NBA notebook: Rondo on defensive after hard foul on Humphries

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Associated Press A day after he retaliated for a hard foul that sent Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett crashing to the court, Rajon Rondo was defending himself. First in a call with the NBA office and then after practice with reporters, Rondo said on Thursday that he didn’t think he should be suspended for his role in a scuffle with the Brooklyn Nets that resulted in three ejections, including his own. “I’m hoping I’ll play tomorrow, but you never know,” Rondo said at the team’s workout facility in suburban Boston. “I told them the truth. I don’t know what’s going to happen. They haven’t made a decision yet. So I’m just hoping to hear back from the league.” Rondo was thrown out of Wednesday night’s 95-83 loss to the Nets in the second quarter when he shoved Kris Humphries into the courtside seats after the Brooklyn forward knocked Garnett to the floor with a hard foul. What Rondo called a “pushing war” ensued, and Humphries and Nets forward Gerald Wallace were also ejected. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league was looking into the scuffle. He did not say when a decision would be issued. Rondo is averaging 12.9 points and 12.9 assists per game.

Published: November 29, 2012 - 07:11 PM

Nets’ Lopez injures foot

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez will miss the next two games with a mild sprain of his right foot. The Nets said Thursday that X-rays were negative, but the injury could be a concern given Lopez’s foot problems last season.

He missed 32 games after breaking that foot in the preseason, and an ankle injury after he returned aggravated the foot injury. Lopez ended up getting limited to just five games before the Nets shut him down.

He is off to a strong start this season, averaging a team-high 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds while helping the Nets open 10-4 in their first season in Brooklyn. Lopez will sit out games at Orlando on Friday night and Miami on Saturday.

Mavericks sign Fisher

Veteran point guard Derek Fisher has signed a contract with the Dallas Mavericks after passing a physical. To make room on their 15-man roster, the Mavericks waived Troy Murphy, who had averaged 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14 games. Fisher, 38, was a free agent after playing last season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City.

Around the league

The Phoenix Suns assigned first-round draft pick Kendall Marshall to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA’s Development League. … The Oklahoma City Thunder assigned rookie Jeremy Lamb to their NBA Development League affiliate in Tulsa. … David Courtney, the veteran public-address announcer for the Los Angeles Clippers, Kings and Angels, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 56.