NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
Can’t do this, Paul. Here’s the LA Times:
The NBA fined Clippers forward Paul George $35,000 on Thursday for publicly criticizing officials after a loss in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Following the 110-103 defeat, George said he believed the Clippers played well but that “there was some home-court cooking tonight, to say the least.”
For the first time, TNT’s exclusive presentation of the 69th edition of the NBA All-Star Game 2020 presented by Kia will include commercial-free coverage coinciding with the NBA’s newly formatted, untimed fourth quarter on Sunday, Feb. 16.
The NBA announced a number of changes to this year’s NBA All-Star Game, which airs live at 8 p.m. ET, including a new fourth quarter format that will honor the late Kobe Bryant, who earned 18 NBA All-Star selections and a record-tying four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards.
Additional special elements during TNT’s NBA All-Star Game presentation will include a Los Angeles Lakers-themed tribute to Bryant within the virtual shot clock – displaying a combination of gold and purple accents at 24 seconds and eight seconds remaining on the clock during the fourth quarter, representing Bryant’s jersey numbers.
“Presenting the fourth quarter completely free of any commercial breaks creates a unique opportunity to showcase the new All-Star Game format, provide the best fan experience, and align with the league’s overarching plans to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant this weekend,” said Craig Barry, EVP and Chief Content Officer, Turner Sports.
On Sunday, Team Giannis and Team LeBron will compete to win each of the first three quarters, all of which will start with the score of 0-0 and will be 12 minutes long. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game clock will be turned off and a Final Target Score will be set.
A record 19 international players from 15 countries will participate in NBA All-Star 2020, which will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages on their televisions, computers, mobile phones and tablets. This includes NBA Rising Stars on Friday, Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET, All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET, the 69th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET, as well as behind-the-scenes coverage and interviews throughout the week.
Among the record eight international NBA All-Stars, a record four international players were voted NBA All-Star Game starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks; Slovenia), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011) and Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012). Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz; France), Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets; Serbia), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers; Lithuania) and Ben Simmons (76ers; Australia) round out the record eight international NBA All-Stars.
Chicago Bulls shooting guard Max Strus underwent surgery on Jan. 10 to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He originally sustained the injury on Dec. 21, 2019 in the Windy City Bulls game against the Lakeland Magic at the G League Showcase. The Bulls say Strus is expected to make a full recovery.
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the “future of membership” as the organization’s season ticket offerings went on sale today. To reward loyal members and to reignite a fan base following last week’s significant trade deadline, fans who renew or start a season ticket membership will receive:
50% off food, beverage, and retail offerings for the next two seasons when fans use the Wolves Wallet within the Timberwolves App.
Two-year flat pricing carried over from current season for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Customized flexibility that allows fans unlimited game exchanges throughout the season.
For more info, you know what to do: hit the official Timberwolves site.
The Miami Heat today signed guard Gabe Vincent to a two-way contract, and waived guard Daryl Macon.
Vincent, who was originally signed by the Sacramento Kings on October 3, 2018, has spent the last two seasons with their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. He has appeared in 20 games (three starts) this season with Stockton averaging 23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.30 steals and 31.8 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 89.7 percent from the foul line. He helped lead Stockton to a 13-8 record, which was third-best in the Western Conference, while leading the team in scoring average, points, field goals made, three-point field goals made and plus/minus. He played all four years at UC Santa Barbara, appearing in 113 collegiate games (105 starts), finishing as the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made (243) and among the Top 10 in points (1,441) and assists (116).
Macon appeared in 17 games (15 starts) this season with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 31.4 minutes. Additionally, Macon appeared in four games with Miami this season totaling three points and an assist in 14:06 minutes of action.
Trail Blazers forward/center Skal Labissiere has a left knee articular cartilage lesion, the results from a second MRI have confirmed.
The injury occurred at the 10:20 mark of the first quarter of Portland’s game vs. the L.A. Lakers on December 28.
Labissiere will continue his rehabilitation protocol and be re-evaluated in four weeks.
In 33 games (one start) this season, Labissiere is averaging 5.8 points (55.1% FG, 23.1% 3-PT, 75.8% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.94 blocks. He has scored in double figures eight times and recorded one double-double.
Indiana Pacers star shooting guard Victor Oladipo plans to return to action on Wednesday, January 29 for the team’s home game against the Chicago Bulls.
The news came in the form of a video from Oladipo himself that the team shared on social media.
Oladipo’s hasn’t played since January 23, 2019, in a Pacers win against the Raptors. He played 10 minutes, scoring four points, before leaving with injury. Just over a year later, he’ll be making his return from an injury that was reportedly a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his right knee.
The Pacers are already having a very good season. They have a 23-14 record, and have gotten terrific play from offseason addition Malcolm Brogdon. Power forward Domantas Sabonis has emerged as a serious force. And T.J. Warren is scoring in very efficient fashion. It’ll be worth seeing how the Pacers play through early to mid February as they adjust to having Oladipo back in the mix.
Good news for the Lakers. Anthony Davis has not suffered a real injury. He’ll be back on the court very soon. Possibly as early as tomorrow. The OC Register reports:
The Lakers announced Wednesday morning that an MRI revealed that Davis had a gluteus maximus contusion – in layman’s terms, a bruised backside. He’s expected to travel with the team for a Friday game against Dallas, where he’s listed as questionable…
The new medical findings mean Davis (27.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg) could play in Dallas on Friday or in Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Lakers are 1-1 in games when Davis hasn’t been available, and they blew out the Knicks 117-87 after Davis left the game Tuesday.
The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season, and Anthony Davis has been outstanding, putting up huge stats but also performing as well as anyone in the league on the defensive side of the floor.
The Houston Rockets have waived forward Gary Clark.
Clark was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft and originally signed with Houston in July of 2018. In two seasons as a Rocket, he appeared in 69 games with two starts, while averaging 12.4 minutes played.
Following his senior season at Cincinnati, Clark was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was also the AAC Defensive Player in each of his final two seasons with the Bearcats.