Inside Hoops – Page 119 – NBA Blog

Return date for Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns remains uncertain

When or if Karl-Anthony Towns returns to the court this season, [Timberwolves coach Chris] Finch has said he and Towns are open to different avenues of what that return might look like. That could include Towns coming off the bench, especially if he is on a minutes restriction when he starts playing again.

“We feel KAT is able to help us regardless of what the situation is,” Finch said. “If it’s a minutes restriction, maybe you’re strategic and he comes off the bench to start with that, depending what the minutes are. I think he would be open to anything at that point in time.”

Finch said whenever Towns is ready to play, he would play. Even if there were only a few games left in the season, Towns would be back in the rotation if he was physically ready to play. There would be no point at which the Wolves would just shut Towns down for the season.

Cam Reddish reflects on time with Knicks

Here’s Trail Blazers small forward Cam Reddish reflecting on his time with the Knicks, via the NY Daily News:

Cam Reddish spent most of his time in New York on the bench, a former lottery pick with a career that was derailing on a team and coach of ill fit.

But as the 23-year-old was losing a season to DNPs, Reddish took solace in his belief that the benching wasn’t about basketball.

“It was tough but at the same time, it ain’t even about basketball,” Reddish told the Daily News. “It had nothing to do with basketball. It was all the politics, all the favoritism. S–t like that. That’s why I wasn’t too worried about it.” …

“I’m in a completely different place. Now I’m blessed. Not everybody gets another opportunity so it’s refreshing,” said Reddish, the 10th overall pick in 2019. “I got some great teammates. Great staff. It’s real positive around here. Win, lose or draw. It’s not somebody beating you over your head — not that that was happening in New York — but it’s more my style.”

Reddish is currently a full-time member of Portland’s rotation.

Warriors continue to lose road games, fall to Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Dillon Brooks was driving to the rim while Draymond Green, the Golden State Warrior who publicly told the world that Brooks is holding the Memphis Grizzlies back, was waiting.

Brooks went into the body of Green and finished a layup with his left hand as the FedExForum crowd screamed while the two elite defenders stood face to face.

Brooks got the better of the face-off, and his team got the advantage in the matchup. The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 131-110 at FedExForum on Thursday night.

Memphis (39-26) spent most of the night leading by double digits. Each of the five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, led by 22 points from Tyus Jones. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points apiece.

The Grizzlies remained without the services of Ja Morant and Steven Adams in this contest.

WME to buy remaining stake in BDA Sports Management

Via the Hollywood Reporter:

WME has unveiled a deal to acquire the remaining stake in BDA Sports Management that it does not already own in the sports representation firm, and plans to make agent Bill Duffy head of the basketball division at WME Sports.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Beverly Hills-based agency earlier bought a minority stake in the Black-owned sports agency that Duffy founded more than 30 years ago, and as chairman and CEO advised WME Sports’ basketball representation practice before cementing ties.

Pistons lose 10th game in a row

Via the Detroit News:

On a night of celebration for the 2003 Detroit Shock, who won the WNBA championship 20 years ago, the Pistons hosted the Charlotte Hornets inside Little Caesars Arena.

Desperately looking to snap a nine-game losing streak, the Pistons welcomed the return of Jalen Duren and Killian Hayes back to the lineup, but even fresh bodies couldn’t change the result that became all too familiar.

The Pistons lost their 10th consecutive game on Thursday as they dropped a 113-103 decision to the Hornets. Detroit dropped to 15-52 and increased the league’s longest active losing streak. Charlotte improved to 22-46.

Nets put up good effort in loss to Bucks

Despite sitting most of their starters, the Nets came close to swiping a win against the mighty Bucks.

Almost.

Via the NY Post:

They nearly overcame their worst shooting drought in a decade, rallying from a huge hole before losing 118-113 to the league-leading Bucks at Fiserv Forum.

After they had won their last three games by double digits, the Nets played without starters Nic Claxton, Spencer Dinwiddie and Cam Johnson, as well as minutes leader Royce O’Neale.

The threadbare lineup went nearly 5 ½ minutes without a basket in the first quarter, essentially giving the game away there and never catching the Bucks (48-18).

The Nets (37-29) missed 15 straight shots — with a shot-clock violation thrown in for good measure — to turn an early eight-point lead into an 11-point first-quarter deficit.

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet fined by NBA

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet has been fined $30,000 for public criticism of the officiating, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

VanVleet made his comments to the media following the Raptors’ 108-100 loss to the LA Clippers on Mar. 8 at Crypto.com Arena.

Via the Canadian Press:

The 29-year-old also singled out official Ben Taylor in his post-game remarks, which consisted of several expletives.

Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart out with shoulder injury

An MRI and evaluation from Pistons team doctors performed Tuesday on Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart revealed a left shoulder impingement. Stewart missed four games in January with shoulder soreness.

Treatment for the injury includes continued rehabilitation with re-evaluation set in 3-4 weeks. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.

Bucks sign Lindell Wigginton to Two-Way contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Lindell Wigginton to a Two-Way contract.

A 6-1 guard, Wigginton has played in 35 games (18 starts) with the Wisconsin Herd this season and is averaging 18.6 points, 5.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per game. This is Wigginton’s second stint with the Bucks after he appeared in 19 games with the team last season while on a Two-Way contract. In those 19 games, the Iowa State product averaged 4.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 10.5 minutes of action.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Wigginton has played in 117 NBA G League games over the last four seasons, including 60 games (36 starts) with the Herd since 2020. The 24-year-old also played professionally in both Israel and Canada.

Milwaukee’s roster is now at 17 players.

Mac McClung named G League Player of the Week

Philadelphia 76ers two-way guard Mac McClung has been named NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 5.

The 2023 Slam Dunk champion averaged 28.7 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals in three games for the Delaware Blue Coats (3-0).

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, “McClung, who has yet to play for the Sixers, signed his two-day contract with the Sixers on Feb. 14. The 24-year-old was last season’s G League rookie of the year.”