Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Conn., but the Pistons didn't play that evening.

Prior to Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers, Drummond wrote the name of each victim on his game shoes.



In addition, he Tweeted that he'll be donating his game-worn jersey to the school, writing "In honor of the Sandy Hook shooting I will be donating my game jersey I'm wearing today to the school!"

An adopted Connecticuter, Drummond went to high school at Saint Thomas More in Oakdale, Conn., before spending his freshman year of college at UConn — 75 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary.


BULLS DIRECTION


The Chicago Bulls entered the NBA season with grand aspirations. They finally had a healthy Derrick Rose and the roster that won an NBA playoff series last season remained intact.

It all fell apart before the end of the season's first quarter, however, with Rose going down for the season for a torn meniscus in his right knee and several other players fighting nagging injuries.

And now, with Luol Deng facing free agency, Rose is afraid he won't be able to make a run with Deng, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer together before the team decides to go into rebuilding mode, according to a New York Daily News report (via ProBasketballTalk).

“Derrick is worried that the Bulls are going to lose what they have,” a league source told the Daily News. “He doesn’t want to go through rebuilding.”

This could be the new reality for Rose, if the way Deng's contract negotiation serves as any indication. Deng could not come to an agreement with the Bulls, and the team decided to allow him to test out free agency.

Rose has a long-term deal and is the face of the franchise, so he will be in Chicago regardless of their direction. Still, he is a player who wants to challenge for a title. And if the Bulls go the rebuilding route he would be in for years of playing for losing teams, assuming he could get healthy enough to stay on the court.


MEYERS, ORTON SCUFFLE


Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard and Philadelphia 76ers Daniel Orton were each suspended without pay after being ejected for a physical altercation in a Dec. 14 game at the Wells Fargo Center, announced Rod Thorn, president of basketball operations.

Even though the incident happened quickly, it reached a level of volatility rarely seen in basketball games. The two players did a little pushing and shoving down the floor until Leonard snapped and body-slammed Orton, who then retaliated with an elbow to Leonard's mouth.

Leonard will sit out Sunday when the Trail Blazers play against the Detroit Pistons. Orton will serve his suspension on Dec. 16 when the Sixers travel to the Brooklyn Nets.


SMITH SHOOTING


New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith is a gunner, and we all know it. That's why it was surprising when Smith took only one field goal in the Knicks' Friday loss to the Boston Celtics.

But there was a reason for Smith's freezeout. Smith's only shot was one 3-pointer in 26 minutes after coach Mike Woodson lit into him for shot selection and became angered by something Knicks guard said on the bench in the previous game against the Chicago Bulls, according to the New York Daily News.

After the Knicks' Friday win over the Bulls, Woodson expressed his displeasure with Smith and told the Knicks' sixth man that he has been in his corner more than anyone else.

Smith came out of that episode and put together a defiant effort, one that was not true to the type of player he has been throughout his basketball career. He did return the next night and shoot 1-of-8 for two points in a 111-106 Knicks win.

He addressed the performance afterward, and pointed out that winning is all he cares about.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, Kami Mattioli