Mike Conley out indefinitely with sore Achilles
Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley is out indefinitely with a sore left heel and Achilles tendon, leaving Mario Chalmers to start in his place at least for now.
The Grizzlies updated Conley's status Friday after the guard consulted with the team's medical staff and other physicians. The team plans to have another update on his status in approximately two weeks.
Conley will receive treatment and therapy to ease the soreness. The Grizzlies have no timetable for Conley's return, but Memphis coach David Fizdale said doctors think there's a good chance the soreness can be healed in two weeks.
Fizdale said Chalmers, who tore his Achilles tendon in March 2016, will start for now. The Grizzlies also have Ben McLemore and Wayne Selden, both coming off their own injuries, as potential backcourt options.
Conley has started 12 of the Grizzlies' first 14 games this season. Conley is averaging 17.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists in his 11th NBA season. He has been playing an average of 31.1 minutes each game. Conley sat out Wednesday night's 116-113 loss to Indiana and also missed a Nov. 1 game against Orlando.
Cavaliers' Rose out at least 2 more weeks
Derrick Rose's ankle isn't getting better, and neither are the Cavaliers' problems at point guard.
Rose, who was supposed to handle starting duties while Isaiah Thomas recovers from a hip injury, could miss three more weeks with a left ankle injury that has bothered him for a month.
Rose injured the ankle Oct. 20 at Milwaukee and has missed Cleveland's past five games. The team said Friday that Rose's ankle will be immobilized for a week and he will undergo extended treatment "over the next two to three weeks."
In his first season with Cleveland, the 29-year-old Rose, whose promising career has been slowed by injuries in recent years, is averaging 14.3 points in seven games. The former league MVP signed with the Cavs as a free agent this summer after spending last season with the New York Knicks.
Rose has shown flashes of his All-Star form, but hasn't recovered from the ankle injury.
Because he's been limited and with Thomas still likely to be out another month or more before making his Cleveland debut, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue has been forced to juggle his lineups and has used LeBron James at point guard. He's also been forced to use former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeff Green and Dwyane Wade at the point.
Iman Shumpert started at point guard during Cleveland's recent road trips as the Cavs went 3-1. Shumpert started again Friday night as the Cavs host the Los Angeles Clippers.
There remains no clear timetable for Thomas to play. The two-time All-Star, acquired in the blockbuster offseason trade for Kyrie Irving, has increased his workouts in recent weeks.
Russell has arthroscopic surgery on knee
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday.
No timetable for his return was announced.
"It's an arthroscopic surgery, so the plan would be for him to return this season," general manager Sean Marks said.
Russell missed time due to knee injuries last season, but this latest knee injury was not related.
"This was a direct correlation to the incident that happened in Utah," Marks said. "I think with any 21-year-old that's played a lot of basketball you're going to have a little bit of wear and tear. The good thing is he's young enough and he's certainly going to bounce back from something like this. We're not too concerned in that regard."
Russell has played in 12 games for Brooklyn this season with team-leading averages of 20.9 points and 5.7 assists.
Spencer Dinwiddie will now take over as the starting point guard in place of Russell.