Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Warriors center James Wiseman not ready to return yet

Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman was set to make his return to action quite soon. Until he wasn’t. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

James Wiseman’s anticipated return to the Warriors has been stalled as he deals with knee swelling. How long he’ll be shut down is to be determined, but his prolonged absence could create issues for the Warriors’ center depth and have the team brass second-guessing the decision not to add another big.

This is not to say the Warriors are short on talent at the center position. One of Golden State’s strongest competitive advantages heading into the playoffs is Draymond Green’s versatility: He can play power forward or center, operating as the team’s defensive anchor and offensive engine in either position. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney has started every Warriors game this season, playing the role of steady defender and low-use offensive player.

But how much wear and tear can Green and Looney endure at the five?

Timberwolves beat Bucks for 10th win in last 11 games

The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the NBA’s hottest teams lately. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

The luck of the Timberwolves.

Not a phrase you might have heard much the past few years. But when it comes to being lucky and good, lately, the Wolves have been a bit of both.

Which brings us to Saturday’s game with Milwaukee at Target Center, when it was announced before the game that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a sore right knee. Wolves coach Chris Finch talked about his team having to pivot after devoting a good 80% of its game plan to the the Milwaukee star.

They managed.

Going 22-for-47 on three pointers – nine players hit at least one – and leading from late in the first quarter on, and shooting better than 50%, the Wolves beat the Bucks 138-119. Minnesota (42-30) has now won four straight and 10 of 11.

It was a high-intensity game, one that featured a shoving match, matching technicals and ejections for Patrick Beverley and Milwaukee’s George Hill and, later, matching T’s on Naz Reid and Bobby Portis Jr.

The win keeps the Wolves 7th in the Western conference, far ahead of the 8th-place L.A. Clippers, and just half a game behind the 6th place Denver Nuggets.

Sacramento Kings fans bid goodbye to Arco Arena

Arco Arena, the former home of the Sacramento Kings, is no longer in use as a venue, and will soon only exist as a memory. For Kings fans, those memories are fond. Via the Sacramento Bee:

It wasn’t a wake Saturday afternoon as much as it was a celebration of life for an old building.

Hundreds of Kings fans stopped by Arco Arena for one final peek as the venerable venue will soon be demolished to make way for a teaching hospital. If Kings fans know three things especially well, it’s this: They know how to cheer, they know how to tolerate heartache and they know how to say farewell…

The Arco parking lot was reflective of lack of usage: weeds sprouting everywhere. The Kings logos have long since been pulled off, but the shadow of them remains permanent on the walls. Arco was built for $40 million in 1988 and closed for basketball business in 2016. During its run, Arco aged quickly, but fans didn’t notice or they simply did not care. Their focus was on the product in front of them, and for all of the Kings misery, there were those eight magical playoff seasons in succession, from 1999-2006. The Kings haven’t fielded a winner or a playoff team since.

To stir up some additional memories of some really fun Kings history, hit the Bee link above.

Spurs guard Lonnie Walker scoring big since All-Star break

Via the San Antonio Express-News:

Spurs guard Lonnie Walker has caught fire, just in time to perhaps get paid this summer.

The 23-year-old has averaged 18.8 points in 10 games since the All-Star break, putting together the most consistent stretch of his career with restricted free agency looming.

Even with his professional future at a crossroads, Walker has vowed not to think about anything beyond the 11 games remaining on the Spurs’ schedule after Friday.

“I am just worrying about the games, honestly,” Walker said. “I am not too worried about after the season, what am I going to do, what happens next.”

The Spurs are 27-43 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Dejounte Murray at 20.9 ppg and Keldon Johnson at 16.4 ppg.

Kings forward/center Richaun Holmes out for remainder of 2021-22 NBA season

Sacramento Kings forward Richaun Holmes will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season for personal reasons, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

“Richaun is a core member of our team, who is very important to our success,” said McNair. “We fully support Rich and look forward to seeing him back on the court for the 2022-23 NBA season.”

“I would like to thank everyone for their support during these difficult times,” said Holmes. “I love this team, I love my teammates and I look forward to returning next year.”

In his third season with the Kings, Holmes has averaged 10.4 points (.660 FG%, .778 FT%), 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 23.9 minutes per game in 45 games (37 starts) during the 2021-22 campaign.

Hawks forward John Collins out with foot and finger injuries

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins received second opinions yesterday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, which confirmed the original diagnoses and treatment plans for a right foot strain, including a plantar fascia tear, as well as a right ring finger sprain.

Dr. Michelle Carlson of HSS administered an anti-inflammatory shot in his finger yesterday and he was fitted with custom splints, which he will wear for the remainder of the season.

Over the next few days, Collins will undergo a non-surgical procedure on his right foot at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex.

His status will be updated in 10-14 days.

The latest on injured Nuggets Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray

The Denver Nuggets haven’t been at full strength this season. Here’s the Denver Post with the latest on a few of their key injured players:

Just like every hopeful Nuggets fan, Will Barton has allowed his mind to wander.

As good as the Nuggets are (25-12 since Jan. 1), Barton knows what the potential returns of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray could mean for the Nuggets during the playoffs.

Six months into the season, depending on their returns, his workload could get significantly lighter. And in turn, the Nuggets could level up from a dangerous postseason matchup to a deep, multifaceted offense.

“Of course,” he told The Denver Post. “You can’t shy away from that.

“Obviously, we’re missing two great players. We’ll welcome them back, but we gotta focus on what’s going on in the present. … When we get the word that they’re coming back, we’ll take it from there.”

Porter, it appears, is trending closer to a return than Murray following back surgery on Dec. 1.

Celtics are just winning these days

The Boston Celtics are absolutely on fire. Via Boston.com:

The Celtics are coming for a top seed in the Eastern Conference, and no one seems able to stop them at the moment.

Boston (42-28) currently sits fourth overall in the East with 12 games to play. Though they might be too far behind the conference-leading Miami Heat (four games) to claim the No. 1 seed, they have a legitimate chance at gaining the two games of ground on the Milwaukee Bucks for the second seed.

No matter where they end up, though, the Celtics could be a very tough out in the postseason. One could make the claim they’re the best team in the NBA right now.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry injury update

A terrific Golden State Warriors season has hit a roadblock. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

Warriors star Steph Curry will miss an indefinite amount of time with a sprained ligament in his left foot, according to reports.

Curry injured his foot when Marcus Smart rolled over his leg during Wednesday night’s game against the Celtics. Curry had an MRI and X-rays that did not reveal a fracture or major damage to the ligaments…

Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson played together on Monday for the first time in 1,005 days only to be broken up again by injury a game later.

The regular season ends April 10. Hopefully Curry is able to be 100 percent, or somewhat close, by the start of the playoffs.