Los Angeles Clippers head idiot coach Mike Dunleavy has decided to resign.

"I've come to the conclusion that this is the ideal time for me to direct my efforts toward the many personnel opportunities that lie before us, such as the trade market, the draft and the free-agent process. We fully expect to be active and productive on all those fronts."

The Clippers began play Thursday with the 12th-best record in the Western Conference, seven games out of a playoff spot at 21-28.

Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

I posted a report earlier about Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden getting stretchered off the court, after colliding with Aaron Brooks in transition midway through the first quarter in a game versus the Houston Rockets.

The Associated Press is now reporting Oden is likely done for the year with a fractured patella. The Trail Blazers said Oden will undergo surgery.

SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has signed a deal to return next year for his 23rd season as Utah’s head coach.

The team announced the deal Wednesday.

The 67-year-old Sloan, inducted into the Hall of Fame in September, is the longest-tenured active coach in major professional sports.

He’s also the longest-tenured coach in NBA history and helped the Jazz reach consecutive NBA finals in 1997-98. Last season, he became the first NBA coach to win 1,000 games with one franchise.

Bulls 93, Nuggets 112

The Nuggets (9-4) won their 15th straight regular season home game against the Chicago Bulls (6-6). Denver was led by Carmello Anthony's 30 points, along with Chauncey Billups' 21.

Derrick Rose scored 28 points. Luol Deng had 22 and Joakim Noah banked 10 in a losing effort.