Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
WALTHAM, Mass. — Celtics guard Paul Pierce didn’t practice Friday because of a nagging heel injury and might not play in Boston’s season opener against the Knicks in New York today.
Pierce did shoot around after the session, but coach Doc Rivers wasn’t optimistic his captain would be available Sunday, when the Celtics and Knicks are playing one of the NBA’s five season openers.
“He didn’t do anything,” Rivers said. “He seemed to be working more as far as working out, so we’ll see. I still think it’s doubtful, but we’ll see.”
If Pierce is unable to go, Rivers said Sasha Pavlovic would likely start in his place, as he did in the preseason finale against the Raptors on Wednesday night, when Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Jermaine O’Neal and Kevin Garnett also started.
BOBCATS
CHARLOTTE— The Bobcats waived forwards Melvin Ely and Taylor Griffin, and guard Durrell Summers.
The team also decided Friday not to match the offer sheet to restricted free agent Dante Cunningham, leaving the roster at 15 players.
Ely’s departure was a mild surprise considering he was brought in to help fill the void created when Kwame Brown left via free agency.
GRIZZLIES GET A BOBCAT
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Grizzlies have signed forward Dante Cunningham after the Charlotte Bobcats declined to match Memphis’ offer to the restricted free agent.
Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace made the announcement Saturday. The team did not release terms of the deal.
The 24-year-old Cunningham played in 22 games for the Bobcats last season, averaging 9 points and four rebounds on 50.8 percent shooting after a mid-season trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.
THUNDER WAIVE NATE
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived guard Nate Robinson.
General manager Sam Presti made the announcement Saturday.
Robinson was a midseason acquisition from the Boston Celtics last season and appeared in four games for the Thunder. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.5 assists in 7.5 minutes per game.
HEAT
MIAMI — Mickell Gladness and Terrel Harris thought they were competing against each other for the last spot on the Miami Heat roster.
Instead, the former NBA Development League teammates both played their way onto the club.
The Heat announced Saturday that they waived veteran guard Eddie House, meaning a pair of rookies in Gladness and Harris were on the 15-man roster to open the season and therefore earned seats on the plane to Dallas.
TIMBERWOLVES
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived veteran guard Bonzi Wells.
Wells has not appeared in an NBA game since 2008. He spent the past two years playing in China and Puerto Rico and came to Wolves camp hoping to revive his career. Wells had a history with Wolves coach Rick Adelman, and Adelman brought him in to give his younger players some guidance during training camp.
NUGGETS
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets have waived guard Cory Higgins and forward Michael Ruffin.