March 2016 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

D`Angelo Russell putting up big stats lately

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has marked his return to the starting lineup with some of the best performances of his rookie season. The No. 2 pick of NBA Draft 2015 is averaging 19.9 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 49.0 percent from three-point range in his last eight games. That stretch includes five 20-point efforts and the first 39-point outing by a Lakers rookie since Elgin Baylor in 1959. Russell leads all rookies with 106 three-pointers and ranks fourth among first-year players in scoring at 13.1 points per game.

— Via NBA News

Michael Carter-Williams will have season-ending surgery for hip injury

Michael Carter-Williams suffers season-ending injury

Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams will undergo season-ending surgery on Thursday (Mar. 10) to repair the torn labrum in his left hip, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Surgery will be performed by Dr. Marc Philippon at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. Recovery time for Carter-Williams is expected to be three months.

In 54 games (37 starts) this season, Carter-Williams has averaged 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, a team-high 5.2 assists and 1.48 steals in 30.5 minutes per contest.

Celtics sign Coty Clarke to 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics have signed Coty Clarke to a 10-day contract.

Clarke, a 6’7” forward, has appeared in 39 games for the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate Maine Red Claws this season and has averaged 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.0 minutes per game. Clarke, the 27th “call-up” from the D-League of the season, is currently shooting 50.8 percent from the floor, 38.8 percent from three and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line. Clarke was on the training camp roster for the Celtics prior to the start of the 2015-16 season and appeared in one game during the 2015-16 preseason.

Pacers sign Ty Lawson

The Indiana Pacers have signed point guard Ty Lawson.

Lawson, 5-11, 195-pounds is in his seventh year in the league. He played his first six seasons with the Nuggets before the Rockets acquired him last summer. He averaged 5.8 points per game and 3.4 assists with Houston in 53 games this season before they waived him last week.

According to the Indianapolis Star, “Lawson was not shy about why he picked the Pacers over four other teams that were pursuing him after he agreed last week to a buyout from the Houston Rockets. “This is the place for me,” he said with a smile. “I feel like I’ll actually get enough time to be able to play my game, so I’m just excited. We have a chance to win. The East is wide open from, like, the third seed to the 12th seed. I guess everybody is jumbled together. We definitely can make a lot of noise if we go on a seven- or eight-game win streak.”

During his career, Lawson is averaging 13.3 points and 5.8 assists per game. Lawson, who played collegiately at North Carolina, was a first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft.

“We’re glad to have Ty come play with the Pacers for this final run of the season,” said Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “We think he brings added speed to our backcourt, he can get up and down the floor and he helps strengthen our second unit.”

“This is a good opportunity for me to come here, try to help the Pacers win and get into the playoffs,” said Lawson. “I’m just ready to play and do whatever is needed.”

Hassan Whiteside scoring big for Heat lately

When Charles Barkley suggested that Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside could average 20 points per game, Chris Bosh scoffed at that, saying even 18 a game was unrealistic for Whiteside with a full roster. But since Bosh was sidelined by a blood clot, Whiteside is averaging 18.5 points since the NBA All-Star break, compared to 12.2 ppg since before the break.

That’s a byproduct of playing more minutes (31.4 since Bosh’s health scare, 28.2 before) and taking more shots (11.9 field-goal attempts per game after to 8.2 before). “My numbers went up because my role went up,” he said.

But it’s also the result of the development of his mid-range jumper. Though the Heat doesn’t want Whiteside taking his jumpshot early in the shot clock, he’s shooting 48 percent from 10 to 19 feet since the All-Star break, compared with 40.7 percent before (22 for 54).

— Miami Herald

Manu Ginobili returning for Spurs

Manu Ginobili, who has been sidelined for a month after having testicular surgery February 4, will play in today’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said there’s “not really” a minutes restriction on Ginobili, who has out for the team’s last 12 games.

San Antonio has won seven games in a row, and are undefeated while playing at home (29-0). They are in second place in the Western Conference with a 52-9 record, and are just 3.5 games behind the first-place Golden State Warriors.

— San Antonio Express-News

Suns waive Sonny Weems

The Phoenix Suns waived guard/forward Sonny Weems today.

Weems, in his fourth NBA season, played in 36 games with Phoenix this season and averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes. He originally was signed by the Suns last July.

The Suns’ roster is now just 13 players. According to Yahoo Sports, the team plans to sign Chase Budinger with one of those available spots.

Pistons sign Justin Harper to second 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons signed forward Justin Harper to a second 10-day contract.

Harper in three games with Detroit this season is averaging 3.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per outing.

Harper, 6-10, 225, averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 34 games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League) this season. He shot an impressive 48.5% from the field, 40.3% from beyond the arc and 88.5% from the free-throw line.

A second-round pick (32nd overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft, Harper saw action in 14 NBA games with the Orlando Magic during the 2011-12 season.

Thunder sign Nazr Mohammed

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed free agent center Nazr Mohammed to a contract today, team Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

Mohammed (6-10, 250), who is best used in very limited minutes off the bench, previously spent two seasons with the Thunder (2010-12), appearing in 87 games (eight starts) averaging 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

A 17-year NBA veteran, Mohammed owns career averages of 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 15.9 minutes in 1000 games (354 starts) with Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, San Antonio, Detroit, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Chicago.

Pacers waive Chase Budinger

The Indiana Pacers announced they have requested waivers on 6-7 forward Chase Budinger.

Acquired from Minnesota in a trade last July, Budinger played in 49 games (starting two), averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

The Pacers are 32-30 this season, and being led by Paul George (23.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.2 apg), Monta Ellis (14.3 ppg, 4.7 apg), George Hill, C.J. Miles, and Myles Turner.