Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

In G League, Capital City Go-Go add forward Jordan Bell

The Capital City Go-Go, the Washington Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate, added forward Jordan Bell off of waivers today. In a corresponding move, the team waived forward Stefan Jankovic due to a season ending injury.

Bell, a 6-8, 216 pound forward-center from the University of Oregon, has appeared in 29 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies this season. Originally taken with the 38th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, Bell was traded on draft night to the Golden State Warriors and played in 125 games (16 starts) for the Warriors between 2017 and 2019, averaging 3.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. In his time with Golden State, Bell also appeared in 32 playoff games and was a member of the 2018 NBA Champion Warriors team.

Bell was signed as a free agent by the Timberwolves in 2019 and played in 27 games prior to being included in a four-team trade that sent him to Houston in February. Bell was traded from Houston to Memphis the following day and appeared in two games with the Grizzlies before being waived on March 2.

Bell played three seasons at Oregon, leaving as the school’s all-time leader in blocks (235) and field goal percentage (.610). Bell helped lead the Ducks to a Final Four appearance his redshirt junior season, where he also was voted the 2017 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Rockets break losing streak, beat Timberwolves

The Rockets have racked up losses lately. But the Timberwolves are in a state of rebuild, and do have D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, but with KAT out of action, Houston suddenly remembered how to win again. Here’s the Houston Chronicle:

Facing a team with the third-worst record in the NBA and playing without star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Rockets had seemed heading to another inexplicable defeat, trailing by 10 late in the third quarter. When they finally got on the sort of roll they could not find for a week, the Rockets built a 13-point lead and finished off the Timberwolves, 117-111, Tuesday at Toyota Center.

It might have been much more difficult than they would have liked. But by the fourth quarter, much of the formula was back in place. Harden finished with 37 points, making 5 of 10 3s (including a heave from the backcourt he missed.) Russell Westbrook had 27, driving to fourth-quarter slams.

When the Timberwolves were within six, Eric Gordon, who had missed his first six 3-pointers in his first game back from a sore knee, nailed consecutive 3s to take the lead back to a safe double-digits.

The Rockets continue to play extreme “small-ball,” starting 6-foot-7, 209-pound Robert Covington and 6-foot-5, 245-pound forward P.J. Tucker at their big-man spots.

Knicks, like all teams, adjusting to new health safety standards in wake of coronavirus

Like pro sports teams across the country and world, players on the Knicks are adapting to new safety standards to protect themselves from the coronavirus outbreak. Here’s the New York Post:

With the NBA closing locker rooms to the media before and after games and the threat of fan-less contests, the Knicks are making their adjustments.

No high-fives during practices and games, just elbow and forearm bumps. And the club is “rationing” hand sanitizer, according to forward Taj Gibson.

A Knicks spokesman said there’s plenty of sanitizer for the players, but some are trying to stock up sanitizer for their families.

“No fist-bumps,’’ Knicks veteran Gibson said. “Always do it with your elbow. Any little movement, you’re touching the ball, you got to cleanse, you got to wash your hands. (We) ran out of hand sanitizer. It’s insane. But you do what you got to do.”

In some other countries, some sporting events are being played without fans in the stands. It’ll be interesting to see what leagues here in the United States choose to do there. Discussions are ongoing.

No Marvin Bagley return yet for Kings

Sacramento Kings power forward Marvin Bagley III continues his recovery from a left midfoot sprain and is progressing through his reconditioning plan which includes on-court running activities and skill work in addition to his ongoing strength regimen.

The Sacramento Bee:

The Kings (28-36) are preparing to play the New Orleans Pelicans (28-36) on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center. The teams are tied for ninth in the Western Conference, four games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth seed in the playoffs.

The Kings are in an interesting place. Making a wild push for the playoffs isn’t actually so wild a concept. It’s an unusual position, but for the Kings, that’s a good thing. Things are happening. The franchise has reason to believe. Not necessarily in the current postseason push, but with a good offseason, making the playoffs in 2020-21 would be an actual realistic goal.

But for now the wait for Bagley’s return continues.

Norman Powell wins NBA East Player of Week

A surprise member of the Toronto Raptors stepped up and got himself named Eastern conference NBA Player of the Week today.

Over in the West, Lakers forward LeBron James, who averaged 29.0 points (.519 FG%), 10.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks as the Lakers finished the week 3-0 with victories over Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the LA Clippers, won the honor yet again.

James continues to lead the league in total assists (627) and assists per game (10.6), while ranking 13th in scoring (25.7). The 16-time NBA All-Star owns an NBA-record 64 career weekly awards, and he is the first Lakers player to earn three weekly honors in a season since Kobe Bryant in 2012-13.

But in the East, Powell earned the honor for the first time in his career. He became the 10th player in franchise history, joining Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jalen Rose, Mike James, Lou Wiliams, Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard.

Powell helped lead Toronto to a 3-0 record this past week, scoring an Eastern Conference-best 31.3 points. He also posted 2.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting .561 from the field. Powell began the week with 26 points during Toronto’s 123-114 win Mar. 3 at Phoenix. He then scored a career-high 37 points Mar. 5 at Golden State and tied a career-high with six three-pointers Mar. 8 at Sacramento.

Powell was selected 46th overall by Toronto in the 2015 NBA Draft and is the second-longest serving player on the team behind only Kyle Lowry. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April 2016.

Clippers sign veteran center Joakim Noah

The L.A. Clippers signed free agent Joakim Noah today.

“Joakim is a relentless competitor and a proven winner,” said Frank. “His experience, acumen and toughness fit well in our locker room.”

Noah, a two-time NBA All-Star (2013, 2014) and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2014), appeared in 42 games last season for the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 7.1 points, 2.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds. The 6’11”, 230-pound center holds career averages of 8.8 points, 2.8 assists and 9.1 rebounds in 667 appearances across 12 NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Grizzlies.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “Noah was scheduled to work out for team officials in September, but had to postpone because of an injury. It wasn’t until last week that he auditioned in front of the Clippers.”

Before being selected by Chicago with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Noah played three collegiate seasons at the University of Florida, leading the Gators to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Grizzlies injury updates on Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Justise Winslow

The Memphis Grizzlies today provided medical updates for forwards Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow:

Jackson Jr. (left knee soreness) and Winslow (back soreness) both are likely to return within the next week.

Clarke (right quadriceps strain) is progressing well in his recovery and is expected to return this season.

The Grizzlies are enjoying a very good season. They’re 32-32, which places them 8th in the Western conference. Rookie guard Ja Morant is the leading Rookie of the Year candidate.

Jackson Jr. and Clarke are key members of the Grizzlies rotation. Starting all 54 games he’s played, Jackson Jr. this season is averaging 16.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Coming off the bench for 47 of his 50 games played, Clarke contributes 12.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Getting them back will give Memphis a big boost as they try to hold off the Pelicans and Kings, who are both four games behind the Grizzlies in the standings.

Winslow played 11 games for the Heat earlier this season, but hasn’t suited up for the Grizzlies yet.

Gabe Vincent rejoins the Heat after time in G League

As part of his two-way contract, Gabe Vincent has re-joined the Miami Heat.

Vincent, who was signed by Miami to a two-way contract on January 8, has appeared in 10 games with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season helping them to an 8-2 record over that span while averaging 16.7 points, 1.9 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 24.3 minutes of action. He has shot 40 percent from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line. Earlier this season he appeared in 20 games (three starts) with the Stockton Kings and averaged 23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.30 steals and 31.8 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 89.7 percent from the foul line. Additionally, Vincent has appeared in five games with the HEAT this season, totaling 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 41:04 minutes of action.

Stephen Curry out for Sixers vs Warriors game with flu

Tonight on ABC TV, the Sixers visit a Warriors team that has spent the season losing massive amounts of games but recently got Stephen Curry back in action. But Steph’s return has been cut short, at least for tonight, as the superstar guard is out with the flu. Here’s the Bay Area News Group reporting:

Warriors guard Stephen Curry was diagnosed with the flu Saturday morning but is not showing signs of the coronavirus, according to team physician Dr. Robert Nied.

“This morning Stephen Curry was diagnosed with influenza A by a positive viral testing,” Nied said via a team statement. “We have identified his probable source contact who is not part of basketball operations. He has no specific risk factors for COVID-19. He has the seasonal flu. We have begun treatment for Stephen and instituted our team protocol for influenza exposure.”

The world is quite understandably nervous right now. We’re all staying calm and staying informed.

As for Steph, hopefully he’s fine soon.

Nets part ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson

The Brooklyn Nets have said goodbye to head coach Kenny Atkinson. A team statement says the two sides have “mutually agreed to part ways.”

Jacque Vaughn will serve as head coach for the remainder of the season.

“After discussions with Kenny about the progress of the season, we mutually agreed that a coaching change would be in the best interest of the team,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “This was an extremely difficult decision, however the organization believes it is one that is necessary at this time. Kenny was instrumental in developing our players and building the identity and culture we have become known for over these past four seasons. The foundation he helped put into place here is one that we will continue to build on in the coming seasons. We are forever grateful for all of Kenny’s hard work and dedication to the Nets and the Brooklyn community. Kenny, Laura and the Atkinson family will always remain a part of our Nets family and we wish them nothing but the best in the future.”

The New York Post:

The Nets lured free-agent prizes Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to town, but Durant has yet to suit up due to a torn Achilles suffered in last year’s NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Irving’s season officially ended this week after shoulder surgery and just 20 games. The rest of the team has been plagued by injury and inconsistency.

Atkinson compiled a 118-190 record in his three-plus seasons with Brooklyn. He finishes his tenure in Brooklyn ranked third in franchise history in games coached and fourth in wins.