NBA News Blog – Page 558 – NBA Blog

Festus Ezeli undergoes season-ending surgery

Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli, who hasn’t played at all this season, underwent surgery on his left knee, team president of basketball operations Neil Olshey announced today.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert LaPrade at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Ezeli will miss the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Ezeli spent the first three seasons of his NBA career as a member of the Warriors. The Blazers, who at 27-35 have the 9th best record in the Western conference through Tuesday’s games, were counting on him as a defensive, rebound-grabbing presence. They’ll have to wait until next season to see what he can do.

Dirk Nowitzki passes 30,000 NBA points scored

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting on Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who has now scored over 30,000 points in the NBA:

Dirk Nowitzki didn’t waste any time giving the people what they wanted. Poised to etch his name in the history books alongside some NBA legends, Nowitzki poured in 25 points Tuesday night to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 122-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers before an energetic American Airlines Center sellout crowd of 20,484.

Along the way, Nowitzki became only the sixth player in NBA history to score at least 30,000 points for his career. And it was the way Nowitzki reached his milestone that had the crowd in an electrifying mood.

Anxious to reach his appointed destination with history in a hurry, Nowitzki came out firing. Needing just 20 points to reach the 30,000 barrier, the 19-year veteran popped in 18 points in during a red-hot first quarter in which he made his first six shots, including 2-of-2 from 3-point territory.

Those were the most points in a quarter by a Mavs player this season.

Adreian Payne set to return for Timberwolves

Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporting that the Timberwolves frontcourt is about to get a bit deeper:

Adreian Payne was back participating in practice Tuesday after he was medically cleared to play.

Payne has been out since early February with a low platelet count. He is officially questionable for the Wolves’ home game against the Clippers on Wednesday. Thibodeau said Payne has a long way to go conditioning-wise but added it was good to have him back on the floor.

“It’s very nice,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “You always worry about his health, and just to see him out here playing with us, working out, everything is a huge bonus. It’s been definitely a journey for him recently, but just glad to see he’s getting healthy and he’s ready to play.”

Andrew Bogut done for season with broken leg

An update on Cavs injuries:

Andrew Bogut underwent additional imaging and evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic yesterday related to his fractured left tibia. His tibia has been set and he is undergoing a non-surgical treatment and recovery plan commencing immediately with an extended period of immobilization and healing stimulation. He will not be available to play the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, but is expected to successfully complete his recovery process in advance of training camp for the 2017-18 NBA season.

Kyle Korver is experiencing left foot soreness. He will travel with the team on the current trip to Detroit, Orlando and Houston while receiving treatment. He is listed as Out vs. Detroit and his status will be updated as appropriate following that.

JR Smith (right thumb) has been cleared to resume full practice activity today and is listed as Questionable vs. Detroit.

Head Coach Tyronn Lue is being treated for a sinus/inner ear issue. He did not attend practice today and will not travel with the team to Detroit this afternoon. He is expected to meet the team in Detroit tomorrow and be back on the sideline for the game tomorrow night vs. the Pistons.

Ed Davis undergoes season-ending shoulder surgery

Trail Blazers center Ed Davis underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to stabilize the labrum in his left shoulder, it was announced by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Davis will be out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, but is expected to be ready for the 2017-18 training camp.

Lakers hire Rob Pelinka as GM

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Rob Pelinka as General Manager.

Pelinka, 47, joins the Lakers after spending the greater part of two decades representing many of the NBA’s top talent. During his tenure as an agent, Pelinka was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 10 Sports Agents in the World. In his role, Pelinka will report to Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss and President of Basketball Operations, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

“We have worked closely with Rob for many years and have first-hand experience with his knowledge of the league and the business of basketball,” said Buss. “In our recent discussions, it was clear that he also shares our goal of returning the Lakers to being an elite NBA franchise. Together with Earvin and Coach Walton, I believe we are in a great position to bring winning basketball back to the Lakers.”

“Rob’s knowledge of the NBA landscape and the CBA, as well as his relationships with GMs around the league, are invaluable,” said Johnson. “After running a successful sports agency and as someone who truly understands the inner workings of salary caps and player negotiations, he will bring the additional skills and experience needed in the Lakers executive office. Rob is a winner and the Lakers are fortunate to have him.”

The Lake Forest, Illinois native earned his B.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan with high honors in 1993, before receiving his J.D., Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996. While at Michigan, Pelinka earned a 1989 National Championship as a member of the Wolverines basketball team and also took part in three NCAA Final Fours (1989, 1992 & 1993).

“I am beyond grateful to join the Lakers front office,” said Pelinka. “The Lakers are a gold standard for sports franchises in the world, so we all share a responsibility to pursue excellence in everything we do. Excellence is what the Lakers stands for, what Jeanie Buss and Earvin Johnson embody, and what Coach Walton demands from our players. That obsession for greatness is what will bring Lakers basketball back to a championship level. With Jeanie and Magic guiding the vision, I am thrilled to help architect the future. I am really excited to get to work.”

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves game postponed

The NBA game scheduled for this evening between the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN has been postponed due to unsafe playing conditions on the arena floor.

The game will be rescheduled at a later date.

NBA player notes, March 6, 2017

Some interesting NBA player notes from the past week:

Brook Lopez, Nets: The 7-foot center last week became the second player in team history to score 10,000 points. Buck Williams is the franchise leader with 10,440 points.

Alan Williams, Suns: He has recorded a point-rebound double-double in each of his last three games and four of his last five, all off the bench. During Phoenix’s current three-game winning streak, the 24-year-old forward is averaging 13.7 points and 13.3 rebounds.

Tobias Harris, Pistons: The 24-year-old forward is averaging 16.7 points and shooting 51.5 percent from the field in 24 games off the bench, his predominant role since late December.

Jaylen Brown, Celtics: The No. 3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft is averaging 13.2 points (on 54.5 percent shooting) and 5.2 rebounds in his last six games.

Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers: Acquired Feb. 13 in a trade with Denver, the 7-foot center from Bosnia and Herzegovina is averaging 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in six games with Portland.

Bojan Bogdanovic, Wizards: He has scored 27 points twice in his last three games, making 6-of-7 from three-point range in the first of those big outings (March 1 at Toronto) and 8-of-10 in the second (March 5 vs. Orlando).

Utah Jazz: With Sunday’s overtime victory at Sacramento, Utah improved to 11-2 with a starting lineup of George Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert.

— Via NBA News

Good upcoming national TV NBA games

Some of the good upcoming nationally televised NBA games this week:

Wednesday, March 8: Celtics @ Warriors, 10:30 p.m., ESPN – On April 1 of last season, Boston defeated Golden State 109-106 to snap the Warriors’ NBA-record 54-game home winning streak in the regular season.

Thursday, March 9: Spurs @ Thunder, 8 p.m., TNT – San Antonio, which has clinched a playoff berth for the 20th straight season, begins the week needing two victories to extend its NBA record for consecutive seasons with at least 50 victories to 18.

Saturday, March 11: Warriors @ Spurs, 8:30 p.m., ABC – The two teams with the NBA’s best records meet for the first time since opening night, when San Antonio handed Golden State the first of its three home losses this season. The Warriors start the week with a 2½-game lead over the Spurs for first place in the Western Conference.

Sunday, March 12: Bulls @ Celtics, 3:30 p.m., ABC – Bobby Portis, who recently became Chicago’s starter at power forward, is averaging 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in his last eight games.

Sunday, March 12: Cavaliers @ Rockets, 9 p.m., ESPN – Houston leads the NBA with 930 three-pointers made, which is only three behind the 2014-15 Rockets (933) for the second-highest single-season total in NBA history. Cleveland, meanwhile, ranks second this season with 807 three-pointers made, including an NBA regular-season-record 25 against Atlanta on March 3.

— Via NBA News

Kay Felder named D-League Performer of Week

Kay Felder of the Canton Charge, playing on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers, today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 5.

Felder (5-9, Oakland) led Canton to a 3-0 week, averaging 30.7 points (second in the league) on 47.4 percent shooting to go with 6.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals. On March 4, he hit six three-pointers and scored a season-high 41 points to go with five assists and four steals in a 121-116 victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. On March 5, he tallied 26 points and a season-high 10 assists in a 118-88 win over the Westchester Knicks. Felder’s 10 assists helped Canton tie a franchise record with 35 assists on 47 field goals.

In seven games on assignment this season, Felder is averaging 30.6 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals. He has appeared in 37 games for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 4.0 points and 9.5 minutes. Felder was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Atlanta Hawks selected him with 54th overall selection in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm.

Other top performers considered included Delaware’s Aaron Harrison, Grand Rapids’ Jordan Crawford, Los Angeles’ Travis Wear, Northern Arizona’s Xavier Silas, Raptors 905’s Brady Heslip Santa Cruz’s Phil Pressey, Texas’ Manny Harris and Windy City’s Jarell Eddie.