January 2014 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Kings destroy Cavs by 44 points

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the Kings, who unleashed a dominating win yesterday:

Last Sunday, the Kings held a players-only meeting. It’s the kind of meeting that’s praised if wins follow but mocked if losses continue.

Since the gathering, the Kings have won a season-best three consecutive games. So, of course, it was just what the team needed.

Sunday at Sleep Train Arena, the Kings matched the third most lopsided win in franchise history, routing the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-80.

The victory margin equaled a 44-point win over Denver on Dec. 12, 1992, and trailed only a 56-point win over Philadelphia on Jan. 2, 1993 and a 58-point victory over Dallas on Dec. 29, 1992.

The Kings led by 46 points, their biggest advantage of the season, and tallied season highs in points, 3-pointers (15) and blocked shots (eight).

Joakim Noah not happy that Chicago Bulls traded Luol Deng

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times reporting on the Bulls, who beat the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday for their fifth win in a row:

While Noah wasn’t pointing fingers at his organization for trading Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he wasn’t thrilled with the decision.

“The trade definitely hurt, but we got to move on,’’ Noah said. “But I feel confident in this team. We’re working really hard, but a lot of people say this is a business and all that, but this game is more than a business to me. I put everything I’ve got into this.

“So I feel like Lu was the same way. It was hard for me to digest, but that’s just my perspective, that’s my side of the story. Everyone has a different job, I’m not mad at anybody, I’m not mad at the organization or anything like that. It’s just that my brother isn’t here anymore. I just needed a little bit of time to digest that.’’

Maybe, but digesting the opposition sure hasn’t been a problem for Noah, who seems to be on a crusade to prove everyone wrong since Deng was traded.

Historical Michael Jordan letters found in storage, up for auction

Here’s ESPN.com on some historical Michael Jordan letters that can be yours, if the price is right:

A storage locker bought by a man in North Carolina has never been featured on a popular television reality show, but its contents, including some unique documents related to Michael Jordan’s college career, are going up for auction.

New Jersey-based auction house Goldin Auctions acquired two 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels recruiting letters — one from assistant Bill Guthridge, and another from coach Dean Smith — from a consigner.

The documents, which had changed hands twice, Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin says, were some of the personal items Jordan gave to “Michael Jordan’s 23,” a restaurant that opened in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1999.

Goldin says that when the restaurant closed in November 2003, some of the items on the wall went into a storage locker, which became property of a lucky man after a storage bill wasn’t paid.

Photos: Drake Night at Toronto Raptors game

Saturday night in Toronto, the Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-80. Making the evening more special? It was Drake Night. According to the Associated Press, “rapper Drake, who is Toronto’s ‘global ambassador,’ was honored with a Drake Night promotion. The Grammy winner announced the starting lineups, and his official DJ Future the Prince performed at halftime.”

Atlanta Hawks sign forward James Nunnally to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward James Nunnally to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

In 19 starts with the Bakersfield Jam this season, Nunnally has averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 33.6 minutes (.448 FG%, .415 3FG%, .853 FT%). Following this week’s NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, NV, he was named to the All-Showcase first team by NBA scouts and basketball operations personnel.

Undrafted in 2012 out of UC Santa Barbara, he also played with the Jam last season, appearing in 49 contests (eight starts) and averaging 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.7 minutes (.430 FG%, .406 3FG%, .884 FT%). Nunnally was with the Phoenix Suns in training camp in 2013, and saw action in three preseason games.

As a senior at UC Santa Barbara in 2011-12, Nunnally put up 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 33.8 minutes (.458 FG%, .813 FT%).

Nunnally will wear uniform no. 2.

LeBron James did not appreciate foul from Nets forward Mirza Teletovic

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on a grumpy LeBron James, after the Miami Heat lost in double overtime on the road Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets:

Heat forward LeBron James did not appreciate the way Nets forward Mirza Teletovic fouled him with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter of Brooklyn’s 104-95 double-overtime win against Miami on Friday night at Barclays Center.

“He went around my neck, that was my take,” said James, who scored a game-high 36 points before fouling out for just the sixth time in his career (including playoffs).

“That was not a basketball play.”

James had jumped out in transition and was trying to get to the rim, but he pushed off Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko with his left arm and was called for an offensive foul.

With the play happening at full speed, Teletovic did not realize a foul had been called, so he wrapped up James to prevent him from going up for a layup or a dunk.

Kobe, Nash will be re-evaluated January 27

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles with an update on the banged-up Lakers:

With 10 of the team’s 15 games coming on the road, January figures to be difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers. But there might be a silver lining at the end of the month in the form of a future Hall of Fame backcourt returning to the fold.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said after shootaround in preparation for Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers that Kobe Bryant (fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee) and Steve Nash (nerve root irritation in his back and hamstrings) will be re-evaluated Jan. 27, when the Lakers return to L.A. after an upcoming 12-day, seven-game trip.

If they are cleared, the veteran guards could play shortly thereafter. Nash has been out since Nov. 10, and Bryant has been sidelined since Dec. 17.

D’Antoni recently joked that a bus will show up at the team’s practice facility in February and drop off the five currently injured Lakers players, all healthy and ready to contribute. But it turns out the players’ returns will be staggered.

Chicago Bulls sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent forward Cartier (Karr-tee-A) Martin to a 10-day contract.

Martin (6-7, 220) is currently in his sixth year in the NBA. After being drafted by the Iowa Energy with the 15th pick in the 2008 NBA Developmental League Draft, Martin was signed by the Charlotte Bobcats (Feb. 18, 2009) for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. In addition to the Bobcats, Martin has also played for the Golden State Warriors, the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks. Earlier this season, he appeared in 25 games (two starts) with the Hawks, and averaged 6.6 ppg on .403 shooting from the field, including .405 from downtown, 2.0 rpg and 0.7 apg in 17.5 mpg.

In five-plus seasons in the NBA, Martin has played in 186 regular season games (11 starts) and averaged 5.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 0.5 apg in 14.6 mpg, and shot .391 from the field, .385 from behind the arc and .741 from the free-throw line.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 13 players.

Warriors recall guard Nemanja Nedovic from D-League

The Golden State Warriors have recalled guard Nemanja Nedovic from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Nedovic was assigned to Santa Cruz on December 28 and played in three games with the club, averaging 11.7 points, 3.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.67 steals in 23.0 minutes. The rookie point guard holds season averages of 19.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 29.2 minutes over five games in the D-League.

Suns guard Eric Bledsoe out indefinitely after knee surgery

Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe today underwent successful arthroscopic surgery involving meniscus cartilage in his right knee, the team has announced.

The surgery was performed in Phoenix by renowned Suns team doctor and knee surgeon Thomas Carter. Bledsoe will immediately begin a recovery and rehabilitation program and will pursue a possible return to action during the second half of this NBA season.

Bledsoe has averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 24 games this season, his first with the Suns.

According to the Associated Press, “Bledsoe was having the finest season of his career after being acquired by the Suns from the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason, averaging 18 points and 5.8 assists per game. He and Goran Dragic formed the double-point guard backcourt that had been the catalyst of the Suns’ surprising start to the season. This is the second time in a little over three years that the 24-year-old player has undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the same knee. The first surgery was performed Oct. 7, 2011, during the NBA lockout of that season.”

According to Arizona Sports, “the Suns engaged with Bledsoe on extension talks but couldn’t reach an agreement before the NBA’s Nov. 1 deadline, though that seemed like the right move for Phoenix at the time because it could see Bledsoe’s production as the team’s centerpiece before committing to a major contract. But now the team may be burdened with the decision to match a maximum contract offer to Bledsoe despite the fact that he’s coming off a major injury.”