Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Raptors sign guard Armoni Brooks to multi-year contract

The Toronto Raptors on Saturday, March 26 signed guard Armoni Brooks to a multi-year contract.

Brooks, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, had signed two 10-day contracts with the Raptors, averaging 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 11.1 minutes in eight games. He has scored six or more points in each of the last three games and recorded three points, four rebounds and two assists in his lone start March 12 at Denver. In 49 games (nine starts) this season with Houston and Toronto, Brooks is averaging 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 15.9 minutes.

A native of Waco, Texas, Brooks holds career averages of 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 18.8 minutes in 69 games (14 starts) with Houston and Toronto. He signed a two-way contract with the Rockets in April 2021 following two seasons in the G League with Rio Grande Valley (2020-21) and College Park (2019-20). Brooks played collegiately at Houston (2016-19) where he was named All-AAC Second Team as a junior.

Phoenix Suns through 73 games are having their best season in franchise history

PHOENIX SUNS NOTES

The Suns stand at a league-best 58-14 on the season, 9 games ahead of MEM for the best record in the NBA, and the team’s best start through 73 games of a season in franchise history.

The Suns won the Pacific Division title for the second-straight season and the 8th time in franchise history.

Phoenix has scored 125+ points in six-straight games entering tonight, a franchise record and the longest such streak in the league this season (would be 1st team with seven-straight such games since the 1988-89 Nuggets, who did so in seven-straight games).

With his 23rd point last night, Devin Booker became the fourth-yongest player in NBA history to 11,000 career points (25 years, 144 days), trailing only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant.

The Suns hold a .829 (29-6) win percentage in road games this season, better than every team’s home win percentage.

DEVIN BOOKER totaled 28 points on 7-of-15 shooting in the Suns’ win at Minnesota last night, to go along with 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Booker attempted a season-high 16 free throws, knocking down 13 of them, which matched a season high (has now done so three times). Over the last eight games, Booker is averaging 28.1 points on 53.6 FG%, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

ON THIS DAY IN SUNS HISTORY: On this day five years ago (March 24, 2017), DEVIN BOOKER scored a career and franchise record 70 points at Boston. Booker shot 52.5 FG% (21-of-40) in the game and added 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Booker became the sixth player in NBA history to score 70+ points in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlin (six times), Kobe Bryant, David Robinson, David Thompson and Elgin Baylor, and was the youngest to do so at 20 years, 145 days.

DEANDRE AYTON scored a game and career-high 35 points last night on 15-of-24 shooting and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Ayton scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and 19 in the second half, both of which marked personal season highs for fourthquarter and second-half scoring. The game marked Ayton’s 26th double-double of the season, his fourth-straight and seventh in the last nine games. Additionally, the game was Ayton’s second-career game with 30+ points and 10+ rebounds (33 points, 14 rebounds on Dec. 29, 2018 vs. DEN). Improving his career field goal percentage to 60.1 FG% over the last couple of games, Ayton joins Mark West and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in francbhise history with a career FG% above 60.0 (min. 500 field goal makes) while in a Suns jersey.

MIKAL BRIDGES totaled 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 6 rebounds and 3 steals last night in Minnesota. The game marked Bridges’ 13th-straight game scoring in double figures, his longest streak with 10+ points this season (previous was 12-straight spanning Jan. 28-Feb. 24).

Warriors center James Wiseman remains out until 2022-23 NBA season

Per the Golden State Warriors, center James Wiseman, who has missed the first 73 games of the 2021-22 season after undergoing surgery on April 15, 2021 to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Wiseman appeared in three games with the Santa Cruz Warriors earlier this month, averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, but recently experienced swelling in his right knee.

“We’ve maintained throughout his entire rehabilitation process that we’re going to be patient and look out for James’ best interests in what we anticipate to be a long and successful career,” said Warriors President of Basketball Operations / General Manager Bob Myers. “As a 20 year-old, his entire career is ahead of him. For us, as an organization, our focus is on James’ long-term health and we’re confident—and our doctors are confident—that this long-term approach will help James become the player we believe he will evolve into when he returns to the court.”

Jazz center Udoka Azubuike undergoes season-ending surgery

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike:

Azubuike underwent successful surgery today to repair multiple ankle and foot ligaments in his right foot to stabilize the Subtalar joint. The surgery was performed in Indianapolis by foot and ankle specialist Dr. David Porter in consultation with Jazz team physician Dr. Travis Maak. Azubuike will be out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Azubuike (7-0, 270, Kansas) is in his second season with the Jazz, owning averages of 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

Trail Blazers re-sign Kris Dunn and Drew Eubanks to 10-day contracts

The Trail Blazers have signed guard Kris Dunn to a second 10-day contract and center Drew Eubanks to a fourth 10-day contract, the team announced today. Both contracts are via the NBA’s hardship exception.

Dunn, 28, signed his first 10-day contract with the Trail Blazers on March 14. In six appearances (one start) for Portland, he has averaged 7.3 points (44.2% FG, 100% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.00 steals and 24.8 minutes.

A native of New London, Connecticut, Dunn (6-3, 205) was selected by Minnesota with the fifth overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft after four collegiate seasons at Providence. He holds career averages of 8.2 points (42.0% FG, 30.4% 3-PT, 73.1% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.54 steals and 24.1 minutes in 237 games (127 starts) with Minnesota, Chicago, Atlanta and Portland.

Eubanks, 25, previously signed 10-day contracts with Portland on February 22, March 4 and March 14. In 13 games (all starts) for the Trail Blazers, Eubanks has averaged 12.3 points (62.4% FG, 88.0% FT), 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 28.1 minutes. For the season, he is averaging 6.3 points (56.7% FG, 77.9% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 15.5 minutes in 62 games (22 starts) with San Antonio and Portland.

A product of Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon, Eubanks (6-9, 245) played three seasons at Oregon State from 2015-18 before going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 5.3 points (57.6% FG, 75.9% FT), 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 161 games (28 starts) for the Spurs and Trail Blazers.

Miami Heat sign Mychal Mulder, waive Kyle Guy

The Miami Heat have signed Mychal Mulder to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived Kyle Guy.

Mulder has appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season averaging 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three-point range. Earlier this season, he appeared in 15 games (two starts) with the Orlando Magic and averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.0 minutes of action.

Mulder, who previously signed with the HEAT on September 16, 2019, appeared in two preseason games with Miami before being waived on October 15. He has now appeared in 82 career NBA games (11 starts) between Orlando and Golden State averaging 5.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 14.2 minutes. He has also appeared in 144 career G League games (121 starts) between the Windy City Bulls and Skyforce averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 32.5 minutes.

Guy, who was signed by the HEAT to a two-way contract on January 17 after previously signing two 10-day contracts on December 30 and January 10, appeared in 19 games with Miami this season averaging 3.9 points in 9.8 minutes of action while shooting 40 percent from the field. He also appeared in six G League games with the Skyforce averaging 15.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 29.4 minutes.

Pistons sign forward Braxton Key to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Braxton Key to a 10-day contract.

Key, 6-8, 225, averaged 18.9 points (48% FG, 39% 3FG), 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks in 28.2 minutes per game with the Delaware Blue Coats, the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, this season. In 43 career NBA G League games, Key has averaged 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 23.7 minutes, all with the Blue Coats. He also appeared in two games with the 76ers this season.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Key began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama where he played two seasons and was named to the 2016-17 SEC All-Freshman team. He played his final two seasons at the University of Virginia where he was a member of the 2019 NCAA Championship team. In 125 career games, he averaged 8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.6 minutes per game.

Key will wear #8 for the Pistons.

Rockets sign forward Anthony Lamb to two-way contract

The Houston Rockets have signed forward Anthony Lamb to a two-way contract. He is the 145th NBA G League “Call-Up” of the 2021-22 season. This is Lamb’s second Call-Up of the season, having signed a 10-day contract with San Antonio on Jan. 6.

Lamb (6-6, 225) was playing for the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. In 26 regular season games for the Vipers, he averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 2.9 3-pointers made on 39.8% shooting. Lamb also played in 13 games for Rio Grande Valley in the G League Showcase Cup, averaging 15.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg and 3.1 3FGM on 41.7% shooting.

In 2020-21, Lamb earned G League Most Improved Player honors while playing for the Canton Charge and the Vipers. He signed a two-way contract with Houston on March 8, 2020 and appeared in 24 games over the remainder of the season, scoring 20-plus points twice his final 11 games played. Lamb also played for the Rockets in the 2021 NBA Summer League and was with the team through the preseason.

Thunder and Mavericks will play Oct. 5, 2022 preseason game in Tulsa

The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to return to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 2022 NBA preseason, the team announced today. The Thunder will host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 7 p.m. inside the BOK Center.

The matchup will be the Thunder’s 13th preseason game in Tulsa and the third time Oklahoma City and Dallas will face off there.