G League weekly news and notes for Dec. 14, 2021

A FAMILIAR FACE: Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul Reed, playing on assignment with the Delaware Blue Coats, has been named NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 12. Reed, the 2021 NBA G League MVP and Rookie of the Year, led Delaware to a 3-0 week aver-aging 20.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals. The DePaul product put an exclamation point on his week with 25points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in Delaware’s 120-109 win on Dec. 12 over the Westchester Knicks. The Blue Coats closeout their Showcase Cup schedule on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. ET against Westchester on NBAGLeague.com.

BEASTS OF THE EAST: The Delaware Blue Coats (10-1) and the Maine Celtics (9-1) have clinched spots in the Showcase Cup Tournament out of the East region. Delaware is riding an eight-game winning streak while Maine has a seven-game win streak of its own. The Blue Coats have been paced by NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year candidate Shaquille Harrison, who’s averaging 19.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and a league-leading 2.9 steals. Delaware leads the league in steals per game (14.4), translating into a league-high 26.9 points per game off turnovers. The Celtics feature eight players scoring in double figures, including Boston Celtics Two-Way players Brodric Thomas (18.3 ppg) and Sam Hauser (17.1 ppg). Maine’s attack from three-point range has been the best in the NBA G League, leading in three-pointers made (165) and three-point percentage (41.6).

STOKED IN SOUTH BAY: Led by Mac McClung, Mason Jones and Paris Bass, the South Bay Lakers cruised to a 3-1 week to put them atop the West region at 8-2. McClung spearheaded the offense for the Lakers this week, averaging a team-high 24.3points and 7.3 assists while Jones contributed 21.3 points, 7.3 re-bounds and 5.8 assists, including a 30-point explosion in South Bay’s 139-120 win over the Salt Lake City Stars on Dec. 8. Bass put together two consecutive double-doubles during the week and in four games averaged 16.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. The Lakers return to action tonight hosting the Agua Caliente Clippers at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Health update on Suns guard Devin Booker

Here’s the Arizona Republic on Suns guard Devin Booker:

Devin Booker has many reasons to smile right now even though he’ll miss his fifth consecutive game Monday night.

One, his injured left hamstring is improving.

Two, he’s at least back on the court with his teammates for shootarounds.

Three, his team is still rolling without him.

With the NBA’s best record, the Suns (21-4) were 3-1 without Booker going into Monday’s game against the Clippers (15-12) at STAPLES Center as he continues to rehab and train in working his way back from injury.

“Hammy feels good, man,” said Booker, who strained his hamstring in the first half of a Nov. 30 win over the Golden State Warriors. “Just getting back right. Finally back out on the court doing some things. I’ve just been lifting prior to that. Feeling good back out on the court during shootaround. That’s always a plus.”

The Suns are 21-4 this season, which is the best record in the NBA through Sunday’s games.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Booker at 23.2 points per game, Deandre Ayton at 16.3 ppg, Chris Paul at 14.4 ppg and Mikal Bridges at 12.2 ppg.

Interview with Knicks guard Quentin Grimes after big performance vs. Bucks

The Bucks beat the Knicks 112-97 on Sunday, but a bright spot for New York in the loss was the play of rookie guard Quentin Grimes, who in 40 minutes as a starter shot 9-of-17 from the field, including 7-of-13 three-pointers, for 27 points and three steals.

Here’s what Grimes said to the media after the game:

On if he could have dreamt of having such a big game in his first career start: “Not going to lie, I really didn’t. I found out about 90 minutes before the game started when we knew RJ [Barrett] couldn’t play that I was going to start. I just needed to keep my mind right and do it how I used to in college to prepare myself. It was definitely a surreal moment and I was just trying to soak it all in.”

On how the flow of the game was different being a starter: “It is just different when you start the game because you get into a flow a little bit. I felt like once I was out there and got into a flow, got up and down the court a little bit, I let my first shot go and I got comfortable. I felt like I was comfortable coming off of pick-and-rolls, pushing the ball, and with Thibs [Coach Thibodeau] he always preaches staying ready and he does a great job pregame every game of getting us ready, so I felt comfortable out there and it is a credit to him really.”

On what he learned today that will make him a better player moving forward: “I think that I can really play with these guys. They [Milwaukee] are the defending champs, they are not one of the lower seeds in the East, so I learned a lot more about myself going against the defending champs. I feel like I learned a lot about my game and I just need to keep improving day by day whether it is starting or coming off of the bench so that I can do what I can to help the team win.”

Rockets notes: Dec. 13, 2021

Some Houston Rockets team notes from the past week:

Over the past three games, Armoni Brooks is averaging 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists… he has hit 11 3-pointers over that span and has the third-most 3FGM (97) through the first 42 games played of a career in NBA history.

Alperen Sengun has scored 10+ points in four of the past five games after doing so twice the eight games prior… he had a career-high tying 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks in 23 minutes of play at Memphis on 12/11, becoming the first player to have posted those numbers while playing 25 or fewer minutes since James Harden did so against the Grizzlies on 3/14/16.

The Rockets have shot 47.0% or better from the floor in six straight games for the first time in a single season since 3/16-3/27/14… Houston is 7-4 when outshooting its opponent this season.

Houston has outrebounded its opponent in six of the past 11 games after doing so five time the first 15 games of the season… dating back to last season, the Rockets are 18-12 when outrebounding their opponent.

Hornets guard Terry Rozier back from health and safety protocols

The Hornets are welcoming Terry Rozier back to action. Via the Charlotte Observer:

Instead of getting overly frustrated or bitter about his unexpected weeklong respite, Terry Rozier was quite the opposite.

Being sidelined in the NBA’s health and safety protocols gave the Charlotte Hornets guard a chance to take on a parenting role of sorts, keeping close tabs on the newest ones in the flock as they attempted to spread their wings while he was out.

“I’m like a proud dad watching the young homies hoop,” Rozier told The Observer on Monday. “So that’s how I felt — like a proud dad.”

Finally cleared and able to play again, Rozier rejoined his teammates just in time to begin their six-game road trip here against the Mavericks. He participated in morning shootaround and was his usual jovial self, which was surely a welcomed sight for the Hornets.

The Hornets are 15-13 this season, which is the 8th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Miles Bridges at 20.3 points per game, LaMelo Ball at 20.0 ppg, Rozier at 17.7 ppg, Gordon Hayward at 17.6 ppg and Kelly Oubre at 16.9 ppg.

Medical update: Zion Williamson remains out with foot injury

The New Orleans Pelicans released the following medical update on Zion Williamson:

“After experiencing persistent soreness in his right foot, Zion Williamson underwent medical imaging which showed a regression in the bone healing of his fifth metatarsal. As a result, the volume and intensity of his training will be reduced for an extended period to help allow for further bone healing.

Kings center Richaun Holmes undergoes eye surgery

Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes underwent a successful procedure today at Kaiser Permanente to repair a right eye laceration. The injury was sustained during the second quarter of Wednesday night’s contest versus Orlando.

Additionally, Holmes underwent concussion screening and was subsequently cleared of any concussive event.

Holmes will be listed as out for the team’s next two games at Charlotte and at Cleveland

Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum diagnosed with a collapsed right lung

Upon further examination, a CT scan revealed that Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has a pneumothorax (right lung), the team announced today. Per MayoClinic.org, a pneumothorax is a collapsed lung.

McCollum sustained the injury during the 4th quarter of Portland’s game versus Boston on December 4.

He will be further evaluated before a prognosis is determined and his status will be updated accordingly.

McCollum did not travel with the team for Wednesday’s game at Golden State.

In 24 games this season (all starts), McCollum has averaged 20.6 points (42.4% FG, 39.3% 3-PT, 70.0% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.08 steals and 35.3 minutes.