TURKEY BOUND - Team USA's Paul out indefinitely with ankle sprain

NEW ORLEANS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Team USA’s point guards, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, have been out of action of late.

New Orleans star Paul sprained his left ankle on Friday in a game against Portland and is out indefinitely, according to the Hornets.

Williams has missed the Utah Jazz’s last two games after being given personal leave to be with one of his two young daughters who was having medical tests for an undisclosed condition.

The Jazz point guard has rejoined the team and is expected to be back in the line-up when the Jazz face Toronto on Wednesday evening.

Both Paul and Williams, gold-medal winners with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, are expected to be with the national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Other stars possibly headed to Istanbul were in action on Monday night.

Germany

• Dirk Nowitzki – The seven-footer capped a 32-point performance by making an 18-footer at the buzzer as Dallas edged Milwaukee in overtime, 115-113. For Nowitzki to play in Turkey next year, Germany must receive a wild card.

Puerto Rico

• JJ Barea – The back-up point guard of Dallas had 11 points and four assists in the win over Milwaukee.

France

• Rodrigues Beaubois – The rookie who played for Cholet in last year’s FIBA EuroChallenge continues to impress as a starter for Dallas. He scored 12 points on five of nine shooting from the floor after playing 24 minutes against the Bucks.
• Boris Diaw – The French forward made 10 of 13 shots from the floor and scored 21 points in Charlotte’s 97-91 defeat to Orlando.
• Mickael Pietrus – The Orlando shooting guard started and buried three of six shots from behind the arc on his way to 10 points in the Magic’s victory.

Cameroon

• Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – If Cameroon receive a wild card for the FIBA World Championship, Mbah a Moute is likely to make the trip to Turkey. He started for Milwaukee and played 42 minutes, scoring 13 points and hauling in six rebounds.

Team USA

• Dwight Howard – The USA center scored 14 points and corralled 11 rebounds in Orlando’s win over Charlotte.

Turkey

• Ersan Ilyasova - The Turkey power forward came off the bench and had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Milwaukee against Dallas.

Spain

• Rudy Fernandez – The Spain star drilled four of six shots from long range and had 19 points and a game-high four steals but he and the Portland Trail Blazers lost 99-95 in overtime at Atlanta.

Argentina

• Carlos Delfino – The Argentina shooting guard had nine points and four rebounds in 17 minutes for Milwaukee.

Australia

• Andrew Bogut – The Bucks center scored 13 points, hauled in six rebounds and came up with two steals against Dallas.

Dominican Republic

• Al Horford – The Atlanta Hawks center finished with 15 points, corralled 10 rebounds and swatted two shots in the overtime triumph against Portland. Horford will play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship if the Dominicans receive a wild card.

FIBA