INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- The Phoenix Suns will play another exhibition game outdoors in this desert resort area, this time on Oct. 10 against the Golden State Warriors.
The Suns faced the Denver Nuggets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden last October and lost 77-72 before a sellout crowd of 16,000.
"It was an amazing experience to play an NBA game outdoors," Phoenix guard Steve Nash said. "We all grew up playing basketball outdoors and we don't get to do it very often any more.
A year ago, wind had a big impact on shooting, with the teams combining to go 3-of-27 from 3-point range.
Nash said afterward, "If you shoot a ball and it starts slicing right, well ... But that's not really the point of the game, to shoot a high percentage. The point was to come out here and see what it is like to go up and down outside and put NBA players in this situation."
The Suns also played outdoors on Sept. 24, 1972, when Connie Hawkins, Dick Van Arsdale and Neal Walk led Phoenix to a 116-103 preseason win over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson and the Milwaukee Bucks at a baseball stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Full story
Knicks' Gallinari to meet with back specialists in Italy
NEW YORK -- Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has left the team to meet with specialists in Italy and is considering surgery on his ailing back.
Gallinari has been troubled by the back since last summer and met with a fourth surgeon Tuesday in New York. The Knicks allowed him to return home for further opinions and expect him back by Monday.
The No. 6 pick in the draft missed most of the first 2½ months of the season, but had a couple of strong efforts off the bench earlier this month. However, the Knicks said Gallinari, "feels his back is only 60-70 percent and thinks he has reached a plateau in his recovery."
Gallinari has averaged 6.1 points in 28 games, shooting 44 percent from 3-point range, and had shown signs of becoming a valuable reserve as the Knicks chase a playoff spot.
Kobe spends day on jury duty
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- For once, Kobe Bryant wasn't needed at court.
The Los Angeles Lakers star spent several hours on jury duty before being excused from an Orange County courtroom.
He was quizzed for potential service on a misdemeanor vehicle tampering case, but attorneys agreed on a panel before his turn in the jury box came up.
The Orange County Register reports the judge got some laughs when he looked at the basketball superstar and asked, "Bryant?"
Thunder assign F White to D-League
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thunder reserve forward D.J. White has been assigned to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the move.
White, a 22-year-old rookie, has yet to appear in a game for the Thunder this season after undergoing jaw surgery in October. The 6-foot-9 forward was cleared by team doctors on Monday to resume full-contact drills.
The former Indiana star was the 29th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft. He was acquired by the Thunder as part of a draft-day trade.
Ex-Laker Nixon arrested for investigation of DUI
MARINA DEL REY, Calif. -- Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Norm Nixon has been arrested for investigation of drunken driving in Southern California.
California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Garrett says Nixon's vehicle was spotted late Monday without a front license plate in Marina del Rey.
Garrett says officers smelled alcohol coming from the car after Nixon was pulled over, and he was given a sobriety test.
The 53-year-old Nixon, who works for Fox Sports Net as an NBA analyst for local cable telecasts, was released on $5,000 bail early Tuesday. A telephone message seeking comment was left with Nixon's agent.
