Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Heat forward Duncan Robinson undergoes finger surgery

Miami Heat guard/forward Duncan Robinson underwent successful surgery today to repair a ligament of the second finger in his right hand. The 35-minute procedure was performed at the Linden Surgery Center by Dr. Steven Shinn at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He will begin rehab next week and be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks.

Robinson, who initially suffered the injury during shootaround on November 18 at Washington, has appeared in 28 games with the HEAT this season. He recently set Miami’s all-time three-point field goals made record on December 30 at Denver, surpassing the previous record holder Tim Hardaway (806). Additionally, Robinson connected on his 800th from downtown on December 26 vs. Minnesota, becoming the fastest player in NBA history to connect on their 800th three-point field goal.

Pelicans coach Willie Green named NBA Western Conference Coach of Month for Dec. 2022

New Orleans Pelicans Head Coach Willie Green has been named the Western Conference Coach of the Month for December 2022, the NBA announced today.

After guiding the Pelicans to a 10-5 record in the month of December, the Pelicans currently sit third in the Western Conference rankings with a 23-14 record, a 10-win improvement from last season and the franchise’s third-best start through 37 games. New Orleans notched two separate five-game winning streaks in December, and finished the month with an 8-1 record at the Smoothie King Center.

During the month of December the Pelicans ranked third in the NBA, averaging 118.3 points per game. New Orleans was the only Western Conference team to finish the month in the top 10 in both offensive (10th) and defensive (6th) rating, and also finished sixth in the NBA and second in Western Conference in net rating (3.3).

Green is the fourth coach in New Orleans franchise history to garner Coach of the Month honors, joining Monty Williams (January 2011), Byron Scott (January 2008, December 2008), and Paul Silas (April 2003).

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of Month for Dec. 2022

The NBA announced today that Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn has been named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in December. The honor is the first of Vaughn’s coaching career.

Vaughn guided Brooklyn to the winningest month in franchise history and the best record in the league in December (12-1), three games ahead of the next-best team in the Eastern Conference. For the month, the Nets led the league in points per game (119.7), field goal percentage (54.0 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (42.2 percent), effective field goal percentage (61.3 percent) and offensive rating (120.5) while ranking second in net rating (8.3) and blocks per game (6.0), fourth in assists per game (26.6) and 10th in defensive rating (112.2). Brooklyn’s field goal percentage was the highest in a month for any team in more than 30 years (Golden State shot 54.1 percent from the field in Feb. 1992) and the highest in a month in franchise history. The Nets’ points per game were the third highest in a month in franchise history, as they tallied 110 or more points in 11 of their 13 games played. The Nets also posted a league-best 7-1 record in ‘clutch’ games (minutes when the scoring margin is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game).

The Nets are in the midst of a 12-game win streak, which began on Dec. 7 at Charlotte. The 12 straight wins are the most for any team in the league this season, mark the third-longest win streak in franchise history and represent the most consecutive wins for the Nets since winning a franchise-record-tying 14 straight games in the 2005-06 season. Brooklyn has also reeled off seven straight road wins since Dec. 10 at Indiana, representing the longest road win streak in the league this season and marking the second-longest road win streak in franchise history, trailing only an eight-game road win streak in the 2020-21 campaign.

Vaughn took over as Brooklyn’s head coach on Nov. 1. Since then, the Nets have recorded a league-best 23-7 record, which represents the best 30-game start to a season for a head coach in franchise history. With Vaughn at the helm, Brooklyn has ranked third in offensive rating (117.0), fourth in defensive rating (109.8) and second in net rating (7.2), joining Boston as the only teams with a top five offense and defense in that time. For the season, Brooklyn boasts a 25-12 record, just one game behind the Celtics for the best record in the league, while posting the second-best road record in the league (12-7). The Nets lead the league in field goal percentage (51.5 percent) and blocks per game (6.8), rank second in 3-point field goal percentage (39.3 percent), third in opponent field goal percentage (45.3 percent) and are top 10 in the league in offensive rating (116.2 – third), defensive rating (111.6 – 10th) and net rating (4.5 – third), one of four teams with a top 10 offense and defense this season. The Nets have also compiled a league-best 14-3 record in ‘clutch’ games, including a 12-2 record with Vaughn leading the way.

Including a stint as the team’s interim head coach in the 2019-20 season, Vaughn has compiled a record of 30-10 as Brooklyn’s head coach, good for the best 40-game start for a head coach in Nets history. Vaughn is the sixth Nets head coach to earn Coach of the Month honors since the award was first presented in the 1982-83 season and the first since Steve Nash in Feb. 2021. Vaughn also joins Jason Kidd as the only two men to play for the Nets and earn a Coach of the Month honor as the franchise’s head coach.

All-Time Nets Coach of the Month Honorees:

Jacque Vaughn – Dec. 2022
Steve Nash – Feb. 2021
Jason Kidd – March 2014
Jason Kidd – Jan. 2014
Avery Johnson – Oct./Nov. 2012
Lawrence Frank – April 2007
Lawrence Frank – March 2006
Lawrence Frank – April 2005
Lawrence Frank – Feb. 2004
Byron Scott – Dec. 2003
Byron Scott – Dec. 2002

*Note – The NBA began awarding Coach of the Month by conference in 2002-03.

Sixers center Joel Embiid named NBA Eastern Conference Player of Month for Dec. 2022

The NBA announced today that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. This represents Embiid’s fifth career Player of the Month award, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for the most such honors in 76ers franchise history.

Embiid led the 76ers to a 9-4 record (.692) in the month, including a season-long eight-game win streak from Dec. 9-25. Philadelphia’s .692 winning percentage ranked third in the NBA throughout the month.

Embiid earned the honor after leading all NBA players in scoring at 35.4 points per contest on .545 shooting from the floor and .417 from three-point range. He and Western Conference Player of the Month Luka Dončić were the only NBA players to post such numbers in December.

His totals in points (460), rebounds (129) and blocks (23) make him one of four players in league history with such numbers over 13 outings, joining himself (earlier this season), and Hall of Famers Moses Malone, Bob McAdoo and Shaquille O’Neal.

Embiid posted at least 30 points in 10 games, joining Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Iverson as the only 76ers to have double-digit 30-point outings in the month of December. Embiid (twice), Iverson (seven) and Chamberlain (five) are the only 76ers ever to post at least 10 30-point games in any month in franchise history.

Highlighting the month was Embiid’s second 50-plus point game of the season on Dec. 11 against Charlotte. In the win, Embiid posted 53 points on a career-high 20 made field goals, adding 12 rebounds. He’s one of five players in NBA history to post at least four career games of 50 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting at least 60-percent from the field.

Embiid is the first center with multiple 50-point games in a single season since Hall of Famer David Robinson in 1993-94. He is also the first 76er with multiple games of 50-plus points since Iverson had three such contests during the 2004-05 season.

The Cameroon native went on to round out the month with his fifth career triple-double against the Oklahoma City Thunder, making him the eighth 76er to produce five triple-doubles with the team.

Mavericks guard Luka Doncic named NBA Western Conference Player of Month for Dec. 2022

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić has been named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in December, marking the third time in his career he has received the honor (November 2019, February 2022). Dirk Nowitzki (6) is the only other Maverick to win the award multiple times.

Dončić (6-7, 230) averaged 35.1 points (.519 FG%, .424 3FG%), 8.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 36.3 minutes in 15 games in December. It marked the highest-scoring month in franchise history (min. 10 games played) and the Mavericks went 11-4 in his 15 appearances during the month (11-6 overall).

The reigning two-time Western Conference Player of the Week scored 30-plus points in 12 of his 15 games in December, including 50-plus points on three occasions. Dončić also notched three of his eight triple-doubles during the month.

The three-time All-Star registered a game-high 50 points (17-30 FG, 6-12 3FG, 10-12 FT) to go along with a team-high eight rebounds, a game-high 10 assists and a game-high-tying three steals in 42 minutes in Dallas’ 112-106 win at Houston on Dec. 23. Dončić became the fourth player in NBA history (since steals were first recorded in 1973-74) to total at least 50 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in a game, joining James Harden (twice), LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

Dončić tallied a career-high 60 points (21-31 FG, 2-6 3FG, 16-22 FT) to go along with a career-high 21 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and one block in a career-high 47 minutes in Dallas’ 126-121 come-from-behind win over New York on Dec. 27. Dončić became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point, 20-rebound triple-double and the second player to post a 60-point triple-double of any kind (Harden, 60 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, vs. Orlando, Jan. 30, 2018). His 60 points also set a new franchise record (previous: 53, Dirk Nowitzki, vs. Houston, Dec. 2, 2004, OT).

The 23-year-old closed out the 2022 calendar year by tallying a game-high 51 points (18-29 FG, 6-10 3FG), including 30 in the first half (22 in the first quarter), to go along with six rebounds, a game-high nine assists, a season-high-tying four steals and one block in 37 minutes in the Mavericks’ 126-125 victory at San Antonio on Dec. 31. He had 42 points through three quarters, breaking a tie with Mark Aguirre (22) for the most 40-point games in franchise history.

Dončić netted 50-plus points three times over his final five games in December, totaling 228 points, 56 boards and 51 assists over that five-game stretch (Dec. 23 to 31). He became the first player in NBA history to total 225-plus points, 50-plus rebounds and 50-plus assists over any five-game run. Dončić also became the first player to record three 50-point games over a five-game span since Harden in January 2019.

For the season, Dončić is averaging a league-high 34.3 points, 8.8 rebounds (22nd in the NBA), 8.9 assists (4th in the NBA) and 1.7 steals (6th in the NBA) in 35 games (all starts).

Dončić has totaled 292 points, 77 rebounds and 69 assists during the Mavericks’ current seven-game win streak (41.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 9.0 apg since Dec. 21), which is their longest win streak since their championship season in 2010-11. He is the first player in league history to record 290-plus points, 70-plus rebounds and 60-plus assists over any seven-game stretch.

Magic forward Paolo Banchero named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of Month for Dec. 2022

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2022.

Banchero becomes the ninth player in franchise history to be named the league’s Rookie of the Month, joining Dennis Scott, Shaquille O’Neal (four times), Anfernee Hardaway (twice), Mike Miller (twice), Victor Oladipo (twice), Elfrid Payton, R.J. Hampton and Franz Wagner.

Banchero (6’10”, 255, 11/12/02) played and started in 15 games during December, averaging 19.1 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.07 stlpg. in 33.5 minpg. He led all NBA rookies in scoring and minutes played, while ranking second in assists. Banchero scored 20+ points in seven consecutive games from Dec. 5-18, tying the longest streak by a rookie in franchise history (O’Neal, Feb. 11-26, 1993).

Selected in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero has played and started in 30 games this season with Orlando, averaging a team-high 20.9 ppg., 6.7 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 34.1 minpg. He ranks among all NBA leaders in scoring (33rd) and minutes played (T-36th). Banchero leads all NBA rookies in scoring and minutes played, while also ranking among leaders in rebounding (3rd), assists (2nd), FG percentage (8th, .435), free throw percentage (6th, .755), steals (5th) and blocked shots (6th). He has scored 20+ points 21 times this season, the most of any NBA rookie.

Kings forward Keegan Murray named NBA Western Conference Rookie of Month for Dec. 2022

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December, the NBA announced today.

The fourth overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray averaged 12.7 points (46.0 FG%, 46.4 3pt%), 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 28.6 minutes per game in 14 games (14 starts) during the month of December.

Murray began the final month of 2022 with a new career high of 23 points to go with seven rebounds in a win at the LA Clippers on Dec. 3. The Iowa native had 18 points (6-8 3pt) in a win at Cleveland on Dec. 9 and finished with 20 points (7-13 FG, 4-6 3pt) in a victory over the Pistons on Dec. 16. Murray followed those outings with a career-high tying 23 points in Sacramento’s win vs. the Lakers on Dec. 21, going 7-for-17 from the floor, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, to become the first Kings rookie with five or more 3s in multiple games during December.

The first-year forward earns his first Rookie of the Month honor after he led all rookies in total 3-pointers made (39), games with multiple 3-point field goals (10) and 3-point field goal percentage. Since the 1979-80 season, Murray is just one of three rookies to connect on 35 or more 3-point attempts in December, joining Kyle Kuzma (2017-18, 38) and Luka Doncic (2018-19, 35) and the first to also shoot 45.0% or better from 3-point distance. His three games with 20+ points were tied for second in the month among rookies and mark the most by a Kings’ first-year player in December since Tyreke Evans (2009-10, 8).

Among all rookies this season, Murray currently ranks fifth in scoring (11.5) and total points (137) and first in 3-point field goals made (73) and 3-point shooting percentage (38.2%).

Murray is the eighth player in franchise history to receive Rookie of the Month honors and the first NBA Rookie of the Month out of Iowa since the award’s inception during the 1981-82 season.

Injury update on Lakers center Anthony Davis

Via the Los Angeles Times:

Lakers star big man Anthony Davis said pain in his right foot has been significantly reduced and imaging has shown that he’s progressing in his healing.
Though Davis hesitated to put a timetable on his return, he said things are moving in the right direction.

“It’s healing pretty quickly,” Davis said. “So when we get back to L.A., we’ll do another image of the foot, and see how far it’s healed since the last time I did it, which was the 22nd or the 23rd. And it’s really just about pain. The pain is still there, I still feel it a little bit, not as much as I did before. More like a two [out of 10], trending down to one. I’ve been lifting, and lifting is fine. Everything I do in the weight room is fine.

“If I see that it’s healed properly, or enough where I can go start ramping up on the court, then we’ll start that process.”

The Lakers are 15-21 this season, which is the 13th best record in the Western conference.

Davis is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in minutes per game.