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Jayson Tatum scores 40 in Celtics win over Raptors

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has much potential as any young star in the league. Here’s Boston.com on what he did to the Raptors yesterday:

The Boston Celtics put together an emphatic win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday, rolling over their Atlantic Division rivals in a 126-114 victory that was only close thanks to a garbage-time meltdown by the Celtics’ bench…

Jaylen Brown has been the Celtics’ star in the early going, but Tatum reminded everyone watching what he can do when he gets on track. Tatum has been dealing with an unprecedented amount of defensive attention — teams saw what he did last year and began blitzing and doubling him out of the pick-and-roll. That worked particularly well with multiple bigs in the game.

On Monday, however, the Celtics quickly went away from their starting double-big lineup which helped dig a 22-10 hole and never looked particularly effective as Toronto bombed away from 3-point range. As soon as Boston did, Tatum took over. He compiled 26 points in the first half, including 21 in the second quarter, en route to a 40-point night — just one point shy of his career-high.

Rookie Immanuel Quickley helps Knicks beat Hawks

Julius Randle put up a monster game tonight as the Knicks beat the Hawks 113-108, finishing with 28 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists on 11/19 shooting. And shooting guard R.J. Barrett put up 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals. But a Knicks rookie stepped up and helped secure the win. Via New York Newsday:

Tom Thibodeau has a well-deserved reputation for a fondness for veterans and even as he has taken over a Knicks squad that is among the youngest in the NBA, he still often leans on the players who have been there.

And it seemed a case in point Monday as he rode Elfrid Payton for much of the game as the Knicks were taking on the Atlanta Hawks in the last stop of a four-game road trip. But with 3:51 to play in the third Payton had already played nearly the entire game and the point guard had thrown up more shots than anyone in the game – and missed more than any, too, missing 12 of 18 to that point, playing no small part in the 11-point hole the team found itself.

So Thibodeau turned to rookie Immanuel Quickley, who had played just three minutes and 38 seconds in the game. And almost immediately the game turned, the Knicks closing to a four-point deficit by the end of the quarter and needing just minutes to push in front in the fourth quarter. And Quickley then put the Knicks ahead to stay with clutch free throws as he delivered time after time and the Knicks escaped with a 113-108 win over the Hawks, taking their third victory on the trip.

Quickley scored 16 points — 15 in the final 16 minutes — and showed that Thibodeau could have faith in rookies, too.

Grizzlies sign guard Tim Frazier

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Tim Frazier today, thanks to the NBA’s hardship roster rules regarding player injuries.

Frazier (6-1, 170) has appeared in 272 regular season games (81 starts) for six different franchises and holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 17.7 minutes in six NBA seasons (2014-20). The 30-year-old competed in 27 games (11 starts) for the Detroit Pistons last season and averaged 3.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 13.1 minutes.

A native of Houston, Frazier began his professional career with the NBA G League’s Maine Red Claws, where he averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.66 steals in 35.6 minutes in 41 games (40 starts) during the 2014-15 season. Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year and was selected to the All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Star squad. He played eight more games for the Red Claws during the 2015-16 season.

Frazier is the all-time leader in assists at Penn State University, where he received All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors as a junior in 2012. He went unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft following his redshirt senior year.

Video: Game highlights of Stephen Curry’s 62 points

On Sunday, the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers 137-122. In the win, Stephen Curry scored an NBA career-high 62 points. In 36 minutes, Steph shot 18/31 FG, 8/16 from three-point range and 18/19 from the free throw line for 62 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Enjoy these video highlights from Steph’s 62-point game:

Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie undergoes ACL reconstruction surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery on his right knee this morning. The procedure was performed by Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dinwiddie will begin rehabilitation next week and the team expects him to make a full recovery.

In three games this season, Dinwiddie has averaged 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 21.4 minutes per game. Through seven NBA seasons, Dinwiddie has registered averages of 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 25.7 minutes per contest.

Former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal has passed away

STATEMENT FROM THE SUNS

The Phoenix Suns organization shares its thoughts and prayers with the Westphal family through this difficult time.

“Westy will forever be remembered as a prominent Valley sports legend both on and off the court,” said Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver. “He built an illustrious career as both a player and a coach. His legacy ranks among the most quintessential basketball icons of all time.”

Westphal left an indelible signature on the Phoenix Suns franchise with his All-NBA talent, his brilliant mind and his elite character. From guiding the team on the court in the 1976 NBA Finals to leading them from the sidelines in the 1993 NBA Finals, Westphal’s legacy in Phoenix crossed decades and his overall impact on the organization is virtually unmatched.

“Throughout the past 40 years, Westy has remained a great friend of the organization and as a trusted sounding board and confidant for me,” Sarver continued. “His number 44 will forever hold its place in our Ring of Honor, enshrined as one of the utmost deserving members.”…

Born on November 30, 1950, Westphal was a native of Torrance, CA, and spent 14 seasons with the Suns as a player and a coach.

The eventual Basketball Hall of Famer known as “Westy” was acquired by the Suns in a trade with the Boston Celtics in 1975 and spent six seasons as a player with Phoenix. He ultimately found his way back in the Valley a few years later on the Suns’ coaching staff from 1988-95. Due to his astounding career and impact across the NBA, Westphal was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 6, 2019…

Westphal became a five-time All-Star (four with the Suns) and garnered All-NBA recognition for four consecutive seasons, including three selections to the First Team. He sits as the eighth-leading scorer in Suns history, totaling 9,564 points and averaging 20.6 points per game, and was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor on April 15, 1989.

STATEMENT FROM THE KINGS

“The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply heartbroken to learn of the passing of Paul Westphal. “Westy” created a storied legacy in the game of basketball as a Hall of Fame player, decorated coach and broadcast analyst. We are extremely grateful that a part of his incredible career was spent in Sacramento with the Kings.

“Along with the numerous accolades and achievements he earned on the court, he was a true gentleman who treated everyone he encountered with remarkable kindness, humility and candor, making an indelible impact on so many across our sport.

“The entire Kings family mourns the loss as we extend our deepest condolences to Paul’s wife Cindy, son Michael and daughter Victoria. The Westphal family remains in our hearts, thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.”

Nets starting DeAndre Jordan at center, but giving Jarrett Allen more minutes

Who should the primary Nets center be, DeAndre Jordan or Jarrett Allen? Via the New York Post:

Steve Nash insists the Nets don’t have a center controversy, and wants to head off any debate before it starts. DeAndre Jordan remained the starter Friday against the Hawks, but Jarrett Allen got more playing time, which probably will continue.

When asked whether Jordan’s relationship with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving or his steady experience out of the gate played a role in his starting, Nash said it all did.

“A bit of everything. He definitely has that relationship with Ky and Kevin. He has that experience as the older player. Caris [LeVert] and JA also have good chemistry. So, it’s a bit of everything,” Nash said before the Nets’ 114-96 loss.

In 22.5 minutes per game, Allen is averaging 8.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. In 19.8 minutes per game, Jordan is averaging 4.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

The Nets are 3-3 so far this season.

Mike Conley steps up for Jazz in win over Clippers

The Jazz beat the Clippers 106-100 Friday night. And Jazz point guard Mike Conley did serious work. Via the Salt Lake Tribune:

The Jazz are gonna need Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic to perform offensively at the level they’re capable of. Neither is right now, but on Friday, it didn’t matter so much with Mike Conley playing arguably his best game in a Jazz uniform.

He didn’t grab the game by the throat — he just let it come to him, making the smart, patient reads he talked about after the Phoenix loss. When he needed to swing the ball, he did. When he needed to let it fly, he did. The former earned him six assists. And when it was the latter, he was incredibly efficient: 33 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 7 of 14 from deep.

After Conley’s 33, the second-leading Jazz scorer was Donovan Mitchell with a modest 15 points on 14 shots.

In the loss for the Clippers, Paul George had 25 points on 22 shots, plus eight rebounds, four assists, six steals and five turnovers, while Kawhi Leonard had 20 points on 19 shots, plus 16 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks.

Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton out with bone bruise in wrist

Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton underwent an MRI in Houston this morning which confirmed a left wrist bone bruise sustained in Thursday’s game versus the Houston Rockets.

The 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Iowa State, Haliburton is averaging 10.6 points (.529 FG%, .500 3pt%, .875 FT%), 2.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 26.8 minutes per game through five games (no starts) for the Kings during the 2020-21 season.

When the Kings return to Sacramento next week there will be an additional update on Haliburton’s status.

Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya receiving limited minutes so far this season

There have been limited minutes available so far this season for young Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya. Via the Detroit News:

In the early part of the season, much of the attention has been focused on the Pistons’ three first-round picks and their development.

What might be getting lost in the shuffle is how their other two young players are doing. Sekou Doumbouya is one of the biggest question marks, playing 13 minutes in the opener and less than 10 minutes in the next three games.

On one hand, Doumbouya’s versatility is a benefit, in that he can play either of the forward positions — and in a pinch, can slide over to center.

The Pistons are deepest at forward, which makes it hard to find minutes for Doumbouya. It’s also where two of their best players, Blake Griffin and Jerami Grant, occupy the starting spots.

The three leading scorers on the Pistons through four games are forwards: Grant at 22.8 points per game, Josh Jackson at 17.3 PPG, and Griffini at 16.3 PPG.