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"Austin is doing a decent job of trying to learn," Hornets coach Monty Williams said earlier in the week. "He's got to do a better job of picking up the NBA concepts. You're going to see flashes at times. You're going to see times where he looks like a college player, but he works hard. He's diligent about film work. He's going to get better because he works at it." SB Nation

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Austin Rivers 

Royce Webb: What to make of Hornets' lottery? Anthony Davis is the best rookie (26.0 PER); Austin Rivers might be the worst (5.5). Twitter @RoyceWebb

New Orleans Hornets, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis 

Rookie Darius Miller will start in place of Rivers, who had his left index finger taped on his non-shooting hand during the shootaround. Williams wouldn't elaborate on Rivers' injury other than to say he injured it at practice. "I really don't know the specifics on it yet, but it's nothing too serious," Rivers said. "I don't ever want to sit out a game because this is what I love to do.'' Rivers, who participated in the shootaround, said he thought he was playing but the Hornets made the decision to hold him out. "Whenever they want me back, I will love to play,'' Rivers said. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers, Darius Miller 

Williams made the comments when asked about Hornets forward Anthony Davis, who was injured last Friday night when he was hit in the heat with an elbow from teammate Austin Rivers. "The better he feels in the next couple of days, it helps the situation,'' Williams said before Saturday's game at the United Center. "But when you're dealing with the brain, I guess what's happening in football it's impacted everybody. So he got touched up a little bit last night and I'm sure that happens a lot in basketball. It's just that now you treat everybody like they have on white gloves and pink drawers. It's just getting old, but it's just the way the league is now.'' New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Monty Williams, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis, Stu Jackson 

It was teammate Austin Rivers‘ inadvertent elbow that clipped Davis in the side of the head, putting him out of what became an 88-86 loss. But it was the NBA’s precautionary concussions policy that prevented Davis from flying with the team to his hometown — his only scheduled appearance of 2012-13 in Chicago — and will sideline him until he satisfies the requirements of physical testing and a neurological exam. Now, please know that Williams was mindful of the NBA’s fining power when he spoke with reporters before the game. But as he spoke, he revved up a little and he didn’t mince words. “When you’re dealing with the brain, I guess what’s happening in football has affected everybody,” the Hornets coach said. “You treat everybody like they have on white gloves and pink drawers. It’s getting old. But it’s just the way the league is now.” NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Ed Davis, Monty Williams, Austin Rivers 

New Orleans Hornets guard Austin Rivers appeared to badly roll his injured right ankle again Friday night with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter of the team's exhibition finale against the Miami Heat. It is the second time in five days he has sustained an ankle injury. Rivers sprained his ankle on Monday night in Dallas against the Mavericks. Rivers appeared to get tangled within himself after slipping as Miami guard Norris Cole, who was guarding Rivers, ran past him. Rivers then fell backward, twisting the ankle again. He was ruled out for the rest of the game. Rivers surprisingly started Friday night against the Heat. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

Jamal Crawford: I don't even no Austin Rivers, but I hope he is ok after that fall...#damn Twitter @JCrossover

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers 

Mike Wells: I'm not sold Granger will play the entire season after this quote “(The knee) is testing me." More Granger: "They’re telling me the pain can’t do anything else to my knee. I’m going to have to play through the pain, but it hurts.” Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

John Reid: Hornets' Austin Rivers (right ankle), Jason Smith (left shoulder) and Eric Gordon (right knee) will not play tonight. Twitter @JohnReidTP

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Eric Gordon, Jason Smith, Austin Rivers 

Although he is listed as day-to-day, Rivers is likely to miss the final two preseason games, which includes Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets at New Orleans Arena. "It’s actually not that bad,’’ Rivers said after Tuesday’s practice. "This is not really swollen. But it’s not too bad just based on how I feel right now. I can be back very quickly. I’m not really worried about it.’’ New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets received good news Tuesday afternoon on rookie guard Austin Rivers' injured right ankle. An MRI performed Tuesday showed no structural damage. The team is listing him as day-to-day. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

New Orleans Hornets rookie Austin Rivers will undergo an MRI Tuesday to determine the extent of his sprained right ankle although X-rays revealed he does not have any structural damage. Rivers joins shooting guard Eric Gordon (sore right knee) and power forward Jason Smith (shoulder) on the injured list. But Rivers vowed to be ready for the Oct. 31 opener against the San Antonio Spurs. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets lost rookie guard Austin Rivers to a right ankle injury with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter of Monday night's exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks. The team said Monday night that X-rays were negative. Rivers went down in a heap on the baseline on the Hornets' end of the floor after driving into the lane and missing a layup. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

Marc Stein: The good news for Austin Rivers & Hornets: X-rays negative on sprained right ankle. Rivers carried off floor after nasty first-half landing Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

Austin Rivers: Lol how do you rank players that haven't even played an NBA game yet??? O well..mine will change after this year.i just want to win anyways! Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Austin Rivers 

New Orleans Hornets rookie guard Austin Rivers said he remains on schedule to be fully healed by October’s training camp after having surgery three weeks ago to remove a bone spur from his right ankle. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

Rivers, who is the son of Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, was limited to two games during the Hornets’ five-game schedule in the Las Vegas summer league because of what was termed lower leg soreness by the team. “I’m doing great actually now, so I’ll be back very soon,” Rivers said Tuesday by telephone from New York where he participated in the NBA’s rookie transition program. “It’s got a lot better and I actually got even stronger than I think I was before I got hurt.” New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets have announced that rookie guard Austin Rivers underwent successful surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, but is expected to recover in time to participate in training camp. The surgery was performed by Dr. Brian McKeon in Boston. Rivers played only two games during the Hornets' stay in the Las Vegas summer league because of what was described as lower leg soreness. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Injuries, Austin Rivers 

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed first round picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers to multi-year contracts. Davis was the first overall pick while Rivers was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed. NBA.com

New Orleans Hornets, Draft, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis 

The New Orleans Hornets have come to terms with power forward Anthony Davis and guard Austin Rivers, a formality since the collective bargaining agreement has established the compensation level for first-round picks. New Orleans Times-Picayune

New Orleans Hornets, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis, Transactions