NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Nov 28 (The Sports Xchange) - Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will return to action and start Friday night against the New York Knicks after missing 14 games with a broken finger. The three-time All-Star broke the index finger on his right hand in the second game of the season Oct. 30 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Westbrook was reevaluated this week and cleared to play. Reggie Jackson will return to his backup role. Westbrook said he will wear a protective-type brace on his right hand. "Rather not wear it, but it's cool," said Westbrook, who returned to practice this week. "I'm just going to play regular. I may have more touch with my left hand now, but I'm not just going to try something (crazy)." Oklahoma remains without forward Kevin Durant, who had surgery five weeks ago after breaking his foot. The Thunder have stumbled to a 4-12 record without their two All-Stars. - - The NBA announced that commissioner Adam Silver has denied the Sacramento Kings' protest of their 111-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 13. The basis for the Kings' protest was that Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee's game-winning shot should have been disqualified as having been made after time expired. "The commissioner determined that the game officials' call that Lee's shot was timely was within their judgment and not a misapplication of the playing rules," the NBA statement said. "Sacramento's protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game's result." - - The Sacramento Kings reassigned rookie forward Eric Moreland to Reno of the Development League. The 6-foot-10, 218-pound Moreland from Oregon State is averaging 13.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in three games for Reno. - - The Indiana Pacers officially waived guard A.J. Price after their second injury hardship relief exception expired. Price, the 52nd overall draft pick in 2009, was brought back to Indiana to provide much-needed depth in the backcourt. He averaged 10.5 points and 2.7 assists over 10 games. - - The Atlanta Hawks assigned guard John Jenkins and forward/center Adreian Payne to Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League. (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)