NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog
NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
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Raptors forward-guard Terrence Ross sustained a ligament injury to his left thumb during a Monday workout session. There is no timetable for his return to basketball activity. His status will be updated as appropriate.
Ross has averaged 6.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 17.5 minutes in seven appearances as a reserve this season. He had a season-high 21 points October 30 at Boston.
The Raptors return to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia. (TSN/Sportsnet 590 The FAN).
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The Miami HEAT announced today that they have acquired guard Beno Udrih and forward Jarnell Stokes from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Mario Chalmers and forward James Ennis.
“This is an tough day for myself and the organization in trading Mario Chalmers and James Ennis,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Mario was a part of two championships with us and Ennis is a solid young player, but it is part of the business and it was a move necessary to make because of our crowded backcourt. We feel that it is in the best interest of Mario and we want him to be successful and be a part of a good team. We wish them nothing but the best. We would also like to welcome Beno Udrih, an accomplished veteran and someone that has playoff and championship experience, and the addition of Jarnell Stokes, a young player that we would like to develop.”
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Udrih, entering his 12th NBA season, has appeared in 756 career games (267 starts) and averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 rebounds and 22.5 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 82.9 percent from the foul line. The Slovenian guard scored a season-high 13 points at Indiana on October 29 and has dished out a season-high six assists on two separate occasions this season. The two-time NBA champion has appeared in 53 postseason games and averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 11.3 minutes while shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 80.4 percent from the foul line.
Stokes, drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round (35th overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in 21 career NBA games (two starts) and averaged 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 6.2 minutes while shooting 56.8 percent from the field. He appeared in 23 games (14 starts) with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League last season and averaged 15.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 32.0 minutes while shooting 61.7 percent from the field. Stokes appeared in 87 games while at Tennessee (84 starts) and averaged 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.08 blocks and 29.7 minutes while shooting 62.8 percent. He finished his collegiate career first in offensive rebounds, fourth in double-doubles, eighth in total rebounds and 14th in blocks on the school’s all-time list.
Chalmers has appeared in 525 career games with the HEAT (383 starts) and averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.51 steals and 27.8 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the foul line. He finished among Miami’s all-time leaders in steals (2nd), assists (3rd), games played (4th), three-point field goals made (4th), minutes played (6th), starts (6th), points (11th), free throw percentage (11th), double-figure scoring efforts (12th), field goals made (13th), free throws made (13th), rebounds (15th), field goal percentage (19th) and three-point field goal percentage (20th). Chalmers was the starting guard on two HEAT championship teams, appearing in 99 career postseason games (73 starts) and averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.19 steals and 29.1 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent from the foul line.
Ennis, drafted by the HEAT in the second round (50th overall) in the 2013 NBA Draft, has appeared in 65 career games with the HEAT (three starts) and averaged 4.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the foul line.
Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on the Heat, who will soon send guard Mario Chalmers to Memphis:
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The Miami Heat has agreed to trade veteran backup guard Mario Chalmers and 2013 second round pick James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies for 33-year-old backup guard Beno Udrih and 6-9, 263-pound backup power forward Jarnell Stokes.
The league has yet to confirm the trade first reported by Yahoo! Sports, but an independent source told the Miami Herald that the trade has been agreed to and the players are being informed.
The move would save the Heat, who have the fourth-highest payroll in the NBA at $93.3 million, about $2 million in roster space and help trim the luxury tax by roughly $6 million at the end of the year. Chalmers, 29, is making $4.3 million this season and Ennis is making $845K. Udrih is making $2.17 million and Stokes is making $980K.
Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune blog reporting on the Utah Jazz, whose fantastic team defense has played a huge role in their successful 4-2 start this season:
The two go hand in hand.
That’s what Quin Snyder and Gordon Hayward said about LeBron James and defending the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When the Jazz and the Cavs match up tonight at Quicken Loans Arena, the Jazz know James presents unique challenges that prove difficult for every team in the NBA to address.
If you play James straight up defensively, he could give the Jazz 40 points without blinking an eye. If you double him and force the ball out of his hands, James has as deep a stable of 3-point shooters as any superstar in the league. And since he’s one of the best passers in the NBA, there’s a good bet that he will find them open and roaming on the perimeter.
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Warriors center Andrew Bogut, who was diagnosed with a concussion on October 28, has completed the NBA’s concussion protocol and has been cleared to play. He is expected to be in uniform for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons at Oracle Arena.
Bogut left Golden State’s Opening Night victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on October 27 with 7:07 remaining in the third quarter and did not return to the game.
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Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond and Houston Rockets guard James Harden were today named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 8.
Drummond helped the Pistons to a 2-1 week behind averages of 22.0 points (fourth in the East) and a league-leading 24.3 rebounds. He collected a point-rebound double-double in all three contests, and had two games where he posted 25-plus points alongside 25-plus rebounds. Drummond, who shot 68.9 percent from the field for the week, becomes the first player to open a season with consecutive Player of the Week awards since LeBron James in the 2011-12 campaign as a member of the Miami Heat.
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Harden led the Rockets to a 4-0 week behind a league-best 38.5 points. He also chipped in with 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals. Harden scored 37 points to open the week during a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 2, and closed the week with back-to-back 40-point performances in wins over the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 6 and the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 7.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Indiana’s Paul George, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Orlando’s Evan Fournier, Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor and Portland’s Damian Lillard.
Through Sunday’s games, the NBA is being led by the Warriors (7-0), Hawks (7-1), Cavaliers (6-1), Pistons (5-1) and Raptors (5-2). Enjoy these league-wide video highlights of the top plays of the week:
Enjoy these video highlights of the top NBA dunks of the week:
Below are team notes on the 3-4 Orlando Magic
Orlando kicks off a four-game week tonight when they take on the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. On November 11, the Magic will host the Los Angeles Lakers, and on Friday, November 13, the Magic will take on the Utah Jazz at home before ending the week at the Washington Wizards Saturday (7 p.m.). All games are broadcast exclusive locally on FOX Sports Florida.
Evan Fournier is coming off a career week with the Orlando Magic. On Nov. 3, Fournier scored a career-high 30 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 1:13 of the game to lift Orlando to its first victory of the season over the New Orleans Pelicans. On Nov. 4, he had another 20+ scoring performance, adding 29 points, including two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to send the Magic to overtime against the Houston Rockets. Fournier finished the week as the leading scorer for the Magic, averaging 21.8 ppg. over the four-game stretch.
From the floor, the Magic are holding opponents to .410 (256-of-625 FG), which ranks fourth in the NBA (as of Nov. 8). In addition, Orlando is holding the opposition to shoot .292 (61-of-209) from beyond the three-point arc, which ranks sixth in the league (as of Nov.8).
The Orlando Magic are averaging 6.71 blkg. (47 blocked shots) this season, which ranks second in the NBA (as of Nov.8).
Orlando went 3-1 last week, including wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. The Magic notched their first win of the season (103-94) on Nov. 3 on the road against the Pelicans, and then took the Houston Rockets to overtime before falling, 114-119. Following a home win on Nov. 6 against the previously unbeaten Toronto Raptors (92-87), the Magic defeated Philadelphia, 105-97, at Wells Fargo Center.
Here’s ESPN.com with the latest on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who may be playing his final season in the league:
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Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant recently sat down to discuss how they will approach back-to-back games this season — if Bryant will play in some, rest in others, etc. But Bryant, in his 20th season, made it known he doesn’t want to miss any games.
“Coach, this might be my last year, so, if possible, I would like to try to play every game,” the 37-year-old Bryant said, according to Scott.
Initially, Scott said he was on board with the plan. But now, entering the Lakers’ first of 17 back-to-back sets this season — the Lakers play in Miami on Tuesday and then in Orlando on Wednesday — Scott appears to be having some second thoughts.