Andrew Bynum had a dominating game Sunday night against the Oklahoma Thunder, going 9-11 from the field, 7-7 from the free-throw line in route to scoring 25 points. He also had 9 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. Managing to stay out of foul trouble, Bynum’s defense helped the Lakers open a 35 to 16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Bynum wasn’t the only Laker to have a dominant game, though. Kobe Bryant chipped in 26 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds to give the Lakers a big lead early. A couple of circus shots by Kobe, including an impossible shot over the backboard, helped cement the momentum in the Lakers favor for the rest of the game. Pau Gasol put up 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in his second game of the season.

The Lakers improved their record to 10-3 on the year, trailing Phoenix by half a game for the division lead. The Lakers face the New York Knicks for their next home game on Tuesday night.

Is retirement an option?

SI.com:  The Allen Iverson experiment with the Memphis Grizzlies is over.

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Monday in a statement that the team has ended its one-year contract with the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP in what it called a mutual agreement.

Iverson began an indefinite leave of absence on Nov. 7 to deal with a personal issue after playing only three games with Memphis, all in California.

General manager Chris Wallace says they agreed Iverson is stepping away from the game to focus on those personal matters.

Wallace says the Grizzlies wish Iverson the best.

The Sacramento Kings just can’t catch a break…

Inside Hoops: Sacramento Kings’ guard Kevin Martin will undergo surgery Monday, November 9th at the UC Davis Medical Center to repair a non displaced hairline fracture of the navicular bone in his left Wrist. Dr. Robert Szabo will perform the procedure. Martin is expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks.

Considering the team is set to endure another losing season, it probably makes sense for Martin to have this problem fixed correctly rather than trying to play through it.

It’s tough to say who on the Kings will make up for Martin’s scoring. There was a huge gap between him and everyone else.

Expected to miss 4-6 weeks…

Inside Hoops: Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas suffered a fractured radius of his left forearm during a weight training session this morning at practice. X-rays confirmed the injury and he will undergo surgery tomorrow. The surgery will be performed at Rush, by team physicians Dr. Brian Cole and Dr. John Fernandez, and assisted by Dr. Mark Cohen.

Thomas is expected to be out four to six weeks. In four games (three starts) this season, the Louisiana State product has averaged 8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.75 bpg in 21.0 mpg.

After ten days of the NBA regular season, there are multiple questions, injuries, surprise performances, and disappointments.  For those first ten days, here are the top ten teams in the league.

1) Boston Celtics (6-0), wins versus CLE, CHA, CHI, NOH, PHI and MIN

The Celtics have started off hot, injury-free, and ready to win the East.  Despite a mediocre performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night, Boston has to be on top of everyone’s power rankings to start the season off.

Next five: vs. PHX, @ NJN, vs. UTA, vs. ATL, @ IND

2) Denver Nuggets (5-0), wins versus UTA, POR, MEM, IND and NJN

Carmelo Anthony is playing like an MVP candidate, and the Nuggets remain undefeated through five games.  Something to note: rookie Ty Lawson is very good, and JR Smith has yet to return from his suspension.

Next five: @ MIA, @ ATL, @ CHI, @ MIL, vs. LAL

Read more…

Four games kicked off the 2009-10 NBA season tonight, and no fan was left disappointed.

Behind Kobe Bryant’s 33 points and Andrew Bynum’s 26 points and 13 rebounds, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated a Los Angeles Clippers team with a hobbled Baron Davis, 99-92.  Forwards Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol missed the game due to injuries.

In what could be called a Western Conference rivalry, the Houston Rockets fell to the Portland Trail Blazers by nine, 96-87.  Aaron Brooks led the way for Houston with 19 points and five assists, while Travis Outlaw produced 23 points off the bench for Portland.

Gilbert Arenas is healthy again, and the Washington Wizards bounced the Dallas Mavericks in their home opener by double-digits, 102-91.  Dirk Nowitzki shot the ball poorly despite adding 34 points and nine boards, while the Wizards rallied behind Arenas’ 29 points and nine assists, along with Andray Blache contributing 20 points and seven rebounds.

In what panned out to be the most interesting game of the night, the Cleveland Cavaliers were defeated by the Boston Celtics, in Cleveland, 95-89.  LeBron James did not disappoint, handing Boston a 38-point, eight-assist effort, but all of his teammates were held to under 13 points each the entire game.  Boston’s Paul Pierce led the team with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

ESPN has learned that Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin will miss up to six weeks, after further tests confirmed a broken kneecap.  The injury occurred in the Clippers’ final preseason game against the New Orleans Hornets.  After completing a monstrous dunk, Griffin landed awkwardly on his left leg, causing the former Oklahoma Sooner to wince in pain.  Previous reports predicted that he could miss the opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it’s now a certainty he will be sitting for the first month of the regular season.

You can discuss this topic in our forums by clicking here.

Just how bad does Boston need Rondo?

Yahoo!: Rajon Rondo will not sign a contract extension with the Boston Celtics, allowing him to join next summer’s heralded free-agent class, the player’s agent told Yahoo! Sports late Monday.

Rondo and the Celtics have until Saturday to negotiate an extension, but his agent, Bill Duffy, said the point guard has already made a decision to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Duffy said he has had recent talks with the Celtics about Rondo, but the negotiations never progressed enough to lead him to believe the sides were close to a deal. Celtics president Danny Ainge couldn’t be reached for comment.

First Allen Iverson, now Mike Conley…

CBS Sports: Allen Iverson isn’t ready and the Memphis Grizzlies have run out of practice games with many questions still unanswered.

The Charlotte Bobcats have just as many concerns.

Long after Iverson left the court following a brief early morning workout Friday, the Grizzlies reserves held off the Bobcats 95-92 to close the exhibition schedule for both teams. Zach Randolph looked good early with 16 points and eight rebounds, Sam Young added 13 points and DeMarre Carroll hit the tiebreaking layup with 13 seconds left.

The Grizzlies (3-5) lost point guard Mike Conley when he re-injured his troublesome right ankle in the first quarter in the game, which began at 10:30 a.m. and was played in front of more than 16,000 high-spirited middle school students.

“I’m just glad nobody else got hurt and we got through training camp unscathed,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said.

With a strained hamstring…

LA Times: Lakers center-forward Pau Gasol will sit out the last two exhibition games and could miss the season opener next Tuesday, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

Gasol will miss a total of six exhibition games because of a strained right hamstring, giving the Lakers little in the way of frontcourt continuity going into the regular season.

Gasol, an All-Star selection last season, practiced Wednesday but felt soreness in his leg Thursdsay.

Jackson said it “could be” the case that Gasol sits out the opener against the Clippers.

“Whether he makes it or doesn’t make it, I’m not worried,” Jackson said. “That doesn’t worry me.”