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Pacers sign Lance Stephenson for remainder of season

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Lance Stephenson through the end of the season.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “the 10-year NBA veteran’s second straight standard 10-day contract and fourth 10-day deal overall with the Pacers expired Wednesday after a loss to the Magic… Stephenson, a fan favorite, was drafted 40th overall by Indiana in 2010 and is in his third stint with the franchise. He’s played 19 games for the Pacers this season, averaging 9.4 points, 4.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 48.1% from the field.”

Kyle Lowry set to return for Miami Heat

The Heat will soon have veteran point guard Kyle Lowry back in action. Via the Sun Sentinel:

The breath of fresh air was a familiar face Thursday for the Miami Heat at the morning shootaround in advance of their game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Away from the team for nine games due to personal reasons, point guard Kyle Lowry was back working alongside his teammates for the first time since Jan. 15.

“The shootaround had a great energy to it, just having him back with the group,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I know we were all excited to see him back in here. And I think he just has a great feel being back with the guys, as well.”

Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. undergoes foot surgery

Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. has undergone surgery to address a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. He will begin rehabilitation immediately.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Hardaway suffered the injury Jan. 22 in Golden State, when he planted his left leg for a layup attempt and came up limping, grabbing at his foot. He made both his ensuing foul shots while putting little weight on his left side, and then teammate Theo Pinson and director of player health and performance Casey Smith carried him off the court and into the locker room.”

Hardaway is averaging 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 29.6 minutes in 42 games (20 starts) this season.

There is currently no timetable for his return.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal out with wrist injury

Wizards guard Bradley Beal has been diagnosed with an injury to the scapholunate ligament of his left wrist. He will miss the team’s next four games, beginning with tonight’s game at Milwaukee, and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

The injury, which Beal suffered at the 7:47 mark of the third quarter at Memphis on January 29, was revealed following examination and testing by Wizards Head Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. William Postma and Hand Specialist Dr. Curtis Henn of MedStar Health in conjunction with Dr. Michelle Carlson of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Monumental Basketball Chief of Athlete Care & Performance Dr. Daniel Medina.

The three-time All-Star has averaged 23.2 points, a career-high 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 40 games this season.

Houston Rockets weekly team notes: January 31, 2022

KJ Martin had a season-high 17 points vs. Portland on 1/28 and is averaging 14.7 ppg on 74.1% shooting over the past three games… he is shooting 53.1% overall this season and 52.0% for his career.

Christian Wood has grabbed 14+ rebounds in four of the past five games and 14 times overall this season after doing so eight times prior in his career… he is averaging a career-high 10.3 rpg overall this season and ranks 11th in the NBA.

Following Wednesday’s game vs. Cleveland, Houston will have seven games remaining heading into All-Star break, five of which will be on the road… post All-Star break, the Rockets will play 15 of their final 24 games at Toyota Center.

The Rockets have already outrebounded their opponent 20 times this season after doing so 19 times in 2020-21… Houston has also outrebounded its opponent by double digits five times this season after doing so twice in 2020-21.

Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little will undergo season-ending should surgery

Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little will undergo surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The surgery will be performed on Tuesday, February 1 by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Little will miss the remainder of the season.

In 42 games this season (23 starts), Little averaged career highs of 9.8 points (46.0% FG, 33.1% 3-PT, 73.4% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.86 blocks and 25.9 minutes.

Per the Oregonian, “losing Little hurts the Blazers in a variety of ways. Little was having the best statistical month of his career. In eight games, Little averaged 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field and 40.3% on threes. On the season, Little averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Defensively, Little had proven to be one of the team’s best perimeter defenders. His athleticism and energy helped lead to fast break points, offensive rebounds, captured loose balls and high-flying dunks.”

Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles suffers torn ACL

Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles was examined Monday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing. The MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee with no other structural damage.

Ingles will remain out indefinitely with surgery taking place in the next several weeks. A torn ACL is quite typically a season-ending injury.

Ingles (6-8, 226, Australia) is in his eighth season with Utah, owning averages of 7.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. He is Utah’s all-time three-point leader, having knocked down 1,071 during his career.

Per ESPN.com, “Ingles has started 40 of 45 Jazz playoff games over the past five seasons. He was the runner-up to teammate Jordan Clarkson for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award last season. Ingles is in the final year of a $13 million contract, and his expiring contract could still be useful to the Jazz in trade discussions.”