CHARLOTTE -- Raja Bell wants to tough it out without being a liability. The Charlotte Bobcats likely need their starting shooting guard if they want a realistic shot at the playoffs.
Tuesday was a day of optimism for both sides, with Bell hopeful he'll be able to play this season with a torn ligament in his left wrist and put off surgery that would sideline him up to four months.
"I'm going to [sit out] for another week to see if it continues to progress as it has, then I'll probably wind up playing," Bell said after participating practice with his non-shooting hand heavily taped. "If it doesn't, then we'll go back to the drawing board."
Bell was injured when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried grab a loose ball in an exhibition game on Oct. 18. He sat out the final two preseason games after tests revealed the torn ligament. Bell got a second opinion from a Chicago hand specialist who told him if he can withstand the pain, he can play.
Bell will sit out today's season opener in Boston, leaving the Bobcats short-handed because Ronald "Flip" Murray hasn't been cleared to return from a stress reaction in his left shin. Coach Larry Brown said Stephen Graham will start against the Celtics ahead of rookie Gerald Henderson.
Clips' Griffin out 6 weeks with broken kneecap
LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin's broken kneecap has reminded the Los Angeles Clippers' No. 1 draft pick it's not always a good idea to play through pain.
Griffin will be off the court for six weeks to rest his knee after injuring it in a preseason game last Friday. He will miss the Clippers' season opener against the Lakers on Tuesday night, and isn't likely to resume basketball activities until mid-November.
