Jonas Valanciunas cleared to return to practice

Jonas Valanciunas

Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has been cleared to return to practice following an examination this morning by Dr. Brent Graham at Toronto Western Hospital.

Valanciunas has been sidelined the past 15 games after he sustained a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand during the second quarter November 20 at the Los Angeles Lakers.

In his 14 starts prior to the injury, Valanciunas averaged 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 27.3 minutes. He posted season highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds in the season opener October 28 versus Indiana.

The Raptors return to action Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. versus Dallas at Air Canada Centre (TSN1/TSN 1050 Toronto).

Jason Kidd to have hip surgery

Jason Kidd to have hip surgery

Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd will undergo hip surgery on Monday and be sidelined indefinitely, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will assume head coaching responsibilities during Kidd’s absence.

“I have every confidence in Joe to lead our team during my absence,” said Kidd. “Joe has many years of coaching experience both in the NBA and in international competition. He’s well-respected in the league and I know our players and coaches will give their all during Joe’s time as head coach.

“I tried to put off surgery for as long as I could, but after consulting with my doctor, he advised that the best course of action was to have the procedure now,” Kidd added.

Kidd is currently in his second season as head coach of the Bucks and third season overall as an NBA head coach.

Prunty is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Bucks after serving as an assistant coach under Kidd in Brooklyn during the 2013-14 campaign. Currently in his 20th season in the NBA, Prunty has also coached with Cleveland (2010-13), Portland (2008-10), Dallas (2005-08) and San Antonio (1996-2005). He is also the head coach of Great Britain’s men’s national team.

Pistons recall Brandon Jennings from D-League

Pistons recall Brandon Jennings from D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has recalled Brandon Jennings, Reggie Bullock and Darrun Hilliard from the team’s NBA Development League (D-League) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive.

Jennings, seeing his first game action since suffering a ruptured left Achilles at Milwaukee on January 24, 2015, recorded 11 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG), three rebounds, a game-high 12 assists and 27 minutes in a 130-104 Drive win over the Iowa Energy on 12/19.

Bullock, in his first D-League assignment as a Piston, scored a game-high 29 points on 10-12 field goals including going 6-8 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block in 36 minutes. Bullock has appeared in 14 games with the Pistons this season averaging 5.6 minutes a game.

Hilliard scored 23 points to go with two rebounds, three assists and one steal. He’s now scored 20-plus points in all three games with the Drive and is averaging 25.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while on assignment. Hilliard has appeared in seven games for the Pistons this season, averaging 3.0 points and 0.9 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game.

Anthony Bennett taking quick trip to D-League

Anthony Bennett taking quick trip to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Sunday forward Anthony Bennett has been assigned to their NBA Development League affiliate, Raptors 905. Bennett will play for Raptors 905 in its Sunday 2 p.m. tip against the Delaware 87ers.

He is expected to be recalled by the Raptors and available to play in their 6 p.m. game versus Sacramento at Air Canada Centre.

“Anthony came to us asking to use this double-header as an opportunity work on his game,” said Jeff Weltman, Raptors Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. “This is an example of how we envisioned using our D-League team to improve our players.”

Bennett has appeared in nine games with the Raptors this season, totaling 14 points and 15 rebounds in 48 minutes.

Paul George fined $35,000 by NBA

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has been fined $35,000 for public criticism of officiating and using profanity in a live television interview, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

George made his comments following the Pacers’ 104-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 18 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Celtics assign Terry Rozier to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned guard Terry Rozier to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.

In his latest matchup with Maine on November 20, Rozier tallied 16 points on 5-10 (.500) shooting from the field, three rebounds and a game-high eight assists in 31 minutes of action. He has played in three contests for the Red Claws this season and is averaging 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.0 steal in 33.8 minutes per game.

Rozier has appeared in 15 contests for the Celtics this season and is averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per game over that span.

Pistons assign Darrun Hilliard and Reggie Bullock to D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has assigned guard Darrun Hilliard and forward Reggie Bullock to the team’s NBA Development League (D-League) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive.

Hilliard has appeared in seven games for the Pistons this season, averaging 3.0 points and 0.9 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game. Bullock has appeared in 14 games averaging 5.6 minutes a game.

In two games with the Drive, Hilliard has averaged 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. He scored a team-high 23 points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 33 minutes in his last appearance vs. Fort Wayne (12/13). Bullock is making his first appearance with the Drive this season.

Raptors assign Norman Powell to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have assigned guard Norman Powell to Raptors 905, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Raptors. Powell is expected to be in uniform Saturday when Raptors 905 plays host to the Delaware 87ers at Hershey Centre in Mississauga (2 p.m. ET).

Powell has appeared in 12 games this season with the Raptors, averaging 1.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 5.9 minutes. Powell was selected in the second round (46th overall) by Milwaukee in the 2015 NBA Draft. His draft rights were then traded by Milwaukee to Toronto along with a protected future first-round draft choice (originally belonging to the Los Angeles Clippers) for guard Greivis Vasquez.

Powell will remain on the Raptors’ roster and will be placed on the team’s inactive list.

Mike D`Antoni is new Sixers associate head coach

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced the team has agreed to terms with Mike D’Antoni to become Associate Head Coach. D’Antoni brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Sixers’ staff, including 12 seasons as an NBA head coach.

D’Antoni most recently served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2012-2014 after four seasons at the helm for the New York Knicks (2008-2012), five seasons for the Phoenix Suns (2003-08) and one season for the Denver Nuggets (1998-99). All told, D’Antoni owns a NBA coaching record of 455-426 for his career.

In Phoenix, D’Antoni amassed a 253-136 record with the Suns, where he coached point guard Steve Nash to back-to-back Most Valuable Player Awards in 2005 and 2006. The Suns eclipsed the 60-win mark in 2004-05 – after which D’Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year—and in 2006-07. The Suns made back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006.

D’Antoni has also served on the USA Olympic Basketball coaching staff under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, where he helped guide Team USA to gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He has nearly a decade of additional international head coaching experience.

Originally a second round selection by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 1973 NBA Draft out of Marshall University, D’Antoni went on to play out a 13-year career for Olimpia Milano of the Italian League and became the club’s all-time leading scorer, winning multiple league championships.

Ty Lawson suspended two games

Ty Lawson suspended two games

Houston Rockets’ guard Ty Lawson has been suspended for two games without pay for driving while ability impaired, in violation of the law of the State of Colorado, the NBA announced today.

Lawson’s suspension will begin with tomorrow night’s game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers.