Month: November 2014

Kings recall Eric Moreland from D-League

Sacramento Kings recall Eric Moreland from D-League

The Sacramento Kings have recalled rookie forward Eric Moreland from the team’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, it was announced today by General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

A 6-10, 218-pound forward from Oregon State, Moreland was assigned to the Bighorns on November 4 and played in two games for the Bighorns. Morleand totaled 30 points (.619 FG%, 13-21 FG, 4-10 FT), 26 rebounds, three assists, five steals and one block in 58 minutes in starting both games. He led the Bighorns in rebounding in both games, recording two double-doubles.

Report: Kings will sign Rudy Gay to extension

The Sacramento Kings are off to a solid 6-4 start this season, and have a core that appears to be worth keeping in tact. Forward Rudy Gay is averaging 22.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists through 10 games. Here’s News 10 ABC reporting that the Kings and Gay have agreed to remain together for years to come:

Report: Kings will sign Rudy Gay to extension

The Sacramento Kings and forward Rudy Gay have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $40 million that runs through the 2017-18 season, according to two league sources.

Both sources spoke to News10 on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly and because no official announcement from the team had been made.

The three-year deal includes a player option in the third year, allowing Gay to become a free agent should he desire to do so.

Celtics recall Dwight Powell and James Young from D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have recalled rookies Dwight Powell and James Young from the Maine Red Claws.

In the Red Claws 81-80 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Sunday, Powell recorded 21 points on 9-16 (.563) shooting and a game-high 17 rebounds in 38 minutes, while Young scored 21 points and pulled down five rebounds in 36 minutes of action.

Sacramento Kings file game protest

Sacramento Kings file game protest

The National Basketball Association announced today that the Sacramento Kings have protested the team’s 111-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 13 at FedExForum.

The basis for the Kings’ protest is that Courtney Lee’s game-winning shot should have been disqualified as having been made after time expired.

Under the protest procedures in the NBA Constitution, Memphis and Sacramento each will have an opportunity to submit evidence in support of its position and the protest will be decided by December 2.

According to the Associated Press, “Memphis won 111-110 on Thursday on Courtney Lee’s last-second basket. The play was reviewed on the court by officials. They not only checked whether Lee got the shot off before the buzzer, but whether the Kings tipped the inbounds pass. That would have started the clock earlier, causing time to run out before Lee’s attempt.”

Video: Cavs hit 9-of-9 three-pointers in first quarter vs Hawks

Sunday was a fun day in Cleveland, as the Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 127-94. The home squad put up an epic first quarter, outscoring the Hawks 41-25, and hitting an amazing 9-of-9 three-pointers. The Cavs finished the game 19-of-31 (61.3%) from outside the arc. Enjoy these video highlights of their wild first quarter:

According to the Associated Press, “the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to go 9 for 9 or better from behind the arc in a quarter, according to information provided to the team by the Elias Sports Bureau.”

Andre Drummond dealing with foul issues

Pistons center Andre Drummond dealing with foul issues

The Detroit Pistons are off to a 3-7 start this season, including a 1-5 road record. Their scoring mostly comes from forward Greg Monroe (16.8 ppg on 51.4% shooting) and guard Brandon Jennings (16.2 ppg on 45.1% shooting). Center Andre Drummond gets rebounds (11.2 rpg) and blocks (1.6 bpg), but offensively needs improvement, and he also has to work on fouls. Specifically, not committing them. Here’s Michigan Live reporting:

Andre Drummond dealing with foul issues

Josh Smith was the one primarily stuck with the futile task of containing Zach Randolph’s rebounding, but that wasn’t really the problem in the Detroit Pistons’ 95-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Andre Drummond’s continuing foul issues rose up again, and what seemed like an early-season nuisance has turned into a more significant concern as the Pistons’ center was limited to 20 minutes by five fouls.

Drummond had two first-quarter fouls for the ninth time in 10 games, and against the powerhouse Grizzlies front line, his absence threw the rotations askew. Greg Monroe had to shift to center, primarily against Marc Gasol, and Smith was charged with containing Randolph.

Gasol and Randolph combined for 40 points and 30 rebounds — Randolph alone had 13 offensive rebounds — and the Pistons were hard-pressed to stop them with one of the NBA’s premier rebounders foul-addled again.

Damian Lillard shines in Blazers win vs Nets

Damian Lillard shines in Blazers win vs Nets

The Portland Trail Blazers are 7-3, including a 6-1 record at home. Here’s the Oregonian reporting the latest:

Damian Lillard shines in Blazers win vs Nets

With LaMarcus Aldridge home sick and Nicolas Batum on the bench in a suit there were some holes to fill for the Trail Blazers heading into Saturday’s meeting with Brooklyn Nets.

Damian Lillard provided another impressive performance recording 28 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, but the key to the 97-87 win came from an unexpected source: the Blazers young reserves.

“It was definitely a team win because we needed everybody’s contributions,” Stotts said. “It just goes to show you that the young guys are getting better.”

Against the Nets, the “young guys” were a necessity. Wesley Matthews (3-for-13) and Chris Kaman (3-for-11) both struggled shooting the ball while Robin Lopez missed his first three shots and couldn’t found his rhythm early. Other than Lillard, who was sensational throughout, the Blazers regulars struggled.

Lakers assign Jordan Clarkson and Xavier Henry to D-League

Jordan Clarkson and Xavier Henry have been assigned to the Los Angeles
D-Fenders from the Los Angeles Lakers, it was announced today.

Clarkson, a second round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in eight games for the Lakers this season, averaging 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 11.4 minutes. Clarkson played two seasons at the University of Tulsa, before transferring to Missouri where he appeared in 35 games and averaged 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.9 minutes.

Henry has appeared in seven games this season for the Lakers, scoring 1.3 points per contest. A product of Kansas University, Henry appeared in 43 games for the Lakers in 2013-14, averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.1 minutes per game.