's body has endured almost 11 seasons of pounding. Meanwhile, two-time league MVP Nash is 34 and few players play at a stellar level into their late 30s. And McGrady and Nash also share this in common: they both lost a key superstar teammate earlier this season (with Houston's Yao Ming going down for the season with a foot injury, and Phoenix's Shawn Marion getting traded to Miami).

While both are still well in the playoff hunt in the ultra-competitive West, both are also within four games of being out of the postseason. As McGrady's Rockets visit Nash's Suns on Saturday, are the championship windows closing for these two perennial superstars?

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CARON BACK ON TRACK 
Wizards' small forward Caron Butler posted 25 points, six assists, and two steals in 33 minutes versus the Heat on Friday during Washington's 103-86 romp. INTEL: The 25 points mark the first time since Butler's return from a hip injury that he has scored over the 20-point mark. This is great news for the Wiz, as it shows he isn't still seriously affected by the problem. Butler has now played five games since his lengthy absence. Do keep in mind, however, that his scoring will be affected when Gilbert Arenas returns to the lineup, which may be soon.

LEBRON TOPS ALL CAVS 
With 29 points Friday against the Raptors, superstar small forward LeBron James became the highest-scoring player in Cleveland Cavaliers history. INTEL: Yet another impressive accomplishment for the 23-year-old, who is in just his fifth NBA season. The 29 points gave James 10,414 career points and helped him pass former center Brad Daugherty, who had 10,389. James is off to arguably the most impressive start to a career of anyone in NBA history, and he is certainly in the running this season for his first NBA MVP award.

GASOL TO RETURN NEXT WEEK? 
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson told the Los Angeles Times that he does not expect center Pau Gasol (out with a sprained ankle) to play until at least next Wednesday versus the Bobcats. INTEL: Ronny Turiaf has filled in lately for Gasol, while usual starting power forward Lamar Odom has really stepped up his game. The team also inked veteran swingman Ira Newble to a 10-day contract for added depth. The Lakers have played well without Gasol in the lineup, so perhaps they can be patient to get him fully healthy for the playoffs rather than risk additional damage and a longer time on the sidelines.

BOGUT BACK SATURDAY? 
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Bucks' center Andrew Bogut (who has a thigh bruise) is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Cavaliers. INTEL: If Bogut is able to play, that will send former UCLA standout Dan Gadzuric back to the bench to challenge for minutes with veteran Michael Ruffin. Bogut was doing well when he sustained the injury, having averaged 17 points and 13.5 boards in the two contests prior to being sidelined, so the problem doesn't appear to be serious.

GRANGER GETS BACK IN 
After missing one game due to a sprained right wrist, Pacers' F Danny Granger was back in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Minnesota. INTEL: Apparently the wrist is just fine, as Granger knocked down 11 of his 23 field goal attempts for a game-high 32 points in the win. In fact, it was his most prolific scoring performance since he dropped 33 points on the Bulls back on Jan. 26.

BIG BEN 'BACK' OUT 
Cavs' power forward Ben Wallace left Friday night's game against the Raptors early in the second half due to back spasms and was unable to return. INTEL: Wallace finished with six rebounds and just one point in the victory. Wallace's status for Saturday's game in Milwaukee is not immediately known. However, if Big Ben is unable to lace the sneakers for the tilt, Anderson Varejao is likely to step into the starting lineup in his absence. Wallace missed the Cavs' Mar.12 game against the Nets with the same problem.

HASLEM DONE FOR THE DURATION 
Miami power forward Udonis Haslem underwent surgery on his left ankle on Friday and will miss the rest of this season. INTEL: This move has been expected for some time, but Miami finally bit the bullet. Haslem has been in and out of the Heat's lineup for the past month-and-a-half with the injury. The depleted Heat will now need to turn to the likes of Joel Anthony and Earl Barron the rest of the way.

POWELL KEEPS PRODUCING 
The strong recent play of athletic forward-center Josh Powell continued Friday, as he dropped 21 points, six boards, and two assists on the Trail Blazers. INTEL: It was Powell's seventh straight start for the Clips. He has been filling in all along their frontcourt the past several games but lately has especially been holding down the center spot for Chris Kaman (who remains out with a sore back). Powell is undersized at center but is very athletic and versatile, and is showing he can post above-average scoring numbers in the paint.

HAS THORNTON HIT THE ROOKIE WALL? 
Despite playing a whopping 40 minutes on Friday night against the Trail Blazers, Clippers' rookie forward Al Thornton scored just five points on a dismal 2-of-10 shooting from the floor. INTEL: Is Thornton hitting the dreaded Rookie Wall? Looks like it, although it's notable that he had 24 points the game before (Mar.19) against the Warriors. Thornton is starting only sporadically, so perhaps that is playing as big a role in his recent inconsistency as fatigue is.