Rick Carlisle fed up with Lamar Odom

Updated: March 2, 2012, 7:28 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle expressed disappointment with Lamar Odom's ongoing absence from the team and bluntly stated that the forward will face scrutiny upon his return, from owner Mark Cuban to the players in the locker room.

Odom left the Mavs on Feb. 22 to tend to a family matter and will miss his fourth consecutive game Friday night when Dallas plays at New Orleans. He will also miss Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz. Odom left the team to attend to his ill father in Los Angeles, sources told ESPNDallas.com.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...hin-lamar-odom
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Kobe Bryant sees neurologist

Updated: March 2, 2012, 3:55 PM ET

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant did not participate in the team's morning shootaround Friday in preparation for their game against the Sacramento Kings, instead using the time to visit a neurologist, Dr. Vern Williams, to have his sore neck examined.

Bryant has recovered from the concussion that Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's foul in the NBA All-Star Game caused, but is still experiencing some lingering effects from the whip lash to his neck that was also associated with the foul.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...robable-friday
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Dirk Nowitzki ready to play Friday

NEW ORLEANS -- Dirk Nowitzki declared himself healthy and ready to play against the New Orleans Hornets, a couple of days after the Dallas Mavericks star's lower back locked up in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nowitzki, who did not return to Wednesday night's game after leaving early in the second quarter, participated in the shootaround at New Orleans Arena and doesn't anticipate any physical limitations Friday night.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...-return-lineup
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Hawks' Joe Johnson to sit again

ATLANTA -- The Hawks will be without All-Star guard Joe Johnson for at least two games, including Friday night's game against the Bucks.

After missing two games and the All-Star Game because of tendinitis in his left knee, Johnson returned to lead Atlanta with 18 points in Wednesday night's 85-82 loss to Golden State. Johnson's knee was stiff after playing more than 37 minutes.


http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/76...in-knee-injury
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Cavs' Kyrie Irving out with flu

CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers rookie guard Kyrie Irving did not play against Chicago because of the flu.

Irving was active for Friday's game against the Bulls, but the team said he would not play about 45 minutes before tipoff.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/76...-bulls-due-flu
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Doc Rivers: No talk of Rajon Rondo deal

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Doc Rivers spent an hour and a half with president of basketball operations Danny Ainge before Wednesday's win over Milwaukee, but the Boston Celtics' coach says they never discussed trading point guard Rajon Rondo.

Rivers said Thursday afternoon he is irked by reports the Celtics were aggressively shopping his mercurial point guard and frustrated that his relationship with Rondo is being cited as one of the reasons Boston is willing to part with him.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/...boston-celtics
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J.J. Hickson (hip) out three games

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Kings forward J.J. Hickson will miss at least the next three games with a bruised hip.

Hickson was injured in Sacramento's 108-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night after leaping for a rebound and landing hard on his hip. The team said an X-ray and an MRI exam Friday showed no fractures.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/76...es-bruised-hip
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Chris Bosh out at least 2 games

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Chris Bosh will miss at least the Miami Heat's next two games after a death in his family.

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miam...s-death-family