Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic health update

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic continues to progress in his recovery from a right wrist fracture, it was announced today by Trail Blazers president of basketball operations, Neil Olshey.

Nurkic, who suffered the injury on January 14 versus Indiana, continues to increase his on-court activity and will be reevaluated later next week. Further updates will be provided accordingly.

In 12 games this season, Nurkic is averaging 9.8 points (48.5% FG, 25.0% 3-PT, 55.6% FT), 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 23.3 minutes.

Blazers guard CJ McCollum cleared for contact practice

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum continues to recover from a left mid-foot fracture and has been cleared for contact practice, it was announced today by Neil Olshey, Trail Blazers president of basketball operations.

McCollum will be reevaluated later next week.

Through 13 games, McCollum averaged 26.7 points (47.3% FG, 44.1% 3-PT, 84.4% FT), 3.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists with Portland prior to sustaining the injury on January 16 vs. Atlanta.

LeBron James and Kevin Durant have drafted teams for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game

Captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets have selected the team rosters for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected by James with the first overall pick in the NBA All-Star Draft. Joining Antetokounmpo and James as Team LeBron starters are Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. Team LeBron’s reserves are Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, LA Clippers forward Paul George, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

Nets guard Kyrie Irving was drafted by Durant with the second overall pick in the NBA All-Star Draft. In addition to Irving, Durant selected 76ers center Joel Embiid, Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum as starters. Tatum, voted to the NBA All-Star Game as a reserve, was drafted with the starters as a replacement for Durant, who is unable to play in the game.

The reserves drafted by Durant are Nets guard James Harden, Suns guard Devin Booker, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. Lakers forward Anthony Davis, unable to play in the NBA All-Star Game, has been assigned to Team Durant because the player who replaced him (Booker) was selected by Team Durant.

The 70th NBA All-Star Game will air on TNT and ESPN Radio as part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage on March 7 will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage on TNT will begin at 8 p.m. ET, and AT&T Slam Dunk will take place at halftime. NBA All-Star 2021 will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages.

In the NBA All-Star Draft, James and Durant drafted the team rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. The two captains selected the starters in the first round and the reserves in the second round, making their picks without regard to a player’s conference affiliation or position.

As the top overall finisher in fan voting, James was awarded the first pick in the first round. Durant made the first pick in the second round. The captains alternated picks in each round, with Durant getting the final two picks in the first round, which had nine players instead of eight because of Tatum’s addition.

As part of the NBA All-Star Game format, the two teams will compete to win each quarter for their respective beneficiaries. Team LeBron will play for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Team Durant will play for UNCF (United Negro College Fund), with both organizations providing scholarship funding to further the higher education of students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

A total of $1.75 million will be contributed to the two organizations. Each organization will receive an initial $500,000 contribution. At the end of each of the first three quarters, an additional $150,000 will be awarded to the leading team’s organization – totaling $450,000 for those three quarters. A remaining $300,000 will be awarded to the organization of the team that wins the NBA All-Star Game. The winner of the NBA All-Star Game will be the first team to reach or surpass the Final Target Score.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, naming a player from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. The player who is named as a replacement would join the team that drafted the replaced player. If a replaced player is a starter, the head coach of that team would name a new starter from his team’s group of reserves. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder will lead Team LeBron, and 76ers head coach Doc Rivers will guide Team Durant.

Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross fined by NBA

Orlando Magic guard Michael Carter-Williams and guard-forward Terrence Ross have each been fined $15,000 for verbal abuse of game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred at the conclusion of the Magic’s 115-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 3 at Amway Center.

Magic lose 5th straight game

The Magic lost a close one to the Hawks tonight, and are racking up losses lately. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

The Orlando Magic went from a near-certain victory to a stinging defeat and now they’ll limp into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak.

Trae Young scored 32 points, including two key free throws with 8.0 seconds left, as the Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter and stunned the Magic with a 115-112 victory Wednesday night before a crowd of 3,969 at Amway Center.

Orlando (13-23) led 106-90 with 6:08 to play but watched Atlanta (16-20) roar back behind its 3-point shooting.

The Magic are now 13-23, which is the second worst record in the Eastern conference, ahead of the Pistons.

Leading scorers for the Magic this season are Nikola Vucevic at 24.5 points per game, Evan Fournier at 18.5 ppg, Terrence Ross at 15.2 ppg, Aaron Gordon at 13.8 ppg in 19 games played, Markelle Fultz at 12.9 ppg in 8 games played, and Cole Anthony at 11.0 ppg.

Pelicans assign Wenyen Gabriel to Erie BayHawks in G League

The New Orleans Pelicans today assigned forward Wenyen Gabriel to their G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks.

Gabriel, 6-9, 205, who was originally signed by the club on November 20, 2020, has appeared in four games for New Orleans this season. Gabriel will join fellow teammates Naji Marshall and Will Magnay, who are on two-way transfers from the Pelicans.

The BayHawks currently sit in second place in the G League with a 10-3 record and have clinched a spot in the 2021 postseason. Erie’s next game is Thursday, March 4 against the Oklahoma City Blue at 6:00 p.m. CST.

Pistons will soon allow limited fan attendance at home games

The Detroit Pistons announced plans today to place a limited number of tickets on sale beginning when the club plays the Toronto Raptors on March 17 at Little Caesars Arena. Working under direction of state and local government health professionals and guidelines, up to 750 fans will be allowed to attend upcoming games in this initial phase. Tickets will go on sale Thursday morning, March 5 at 10:00 a.m.

“In preparation for hosting a limited number of fans during these challenging times, we are grateful to work closely with state and local health professionals, the NBA and Olympia Entertainment in creating a safe and welcoming environment,” said Mike Zavodsky, Chief Business Officer for the Detroit Pistons. “We thank our fans and the community for their continued support during this time as we worked through all necessary steps and benchmarks required for welcoming you back to Little Caesars Arena safely.”

“We are very excited to gradually expand the number of guests in attendance at Little Caesars Arena for upcoming Pistons games,” said Tim Padgett, Olympia Entertainment’s Vice President of Venue Operations. “We appreciate the extensive coordination with, and guidance from, public health and medical experts, government officials, and the National Basketball Association over the past several months. Safety is our top priority. We have developed and invested in a plan that has allowed us to welcome back fans safely to our venues.”

THE TEAM SAYS THE FOLLOWING

The Pistons have worked closely with public health and medical experts, government officials, the NBA and Little Caesars Arena to implement an extensive set of health and safety measures in preparation for hosting more fans. All seats will be physically distanced. Additional measures include: all fans aged two years and older will be required to wear a mask for the duration of their time inside the venue except when eating or drinking at their seating location; marked physical distancing while navigating the venue; completion of health survey screening for all guests entering the arena no more than 24 hours before the game; installation of mobile ticket scanning pedestals; cashless payments in the parking lot and for food and beverage; and any and all bags will be prohibited for all games.

Knicks guard Derrick Rose out due to health and safety protocols

The Knicks were without guard Derrick Rose tonight and likely won’t have his services for the coming days. Via New York Newsday:

The Knicks announced shortly before game time Tuesday that Derrick Rose was out because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, meaning he will be lost to the team at least through the All-Star break.

While the Knicks did not disclose whether Rose had tested positive or if he was subject to contact tracing, even just the tracing would put him out of action. When Frank Ntilikina was sidelined because of it, he had to remain quarantined in a Miami hotel room for a week. Rose will have to remain in the team hotel in San Antonio. The Knicks have one more game Thursday against Detroit before the break.

The Knicks have been playing a better season than anyone expected, and if the season ended today would make the playoffs. There’s a long way to go, of course, but this season has been a big step in the right direction for the squad.

In 10 games played for the Knicks this season, Rose is averaging 12.5 points and 4.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per outing.

Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton will return after the NBA All-Star break

Talented Sacramento Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton has opened eyes with his impressive play. But the show is currently on hold until after the NBA All-Star break. Via the Sacramento Bee:

Kings coach Luke Walton said rookie Tyrese Haliburton will not return until after the All-Star break and Buddy Hield’s status is uncertain for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Haliburton is out due to left calf soreness and Hield is questionable with a right ankle sprain as the Kings (13-21) prepare to play the Lakers (24-11) on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

Haliburton has missed the past two games after developing soreness in his calf in a 140-121 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

Lakers center Marc Gasol out against the Suns tonight

The Lakers will be lacking in the big-man department tonight as they face the Suns. Via the OC Register:

The Lakers are starting to feel the squeeze of attrition in a pandemic-stricken season.

Veteran center Marc Gasol will be the latest Laker to miss time due to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols: Gasol is listed out for Tuesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the team reported to the NBA on Tuesday afternoon…

Gasol’s absence leaves the Lakers’ punishingly thin at center, which has been a sticky position this season, to begin with. With All-Star forward Anthony Davis out, the only remaining player above 6-foot-10 is Damian Jones, the center recently signed to a 10-day contract who is listed as questionable with a strained back.