Inside Hoops – Page 988 – NBA Blog

Michael Carter-Williams puts up big game in latest Sixers loss

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting a bit of positive news from the loss-heavy world of the 76ers:

If Michael Carter-Williams ever needed a confidence boost, he received one Saturday night.

The 76ers point guard recorded his third career triple-double in a closer than expected 110-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Wells Fargo Center.

Carter-Williams finished with 18 points, a career-high 16 assists and a season-best 10 rebounds. The second-year player struggled from the field, making just 4 of 13 shot attempts. But he made up for that by going 10-for-12 from the foul line. Last season’s rookie of the year was also the Sixers’ unquestioned floor general on this night.

Carter-Williams credited his teammates for his best game of the season.

Timberwolves sign Jeff Adrien

Minnesota Timberwolves sign Jeff Adrien

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed forward Jeff Adrien. The Timberwolves were granted an NBA hardship exception for a 16th roster spot due to having four players out due to injury.

Adrien, 28, averaged 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season in 53 games (12 starts) between Milwaukee and Charlotte. Adrien averaged 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 28 games (12 starts) after being acquired by the Bucks on Feb. 20 in a midseason trade with the Bobcats.

A 6-7 forward, Adrien has averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 136 career games over four seasons between Charlotte, Golden State, Houston and Milwaukee.

DeMar DeRozan injured with torn left adductor longus tendon

DeMar DeRozan injured with torn left adductor longus tendon (groin)

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan left Friday’s game versus Dallas at the 8:23 mark of the third quarter and did not return. Test results revealed a torn left adductor longus tendon (the Raptors tell InsideHoops.com it’s a groin injury). There is no timetable for his return to basketball activity. His status will be updated as appropriate.

DeRozan has averaged a team-high 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and a team-best 33.6 minutes in 16 contests this season. He has paced the club in scoring on eight occasions.
The Raptors return to action Sunday at the Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet/Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Sacramento Kings game protest results: Denied

Sacramento Kings game protest results: Denied

The National Basketball Association announced today that Commissioner Adam Silver has denied the Sacramento Kings’ protest of their 111-110 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 13, 2014.

The basis for the Kings’ protest was that Courtney Lee’s game-winning shot should have been disqualified as having been made after time expired. Under league procedures, each team has an opportunity to make submissions in support of its position, and the protesting team is required to establish a misapplication of the official playing rules that had a clear impact on the game’s outcome.

The Commissioner determined that the game officials’ call that Lee’s shot was timely was within their judgment and not a misapplication of the playing rules. Sacramento’s protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game’s result.

Pistons on 6-game losing streak

The Detroit Pistons are off to a very disappointing 3-12 start this season, and have lost six games in a row. Their leading scorer is their point guard, Brandon Jennings, at 16.0 ppg. He’s followed by Greg Monroe at 14.5 ppg, Josh Smith at 12.9 ppg (on 38% shooting), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at 11.3 ppg (on 36% shooting). Here’s Michigan Live reporting:

The positives were everywhere for the Detroit Pistons to see, except where it counts on the scoreboard, and that’s where Stan Van Gundy’s frustration was piqued.

The last several days have been a visible downward skid for the Pistons coach’s outward demeanor.

Brief answers, eyes cast downward, struggling to resolve his teachings with the lack of on-court production, have become Van Gundy’s personal public default mode.

The Pistons lost 104-98 Wednesday to the Los Angeles Clippers and Van Gundy, who was accustomed to high-level success in his previous coaching stops, was at a loss in trying to come to grips with a sixth consecutive loss and ninth in 10 games.

“I’ve not been at this point before,” Van Gundy said. “So yeah, it’s hard.”

Mavs re-assign Ricky Ledo to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have reassigned guard Ricky Ledo to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Ledo (6-7, 200) has appeared in two games (both starts) for the Legends this year, averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 33.0 minutes.

Ledo was originally assigned to the D-League on Nov. 20, before being recalled on Nov. 24.

Trail Blazers on 9-game winning streak

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on the Portland Trail Blazers, who have won nine games in a row, and for the 2014-15 regular season have a 12-3 record, which ties them with the Houston Rockets for the fourth best winning percentage in the league through Wednesday’s games:

Go ahead and celebrate the Trail Blazers’ nine-game winning streak.

Feel free to savor a nice little three-game sweep of an East Coast trip and yet another second-half comeback.

But, as you do, take your largest dose of satisfaction in this:

“I don’t think we’ve played our best yet,” LaMarcus Aldridge said.

The Blazers continued their sizzling early-season run Wednesday night, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 105-97 before 16,972 at Time Warner Cable Arena. But afterward, the sentiment in the visiting locker room was that this team, despite everything it has done, has a whole lot of room to grow.

“We’ve had games where we’ve looked really good,” Damian Lillard said. “But I still don’t think we’ve played our best.”

Jeff Teague moving up in Hawks record book

Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting on Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, who is scoring a team-best 18.3 ppg and leading the team in assists with 7.0 apg:

Jeff Teague doesn’t like to talk about his individual accomplishments.

However, his body of work is speaking volumes for the Hawks point guard.

Teague had 24 points and 12 assists in a loss to the Raptors Wednesday. The 20-point, 10-assist effort tied him with Joe Johnson with 18 for sixth on the Hawks’ all-time list. He trails only franchise luminaries Mookie Blaylock (24), Pete Maravich (22), Jason Terry (22), Eddie Johnson (21) and Lenny Wilkens (21).

That’s not bad company.

Thunder waive Sebastian Telfair

Oklahoma City Thunder waive Sebastian Telfair

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Sebastian Telfair, announced Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Telfair appeared in 16 games (one start) with the Thunder this season, and averaged 8.4 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game.

The OKC Thunder roster now stands at 15 players, the league maximum.

Michael Carter-Williams slow to get game back

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams is putting up nice stats, but only if you ignore his shooting percentage and turnovers. But more importantly than a bunch of numbers, he still doesn’t feel quite like his usual explosive self just yet. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

Michael Carter-Williams slow to get his game back

Michael Carter-Williams is in a funk.

The 76ers point guard is not the player he was a season ago, when he won NBA rookie of the year.

“When I’m out there, I don’t feel as explosive,” Carter-Williams said. “I don’t feel like I’m in the passing lanes [defensively]. My steals are down. The little things I did last year are not what I’m doing this year. I need to get back to those things.”

Carter-Williams was sidelined six months after right-shoulder surgery on May 6. He made this season’s debut in a 123-70 loss at Dallas on Nov. 13.