Magic guard Jalen Suggs out with knee injury

After undergoing further evaluation a few days ago, including an MRI, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been diagnosed with a trochlea injury in his left knee, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.

During his return to play activities, Suggs was experiencing discomfort, which led to additional evaluation and imaging.

Suggs will be out indefinitely, as a treatment plan is developed.

The team feels that he is expected to make a full recovery.

Suggs (6’5”, 212, 6/3/01) has played and started in 35 games this season with Orlando, averaging 16.2 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.46 stlpg. in 28.6 minpg., while shooting .882 (97-110) from the free throw line.

Sixers center Joel Embiid to miss remainder of NBA season

Announced a few days ago (Friday), the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee. After further evaluation, it has been determined that he is medically unable to play and will miss the remainder of the season to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

Per the Sixers, “We are working with medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update media when we have more information. The team and specialists will continue working with Joel to ensure the best path forward for his long-term health and performance.”

Timberwolves sign Bones Hyland to two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently signed guard Bones Hyland to a two-way contract.

Hyland, 6-2, has seen action in 20 games this season for the LA Clippers, averaging 7.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 11.1 minutes per game. On Dec. 8 vs. Houston, he scored a season-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three and four assists.

In four seasons in the NBA, with the Denver Nuggets and Clippers, Hyland holds career averages of 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists throughout 182 games (10 starts). He earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2021-22 after averaging 10.1 points on 40.3% shooting, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 19.0 minutes per game.

The Wilmington, Del. native, has seen action in 13 postseason matchups during three trips to the playoffs. He holds playoff career averages of 7.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 13.9 minutes per game.

Hyland was selected by the Nuggets with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Timberwolves sign Jaylen Clark

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently signed guard Jaylen Clark.

Clark, 6-5, has appeared in 17 games (three starts) for the Timberwolves this season, averaging 5.1 points on 45.5% shooting, including 42.9% from deep, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 15.7 minutes per game. In the Timberwolves 127-114 win over the Houston Rockets on Feb. 6, Clark finished with a season-high 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, marking his first career game with 15+ points. He became the first rookie in franchise history to knock down four or more threes in a game since Anthony Edwards had five three-pointers vs. Dallas on May 16, 2021.

The Riverside, Calif. native has appeared in 20 total NBA G League games this season with the Iowa Wolves (all starts), owning averages of 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. Clark led Iowa against Santa Cruz on Jan. 4 with a season-high 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, knocking down a season-high six three pointers, dishing out seven assists and coming away with a game-high five steals.

The UCLA product was selected by the Wolves with the 53rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and missed the entire 2023-24 NBA season due to Right Achilles Tendon Rupture Rehabilitation. During his three years at UCLA, Clark was named the 2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, 2022-23 NABC Defensive Player of the Year and 2022-23 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the school’s first defensive player of the year winner since Russell Westbrook in 2007-08.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will not return to coaching this season

STATEMENT FROM SAN ANTONIO SPURS HEAD COACH GREGG POPOVICH:

“I’ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season. Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”

Injury update on Heat forward Nikola Jovic

The Miami HEAT announced today that forward Nikola Jović was evaluated by chief of hand surgery Dr. Elizabeth Ann Ouellette in collaboration with HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Doctors Hospital Surgery Center in Miami. It was determined that Jović suffered a fracture in the second metacarpal of his right hand. He will be in a splint and re-evaluated in four weeks. He suffered the injury against the Milwaukee Bucks this past Sunday on February 23.

Jović has appeared in 46 games (10 starts) with the HEAT this season averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 25.1 minutes while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 82.8 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures 27 times this season, including four 20-point games, and has led the team in plus/minus a team-high eight times.

Nets sign Kendall Brown to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Kendall Brown to a two-way contract.

Brown (6’8″, 200) has appeared in 20 regular season games (18 starts) this season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, and holds averages of 16.1 points on 53.5 percent shooting from the floor, 38.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 78.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 5.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 36.3 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old also saw action in 14 Tip-Off Tournament games (nine starts) with Long Island and averaged 16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists across 32.3 minutes per game.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 18 players with three two-way players.

Trail Blazers March 9 game will be a Bill Walton Tribute Night

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced plans for the special Bill Walton Tribute Night game on March 9 when the team takes on the Detroit Pistons. The game serves as a special night to celebrate the life and accomplishments of a truly beloved Trail Blazer, Bill Walton. Tickets are available for purchase at Trailblazers.com/walton and all in attendance are encouraged to wear tie-dye.

Walton will be honored throughout the night with in-game videos looking back on his historic Hall of Fame career and impact on and off the court.

Members of the Walton family will be in attendance and involved in various in-game moments, as well as Trail Blazers alumni, including members of the 1977 Championship team, that played alongside “Big Red”.

Fans attending the game will receive a special Bill Walton tie-dyed headband upon entering Moda Center.

Cavaliers sign Javonte Green

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard/forward Javonte Green, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Green (6-4, 220) has played in 50 games (18 starts) for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.10 steals and 0.60 blocks in 21.8 minutes. Green, who was waived by New Orleans on Feb. 20, has registered 14 multi-steal performances this season, including a career-high five steals versus Sacramento in his final game with the Pelicans on Feb. 13. He ranked second on the Pelicans in both total steals (55) and blocks (30) and has scored in double figures on seven occasions this season.

In his six NBA seasons with Boston, Chicago and New Orleans, Green has appeared in 245 games (73 starts) with career averages of 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.85 steals in 17.4 minutes. He has reached double figures in scoring in 36 games throughout his career and has four 20-point games, including a 25-point, 13-rebound effort versus New York on April 5, 2024. Additionally, Green has appeared in six career NBA postseason contests. The undrafted pro out of Radford University was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and finished as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,064), steals (245) and games played (133) and ranked second in points (1,911).

Green will wear #8 for the Cavaliers.

Luka Doncic puts up big game in Lakers win over Nuggets

Per the Denver Post:

JJ Redick’s challenge to Luka Doncic in Denver was of the emotional variety. But he knew it would probably translate to the statistics.

“I want at least one blackout episode where he’s screaming indiscriminately at no one in particular because he’s excited,” the first-year Lakers coach said Saturday before facing the Nuggets. “That means he’s back. That’s the Luka I know. The killer.”

Back from what, exactly? Doncic’s recent calf injury, yes, but also the mental malaise associated with getting traded away from a city where he thought he would play his entire career. It’s still sinking in throughout the basketball world that Luka is a Laker — that the Dallas Mavericks would choose to ship off their 25-year-old franchise cornerstone.

As Doncic processes it all, he’s been struggling by his standards. But not on Saturday. The Slovenian point guard went for 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals to lead the Lakers in their 123-100 win at Ball Arena.