Usual backup small forward Matt Harpring will miss at least the Jazz's next four preseason games. Harpring did not travel with the team to Portland for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers, and -- according to a team spokesman -- will not accompany the club on a three-game trip later in the week that includes one outing at Denver and two against Chicago. Read Full Article

In each of his first two exhibition outings, Tony Battie had been looking to recover the familiarity and comfort level that was denied him last season after he was forced to sit out the year following surgery on a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. Read Full Article

The exhibition season will be half over by the end of the weekend, so what have we learned about the Pistons? Start with this: Perhaps the biggest question coming into camp already has become a non-issue -- Michael Curry's relative inexperience as a coach. Read Full Article

In only two weeks, Hawks center Al Horford can tell that his team is stronger right now than they were this same time a year ago. In the absence of any empirical data, Horford is going strictly on what he has seen, how things feel on the floor and the realization that guys who barely contributed a year ago are now playing major roles. Read Full Article

He has bursitis in his right elbow, committed three fouls in seven minutes, missed both of his free-throw attempts and missed his only shot from the field in Thursday night's preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns. But Jarron Collins still has the full backing of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Read Full Article

The lousy economy. Contentious political races. The lousy economy. The shrinking job market. The lousy economy. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lousy economy. Normally, this would be an ideal time to gather at Arco Arena for another group hug with the Kings. But the problem with that approach is twofold: Discretionary spending is frozen in most households, and the 2008-09 Kings haven't convinced anyone yet that they're worth the price of admission. Read Full Article

The Timberwolves are giving David Harrison a second chance at an NBA career, and he promises they'll have no reason to regret it. Signed to a one-year contract Thursday, the fifth-year center said the off-court problems that led the Indiana Pacers not to re-sign him after last season won't be an issue in Minnesota. Read Full Article

As the Rockets start their three-game exhibition road trip to New Hampshire, Tulsa and Memphis, Tracy McGrady isn't sure when he'll make his first appearance in a game. Read Full Article

Eddie Jones, we hardly knew ya. The 2007 free-agent acquisition of the sweet-shooting swingman will go down as a swing and a miss for the Dallas Mavericks, unless Shawne Williams ends up blossoming like Brandon Bass did last season. But with Friday's trade for Williams, the Mavericks did accomplish one important goal: They got 14 years younger. Read Full Article

If the early returns are any indication, Kirk Hinrich may have to guard against frustration as much as any opposing player while he transitions in the Bulls' backcourt. Hinrich, who has moved mostly to off guard since the arrival of No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose, was all but lost in the shuffle of the Bulls' shaky offense in Thursday's preseason-opening loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Read Full Article