Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kyle Kuzma wins NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for November, 2023

The NBA today announced Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award November winner for giving back to his hometown of Flint, Michigan and hosting a special event through his foundation (Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation).

“Helping to uplift the communities that are special to me is a privilege, so being recognized for that work is a humbling experience, particularly when it takes place during the season of giving,” said Kuzma. “I’m proud to share this honor with my family and support system as well as my teammates and the entire Wizards organization, as all of us are committed to continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Each month, the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognizes a player monthly for their outstanding work in the community.

Pistons losing streak reaches 28 straight games

Per the Detroit Free Press:

It was a familiar ending for the Detroit Pistons. But the path to get there was still one of their better efforts of the season.

They faced the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics, on the road and went toe-to-toe with them for most of the game at TD Garden in Boston. But it was another collapse for the Pistons, who led by 21 points in the second quarter and by 19 points at halftime before giving up a massive run that gave the Celtics a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter, and, eventually, a 128-122 victory in overtime.

The loss extends the Pistons’ losing streak to 28 games, an NBA record for a single-season skid. It also ties them with the 2014-15/2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest skid regardless of season. (Those 76ers lost 10 games to finish the ’14-15 season and 18 to start the ’15-16 campaign.) Detroit can claim the record outright with a loss in its next game, Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

FULL ARTICLE Detroit Free Cruise.

On Kevin Love and his role on the Heat

Per the Sun Sentinel:

Kevin Love arrived prepped for the assignment. Such was an unintended consequence of previously slowly being shuffled out of the mix with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Even before arriving to the Miami Heat at last season’s buyout deadline, the veteran big man already had begun the transition from championship starter to mid-career reserve.

Now, after being utilized in a variety of roles by the Heat, Love appears to have found his sweet spot with Erik Spoelstra’s second unit, as Bam Adebayo’s backup.

For 11 seasons, after his first two with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love played all but one game as a starter, including during the Cavaliers’ four runs to the NBA Finals. Then the Cavaliers transitioned in their post-LeBron James era to something new, something young to something that had Love almost solely as a reserve in 2021-22.

FULL ARTICLE

Celtics survive overtime battle with Pistons

Per Boston.com:

The Celtics narrowly avoided a deeply embarrassing loss on Thursday with a 128-122 victory over the Pistons in overtime…

At some point, the Pistons will win a game. When they do, the team they beat will have the ignominy of being the team that broke the longest losing streak in NBA history.

Last year’s perpetually frustrating Celtics would have been a prime candidate to be that team, and for 24 minutes to start the game, this year’s Celtics looked a little like last year’s group that routinely found the most infuriating ways imaginable to lose. They turned the ball over constantly, they let Cade Cunningham get into a nice groove, and after putting up impressive scoring totals throughout their West Coast road trip, they managed just 20 points in the second quarter and 47 by halftime. The Pistons took a 19-point lead into the break.

The Celtics couldn’t play much worse, and they are a much better basketball team than the Pistons, so a rally was somewhat inevitable. They needed just six minutes to get themselves back into the game, and they traded leads with the Pistons into the fourth quarter. Things appeared decided when they went up by six with just under two minutes remaining, but Jaden Ivey dragged the Pistons back equal again, and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, however, the talent gap finally swallowed the Pistons, and the Celtics pulled away.

FULL ARTICLE

Mavericks sign Brandon Williams to two-way contract, and waive Dexter Dennis

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Brandon Williams to a Two-Way contract.

And in a related move, Dallas has requested waivers on Two-Way guard Dexter Dennis.

Williams (6-1, 190) appeared in 14 games (13 starts) for the G League’s Osceola Magic at the 2023 Showcase Cup and averaged 22.4 points (.479 FG%, .376 3FG%, .833 FT%), 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.9 minutes per game.

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Williams began his rookie season with the G League’s Westchester Knicks, before signing a 10-day contract and a later a Two-Way deal with Portland. In 24 NBA games (16 starts) for the Trail Blazers in 2021-22, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.7 minutes.

Williams spent the 2022-23 campaign with the G League’s College Park Skyhawks, where he teamed with fellow Mavericks Two-Way guard AJ Lawson. In 40 career regular-season G League games (36 starts) with Westchester and College Park, he has averaged 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes.

The Los Angeles native played one collegiate season at Arizona in 2018-19, where he averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists en route to being named Pac-12 All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention. Williams missed the entire 2019-20 campaign recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Williams will wear No. 00 for the Mavericks.

Dennis (6-5, 210) saw action in four games for the Mavericks as a rookie in 2023-24, averaging 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 7.5 minutes. The former Texas A&M Aggie also appeared in 13 games (all starts) for the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 35.8 minutes.

Several Heat rotation players on the mend

Per the Miami Herald:

The Miami Heat’s depth continues to be tested.

Already without three rotation players, the Heat lost a fourth rotation player early in Monday’s 119-113 Christmas win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center when Caleb Martin sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of the victory.

With Jimmy Butler (strained left calf), Haywood Highsmith (non-COVID illness) and Josh Richardson (low back discomfort) already out, Martin played the first 8:43 of the game before exiting late in the first quarter and heading back to the Heat’s locker room. He was then ruled out for the rest of the night.

FULL ARTICLE

76ers sign Kenneth Lofton Jr. to two-way contract, waive Javonte Smart

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a two-way contract.

In a related move, the team released Javonte Smart, who posted averages of 21.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and team-leading 5.8 assists in 16 games with the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers G League affiliate. He appeared in one game with the 76ers (Dec. 22 vs. TOR) this season.

Lofton Jr., 21, joins the 76ers after spending the first year-plus of his professional career with the Memphis Grizzlies. He appeared in 15 games for the Grizzlies this season, producing season highs in points (12), rebounds (five), and steals (two) at Utah on Nov. 1.

Last season, the Louisiana Tech product set career highs with a 42-point (17-25 FG), 14-rebound performance against Oklahoma City on April 9, making him the youngest player in Grizzlies’ franchise history to record a 40-point, 10-rebound game.

In 39 career NBA games, Lofton Jr. holds career averages of 4.1 points on 48.5 percent shooting and 1.7 rebounds.

As a two-way player with the Grizzlies’ organization in 2022-23, Lofton Jr. saw action in 17 G League regular-season games (15 starts) with the Memphis Hustle, averaging 20.2 points (53.9% FG), 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals. He scored 20-plus points in eight games, two of which reached the 30-point mark.

Lofton Jr. was named the Kia NBA G League Rookie of the Year, in addition to being selected to both the All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team.

His strong 2022-23 also led to invites to participate in both the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game and the NBA G League Next Up Game during NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hawks sign Vit Krejci to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Vít Krejčí to a two-way contract.

In two NBA seasons with Atlanta (2022-23) and Oklahoma City (2021-22), the 6-7 forward has seen action in 59 games (eight starts), owning averages of 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.5 minutes (.407 FG%, .311 3FG%, .833 FT).

Krejčí appeared in 29 games with the Hawks during the 2022-23 campaign. He also suited up for the College Park Skyhawks, appearing in three games (all starts), notching 9.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33.9 minutes of play.

The 37th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft spent the 2023 preseason with the Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in one preseason contest. Waived by the Timberwolves on Oct. 18, 2023, Krejčí saw action in one game with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League this season.

Krejčí will wear No. 27.