Pacific Notes: Ingram, Booker, Gallinari, Warriors
Lakers forward Brandon Ingram was diagnosed today with a concussion and has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The injury Ingram suffered Friday in Milwaukee was initially believed to be a neck muscle contusion, and preliminary concussion tests came up negative.
Ingram was hit in the neck in the third quarter, but didn’t tell the training staff about his symptoms until overtime, according to Bill Oram of the SoCal News Group (Twitter link).
The Lakers will once again be without the dynamic second-year forward, who was playing his second game after missing 12 in a row with an injured groin. He is averaging 16.1 points in 59 games and shooting .390 from 3-point range.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Suns may have a new coach next season, but Devin Booker places a higher priority on who’s on the court than who’s running the team, relays Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic. Booker believes coaching won’t be a concern if the talent level is upgraded. “I’ve had three coaches since I’ve been here and I’ve never blamed anything on one of the coaches as an individual,” Booker said. “I’ve had great relationships with all the coaches. I think the NBA just overall, when you need somebody to blame the first person that you go to is the coach. But at the end of the day you need the right players that match each other. Not just the best players. Chemistry helps.”
- Booker refused to say if he stands by a statement he made in October that he would sign a five-year, $156MM extension if the Suns offered it this summer, Bordow adds in the same story. “I mean, that’s a whole other discussion,” Booker said. “A lot goes into that. When that time comes I’ll have to make a decision. … I’ve always said this is the place I want to be so if everything works out, yeah.”
- Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari still had pain in his right hand as he returned to the court Friday, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. He played 24 minutes and scored 11 points, but played with black tape wrapped around the hand. Gallinari had missed 18 games with a non-displaced fracture. “Listen, he was OK,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He was better in the second half. I thought his rhythm may have upset other rhythms. You never know. We need him, and we’re going to use him.”
- Klay Thompson‘s expected return for tonight’s game will result in the Warriors’ 26th different starting lineup of the season, notes Darryl Matsuda of The San Jose Mercury News.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 3/24/18 – 3/31/18
Every week, we here at Hoops Rumors strive to create interesting original content to complement our news feed. Here are the original segments and features from the past seven days:
- Luke Adams examined how non-guaranteed salaries will be handled differently in trades under the new collective bargaining agreement.
- We offered an update on the status of all the 10-day contracts around the NBA.
- Our Stock Watch series took a look at the Trail Blazers‘ impending free agents.
- Our Community Shootarounds for the week addressed whether the Warriors and Celtics are in any playoff danger after injuries to Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving, what the return of Markelle Fultz will mean for the Sixers and the future of Kemba Walker with the Hornets.
- Chris Crouse addressed the impact of Trey Burke, Nikola Vucevic, Quinn Cook and others in this week’s look at fantasy basketball.
- The weekly Mailbag had questions on Isaiah Thomas, the Hawks and upcoming coaching changes.
Injury Updates: Hill, Irving, Wall, Gasol
An MRI confirmed that Cavaliers guard George Hill sprained his left ankle in last night’s win over the Pelicans, writes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Hill was pulled from the game midway through the third quarter after landing awkwardly on a layup attempt.
Hill has been declared out of Sunday’s game with the Mavericks, but there is no word on his availability beyond that. He will undergo treatment and rehab, but the team hasn’t set a timetable for a return, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link).
Hill has been a valuable addition to the Cavs since he was acquired from the Kings in a deal at the deadline. He has appeared in 22 games, all starts, and is averaging 9.9 points and 2.9 assists per night.
There’s more injury-related news from around the NBA:
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens offered an update on the progress of Kyrie Irving, who underwent a procedure on his left knee last week, relays Chris Forsberg of ESPN (Twitter link). “I saw him yesterday,” Stevens said, “spent a lot of time with him. Spirits were good. Bending, extending his knee on a training table. No on-court videos. No 360 dunks.”
- John Wall played 33 minutes today in his first game since arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in January. However, the Wizards aren’t going to take a chance with using him in back-to-back games as coach Scott Brooks has already ruled him out of Sunday’s contest in Chicago, tweets Candace Buckner of The Washington Post.
- Spurs center Pau Gasol will continue to play through a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, relays Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). Gasol said the shoulder is “going to nag” him for the rest of the season.
- An MRI conducted today showed that Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis has a sprained right ankle, according to Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com (Twitter link). Davis will be re-evaluated in seven to 14 days and may miss the start of the playoffs.
- Hornets guard Dwayne Bacon was removed from today’s game with a right ankle sprain, the team tweeted. Further evaluation will be needed to determine the extent of the damage.
- Hawks forward DeAndre’ Bembry is listed as probable for Sunday’s game with the Magic, according to Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal Constitution (Twitter link). Bembry has been limited to 21 games this season and hasn’t played since suffering a groin injury Feb. 23.
Five Key Stories: 3/24/18 – 3/31/18
In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss the first round of the playoffs with a grade 2 left MCL sprain. Golden State coach Steve Kerr confirmed his team will open the postseason without Curry, whose condition will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Sixers center Joel Embiid needed surgery to repair an orbital fracture of his left eye. Embiid was injured in Wednesday’s game after colliding with Markelle Fultz and had to be helped to the locker room. His projected recovery time is two to four weeks.
Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas will miss the rest of the season after arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. Thomas had been relatively pain free since being traded to Los Angeles, but woke up with stiffness in the joint last week. He will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Darius Bazley, a projected lottery pick in the 2019 draft, may have set a precedent by deciding to play in the G League next season rather than college. Bazley, who had committed to Syracuse, will be eligible to join the league in September. He is the highest-profile player ever to choose the G League over the NCAA.
Zeke Upshaw of the G League’s Grand Rapids Drive died Monday after collapsing on the court during Saturday’s game. Upshaw, 26, spent the past two seasons with the team after playing collegiately at Illinois State and Hofstra.
Here are 10 more headlines from last week:
- Thirteen new members were announced for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, headlined by former NBA stars Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Ray Allen.
- Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue rejoined the team after nearly two weeks away for health reasons.
- Wizards guard John Wall returned to action today after being sidelined for about two months following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
- After a last-minute decision to turn down a 10-day contract with the Celtics, Sean Kilpatrick signed a three-year deal with the Bulls.
- After his second 10-day contract with the Raptors expired this week, Nigel Hayes agreed to a multi-year deal with the Kings.
- Sixers guard Markelle Fultz, who missed almost all of his rookie season with an injured shoulder and mysterious shooting woes, was activated Monday.
- Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III, who will be in contention for the top pick, decided to enter the NBA draft.
- Michigan State star Miles Bridges, who surprised many observers last year by returning to college for his sophomore season, also declared himself for the draft.
- A bone bruise and a sprained ankle will keep Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder out for the rest of the season.
- Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee that puts his availability for the beginning of the playoffs in question.
Klay Thompson Ready To Play Tonight
After missing eight games with a fractured right thumb, Klay Thompson plans to play tonight against the Kings, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN. Thompson went through the morning shootaround and is officially listed as probable for the contest.
Golden State has gone 3-5 without Thompson and has settled into the second spot in the Western Conference standings. The Warriors are starting to get healthy ahead of the playoffs, with Kevin Durant and Draymond Green already back in the lineup, although Stephen Curry is sidelined through at least the first round of the playoffs.
Thompson is averaging 19.7 points through 66 games and is shooting a career-best .443 from 3-point range. He has been an All-Star the past four seasons.
Kawhi Leonard Back In New York; Return To Court Still Uncertain
With just six games left in the season, Kawhi Leonard has returned to New York in search of a solution for his right quad injury, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Michael C. Wright of ESPN.
Leonard, who has been in New York since Monday, is meeting with doctors outside the Spurs organization to figure out why he hasn’t been able to recover from a quad problem that has limited him to nine games this season. No one is sure when he plans to rejoin the Spurs, and Wojnarowski notes that team officials are losing hope that he will be able to play either in the regular season or the playoffs.
Leonard took a similar trip to meet with his own doctors prior to the All-Star break, but this latest trip comes in the wake of a players-only meeting March 17 to address his status. Wojnarowski has described the meeting as confrontational, but several players denied that. Members of San Antonio’s staff have joined Leonard in New York and are getting regular updates from him.
The 26-year-old, who finished third in last season’s MVP voting, has established himself as one of the top two-way players in the league. He is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and was named MVP of the 2014 Finals. His absence has obviously affected the Spurs, who are fighting for a playoff spot at 44-32, three games ahead of the ninth-place Clippers and Nuggets.
Rumors have been swirling that Leonard’s relationship with the team has soured heading into an offseason where he will become eligible for a super max contract extension worth roughly $217MM over five years. If no extension is reached, he can opt out of a $21.3MM salary and become a free agent next summer.
Joel Embiid Injured, Released From Hospital
4:08pm: There is a sense that Embiid is likely to miss more than the two games on Philadelphia’s current road trip, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets.
2:12pm: Embiid was released from the hospital today, but will not join the Sixers on their trip to Atlanta, Camerato tweets.
9:00am: The Sixers are awaiting a medical update on Joel Embiid, but a social media message from the center last night is raising concerns, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Embiid was hospitalized after suffering a facial contusion in a collision with teammate Markelle Fultz. He offered an update on his condition in a video he posted on Instagram that was captioned, “Not good.”
Fultz was driving to the basket midway through the first half when they collided and his shoulder struck Embiid’s head. Embiid was knocked over, sat up briefly then fell back to the court.
“I was trying to go get the ball at the same time I was watching him,” Fultz said. “But my heart dropped, really, because I know he hit me. But he’s a tough guy and I know he’s going to be OK. All I can do is pray for him.”
Embiid was helped to the locker room, but bent over in pain in the hallway. Fultz added that his head may have also struck Embiid in the face.
Embiid successfully went through the concussion protocol, then was taken to an area hospital for precautionary concussion testing, according to Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The Sixers are awaiting the results before putting together a time frame for his return.
This has been the healthiest season by far for Embiid, who sat out his first two years in the NBA with complications from a broken foot, then was on a strict minutes limit as a rookie. He has appeared in 63 games this season and is averaging 30.3 minutes per night.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/29/18
Here are Thursday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Hawks assigned forward Tyler Cavanaugh to their affiliate in Erie, the team announced on its website. Two-way player Josh Magette was also sent to the G-League squad, which will face Lakeland Saturday in a single-elimination playoff game.
Hill, Kidd, Nash, Cheeks Headed To Hall Of Fame
2:24pm: Rod Thorn, who spent years as a coach and executive and worked for the league office, will also be inducted, Wojnarowski tweets.
10:55am: Former Sixers point guard Maurice Cheeks will also be inducted this year, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Cheeks was a four-time All-Star and a five-time selection to the All-Defensive Team. He won an NBA title in 1983.
10:33am: Three NBA greats will be part of the Class of 2018 for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Grant Hill, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash have all received notice that they will be among the inductees, although the formal announcement won’t be made until this weekend.
The third pick in the 1994 draft, Hill shared Rookie of the Year honors with Kidd. He was a seven-time All-Star, a first-team all-NBA selection in 1997 and a second-team choice four other times. He was also part of the gold medal team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Kidd was a 10-time All-Star who is recognized as one of the top point guards of his era. He was a five-time choice to the all-NBA first team and led the league in assists in five seasons. He won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2008 and captured an NBA title with the Mavericks in 2011.
Nash is one of a handful of players to be named MVP in consecutive seasons. He was an eight-time All-Star, a five-time all-NBA first-team selection and a five-time assists leader. Nash also has a strong presence in international basketball as a former player and current GM for the Canadian national team.
Celtics Notes: Irving, Brown, Silas, Stevens
The surgical procedure that Kyrie Irving had on his knee last week may not be the last one of his career, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. The operation was performed to remove a tension wire that was causing irritation. It was inserted after Irving fractured his patella during the 2015 NBA Finals.
“We tried to do a minimal amount of surgery at this moment,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on 98.5 the Sports Hub. “And it might require some more. We don’t know any of that. I don’t know. … When I say it shouldn’t affect his career, I’m saying his knee is very structurally sound. It isn’t like a long-term thing. There could still be some challenges.”
Ainge added that Celtics didn’t discuss the possibility of surgery for their point guard until he started experiencing discomfort earlier this month. He is projected to be sidelined for three to six weeks.
There’s more today out of Boston:
- Jaylen Brown was relieved to get back on the court this week after missing six games with a concussion, Blakely writes in a separate story. Brown was sidelined after landing hard on a dunk in a March 8 game. “I was tired of sitting down,” he said. “I just wanted to play, get ready for the playoffs. This is what it is about. Anytime I’m out there I feel happiness.”
- Thirty-year-old guard Xavier Silas never gave up on his NBA dream while playing on a series of G League and overseas contracts, relays Mark D’Amico of NBA.com. Silas had just wrapped up his latest G League season with Northern Arizona when he learned that the Celtics were offering him a 10-day contract. “I think with me being older, I think I understand a little bit that it’s not about trying to do too much, or trying to make a big bang or a big splash,” Silas said. “It’s just, do what I’m supposed to do, and helping out the team, even if it’s little increments here and there.”
- Tim Cato of SB Nation examines how the Celtics are able to keep winning with so many key players sidelined. Last night’s comeback in Utah was the latest example as Boston wrapped up a 4-0 road trip with little-used Guerschon Yabusele making his second start of the season. Cato contends the performance makes Brad Stevens a strong contender for Coach of the Year.