NBA Rumors and News Roundup: Kobe Passes Shaq, Carmelo, Gallinari Hurt, More

Monday provided some of the best NBA action we've had during the 2011-12 regular season, but Kobe Bryant becoming the fifth-leading scorer in league history was an extremely special moment.

The (Jeremy) Linsanity continued in New York for the Knicks, Danilo Gallinari might miss a good chunk of time and Manu Ginobili is getting very close to rejoining the Spurs' starting lineup.

With an Allen Iverson sighting and another update on Baron Davis' gimpy back, Tuesday's notes offer plenty of news and entertainment for hoop heads who love basketball.

Manu Ginobili

Ginobili has barely seen the floor for San Antonio this season due to a broken hand, but his return is right around the corner for the Spurs.

He's been medically cleared by doctors, and it's just a matter of getting his conditioning and rhythm back in order before he returns to the lineup.

Gregg Popovich said that he expects Ginobili back in about a week, and it's going to be a major boost to an already impressive team.

Chauncey Billups

UPDATE: Billups is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Billups has been the consummate professional throughout the course of his career, and it was tough to watch him crumple to the ground in pain on Monday night.

He's been an asset to the Clippers since joining the team, and despite being a point guard, has adapted well to his role as the starting shooting guard.

Unfortunately for both Billups and Los Angeles, the veteran went down with a non-contact Achilles injury and had to be helped off the floor.

Nobody is expecting good news, and it's a tough break for a guy who deserves a better fate.

Derrick Rose

Rose started Monday's game for Chicago, but he didn't stick around for long and did not return after leaving the floor.

He was dealing with some back stiffness prior to the game starting, and that's exactly the reason he left on Monday night.

It's not considered to be a major cause of concern for the reigning MVP, as Tom Thibodeau said after the game that Rose is simply day-to-day.

Danilo Gallinari

Gallo has been absolutely marvelous for Denver this season, and he's really blossomed into a very fine player for the Nuggets.

Denver suffered a big blow on Monday when Gallinari rolled his ankle and X-rays revealed that he had a chip fracture of his foot.

Although he's going to get a CT scan to get a clearer timetable for how long he'll be out on Tuesday, the initial diagnosis indicates that he could be in street clothes for a considerable amount of time.

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony has dealt with a myriad of injuries all season long, and it was more of the same for Melo on Monday night.

The small forward left with a strained groin and did not return, and Anthony is expected to be reevaluated on Tuesday to assess the extent of the injury.

It's been a turbulent first half of the season for Anthony, and the constant injuries are taking a toll on his durability.

Baron Davis

Davis' return has been built up to the point of absurdity by some in New York, and nobody should be expecting him to be any kind of savior for this team.

Contrary to rampant speculation that he'd be back sooner than expected, Davis still isn't on the court, and an infected elbow caused a setback with his ailing back.

He should help the Knicks—assuming he's healthy—when he finally manages to suit up, but it isn't happening as quickly as some had predicted.

Jonny Flynn

Remember Jonny Flynn? He was the point guard David Kahn drafted just one slot behind Ricky Rubio.

Now playing for the Houston Rockets, Flynn has found himself buried at the end of the bench and isn't going to suddenly get playing time ahead of Kyle Lowry or Goran Dragic in the near future.

Both the Knicks and Lakers have been in the market for point guard help, and each team expressed a level of interest in Flynn's services as a short-term solution.

Allen Iverson

Iverson had been hopeful of an NBA return prior to the season beginning, but he didn't find a team willing to give him another chance at this stage of his career.

Still with the itch to play basketball, the Puerto Rican league is attempting to woo Iverson to participate in the action this year.

The league has a 30-game season beginning in March, and the commissioner is hoping to sell Iverson on the idea of using Puerto Rico as a springboard to return to the league.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant's big night was somewhat spoiled by the fact that the Sixers emerged over his Lakers, but nobody is taking anything away from what he was able to accomplish.

One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Bryant passed Shaquille O'Neal for fifth on the all-time scoring list.

He's now got 28,601 points in his career and trails just Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the ladder.