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The Houston Rockets announced today that forward Trevor Ariza suffered a left midfoot sprain in the game against Memphis on Monday, Oct. 23. He will not play during the team’s three-game road trip and will be re-evaluated by team doctors after the team returns to Houston.
Rockets center Nenê will miss the game at Philadelphia on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with left Achilles soreness. He will be day-to-day moving forward.
With injuries to several key guards, this change is surely temporary, but here’s ESPN.com reporting on what the Cavaliers lineup looked like in their game tonight against the Bulls:
Coach Tyronn Lue not only returned JR Smith to the Cleveland starting lineup in place of Dwyane Wade, but he also started LeBron James at point guard and Tristan Thompson at center — with Jae Crowder and Kevin Love filling out the frontcourt — when the Cavaliers hosted the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
The dramatic lineup change was motivated by both the Cavs’ injuries (Isaiah Thomas continues to rehab his right hip while Derrick Rose missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle) and by the Bulls’ lineup featuring 7-foot Robin Lopez.
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles has been fined $15,000 for making contact with the groin area of Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 8:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter of the Jazz’s 96-87 win over the Thunder on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
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The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Danté Exum:
Exum underwent a successful procedure Tuesday morning to stabilize the AC joint in his left shoulder. The procedure was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Exum will return to Salt Lake City to begin his rehabilitation and will remain out indefinitely. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.
The Australian appeared in 66 games (26 starts) last season for Utah, averaging a career-high 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 18.6 minutes per contest. Additionally, the 22-year-old saw action in seven 2017 NBA Playoff games, owning averages of 4.6 points and 1.3 assists in 12.0 minutes per game.
Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson has been fined $35,000 for making a menacing gesture on the playing court and directing inappropriate language toward a fan, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 6:10 remaining in the 4th quarter of the Suns’ 130-88 loss to the LA Clippers on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Staples Center.
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The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their team options for the 2018-19 season on Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr., it was announced today by General Manager Rob Pelinka.
Ingram, the second overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, appeared in 79 games (40 starts) as a rookie last season, averaging 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists, en route to All-Rookie Second Team honors. Ingram has started all three games this season, tallying 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.8 minutes.
Selected 27th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Nance Jr. played in 126 games (29 starts) over the last two seasons, notching 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. In three games (three starts) this season, Nance Jr. is averaging 11.3 points (.556 FG%), 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 22.0 minutes.
The L.A. Clippers today announced that the team will host WWE Night at STAPLES Center on Saturday, October 28 against the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. WWE Superstars The Miz, Becky Lynch, Enzo Amore and Darren Young will be in attendance to participate in WWE-themed elements throughout the run of show.
All fans that purchase tickets with the promo code ‘WWE’ will receive a throwback WWE-style Clippers T-Shirt, and 10 lucky fans who purchase the WWE package will win a pre-game meet & greet opportunity with one or more of the WWE superstars. In addition, there will be WWE prize giveaways throughout the night, including tickets to Monday Night RAW on December 4 at STAPLES Center and Pay-Per-View chairs from past events.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Briantê Weber to a two-way contract. Weber will immediately be transferred to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA G League partner Rio Grande Valley.
Weber (6-2, 175) was eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft following his senior season at Virginia Commonwealth University. Over the past two seasons, he has played for Memphis, Miami, Golden State, and Charlotte.
Last season, Weber was named All-NBA D-League Second Team after averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 3.3 steals in 31 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
NBA rosters have expanded from 15 to 17 players with the additional spots available for players under two-way contracts. Teams may have up to two players under two-way contracts who will spend the bulk of the regular season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA service are eligible to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.
Portland Trail Blazers two-way guard CJ Wilcox underwent successful arthroscopy on his right knee today, it was announced by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Evan Ellis at Southwest Washington Surgery Center.
The Trail Blazers signed Wilcox to a two-way contract on August 9. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
The Denver Nuggets have assigned rookie Tyler Lydon and transferred rookie Monte Morris to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and transferred rookie Torrey Craig to the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Craig, 6-6, 215, appeared in four preseason games for Denver, averaging 6.8 minutes per game. He also played in six summer league games (two starts) for the Nuggets, averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 1.00 blocks per game.
Lydon, 6-10, 225, was acquired by Denver along with Trey Lyles in a draft night trade with Utah. He appeared in all five of Denver’s preseason games, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game.
Morris, 6-3, 175, was selected by Denver with the 51st pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. He played in three preseason games for the Nuggets, averaging 3.0 points and 4.3 minutes per game.