Celtics trade Jameer Nelson to Nuggets for Nate Robinson

nate robinson

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have traded guard Jameer Nelson to the Denver Nuggets for guard Nate Robinson.

Robinson, a 5’9″ guard, appeared in 33 contests for the Nuggets this season and is averaging 5.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. He recorded a season-high 20 points on 6-11 (.545) shooting from the field, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 16 minutes on December 19 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Robinson played in 81 games in two seasons for the Celtics (2009-11) and averaged 6.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 16.9 minutes per game during that span.

jameer nelson

Nelson, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks on December 18, has appeared in six contests for the Celtics this season and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 20.1 minutes per game over that span. For the season, Nelson is averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 24.3 minutes per game.

Byron Scott thinks Kobe Bryant played too many early-season minutes

Los Angeles Lakers (12-26) legend Kobe Bryant is averaging 23.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 34.8 minutes per game this season, on just 37.5% shooting. And just 29.3% from three-point range. Lately, he’s needed a rest. Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting:

kobe bryant

Kobe Bryant has sat out three of the Los Angeles Lakers’ past four games and six of their past 11 — all in the name of rest after playing far too many minutes earlier this season.

Lakers coach Byron Scott admits Bryant’s heavy work load was his fault, but he’s trying not to dwell on the mistake.

“You try to move away from it and forget about it,” Scott said Monday. “But it’s hard to do when you have a guy you care about so much and you think you kind of messed up. I think I played him too much early.

“If I would’ve stuck to the 32 minutes or 33 at the most, he might have been able to play a little bit more of these games that he’s missed. But you know what, I realize it. You have to move on from it, learn from your mistakes and go forward.”

Kevin Garnett suspended for headbutting Dwight Howard

Kevin Garnett suspended for headbutting Dwight Howard

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett has been suspended one game without pay for initiating an altercation with Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard and headbutting him. Howard was fined $15,000 for pushing Garnett in the neck area. The penalties were announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 7:53 remaining in the first quarter of the Rockets’ 113-99 win over the Nets on Monday, Jan. 12, at Barclays Center.

Garnett will serve his suspension on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when the Nets host the Memphis Grizzlies at Barclays Center.

To view the play, click on this link.

Donatas Motiejunas playing well for Houston

Donatas Motiejunas playing well for Houston

Houstono Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas has been playing the best basketball of his career this season. He has recorded three of his four career 20-point performances this season, including a new career-high 25 points vs. DEN on 12/13. He has particularly thrived as his role has increased. D-mo has averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in his career, but is averaging a career best 10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season in a career-high 27.5 minutes per game. Motiejunas has recorded 21 games with 10+ points this season, which already surpasses his total of 13 from the 2013-14 season. Currently, after recordeing 14 points and 10 rebounds (his 3rd double-double of the season), Motiejunas is riding a seven game stretch of scoring in double-figures, just one games shy of his career-long streak set earlier this year.

Rockets love the 3-point shot

The Houston Rockets shooting from beyond the arc has been a huge key to their success this year. These notes do not include Monday’s current-ongoing game in Brooklyn against the Nets:

– The Rockets lead the entire NBA in 3PT FGM per game at 11.8 (1.5 more per game than 2nd place LAC). At their current pace, the Rockets are on track to make 967 3PT FG over the course of the 82 game season. This would shatter the NBA single season mark of 891 3PT FG set by New York in 2012-13. Additionally, after making a three-pointer late in the 3Q of the home win vs. POR on 12/22, Jason Terry joined Ray Allen and Reggie Miller as the only players in NBA history to reach 2,000 3PT FG for their careers.

– James Harden hit a career-high 8 3PT FG on just 11 attempts on 12/31 vs. CHA. This is the third most 3PT FG a Rockets player has made in a regulation game, and ties the fewest attempts a Rockets player has hit 8+ 3PT FG on (Alston, 8-11, 3/16/08).

– With Corey Brewer’s 6 three-pointers (6-8 3PT FG) vs. SAS on 12/28, the Rockets now have had five different players with 6 or more threes in a game (Ariza, Beverley, Canaan and Harden). No other team in the league has more than two players who have done it.

– Trevor Ariza and James Harden headline the Rockets long range shooting. Harden has made 90 3PT FG (90-250, .360) good for sixth in the NBA and Ariza has made 85 3PT FG (85-266, .320) good for tenth in the NBA.

– The Rockets made 10+ 3PT FG in each of their first eight games and including last season nine straight overall (4/16/14 to 11/12/14). This surpassed the longest streak in franchise history of seven straight games set in 2013. The Rockets tied the streak again with nine straight from 11/19 through the 12/6. The two nine game streaks sit tied at the fourth the longest streaks in NBA history (2 shy of record). Ultimately the Rockets have done it in all but nine games this season.

– The Rockets tied their season-high with 17 3PT FGM on 17-43 (.395) shooting vs. CHA on 12/31. The Rockets attempted 46 three-pointers vs. DAL on 11/22 (going 15-46) to set a new high mark in the NBA and tied the Rockets franchise record (2/26/13 at WAS).

– On the defensive end, the Rockets are holding teams to 31.1% 3PT FG shooting, the 2nd lowest opponent 3PT FG%.

Third returns for 2015 All-Star

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors lead their respective conferences and are separated by only 13,285 votes after the third returns of NBA All-Star Balloting 2015 presented by Sprint. James has 971,299 votes compared with 958,014 for Curry, who trailed by 20,324 votes following the second returns issued a week ago. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis sits in third place overall with 922,381. Balloting concludes on Monday, Jan. 19.

More info: NBA All-Star Voting Results

Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson named Players of Week through January 11, 2015

Kemba Walker

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker and Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 5, through Sunday, Jan. 11.

Walker led the Hornets to a 4-0 week behind a league-leading 30.3 ppg. Walker, who posted back-to-back 30-point outings to open the week, averaged 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals. He also ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference with 36.2 mpg. During a 103-95 win over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 8, Walker scored 29 points, handed out eight assists, pulled down seven rebounds and collected three steals.

klay thompson

Thompson led the Western Conference in scoring at 27.7 ppg, and helped the Warriors to a 3-0 week. Thompson connected on 13-of-26 (.500) from three-point range and 14-of-15 (.933) free throw attempts. On Jan. 7, Thompson poured in 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the field, including 6-of-11 from distance, and added four rebounds and three assists during a 117-102 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Jeff Teague, Denver’s Arron Afflalo, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Philadelphia’s Robert Covington, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, and Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins.

Pistons playing good basketball lately

1. The Pistons are 8-2 in their last 10 games and 7-2 in their last nine road games.

2. Included in the victories are wins over four playoff teams from last season – Indiana, San Antonio, Dallas and Brooklyn.

3. Detroit collected road wins at San Antonio and at Dallas in the same season for the first time since 1997.

4. The Pistons have won five consecutive road games, the most consecutive road wins since Detroit won five straight from 12/19/07-1/4/08.

5. Greg Monroe is averaging 16.8 points on 55.6% (40-72 FG) and 13.2 rebounds over his last six games, including six consecutive double-doubles.

6. Brandon Jennings is averaging 20.8 points on 46.7% (49-105 FG) shooting and 40.5% (15-37 3FG) from beyond the arc, while dishing out 7.0 assists over his last six games.

7. Kyle Singler is averaging 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds over his last two games.

8. D.J. Augustin is averaging 10.9 points and 6.0 assists over his last seven games.

This week in the NBA: January 12, 2015

A look at this week in the NBA, starting today, Monday, January 12, 2015:

Monday — Pistons at Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA LEAGUE PASS): Detroit puts its five-game road winning streak on the line against Toronto, which is 15-4 at home. The Pistons haven’t won six in a row on the road since March 2007, and the franchise record is seven.

Tuesday — Spurs at Wizards (7 p.m., NBA TV): San Antonio has won 17 consecutive games against Washington, the longest active winning streak by one NBA team over another, according to Elias. The Wizards, who are 16-4 at home, are seeking their first victory in the series since Nov. 12, 2005.

Wednesday — Clippers at Trail Blazers (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Portland has won four in a row and eight of 10 to move into second place in the West, one game behind Golden State. The Clippers’ Blake Griffin is averaging a career-best 5.0 assists, to go with 22.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Thursday — Thunder at Rockets (8 p.m., TNT): Houston defeated Oklahoma City 69-65 on Nov. 16. It was the first time a team won a game with fewer than 70 points since March 2005. Both teams shot less than 30 percent. James Harden led all scorers with 19 points. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did not play.

Friday — Trail Blazers at Spurs (8:30 p.m., NBA LEAGUE PASS): The teams meet for the first time since Dec. 19, when Portland outlasted the San Antonio 129-119 in triple-overtime. Damian Lillard led all scorers with a career-high 43 points, including 16 after regulation.

Saturday — Hawks at Bulls (8 p.m., NBA LEAGUE PASS): This matchup comes one night after Atlanta visits the Raptors. Chicago and Toronto entered the week trailing the East-leading Hawks by 3.5 games.

Sunday — Pelicans at Raptors (3:30 p.m., NBA LEAGUE PASS): New Orleans’ Anthony Davis is tied for the NBA lead in road scoring at 27.0 points per game. The Pelicans’ visit to Toronto marks the fourth stop on a five-game Eastern Conference road trip.

Heat sign Tyler Johnson to 10-day contract

Miami Heat sign Tyler Johnson to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT have signed guard Tyler Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Johnson has appeared in 13 games (as a starter in all of them) for the HEAT’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce this season. In those contests, he averaged 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 33.9 minutes while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 46.3 percent from three-point range and 82.1 percent from the foul line. Johnson recorded six 20-point games, including a season-high 31 points in a, 138-126, win at Texas on December 20. He ranks second on the team in assists (49) and free throws made (55) and third in points (240) and field goals made (83).

Johnson was originally signed by the Miami Heat on August 7, 2014. He appeared in one preseason game with Miami, totaling 17 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists in 36:13 minutes of action before being waived on October 25, 2014.

Johnson will wear number 8 on the Heat.