NBA Teams – Page 1068 – NBA Blog

Nuggets finally end losing streak

Here’s the Denver Post reporting on the Nuggets, who for the moment can hold their heads high once again:

These postgame shindigs had become so nuts-and-bolts, it took until the end for anyone to remember to step back and take a look at the entire forest. The Nuggets had won. There were reasons for that, of course. Many of them.

But the Nuggets had won on Wednesday night, after losing six straight. After not winning at home since Feb. 5. That, in and of itself, no matter how it was accomplished, was a relief.

Nuggets 115, Mavericks 110.

The Pepsi Center crowd could finally exhale.

Finally.

“It’s been a long time,” a relieved Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. “It feels good. Especially here, where we’ve let down our crowd so many times. It just goes to show that when we have the healthy bodies and we play the way we’re capable of playing, we can play with anybody.”

LeBron, Durant doing big NBA things

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News with a look into the further development of already-great LeBron James:

It speaks to the greatness of LeBron James that, in a season Kevin Durant would otherwise be the runaway candidate for MVP, he’s still worth discussing.

Indeed, after a month in which James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.7 steals, punctuated by a career-high 61 points on just 33 shots against Charlotte, the award might not be quite the mortal lock it appeared even a few weeks ago.

A strong likelihood? For sure; Durant has been nothing short of brilliant. But with James enjoying historic efficiency, and the Heat lurking just behind Indiana for the league’s best record entering tonight’s game against the Spurs, it’s no longer a foregone conclusion.

The raw numbers — 27.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists — are right in line with what James has been putting up for the last decade. But for Durant, he’d be on pace to lead the league in Player Efficiency Rating (30.2) for a seventh straight season, and win shares (12.2) for a sixth. (Only Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain have been as prolific in those categories.)

Joakim Noah reportedly wants Carmelo Anthony in Chicago

Here’s ESPN New York summarizing a report that Bulls center Joakim Noah wants Carmelo Anthony in Chicago. It’s way too early in 2014 to take any off-season free agency reports too seriously, but it’s fun to at least consider the possibilities:

Is Carmelo Anthony recruita-Bull?

ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports that Chicago center Joakim Noah tried to sell Carmelo on the idea of joining the Bulls in free agency, citing a source with knowledge of the conversation.

Broussard reports that Noah told Anthony over All-Star weekend, “Look, you could go to Los Angeles but … if you want to win a ring, come to Chicago.”

Anthony didn’t offer any guarantees, Broussard reports.

But he did say that he admires how “hard” Noah and the Bulls play and how “hungry” they are. Anthony also added that Derrick Rose is his son’s favorite player. Read into that what you will.

Kings sign Royce White to 10-day contract, assign him to D-League

The Sacramento Kings today signed forward Royce White to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. White has been assigned to the Kings D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns.

White has a serious issue with anxiety and a major fear of flying. His pro career has been a severe struggle. It’s a surprise that another NBA team is giving him a chance, even just on a 10-day deal. Hopefully he can step up and put himself back on the basketball map.

White was originally selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round (16th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft. Assigned to Houston’s D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, White averaged 11.4 points (.444 FG%, .659 FT%), 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 25.5 minutes per game in 16 contests (started 8).

On July 13, 2013, the Rockets traded White, the rights to center/forward Furkan Aldemir (four-KAHN ahl-DEE-meer) and additional consideration to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for future draft considerations. White was waived by the 76ers on October 25, 2013.

Thunder sign Reggie Williams to 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward Reggie Williams to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In 20 games this season with the Tulsa 66ers, Williams averaged 20.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.55 steals in 37.3 minutes per game.

This past week, Williams was named the D-League Performer of the Week for games played Feb. 24 – Mar. 3 after helping lead Tulsa to a 3-0 week while averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals during this span.

Williams has appeared in 177 NBA games (32 starts) and recorded career averages of 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20.0 minutes per game as a member of the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Bobcats.

The signing of Williams represents the 31st D-League Gatorade Call-Up this season and the sixth Call-Up all-time between the 66ers and the Thunder.

Williams is expected to join the Thunder prior to tonight’s game versus the Suns in Phoenix, AZ.

The Thunder roster now stands at 15.

Nets sign Jorge Gutierrez to 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a 10-day contract, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Gutierrez (6-3, 195) joins the Nets from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, where he has appeared in 35 games (all starts) this season, averaging 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists (tied for third in the D-League) and 1.2 steals in 32.7 minutes per game. Prior to the 2013-14 NBA season, Gutierrez was signed to the Nets’ training camp roster, where he appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, before being waived on October 26.

After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, Gutierrez spent last season with the Charge and was named to the NBA D-League’s All-Defensive First Team and All-Rookie First Team. A four-year player at the University of California, Gutierrez was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year following his senior season.

A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Gutierrez will wear #13 for Brooklyn.

Cavs hope to get Anderson Varejao back soon

Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who would certainly benefit from the return of a hard-working big-man:

The Cavs could receive a boost this weekend with the return of Anderson Varejao, although no one wants to declare Varejao ready. He participated in Wednesday’s practice, but Brown conceded they didn’t do much physical work. That should change with today’s practice, which should give Varejao a better gauge on if he’s ready.

Varejao told the Beacon Journal last week he intended to play this week, but was much more vague Wednesday.

“We can’t set a date yet, but I would love to hopefully play the next game,” he said. “If not, I feel like I’m pretty close. But I just don’t know when yet.”

Varejao has missed the past 11 games with knee and back issues. He missed a week in January with a knee injury and said last week he believes overcompensating for the knee injury after returning might have led to the back problems.

Thunder announce Wichita and Tulsa 2014 preseason games

The Oklahoma City Thunder will return to Wichita, Kan. and Tulsa, Okla. during the 2014 preseason, the team announced today. The Thunder will host the Toronto Raptors at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita on Oct. 17 at 7:00 pm followed by a contest versus the Minnesota Timberwolves at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Oct. 19 at 6:00 pm.

“We are excited to be bringing Thunder Basketball back to Wichita and Tulsa, where we have sold out our games in both cities for two straight years,” said Brian Byrnes, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Thunder. “We continue to be overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous loyalty of our fans throughout Oklahoma and neighboring states. They watch our games on TV, buy Thunder merchandise and strongly support the team. This tradition of bringing games to Tulsa and Wichita is a way for us to continue to connect to and thank our fans in those communities. It serves as a reminder for us about the impact our team has even beyond our local community.”

This marks the Thunder’s third consecutive preseason appearance in Wichita and the sixth time the team has visited Tulsa during the exhibition season.

Tickets for both preseason games will go on sale on a to-be-determined date in mid-April.

The Thunder will announce its entire 2014 preseason schedule at a later date.

Russell Westbrook gets amazingly fast triple-double

Here’s the Washington Post reporting on Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who is known to do things with supreme quickness on the basketball court:

If there’s any question on whether stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant can coexist on the court, Tuesday night helped answer it.

Granted it was against the woeful Philadelphia 76ers, but Westbrook logged the NBA’s second-fastest triple-double in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 125-92 win.

Westbrook finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in less than 21 minutes of play for his eighth career triple-double. The NBA’s quickest triple-double belongs to Jim Tucker of the Syracuse Nationals, who did it in just 17 minutes in 1955.

“I never go in looking to shoot first, pass first, rebound first,” Westbrook said (via Associated Press). “I just come in and play off instincts.”

John Wall doing big things for Wizards

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting on Wizards guard John Wall, who is an NBA All-Star this season:

John Wall had never had a better month in his career before March 2013, when he had finally regained his conditioning and confidence after recovering from a stress injury in his left knee that cost him the first 33 games of the season.

After spending the first two months of his comeback easing his way into a rhythm, Wall caught fire and recorded some of his best performances, including a career-high 47 points in a win over Memphis last March 27. He finished the season on a tear and was eventually rewarded with a maximum-salaried extension.

A year later, Wall has reached all-star status for the first time in his career and has gotten off to another solid start this month, averaging 20 points and 12.5 assists in the first two games. On Monday, Wall became the first Wizards player since Gilbert Arenas in 2006-07 to be named Eastern Conference player of the week at least twice in the same season. He has won conference player of the week honors three times, with the first award coming last March.