Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Cavaliers sign center Moses Brown to second 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Moses Brown to a second 10-day contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Brown (7-2, 245), who signed his first 10-day contract with Cleveland on March 10 has appeared in four games for the Cavaliers this season. Prior to joining Cleveland, Brown appeared in 26 games (1 start) with the Dallas Mavericks this season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per contest.

In 82 career NBA games (33 starts) with Portland, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Cleveland over his three seasons in the NBA, he holds career averages of 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.72 blocks in 14.0 minutes. Additionally, Brown has also played in 45 games (15 starts) over three seasons in the NBA G League and was named to the 2021 All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Defensive Team, posting averages of 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.71 blocks in 26.4 minutes over the 2020-21 NBA G League season. Brown went undrafted in 2019 after playing one season at UCLA.

Warriors center James Wiseman not ready to return yet

Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman was set to make his return to action quite soon. Until he wasn’t. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

James Wiseman’s anticipated return to the Warriors has been stalled as he deals with knee swelling. How long he’ll be shut down is to be determined, but his prolonged absence could create issues for the Warriors’ center depth and have the team brass second-guessing the decision not to add another big.

This is not to say the Warriors are short on talent at the center position. One of Golden State’s strongest competitive advantages heading into the playoffs is Draymond Green’s versatility: He can play power forward or center, operating as the team’s defensive anchor and offensive engine in either position. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney has started every Warriors game this season, playing the role of steady defender and low-use offensive player.

But how much wear and tear can Green and Looney endure at the five?

Timberwolves beat Bucks for 10th win in last 11 games

The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the NBA’s hottest teams lately. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

The luck of the Timberwolves.

Not a phrase you might have heard much the past few years. But when it comes to being lucky and good, lately, the Wolves have been a bit of both.

Which brings us to Saturday’s game with Milwaukee at Target Center, when it was announced before the game that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a sore right knee. Wolves coach Chris Finch talked about his team having to pivot after devoting a good 80% of its game plan to the the Milwaukee star.

They managed.

Going 22-for-47 on three pointers – nine players hit at least one – and leading from late in the first quarter on, and shooting better than 50%, the Wolves beat the Bucks 138-119. Minnesota (42-30) has now won four straight and 10 of 11.

It was a high-intensity game, one that featured a shoving match, matching technicals and ejections for Patrick Beverley and Milwaukee’s George Hill and, later, matching T’s on Naz Reid and Bobby Portis Jr.

The win keeps the Wolves 7th in the Western conference, far ahead of the 8th-place L.A. Clippers, and just half a game behind the 6th place Denver Nuggets.

Kings forward/center Richaun Holmes out for remainder of 2021-22 NBA season

Sacramento Kings forward Richaun Holmes will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season for personal reasons, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

“Richaun is a core member of our team, who is very important to our success,” said McNair. “We fully support Rich and look forward to seeing him back on the court for the 2022-23 NBA season.”

“I would like to thank everyone for their support during these difficult times,” said Holmes. “I love this team, I love my teammates and I look forward to returning next year.”

In his third season with the Kings, Holmes has averaged 10.4 points (.660 FG%, .778 FT%), 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 23.9 minutes per game in 45 games (37 starts) during the 2021-22 campaign.

Hawks forward John Collins out with foot and finger injuries

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins received second opinions yesterday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, which confirmed the original diagnoses and treatment plans for a right foot strain, including a plantar fascia tear, as well as a right ring finger sprain.

Dr. Michelle Carlson of HSS administered an anti-inflammatory shot in his finger yesterday and he was fitted with custom splints, which he will wear for the remainder of the season.

Over the next few days, Collins will undergo a non-surgical procedure on his right foot at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex.

His status will be updated in 10-14 days.

The latest on injured Nuggets Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray

The Denver Nuggets haven’t been at full strength this season. Here’s the Denver Post with the latest on a few of their key injured players:

Just like every hopeful Nuggets fan, Will Barton has allowed his mind to wander.

As good as the Nuggets are (25-12 since Jan. 1), Barton knows what the potential returns of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray could mean for the Nuggets during the playoffs.

Six months into the season, depending on their returns, his workload could get significantly lighter. And in turn, the Nuggets could level up from a dangerous postseason matchup to a deep, multifaceted offense.

“Of course,” he told The Denver Post. “You can’t shy away from that.

“Obviously, we’re missing two great players. We’ll welcome them back, but we gotta focus on what’s going on in the present. … When we get the word that they’re coming back, we’ll take it from there.”

Porter, it appears, is trending closer to a return than Murray following back surgery on Dec. 1.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry injury update

A terrific Golden State Warriors season has hit a roadblock. Via the San Jose Mercury News:

Warriors star Steph Curry will miss an indefinite amount of time with a sprained ligament in his left foot, according to reports.

Curry injured his foot when Marcus Smart rolled over his leg during Wednesday night’s game against the Celtics. Curry had an MRI and X-rays that did not reveal a fracture or major damage to the ligaments…

Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson played together on Monday for the first time in 1,005 days only to be broken up again by injury a game later.

The regular season ends April 10. Hopefully Curry is able to be 100 percent, or somewhat close, by the start of the playoffs.

Pacers sign forward Justin Anderson to a 10-day contract

The Indiana Pacers have signed forward Justin Anderson to a 10-day contract.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “Anderson’s 10-day contract temporarily fills the Pacers’ open roster spot, which was created last month after Tristan Thompson was acquired from Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton-Domantas Sabonis trade and waived after four games. Thompson is now with the Bulls, while Anderson is back with the Pacers for the second time this season. The former Virginia star signed a 10-day deal with Indiana under the NBA’s COVID-19 hardship exception in January, averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in three games.”

Anderson will wear number 10 for the Pacers.

Pacers forward T.J. Warren will miss remainder of 2021-22 NBA season

Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren, who has not played since early last season, will not make his return to action this season.

Per ESPN.com, “although Indiana Pacers guard T.J. Warren has recovered from consecutive stress fractures in his left foot and returned to full basketball activities, he will sit out Indiana’s final 12 games and prepare for the 2022-23 season, sources told ESPN. Warren, 28, has missed the entirety of this season and played only four games in 2020-21 with the stress fractures.”

“Our organization’s guiding principle will always center on a holistic approach to our players’ health and prioritizing their overall well-being,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “T.J. Warren has worked incredibly hard over the past 14 months to get to this point – a full participant in on-court activity with his teammates – all while navigating the many challenges that accompany this type of injury. However, after thoughtful conversation with T.J. and his representatives, it has been determined that the most beneficial course of action at this point is to allow him to focus on the 2022-23 season. We will continue to provide T.J. with all the care, support, and resources necessary to ensure he returns to the high-level of play to which he’s accustomed.”

The Pacers are 24-47 this season. Warren played just four games in 2020-21 and hasn’t played at all in 2021-22. In 67 games played in 2019-20, he averaged 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Prior to that season, Warren played for the Phoenix Suns.