Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kings rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton out with knee hyperextension

Results of the MRI revealed no ligament damage for Sacramento Kings rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton, multiple medical opinions confirmed.

The injury occurred at the 7:30 mark of the third quarter during Sunday’s game at Dallas. Haliburton is diagnosed with a hyperextension of the left knee. No surgery is required.

The team says they expect Tyrese will make a full recovery and participate in normal offseason training.

He is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

During his rookie campaign, Haliburton has garnered averages of 13.0 points (.472 FG%, .409 3pt%, .857 FT%), 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 30.1 minutes per game through 58 games (20 starts) for the Kings.

Jimmy Butler out tonight for Heat against Mavericks

The Heat will be without some key players as they face the Mavericks tonight. Via the Miami Herald:

The Miami Heat will be without Jimmy Butler for Tuesday night’s important game against the Dallas Mavericks at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Butler, a five-time All-Star, was ruled out for the contest just two hours before tip-off because of flu-like symptoms. The Heat will also be without Tyler Herro (right foot soreness) and Victor Oladipo against the Mavericks.

For the Mavericks, Kristaps Porzingis was listed as Doubtful this afternoon.

Magic sign Sindarius Thornwell, waive Devin Cannady

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Sindarius Thornwell to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, guard Devin Cannady has been waived.

Thornwell (6’4”, 215, 11/15/94) played in 14 games (one start) this season with New Orleans, averaging 1.2 ppg. in 5.2 minpg. He was originally signed by the Pelicans on July 6, 2020, was waived on Feb. 22, then signed two 10-day contracts, the first on Feb. 24.

Originally selected in the second round (48th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, Thornwell has played in 153 career NBA regular season games (19 starts) with the L.A. Clippers and New Orleans, averaging 2.5 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 10.3 minpg.

Thornwell played and started in 132 career games during four seasons at the University of South Carolina (2013-17), averaging 14.7 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 3.0 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 31.8 minpg. As a senior (2016-17), he averaged 21.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 2.13 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg., while shooting .392 (58-148) from three-point range and .830 (215-259) from the free throw line. Thornwell was named to the 2016-17 All-SEC First Team, the SEC All-Defensive Team and earned SEC Player of the Year honors. He was the 2016-17 East Regional Most Outstanding Player and led the Gamecocks to the 2016-17 NCAA Final Four. Thornwell was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2013-14.

Thornwell will wear #12 with the Orlando Magic.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) played in eight games with Orlando, averaging 4.3 ppg. in 9.3 minpg. He originally was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on Apr. 6, then released from that contract on Apr. 13, before signing a two-way contract on Apr. 16. Cannady suffered an open dislocation of his right ankle on Apr. 25, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season.

Atlanta Hawks will allow an increase in fan attendance in NBA playoffs

The Atlanta Hawks haven’t officially clinched an NBA playoff spot yet, but they’re in good shape to do so, and have plans to allow additional fan attendance in the postseason.

Today the Hawks announced plans to increase attendance for postseason play to 7,625 fans, approximately 45 percent of State Farm Arena’s full capacity. The plan received approval by both the NBA and the Georgia Department of Public Health. The Hawks opened the 2020-21 season with no fans in attendance before increasing capacity to 1300 fans on Jan. 26 and later increasing to 3000 fans for the second half of the season on March 13.

At 35-30 (.538), the Hawks are currently in 5th place in the Eastern Conference with seven games remaining (six at State Farm Arena) in the regular season. Fans can guarantee priority access to the 2021 Playoffs by visiting Hawks.com/membership or texting or calling (866) 715-1500 for more information.

“We are excited to safely welcome more fans back to State Farm Arena for our postseason run. A significant percentage of our members, staff and fans have been vaccinated and are eager to support our team together as we appear in the postseason for the first time in four years,” said Hawks Chief Executive Officer Steve Koonin. “We would like to thank for our friends at Emory Healthcare, Sharecare and the Georgia Department of Public Health who advised us on the safest ways to increase capacity.”

The Hawks will offer a 500-person vaccinated fan section, in which fans with proof of vaccination can be seated without social distancing. Additional lower bowl seating will be added to the East side of the building as plexiglass will be added behind player benches and other areas throughout the building for additional safety. Masks will continue to be required for all fans inside the arena.

Nets sign Mike James to another 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Mike James to a second 10-day contract.

James (6’1”, 195) signed his first 10-day contract with Brooklyn on April 23 and has appeared in six games for the Nets, recording averages of 6.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 17.2 minutes per game. In 42 NBA games with Brooklyn, New Orleans and Phoenix, he holds career averages of 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 18.8 minutes per contest.

James joined the Nets after playing nine professional seasons (2012-21) overseas in Croatia, Israel, Italy, Greece, Spain and Russia and in the NBA with Phoenix and New Orleans. In 36 games (10 starts) split between the Suns and Pelicans during the 2017-18 season, James recorded averages of 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 19.1 minutes per contest. The 30-year-old most recently spent two seasons (2019-21) with CSKA Moscow in Russia and appeared in 41 games (23 starts) during the 2020-21 season in VTB United League and EuroLeague play, recording averages of 17.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 27.5 minutes per game. James spent the 2018-19 season in Italy with Olimpia Milano, leading the team to the Italian SuperCup title and winning the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy for averaging a league-best 19.8 points to go with 3.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 34.0 minutes per contest in Milan’s 30 EuroLeague games (all starts). He previously won consecutive Greek League titles in 2017 and 2018 and the 2017 Greek Cup title with Panathinaikos B.C. in Athens and helped lead Spain’s Baskonia to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2016.

The Portland, Ore., native played two collegiate seasons (2010-12) at Lamar University, appearing in 56 games and averaging 15.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25.7 minutes per contest. As a senior in 2012, James earned First Team All-Southland honors and was named the Southland Conference Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He also spent two seasons (2008-10) at Eastern Arizona College prior to transferring to Lamar.

Magic sign Ignas Brazdeikis to a 10-day contract, release Donta Hall

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Ignas Brazdeikis to a 10-day contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, forward Donta Hall has been released from his 10-day contract.

Brazdeikis (6’6”, 221, 1/8/99) played in five games this season with both New York and Philadelphia, totaling two points, four rebounds and one assist in 3.0 minpg. He played in four games with the Knicks, before being traded to Philadelphia as part of a three-team deal on Mar. 25. Brazdeikis appeared in one game with the Sixers, before being waived on Apr. 8.

Originally selected in the second round (47th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Sacramento, Brazdeikis has played in 14 career NBA regular season games with New York and Philadelphia, averaging 1.4 ppg. in 4.9 minpg.

Brazdeikis played and started in 37 games during his only season at the University of Michigan (2018-19), averaging 14.8 ppg. and 5.4 rpg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .392 (56-143) from three-point range. He led the Wolverines in scoring. Brazdeikis was named the 2018-19 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Tournament Team. He was also an honorable mention All-American by Associated Press.

Brazdeikis will wear #17 with the Orlando Magic.

Hall (6’10”, 232, 8/7/97) played in eight games with the Magic, averaging 3.1 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. in 11.5 minpg. He originally signed a 10-day contract with Orlando on Apr. 13, then a second 10-day contract on Apr. 23.

Kings sign forward Louis King to two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward Louis King to a two-way contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

During the NBA G League single site in Orlando, Fla., King played for the Westchester Knicks and accrued averages of 13.7 points (.521 FG%, .456 3pt%, .810 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 32.2 minutes per game in 15 appearances while ranking sixth in overall three-point field goal percentage. Undrafted out of the University of Oregon, King appeared in 10 games with the Detroit Pistons during the 2019-20 season.

Cavs sign Mfiondu Kabengele to standard contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward/center Mfiondu Kabengele (fee-ON-doo cabin-gelly) to a multi-year contract, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Kabengele (6-9, 250) has played in seven games with the Cavaliers this season after signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 10 and a second 10-day contract on April 21, averaging 3.4 points on .529 shooting from the field, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist in in 9.4 minutes. He also appeared in 23 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season before being traded to the Sacramento Kings on March 22. Kabengele, who was waived by the Kings on March 25, owns career averages of 2.2 points in 5.3 minutes over 42 games during his two NBA seasons with the Clippers and Cavaliers. The 23-year-old also played in 27 contests (all starts) for the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League in 2019-20, averaging 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks in 31.2 minutes.

Selected with the 27th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by Brooklyn, Kabengele played two collegiate seasons at Florida State, earning the 2018-19 ACC Sixth Man of the Year award and 2019 All-ACC Tournament First Team honors. He is the nephew of NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo.

Nuggets sign Austin Rivers for remainder of season

The Denver Nuggets have signed veteran guard Austin Rivers for the remainder of the season, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Rivers, 6-4, 200, signed a 10-day contract with the Nuggets on April 20th and has appeared in six games for Denver, averaging 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.20 steals in 24.5 minutes per game.

The nine-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 9.1 points, 2.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 41.8% from the field and 34.7% from long distance in 579 career games (151 starts) with New Orleans, L.A. Clippers, Washington, Houston, New York and Denver.

The 28-year-old, provides valuable postseason experience, playing in a total of 45 playoff games (six starts), averaging 7.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 40.3% from the field in 20.2 minutes with Houston and the L.A. Clippers. Rivers has a total of 16 career postseason games scoring 10 or more points.

Rivers was drafted 10th overall by New Orleans in 2012 after spending one season at Duke University. In his lone season, he averaged a team-high 15.5 points on 43.3% shooting in 34 games, becoming the third freshman ever to lead Duke in scoring.

Injury updates on Timberwolves’ Malik Beasley and Jarrett Culver

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following medical updates on guards Malik Beasley and Jarrett Culver:

On Monday, Apr. 26, Beasley underwent follow-up imaging at Mayo Clinic Square for an evaluation of his left hamstring injury. He continues to progress positively and resumed on-court workouts on Tuesday, Apr. 27. He will continue to be evaluated weekly by the Timberwolves medical staff.

In 37 games (36 starts) this season, Beasley is averaging 19.6 points on 44.0% shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Culver initially suffered a right ankle injury on Jan. 25 and was evaluated by Dr. Aaron Krych at Mayo Clinic Square. After an initial period of non-operative management and continued symptoms, imaging revealed a loose body and the decision was made to proceed with operative management. Culver will undergo arthroscopic surgery with debridement of scar tissue and loose body performed by ankle specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel on Friday, May 7 in Los Angeles. He will be sidelined the remainder of the season.

In 34 games (seven starts) this season, Culver is averaging 5.3 points on 41.1% shooting, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists.