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Rockets sign Anthony Lamb, waive Mason Jones

The Houston Rockets have signed forward Anthony Lamb to a two-way contract. He had been playing for their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Mason Jones. He appeared in 22 games as a rookie this season.

Lamb (6-6, 225) was eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft following his senior season at Vermont. He earned America East Player of the Year honors as both a junior and a senior.

After starting the G League season with the Canton Charge, Lamb was acquired by the Vipers and appeared in six regular season games while averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He also averaged 2.2 3-pointers made on 41.9% shooting.

Spurs bringing LaMarcus Aldridge off the bench lately

Spurs forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge has been a supporting cast player for the 18-14 Spurs this season. And lately, he’s been coming off the bench. Via the San Antonio Express News:

Coach Gregg Popovich seems poised to move forward with a small-ball starting lineup that features Jakob Poeltl at center.

That has shifted Aldridge, a seven-time All-Star, to the bench for the first time since his rookie season in Portland.

Just before the All-Star break, the 35-year-old Aldridge returned from a three-week hiatus due to a hip injury to find himself in a new role.

He played in three games as a reserve, then missed the final two contests before the break with a stomach illness.

As such, the sample size projecting how Aldridge might fit with the second unit is small. He scored 21 points in a victory over New Orleans, which perhaps demonstrated the upside of having one of the top 100 scorers in NBA history around to beat up on opposing second-teamers.

How Aldridge adjusts to life off the bench — or doesn’t — will be a fascinating plot point of the Spurs’ second half.

Raptors, playing in Tampa Bay for season, will soon allow limited fan attendance

The Toronto Raptors are using Tampa Bay, Florida as their home base this season due to the coronavirus pandemic making travel complicated, and soon, some fans will be allowed to attend the team’s home games.

Vinik Sports Group and the Raptors will welcome a limited number of fans, with a capacity of 3,500, back to AMALIE Arena for games starting on March 19 when the Raptors face the Utah Jazz. Tickets for the 18 remaining Raptors games at AMALIE Arena will go on sale to the general public on March 11 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster following pre-sale opportunities for Raptors and Tampa Bay Lightning members on March 10.

FROM THE TEAM

The health and safety of fans, staff and the teams were prioritized in the process with local healthcare and government officials to determine the protocols for welcoming guests back to AMALIE Arena. In December, Vinik Sports Group announced its ‘Play it Safe’ campaign, providing a roadmap to ensure the safety of guests and those around them.

Upon entering AMALIE Arena via mobile ticketing, fans will notice increased measures to promote physical distancing, including entry points, concessions and restrooms. Concession and retail stands will be cashless and contactless and hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the facility for use. Arena staff will increase frequency of cleaning and sanitation in all areas being used with an emphasis on commonly used surfaces such as seats, handrails and bathrooms. Signage and physical distancing measures have been added to assure six-foot separation between patrons. Ultra-violet disinfectant lights have been installed at various locations including escalator handrails and the number of people allowed on elevators at one time will also be limited. Masks will be required throughout the arena concourses and seating areas when not eating or drinking.

Celtics reportedly might have interest in trading for Larry Nance Jr.

With the NBA trade deadline coming later this month, rumors will start to increase on players who could be on the move. Via Boston.com:

The Celtics are reportedly exploring the trade market, and you can add another name to their target list.

Boston is one of the several teams that are interested in Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor reported. The 76ers, Pelicans, Heat, Mavericks, and Timberwolves are the other teams that have shown interest in Nance.

Enjoy tonight’s All-Star game. We’ll get more into trade rumblings in the coming days.

Wizards swingman Troy Brown’s lost dog has been found

Good news still happens, people.

Via the Washington Times:

Good news all around: Troy Brown and his dog, Dex, have been reunited.

The Washington Wizards’ wing posted a flyer on Twitter on Saturday night that his 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Poodle mix was missing. He offered a $500 reward for Dex’s return.

Dex had been last seen in the Kalorama neighborhood in the District on Friday night.

I’ve never owned a dog, because when I travel it’s usually for weeks or months at a time, but I can imagine what a miserable experience it would be for a dog to go missing. Glad Troy got Dex back.

Zion Williamson replaces Joel Embiid as starter for Team Durant in 2021 NBA All-Star Game

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will replace Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting lineup for Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played tonight at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

According to NBA rules, if an All-Star Game starter is unable to participate in the game after the All-Star Draft has been conducted, the head coach of his All-Star team will name a replacement starter from that team’s group of reserves. Team Durant head coach Doc Rivers of the 76ers selected Williamson to replace Embiid, who will not play today in accordance with the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.

TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin today at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off, followed by the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with the Slam Dunk contest taking place at halftime. ESPN Radio will also air the All-Star game and dunk contest.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will miss the 2021 NBA All-Star game

Prior to traveling to Atlanta, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons had contact with an individual (reportedly a barber) who is confirmed today to have tested positive for the coronavirus. As a result, Embiid (Team Durant) and Simmons (Team LeBron) will not play in tonight’s NBA All-Star Game.

Participation for other All-Stars and members of the 76ers coaching staff in Atlanta is not affected because they were not exposed to the individual in Philadelphia.

Mavericks recall rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from G League

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled rookies Josh Green and Tyler Bey from the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars.

Green (6-6, 210) was flex-assigned to Salt Lake City on Feb. 17 and appeared in six games (three starts) for the club, averaging 13.5 points (.455 FG%), 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He recorded 22 points (10-19 FG), six boards, a game-high eight assists and a team-high four steals while posting a game-high plus-23 rating in the team’s 109-93 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on March 2.

Bey (6-7, 216), who saw action in one G League game for the Long Island Nets before being flex-transferred to the Stars on Feb. 11, averaged 16.2 points (.497 FG%), 9.7 rebounds and 28.6 minutes in 12 games (nine starts) with Salt Lake City. He recorded five double-doubles and three 20-point efforts with the Stars, capping his G League stint with a 23-point night against the Delaware Blue Coats on March 5.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season began on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.

Mike Conley named NBA All-Star Game injury replacement for Devin Booker, who replaced Anthony Davis

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker on Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

In addition, Conley will replace Booker in the 2021 3-Point Contest, which will be held on March 7 before the NBA All-Star Game.

This is the first NBA All-Star selection for Conley, who is in his 14th season. He is averaging 16.1 points and 5.7 assists and shooting a career-high 42.2 percent from three-point range in 29 games this season. Conley, 33, has helped the Jazz post an NBA-best 27-9 record. He joins two Utah teammates, Team LeBron center Rudy Gobert and Team Durant guard Donovan Mitchell, in the NBA All-Star Game.

Booker is unable to play in the NBA All-Star Game or participate in the 3-Point Contest because of a left knee sprain. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game by the Commissioner as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis. Booker is averaging 24.9 points and 4.4 assists in 31 games this season.

According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Booker and Conley both play for Western Conference teams.

The NBA All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest are part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night this year.