SB Nation DC - NBA Preseason 2012: Wizards fall 98-88 to Netshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-10-29T10:56:02-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32732672012-10-29T10:56:02-04:002012-10-29T10:56:02-04:00Wizards play Cleveland on opening night
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jp6otvGXYoOJfpeNgzXiaiCzjwE=/0x70:4000x2737/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2255399/20121013_tjg_ar7_270.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Richard-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Washington Wizards travel to play the Cavaliers on opening night.</p> <p>The NBA season kicks off on Tuesday, starting one of the most headline-filled campaigns in recent memory.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> and <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> will square off to begin the year at the Quicken Loans Arena, looking to get off on the right foot.</p>
<p><span>Doc Rivers</span>' <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> also open up their slate on Tuesday with the unenviable task of watching the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> raise their championship banner. Of course, it's on the same court Miami defeated the Celtics on last year in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.</p>
<p>On Wednesday evening, the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> will host the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Nuggets</a>. <span>Andre Iguodala</span> will be making his return to the city he played so valiantly for, leading an unexpected run to the conference semis last year.</p>
<p>Thursday brings two terrific matchups, with the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> and <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brooklyn Nets</a> opening up the Barclays Center, while the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a> and <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> duel in Texas.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2012/10/29/3571094/2012-nba-scheduleMatt Verderame2012-10-17T09:56:12-04:002012-10-17T09:56:12-04:00Nene could return by season opener
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wfBenjNw-CWMqr5cGERpFCyKldw=/0x0:2666x1777/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1530469/20121001_gav_sb4_565.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Suffering through plantar fasciitis, Nene could be ready for season opener on Oct. 30.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> big man Nene is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/10/17/wizards-get-encouraging-updates-on-nene-kevin-seraphin/">making progress toward starting the season opener</a> against the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> on Oct. 30, according to the Washington Post.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>While the Wizards left Brooklyn to travel to Toronto for their game against the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> on Wednesday, Nene flew to Baltimore to have his plantar fasciitis checked out by a physician and to get fitted for orthotics.</p>
<p>Coach <span>Randy Wittman</span> spoke with Nene and he "said things are going in the right direction with his movement," Wittman said.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wittman said Nene is "going to be able to maybe start getting some shots up and get on the floor a little bit." Wittman called it a "positive report" on 10-year veteran.</p>
<p>Nene missed 10 games last season because of plantar fasciitis. He appeared in 11 games for the Wizards after being traded from the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Nuggets</a> in March.</p>
<p>Between Washington and Denver last season, Nene averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.</p>
<p><i>This story originally appeared at </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/10/17/3516006/nene-injury-washington-wizards">SB Nation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2012/10/17/3516062/nene-injury-washington-wizardsSB Nation NBA News2012-10-17T08:16:48-04:002012-10-17T08:16:48-04:00Nene, Seraphin on road to recovery for Wizards
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cwuch2iziZTZ9A5g5Qh4aedTvcY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828113/large_dc.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> are waiting for <span>Nene Hilario</span> and <span>Kevin Seraphin</span> to return from injury, hoping they won't miss any regular season games.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/10/17/wizards-get-encouraging-updates-on-nene-kevin-seraphin/">According to the Washington Post</a>, the Wizards are very optimistic that both big men will be ready to go in a few weeks when the contests start to count.</p>
<p>Nene is working his way back from a plantar fasciitis in his left foot, something the 6'10 Brazilian has been dealing with all summer. Head coach <span>Randy Wittman</span> has seen progress in Nene's recovery.</p>
<p>"He’s going to be able to maybe start getting some shots up and get on the floor a little bit in that manner," Wittman said. "So, it was a positive report."</p>
<p>As for Seraphin, the forward was injured last week against the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> when he strained his calf. Wittman doesn't expect the ailment to have any long-term effects.</p>
<p>"He’s better," Whitman said. "He’s able to get up on and walk on it now. Whereas yesterday he wasn’t able to, so that’s a great sign. He’s still probably going to be a little bit of a ways away, but if he keeps making these strides, we’ll see."</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/10/17/3515724/nene-kevin-seraphin-injury-updateMatt Verderame2012-10-15T23:14:38-04:002012-10-15T23:14:38-04:00Deron Williams, A.J. Price have beef, apparently
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i9LlqOL2WdV1efm-KQs8rxT0Q4I=/0x284:4000x2951/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1460469/154174868.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Elsa - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Nothing like a brief dispute to liven up an NBA preseason game. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> played the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brooklyn Nets</a> Monday night at Jay-Z's House of Rocawear and Armadale Presented by Barclays (we think that's the building's official name, anyway). It was a typical NBA preseason game. <span>Martell Webster</span> and <span>Brook Lopez</span> led all scorers with 18 points, <span>Jan Vesely</span> didn't score a point in 27 minutes, you know the deal.</p>
<p>And then <span>A.J. Price</span> decided to say something to <span>Deron Williams</span>. And then the two got into a shoving match. And then Williams decided to talk about it to the media.</p>
<p>Here's Stefan Bondy of the <i>New York Daily News</i>.</p>
<p><a charset='"utf-8"></script>"' href="<blockquote%20class=%22twitter-tweet%22><p>DWill%20on%20Price:%20%22Maybe%20he%20had%20some%20boys%20in%20the%20crowd%20he%20wanted%20to%20impress%20while%20he%20can%20with%20the%20little%20minutes%20he's%20going%20to%20get%20this%20year.%22</p>%E2%80%94%20Stefan%20Bondy%20(@NYDNInterNets)%20<a%20href=%22https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258035300750733313%22%20data-datetime=%222012-10-16T02:43:04+00:00%22>October%2016,%202012</a></blockquote>%20<script%20src="></a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>DWill on Price: "Maybe he had some boys in the crowd he wanted to impress while he can with the little minutes he's going to get this year."</p>
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) <a data-datetime="2012-10-16T02:43:04+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258035300750733313">October 16, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>Price, for the record, is a born Jersey guy (Orange) and went to high school in Amityville, Long Island, so it's entirely likely that he did have family and friends in the building.</p>
<p><a charset='"utf-8"></script>"' href="<blockquote%20class=%22twitter-tweet%22><p>Price,%20a%20Long%20Island%20guy,%20kept%20telling%20D-Will%20%22I'm%20home.%22%20After%20crowd%20got%20behind%20D-Will,%20he%20said,%20%22This%20is%20my%20home%20now.%22</p>%E2%80%94%20Stefan%20Bondy%20(@NYDNInterNets)%20<a%20href=%22https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258036091691622400%22%20data-datetime=%222012-10-16T02:46:12+00:00%22>October%2016,%202012</a></blockquote>%20<script%20src="></a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Price, a Long Island guy, kept telling D-Will "I'm home." After crowd got behind D-Will, he said, "This is my home now."</p>
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) <a data-datetime="2012-10-16T02:46:12+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258036091691622400">October 16, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>And still more from Williams.</p>
<p><a charset='"utf-8"></script>"' href="<blockquote%20class=%22twitter-tweet%22><p>More%20D-Will%20on%20Price:%20%22I%E2%80%99m%20not%20a%20tough%20guy.%20I%20hate%20when%20people%20talk%20for%20no%20reason,%20and%20that%E2%80%99s%20pretty%20much%20what%20he%20did.%22</p>%E2%80%94%20Stefan%20Bondy%20(@NYDNInterNets)%20<a%20href=%22https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258035765261512704%22%20data-datetime=%222012-10-16T02:44:55+00:00%22>October%2016,%202012</a></blockquote>%20<script%20src="></a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>More D-Will on Price: "I’m not a tough guy. I hate when people talk for no reason, and that’s pretty much what he did."</p>
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) <a data-datetime="2012-10-16T02:44:55+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/258035765261512704">October 16, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>For the record, these teams meet for the first time this season January 4 at Verizon Center. We just wish Williams could have asked A.J. if he knew where he could get a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2132439">great deal on laptops</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/10/15/3509748/deron-williams-aj-price-nets-wizards-nba-preseason-2012Samuel Chamberlain2012-10-15T22:08:47-04:002012-10-15T22:08:47-04:00Okafor, Wizards fall to Nets
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kvKjkZBhdjxMShUWsEPtoNqpKfE=/0x92:4000x2759/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1458531/154174507.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alex Trautwig - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Emeka Okafor scored 12 points and added six rebounds in his debut for the Washington Wizards</p> <p><span>Emeka Okafor</span> made his debut for Washington Monday night as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a>, 98-88.</p>
<p>Okafor played more than 27 minutes in Monday's preseason contest, scoring 12 points and adding six rebounds. He was 6-of-11 from the field but missed four free throws, going 0-for-4 from the line.</p>
<p><span>Martell Webster</span> was the leading scorer for Washington. Webster scored 18 points, primarily from the free throw line where he went a perfect 10-for-10.</p>
<p>Rookie Bradley Beal led the team in playing time. He added 13 points and four rebounds in close to 30 minutes of action. <span>Jan Vesely</span> was held scoreless in more than 26 minutes of playing time. Vesely scored 13 points in Washington's previous preseason contest against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, but managed only two points in the Wizards first two games.</p>
<p>For the Nets, <span>Brook Lopez</span> led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds. <span>Andray Blatche</span>, in his first meeting with his former team, added 16 points and eight rebounds.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/10/15/3509544/wizards-nets-nba-preseason-recapJack Cassidy2012-10-15T18:40:28-04:002012-10-15T18:40:28-04:00Emeka Okafor to make Wizards debut Monday night
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1mrCgIvDyYFHHCT8fP5ZrIbdAf8=/0x113:467x424/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1449109/137293856.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Chris Graythen - Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After being sidelined with food poisoning, Emeka Okafor will make his Wizards debut Monday night.</p> <p>After not playing in the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a>' first three preseason games, center <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BulletsForever/status/257968599388540929">Emeka Okafor will make his Washington debut</a> Monday night against the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brooklyn Nets</a>.</p>
<p>Okafor sat out the preseason opener to rest his knee, then missed the last two preseason games due to food poisoning. He missed several days of practice and <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MrMichaelLee/statuses/256807486395387906">reportedly lost 12 pounds while sick</a>. He has also missed practice during training camp with a sore knee. His return is a good sign for the Wizards, who are still without <span>Nene</span> due to a foot injury.</p>
<p>Washington acquired Okafor in an offseason trade with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Hornets</a>. The Wizards traded <span>Rashard Lewis</span> and a second round draft pick for Okafor and <span>Trevor Ariza</span>. Okafor is expected to start at center for a Wizards team which lacks depth in the front court.</p>
<p>Okafor averaged 9.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season. He has career averages of 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while also blocking 1.8 shots per game. The Wizards game against the Nets is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2012/10/15/3508576/emeka-okafor-washington-wizards-preseason-debutMark Sandritter