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Pregame: Trail Blazers vs Knicks game notes

Trail Blazers (11-5) vs Knicks (4-13)
Madison Square Garden, New York
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
7:30 p.m. ET

KNICKS NOTES

If the New York Knicks win vs POR then, they will improve their overall record versus ORL to 48-64.

If New York wins tonight vs. POR, then New York will snap a three-game losing streak vs. POR. The last time New York defeated Portland was Nov 22, 2016; 107-103.

If Noah Vonleh posts a double-double vs. ORL, then he will set a new career best for double-doubles in a season with five (previous four in 16-17).

New York recorded 15 team blocks on 11/11/18 vs. ORL.

– The 15 blocks tied a franchise record for blocks in a game (at WAS, 1/28/88)

– The 15 blocks set a blocks record at the present MSG (previous 14 blocks vs. PHL 4/4/15)

– Mitchell Robinson recorded nine blocks. The nine blocks set a new Knick rookie record (previously seven blocks by Kristaps Porzingis 2x and Lonnie Shelton)

Mitchell Robinson is T-fourth in the NBA in blocks per game in the month of November at 2.44.

BLAZERS NOTES

The Trail Blazers average the second-most defensive rebounds in the NBA (39.9) while the Knicks average the third-most offensive rebounds in the league (12.6).

Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 40 points (12-29 FG, 3-10 3-PT, 13-15 FT) against the Wizards on Nov. 18. It was the third 40-point game of the season for Lillard, which is the most in the NBA. Lillard has 19 career games with 40-plus points, which is the most in franchise history (Drexler, 17). Lillard is averaging 26.6 points per game, which is the seventh-most in the NBA (Walker, 29.6).

With 13 points and 14 rebounds at Washington on Nov. 18, Jusuf Nurkic recorded his fourth straight double-double (tied for longest streak in his career) and his 10th straight game scoring in double fi gures (second-longest streak of his career). In his last four games, Nurkic has averaged 16.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.50 blocks.

CJ McCollum was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11. His week was highlighted by 40 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals against the Bucks on Nov. 6 and 23 points and seven rebounds against the Clippers on Nov. 8. Portland went 3-0 on the week, with all three wins coming against teams with winning records. It is the first time McCollum has received the award.

The Trail Blazers lead the league in free-throw percentage (85.4%), are fi fth in free throws per game (20.4) and are 14th in free throws attempted per game (23.9).

Lauri Markkanen takes a step forward in recovery

Lauri Markkanen takes a step forward in recovery

The Bulls could really use some good news, especially in the health department.

This isn’t big, but it’s something. It’s a step. Here’s the Chicago Tribune with an update on one of the team’s key young building blocks:

Lauri Markkanen had an individual shooting workout and participated in non-contact portions of Bulls practice Monday, the next step in his recovery from a right elbow injury.

Thursday marks eight weeks since Markkanen suffered a high-grade lateral sprain while battling for a rebound in the first week of training camp. The Bulls originally estimated Markkanen would miss six to eight weeks and later revised it to eight to 10 weeks.

“We’ll see how he responds and if we can up his activity level after that,” coach Fred Hoiberg said.

The Bulls through Sunday’s games have a 4-13 record and are the current East 12-seed. The team is off today and tomorrow, and on Wednesday has a chance to add to that win total as they host a struggling Suns squad.

NBA Players of Week: Nikola Vucevic and Anthony Davis

 

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Magic center Nikola Vucevic has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and Pelicans forward-center Anthony Davis the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played between November 11-18, 2018.

It marks the second time that Vucevic has won the award during his career and the first time a Magic player has won the award since Vucevic earned it for the period ending Mar. 30, 2014.

During four games last week, Vucevic averaged 27.8 ppg., 10.5 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.25 stlpg., while shooting .581 (43-74) from the floor and .471 (8-17) from three-point range. He led Orlando to a 3-1 record with wins over Philadelphia, the L.A. Lakers and New York. Vucevic tallied three double-doubles and scored 28-or-more points in three consecutive games, becoming the first Magic player since Dwight Howard accomplished the feat Mar. 1-5, 2012.

Vucevic has played and started in all 17 games this season, averaging a team-high 20.4 ppg., a team-high 10.8 rpg., 3.6 apg., 1.12 stlpg. and 1.12 blkpg. in 30.5 minpg., while shooting a team-best .556 (144-259) from the floor, .452 (19-42) from three-point range and .813 (39-48) from the free throw line. He has led (or tied) the Magic in scoring seven times, in rebounding 13 times and in assists twice.

Davis led the Pelicans to a 3-1 week behind averages of 34.3 points (ranked 2nd in the NBA), 14.0 rebounds (4th in the NBA) and 2.0 blocks (T-5th in the NBA). Davis helped lead the Pelicans to a win at Toronto – handing the Raptors just their second loss of the season, and their first loss at home, behind 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds – a 19-point comeback victory against New York on Nov. 16, registering a season-high 43 points to go with 17 rebounds and five assists, and capped off the week with 40 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying eight assists, while shooting 20-of-21 at the free throw line, Nov. 17 vs. Denver. Davis finished the week as one of just five players (at least 50 field goal attempts) to shoot at least .500 from the floor, .400 from three-point range and .850 from the free throw line.

This marks the fifth time Davis has earned Player of the Week honors during his career, and the first time during the 2018-19 season, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn multiple Player of the Week honors in the same season since Chris Paul in 2008-09.

Davis is currently averaging 27.5 points (ranked fifth in the NBA), 12.7 rebounds (ranked tied for sixth in the NBA) and 2.8 blocks (ranked second in the NBA) on the season for the Pelicans.

 

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Josh Richardson fined for shoe toss

Josh Richardson fined for throwing shoe into stands

Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing his shoe into the stands, according to Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe

The incident resulted in Richardson receiving a technical foul and an ejection from the game. It happened with 6:31 remaining in the fourth quarter during Miami’s game against Los Angeles Lakers on November 18 at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat lost the game, 113-97.

According to ESPN.com, Richardson had this to say after the game: “I don’t want to talk about it. It was a series of events… I got caught up.”

Denzel Valentine to undergo surgery, out 4-6 months

Denzel Valentine to undergo surgery, out 4-6 months

Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine has been diagnosed with ongoing ankle instability. After being evaluated by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Valentine will undergo a surgical reconstruction by Dr. Anderson the week of Nov. 26 with an anticipated recovery time of four-to-six months.

The team says that Valentine is expected to make a full recovery and have a normal summer of offseason training leading into training camp for the 2019-20 season.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “it’s the second ankle surgery in three seasons for Valentine, a critical reserve floor spacer, and playmaker and leader.”

Enes Kanter plays just 15 minutes in latest Knicks loss

 

 

 

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Every player wants to step up during a contract year (a year when they will or at least might be a free agent after the season). But it’s hard to do that while receiving limited minutes. Such is the situation for many veterans on rebuilding teams that are more focused on the development of rookies and other young players than they are about the immediate dividends that may come from giving veterans more minutes.

Speaking of which, here’s New York Newsday discussing the Knicks and veteran center Enes Kanter, who received 26 minutes of court time three games ago, 22 minutes two games ago, and just 15 minutes on Friday:

When Knicks coach David Fizdale put all three of his rookies in the starting lineup Friday he made a statement. And then a stronger one when, with the game on the line, he inserted all three with the game on the line, admitting he wanted to test the trio under fire.

But the bigger test might be how Fizdale can manage the veterans on the roster. Enes Kanter, left on the bench as the New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Knicks’ young frontcourt that night to turn the game, left the locker room quickly with no comment night, then went, as he often does to social media. He tweeted out just a line of periods and asked about it Sunday morning, he didn’t reveal the meaning but said with a smile, “It’s only going to grow bigger.”

Kanter may be the most pressing case, a player who has established himself as much of a star as there is on this lottery-bound development project. He is a free agent at season’s end after opting in to the final season of his contract over the summer, and while his minutes and numbers have for the most part remained steady, he was pulled from the starting lineup after five games in favor of Mitchell Robinson. And on nights like Friday when he played just 15 minutes, there was clear frustration.

It would not be surprising to see Kanter receive more minutes again, but the reality is his future may very well be elsewhere so unless they market him in order to trade him, the team’s focus may likely remain on their youth.

Warriors stars praise Luka Doncic

Several Warriors stars as well as head coach Steve Kerr had big praise for Mavs rookie Luka Doncic, as reported by the Dallas Morning News:

The Warriors had beaten Dallas 10 straight times and 17 of the previous 18 meetings. They were impressed with their first live look at Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic, who scored a team-high 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

“He’s great; a great player,” said Kerr, who before the game compared 6-7 Doncic to a five-tool baseball player. “He’s got a lot of skill and a lot of guts. I thought he played a great game.” …

“You could tell he’s been playing pro for a long time,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who scored 22 points but missed 15 of 24 shots, including a 16-footer that would have tied the score at 110.

“He’s got great poise. He gets to his spots, and he’s going to be a cornerstone of this franchise for a long time.” …

“I like him a lot,” Durant said. “He’s polished. He’s skilled, and you can tell he’s played professional basketball already. They got a great guy in him to lead this franchise in the future. Luka and Dennis [Smith Jr.] play well together.”

It’s still early in the season but so far, Doncic has been the league’s best rookie.

Mavs enjoying a 4-game winning streak

The Dallas Mavericks are on a 4-game winning streak and now boast a respectable 7-8 season record. They’re being led in scoring by Luka Doncic at 19.5 ppg, followed by Harrison Barnes at 16.5 ppg, Wesley Matthews at 16.2 ppg, Dennis Smith Jr. at 14.5 ppg and DeAndre Jordan at 10.8 ppg plus 13.2 rpg. Doncic, also contributing 6.6 rpg and 4.2 apg, is having an absolutely fantastic rookie season. Here’s the Dallas Morning News with more:

If you’re looking for a validation of the Mavericks’ defense, remember that Kevin Durant missed seven of his last eight shots (and 15 of 24 overall). And Durant and Klay Thompson both missed midrange shots in the final minute that could have changed the outcome. “Those are shots they can make but our guys worked awful hard wearing on them during the game to make those shots a little more difficult,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “When you work that hard, you get a little luck once in a while like that.” Harrison Barnes has been a good defender and Dorian Finney-Smith always gives his best effort at that end of the court. The Mavericks have limited the four opponents in the winning streak to under 93 points per game. That includes the 68 points that Utah scored on Wednesday, which obviously skews the numbers. But holding three of four teams under 100 and Golden State to 109 rates as a defensive vice-grip these days in the score-fest that is the NBA.

Next up for the Mavs is a road game against the Grizzlies on Monday, followed by a pair of home games against the Nets Wednesday and the Celtics Saturday.

Cavs Rookie Collin Sexton Playing Well as Starter

The Cleveland Cavaliers are an NBA-worst 2-12 through Thursday’s games. Regardless of whether they planned to rebuild after LeBron James’ departure or thought they could partially weather the storm and stay competitive, the losses have piled up, and the team must clearly focus on the future, not the present. But a bright spot as emerged. Here’s Cleveland.com reporting on rookie guard Collin Sexton:

George Hill worked alongside Andrew Harrison on ball-handling drills while rookie Collin Sexton launched jumper after jumper at the opposite hoop.

Hill is getting closer to a return from a sprained right shoulder, which has sidelined him since suffering the injury late in the game against Orlando on Nov. 5. But his old starting point guard spot may be gone when he gets back, pried away by the rising youngster who has started to blossom since stepping into the lead role…

In four games as starter, Sexton is averaging 18.0 points on 48.4 percent from the field and 70 percent from 3-point range to go with 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

With him on the floor, the Cavs have an offensive rating of 102.3, which ranks fourth-best of any player averaging double-digit minutes in those games. The team’s defensive rating, a point of weakness for Sexton early on, is 102.0. That equals a positive net rating, one of three players capable of making that claim.

With Kevin Love out injured and a team that is racking up losses, Sexton, at least in four games as a starter so far, is worth keeping an eye on.

Denver Nuggets hire Sue Bird

The Denver Nuggets have added current WNBA Champion Sue Bird to their front office staff as a Basketball Operations Associate.

“We are very excited to have Sue join our organization,” said Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. “Her resume certainly speaks for itself and as a still active player she will offer an extremely unique perspective.”

Bird recently wrapped up her 16th season in the WNBA which saw her earn her 11th All-Star bid and third WNBA Championship, all with the Seattle Storm. The New York native attended the University of Connecticut where she won two National Championships before being selected first overall by Seattle in the 2002 WNBA Draft. Bird was named to the WNBA All-Decade team in 2006, has been All-WNBA First Team five times and All-WNBA Second Team three times and currently ranks first in the WNBA in career games (508), first in career minutes played (16,173), first in assists (2,831), third in points (6,154), third in made three-pointers (855) and fifth in steals (652).

“I’m really excited to join the Denver Nuggets organization. I’m thankful for the opportunity and look forward to learning from some of the best,” said Bird.