Mavericks recall Nate Hinton from Long Island Nets in G League, transfer him to Santa Cruz Warriors

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled two-way rookie Nate Hinton from the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League and have transferred him to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.

Hinton (6-3, 210) has appeared in six games for Dallas this season, averaging 1.3 points and 3.2 minutes. He recorded a season-best five points (2-7 FG, 1-2 FT) in seven minutes vs. Houston (1/23/21).

Hinton has appeared in two games with Long Island, averaging 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.4 minutes.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season tipped off on Wednesday, Feb. 10, and features 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.

Rockets sign Ray Spalding, waive Brodric Thomas

The Houston Rockets today announced they have called up center Ray Spalding from their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, and signed him to a two-way contract.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Brodric Thomas.

In two games for the Vipers this season, Spalding (6-10, 225) averaged 18.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.50 blocks while shooting 60.0% from the floor. He was with the Rockets during the 2019 preseason prior to joining Rio Grande Valley.

Spalding was an early entry candidate for the 2018 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisville and was the 56th overall pick by Philadelphia before his right were acquired by Dallas. He appeared in one game for the Mavericks in addition to 13 games for Phoenix in 2018-19.

Nets forward Kevin Durant set to return Saturday vs. Warriors

The Nets are getting Kevin Durant back in time for tomorrow’s game against Stephon Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors. Via the NY Post:

The Nets superstar rejoined the team for practice Friday, following a six-day quarantine with negative COVID-19 tests after he came into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus last Friday. He will be a full go for Saturday night’s game against the Warriors as the Nets tip off a five-game West Coast road trip…

The week off marked Durant’s second COVID-19 quarantine of the season, though this one was much messier. He was a late scratch for the start of last Friday’s game against the Raptors because of an inconclusive COVID-19 test for the person he came into contact with, then was allowed to play late in the first quarter. But Durant was eventually taken off the floor in the third quarter when that person’s COVID-19 test came back positive.

The Nets are 15-12 this season. A record good enough for 3rd best in an Eastern conference with just four teams with records above .500 through Thursday’s games.

Tyler Herro set to return for Heat Saturday against the Jazz

Miami’s third leading scorer is set to return tomorrow. Via the Sun Sentinel:

Tyler Herro is back with the Miami Heat after another pit stop in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Held out of Thursday night’s 101-94 victory over the Houston Rockets at the start of the Heat’s seven-game trip, Herro was on the team flight to Salt Lake City, where the Heat will face the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

While it was the first game Herro missed this season due to pandemic protocols, he previously was held out of a practice at AmericanAirlines Arena, after a housemate tested positive, with that ultimately proving to be a false positive.

The Heat are 11-14 this season. Their leading scorers are Bam Adebayo at 19.7 points per game, Jimmy Butler at 19.5 ppg, and Herro at 17.0 ppg.

Pacers break losing streak with win over Pistons

It’s been a little while, but the Pacers are back in the win column. Via the Indianapolis Star:

It didn’t matter it was against the previously 6-18 Detroit Pistons. Nate Bjorkgren’s Pacers would have taken a win against anyone, in the middle of their longest losing streak since a first-round sweep at the hands of the Miami Heat in Orlando last summer.

In the middle of Indiana’s three-game trip, and on the back-end of a back-to-back, the Pacers recovered from the kind of slow start that has plagued them of late to knock off the Pistons 111-95 on the heels of big games from their three stars.

All three just missed the mark on double-doubles: Domantas Sabonis finished with a game-high 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, to go with eight rebounds and eight assists. Malcolm Brogdon followed with 18 points and nine rebounds while also adding a pair of 3s. Myles Turner finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, coming off a three-point, three-rebound game in Wednesday’s loss to Brooklyn.

A bright spot for Detriot in the loss was the play of undersized 6-foot-8 center Isaiah Stewart, who shot 8 of 9 for 17 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Examining possible NBA MVP candidates from the Jazz

Through yesterday’s games, the Jazz have the best record in the NBA. But do they have an NBA MVP candidate? Or two? Via the Salt Lake Tribune:

Donovan Mitchell is certainly the Jazz’s highest-profile player. He averages 24 points per game, has the Adidas shoe deal and ranks fourth in the Western Conference guards in All-Star votes — the only Jazzman to appear in the top 10. He’s unquestionably the Jazz’s offensive leader, and even as a younger player, is the most important player voice in the Jazz’s locker room. Over the course of the winning streak, he’s been terrific in multiple facets: scoring, playmaking, rebounding, you name it, he’s done it…

Rudy Gobert is another plausible candidate. He leads Las Vegas’ odds as the most likely player to be named Defensive Player of the Year, which would be the third of his career. He has taken yet another defensive leap this season, getting more blocks per minute than he’s had since his rookie year.
He’s being increasingly recognized for his offensive contributions, too.

The best records in the league through yesterday’s games belong, in order, to the Jazz, Lakers, Sixers, Clippers, Bucks and Suns. Those squads have .600 or better records. And if you’re going to pick out MVP candidates from that list, both Mitchell and Gobert do at least deserve consideration.

Mavericks transfer Tyler Bey from G League team Long Island Nets to Salt Lake City Stars

The Dallas Mavericks have recalled two-way rookie Tyler Bey from the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League and have transferred Bey to the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League.

Bey (6-7, 216) has appeared in four games for Dallas this season, logging 13 total minutes. He recorded season bests of five points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3FG), two rebounds and one block in his most recent appearance against Houston on Jan. 23. Bey recorded one appearance with the Long Island Nets, logging six minutes and two points (1-3 FG) and three rebounds against the Iowa Wolves.

The 2020-21 NBA G League season tipped off on Wednesday, Feb. 10, and features 18 teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, opted not to travel to the NBA G League’s campus. NBA teams without an NBA G League affiliate participating in Orlando have the opportunity to assign roster players and transfer two-way players using the league’s flexible assignment and two-way rules.

No Bradley Beal for Wizards Friday against the Knicks

The Wizards will be without their star shooting guard tomorrow against the Knicks, as Bradley Beal will be out for rest purposes. Via the Washington Post:

Beal, who leads the league with 32.8 points per game and leads the Wizards with 35.3 minutes per game, will miss his first contest in more than a month. He missed Washington’s 128-124 loss to Miami on Jan. 9 because of the league’s coronavirus protocols, but the guard has not missed a game for rest all season.

The timing is understandable: The Wizards (6-16) are in the midst of a 16-game stretch in 27 days this month because of rescheduling in the wake of the team’s two-week coronavirus pause in January. After Friday, Washington faces the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets back-to-back on Sunday and Monday before playing the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. The team then leaves on a West Coast trip with four games in six days.

A fun season-long thing to watch will be chemistry development between Beal and new backcourt-mate Russell Westbrook.

Luguentz Dort a defensive stopper for Thunder

Thunder guard Luguentz Dort is great on defense, not so great on offense. Via the Oklahoman:

Luguentz Dort keeps jacking up 3-pointers. And missing. Missing badly, in most cases.

Dort has missed 13 straight from deep. Over the last six games, he’s made three of 30. Thunder fans know the drill well. A defensive stopper who can’t shoot a lick.

It can be quite frustrating. Slammed if you do. Slammed if you don’t.

But the Thunder is not careening down Andre Roberson Boulevard. Dort is different from Roberson and Thabo Sefolosha and Terrance Ferguson, the latter a wannabe in OKC’s pantheon of defensive aces.

Dort is bold. Bold on defense, yes. But bold on offense also. And that’s a good thing. That’s a very good thing.

Dort is young. And with the Thunder in a rebuilding state, there is plenty of time for his offense to develop.