Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

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.

Grizzlies sign Jarrod Uthoff, waive Dusty Hannahs

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Jarrod Uthoff to a 10-day contract, as a “Call-Up” from the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived guard Dusty Hannahs.

Uthoff (6-9, 221) has started all 34 of his games with the Hustle this season and has averaged 18.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.38 steals and 1.15 blocks in 34.9 minutes while shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 79.0 percent from the free throw line. The 26-year-old, who was named to the Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League Team on Feb. 10, ranks third in the NBA G League in double-doubles (19) and sixth in rebounds per game.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native competed in nine games off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2016-17 season and averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. He also has played professionally in Russia and in the NBA G League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Texas Legends and Raptors 905. He went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after completing his collegiate career at the University of Iowa, where he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team as a senior.

Uthoff will wear jersey #19 for the Grizzlies.

Hannahs (6-4, 195) appeared in two games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and averaged 6.0 points in 6.5 minutes after signing a 10-day contract on Feb. 21. The 26-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas native has averaged a team-high 21.3 points in 33 games (20 starts) for the Hustle this season, helping guide the team to the top spot in the NBA G League Western Conference Standings.

Bulls center Luke Kornet suffers major injury in practice

Chicago Bulls center Luke Kornet suffered a recent injury in practice that has turned out to essentially be season-ending.

Kornet sustained a left foot and ankle injury during February 21 Bulls practice. Subsequent testing revealed that he has a severe ankle sprain and fracture of his fifth metatarsal.

He is estimated to be out 6-to-8 weeks. The final Bulls game of the regular season is around seven weeks from now.

In 15.5 minutes per game this season, Kornet is averaging 6.0 points.

The Bulls are 20-39 this season and have lost nine of their last 10 games.

Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon out with elbow injury

Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon underwent a non-surgical procedure to address right elbow pain today.

He will miss the next three games (tomorrow vs. Brooklyn, Saturday vs. Portland, Monday vs. Memphis), will be re-evaluated on Monday.

In six games played for the Hawks this season, Dedmon is averaging 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. Earlier this season, he played 34 games for the Kings, for whom he averaged 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

The Hawks are 17-43 this season.

Lakers sign Markieff Morris, waive DeMarcus Cousins

The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Markieff Morris and waived center DeMarcus Cousins today.

In 623 career games (347 starts) for Phoenix, Washington, Oklahoma City and Detroit, Morris has averaged 11.6 points (.449 FG%), 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game. He played in 44 games (16 starts) for the Pistons this season, notching 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.5 minutes while shooting a career-best 39.7 percent from three-point range.

The Kansas University product owns 46 career double-doubles and has scored 20 or more points on 78 occasions. In 24 NBA Playoff games (19 starts) for the Wizards and Thunder, Morris has totaled 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block per game.

Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. out with knee injury

The Memphis Grizzlies will be without starting forward Jaren Jackson Jr. for the near future.

In Friday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, Jackson Jr. sustained an injury while challenging a shot late in the second quarter, and did not return for the second half. Subsequent imaging revealed that the injury is a sprained left knee.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal adds:

It’s a blow to the Grizzlies, who remain 3.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 8 seed in the West. Rookie Brandon Clarke started the second half on Friday and could start on Monday. Clarke started on Nov. 4 when Jackson missed a game because of injury.

Jackson Jr. will be re-evaluated in two weeks.