Knicks sign Lance Thomas for rest of season

Knicks sign Lance Thomas for rest of season

Knicks sign Lance Thomas for remainder of season

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Lance Thomas for the remainder of the season.

Thomas, 6-8, 225-pounds, is averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 25.5 minutes in seven games (one start) with New York after signing the first of two 10-day contracts on Jan. 10.

Gani Lawal signs in Athens, Greece

Gani Lawal signs in Athens, Greece

Here’s EurocupBasketball with an update on Gani Lawal:

Panathinaikos Athens added size and intimidation to its front court with the signing of big man Gani Lawal on Saturday. Lawal (2.05 metres, 26 years old) arrives from the Turkish side Trabzonspor where so far this season he averaged 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in the Turkish League, and 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in EuroChallenge action. Last season he played with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, winning the Italian League title and being the second overall blocker of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague playoffs, rejecting 7 shots in 4 games.

Derrick Favors playing great season for Jazz

Derrick Favors playing great season for Jazz

Derrick Favors enjoying good season for Jazz

Scan the top 20 in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and you’ll find a host of perennial All-Stars and MVP candidates. Also in the mix is a fifth-year big man who keeps progressing and has helped stabilize a young, developing team. Derrick Favors, 23, is enjoying his best season yet for the Jazz, setting career highs in scoring (15.7 ppg), field goal percentage (54.4, 10th in the NBA) and PER (22.45, 16th in the league) while approaching personal bests in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and blocked shots (1.6 bpg). Favors has already made nearly as many mid-range shots this season (51) as he did all of last season (54), and his field goal percentage on those attempts has improved to 38.6 from 30.9. The 6-10, 262-pound Favors has been a standout during the recent turnaround for Utah, which has gone a solid 10-11 since a 6-19 start.

Clippers set to begin tough road trip

Clippers set to begin tough road trip

Los Angeles has won eight of 10, including Wednesday’s victory at Utah, its 13th straight against the Jazz. The Clippers play their next seven games on the road, including stops in San Antonio, Cleveland, Toronto, Oklahoma City and Dallas. During the 8-2 stretch, DeAndre Jordan is averaging 12.8 points while shooting 79.1 percent from the field. He leads the NBA in field goal percentage (73 percent) and rebounding (13.3 rpg). He’s also blocked at least one shot in 33 straight games, the longest current streak in the NBA. Blake Griffin has also been on a tear, shooting 54.5 percent from field and averaging 23.0 points over his last 10 games.

Zach Randolph a big key to Grizzlies success

Zach Randolph a big key to Grizzlies success

Zach Randolph a big key to Grizzlies success

When you consider how well the Grizzlies have played this season — they started 21-4 — losing three of five to begin the new year was a modest slump. Then came the trade for Jeff Green on Jan. 12, which has helped stabilize the small forward position. Green is averaging 12.9 points in eight games with Memphis, which is 7-1 with the 28-year-old in the lineup. Other positives have coincided with the trade, most notably Zach Randolph averaging 19.6 points (59.2 percent shooting) and 13.1 rebounds in 10 games since returning from a nine-game absence for a right knee injury. The Grizzlies are 8-2 in those games. Overall, the Grizzlies are 29-7 with Randolph in the lineup and 4-5 without him. Memphis improved to 33-12 after a 109-90 win at Dallas on Tuesday, good for second in the West, and hosts Denver tonight (8 p.m. ET) in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT.

San Antonio Spurs notes

San Antonio Spurs notes

San Antonio Spurs notes

Gregg Popovich celebrated his 66th birthday on Wednesday with a win over Charlotte, the Spurs’ ninth victory in 11 games. He got an early birthday present with the return of Kawhi Leonard, who missed 17 of 19 games with a hand injury before returning to the lineup on Jan. 16. In seven games this month, Leonard is averaging 15.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He’s had three games with at least 14 rebounds. In short, his energy and physicality have raised the bar for a team that’s been fighting to keep pace on the heels of an outstanding postseason run in 2014. With Tony Parker nursing a bad hamstring for the better part of two months, and posting his lowest scoring (14.5 ppg) and assist (4.7 apg) numbers since his rookie season (2001-02), other players have stepped up. In 16 games since returning from a shoulder injury, Patty Mills is averaging 10.1 points in 20.5 minutes and shooting 39.4 percent from three-point range.

Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague named to 2015 East All-Star team

Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague named to 2015 East All-Star team

Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague have been selected by the Eastern Conference coaches to the All-Star team, and will compete in the 2015 All-Star game on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. This marks the first time since 1980 that the Hawks have had three All-Stars.

“It is an honor for our entire organization to have Al, Paul and Jeff selected to play on the All-Star stage,” said Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, who will serve as head coach of the Eastern Conference squad. “The recognition is well-deserved for each of them. We are very proud of the guys, and also want to acknowledge the rest of our players and coaches for their roles in helping our players reach this accomplishment.”

Horford, an All-Star for the third time (also 2010 and 2011), is averaging 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.5 minutes (.551 FG%, .750 FT%), having played in 44 contests. He ranks ninth in the NBA in FG%, 17th in assist-turnover ratio (2.77), 18th in FGM (300) and t20th in bpg. Horford owns eight double-doubles and recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points on 8-10 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 29 minutes at Philadelphia on Jan. 13. He was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice this season, for games played 12/15-12/21 and for 1/12-1/18.

“I feel honored to represent the Hawks and the city of Atlanta again,” Horford said. ”I want to give credit to our coaches and my teammates, as I know I wouldn’t be in this position without their support. I look forward to enjoying the time in New York and being a part of All-Star.”

Making his second consecutive All-Star appearance, Millsap is putting in team-bests of 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals to go along with 3.2 assists in 33.3 minutes in 45 games (all starts), hitting .487 FGs, .364 3FGs and .753 FTs. He ranks 12th in the league in spg, t22nd in FTM (175), 24th in rpg and 36th in ppg. He is also seventh in the NBA in +/- radio (+331). He has scored in double-figures 42 times, including 12 20-point nights, and has 11 double-doubles.

“It’s a privilege to be an All-Star for the second straight year,” Millsap said. “I know the success our team has had so far this season is a major factor, so my teammates and coaches are the reason that I have this opportunity. I’m proud to be representing them in New York.”

In his sixth season, all with the Hawks, Teague is headed to the All-Star game for the first time. In 42 games this season (41 starts), he’s compiled 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 31.3 minutes (.470 FG%, .331 3FG%, .866 FT%). Teague is sixth in the NBA in apg, 11th in spg, 14th in FT%, 15th in assist-turnover ratio (2.86), t22nd in FTM (175) and 36th in ppg. He has scored in double-digits 34 times, with 19 20-point outings, and has nine games with 10-or-more assists. Teague was the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played 12/29-1/4.

“I’d like to thank the Eastern Conference coaches,” Teague said. “Being named to the All-Star team means a lot to me and to my family, and I’m going to truly enjoy the entire experience. I’m only as successful as the team, so my teammates and coaches share in this honor.”

The Hawks are currently a Conference-best 38-8 (.826) and on a franchise record 17-game win streak (15-0 in January). Atlanta is 31-2 (.939) over the last 33 contests, and are 30 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1996-97 season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Atlanta is the fifth team in the last 20 seasons to win 38 of their first 46 games.

Knicks sign Lou Amundson for remainder of season

Knicks sign Lou Amundson for remainder of season

Knicks sign Lou Amundson for remainder of season

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Lou Amundson for the remainder of the season.

Amundson, 6-9, 225-pounds, is averaging 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 22.9 minutes in seven games (six starts) with New York signing the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts on Jan. 10.

According to the New York Post, “After the Knicks waived him, the undrafted Amundson, 32, figured he’d be looking for his 11th NBA club. But team president Phil Jackson decided to re-sign him to a 10-day contract and then another. His performance has surprised everyone. “It’s great, especially the way my career has gone,’’ Amundson said. “I’m really thankful they gave me that opportunity to come here and show my worth. I’ve had a lot of hard work in my career over the years and not get that opportunity.’’

Knicks assign Cleanthony Early to D-League

Knicks assign Cleanthony Early to D-League

The New York Knicks have assigned rookie forward Cleanthony Early to the Westchester Knicks of the NBA Development League.

Early, 6-8, 220-pounds, has had a limited role (and limited impact) for the Knicks in his first season as a pro. He is averaging 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds over 14.3 minutes in 15 games for New York. The NBA rookie is expected to be in uniform tonight when Westchester hosts the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the historic Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY at 7 p.m.

The Knicks have a 9-38 record this season, which is the second worst winning percentage in the league through Thursday’s games. However, they have played better recently, beating a few other struggling teams.