Plea keeps Lakers G in state
By The Associated Press
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss Thursday night in Cleveland because of travel restrictions from his drunken driving arrest last season while with the Detroit Pistons.
Pope said he also will miss three Los Angeles road games outside California in the next few weeks due to a modified 25-day restriction stemming from a plea agreement he reached.
He is slated to miss games Dec. 20 at Houston, Dec. 31 at Houston again and Jan. 1 at Minnesota Jan. 1.
The only other Lakers road game during the 25-day restriction, which was given to Caldwell-Pope after a court appearance in Michigan this past week, is Dec. 22 at Golden State which he can play in because it is in state.
“I still get to carry on with my season but only in the state of California for the 25day restriction that I have,” Caldwell-Pope said Saturday after practice.
Caldwell-Pope originally was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated but pleaded guilty in May to the lesser charge of allowing someone to operate his vehicle while under the influence, which carried a 12-month probation.
Rockets
James Harden scored 31 points and Chris Paul had 25 in Houston’s 115-111 victory against the Bucks for its 13th consecutive victory. The streak is the Rockets’ longest since a franchise-best 22 in 2007-08.
Warriors
Coach Steve Kerr wants his players to watch Lakers great Kobe Bryant’s jersey retirement halftime ceremony Monday at the Staples Center. “Just the experience in seeing one of the greatest players in the history of the game getting his jersey retired,” Kerr said. “I’m not going to keep them in the locker room to watch tape of the first half. The players would look at me like I was nuts.”
Elsewhere
Turner Sports announced its “Inside the NBA” studio team will call a Christmas night game in Los Angeles along with its other usual duties. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson will call the nightcap of the league’s five-game holiday schedule between the Lakers and Timberwolves. It is a first for the studio team.