PHILADELPHIA -- Andrew Bynum wants to play in Philadelphia. Hes not sure his achy knees will let him. It was the story of Bynums lone season in Philly. Its the same refrain now that hes back in town with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bynum hopes to play Friday night against the team that acquired him in a blockbuster trade in the summer of 2012. He never played a second for the Sixers because of bone bruises in both knees. He had season-ending arthroscopic surgery in March. With the Sixers in rebuilding mode, they had no interest in resigning the 7-foot Bynum. He signed a two-year, $24 million contract with Cleveland in July. Only one season is guaranteed and the team holds the option for next season. Only 26, Bynums days as a franchise centre are over. "Its still career-threatening," he said Thursday. "Im a shell of myself right now on the court. Im just struggling mentally. Im trying." Bynum has modest averages of 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in four games with the Cavaliers. Bynum had his best NBA season for the Lakers in 2011-12, averaging career highs of 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds while making his first All-Star team, starting for the West. He was the NBAs third-leading rebounder and 20th-leading scorer, while also ranking sixth in the league with 1.93 blocked shots per game. After a surprising run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Sixers hoped Bynum would be the missing piece that would turn them into a regular contender. But there were problems with knees from the start. The Sixers held him out of training camp as a precaution, and various timetables -- often set by Bynum -- came and went with nothing to show for his rehabilitation. The Sixers welcomed Bynum with a public press conference that whipped hundreds of fans into a frenzy. Without playing a game for the Sixers, he said he wanted to make Philadelphia his home -- and the team was ready to commit. Instead, they spent almost $17 million for nothing. "If I couldve played, I wouldve," Bynum said. "And thats where thats at." Bynum said he feels "sharp pains" in his knees and they were sore after a dunk in Wednesdays game against Milwaukee. Before the Cavaliers gambled on him, Bynum flirted with retirement. "Its a serious thought," he said. "It still is. Its tough to enjoy the game because of how I am physically. Im certain Ill work through that." Goran Dragic Jersey . Not Peyton Manning. Hes holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire. Kyle Alexander Heat Jersey . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Kendrick-...Edition-Jersey/. "Its amazing to do this coming from such a small island, where tennis isnt necessarily recognized as one of the main sports," Puig said. "Im just happy Im able to be here playing tennis not only for myself, but for my country too. Wayne Ellington Jersey . And though his comeback night didnt quite go to script, Bryant couldnt help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court -- and all the months of steady labour ahead to reclaim his game. Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night. Shaquille ONeal Heat Jersey . A police inspector told The Associated Press the crane operator is not yet suspected of any wrongdoing but is considered a key witness to the accident at the Arena Corinthians.MINNEAPOLIS -- When Kevin Martin had to be scratched about 30 minutes before tipoff because of an illness, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in desperate need of another scorer to fill in. Corey Brewer has done everything else in his short time back in Minnesota, so why not him? Brewer scored 27 points, Kevin Love had 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and the Timberwolves beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-95 on Wednesday night. "I checked to see if it (said) Kevin Martin on the back," Ricky Rubio said of Brewer. "He was wearing his jersey or something. He was making shots and he was being Corey too, running on the fast break. Hes been great for us." Rubio had a career-high 16 assists to go with 16 points, six rebounds and three steals, and the Timberwolves outscored Cleveland 29-6 in transition points to run the Cavaliers out of the building. Martin is the teams second-leading scorer, averaging 24.6 points and shooting 55.8 per cent on 3s. Normally a reluctant shooter who feasts on easy opportunities on the break, Brewer morphed into an aggressive scorer in the first half to ease any concerns about Martins absence. Brewer scored the first nine points for Minnesota and 12 in the first quarter to get the Wolves out quickly. He hit all five of his 3-pointers and helped lock down Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters on the other end. His energy carried over in a dominant first half. The Wolves outscored the Cavs 22-0 on the fast break and scored 16 points off seven turnovers to rack up 70 points in the first 24 minutes. "It was fun tonight," Brewer said. "We were passing the ball. Ricky had a great night. Kevin Love had a great night. The games easy when youre passing the ball." Irving scored 20 points on 8-for-17 shooting and survived a nasty collision in the first quarter for the Cavaliers. Anderson Varejao had 13 points and five rebounds starting for Andrew Bynum, who missed the game for personal reasons. The Cavs fell to 0-6 on the road this season. "Things that were not doing out there, things that need to be addressed within the locker room doors that are going to continue to be addressed,&qquot; Irving said.dddddddddddd "We just have to do better next time." The Wolves led by as many as 39 points, allowing their starters to sit the entire fourth quarter and get some much-needed rest during a grueling start to the schedule. The Cavaliers were caught flat-footed. They were outrebounded 49-37, outscored in the paint 56-32 and surrendered 100 points before there were 10 minutes gone in the third quarter. One game after coach Mike Brown surprised everyone by inserting Bynum into the starting lineup, the Cavs were without their centre while he tended to a family matter. Bynum is expected to miss two games, and the Cavs said it had nothing to do with his bothersome knees or an eyebrow-raising comment he made recently about having considered retirement. Bynum is expected to return on Saturday against Washington. Irving came into the game shooting just 37.7 per cent while he gets adjusted to a new system in Browns first season. Brown said he wasnt worried about the early season slump, but the coach clearly was concerned when his star player hit the deck hard after taking an inadvertent elbow from Brewer with under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Irving appeared to be a little woozy as he walked to the locker room holding a towel to his jaw. He was taken for X-rays, which came back negative, and returned in the second quarter. In a rocky start to his first season back on the Cavs bench, Brown tried to offer some encouragement after the ugly performance. "Obviously after a performance like that, youre concerned," Brown said. "But I thought we fought. Were nine games in and were going to keep on going forward." NOTES: Cavs F Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick, scored six points on 3-for-11 shooting. The point total was a career high for the struggling rookie. ... Rubio also had three steals and has had at least one in 30 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. ... The Wolves scored 38 points in the first quarter. They are averaging 33.4 points in the first quarter this season. ... Wolves rookie Robbie Hummel got his first start and finished with 10 points. ' ' '