NBA News Blog – Page 393 – NBA Blog

Suns center Deandre Ayton returns from suspension

The Phoenix Suns have their young center back, as Deandre Ayton returned to action yesterday. Here’s Arizona Sports reporting:

In his first time speaking to the media since being suspended 25 games, Deandre Ayton commented on testing positive for a diuretic.

“I know what I did,” he said to the assembled media before Tuesday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, his return game. “It was the biggest mistake, and unintentional mistake that happened in my life and it’s just something to learn from and just build from it. It’s a mistake and everybody makes mistakes.

“It’s just how you bounce back. I think that’s what everybody is waiting for. I already did my time so I’m here.”

Ayton returned on a night in which the Suns faced a tough task — a visit to Los Angeles to face the Clippers. And although Ayton’s shot was a bit off, he put up nice numbers: 18 points and 12 rebounds in just 24 minutes. Despite this, the Clippers, who had three scorers put up 20 or more points, came away with a 120-99 win.

Still, getting Ayton back is a win for Phoenix.

The next Suns game is Friday on the road against the Thunder.

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Jazz guard Mike Conley dealing with left hamstring injury

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley was evaluated by the team’s medical staff on Wednesday and the following was determined:

Conley reinjured his left hamstring during Utah’s game against Orlando in Salt Lake City last night. He will be reevaluated during the team’s upcoming road trip. Any further updates will be provided when necessary.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, “Conley missed five games after experiencing hamstring tightness, which was frustrating for the Jazz point guard. “That’s why they’re like, ‘Be patient, be patient, don’t push it.’ And I’m just trying to push it every day,” Conley said before his return.”

Conley has appeared in 22 games (all starts) in his first season with Utah, averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per contest.

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Stephen Curry reportedly attends Kanye West’s Sunday Service

For those of you who enjoy keeping up with off-court pop culture news, especially when it involves Kanye West, here’s the San Jose Mercury News:

You may have heard of Sunday Service, a weekly gospel concert led by rapper Kanye West that has attracted a who’s who of celebrities — including Brad Pitt, Katy Perry and Idris Elba, among others… Steph Curry is the latest celebrity to attend the music performance/spiritual service.

There is no word yet on exactly when Steph may return to action for the Warriors.

Wizards forward Rui Hachimura injured, out at least five games

Wizards forward Rui Hachimura suffered a groin injury late in the first half of last night’s 133-119 win at Detroit. He is out for the next five games and will be re-evaluated when the team returns from their upcoming road stretch.

According to the Washington Post, “Hachimura, who has averaged 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds through 25 games, sustained the injury in the closing seconds of Monday night’s win over the Pistons. As Hachimura attempted to secure a defensive rebound, teammate Isaac Bonga accidentally made contact, kicking Hachimura between his legs.”

Hachimura, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound rookie from Japan, was drafted 9th overall by the Wizards in 2019, and has started all 25 games he’s played in.

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Wizards sign Anzejs Pasecniks to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards signed center Anzejs Pasecniks to a two-way contract today.

And in a related move, the team waived guard Chris Chiozza.

Pasecniks, a 7-1 center from Latvia, has played in 12 games (two starts) with the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting .604 from the field. Pasecniks had scored at least 10 points in each of the Go-Go’s last four games, most recently posting 16 points and four rebounds in a win over the Lakeland Magic on December 13.

Pasecniks was a member of the Wizards’ 2019 Summer League team, where he appeared in four games (two starts) and averaged 4.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He also appeared in one preseason game with the Wizards this season, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds in a win over the 76ers. He was originally selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night.

Chris Chiozza played in 10 games with the Wizards this season, averaging 2.7 points and 2.8 assists per game. The second-year pro also started in seven games for the Go-Go this season, where he averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.

Marcus Smart dealing with eye infection

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, one of the team’s most important players, is dealing with a lingering eye infection. Here’s the Boston Herald reporting:

The infection in the Celtics guard’s left eye that has kept him out of the team’s last three games has now spread to his right eye, coach Brad Stevens said after practice on Monday.

Smart wasn’t at the Celtics practice facility as the team returned Monday and it’s uncertain when he will be back. Either way, his status seems to be in jeopardy as the Celtics return to action on Wednesday night at Dallas.

“You’re worried about it but I was told this particular type of infection could be 7-10 days,” Stevens said Monday. “We’re at seven now.”

The Celtics are 17-7 this season. Smart has started 15 of 20 games played and is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, and is one of the team’s key defensive players.

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Heat reportedly ready to move on from Dion Waiters

The Heat have suspended shooting guard Dion Waiters three times this season. They haven’t actually used his services as a basketball player. And the two sides may just call it a wrap and see about moving on.

Here’s the Miami Herald:

The Heat is actively exploring avenues to extricate itself of guard Dion Waiters, but Waiters – at this point – opposes giving up any of the money he’s owed to achieve that, according to a source briefed on the situation…

The Heat is open to a buyout of the final year-and-a-half of his contract, but Waiters at this point has been disinclined to accept anything less than $12.1 million he’s owed this year and the $12.7 million he’s due to make next season.

That $12.1 million salary for this season has been reduced by $1.4 million because of the three suspensions, which cover 17 games.

The Heat have been terrific this season. The addition of Jimmy Butler has been a complete success. It’s a shame to waste big salary money on a player that isn’t being utilized, but when a team has a winning situation, they need to protect it.

Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe out a few weeks with leg injury

Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe sustained a right leg injury during Friday night’s 127-114 road win against the Grizzlies in Memphis.

An MRI and subsequent examination revealed that Bledsoe’s injury is a right fibula avulsion fracture.

Bledsoe is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Bledsoe was hurt in the third quarter of the Bucks’ 127-114 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night. He tried to sneak behind Grizzlies center Jonas Valunciunas for a steal, but ran into teammate Wesley Matthews. Both players hit the floor, but Bledsoe went back to the locker room and didn’t return.”

In 26 games (all starts) for the Bucks this season, Bledsoe is averaging 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists in 26.6 minutes per game.

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De`Aaron Fox returning soon for Kings

There is good news on the horizon for the Kings. Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting:

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox has been sidelined for five weeks with a severely sprained ankle, but he thinks he will be back in the lineup soon — very soon.

Fox said he expects to return sometime next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday when the Kings visit the Charlotte Hornets. He believes he will be back before the team returns from a four-game road trip to play the Houston Rockets on Dec. 23 and called the Dec. 26 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves a “worst-case scenario.”

Atlanta Hawks waive guard Tyrone Wallace

The Atlanta Hawks today waived guard Tyrone Wallace.

Claimed off waivers by the Hawks on October 23, Wallace appeared in 14 games, averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per outing.

The Hawks are just 6-20 this season. They’re getting big play from point guard Trae Young, and 16.4 points per game on good shooting from forward Jabari Parker, but big-man John Collins has only played five games due to a long suspension, small forward De’Andre Hunter is scoring 12.8 PPG but on just 40.6% shooting, and no one else on the team is scoring in double digits.

But as much as a problem offense is so far this season for the Hawks, their team defense is even worse, and through yesterday’s games is ranked 28th in the league.

The good news is, Collins will be back. And it’ll be worth seeing how they play a week or so later as they work him back into the mix.

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We’ve officially opened our fourth @statefarm Good Neighbor Club at Bessie Branham Park