Tag: NBA
Williamson, Morant, Ball headline NBA Rising Stars rosters
NBA All-Star Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans and 2019-20 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies lead the list of 20 players selected by NBA assistant coaches for the 2021 NBA Rising Stars rosters.
NBA Rising Stars, the league’s annual showcase of premier young talent during NBA All-Star, will not be played this year due to the limitation of having All-Star events all on one night. To recognize deserving players, the NBA kept the custom of having the league’s assistant coaches vote for Rising Stars rosters, which comprise 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States (U.S. Team) and 10 first- and second-year NBA players from outside the United States (World Team).
Williamson and Morant lead a U.S. Team roster with 10 players from 10 different teams. Joining Williamson and Morant are Charlotte Hornets guard and two-time reigning Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month LaMelo Ball; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards; Sacramento Kings guard and two-time reigning Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month Tyrese Haliburton; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro; Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter; San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Keldon Johnson; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.; and Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman.
Six countries are represented on the World Team roster, including five players from Canada. The World Team is composed of Heat forward Precious Achiuwa (Nigeria); Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Canada); Washington Wizards forwards Deni Avdija (Israel) and Rui Hachimura (Japan); New York Knicks guard/forward RJ Barrett (Canada); Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo (Argentina); Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (Canada); Oklahoma City Thunder guards Luguentz Dort (Canada) and Théo Maledon (France); and Warriors guard Mychal Mulder (Canada).
The World Team includes five players who participated as campers in Basketball Without Borders (BWB), the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball and development community outreach program: Avdija (BWB Europe 2018; BWB Global 2019), Barrett (BWB Global 2017), Campazzo (BWB Americas 2009), Dort (BWB Global 2017) and Hachimura (BWB Global 2016).
NBA opening-night rosters for the 2020-21 season featured 107 international players from 41 countries, marking the seventh consecutive season that opening-night rosters had at least 100 international players. A record nine international players have been named NBA All-Stars this season, including a record five international players voted to start the All-Star Game and a record six All-Star selections from Europe.
Spurs’ Keldon Johnson selected to 2021 Rising Stars roster
The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has been selected to the 2021 Rising Stars Roster. Johnson is the first Spurs player to be selected for the Rising Stars Challenge since Jonathon Simmons in 2017 and the first player to be selected in his second season after appearing in less than 20 games as a rookie since Clint Capela in 2016.
In his sophomore campaign this season, Johnson is averaging career highs of 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.4 minutes over 28 games. He is on track to become the first Spur in his second season to average at least 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds since Tim Duncan in 1998-99.
Johnson, 21, is one of three Spurs in history (Duncan and David Robinson) to record multiple games with 25-plus points and 10-or-more rebounds in their first 50 career games. The former Kentucky Wildcat has posted five double-doubles on the season and has scored double figures in 21 games, including five games with 20-or-more. Among rookies and sophomores in the NBA this season, Johnson joins Zion Williamson and Michael Porter Jr. as the only three players averaging better than 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Johnson becomes the ninth player in San Antonio franchise history to be selected to the Rising Stars since the event’s inception in 1994.
Doncic, Paul headline Skills Challenge
NBA All-Stars Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns will display their vast array of talents in the 2021 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Taco Bell® Skills Challenge will take place before the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, airing on TNT.
Joining Doncic and Paul as 2021 NBA All-Stars in the field are New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević. The six-player competition also features Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington.
The 19th Taco Bell® Skills Challenge is an obstacle-course competition that tests players’ dribbling, passing, agility and 3-point shooting skills. The event is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage on March 7 will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
Doncic, who was named an NBA All-Star Game starter for the second year in a row, joins Sabonis (the 2020 runner-up) and Vučević as second-time participants in the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge. Paul, an NBA All-Star selection for the 11th time, will make his record fifth appearance in the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and his first since 2011. Randle and Covington will make their event debuts.
The Taco Bell® Skills Challenge is a three-round competition with a single-elimination tournament format. Two players will compete simultaneously on an identical course and the winner of each head-to-head matchup will advance to the next round. Two of the six participants, as chosen by the NBA, will receive a bye in the first round and automatically advance to the second round. First-round matchups will be announced at a later date.
Cavs’ McGee: ‘We’re not a team that just gives up”
It appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers(14-21) may have figured out their issues and have turned things around. Cleveland got their second straight road win and their fourth straight victory overall after defeating Houston(11-22) 101-90 on Monday night.
Collin Sexton was very dynamic against the Rockets. He was 12-20 from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range for 39 points. Sexton also added eight assists.
“He was not going to let us lose,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said about Sexton after the game. “And again, they do make it tough on you because they have some very good individual defenders, and they can switch with length. It turns into where you have to beat your man, and Collin has the ability to beat his man. He was awesome for us tonight.”
During the Cavs’ four-game winning streak, Sexton is averaging 29.8 ppg, and according to Sexton, he felt he needed to do more for his team.
“I put many hours in the gym each and every day,” Sexton said. “I knew I had to be better for my teammates.”
Two weeks ago, during their 10-game losing streak, it appeared the Cavs had lost their way and would struggle the rest of the season, but to the credit of the players and coaching staff, Cleveland has has not quit.
“We’re not a team that just gives up,” JaVale McGee said after scoring 10 points off the bench against Houston. “We are in the East right now, so maybe we’re three or four games out of the playoffs(2.5 games), which is crazy when you think about it after losing ten in a row.”
Cleveland plays their final game before the All-Star break at home against the Pacers on Wednesday night with a chance to make it five straight.
Spurs bounce back against the Knicks
The San Antonio Spurs bounced back on Tuesday night against New York’s other team, the Knicks. Behind a strong third quarter, where the Spurs outscored New York by 15 points, San Antonio routed the Knicks 119-93 at AT&T Center. The 26-point victory was the largest margin of victory for San Antonio this season.
The Spurs were playing a back-to-back after falling to the Nets on Monday night in OT. Against the Knicks, who are number one in points allowed, San Antonio scored 36 points in the third quarter. Patty Mills(3-5 from three-point range) had nine points in the quarter, and Trey Lyles(2-2 from three-point range) had eight of his team and season-high 18 points, and in the end, San Antonio got back to their winning ways. The Spurs finished the game with 18 made threes.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was happy with the team’s effort.
“I think it was an impressive win on a back-to-back,” Popovich said. “Tough loss last night, and they just keep on trucking. An impressive win on a back-to-back came out and played a very physical team. Actually, the number one defensive team in the league right now. They should be pleased with their effort for now. “
Popovich was also happy with the play of DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray. DeRozan had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists, and he became the fifth player in Spurs history to record 11-plus assists in three straight games, while Murray had 17 points and six assists.
“Once again, Dejounte and DeMar, attacking, finding people,” Popovich said. “Between them, 17 assists and one turnover.”
The Spurs battle the Thunder at home on Thursday night, which is very winnable, and the final game before the All-Star break and the team’s four-game homestand. San Antonio is looking to avenge their loss to OKC, who beat the Spurs at the buzzer back in late February.
Gregg Popovich on Spurs: ‘They never gave in’
The San Antonio Spurs(17-13) battled hard against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night and got an amazing buzzer-beater from Dejounte Murray(19 points) to send the game into overtime. However, they were outscored by 11 points in the extra period and would fall to the Nets(23-13) in OT 124-113 at AT&T Center.
After a James Harden three, who had a triple-double with 30 points, 15 assists, and 14 rebounds, the Spurs trailed 102–90 with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Spurs would go on an 18-6 run to finish the fourth, including Murray’s buzzer-beater. After the game, Popovich discussed Murray’s big-time shot.
“He knew he had to get it to the rim,” Popovich said. “He made a good choice getting rid of that darn thing, but he’s been playing great all year long and just getting smarter and smarter; feeling more and more confident at the position, so it’s all good.”
Despite the loss, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was happy with his team’s fight against Brooklyn.
‘I thought they were great,” Popovich said after the game about his team. “They really worked hard. They dug down deep all year. They never gave in, and tonight was another good example.”
Spurs G Lonnie Walker IV, who scored 19 points against the Nets, agreed with Popovich’s assessment.
“We laid it all out there,” he said. “Our effort defensively really picked up our effort offensively on how we’re scoring and running on transition and everything. So, I’m really happy on how we played as a team. We did it the right way. Unfortunately, we didn’t come up with the win.”
The Spurs were shorthanded on Monday as they were without Keldon Johnson, Rudy Gay, and Derrick White due to health and safety protocols, making their performance against the high-powered Nets even more impressive. Now, they have to set their sights on New York’s other team, the Knicks, as they come into San Antonio to battle the Spurs on Tuesday night.
Notes:
Kyrie Irving added 27 points for the Nets, while DeMar DeRozan had a team-high 22 points for San Antonio.
Spurs announced before their game against Brooklyn that they would be letting fans in the AT&T Center starting on March 12 against the Magic. According to the press release, the Spurs will allow 3200 fans in the building.
Blue Coats rout Ignite to move to 8-4
The Delaware Blue Coats (8-4), the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, defeated the NBA G League Ignite (7-5), 120-92, on Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida. The Blue Coats shot .475 (48-101) from the field, including 18-37 (.486) from three-point range. They pulled down a season-high 54 rebounds and won the battle on the boards 54-41. Delaware also recorded 13 steals, marking their league-leading fourth game with at least 13.
76ers two-way contract player Paul Reed notched his ninth double-double through the team’s first 12 games with 13 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 31 minutes. Delaware’s Justin Robinson also posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 assists in 27 minutes. Rookie Braxton Key provided a spark off the Blue Coats bench with a season-high 19 points (8-10 FG, 3-3 3FG), five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a game-high two blocks in 21 minutes of action.
76ers two-way contract player Rayjon Tucker scored a game-high 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3FG, 1-1 FT) with seven rebounds en route to a game-high plus-29 rating. Michael Frazier II added 20 points and four rebounds for the Blue Coats.
Delaware led 69-44 at halftime. Seven Blue Coats scored in double figures for the second time this season (2-0). Delaware’s 34 fast-break points are a new NBA G League season high for a single game.
NBA G League Ignite was led by a double-double from Jonathan Kuminga, who finished with 19 points (5-15 FG, 1-5 3FG, 4-9 FT), 11 rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. Brandon Ashley and Cody Demps (5-6 FG, 4-5 3FG) each added 14 points.
UP NEXT: The Blue Coats meet the Canton Charge (4-8) on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.
Photo:J uan Ocampo (NBAE via Getty Images)
Hawks fire head coach Lloyd Pierce
Atlanta Hawks have fired head coach Lloyd Pierce, the team announced on Monday. Assistant coach Nate McMillan will take over the team on an interim basis.
The Hawks, who started 10-9 but are now 14-20, have been hit hard by injuries this season, including injuries to Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De’Andre Hunter. In over two seasons, Pierce compiled a 63-120 (.344) in 183 games.
“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta. He and his wife, Melissa, are tremendous people who have made a positive impact throughout the city,” said Hawks GM Travis Schlenk in a statement about Pierce. “We have high expectations for our team on the court, and we believe by making this change now that we can have a strong second half of the season.”
The 56-year-old McMillan joined the Hawks coaching staff on Nov. 11, 2020. As head coach with Seattle (2000-05), Portland (2005-12) and Indiana (2016-20), McMillan led his teams to a 661-588 (.529) mark in 1,249 career regular season games and has 53 games of postseason coaching experience.
Last season, the Pacers finished 45-28 (.616), second in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. In his four years with Indiana, the club recorded a 183-136 mark (.574), advancing to the playoffs each season.
Carlisle on Porzingis against Brooklyn: ‘I thought KP was terrific’
On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks(16-16) got Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup against the Brooklyn Nets. Porzingis and Luka Doncic led the way for Dallas against Brooklyn. Doncic scored a team-high 27 points, and Porzingis chipped in with 18 points as the Mavericks defeated the shorthanded Nets 115-98 at Barclays Center.
“We just played like a team,” Doncic said after the game. “Everybody involved everybody doing the effort on defense and offense. Just playing like a team.”
Brooklyn(22-13) was without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on Saturday night, and without those two, Brooklyn was held to 34 points in the second half, and James Harden, who scored 25 points in the first half, was held to four points the rest of the way.
According to Doncic, the team was more aggressive on defense against Harden and the Nets in the second half.
“He’s a great player,” Doncic said about Harden. “Obviously, they had two great players out, but he’s an amazing player. It’s very tough to stop him. We did a great job in the second half. I think it was way better. Just I think more aggressive.”
Back to Porzingis, who made his return after missing three games with lower back tightness, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle was happy to get his big man back and happy with his performance on Saturday night.
“I thought KP was terrific,” Carlisle said. “He had good bounce. He had surprisingly good rhythm for a guy who hasn’t not played in 10 days. I thought his rim protection and defense was the best it’s been all year. It just shows the amount of work he’s been putting in over the last 10 or 11 days.”
The Mavericks caught a break not going against a full Brooklyn squad, but Dallas is back at .500, and now they have a chance to get over that mark when they head to Orlando to battle the Magic on Monday night.