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Nuggets sign Brandon Goodwin, waive DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Brandon Goodwin to a two-way contract and have waived guard/forward DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell.

Goodwin, 6-2, 180, was previously signed by Denver on Nov. 29 with the injury hardship relief exception granted by the NBA. He has yet to appear in an NBA game, but has played in 10 games this season for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League and averaged 23.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.70 steals on 52.0% shooting.

The Norcross, GA native went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft after spending his first two years of college at the University of Central Florida and his final two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University. Goodwin was named the 2018 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, was an AP All-American Honorable Mention in 2018 and named Atlantic Sun First Team All-Conference in both 2017 and 2018.

Akoon-Purcell, 6-5, 200, was a member of the Denver Nuggets 2018 Las Vegas Summer League Entry and signed a two-way contract with the Nuggets heading into this season. He appeared in seven games with Denver, averaging 1.0 points in 3.1 minutes per game. He has appeared in two games for the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League, averaging 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.00 steals in 29.0 minutes per game.

Myles Turner fined for gesture towards spectator stands

Indiana Pacers center/forward Myles Turner has been fined $15,000 for making an inappropriate gesture toward the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 3:21 remaining in the second quarter of the Pacers’ 113-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 14 at Wells Fargo Center.

After the game, Myles tweeted an apology towards Philly fans.

Heat now 9th in Eastern conference

The Heat are 12-16, which through Friday’s games puts them at 9th in the Eastern conference. While expectations for the squad were limited this season, more was expected. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the team as they wrap up an extended road trip:

Dwyane Wade said after the Miami Heat’s embarrassing Wednesday night loss to the Utah Jazz that a team goes into a six-game road trip just looking to go 3-3.

Fast forward to a resilient effort in a 100-97 win against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Heat have clinched that after also starting with wins against the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.

They face the Pelicans in New Orleans on Sunday with an opportunity to come away with a winning record on the trip.

“It just gets us back on the right foot, and hopefully we have a chance to end this road trip on the right foot, as well,” said Kelly Olynyk after the win Friday in which he had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists and hit four 3-pointers. “For us to come together, especially after that tough loss against Utah, and know what we’re made of and play our game, execute our game, execute a game plan and go into a tough Western Conference team’s building and get a win.”

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Timberwolves keep losing conference games on road

Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting on Timberwolves, who are having a very good season as long as they aren’t on the road playing against another Western conference team:

The latest Timberwolves road trip out West hasn’t quite taken on the horror show feel of the last one, which ended 0-5 and resulted in Jimmy Butler finally being traded.

But the trip now sits at 0-3 after a 141-130 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday and perhaps feels even more disappointing than that last awful stretch if only because the Wolves had generated great optimism by going 9-3 since the trade and seemingly had discovered a winning combination centered around defense that might lead to better road results.

Spanning both iterations of the Wolves — pre- and post-Butler — this team is now 0-10 in conference games on the road. There are a lot of ways to define a 13-15 season-to-date, but that’s as good as any. Winning on the road is tough, but even marginally better results would have a major impact.

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On the Thunder rotation

The 17-9 Thunder are having a very good season, but like all teams, precise rotation patterns can always use an adjustment. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting:

Out of a timeout midway through the third quarter Wednesday, Thunder coach Billy Donovan finally went to Patrick Patterson at power forward. It was telling that he didn’t go to him earlier.

Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Jerami Grant had picked up his fifth foul, but Donovan instead went to Dennis Schroder, opting to play small by sliding Paul George to power forward. Nothing the Thunder was doing was working against the Pelicans’ front line in a 118-114 loss, so why not go the opposite way?

“It impacted us but it really didn’t make a difference up front who we had out there,” Donovan said of Grant’s foul trouble.

“Jerami is an important player and certainly I’d like to have him out there, but I thought their frontcourt impacted the game around the basket regardless of who we had out there.”

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Jonas Valanciunas out after thumb surgery

 

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After suffering a dislocation of his left thumb in the December 12 game at Golden State, Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas underwent surgery at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, California. His thumb was relocated and damage caused by the dislocation was repaired. The surgery was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Yao, a specialist in hand, wrist and elbow surgery.

Valanciunas will wear a cast for four weeks. His condition will then be updated as appropriate.

The injury occurred in the second quarter of Wednesday’s victory at Golden State. Valanciunas is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 18.8 minutes in 30 games (10 starts) this season. He has led the team in rebounding 11 times, and recorded five double-doubles.

According to the Toronto Star, “The Raptors have survived other absences: they are 7-1 in games Kawhi Leonard has sat out, and they have been without Norm Powell since the first week of November. In this case, they will move backup big man Greg Monroe into a far more substantial role. While the Raptors created a feel-good story by calling up Canadian centre Chris Boucher from the G League to fill the roster spot, the rail-thin backup can’t be expected to play any significant role. That leaves Monroe, the 28-year-old veteran on a one-year deal, to assume a key position behind now presumptive starter Serge Ibaka.”

DeMarcus Cousins using G League to prepare for NBA return

DeMarcus Cousins, coming off injury, is now in the G League, only temporarily, for health rehab purposes, preparing for big-time basketball with the Warriors. Here’s the San Jose Mercury News with an update:

With about 10 minutes left in his second practice with the Santa Cruz Warriors, all-star center DeMarcus Cousins threw down a thunderous dunk that gave a glimmer of what could be when he eventually returns to the lineup.

“It felt good,” Cousins said. “It’s all coming back for me, slowly but surely. But it felt good to get up and dunk a little bit.”

Cousins, who tore his Achilles in January, went through a full practice with the G-League squad Wednesday morning, participating in a five-on-five scrimmage that included two six-minute periods. The session was a part of a plan to send Cousins — who signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal in July — back and forth to Santa Cruz in an effort to ramp up his workload.

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Phil Jackson visits Lakers practice

Phil Jackson will always be a fascinating character in basketball. Former player, a legendary former coach, and more. Here’s ESPN.com reporting on an appearance he made today:

Phil Jackson visits Lakers practice

Phil Jackson made a surprise visit to the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice facility Wednesday.

It was the first time Jackson has been seen by the media at the facility over the past two seasons. The team said the former head coach just stopped by.

Lakers coach Luke Walton, who has kept in touch with Jackson and at times solicits advice from his mentor, said he didn’t know his former coach was at the facility until media members pointed at Jackson, who was seated in a balcony above the court.

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