Anthony, Rockets ‘parting ways’ after 10 games
Carmelo Anthony is done in Houston.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey released a statement Thursday saying the team is “parting ways” with Anthony and “working toward a resolution.”
Anthony played just 10 games for Houston after signing a one-year, $2.4 million deal during the offseason.
Morey added that: “Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D’Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him.”
Anthony was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks in July.
Houston thought he could be the piece it needed to finally get past Golden State and win its first championship since back-to- back titles in 1994- 95. Instead the Rockets limped out to a 6-7 start and the emergence of undrafted rookie Gary Clark made it appear that Anthony would have to take a reduced role.
In the end the Rockets decided it would be better to move on than to force Anthony to do that. LAKERS’ RONDO HAS SURGERY ON HAND» Lakers guard Rajon Rondo had surgery Thursday to fix his broken right hand.
Los Angeles will be without the veteran point guard for at least a few weeks. Coach Luke Walton says Rondo was injured in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ fourth straight win, 126-117 over Portland on Wednesday night.
Rondo is averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds. Lonzo Ball is likely to play more minutes in Rondo’s absence. Brandon Ingram and LeBron James also will increase their playmaking. NUGGETS 138, HAWKS 93» Juancho Hernangomez scored a season-high 25 points to lead seven Nuggets in double figures and Denver set the tone for a runaway victory with a big first quarter Thursday night against Atlanta. Paul Millsap and Gary Harris added 18 points apiece for the Nuggets, who unleashed a torrid offensive display to snap their season-high, four- game losing streak. CLIPPERS 116, SPURS 111» Lou Williams continued to look impressive with 23 points and Danillo Gallinari had 19 as Los Angeles held off San Antonio. The Spurs were led by DeMar DeRozan with 34 points.