Inside Hoops – Page 670 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves putting up wins lately

Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting on the Timberwolves, who are only 16-28 this season but taking a step in the right direction lately:

They’ve won two straight and five of their last seven games overall and for the fourth straight at home. For the second straight game the Wolves won a game decided by four or fewer points. This after going 0-for-10 to start the season in that category.

“We’re trying to establish a home court,’’ Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We want to make it tough for people to come in here. We have to understand, you don’t win because you’re at home, but because of what you put into winning.’’

They did tonight. Denver shot 51.2 percent for the game, but 45.5 percent in the second half, 40.0 percent in the fourth quarter, and just 3-for-12 after taking a nine-point lead with 6:06 left in the game.

The Wolves responded with a 20-8 run.

Orlando Magic sign Anthony Brown to 10-day contract

The Orlando Magic have signed guard-forward Anthony Brown to a 10-day contract, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Brown becomes the 12th GATORADE Call-Up from the NBA Development League this season. He will wear #21 with the Magic.

Brown (6’7”, 211, 10/10/92) has played and started in 16 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 21.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 3.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 39.2 minpg., while shooting .472 (42-89) from three-point range. He also appeared in nine games this season with New Orleans, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 2.9 rpg. in 15.8 minpg. Brown was signed by the Pelicans on Nov. 21, then waived on Dec. 9.

Originally selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Brown has appeared in 38 career NBA games with the Lakers and New Orleans, averaging 3.9 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 19.5 minpg. He has also played in 23 career D-League games with Los Angeles and Erie, averaging 19.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 37.5 minpg., while shooting .419 (57-136) from three-point range.

Brown played collegiately at Stanford University from 2010-15 (medical redshirt in 2012-13). He appeared in 144 career games (106 starts) with the Cardinal, averaging 10.8 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 29.2 minpg., while shooting .403 (218-541) from three-point range. He was named the Pac-12 Comeback Player of the Year in 2013-14, helping Stanford reach the Sweet Sixteen during the NCAA Tournament.

The Orlando Magic and the Erie BayHawks are in the final year of a three-year single affiliation partnership. Orlando became the 16th NBA team to have a one-to-one affiliation with an NBA D-League team. The partnership, also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” allows an NBA team to control the NBA D-League team’s basketball operations, while the existing local ownership maintains primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

Sixers have won 8 of last 10 games

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the 76ers, who are playing very respectable basketball lately:

The Sixers are the talk of Philadelphia and are creating a huge buzz around the NBA, with just cause.

They won eight of 10 games heading into Saturday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks here at the Philips Arena. Their 16-25 record through 41 games is the best since they went 17-24 during the 2012-13 season…

The Sixers have a legitimate NBA All-Star Game candidate and runaway rookie-of-the-year contender in Embiid. They have a coach in Brett Brown who has been a part of four NBA championships as a San Antonio Spurs assistant. And they should have the services of a passer extraordinaire in Ben Simmons, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, sometime this season.

Still, Vegas lists the Sixers at 5,000-to-1 to win the NBA title. That’s understandable.

NBA fines Wizards, Sidney Lowe over Knicks game

Washington Wizards assistant coach Sidney Lowe has been fined $5,000, and the Wizards’ organization has been fined $15,000, for Lowe’s standing on the playing court and potentially impacting game action during Washington’s 113-110 win over New York on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Sixers sign Chasson Randle to second 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers signed guard Chasson Randle to a second 10-day contract today.

Randle has appeared in two games since being signed by the Sixers on January 9. He posted 10 points in 16 minutes in Monday’s win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.

Randle was most recently with the NBA D-League Westchester Knicks, where he appeared in 19 games and posted averages of 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 32 minutes per game, while shooting 40% from three-point range.

Randle played four years at Stanford, posting career averages of 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 144 career games (142 starts). He was named to the All-PAC 12 First Team his junior and senior seasons, and capped his collegiate career as Stanford’s all-time leading scorer with 2,375 points.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey compares Joel Embiid to a young Shaq

At this point, fans around the league have an opinion on Sixers center Joel Embiid. He’s on the map. It’s too soon to know how great he may become, but early signs pointing to stardom are very promising. Here’s Raptors coach Dwane Casey sharing his view, as reported by PhillySport:

Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey had high praise for 76ers center Joel Embiid, comparing him at a similar stage to 15-time all-star and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal.

“He is physical, has size, athletic ability, like a young Shaq coming into the league and Shaq didn’t shoot it like this young man,” Casey said before Wednesday’s game at the Wells Fargo Center against the Sixers.

Embiid entered the contest averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.43 blocked shots in 25.3 minutes per game.

Rodney McGruder a key defender for Heat

The Heat are just 12-30 this season, which through Tuesday’s games is the second worst record in the Eastern conference. Guard Rodney McGruder isn’t putting up big stats but he has been making his mark on the defensive side of the floor. Here’s the Palm Beach Post reporting:

Rodney McGruder didn’t expect to start this many games in his rookie season with the Heat.

And he definitely didn’t expect to be Miami’s go-to defender against the NBA’s top scorers.

But 42 games into the season, those expectations have changed. McGruder ranks sixth among rookies in starts with 25 and he’s already been asked to defend future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant.

“At this point, I think this is the world that Rodney knows,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s either going against MVPs, former MVPs, future MVPs, definite All-Stars every single night. Whoever that big-ticket player is, Rodney you got him. Make him work. He’s absolutely stepped up to that challenge.

“Does that mean he’s winning battles? No. But he makes you earn everything and fight for every inch that you get.”

Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah will have MRIs Thursday

The 18-24 Knicks have lost eight of their last ten games through Tuesday’s action. They’re hoping not to lose Kristaps Porzingis for much longer. The talented young big hasn’t played in the last four games (including Wednesday night’s action). Here’s NY Newsday reporting:

Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah were unable to play Wednesday night, and both are scheduled to undergo MRIs Thursday morning on their respective injuries.

Porzingis has a sore left Achilles that kept him out for a fourth straight game. Noah sat out against the Celtics with a sprained left ankle.

Noah said his ankle swelled up after the plane ride to Boston and he was in so much pain he didn’t even test it out at shootaround or before the game. Porzingis went through shootaround and did a workout before the game.

Hawks sign Gary Neal to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed guard Gary Neal to a 10-day contract today, team President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced.

Neal has played six seasons in the NBA with San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Minnesota and Washington, and has averaged 9.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists, logging 21.4 minutes in 350 games (31 starts). The native of Baltimore, MD played collegiately at La Salle (2002-04) and Towson (2005-07) and was undrafted in 2007.

Neal, who was most recently with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League, will wear uniform No. 14.

Hawks trade for draft rights to Cenk Akyol

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired a Traded Player Exception and the draft rights to Cenk Akyol as part of a trade that sent Mo Williams to the Denver Nuggets, President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced today.

The Hawks will have one year from today to utilize the Traded Player Exception.

Akyol, 29, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey currently plays for Acibadi Universitesi Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League and has appeared in 11 games this season, averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.64 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.

Williams, 34, was traded from Cleveland to Atlanta along with Mike Dunleavy and a conditional 2019 first round pick in exchange for Kyle Korver on Jan. 7, 2017. He has appeared in a total of 818 career games (525 starts) over 15 seasons with Milwaukee, Cleveland, Utah, L.A. Clippers, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte, averaging 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29.2 minutes.