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Nets sign Dru Smith to a two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Dru Smith to a two-way contract.

Smith (6’3″, 200) appeared in five games with Miami this season while on a two-way contract with the Heat, recording averages of 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.4 minutes per game prior to being waived on Dec. 11.

Most recently, Smith has appeared in and started eight regular season games for Miami’s NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 18.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 36.3 minutes per contest while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range.

The Evansville, Ind., native also played in 10 regular season games (five starts) for Sioux Falls during the 2021-22 season and holds career NBA G League averages of 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game.

Smith previously played two collegiate seasons (2019-21) at the University of Missouri after playing his first two seasons (2016-18) at the University of Evansville. In 26 games (all starts) as a senior at Mizzou, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 34.1 minutes per contest while shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from distance and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. He led the SEC in steals per game for the second consecutive season en route to All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team honors.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Injury updates on Trail Blazers players Nassir Little and Justise Winslow

After recent re-evaluation and rehab progression, Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Nassir Little has commenced on-court contact activities in preparation for return to play. His official return has yet to be determined.

Also, Blazers forward Justise Winslow sustained a left ankle sprain Dec. 21 at Oklahoma City. Recent re-evaluation continues to show significant improvement in both symptoms and function. He is expected to miss at least the next two weeks.

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton out with elbow sprain and knee bone contusion

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a left elbow sprain and a mild left knee bone contusion during the third quarter of last night’s game at New York. He underwent an MRI this afternoon on his elbow and knee in Indianapolis and the team is awaiting additional opinion on the results of those scans.

Haliburton will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks and updates will be provided as appropriate.

Nets waive Alondes Williams

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Alondes Williams.

Williams originally signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on July 4, 2022. He appeared in one game with the Nets, logging five minutes of action on Dec. 10 at Indiana. Williams also played in 11 games in the 2022 NBA G League Showcase Cup with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, registering averages of 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26.2 minutes per game, as well as five 2022-23 regular season NBA G League games with Long Island, averaging 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.6 minutes per contest.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 16 players, including one two-way player.

Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio will reportedly make season debut soon

Via ESPN.com:

After a full year of rehabilitating an ACL tear in his left knee, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio is targeting a return against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

Rubio will practice Wednesday, and if all goes well, he will play in Portland on Thursday, the sources said.

The Cavaliers — 26-16 and fifth in the Eastern Conference — are anxious to make Rubio a part of the team’s guard rotation with All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

Atlanta Hawks sign Derrick Favors to a 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed 12-year NBA veteran center Derrick Favors to a 10-day contract.

In 12 NBA seasons, Favors has seen action in 790 career games (503 starts), owning averages of 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.19 blocks in 24.3 minutes (.534 FG%, .663 FT%). He is one of only 12 active players with over 8,000 total points (8,354), 5,500 rebounds (5,608), 900 blocks (938) and 500 steals (577). Among active players, Favors ranks 17th in offensive rebounds (1,933), as well as 18th in field goal percentage (.534%) and blocks (938). Throughout his career, the newest Hawk has played for New Jersey (2010-11), Utah (2010-19, 2020-21), New Orleans (2019-20) and Oklahoma City (2021-22).

Selected by the New Jersey Nets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was traded to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 23, 2011. During his rookie season, the 6-9 center led all rookies in blocks per game (0.87), while ranking fifth among NBA rookies in rebounds per game (5.3) and eighth in scoring (6.8), en route to a 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie Second Team Selection. During the 2015-16 campaign, Favors averaged a career-best 16.4 points, in addition to 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.19 steals and 1.47 blocks (.515 FG%). He was one of only five players during the 2015-16 season to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 boards, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block, while shooting .500% from the field. On Nov. 12, 2015, at Miami, Favors posted 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks, three steals and two assists. No player in the NBA has put together those minimums in a single game since Favors did so that night.

In total, Favors suited up for the Jazz for 10 seasons, recording 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks in 644 games (413 starts) (.530 FG%, .670 FT%). He appeared in 42 playoff contests (14 starts) across five postseason runs with Utah, tallying 7.8 points, 5.7 boards and 1.0 block in 20.8 minutes (.587 FG%). Favors currently ranks fourth all-time in Utah history in total rebounds (4,626) and field goal percentage (.530 FG%), seventh in made field goals (2,976) and blocks (840), and eighth in games played (644).

Prior to returning to Utah in 2020-21, Favors saw action in 51 games (49 starts) for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 campaign. He notched a streak of 22 consecutive made field goals from Jan. 16-23, marking the longest such streak in the NBA in the last 20 years. He most recently appeared in 39 games (18 starts) for Oklahoma City during the 2021-22 season, averaging 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes (.516 FG%, .640 FT%).

The Atlanta, Ga., native spent one season at Georgia Tech (2009-10), appearing in 36 games (35 starts), recording 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 27.5 minutes (.611 FG%, .629 FT%). Favors was named ACC Rookie of the Year after leading all ACC freshmen in scoring, rebounding, double-doubles, blocked shots and field goal percentage.

A graduate of South Atlanta High School, Favors will wear No. 33.

TNT adds January 26 Knicks at Celtics game to TV schedule, drops Bulls at Hornets

In NBA national TV news, on Thursday, January 26, TNT will now televise the Knicks at Celtics game, and have dropped the Bulls at Hornets.

The Celtics at 29-12 have the best record in the NBA, while the Knicks at 22-19 currently sit a respectable 7th in the Eastern conference.

The Bulls (19-22) are currently 10th in the East, while the Hornets (11-31) are just 14th.

Heat hit 40 of 40 free throws in win over Thunder

Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

Tuesday night’s 112-111 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder just about summed up the Miami Heat’s season.

There were the requisite injury absences, in this case going without Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry, among others.

There was a moment of the unfathomable, in this case backup center Dewayne Dedmon ejected in the second period for whacking a training device onto the court as he stormed to the locker room after a confrontation with the coaching staff.

And there was tight, compelling competition to the finish, the game decided on a Jimmy Butler 3-point play with 12.9 seconds to play, on a night the Heat closed 40 of 40 from the foul line — an NBA record for conversions without a miss.