Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Timberwolves sign Matt Ryan, waive A.J. Lawson

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Matt Ryan to a two-way contract.

And in a preceding move, the Wolves waived guard A.J. Lawson.

Ryan, 25, most recently played 12 games this season for the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game. His best game of the season came on Nov. 2 at New Orleans after finishing with a career-high 11 points, including connecting on three three-pointers and two rebounds. Ryan played one game for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22 and totaled three points and one steal. The 6-6 forward played in 30 career G League games (20 starts) and averaged 19.4 points on 46.9% shooting, including 41.3% from deep, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The White Plains, N.Y. native spent time at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and ultimately finished his collegiate career at Chattanooga. In 134 college games (62 starts), Ryan totaled 1,058 points, 333 rebounds and 121 assists.

Ryan will wear #37 for the Timberwolves, becoming the first player in franchise history to sport #37.

Heat notes: rookie Nikola Jovic

Via the Miami HErald:

On Friday, rookie Nikola Jovic was in Boston with the Miami Heat. On Saturday and Sunday, Jovic was in South Dakota with the Heat’s G League affiliate. And on Monday, Jovic was back with the Heat in Memphis before returning with the team to Miami for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons.

The last few days have been a whirlwind for Jovic, but the 19-year-old Serbian forward was not surprised when he was told Friday to take a flight to South Dakota to join the Sioux Falls Skyforce for one G League game.

“Nothing was a surprise,” Jovic said, as the Heat returned to Miami following Monday’s 101-93 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies to open a three-game homestand on Tuesday against the Pistons. “I knew at one moment that I was going to go because they told me they want me to play a little bit. At this moment, there was no space for me to be on the court with the Heat guys. But they told me they want me to play. So I kind of knew [I would go to the G League], I just didn’t know when. It just happened to be now and I was really happy.”

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Jayson Tatum says Kevin Durant is like a brother to him

Via Boston.com:

The Celtics defeated the Nets 103-92 on Sunday, extending the team’s record to a league-best 19-5. Boston faces the Raptors tonight in Toronto at 7:30 p.m…

Following the Celtics’ win over the Nets on Sunday, Jayson Tatum was asked about facing Brooklyn superstar Kevin Durant.

“That’s like a brother to me,” Tatum said of Durant. “Somebody I’ve gotten really close with. Obviously competed against a lot in the playoffs recently. Known since I was in high school, won a gold medal with, worked out with a lot this summer. So somebody that I respect a lot.

“We talk often,” Tatum added. “And those matchups always you enjoy. Somebody that has played at a high level — the highest level — for as long as he has, it brings the best out of you. So you always enjoy those matchups with one of the best players to ever play.”

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Tons of traveling and carrying calls made in Cavs at Knicks game

Via the New York Post:

Julius Randle was still stunned 30 minutes after the game had finished.

Fourteen traveling and carrying calls were made in the Knicks’ 92-81 win over the Cavaliers on Sunday night, the most in an NBA game this season.

“I’ve never seen that in my life,” the Knicks forward said…

The 14 travels and carries were the most in a game in the last 25 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Since it is a play-by-play stat, that type of information is not readily available for all of NBA history, and Elias couldn’t go back any further.

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Suns guard Chris Paul may return to action soon

Via the Arizona Republic:

Chris Paul was putting in work after Saturday’s practice.

Shooting. Sweating. Scowling.

He’s still out with what the Phoenix Suns are saying is a sore right heel, but Paul had his game face on during the post practice workout to signal he’s itching to return to the court.

“Absolutely,” Paul said. “Getting close.”

Paul will miss his 13th consecutive game Sunday at San Antonio. The veteran All-Star point guard last played Nov. 7 at Philadelphia when he grabbed at his heel trying to get around a Paul Reed screen.

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Anfernee Simons scores 45 points in Blazers win over Jazz

The Trail Blazers beat the Jazz in Utah 116-111 yesterday. Here’s a big reason why, via the Deseret News:

Anfernee Simons put up a career-high 45 points on the Jazz with 33 points coming in the first half alone. Speaking of 33, that’s how many points Jerami Grant finished with on Saturday night. With Damian Lillard, Josh Hart and a few others from the Blazers roster sidelined because of injury or illness, Simons and Grant stepped up to the plate and gave the Jazz a tough time all night.

The Blazers are still without injured guard Damian Lillard.

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Loss to Hawks might serve as wakeup call for Nuggets

Via the Denver Post:

Jamal Murray sat at his locker, sipping on a postgame shake, gazing out at nothing after his team got dropped by the beleaguered Hawks on Friday night.

A few stalls down, Aaron Gordon sipped on his shake with another empty expression draped on his face.

Nikola Jokic plopped both feet into an ice bath, soothing away the pain from one of the worst losses of the season. Even without Trae Young, John Collins and De’Andre Hunter, the Nuggets faltered. Despite more talent on the floor, the Nuggets tripped over themselves.

“I respect everybody,” Jokic said.

His comments didn’t align with Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who questioned his team’s consistency before the game, and had even more reason to do so afterward.

“If it’s not a wakeup call then you’ve got a problem,” Malone said.

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Heat guard Victor Oladipo hopes to make season debut soon

Via the Miami Herald:

Heat guard Victor Oladipo isn’t inclined to offer a timetable for precisely when he will make his season debut after yet another injury to one of his knees.

He won’t play when the Heat concludes a four-game road trip Monday against the Grizzlies in Memphis (8 p.m., Bally Sports Sun).

But he’s optimistic that he’s getting closer to a return.

“Hopefully soon,” he said Friday in Boston of a targeted date for his return from a left knee injury that has sidelined him since late in preseason.

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Moses Moody leaps on rare playing time opportunity for Warriors

Via the San Jose Mercury News:

Moses Moody took full advantage of a rare opportunity on Saturday night.

Klay Thompson out for the latter leg of the Warriors’ back-to-back left 17 minutes of playing time for Moody, who has been squeezed out of a rotation job this year due to an overflow of players at his position.

Though Moody finished with a team-worst minus-16, he went 3-for-3 from 3 and 4-for-5 overall. His last two 3-pointers created much-needed separation as the Houston Rockets chipped the Warriors once-25-point lead down to five. The Warriors pulled away for a 120-101 win, in part, because Moody was ready.

“I mean, the guy hasn’t played in a month, and he’s been working so hard every single day going full bore getting his work in the weight room and on the floor,” Kerr said.

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