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Grizzlies sign Xavier Munford to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Xavier Munford to a 10-day contract. This as a “Call-Up” from the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League, and pursuant to the NBA’s hardship roster rules that allow the team to go above the 15-player roster limit.

Munford (6-3, 180) has appeared in 41 games (37 starts) for Bakersfield and averaged 20.4 points (.490 FG/.412 3P/.811 FT), 4.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.7 minutes. A 2016 D-League All-Star, he ranks sixth among qualifying players in assists per game and 11th in scoring average.

The 23-year-old has played 89 career games (53 starts) over two seasons with the Jam and averaged 15.2 points (.475 FG/.366 3P/.796 FT), 3.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 27.3 minutes. He helped guide Bakersfield to the D-League Playoffs in 2015 and averaged 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.33 steals in 38.0 minutes over three postseason games.

Undrafted in the 2014 Draft, Munford transferred to the University of Rhode Island as a junior and completed his collegiate career with averages of 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35.5 minutes in 61 games (all starts) over two seasons.

Memphis’ roster now stands at 18 players.

NBA notes from around the league, March 14

NBA notes from around the league, through games of Sunday, March 13.

The Hornets have won seven consecutive games for the first time since March 2002.

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has recorded all four of his career triple-doubles in the last 11 games. He is the first player in franchise history with four triple-doubles in a season.

Spurs big man Tim Duncan needs three points to pass John Havlicek (26,395) for 14th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

After passing Kevin Johnson on Sunday for 19th place on the career assists list, Cavaliers forward LeBron James needs 11 assists to pass Muggsy Bogues (6,726) for the 18th spot.

Warriors guard Klay Thompson has joined teammate Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history with 200 three-pointers made in four consecutive seasons.

Stephen Curry celebrates his 28th birthday today.

Pistons center Andre Drummond leads the NBA with 55 double-doubles. The franchise single-season record is 69 by Bob Lanier in 1972-73.

With 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Friday’s victory over New Orleans, 36-year-old Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes became the oldest player to record his first career triple-double.

Suns rookie Devin Booker has scored 27 or more points in four of his last six games, including recent back-to-back games of 32 and 35 points. He became the first Phoenix rookie with consecutive 30-point games since Walter Davis in 1977.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert is averaging 13.8 rebounds in his last nine games.

The Delaware 87ers, the Philadelphia 76ers’ National Basketball Development League affiliate, are the first NBA D-League or NBA team ever to have four players score 45 or more points in a game in a season. Sean Kilpatrick, Jordan McRae, Russ Smith and Christian Wood have all accomplished the feat.

Kilpatrick, now on his second 10-day contract with the Nets, has scored in double figures in four of his last five games for Brooklyn, including two 19-point performances.

On the Warriors and Spurs

In the NBA’s Western Conference race, the Golden State Warriors (59-6) lead the San Antonio Spurs (56-10) by 3.5 games for the No. 1 seed. The NBA’s top two teams, both unbeaten at home and newly crowned division champions, play three more times in the regular season, starting in San Antonio on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Warriors have lost 32 consecutive regular-season games at San Antonio, their last victory coming Feb. 14, 1997. (The Warriors did win at San Antonio during the 2013 playoffs.) The Spurs and Warriors also meet Thursday, April 7 at Golden State (10:30 p.m., TNT) and Sunday, April 10 at San Antonio (7 p.m., NBA TV).

Raptors having excellent season

The Toronto Raptors (44-20) are closing in on the franchise’s first 50-win season and third consecutive trip to the playoffs. They are also within striking distance of the Cavaliers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Toronto trails Cleveland (47-18) by 2.5 games but owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning the season series 2-1. The Raptors have won nine of 11 and wrap up a seven-game homestand tonight against Chicago (7:30 p.m. ET) before playing 10 of 17 on the road to close the season. The Cavaliers have eight home and nine road contests remaining among their 17 games, beginning tonight at Utah (10:30 p.m., ESPN) in the finale of a four-game road trip.

Unclear how long Jae Crowder will be out

In announcing that Jae Crowder will be sidelined by a high ankle sprain, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens suggested the fourth-year swingman would miss “a couple of weeks minimum.”

It’s the “minimum” part that left some Boston fans a bit uneasy. While even two weeks is a lengthy period for the team to navigate without possibly their best two-way player, a small sample of recent high-ankle sprains across the NBA suggests a recovery timeline that trends closer to 4-6 weeks.

— ESPN Boston

Tim Frazier named D-League Performer of Week

Maine Red Claws guard Tim Frazier was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week today, for games played Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13. It’s the second straight nod for Frazier and the fifth of his career.

The 6-1, 170-pound Frazier (Penn State) helped the Red Claws to a 3-0 week averaging 12.7 points on 60.0 percent shooting to go with 9.7 assists (second in the league), 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal.

Last year’s NBA D-League MVP returned to Maine after starting the season with the Portland Trail Blazers and has led the team to a 7-1 record since his return. Through eight games, Frazier is averaging 15.0 points on 55.7 percent shooting to go with 9.4 assists, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals.

Other top D-League performers considered for the weekly honor were Bakersfield’s Xavier Munford, Grand Rapids’ Henry Sims, Iowa’s D.J. Stephens, Maine’s Corey Walden, Sioux Falls’ Rodney McGrunder and Texas’ Tu Holloway.

Gordon Hayward injury update: day-to-day with plantar fasciitis

The Utah Jazz today announced the following health update on forward Gordon Hayward, who has been suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot:

In consultation with the Jazz medical staff, it has been determined that the best course of action is for Hayward to undergo a period of treatment and rehabilitation. As a result, he will not to play in tonight’s game vs. Cleveland. He is considered day-to-day, and further updates will be provided when appropriate.

Hayward (6-8, 225, Butler) has appeared in all 66 Jazz games this season (all starts), and leads the team in scoring (20.1) and assists (3.7), while adding 4.9 rebounds in a team-high 36.2 minutes per game. He is one of just four players in the NBA averaging at least 20.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting at least 35.0 percent from behind the three-point line. The 25-year-old career Jazzman was originally selected by Utah in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Timberwolves announce several staff promotions

The Minnesota Timberwolves have promoted three staff members to leadership positions, including two to vice president positions.

Mike Welch has been promoted to Timberwolves and Lynx Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Lindsay Milne to Timberwolves and Lynx Vice President of Marketing and Charlie Romans to Timberwolves Director of Membership Sales.

“We are extremely proud to announce the promotions for these three outstanding individuals,” Timberwolves President Chris Wright said. “As we look ahead to our future and what lies ahead, we are very excited to have Mike, Lindsay and Charlie leading three critical areas of our organization. They are passionate about our brands, are vested in who and what we are and they help drive our culture every day.”

In his new role, Welch will lead the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Partnership Sales and Activation teams.

As Timberwolves and Lynx Vice President of Marketing, Milne will oversee Timberwolves and Lynx branding, advertising, digital media, creative services, merchandising and events.

As Director of Timberwolves Season Memberships, Romans will oversee the day-to-day operations of the season membership team with an emphasis on growing the team’s season membership numbers.

Nuggets sign Axel Toupane to second 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed Raptors 905 guard-forward Axel Toupane to a second 10-day contract.

Toupane signed his initial 10-day contract with the Nuggets on March 3. In five games with the squad, he is averaging 4.6 points, 1.0 assists and 13.4 minutes.

In 32 games (14 starts) with Raptors 905 in the D-League this season, Toupane is averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 29.7 minutes. He has scored in double digits 26 times, has led the team in bench scoring on 11 occasions and has recorded two double-doubles.

Warriors clinch 2015-16 Pacific division title

The Golden State Warriors today clinched the 2015-16 Pacific Division title by virtue of the Cavs’ 114-90 win over the Los Angeles Clippers this afternoon, giving the franchise its first back-to-back Pacific Division crowns since the club won consecutive division titles in 1974-75 and 1975-76.

Golden State has earned the franchise’s fourth Pacific Division championship since the NBA began using the current divisional format in 1970-71. Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr is the first head coach to win back-to-back division titles in his first two years at the helm since Tom Thibodeau earned consecutive Central Division titles with the Chicago Bulls in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Among the four major professional sports leagues, the Warriors are the first Bay Area team to earn consecutive division crowns since the Oakland Athletics won back-to-back West Division titles in 2012 and 2013.