Heat Notes: Jaquez, Jovic, Richardson, NBA Cup
The Heat need more from recent first-round picks Jaime Jaquez and Nikola Jovic if they want to improve their middling 8-8 record, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required).
Both players appeared to be on the rise last season. Jaquez earned a spot on the All-Rookie First Team, while Jovic started his final 26 games of the ’23/24 campaign. However, they haven’t been as effective to open ’24/25, with both seeing their minutes reduced; Jovic was a healthy scratch in each of the past two games.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- What’s behind Jaquez’s slow start? Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald tackles that question in a mailbag, writing that the second-year forward is actually attempting more shots in the restricted area — typically a good thing — but is making fewer of those looks (51.1% vs. 65.4% last season). The former UCLA star has also missed a handful of games due to a stomach illness and sprained ankle, Chiang notes.
- Veteran guard/forward Josh Richardson admits he was disappointed that the shoulder injury he sustained last season forced him to pick up his $3.05MM player option for ’24/25, Winderman writes in another story. “It is what it is,” Richardson said. “I’m happy to be playing basketball. I wish it could have turned out different, because I thought I started playing good basketball when I got hurt last season. But that’s life, and you can’t live with regrets. So I’m just trying to work my way back, make the best of this year.” The 31-year-old, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, has been in and out of Miami’s lineup due to a nagging heel injury, but his role appears “murky” even when he’s available, Winderman adds.
- Miami dropped to 1-2 in NBA Cup play following Tuesday’s loss to Milwaukee. The Heat will need plenty of help to advance to the quarterfinals even if they defeat Toronto on Friday. Chiang has the details.
Central Notes: Mitchell, Atkinson, Pacers, Connaughton
In an interesting story for The Athletic, Sam Amick details the late-June meeting between Donovan Mitchell and new head coach Kenny Atkinson that helped convince the star guard to sign a three-year, maximum-salary extension with the Cavaliers over the summer.
Rather than using technology to get his point across at the lunch meeting, Atkinson decided to take the opposite approach.
“We were going over (Atkinson’s vision) with f—ing salt and pepper on the little place mat,” Mitchell told The Athletic recently. “This guy could be here and put this there. Naturally, what got me was the fact that we’re having this kind of discussion at a regular lunch. We’re legitimately trying to figure it all out, and we’re saying, ‘All right, we can plug this person here and where do we put this guy?’ Evan (Mobley) goes here, with the rifle action. He sets up this (action), and you can slip. We’re just going over everything.”
As Amick writes, Atkinson didn’t know Mitchell well at all prior to the encounter, but he was quickly impressed by the 28-year-old’s basketball acumen.
“I wanted it to be more casual than a chalkboard session,” Atkinson told The Athletic. “I wanted his thoughts about how we’d play, thoughts on the team. I said, ‘Let’s go down the roster, and tell me about every guy.’ And it was amazing. It was like talking to a coach. He had such a depth of knowledge.
“He gave me the lowdown on every guy, so that was the spark for me. Like, man, I’ve got the blueprint right here, and then talking to him strategically about what we wanted to do. His IQ is off the charts — really off the charts. We just clicked, you know? Strategically. And that’s important. You could meet and not click. He bought in right off the bat.”
Here’s more from the Central:
- Guard Quenton Jackson, who is on a two-way contract with the Pacers, has started the past five games amid injuries to his perimeter teammates, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. “He’s a combative defender, he’s a rim attacker,” head coach Rick Carlisle said of Jackson. “He’s going to bring intensity and competitiveness to the game. … Every night he’s getting some kind of a really tough matchup, which is something that he really covets.” For his part, the former undrafted free agent said he’s grateful for the first extended playing time of his career. “It’s something you dream of,” Jackson said. “For it to be here, it’s nothing short of a blessing. At the same time, you have to focus on what’s at hand and handling business and that’s what I’m doing right now.”
- Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton briefly wore a protective mask on Wednesday vs. Portland after getting hit on the nose during Monday’s win. He told reporters, including Dopirak, that wearing the mask was an optional decision, but he discarded it in the second quarter and played better without it. “It’s not coming back,” Haliburton said. “Hopefully in a couple more days it stops hurting so much. I hope I never see that again.”
- Forward Pat Connaughton was out of the Bucks‘ rotation for four games before giving the team a boost in Tuesday’s win at Miami, contributing 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscriber link) has the story on how the veteran wing stayed ready while being unsure of when his next opportunity would arise.
Nuggets’ Russell Westbrook Fined $35K By NBA
Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been fined $35K for “making an obscene gesture on the playing court” during the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to New York, the NBA announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
Westbrook finished with a team-high 27 points in Monday’s lopsided defeat, with 24 coming during a fourth-quarter flurry when the game was out of reach. After hitting a three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter, he flipped a middle finger toward the Knicks’ bench (Twitter video link).
The 2016/17 league MVP is no stranger to fines, having been docked more than $500K over the years, according to Spotrac, largely due to technical fouls. The 36-year-old picked up his second technical of the season in Wednesday’s victory at Utah.
Westbrook, who is in his 17th NBA season, is averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals through his first 17 games as a Nugget (24.6 minutes per contest). His shooting slash line is .391/.375/.681.
Westbrook signed a two-year, minimum-salary deal with Denver in late July after being released by Utah. He holds a player option for ’25/26.
International Notes: Kleber, Schofield, Faried, Beverley, Motley
Speaking to Dirk Sing of German outlet Augsburger Allgemeine, Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber says he has no intention of returning to Germany’s national team going forward.
Kleber, who previously represented his home country in international competitions, including the 2014 EuroBasket and the 2019 World Cup, opted not to play in the 2022 EuroBasket tournament after a deep playoff run with Dallas. Kleber was criticized for that decision by team captain Dennis Schröder, causing the big man to withdraw from consideration for the 2023 World Cup. Schröder later apologized.
Kleber also didn’t participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but he says he watched the tournament and still supports the team from afar, even if he will no longer be playing for Deutschland in an official capacity.
“The situation was what it was. That’s why I had to come to terms with it,” Kleber said (hat tip to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net). “I watched the games as a fan, of course, because it is always positive for German basketball when the national team is successful.
“It’s ultimately about basketball continuing to grow in Germany. And the Olympic Games that everyone can watch on television is a great platform. I know a lot of guys on the team very well or are my friends, it was also great to watch them. … The national team is definitely over for me. So, there will be no return.”
Here are a few more international basketball notes:
- Admiral Schofield, who spent four seasons in the NBA before signing with ASVEL Basket over the offseason, has parted ways with the French club in what the team called a mutual agreement, per Askounis of Eurohoops. The 27-year-old forward, who was a second-round pick out of Tennessee in 2019, recently fell out of ASVEL’s rotation, Askounis notes.
- Former NBA forward Kenneth Faried has signed with Italy’s Pallacanestro Reggiana, the team announced in a press release. An eight-year veteran who spent seven seasons in Denver, Faried last played in the NBA with Houston during the 2018/19 season. The 35-year-old made previous international stops in China and Russia before returning to North America to play in the G League, having spent the past two seasons with the Mexico City Capitanes.
- Longtime NBA veteran Patrick Beverley signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv over the summer, but he says he’s “50-50” on whether he’ll stay with the Israeli club due to family pressures, as BasketNews.com relays.
- Former Mavs and Clippers big man Johnathan Motley decided to leave Hapoel Tel Aviv earlier this month due to concerns over his safety. He wound up signing a G League deal while still under contract with Hapoel, but didn’t receive a letter of clearance from FIBA. In a strange twist to an unusual situation, Motley has returned to Hapoel on a two-year contract, the team announced (link via BasketNews).
Injury Notes: DeRozan, Blazers, Pelicans, Thunder, Bulls
Kings forward DeMar DeRozan will be sidelined for Friday’s game in Portland due to muscle inflammation in his lower back, tweets Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. It will be DeRozan’s second straight absence — and fifth overall — as he continues to deal with the back issue.
The Trail Blazers will also be shorthanded on Friday, announcing (via Twitter) that Jerami Grant (left knee sprain) and Robert Williams (concussion protocol) are doubtful to play, while Donovan Clingan (left knee sprain) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) remain out with multi-week injuries.
Here are some more injury notes from around the NBA:
- Four Pelicans — Jamal Cain (right ankle sprain), Jordan Hawkins (low back soreness), Brandon Ingram (right calf soreness) and Trey Murphy (left knee contusion) — are questionable for Friday’s contest in Memphis, per the NBA’s latest injury report. Of the four, only Hawkins was able to suit up for Wednesday’s blowout home loss to Toronto. Jose Alvarado, Herbert Jones and Zion Williamson remain sidelined with their own respective injuries.
[Update: Cain, Hawkins and Ingram are out Friday, while Murphy is a game-time decision, head coach Willie Green told reporters, including Christian Clark of NOLA.com (Twitter link).] - Although he sustained a right eye injury on Wednesday which caused him to exit the road win at Golden State, Thunder forward Jalen Williams doesn’t appear on the injury report for Friday’s matchup at the Lakers, indicating he’ll be ready go, tweets Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. However, Alex Caruso will miss Friday’s game against his former team, having been ruled out due to a right hip strain. It will be the All-Defensive member’s third consecutive absence.
- Three rotation members of the Bulls are questionable for Friday’s contest vs. Boston. Guard Coby White (left wrist sprain), wing Dalen Terry (right ankle sprain) and big man Jalen Smith (left ankle sprain) are the players in question, while guard Lonzo Ball (right wrist sprain) is probable, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).
Southeast Notes: Poole, Wizards, Butler, LaMelo
Veteran guard Jordan Poole considers the Wizards‘ recent struggles necessary for the team to eventually take the leap to the next level. Following a 121-96 home defeat to the Clippers on Wednesday, Washington’s 13th in a row, Poole addressed reporters post-game, per Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link).
“It’s just a matter of figuring things out,” Poole said. “Good things take time… You’ve got to go through it. Every organization has to go through tough times in order to figure out what the good times are like, if that makes sense. You’ve got to figure it out, you’re building a foundation, you’re laying pieces. It’s not supposed to be easy.”
Washington is currently 2-15 on the year, and in prime position to earn a top lottery pick for next year’s loaded draft.
Across 15 games this season, the Michigan alum is averaging 20.3 points on a .449/.432/.883 slash line. He’s also dishing out 4.7 assists and pulling down 2.1 rebounds per.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Just a month and change into their 2024/25 season, the Wizards are already feeling the effects of their rebuild, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “To me, we don’t really have a choice,” rookie guard Kyshawn George said Wednesday. “It’s too easy to just give up, and you lean on the people that are around you. I think we have a great group of guys as persons that hold each other accountable. We’re all working toward the same goal — the players and the coaching staff and the whole organization. So, it’s too easy to just say, ‘OK, this is what it is, and we’re not going to get better.’”
- Heat All-Star wing Jimmy Butler was held out of the fourth quarter of the team’s eventual 98-94 Wednesday win over the Hornets due to an achy back, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Reserve center Kevin Love is also dealing with back issues. He departed the Heat’s 106-103 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday ahead of the second half and missed the Charlotte game. “He’s not comfortable enough to play today or finish the game yesterday,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday of Love. “But he’s dealt with it before and we’ll see how he feels when we get back.” Butler is considered probable to suit up for Miami’s next game on Friday, while Love is merely questionable, Chiang writes in another story.
- Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball will sit out Charlotte’s NBA Cup clash with the Knicks on Friday due to a sore left calf, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Boone notes that Ball has enjoyed a fairly healthy start to the year, appearing in all 18 contests for the 6-12 Hornets so far. Always a prolific scorer, the 6’7″ pro has topped himself this year, averaging 31.1 points per game on .430/.356/.848 shooting splits. He’s also chipping in 6.9 dimes and 5.4 boards per contest.
Northwest Notes: Williams, Nuggets, Thunder, McDaniels
Star Thunder forward Jalen Williams departed the first half of Oklahoma City’s 105-101 road win Wednesday over the Warriors with a right eye injury, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.
All-NBA Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled mightily without Williams. He shot just 5-for-16 from the floor in the second half.
Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein opined that the team’s general approach to the game should not have been greatly changed even with the absence of Williams late. Instead, with Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot not falling, the team struggled to close out Golden State, nearly squandering its entire 19-point lead.
“But that shouldn’t change the way we play,” Hartenstein said of Williams’ departure. “I think we didn’t execute the way we should have. … We shouldn’t have been in that situation.”
There’s more out of the Northwest:
- The Nuggets have had difficulty scoring in the “middle eight” of their first halves — the final four minutes of the first quarter and first four minutes of the second, observes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “We were talking about that the other day, about how I think there’s only one time in the first 16 games this season that we’ve won the last four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second quarter,” head coach Michael Malone said. “Every other game, (we lose) that eight-minute stretch, which coincides usually with Nikola (Jokic) being out. So there are a lot of nights where I think we actually get off to good starts. That we’re actually playing well. And then we have that stretch, that four-, six-, eight-minute stretch where the bottom falls out. … And the second half for whatever reason has been better.” According to Durando, Denver ranked No. 2 overall in second-half net rating ahead of their most recent matchup, and No. 29 in first halves.
- Beyond their offensive issues in the “middle eight” period of first halves, the Nuggets have also shown slippage on defense early on this season, thanks in part to Aaron Gordon‘s extended absence. During their 122-103 win Wednesday against the Jazz, at least, the Nuggets appeared much improved on that end of the floor too, Durando writes in another Denver Post story. Point guard Jamal Murray picked up opponents for all 94 feet. “Being more physical from the start of the possession,” Murray said of his better defensive effort. “Not (letting) them get to their spots easy or set their screens where they want to set it. Stuff like that. So I think as a group, not just one or two guys, but getting everybody to do that (is important). And we were doing a good job of talking — I’m talking about this game. We’ve been doing a terrible job. But we did a better job today, of switching and talking, and even if there is a mistake or a blow-by, having help behind it.”
- After being named to the 2024 All-Defensive Second Team, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is looking to level up this season, aspiring to be named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2025, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. He’s currently in the first season of a five-year, $131MM contract extension he inked with Minnesota in the 2023 offseason. “That is one of my goals, being [First Team],” McDaniels said. “I was [Second Team] last season. It’s a big goal. First Team, we take it first step by step. For me, I guard the best players. I’m not shutting them down, but I make it tough for them. I make their [shooting] percentages lower.
Bulls Notes: Dosunmu, NBA Cup, Buzelis
Bulls wing Ayo Dosunmu has emerged as perhaps Chicago’s best two-way player, despite a recent shooting slump, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Dosunmu, for one, is not concerned about his career-worst 28.2% shooting from three-point land to start the season.
“Take the shots when they’re there,” Dosunmu said. “I understand that I put a lot of work into my jump shot. I’m not really worried about that. When it’s all said and done, I know that I’ll be at a certain percentage. That’s typically how it goes when you put the work in.”
Head coach Billy Donovan considers the fourth-year guard out of Illinois to be the engine of the club’s blisteringly quick offense.
“I’ve put a lot on him as far as the pace-setting for us because he’s so fast coming down the floor,” Donovan said. “Guys are running with him and he’s pushing it ahead, spraying it around, he’s getting into the teeth of the defense, flattening the defense out, but there’s probably been a sacrifice a little bit there with his scoring where he hasn’t had as many opportunities.”
Through his first 20 games (seven starts), the 6’5″ pro is averaging 11.8 points, plus a career-high 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.
There’s more out of Chicago:
- Despite an 8-12 overall record, the Bulls have an opportunity to qualify for the NBA Cup quarterfinals with a win against Boston on Friday, notes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. Chicago is atop East Group C, alongside the Hawks and Celtics, sporting a 2-1 record in group play. That said, a win is unlikely against the reigning champs, who are 15-3 on the year and fairly healthy. Poe opines that it would behoove Chicago to lose as much as possible — including in the NBA Cup — with an eye on the 2025 draft lottery.
- Bulls lottery pick Matas Buzelis continues to navigate a steep learning curve in his rookie season, writes Cowley in another article. The 6’10” forward has gotten a major playing opportunity thanks to the extended absence of starting four Patrick Williams. “[The playing time is] very important,” Buzelis said. “I’m looking at it as an opportunity to play in the NBA. I’m super-thankful to play. Every time I step on the floor, I’m thinking of it as a blessing. I’m not taking it for granted. But every time I step out there, I’m going to keep learning, keep getting better.” Across his last four games, Buzelis is averaging 9.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocks in 23.0 minutes per night. On the year, he’s been averaging 4.3 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 11.4 MPG.
- In case you missed it, backup Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball returned to action on Wednesday in a loss to the Magic. It marked his first action since suffering a sprained right wrist on October 28.
Edwards, Timberwolves Searching For Answers After Another Loss
The Timberwolves dropped their fourth straight game on Wednesday against Sacramento after leading by 12 points with seven-plus minutes remaining. They have now lost seven of their past nine games and are currently 8-10 after finishing last season 56-26 and making their second-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals.
All-Star guard Anthony Edwards took exception to the Wolves’ behavior during the game, calling them “frontrunners” for cheering when they were ahead and staying silent when they weren’t. While the former No. 1 overall pick took responsibility for his part in the latest loss, he said he’s frustrated by the team’s immaturity, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
“We soft as hell as a team, internally,” Edwards said. “Not to the other team, but internally, we soft. We can’t talk to each other. Just a bunch of little kids. Just like we playing with a bunch of little kids. Everybody, the whole team. We just can’t talk to each other. And we’ve got to figure it out, because we can’t go down this road.”
Edwards also took exception to being booed by the home crowd during stretches of poor play, according to Krawczysnki, who says Minnesota has been plagued by “poor body language and low energy” for the majority of the 2024/25 season.
“However many of us it is, all 15, we go into our own shell and we’re just growing away from each other,” Edwards said. “It’s obvious. We can see it. I can see it, the team can see it, the coaches can see it. The fans f—–g booing us. That (stuff) is crazy, man. We’re getting booed in our home arena. That’s so f—–g disrespectful, it’s crazy.”
Although it might seem like Edwards was livid given some of his responses, and he was undoubtedly frustrated, he presented as calm and introspective, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. But that doesn’t mean he’s any closer to finding the answers he’s searching for.
“We’re just so negative right now. Last couple years, we was like this,” Edwards said, making a motion to indicate the team was close. “And I just feel like we’ve gradually grown away from each other, which is the craziest thing, because most of us have been together. We’ve got two new players, that’s about it. Everybody else has been together.”
Veteran point guard Mike Conley, who returned to action following a three-game absence due to a toe sprain, said he initiated a halftime conversation on Wednesday after seeing that players weren’t communicating well or listening to each other.
“Trust me, we’ve spoken through the last three losses as a team, as players,” Conley said, according to Hine. “And at the end of the day, man, it comes down to us believing, believing again, believing in what we do. It’s not about you in the big game. It’s not about if you’re making shots, missing shots, if you turn it over. We have to live with each other’s deficiencies. We have to live with each other’s mistakes and pick each other up. And that’s what the message is right now is you can’t be immature about this.”
The beginning of the four-game skid featured an ominous dispute between Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. While the team expressed confidence that it would move forward together at the time, the opposite seems to be the case at the moment.
“I’m trying to get better in that aspect, figure out what the hell to say to get everybody on the same agenda because everybody right now is on different agendas,” Edwards said, per Krawczynski. “I think that’s one of the main culprits of why we’re losing because everybody out there got their own agenda. I guess their imagination of what’s supposed to be going on, and what’s happening.”
Atlantic Notes: Martin, Simmons, Nets, Raptors, Celtics
Entering Wednesday’s contest in Phoenix, Nets wing Tyrese Martin had scored 33 career points in 105 minutes over 21 NBA games. Martin, who is on a two-way deal with Brooklyn, proceeded to light up the Suns, scoring 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting — including 8-of-10 from three-point range — in 28 minutes during the 10-point win, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
“S–t, I felt like I was drowning in the ocean. Everybody’s throwing water, it’s cold. A lot of love, though. A lot of love. It felt good,” Martin said of the post-game victory celebration.
“Definitely felt surreal, especially in the environment and situation we’re in with this team. A lot of teams probably take us lightly when we come into town. … But we’re here to compete and play hard. So to do it on this stage against Hall of Fame players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, definitely a surreal feeling.”
Martin received some extra playing time after it was reported that leading scorer Cam Thomas would miss three-to-four weeks with a strained hamstring. A 2022 second-round pick who spent all of last season in the G League with the Iowa Wolves, the 25-year-old said he took advantage of being a relatively unknown commodity.
“I just feel like they didn’t know who I was. So … they’re probably not going to really pay attention to you on the defensive end,” Martin said. “But I bet you they know who I am now.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- Martin’s career night overshadowed to some extent Ben Simmons‘ best game of the season so far, according to Collin Helwig of NetsDaily.com. Simmons was unusually aggressive from the opening tip, finishing with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal in 27 minutes. “I think I’m just getting more comfortable,” the Nets swingman said. “I’ve been away from the game for a while in terms of being healthy and it takes time to get back to back to where I want to be.” Dennis Schröder (29 points, four rebounds, three assists, a game-high plus-19 in 34 minutes) and Trendon Watford (18 points in 22 minutes off the bench) also had strong outings during Brooklyn’s third straight road victory, Helwig notes.
- The Raptors‘ first road victory of the season came in blowout fashion on Wednesday in New Orleans. Toronto received contributions up and down the roster, but the play of Jamison Battle (a career-high 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting), Ochai Agbaji (24 points on 9-of-10 shooting, six rebounds) and Ja’Kobe Walter (14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) was particularly encouraging, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Battle is on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of Ohio State, while Walter was a first-round pick in June’s draft (No. 19 overall). A former lottery pick, Agbaji will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer.
- How will Kristaps Porzingis‘ return impact the Celtics‘ rotation? Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston explores that question and more in his latest mailbag.