NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the following medical updates:
Recent medical imaging on Jose Alvarado, who has missed the last 10 games due to a stress reaction in his right tibia, showed incremental improvement. He will continue his rehabilitation process and will be re-examined in 2-3 weeks.
Following re-evaluation on his right hamstring strain, Zion Williamson has been cleared to return to on-court activities. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Is Karl-Anthony Towns set to return from injury for the Minnesota Timberwolves? Maybe. Via the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
Towns hasn’t played since suffering a calf strain Nov. 29. Edwards has missed the last two contests with an ankle sprain suffered Friday in Chicago.
But Towns has been ramping up his activity of late and Edwards’ injury was not as serious as initially feared, so a Wednesday return, while surprising, also seemed plausible.
But Timberwolves coach Chris Finch poured a little cold water on the idea during his radio interview Tuesday with WCCO host Chad Hartman. Hartman directly asked Finch if he expected both Towns and Edwards to play against the Hawks.
“I do not,” Finch said. “They’re both in evaluation periods and they’re definitely on separate timelines. Whether those timelines end up coming together at the same point, I’m not sure. They’re very different.”
Both players were listed as questionable for Wednesday’s contest on the injury report released Tuesday afternoon by the team.
Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 18th technical foul of the 2022-23 season, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.
Brooks received his most recent technical foul with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ 112-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on March 20 at FedExForum.
Brooks will serve his suspension March 22 when the Grizzlies play host to the Houston Rockets at FedExForum.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Willis Reed
“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader. My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s. He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports. As a league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP and member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, Willis was a decorated player who took great pride in his consistency. Following his playing career, Willis mentored the next generation as a coach, team executive and proud HBCU alumnus. We send our deepest condolences to Willis’ wife, Gail, his family and his many friends and fans.”
NBPA Statement on the Passing of Willis Reed
“The NBPA is mourning the passing of our brother, Willis Reed. Willis will always be a legend of our game, leaving an incredible legacy of achievement as the backbone and Captain of the New York Knicks during his 10-year playing career. While his contributions on the court generated great success on an individual and team basis, his work ethic, commitment, and dedication to his craft were a model for future generations of players. He was a true professional in every sense of the word. We send our condolences to Willis’ family, friends, and the entire Knicks organization during this time.”
The Grizzlies should have Ja Morant back in action any day now. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Ja Morant addressed his Memphis Grizzlies teammates and coaches Monday after serving an eight-game suspension.
Since the Grizzlies didn’t having a morning shootaround, Morant took part in a playgroup, which is when the team gets low-minute players and assistant coaches to simulate game action through five-on-five play.
“Trying to get as much full-court action as possible, that was the main goal,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said.
The Grizzlies are “hopeful” that Morant can return Wednesday, Jenkins said. Memphis will practice Tuesday, where Morant will get his first work with the full team ahead of Wednesday’s home game vs. the Rockets.
Via the Boston Herald:
Robert Williams was removed from the Celtics’ injury report on Monday, meaning he’s set to return to the lineup for Tuesday night’s game at the Kings after an eight-game absence due to a left hamstring strain. With 10 games left in the regular season before the playoffs, the final stretch will be critical for Williams as he regains his form and helps get the Celtics’ defense right in preparation for their championship pursuit.
Via the LA Times:
Inside the Clippers’ locker room Sunday night in Portland following a victory over the Trail Blazers, a fifth win in their past six games to move within a half-game of fourth place in the Western Conference standings, there was a feeling — of cautious optimism.
“I think we were starting to jell a little bit more, like I said, just experience playing with each other,” Leonard said ahead of home games against eighth-place Oklahoma City (35-36) on Tuesday and Thursday. “You get new guys coming in, there’s different colors you’re seeing, different coaches’ voices, different schemes, it’s totally different, different city.
“So I think once those guys settled in and was able to see what we’re doing I think things started to change, but we still got to get better. It’s a lot of things, a lot of mistakes that we’re making at times but we just got to clean that up a little bit and see if we can just keep making leaps.”
Via the San Antonio Express News:
Hawks guard Dejounte Murray said he appreciated the warm reception he received in his first game back at the AT&T Center.
Murray spent his first six NBA seasons with the Spurs before being dealt to Atlanta last summer.
“I felt like it was what it should be,” said Murray, who tallied 22 points in the Hawks’ defeat. “It showed nothing but love, both sides.”
The team began the afternoon’s festivities with a video thanking Murray for his time in San Antonio.
“I’m thankful, grateful,” Murray said. “It’s family forever.”
The Golden State Warriors yesterday converted forward Anthony Lamb’s contract into a standard NBA contract.
Lamb was originally signed by Golden State on October 5 and converted to a two-way contract on October 14.
Lamb, 25, has appeared in 50 games (three starts) with Golden State this season, averaging 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.1 minutes while shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. He owns career averages of 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 18.8 minutes in 76 games (six starts) over three seasons with the Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Lamb has appeared in five games this season with Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.20 blocks in 32.0 minutes per game. Unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 6’6 forward was named the 2020-21 G League Most Improved Player as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The Golden State Warriors yesterday signed guard Lester Quinones to a two-way contract.
Quinones, 22, has appeared in 44 games this season for Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 19.8 points on 46.7% shooting from the field and 38.2% shooting from beyond the arc to go along with 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.2 minutes per game.
Quinones scored a season-high 46 points to go with 12 rebounds, four assists and one steal in Santa Cruz’s 132-129 win vs. the Salt Lake City Stars on March 15. The 6’4” guard has 10 double-doubles on the season and was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played from February 13 to February 26.
Unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, Quinones signed a 10-day contract with Golden State on March 2.