NBA News Blog – Page 1445 – NBA Blog

Heat sign Kenny Hasbrouck to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck to a 10-day contract, making him the 25th Gatorade NBA Development League call-up this season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck, a 6’3”, 195-pound guard, has appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 29 points at Bakersfield on March 6 and posted three consecutive 20-point games after scoring 20 vs. Springfield on February 26, 21 vs. Bakersfield on February 29 and then 24 at Springfield on March 1.

Hasbrouck was undrafted out of Siena College where he played four seasons appearing in 129 career games (all starts) and averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.92 steals in 31.1 minutes while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 74.0 percent from the line. He became the third fastest player to reach 1,000 points in Siena Division I history and graduated as the school’s all-time leader in steals (248). The two-time MAAC tournament MVP had his number 41 jersey retired by Siena at a season ending banquet on April 27, 2009.

Hasbrouck will wear number 4.

Thunder sign Mustafa Shakur to 10-day contract

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has signed guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract.

Shakur is a free agent call-up from the Tulsa 66ers, NBA Development League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the time of his call-up the 2010 D-League All-Star was averaging 20.7 points (9th in the D-League) while shooting 50.3% from the floor (295-587 FG), 7.2 assists (4th in D-League), 2.3 steals (3rd in D-League) and 39.4 minutes in 40 games (40 starts).

A 6-3, 190 pound guard who went undrafted out of the University of Arizona in 2007, Shakur spent the previous three seasons playing overseas with Prokom Trefl Sopot of the Polish League (2007-08), Tau Cerámica of ACB Spanish League (2008-09) and most recently with Panellinios BC of the Greek A1 League (2009).

With his signing, Shakur becomes the 24th Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season. He will wear uniform #11.

Rumors talk: Aches and pains

In the latest shocking news, Eddy Curry continues to feel pain, tightness, sharpness, aches and whatever other unhealthy words you can think of. At this point it doesn’t really matter if he plays or not. The main thing the Knicks want to do is trade him, and that’s pretty hard to pull off if he can’t even get on the court, let alone play well.

The Bucks have gone nuts lately and while credit goes to the whole team, Andrew Bogut is big-time out there. He’s moved up a notch in the eyes of many.

I look forward to seeing how Phoenix Suns rookie Earl Clark does in the D-League. He’s not expected to be there long. Chances are he doesn’t do anything special for one or two games, and then unleashes something nasty once he gets the hang of it. And then gets called back to the Suns.

The Heat will reportedly sign Kenny Hasbrouck, who I bet at least 12 of you have heard of.

Amar’e Stoudemire is a monster out there lately.

Glen Davis and Shaq should sumo-wrestle it out.

I can appreciate Matt Bonner feeling that every shot he takes should go in. I feel the same way about my own shot. Typically, out in the park if I shoot and miss, I take the basketball, kick it out of the playground while declaring it defective, curse at everybody and call city maintenance to come measure the rims. It makes a positive impression on the guys I’m playing with and sends a clear message that my shot is not to be trifled with.

Tyreke Evans is putting up some Lebron-like stat-lines. Kid is nasty.

Talk to you tomorrow.

InsideHoops.com Rumors Talk is an editorialized take on today’s NBA rumors stories.

Suns assign Earl Clark to D-League

The Phoenix Suns today assigned rookie forward Earl Clark to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-10, 225-pound Clark was selected by the Suns with the 14th overall pick (first round) of the 2009 NBA Draft and has appeared in 45 games this season for Phoenix. Clark will spend his first stint in the D-League.

The three-year standout at the University of Louisville, Clark owns averages of 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes this season for the Suns. Clark has scored in double figures three times in 2009-10, including a career-high 14 points off the bench Nov. 27 at Minnesota.

Currently sixth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the Suns (41-26) return to action Tuesday night, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-53) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. Phoenix time. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Warriors lower prices for season ticket renewals

The Golden State Warriors are lowering the price of tickets for Season Ticket Holders in every seating category at Oracle Arena for the 2010-11 NBA season as part a Loyalty Pricing program, the team announced today. Current Season Ticket Holders, who began receiving their renewal invoices over the weekend, will be able to renew their seats for next season at 43-game price totals that have been decreased 8%-28% from the 2009-10 campaign.

“This is the right thing to do,” said Warriors’ President Robert Rowell. “We have had constant communication with our Season Ticket Holders throughout the season and we are committed to addressing their needs and concerns. We have the best fans in the NBA and we are determined to ensure that their experience as Warriors’ Season Ticket Holders is not only more affordable, but also worthy of the loyalty they have demonstrated to us over the years.”

Of the 16 price categories, 14 will realize a decrease of more than 12% as part of the new Loyalty Pricing structure, and eight (8) – or half of the categories – will see a decrease of at least 15%. The largest percentage decrease in the lower level is a 24.62% decrease in the corner sections and the largest percentage decrease in the building is a 28% decrease in the upper level.

All Season Ticket Holders who place a deposit on their seats for next season by April 12 will be able to take advantage of the Loyalty Pricing. Those who choose not to take advantage of Loyalty Pricing will still be able to renew their seats for 2010-11 at the same price that they paid this season as part of a Price Freeze program. Additionally, all Season Ticket Holders have the option to pay off their seats via an installment plan, in which they will have up to eight months (April to November) to pay their due balance.

Freak accident puts Pacer Mike Dunleavy on bench

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

The Indiana Pacers found another way to have a player go down with an injury.

Swingman Mike Dunleavy was a last-minute scratch from the lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks after he suffered a right eye contusion when he was hit by a ball during pregame warm-ups Sunday.
Advertisement

“I went in for a layup and somebody shot the ball and it came off the rim right into my eye,” said Dunleavy, who looked like he had been in a fight after the game.

The Pacers say they’re not sure of the severity of the injury.

“He saw (Milwaukee’s) ophthalmologist and we’re hoping it’s nothing serious,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. “He was seeing a black spot out of his eye, so he was told he couldn’t play.”

Jazz sign Othyus Jeffers to second 10-day contract

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed rookie guard/forward Othyus Jeffers (pronounced OH-thee-us) to a second 10-day contract. Jeffers (6-5, 210, Robert Morris University (IL)) signed his first 10-day contract with the Jazz on March 4 and has appeared in two Jazz games since, averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 2.0 minutes per game.

When the Jazz signed him from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, Jeffers became the 18th D-League Call-Up to the NBA this season, and second by the Jazz (Sundiata Gaines).

Jeffers also became the fifth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Gaines, Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04) and Louis Amundson (2006-07).

At the time of his call-up, Jeffers was averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting .510 from the field through 22 games (16 starts) with Iowa this season. Jeffers had led the Energy to a D-League best 30-9 record in his second season with the team, reaching double figures in scoring 18 times and registering a double-double in four games.

He began the 2009-10 campaign with NGC Cantu of the Italian League, the same team current Jazz teammate Sundiata Gaines played for during the 2008-09 season. The 24-year-old averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals in nine games with Cantu.

A native of Chicago, he was originally selected by the Energy in the third round (47th overall) of the 2008 D-League Draft. In his first year with Iowa (2008-09), Jeffers led the Energy to the playoffs and was named the 2009 D-League Rookie of the Year in addition to being a D-League All-Star selection. Jeffers was also chosen to play for the D-League Select Team in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Jeffers concluded his collegiate career at Robert Morris University in Chicago (24.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game) earning The Sporting News NAIA Player of the Year and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors. He preceded his one season at RMU with two seasons at Illinois-Chicago (13.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game) and one season at Los Angeles Southwest College (22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game).

Luis Scola scores 44 on Nets

The AP reports:

Luis Scola glanced at the scoreboard during the second half of Saturday’s game against New Jersey and the night he was having finally started to sink in.

Scola finished with a career-high 44 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and the Houston Rockets beat the Nets 116-108 to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

Scola hit 20 of 25 shots, many of them open layups, and reached the highest point total by a Rockets player since Tracy McGrady scored 47 against Utah in November 2007.

“It was one of those nights where you’re feeling good, but then everything you try, works,” Scola said. “I’m probably as surprised as you are.”

The New York Post reports:

Scola seemed to sneak inside for layups all night, and finished off the Nets with a straight-on jumper that put Houston up 103-93 with just over four minutes left. Scola hit 6 of 8 shots and scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Knicks dominate, end 13-game Mavs win streak

The AP reports:

Bill Walker scored a career-high 23 points, Wilson Chandler added 22 and the New York Knicks snapped Dallas’ 13-game winning streak and avenged a 50-point loss to the Mavericks earlier this season with a 128-94 victory on Saturday night…

Rookie Toney Douglas had 21 points, Al Harrington added 20 points, and David Lee contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, who’d lost 14 of their previous 17 and nine straight in Dallas.

InsideHoops.com Notes:

The Knicks as a team shot 56.2%; the Mavericks hit 42.5%. But even better for New York was their incredible three-point shooting: 16-of-30. The Knicks also won the assists category, 28-14.

For New York, Walker shot 9-of-12 and hit 5-of-8 threes. Wilson Chandler scored 22 but he needed 20 shots to do it. Douglas, starting at point guard, shot 8-of-10 for his 21 points, and he dished eight assists. Harrington hit 8-of-15. And David Lee was fantastic in the middle, contributing 15 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

For Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had a modest 20 points and 12 rebounds. Jason Kidd had 15 points on 12 shots and not much more. Shawn Marion had a mere 14 points on 15 shots. And Caron Butler was virtually invisible in his 30 minutes with seven points, three steals and little else.

NBA suspends Kirk Hinrich, fines Alvin Gentry

Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls has been suspended one game without pay for making contact with a game official and, in a separate incident, Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry has been fined $25,000 for improper conduct towards a game official and for not leaving the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident involving Hinrich occurred with 4:43 remaining in the fourth period of the Bulls’ 108-95 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday, March 12, at the American Airlines Arena. Hinrich will serve his suspension on Tuesday, March 16 when the Bulls face the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum.

The incident involving Gentry occurred with 5:06 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 102-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, March 12 at the US Airways Center.