Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kelly Oubre Jr. undergoes knee surgery

Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee today.

Here’s the Arizona Republic:

Oubre had last season cut short with a hand injury that underwent surgery and kept him out Phoenix’s last 11 games. That came after he scored what was then a career-high 32 points in a road win against New Orleans in his hometown.

Oubre signed a two-year, $30-million deal in the offseason.

The Suns will re-evaluate his health status in four weeks. But the NBA regular season ends a few weeks after that, and barring a miracle, the Suns (24-37) won’t be making the playoffs this year. So don’t be surprised if Oubre doesn’t return until next season.

The Suns have been led in scoring this season by Devin Booker at 26.0 points per game, followed by Deandre Ayton at 19.2 PPG, then Oubre at 18.7 PPG.

Coby Karl named G League Coach of Month for February, 2020

South Bay Lakers Head Coach Coby Karl was named NBA G League Coach of the Month for games played in February, it was announced today. The award is the second of Karl’s career and his first since November 2017.

Karl led South Bay to a league-best 7-2 (.778) record in February, their best month of the season and best since November of 2017. For the month, South Bay led the league in points (130.8), points off turnovers (27.3), fast break points (23.2) and points in the paint (62.4). The team also ranked fifth in steals (9.8) and sixth in field goal percentage (.469).

Of South Bay’s seven wins in February, five came against teams currently in the top seven of the Western Conference. The team had their largest win in franchise history when they beat the Texas Legends, 140-98, on February 19 and had their best comeback win of the season when they overcame a 21-point deficit en route to a 152-148 win over the Iowa Wolves on February 23.

Knicks issue statement on the Spike Lee situation

The back-and-forth between the New York Knicks and Knicks superfan Spike Lee continued, with the team issuing the following statement this afternoon:

“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance – which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden – is laughable. It’s disappointing that Spike would create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime via the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to last night when they shook hands.”

Along with the above statement, the Knicks also included a photo from yesterday showing Lee and Knicks owner James Dolan shaking hands.

On an ESPN TV appearance today, Lee said he’s done attending Knicks games for the season. But perhaps cooler heads will prevail.

Lee is easily the Knicks’ most famous and loyal fan.

Grizzlies sign Anthony Tolliver, waive Jordan Bell

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday signed forward Anthony Tolliver to a 10-day contract.

The team also waived forward/center Jordan Bell.

Tolliver (6-8, 240) has appeared in 706 games (101 starts) and has averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.6 minutes while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range in 12 NBA seasons since going unselected in the 2007 NBA Draft. The 34-year-old Creighton alum has competed in 42 games (nine starts) with Portland and Sacramento this season and has averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes.

Tolliver will wear jersey #44 for the Grizzlies.

Bell (6-8, 216) averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.5 minutes in two appearances for Memphis after he was acquired from Houston on Feb. 6. The 25-year-old University of Oregon product holds career averages of 3.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.0 minutes in 154 games (16 starts) over three seasons with Golden State, Minnesota and Memphis.

Pistons sign Donta Hall to another 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons today signed forward/center Donta Hall to a second 10-day contract.

Hall has played three games for the Pistons so far, averaging 1.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.

Listed at 6-foot-9, 229 pounds, Hall has spent most of this season playing in the G League for the Pistons’ G League affiliate team, the Grand Rapids Drive. For the Drive, Hall averaged 15.4 points (66% FG), 10.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes per game.

Hall played four seasons of college basketball at the University of Alabama, where he put up modest stats: 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 135 games. Those sort of numbers usually point to a career overseas. But Hall has earned himself a good opportunity lately.

Nikola Mirotic named EuroLeague MVP for month of February, 2020

Here’s an overseas basketball update on a name familiar to NBA fans, from Euroleaguebasketball.net:

After a perfect month that he began and ended with game-winning shots on the road, forward Nikola Mirotic of FC Barcelona is Euroleague Basketball’s choice as MVP for February in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Few players have ever had a go-to month quite like Mirotic’s February, when his last-shot heroics ensured that Barca qualified early for this season’s playoffs. With four victories in February – three of them on the road, and all against teams positioned for the playoffs at tipoff time – Barca extended its current streak to seven wins total, the team’s longest in almost five years.

Mirotic played in the NBA between 2014-19, mostly for the Bulls, but also the Pelicans and Bucks, and averaged double-digit points each season. His NBA career average was 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 42.3% FG and 35.9% from three-point range.

Suns lose again, now to Warriors

The Suns got off to a good start this NBA season. Then things started going downhill. Very downhill. We’re talking about a really long hill. Here’s the Arizona Republic:

Marquese Chriss followed up a missed shot with an emphatic dunk in the fourth quarter, stared into the stands – and there was no reaction.

That’s how lifeless the Phoenix Suns were.

Facing the worst team in the Western Conference that had only eight available players, Phoenix lost embarrassing fashion, 115-99, before 16,395 fans at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Suns (24-37) cleared the bench with 1:42 left to a half empty arena that housed perhaps Phoenix’s worst loss of the season.

The Suns shot 40%, gave up 17 points off 20 turnovers and blew an 18-point lead in losing a third straight game, all at home, at the halfway mark of a six-game homestand.

In the win, Eric Paschall scored 25 points off the bench, starting guard Damion Lee had 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists and no turnovers, and Andrew Wiggins shot just 6 of 20 but still filled the stat-sheet with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. The Warriors had 30 assists on their 41 made field goals.

The Suns are now 24-37 this season, which is the third-worst record in the Western conference.

Timberwolves waive little-used guard Allen Crabbe

The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard Allen Crabbe today.

Crabbe played in just nine games this season for the Timberwolves, for an average of 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.

Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

According to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks, Crabbe had roughly $4.6 million remaining on his $18.5 million contract, which is set to expire after this season. If Crabbe signs with another team, it would give the Wolves some relief as it relates to the luxury tax.

He was acquired by the Wolves on January 16 from Atlanta.

Crabbe showed scoring ability around 2015-18 or so, as he played for the Trail Blazers and then the Nets, but injury struck, and in recent NBA seasons he has not contributed much.

The Timberwolves are 17-41 this season, which is the second worst record in the Western conference. During trade deadline week, they agreed to a deal that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Warriors and brought D’Angelo Russell, who along with center Karl-Anthony Towns, forms the team’s core as they move ahead.

Kings waive little-used forward Anthony Tolliver

The Sacramento Kings waived forward Anthony Tolliver today.

Acquired on January 21, 2020, Tolliver appeared in 9 games this season for Sacramento and averaged 1.0 points (.176 FG%, .133 3pt%, .500 FT%), 1.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 9.1 minutes per game. The 12-year NBA veteran has averaged 6.2 points (.415 FG%, .373 3pt%, .770 FT%), 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 19.6 minutes per game in 706 career games (101 starts) with 9 teams; San Antonio, Portland, Golden State, Minnesota, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit and Sacramento.

Per the Sacramento Bee:

The Kings traded for Tolliver in a January deal that shipped Kent Bazemore and Tolliver to the Kings in exchange for Trevor Ariza. Tolliver played with the Kings in 2016-17 as well. His minutes dropped to from about 17 a game with the Trail Blazers to about 9 a game with the Kings as Sacramento has a logjam of big men…

The move allows Tolliver to join a playoff contender that might have more need for a big man.

The Kings are 25-34 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Western conference. They’re being led in scoring by De’Aaron Fox at 20.0 points per game, and Buddy Hield at 19.9 PPG.

Rockets keeping Jeff Green for remainder of season

In an expected move, the Houston Rockets yesterday signed forward Jeff Green for the remainder of the season.

In four games as a Rocket, Green is averaging 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game while shooting 70.0% from the floor and 61.5% from 3-point range. He has played at least 18 minutes in 17 of his 34 games for Utah and Houston this season, and is averaging 2.0 3-pointers made on 49.3% shooting in those games.

Houston Chronicle:

“I really like Jeff,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He fits exactly what we need. Athletic. He can guard on the perimeter, guard bigs, hit 3s, run the floor. He can dunk and finish, roll, pop. He’s a complete player that complements what we do.”

He initially signed a 10-day contract with Houston on Feb. 18.

The Rockets are 38-20 this season, which is the Western conference’s 4th best record, and are on a five-game winning streak.