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Charlotte Bobcats power forward Byron Mullens was held out of contact drills at practice Monday because of continued swelling in his right knee.
Mullens sat out Saturday’s preseason loss to the Detroit Pistons with the same injury. It happened in practice Friday, in a collision with teammate Bismack Biyombo.
“Biz hurt me – he’s taking people out,’’ Mullens joked after practice Monday. “It was a knee-to-knee thing (causing) a little bone bruise. Got a little swelling going on.’’
The Bobcats don’t consider the injury serious, but it’s unclear whether Mullens will be cleared to play in Tuesday’s exhibition against the Miami Heat in Raleigh. Mullens has been the Bobcats’ second-leading scorer this preseason at 15.8 points and started the first four exhibitions.
“I tried to go today and it was still a little tight, so I’m taking it a little easy right now,’’ Mullens said. “There’s no rush to get back. Just trying to get back to 100 percent.’’ Rick Bonnell
Around the league
Indiana: The Pacers exercised an option that will keep swingman Paul George with the team through the 2013-14 season. Last season, George averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists, and he’s expected to play a bigger role this season.
L.A. Lakers: Kobe Bryant skipped practice to rest his aching right foot. The Lakers announced Monday that Bryant’s foot is sore and bruised.
Bryant was injured during the third quarter of the Lakers’ 99-92 preseason loss to Sacramento on Sunday night. He stayed in the game and scored 21 points.
• Former Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard made his Lakers debut Sunday, getting 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, but Los Angeles still dropped to 0-6 in the preseason.
Oklahoma City: The Thunder waived guard Walker Russell, reducing their training camp roster to 18. Russell played 28 games with Detroit last season.
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