NBA Basketball Blog from InsideHoops.com
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Glen Davis fined for kicking a seat cushion into the stands
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis has been fined $15,000 for kicking a seat cushion into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 119-106 win over the Boston Celtics on March 29 at TD Garden.
To view the play, click on this link.
Rodney Hood diagnosed with concussion
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The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard/forward Rodney Hood:
Hood has been diagnosed by the Jazz medical staff with a concussion, after receiving an elbow to the head during the third quarter of last night’s 104-84 victory at Minnesota.
Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Hood will now begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Exertion Protocol. This process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom-free behavior before resuming basketball activities. There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each case is unique and recovery times for players may vary.
As a result, Hood will be listed as OUT for Wednesday’s game vs. Denver and his status moving forward is day-to-day. Further updates will be provided when appropriate.
Kevin Durant had bone graft surgery today
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant underwent bone graft surgery today for the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley with Thunder medical personnel present at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Durant will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season and is expected to return to full basketball activities in the next four to six months.
The reigning NBA Kia Most Valuable Player appeared in 27 games (all starts) during the 2014-15 campaign, averaging 25.4 points on 51.0 percent shooting from the floor (238-of-467), 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 33.8 minutes per game.
Trail Blazers clinch spot in 2015 NBA Playoffs
The 48-25 Portland Trail Blazers have officially clinched a spot in the 2015 NBA playoffs, joining the Warriors, Grizzlies, Rockets and Clippers in the West so far, leaving three West spots still up for grabs. Here’s the Oregonian reporting:
The Blazers dominated the the Suns after halftime and emphatically punched their postseason ticket with a 109-86 win in front of a sellout crowd of 19,441 Monday night at the Moda Center.
“It wasn’t like it was earth shattering,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said, downplaying the the playoff berth. “Honestly, our goal was beyond just to make the playoffs.”
Portland led by six at the half before putting the game away to open the third quarter. The Blazers hit 12 of their first 15 shots, including 4 of 5 three-pointers, en route to scoring 35 points in the first 9:05 of third quarter.
When the buzzer sounded at the end of the third, the Blazers had the game in hand with a 92-65 lead and the starters got to watch the final twelve minutes from the end of the bench.
Blazers sign Tim Frazier for remainder of season
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Tim Frazier for the remainder of the season, President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Frazier, 24, signed two 10-day contracts with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, averaging 5.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.00 steal in six games (three starts).
Frazier (6-1, 170) joins the Trail Blazers from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League, where he posted averages of 16.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.66 steals in 41 games (40 starts) this season.
The D-League leader with four triple-doubles, Frazier is a three-time D-League Performer of the Week. Frazier played for Penn State from 2009-14, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors his junior year.
He will wear No. 10 for the Trail Blazers.
D-League: Westchester Knicks fire head coach
Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Westchester Knicks, who are the New York Knicks’ D-League team:
Kevin Whitted is out as head coach of the D-League affiliate Westchester Knicks, and assistant coach Craig Hodges will take over for the final few games of the season.
There was tension between the two coaches throughout the on-court flop of a debut season, and Phil Jackson’s man won out.
The Westchester Knicks, running the triangle offense with little success, have the second-worst record in the D-League at 10-36 with four games remaining.
InsideHoops.com Postgame Notes
BROOKLYN — Behind 30 points and 11 rebounds from center Brook Lopez, 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from small forward Joe Johnson, and 17 points from guard Markel Brown, the Nets beat a badly short-handed Lakers squad 107-99
Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, Kobe Bryant (out for season) and Julius Randle (out for season) did not play for Los Angeles, whose squad today resembled the bargain bin at Walmart.
NETS NOTES
Nets swept season series with Lakers for first time since 2005-06 season
Brook Lopez averaged 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his four games this week.
Nets guard Markel Brown scored a career-high 17 points today.
The Nets got 11 steals today, their most since a January 22 game against the Clippers.
The Nets are now 32-40 this season, and just 14-20 at home as they battle for a playoff spot.
Knicks sign Ricky Ledo to second 10-day contract
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New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Ricky Ledo to a second consecutive 10-day contract.
Ledo, 6-7, 195-pounds, is averaging 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds over 18.5 minutes in five games with the Knicks, and 3.7 points over 10.4 minutes in 10 games overall with both Dallas and New York.
Monta Ellis to miss his first NBA game in a long time
Here’s ESPN Dallas with an update on Mavs SG Monta Ellis, who is hurt but fortunately should return very soon:
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Shooting guard Monta Ellis will miss a game for the first time during his two-season tenure with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs’ leading scorer has been ruled out for Sunday night’s road game against the Indiana Pacers due to a right calf injury suffered during Friday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It will end Ellis’ streak of 237 consecutive games played, which dates to the 2012-13 season opener.
Coach Rick Carlisle said the Mavs did not have a firm timetable for Ellis’ return, but they do not consider the injury serious.
“He’s off crutches, but he’s still very sore,” Carlisle said. “It’s not considered serious, but it is something that’s a great concern for us.”
Clippers sign Lester Hudson to 10-day contract
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The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they have signed guard Lester Hudson to a 10-day contract.
Hudson comes to the Clippers from the Chinese Basketball Association where he is a two-time MVP (2014, 2015) and three-time All-Star (2012, 2014, 2015). Most recently, Hudson played for Liaoning where he averaged 31.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 50 games.
Originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Hudson, 30, has played three seasons in the NBA. In 52 career NBA games, Hudson owns averages of 4.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 10.3 minutes with Boston, Memphis, Washington and Cleveland.
A Memphis native, the 6-foot-3 inch guard spent his final two years of college at the University of Tennessee-Martin. He is the only NCAA player to ever record a quadruple-double (25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals vs. Central Baptist College) in a college game. He was a two-time OVC Player of the Year (2008, 2009) at UT-Martin.