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March 3 (The Sports Xchange) - Manu Ginobili could be back with the San Antonio Spurs next week after missing a month recovering from testicular surgery. The Spurs wanted Ginobili to take his time getting back on the court because the medical staff had no experience treating the injury. Ginobili is practicing with the team and could work his way back on to the court as early as Saturday. - - Philadelphia 76ers forward Jerami Grant was fined $10,000 for throwing a water bottle into the stands during a recent game, NBA executive vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe announced. ... Continue to Article

March 03, 2016 7:06:pm EST

During the closing stages of the Denver Nuggets' 117-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, the cameras caught Lakers legend Kobe Bryant — who played just 11 minutes after aggravating his sore right shoulder during his final trip to Denver before retiring at the end of this season — autographing his game-worn shoes on the bench and giving them away to a pair of young fans near courtside: [ Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest today ] [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:  The best slams from all of basketball] As it turns out, the young fans got their rare and phenomenal swag by singing for their supper, so to speak, according to Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post : “No, they earned them,” Bryant said. “They wanted to know what the name of my pet dog was so I gave them a clue. I said ‘it’s in a (Harry) Potter film.’ So every time, they threw out like 15 names. The deal was if they got it, I’d give them my shoes. And they got it.” Bryant revealed the name of his dog is Crucio, the name of one of three unforgivable curses that inflicts excruciating pain upon the receiver. Cool dog name, Kobe! Nothing says "I love my puppy" quite like deciding to name it after an unforgivable act that puts people in extreme and unrelenting agony. I mean, who could argue that this original hound from hell — or, um, the rebooted (or perhaps third ) version, I guess — merits so malevolent a moniker? Lest you think Bryant's some Hagrid-come-lately to Harry Potter fandom, though, it's worth remembering that the Mamba casually dropped a Hogwarts analogy during last year's mammoth and fascinating GQ interview with Chuck Klosterman : Bryant views branding as a modern form of "storytelling." I note that this comparison is only partially accurate, since branding is a form of storytelling with a conscious commercial purpose. "For some," he concedes. "But that’s not a universal thing. That’s like saying every wizard within Slytherin House is a villain." And that's just the tip of the iceberg; Kobe's a certified Potter psycho , going ga-ga over the chance to meet cast members from the movies , having a special colorway of the Kobe VII named after Harry's Cloak of Invisibility and, of course, making plans for the most appropriate Halloween costume of all time all the way back in 2007, according to then-Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers : "What are you going to be for Halloween?" the reporter wonders, and don't we all? "Lord Voldemort," the Kobester says, stumping the reporter. "Harry Potter," the Kobester says. Pretty perfect, branding- and tone-wse. And yet, unlike He Who Must Not Be Named, Kobe's become warmhearted enough as he continues his all-encompassing farewell tour to share his time, as well as his kicks, with fans before he heads out the door. From Pat Graham of The Associated Press : "To be able to converse with the fans was awesome," Bryant said. "I had a great time." I think it's fair to say the winners of his trivia contest did, too. More NBA coverage: - - - - - - - Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YourManDevine Stay connected with Ball Don't Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL , "Like" BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more. Continue to Article

March 03, 2016 3:31:pm EST

During the closing stages of the Denver Nuggets' 117-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, the cameras caught Lakers legend Kobe Bryant — who played just 11 minutes after aggravating his sore right shoulder during his final trip to Denver before retiring at the end of this season — autographing his game-worn shoes on the bench and giving them away to a pair of young fans near courtside: [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:  The best slams from all of basketball] As it turns out, the young fans got their rare and phenomenal swag by singing for their supper, so to speak, according to Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post : “No, they earned them,” Bryant said. “They wanted to know what the name of my pet dog was so I gave them a clue. I said ‘it’s in a (Harry) Potter film.’ So every time, they threw out like 15 names. The deal was if they got it, I’d give them my shoes. And they got it.” Bryant revealed the name of his dog is Crucio, the name of one of three unforgivable curses that inflicts excruciating pain upon the receiver. Cool dog name, Kobe! Nothing says "I love my puppy" quite like deciding to name it after an unforgivable act that puts people in extreme and unrelenting agony. I mean, who could argue that this original hound from hell — or, um, the rebooted (or perhaps third ) version, I guess — merits so malevolent a moniker? Lest you think Bryant's some Hagrid-come-lately to Harry Potter fandom, though, it's worth remembering that the Mamba casually dropped a Hogwarts analogy during last year's mammoth and fascinating GQ interview with Chuck Klosterman : Bryant views branding as a modern form of "storytelling." I note that this comparison is only partially accurate, since branding is a form of storytelling with a conscious commercial purpose. "For some," he concedes. "But that’s not a universal thing. That’s like saying every wizard within Slytherin House is a villain." And that's just the tip of the iceberg; Kobe's a certified Potter psycho , going ga-ga over the chance to meet cast members from the movies , having a special colorway of the Kobe VII named after Harry's Cloak of Invisibility and, of course, making plans for the most appropriate Halloween costume of all time all the way back in 2007, according to then-Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers : "What are you going to be for Halloween?" the reporter wonders, and don't we all? "Lord Voldemort," the Kobester says, stumping the reporter. "Harry Potter," the Kobester says. Pretty perfect, branding- and tone-wse. And yet, unlike He Who Must Not Be Named, Kobe's become warmhearted enough as he continues his all-encompassing farewell tour to share his time, as well as his kicks, with fans before he heads out the door. From Pat Graham of The Associated Press : "To be able to converse with the fans was awesome," Bryant said. "I had a great time." I think it's fair to say the winners of his trivia contest did, too. More NBA coverage: - - - - - - - Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YourManDevine Stay connected with Ball Don't Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL , "Like" BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more. Continue to Article

March 03, 2016 3:31:pm EST

D.J. Augustin scored 22 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead six Denver players in double figures, and the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-107 on Wednesday night in Kobe Bryant's final game at the Pepsi Center. Emmanuel Mudiay added 22 points and the Nuggets used a 10-0 run midway through the final quarter to gain some separation. Fans kept chanting ''We want Kobe'' as he sat on the bench with a wrap on his shoulder. Continue to Article

March 02, 2016 11:45:pm EST