DaJuan Summers named D-League Performer of Week

DaJuan Summers named D-League Performer of Week

DaJuan Summers of the Westchester Knicks today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Thursday, Nov.12, through Sunday, Nov. 22.

Summers (6-8, 240, Georgetown) averaged 25.3 points on 54.4 shooting (31-for-57), 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals to lead Westchester to a 4-0 start to the season. On Nov. 14, he tallied 30 points on 13-of-24 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds and two assists in an 83-79 victory over the Erie BayHawks. He posted another double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, in a 107-94 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Nov. 20.

Summers was originally selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 35th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He appeared in four games for the New York Knicks during the 2015 preseason. This year marks his second stint in the NBA D-League. During the 2012-13 season he played for the Maine Red Claws and was selected to the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game.

Other top performers considered include Austin’s Bryce Cotton, Bakersfield’s C.J. Wilcox, Delaware’s Sean Kilpatrick, Erie’s Melvin Ejim, Fort Wayne’s Rakeem Christmas, Idaho’s Brandon Fields, Iowa’s Cartier Martin, Los Angeles’ Manny Harris, Maine’s Jordan Mickey, Raptors 905’s Scott Suggs, Rio Grande Valley’s Raphiael Putney, Santa Cruz’s Elliot Williams and Sioux Falls’ Gregg Whittington.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer fined by NBA

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer fined by NBA

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer has been fined $25,000 for making incidental contact with a game official during live action, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Budenholzer was assessed a technical foul and ejected, occurred with 6:27 remaining in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 109-97 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Quicken Loans Arena.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry named Players of Week through Nov. 22

lebron

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry were today named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 22.

James helped the Cavaliers to a 2-1 week, which included wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, behind averages of 25.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. James shot 57.1 percent from the field, 60.0 percent from three-point range, and 87.5 percent from the foul line. During the Cavaliers’ 115-100 win over the Bucks on Nov. 19, James’ versatility and efficiency were on display as he scored 27 points (9-of-13 field goals) and added nine rebounds and six assists.

stephen curry

Curry led the Warriors to a 4-0 week behind 30.8 points (second in the NBA), 6.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals (third in the NBA). Curry shot 50.6 percent from the field and 96.0 percent from the foul line, and connected on a league high 17 three-point field goals. During the Warriors’ 124-117 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 19, he accounted for 40 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Warriors will look to become the first team in NBA history to open a season 16-0 when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Cleveland’s Kevin Love, Indiana’s Paul George and C.J. Miles, Memphis’ Marc Gasol, New Orleans’ Ryan Anderson, New York’s Kristaps Porzingis, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor and Phoenix’s Brandon Knight.

Warriors now 15-0, tie best start in NBA history

Warriors now 15-0, tying the best start in NBA history

The 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors tied the NBA record for best start to a season by improving to 15-0 with tonight’s 118-105 win at Denver, equaling the mark set by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets.

The Warriors are the first defending champion in NBA history to begin the season 15-0.

Dating back to 2014-15, the Warriors have won 19 consecutive regular-season games, extending a franchise-record streak and becoming the 10th team in NBA history to win 19-straight regular-season contests. The Warriors are the first team to post win streaks of at least 15 games in consecutive seasons since the Spurs did so in 1994-95 and 1995-96. Golden State also improved upon its best road start in club history at 7-0 away from home, tying the second-longest road win streak in team annals.

The Warriors, who posted a franchise-best record of 67-15 before capturing the 2015 NBA title, are now 82-15 (.845) in the regular season dating back to 2014-15 and 98-20 (.831) including the playoffs.

Kevin Martin moving into Timberwolves starting lineup

The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by 21.5 ppg from Andrew Wiggins, 16.0 ppg from Karl-Anthony Towns, 13.9 ppg from Zach Lavine, and 13.3 from Kevin Martin, are 0-6 at home and 5-2 on the road. Unusual. Overall, they’re 5-8 and in need of a boost. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting the latest on Martin, who has started just one of the 12 games he’s played this season:

Kevin Martin moving into Timberwolves starting lineup

Some have been waiting for it for a while, but Sunday Wolves coach Sam Mitchell said he’s ready to make the change. Starting with Monday’s game against winless Philadelphia at Target Center, Mitchell is going to move Kevin Martin into the starting lineup, move Tayshaun Prince to the bench and ratchet up Shabazz Muhammad’s minutes.

“It was never my mentality for Tayshaun to play this amount of minutes,” Mitchell said of Prince, who has started and averaged 22.2 minutes, 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. “It was just to get us off to a start. I need to increase Bazz’s minutes. He’s been playing well. So I’m going to decrease Tayshaun’s minutes.”

Derrick Rose hopes to return Tuesday

Chicago Bulls (8-4) point guard Derrick Rose is averaging 13.6 points, and 6.0 assists per game this season, on pretty awful shooting: 37.7% FG and 15.0% 3FG. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest:

Derrick Rose hopes to return Tuesday

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is hopeful that he will be able to play Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing the last two games because of a sprained left ankle.

“I feel good,” Rose said after Sunday’s practice. “My body was a little fatigued from just running around or just sitting down for a little time. Being able to run around today, and I had a great workout [Saturday] and I had another workout today after we got done practicing so I’m heading in the right direction … that’s what I’m aiming for, Tuesday, for sure.

Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg seemed encouraged by what Rose was able to do during Sunday’s practice.

Joakim Noah having quiet season for Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are off to an impressive 8-4 season start, and they’re doing so with center Joakim Noah now being used as a backup. Coming off the bench for all 11 games he’s played this season, Noah is averaging 2.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg with 3.5 apg in 20.5 minutes per outing. Very good rebounding and assist numbers per minute, but still overall a quiet season for a player who was previously one of the best centers in the league. Here’s the Bulls.com blog reporting:

Joakim Noah having quiet season for Bulls

Because Noah Friday in 17 minutes had his fifth scoreless game of the season; he has yet to score in double figures in any game despite averaging in double figures in five of his first eight Bulls seasons. He’s had fewer than five points in all but two games.

Noah is averaging a career low 2.5 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds. He’s shooting, the rare times he does, a career low 31.6 percent and 30.8 percent on free throws for a career 71 percent free throw shooter, likely a lifetime low. He’s at a seven-year low in rebounding and career lows in blocks and minutes played and the first season in his career, at least thus far, he hasn’t started a game.

Well, he does say he has his health.

“Physically, I feel good,” Noah insisted. “Now it’s trying to figure out where I can get opportunities offensively and just helping the defense. That’s it. I’ve to be more aggressive when I get my opportunities. There are less. But I’ve still got to still figure it out. It’s tough. Just trying to figure it out; keep working. But it’s definitely an adjustment. I feel like I’m rushing a little bit. I’m making too many turnovers. I like to help the team win. I wasn’t able to do that.”

Magic rookie Mario Hezonja still learning the ropes

The Orlando Magic are 6-7 this season, and getting double-digit scoring from Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. Rookie shooting guard Mario Hezonja is playing just 14.5 minutes per game, good for 4.8 ppg. Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting:

Magic rookie Mario Hezonja still learning the ropes

Hezonja has shown tantalizing glimpses of the potential that prompted the Magic to select him fifth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, but his rookie mistakes on the defensive end and a logjam of other talented wing players are reducing his playing time. Coaches review tape with Hezonja almost daily in an attempt to cut down on his errors.

By all accounts, Hezonja, a 6-foot-8 swingman, has been an eager student.

“It’s a team sport, so I’m looking forward to help the team the best that I can and, of course, [I’m] individually looking to improve because I’m here to play,” he said after he played almost 17 minutes in the Magic’s 97-91 loss Saturday night to the Sacramento Kings.