An MRI performed earlier today on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren confirmed a left ankle sprain suffered during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game vs. Memphis.
He will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Timberwolves injury updates on Jaden McDaniels and Jordan McLaughlin
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury updates on forward Jaden McDaniels and guard Jordan McLaughlin.
McDaniels, who experienced a right ankle sprain at the 7:30 mark of the first quarter in the Nov. 20 117-100 victory over the New York Knicks, was re-evaluated by Dr. Kelechi Okohora and has been confirmed to be progressing well throughout his rehabilitation program with no setbacks. He has been cleared to participate in individual on-court player development basketball and strength training activities.
McLaughlin, who experienced a right knee MCL sprain in the third quarter of the Nov. 2 114-109 victory over the Boston Celtics, has been progressing well throughout his rehabilitation program with no setbacks. He has been cleared to participate in full, five-on-five on-court basketball activities.
Pelicans beat Kings in NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals
Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
The New Orleans Pelicans trailed the Sacramento Kings by 11 points when Jose Alvarado checked in midway through the first quarter. By the time Alvarado subbed back out, the Pelicans had not only erased that deficit — they had pulled ahead by six.
Alvarado came up with two steals and two blocks in his first stint on the floor. His energy plays helped shift the momentum of Monday’s game.
The Pelicans overcame a wobbly start to defeat the Kings 127-117 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Their win in the first stage of the In-Season Tournament knockout round earned them a trip to Las Vegas. On Thursday, the Pelicans will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the In-Season Tournament semifinals…
Ingram poured in 17 of his 30 points after halftime. Ingram also chipped in with eight rebounds and six assists.
Pacers beat Celtics in NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals
Per the Boston Herald:
Aaron Nesmith took a transition pass from Tyrese Haliburton and dunked over Al Horford. The former Celtic galloped around the court and chest-pumped Myles Turner as the rest of his Pacers teammates flooded the court to celebrate an imminent victory.
The Celtics proved they cared about the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament with how they handled their final group stage game last week. They showed that mentality during stretches of Monday’s first ever quarterfinal game of the tournament. But ultimately, the moment meant more for the upstart Pacers.
In a playoff-like atmosphere, the C’s couldn’t get the job done on Monday night in Indiana. Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and Jaylen Brown added 30, but their worst habits haunted them again. They laid another dud in the third quarter. Too many turnovers piled up. And then the Pacers – led by rising superstar Tyrese Haliburton – raised their game to another level in the second half, as they handed the Celtics a 122-112 loss and sent them home from the In-Season Tournament.
Grizzlies sign Jaylen Nowell to second 10-day contract
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Jaylen Nowell to a second 10-day contract.
Nowell (6-4, 201) has appeared in five games (one start) since initially signing a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Nov. 24 and has averaged 6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.8 minutes. The 24-year-old scored a season-high 19 points off the bench in a road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 1.
A native of Seattle who played collegiately at Washington, Nowell has appeared in 189 regular season games (four starts) in five NBA seasons with the Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves since he was selected 43rd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has played 29 career NBA G League games for the Iowa Wolves (2019-20) and Stockton Kings (2023-24).
Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant placed in concussion protocol
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Grant left Saturday night’s game at Utah during the fourth quarter and did not return.
Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Grant will now begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Protocol. This process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom-free behavior before resuming basketball activities. There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis to miss In-Season Tournament quarterfinals game
Per the Boston Herald:
Kristaps Porzingis will miss the Celtics’ In-Season Tournament quarterfinal game against the Pacers in Indiana as he continues to nurse his left calf injury, the team announced.
Porzingis initially suffered the ankle injury on Nov. 24 in the Celtics’ loss to the Magic, when he left the game in the third quarter and didn’t return. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said last Monday that he would be re-evaluated in a week.
Big Magic winning streak stopped by Nets in Brooklyn
Per the Orlando Sentinel:
The Magic went 18 days between their last two losses and both came on the road in Brooklyn.
The Nets (10-9) snapped Orlando‘s nine-game winning streak Saturday night at Barclays Center behind 42 points from forward Mikal Bridges.
Jamahl Mosley’s squad (14-6) allowed 43 points in the first quarter and was unable to fully recover in the 129-101 loss on the second night of a back-to-back.
Orlando heads to Cleveland on Wednesday for the first of two games added to their regular season schedule after the team failed to reach the knockout rounds of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson suits up in back-to-back games
Per the Times-Picayune:
or the first time in almost a year, Zion Williamson suited up for the New Orleans Pelicans on the second night of a back-to-back.
Williamson, who scored 12 points in the Pelicans’ win Friday against the San Antonio Spurs, was active for the Pelicans when they faced the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Williamson closed the first half in Chicago strong, scoring eight consecutive points.
The Pelicans had an eight-point lead at the break, but they could not hold onto it against a bad Bulls team. In the third quarter, the Pelicans got outscored by 15 points, which was their undoing in a 124-118 loss to the Bulls.
Kevin Durant now 10th on NBA all-time scoring list
Per Arizona Sports:
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant continues to climb up the all-time scoring list.
With his 17th point on Friday against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center, he moved past former No. 1 overall pick Moses Malone for No. 10 on the all-time list.
Durant made a layup with 50.1 seconds left in the first half to push past Malone.
Durant finished 8-for-25 from the field with a 3-pointer and 13-for-13 from the line for 30 points.