The Houston Rockets are making their push for the playoffs, currently on the fringe of the Western Conference elites at 26-23, and they could really use the borderline All-Star talent of point guard Kyle Lowry to get them over the top. But unfortunately for them, Lowry says he may miss the rest of this season, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

“It was very scary for a while,” Lowry said of the bacterial infection that’s sidelined him almost three weeks. “I had a temperature of 104 for a couple days. It’s not a good feeling. It’s very scary, but it’s something that you learn from and you have do deal with and do what you have to do to get better.”

Lowry still doesn’t understand how the infection came about — he came down with a minor groin injury after a May 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors, and he went in for an MRI, doctors discovered another health issue altogether.

“Terrible. Horrible. Awful. Not right at all,” Lowry said of that night in Toronto. “It was just a bad ordeal for me. I was sick before the game. After the game, the guys waited for me an hour. I was trying to get an IV and they couldn’t do it. I was cold, shivering, chills. It was just a tough situation.”

Lowry has started 38 games this season for the Rockets, who sit in a three-way tie with Utah and Denver for the West’s last two playoff spots. He’s averaged 15.9 points, 7.2 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Houston Rockets guard Derek Fisher has reached a buyout agreement with the team, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Fisher, 37, will become a free agent once he clears waivers.

After starting the season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Fisher was traded to the Rockets Thursday for forward Jordan Hill.

In 25.5 minutes a game for the Lakers Fisher averaged 5.9 points per game.

The Houston Rockets were the least experienced team in the NBA yesterday morning. They’ve since changed that by adding the aging Marcus Camby and Derek Fisher — but wait, not so fast. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says Fisher may be bought out.

Morey will not address Derek Fisher. Expect buyout.

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Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 16, 2012

Unloading Fisher would make sense — the Rockets already have a solid starting point guard in Kyle Lowry, who should return within a couple weeks from the bacterial infection that’s sidelined him, plus a decent backup in Goran Dragic. Feigen also reports that the Rockets have reached out to Anthony Carter’s agent, hoping to add even further backcourt depth. Fisher appears to be the odd man out.

It’s worth noting that March 23 is the deadline for a bought-out player to catch on with another team and be eligible for the playoffs — so if Fisher wants to leave Houston, expect him to do so soon. Also of note: According to the new CBA (which ironically Fisher helped write), he can’t return to the Los Angeles Lakers until free agency begins on July 1.

The Lakers traded Fisher yesterday, along with a future first-round draft pick, to the Rockets for Jordan Hill. Fisher had started 43 games in L.A. this season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 assists.

Derek Fisher has been the point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers for the better part of a year and a half, but now no longer. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Fisher is on the move to the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers have traded Derek Fisher to the Rockets for Jordan Hill and a first-round pick, league source tells Y! Sports.

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Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 15, 2012

This comes just minutes after the Lakers made another notable deal involving a point guard, landing Ramon Sessions in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In effect, the Lakers have swapped out Fisher for a younger model in Sessions, added a decent young big man to their bench in Jordan Hill, and moved up in the draft from their own first-round pick to Houston’s. Not a bad day for L.A.

Fisher, who turns 38 in August, was averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 assists per game as the Lakers’ starter this season. He played only 25.6 minutes per game, often subbing out in crunch time for Steve Blake.

Hill was averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds off the bench for Houston. He should make an immediate impact in L.A. as a suitable backup for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

What a deadline it’s been — first the Lakers got their point guard and it wasn’t Chris Paul, and now the Houston Rockets get their big man, and it’s not Pau Gasol. Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears says the Portland Trail Blazers have dealt veteran center Marcus Camby to Houston.

Blazers will acquire center Hasheem Thabeet and guard Jonny Flynn from Houston for center Marcus Camby, source tells Y!

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Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) March 15, 2012

Camby, who turns 38 in a week, escapes the flaming wreckage that is a Blazers team mutinying against coach Nate McMillan. He joins a Rockets team that’s been dying to land one extra big man for the stretch run — Houston GM Daryl Morey tried and failed to land both Gasol and Nene this past offseason.

Camby started 40 games at center for Portland this season despite his advanced age. While his offensive production is pretty much shot (he’s shooting 41.6 percent and averaging 3.8 points in 22.4 minutes this year), he remains a tough, physical presence in the paint. The 16-year veteran is averaging 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

The Rockets are currently 24-20 this season, clinging to the eighth and final spot in the West playoffs. The Camby acquisition may just be enough to keep them solidly in contention down the stretch.

There’s still smoke, and there still may be fire yet — speculation continues about the Lakers potentially trading big man Pau Gasol. Ken Berger of CBS reports today that the Lakers “are said to be serious about trading Pau Gasol in the right deal.”

One major snag, however, is that one of the Lakers’ most prominent trade partners just became a lot less attractive. The Lakers were at one point rumored to be discussing a trade with the Houston Rockets built around Gasol and Kyle Lowry, but with Lowry now out for 2-4 weeks with a bacterial infection, the Lakers find their options limited.

Another Houston trade chip is power forward Luis Scola, but the Lakers are believed to be emphasizing a slimmer payroll in dealing Gasol, and Scola still has a healthy $19.6 million left on his contract in the next two years.

Then again, considering the age of Kobe Bryant and the narrow window for this Laker team to win another championship, it might be worth the financial investment for L.A. to gamble on a big contract like Scola’s.

“If they’re going to send a message to Kobe Bryant that they’re not about winning, they’re about money,” one league source told Berger, “that’s going to set off a whole new deal.”

The Houston Rockets may have failed to trade for Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol as part of the blocked three-team deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers, but they are still trying to acquire the big man, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Houston has continued to aggressively probe the Lakers on a potential Pau Gasol trade, but there's no deal close, league sources tell Y!

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Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 09, 2012

The Rockets, Lakers and Hornets had a deal in place that would have sent Gasol to Houston, but the NBA blocked the trade from being completed in December. Nevertheless, according to Wojnarowski, the Rockets are still interested in trading for Gasol, who is averaging 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season.

Dwight Howard has made it clear all along that if he leaves Orlando, there are three teams he’d like to play for — the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.

But there are other teams out there interested in trading for the superstar big man anyway, even if he won’t sign an extension past this season. The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors are open to making “rental” moves for Howard, according to Ken Berger of CBS.

The Rockets have been trying to get an All-Star caliber big man for years, most notably attempting to get Pau Gasol in the three-way Chris Paul blockbuster that was shot down back in December. They remain in pursuit of the Lakers’ big man, but they’re also interested in Howard if the Magic are willing to swing a deal.

The Warriors are a strange match for Howard — unlike the 21-19 Rockets, they’re most likely well out of playoff contention at 15-21, still in long-term rebuilding mode. Their interest in Howard indicates they want more than just a six-week rental, and perhaps they have a plan in the works to convice Superman to stay in the Bay Area long-term.

The Magic, who sit third in the Eastern Conference right now at 25-15, have to make a decision soon — the trade deadline is now only a week away.

Houston Rockets rookie Marcus Morris was ticketed early yesterday morning for his involvement in a barfight, according to a local TV report in Lawrence, Kans.

Morris, in Lawrence to catch the game between his alma mater Kansas and rival Missouri, was spotted in an altercation late Saturday night at The Cave in Lawrence. Officers were called to the establishment at 2:37 a.m., and Morris was one of two men ticketed.

“A male employee was allegedly punched by another man after a verbal dispute turned physical,” police spokeswoman Kim Murphree told Channel 6 News in Lawrence. “Another man allegedly punched the employee from behind.”

Morris is now scheduled to appear in Lawrence Municipal Court on March 20.

Houston Rockets forward Jordan Hill injured his right knee in practice today, according to the Associated Press. He is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Hill’s injury is a sprained MCL in his right knee, according to Dr. Walter Lowe.

The second-year big man is averaging 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Rockets this season.

Houston’s first game without Hill comes tomorrow night, when the Rockets host the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center.

Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is cheering for New York Knicks sensation point guard Jeremy Lin, according to NBA.com.

“I know that Jeremy was born in California and we both had very different backgrounds growing up,” Yao told NBA.com by phone. “But I feel that we are both Chinese and I am happy that a guard like him could come out of nowhere and make this big effect on the NBA. I hope it is the next step for us.”

Lin, one of the few Asian Americans ever to play in the NBA, has experienced a tremendous amount of support and praise from the Asian community in the U.S. as well as abroad.

The 31-year old Yao Ming, now retired, is one of the most renowned Chinese athletes.  A much different story than Lin, the Chinese superstar was selected as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.  At 7-foot-6, Yao Ming, the tallest player in the NBA, had a solid career although he missed 250 games, often riddled with foot and ankle injuries.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey regrets cutting New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, according to ESPN.

We should have kept @jlin7.Did not know he was this good.Anyone who says they knew misleading U RT @trane711 Just accept the @jlin7 mistake

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Daryl Morey (@dmorey) February 09, 2012

The undrafted former Harvard star Jeremy Lin has surprised many NBA fans and coaches with his phenomenal play the past three games, in which he has averaged 25.3 points.

In his first start this season against the Utah Jazz, with both Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony out, Lin stepped up to the challenge and scored 28 points with seven assists leading the Knicks to a 99-88 victory.  He was acquired by the Knicks off of waivers two days after he was released by the Rockets last December.  Lin and the Knicks (11-15) next game is against  Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers (14-11) tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando is just weeks away, but the league has already made plans for next year — the 2013 exhibition will be held in Houston, the league announced today.

“Houston is a spectacular sports city, and for one week it will be the basketball capital of the world,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “NBA All-Star is a magnificent celebration of our game, and I want to thank the city and the Rockets for welcoming us once again.”

This is the third time Houston has hosted All-Star weekend, with the first two coming in 1989 and 2006.

“I am thrilled the Rockets and the City of Houston have once again brought NBA All-Star to Toyota Center,” Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. “The All-Star Game showcases the best basketball players in the world and will allow our great Rockets fans and the entire community the opportunity to once again experience the best that our league has to offer.”

Houston is expected to be named the host of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, according to a tweet from Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.

Houston as home of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game was hinted at during lockout, but it becomes official tomorrow. League will announce it.

—
Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) February 07, 2012

Houston most recently served as the Host of the 2006 All-Star Game when the East beat the West 122-120. This will mark the third time in history that the city of Houston has hosted the game, the first coming in 1989 when the West beat the East 143-134.

The All-Star Game was hosted by Los Angeles last season, and will be hosted by Orlando this season.

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and impulse-control counseling stemming from a misdemeanor battery charge this summer, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Lowry was accused of throwing a ball at an official after a game played in Las Vegas during the lockout. Because the case was a misdemeanor, Lowry was not required to appear in court today — Clark County Courts spokesperson Mary Ann Price told the Chronicle that once Lowry completes his service time, the case against him will be dismissed.

Lowry is having an All-Star caliber season for the Rockets, averaging 14.7 points, 8.0 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.

Houston Rockets guard Courtney Lee was unharmed after being involved in a car accident following Saturday’s game with the New York Knicks, according to an Associated Press report.

The report states that his car was struck by another vehicle, but a team spokesman said that Lee called a Rockets security guard to say that he was okay.

As of Sunday, Houston police had no accident report, according to the AP.

Lee has started the last two games for the Rockets, scoring 14 points in Houston’s win over the Knicks Saturday.

A plane carrying the Detroit Pistons landed safely in a Houston airport after a distress call was made for a hydraulic issue, according to KHOU 11 News.

According to the report, none of the 44 people on the plane were injured. Emergency vehicles were present when the plane landed, but they were not needed, according to the report.

The Pistons are scheduled to play the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry has been charged in a Las Vegas court with misdemeanor battery stemming from a September basketball game between Lowry and other NBA players, FOX 26 in Houston is reporting.

“We have confirmed a criminal complaint charging Kyle Lowry with one count of misdemeanor battery has been filed with the Las Vegas Justice Court,” said Tess Driver of the district attorney’s office, in an interview with the station.

According to the arrest report, Lowry got upset with Infini Robinson, a female who was officiating the game. Lowry allegedly threw a basketball into her torso and then challenged her to a fight. He later, the report states, hit her again with the ball, throwing it “at a high rate of speed.”

If convicted, Lowry could spend six months in jail. The Rockets have released a statement to the media, acknowledging the situation.

“We are aware that a complaint has been filed in Las Vegas against Kyle,” said Daryl Morey, Rockets general manager, in a statement. “We will work to get clarity on the situation. As this is a legal matter, we will not comment further.”

The teams involved in the nixed three-team trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly appealed to NBA commissioner David Stern to reverse the league’s decision, according to a tweet from Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

No indication yet Stern prepared to reverse decision, but main argument is CP3 can't be dealt anywhere now if this deal doesn't go through

—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) December 09, 2011

The three-team trade, which involved the Hornets, Lakers, and the Houston Rockets, was nixed by the league late last night. According to NBA spokesman Tim Frank, the league “declined to make the trade for basketball reasons.” Several owners also publically complained about the deal before it was cancelled, claiming the trade would hurt the league’s competitive balance.

The deal would have sent Pau Gasol to the Houston Rockets and Lamar Odom, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and Goran Dragic to the New Orleans Hornets. It was also believed that the Hornets would receive Houston’s first round pick in the trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets are engaged in trade talks on a deal that would send coveted All-Star point guard Chris Paul to the Lakers, Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick reports.

A number of teams have expressed interest in the 26-year-old four-time NBA All-Star. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks emerged as potential suitors. However, most recent reports indicate that the Knicks, Paul’s preferred destination, are out of the running.

Over the course of discussions, it has become increasingly clear that a straight-up trade for Paul would not be likely. The three-way talks between the Hornets, Lakers and Rockets may prove successful and would ultimately result in Paul becoming a Laker. Paul has one year remaining on his current contract and any trade would likely result in a contract extension. Initial reports also claim the deal would send 31-year-old Lakers forward Pau Gasol to Houston.

In six seasons with the Hornets, Paul averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.