Northwest Notes: SGA, Thunder, Gobert, Thybulle
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prevailed over Nikola Jokic in Sunday’s battle of MVP favorites and the Thunder displayed why they’re headed for the No. 1 seed in the West, writes Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. The MVP contest is considered to be a two-man race, and Lorenzi notes that SGA and Jokic were relatively even through three quarters. But Gilgeous-Alexander finished strong, posting nine points in the fourth quarter while making several clutch shots to end up with 40 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
“It’s been very fun,” he said of the season-long competition with Jokic. “Most of the appreciation comes from, honestly, my teammates. No matter how good of a basketball player I am, if we don’t check the win column as much as we do, the conversation wouldn’t be the conversation.”
It was important for the Thunder to be able to prove themselves in a nationally televised game against one of the NBA’s elite teams. The Nuggets are viewed as legitimate title contender after winning a championship two years ago, while there are still questions about Oklahoma City despite its 53-11 record.
“We have greatness among us,” Alex Caruso said. “When we play at our highest level, we’re a great team. It’s just about doing it consistently, and matching the pedigree play-after-play with some of these top teams. From the beginning of the game today, (Denver) came in like they were playing against the top team in the West. We came in like it was a noon game against the Nuggets on Sunday. …. When we play at an elite level we’re, in my opinion, the best team in the world.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Warriors forward Draymond Green is among those who have expressed doubt about the Thunder as true title contenders, per Zach Kram of ESPN. “There’s a certain seriousness that it takes to win in this league, and there’s a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win,” Green said on his podcast earlier this season. “I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams.” Kram lists 22 reasons why Oklahoma City should have earned the league’s respect by now.
- Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was able to return Sunday after missing 10 games with a lower back injury. He was a game-time decision and was cleared to play less than an hour before tip-off, according to Kent Youngblood of The Star Tribune. “I always try to work on the root of the problem to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Gobert said. “Playing with pain is part of the game. But there is pain that keeps you from moving, or that can get worse. Right now, I feel like I’m strong. I feel balanced.”
- Trail Blazers swingman Matisse Thybulle is moving closer to making his season debut, tweets Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. Thybulle will practice with Portland’s G League affiliate this week as part of his reconditioning and could be cleared to play on the upcoming homestand.
Sixers Notes: Walker, Maxey, Martin, Reese
Lonnie Walker turned in his best game since joining the Sixers last month, coming off the bench Sunday with 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a win over Utah. After being waived by Boston just before the start of the season, the 26-year-old shooting guard spent time with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague while awaiting his next NBA opportunity. After Sunday’s game, he talked about how he benefited from that experience, according to BasketNews.
“There are a lot of factors people don’t consider, like your mental state, your physical state, and how you’re feeling,” Walker said. “There was a seven- or eight-hour time difference to adjust to, but also playing at a completely different level of basketball, with a different style of play. Understanding new plays and learning how the team plays was part of the process.”
Walker has a chance to revive his NBA career in Philadelphia, which is his third team in the last three years after he spent his first four NBA seasons in San Antonio. He played 34 minutes Sunday night and figures to be part of the rotation for the rest of the season.
During his time away from the league, Walker gained an appreciation for the style of basketball being played in Europe.
“Most definitely,” he said. “Don’t get it twisted, the EuroLeague is a beautiful league. The passion and the way the game is played over there is special. But I definitely have a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to return to the best league in the world and showcase my abilities.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Coach Nick Nurse told reporters before the game that he plans to monitor the minutes of Andre Drummond, Guerschon Yabusele and Kelly Oubre, who all saw limited action on Sunday, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey notes that they’re the only three rotation players from the start of the season that were active on Sunday. Nurse also provided an update on Tyrese Maxey, who’s sidelined with a lower back strain, saying the star guard “did some on-court work today,” but remains questionable for Monday’s game against Atlanta.
- KJ Martin returned to Philadelphia on Sunday for the first time since being traded last month in a cost-cutting move, per Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. Martin said he enjoyed his time with the Sixers and regrets that a stress reaction in his foot interrupted what could have been a productive season. “I had a great time this year,” he said. “Philly will always have a place in my heart for sure.”
- Alex Reese had six points and nine rebounds in 15 minutes in his first significant playing time of the season, Aaronson adds. The two-way forward said he’s been able to develop his game during his time with the Sixers and the team’s G League affiliate in Delaware. “It’s been good in both places,” Reese said. “Here and in Delaware, both teams have welcomed me. They’ve taught me a lot so far, pointed me in the right directions… I’m enjoying it and grateful to be here.”
LeBron James Expected To Miss At Least 1-2 Weeks With Groin Strain
March 9: James is expected to miss at least one-to-two weeks as a result of his groin strain, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The plan is to evaluate the injury again in the next day or two, Charania adds.
March 8: A left groin injury that forced LeBron James to leave tonight’s game in Boston midway through the fourth quarter could sideline the Lakers star for “a matter of weeks,” according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
McMenamin’s sources caution that it’s too early to pinpoint a timeline for how long James might be out of action. He will undergo extensive testing to determine the extent of the damage before a final prognosis is made.
Speaking to reporters following the game, James seemed to downplay the injury, saying there’s “not much concern” about it, tweets Khobi Price of The Orange County Register.
“Look at it each day to see if it gets better,” he said. “Take the proper measurements [and] see what we need to do going forward.”
James added that when he felt the pain, he immediately thought of the groin injury he suffered on Christmas Day in 2018 that forced him to miss significant time, according to McMenamin (Twitter link). He said he doesn’t consider this injury to be as severe, then knocked on the wooden locker behind him to avoid jinxing his comment.
He appeared to get hurt while making a post move against Jaylen Brown with 7:05 left to play, according to Brian Robb of MassLive. James ran down the court gingerly on defense and called for a sub after the Celtics scored. He worked with the training staff during the subsequent time out, then headed for the locker room.
He finished the night with 22 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists and was leading a Lakers comeback before being forced out of the game.
James has been remarkably productive and durable for a player who just turned 40 in December. He has appeared in 58 of L.A.’s 62 games and was averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists coming into tonight. He seems like a lock for All-NBA honors, assuming he reaches the 65-game threshold.
A prolonged absence could be devastating for the Lakers, who have spent the last few weeks developing James’ on-court chemistry with Luka Doncic. L.A. slipped into third place in the West with tonight’s loss at Boston and could fall even further if the team has to survive multiple weeks without James.
Southwest Notes: Morant, Irving, B. Williams, VanVleet
It’s been a frustrating season for Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, but he turned in a vintage performance in Friday’s win over Dallas, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Morant capped off a 31-point night by scoring 11 points in the final 6:15 to help Memphis pull away. It marked a rare high point in a season where Morant said he hasn’t felt like himself “at all.”
“A little bit of Ja, the old Ja,” he said. “Yeah, so it was nice to see some baskets go down. Obviously, it’s kind of what I’m used to.”
Morant is averaging 20.9 points per game, but MacMahon points out that he’s shooting just 43.1% from the field and 28.4% from three-point range while fighting through a series of injuries. He missed eight games in November due to a right hip subluxation and associated pelvic strains after taking contact in mid-air while trying to finish an alley-oop. In December, he ran into a hard screen and suffered an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, which was surgically repaired last winter.
He has only been available for 39 of Memphis’ 63 games so far.
“Fouls, getting hurt, that plays a lot,” Morant said. “Makes you move different, makes you think different. But I’m out there, so just try to find a way.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Following Friday’s game, Morant expressed get-well wishes to Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear Monday night, per Rashad Miller of Dallas Hoops Journal. Morant revealed that during the lowest points of his career, Irving reached out to him to provide support and advice. “That relationship kind of just hit different,” Morant said. “In a time where pretty much the whole world is talking down on you, and you have somebody to lift you up. He has always been that guy for me.”
- Irving is defending Mavericks coach Jason Kidd against complaints that an oversized workload led to the ACL injury, relays Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. On his Instagram account (Twitter link), Irving posted a photo of the play where he got hurt while trying to split two defenders, along with the caption “Too many minutes??? Or did I get knocked off balance?”
- Two-way point guard Brandon Williams was outstanding on Friday, scoring 31 points in 34 minutes to help the Mavericks stay close, Curtis adds in a separate story. Kidd indicated that Williams will continue to be given chances to succeed. “He’s fighting to get a job and he’s got a great opportunity to get an NBA contract and not be on a two-way,” Kidd said. “That’s our job is to hopefully put him in a position to do that, here or somewhere else.”
- Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has missed 15 of the past 16 games due to right ankle issues, but coach Ime Udoka expects him back soon, according to Sam Warren of The Houston Chronicle. Udoka told reporters that VanVleet should be able to return on Monday against Orlando or Wednesday against Phoenix. He sat out 11 games with an ankle strain, then aggravated it when he stepped on an official’s foot in his first game back. Udoka said VanVleet has been “getting some good work in,” and his return date will depend on his pain tolerance.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Scheierman, Norris, Walker
There’s a spotlight on every Celtics-Lakers game, but tonight’s nationally televised matchup takes on extra significance because the teams are meeting for the first time since L.A. acquired Luka Doncic. While Jayson Tatum acknowledges the years of classic games between the two franchises, he tells Brian Robb of MassLive that he doesn’t view it as a rivalry.
“I mean, I obviously understand the history between the Lakers and Celtics,” Tatum said. “I would say from my time in the league, I wouldn’t look at the Lakers as rivals. We only play them twice (per season). The teams that we play over and over again in the playoffs — Philly would be one of them, and the other teams as well.”
Tatum is excited about getting another chance to compete against LeBron James, who was his teammate on the gold-medal-winning U.S. squad at last year’s Olympics. Although James continues to play at a high level at age 40, he likely only has a few Celtics-Lakers games left in his career.
“As much as we probably talk about LeBron, we probably don’t talk about him enough,” Tatum said. “Being 40 in his 22nd season, playing at an All-NBA level, is incredible. It’s a testament to the work that he puts into this game, to his body to stay in the best shape to be able to compete and perform at the highest level for over two decades now. It’s something that we should all strive to do, even if it might be unlikely. But it’s a joy to be able to compete against him in these matchups for however long we get to do it.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Rookie Baylor Scheierman turned in the best performance of his brief NBA career with 15 points in Thursday’s win over Philadelphia, Robb states in a separate story. He also got to enjoy the experience of taunting the Sixers’ bench, blowing them a kiss after sinking a corner three-pointer in the third quarter. “Yeah. I mean, every time you shoot by the bench they’re always saying, ‘Hell nah,'” Scheierman explained. “So I’m having to turn around and give ‘em a little kiss.”
- Newly signed two-way player Miles Norris made his NBA debut in the closing minutes of Thursday’s contest, per Souichi Terada of MassLive. Norris said he wasn’t nervous about the opportunity, as his teammates urged him to have fun with it. “Once you get up and down, you start to feel a little better,” he said. “Once I subbed in, got my first rebound, running up and down the court, I felt pretty good. … The guys encouraged me to go out there and play how I play. Play loose. The vets on the team, Payton (Pritchard) and everybody, telling me to go out there and play loose.”
- Sixers guard Lonnie Walker returned to TD Garden Thursday night for the first time since Boston waived him in the preseason, Terada adds in another piece. The Celtics opted not to keep Walker for financial reasons, but he considers the time he spent with the team to be valuable. “When you’re a part of a championship organization and how they approach the game, it gives you a little bit more motivation and inspiration,” Walker said. “You want to be the best. You want to see how everyone has proceeded to be the best and why they’re such a great team. There’s definitely some motivation that was given playing with the Celtics.”
James Dolan Calls For More Transparency Regarding NBA Finances
Knicks owner James Dolan wants the NBA to adopt a more open accounting process for its finances and he plans to call for a vote on a resolution to that effect when the board of governors meets later this month, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
In a letter sent this week to the league office and the board of governors, Dolan stated that the NBA needs “increased financial transparency and operating efficiency.” His proposed resolution, which would take effect beginning with the 2025/26 fiscal year, would “adopt a zero-based method of budgeting operating costs, headcount, and capital expenditures for all League and Affiliate League operations” and “adopt a process to present and distribute the League’s annual proposed budgets inclusive of all underlying account detail summarized by department and type of expense, headcount, and fully allocated costs against each League revenue stream.”
The letter was co-signed by Dolan and Madison Square Garden chief operating officer Jamaal Lesane, who serves as the team’s alternate governor. They point out that the league’s operating budget has risen by nearly 8% over the previous year and cite an increase of more than 800 people in “League office headcount.”
The letter also requests further details “summarized by department and type of expense — including headcount, capital expenditures, and fully-loaded budgeted costs with respect to the League and each of its subsidiaries and Affiliate Leagues.” Dolan and Lesane are seeking an estimate of projected costs and employment numbers relating to the NBA’s new media rights deal, along with “any contemplated NBA Europe league operations.”
In addition, the Knicks are calling for next year’s budget proposal to be presented at the annual Las Vegas meeting in July so a vote can be taken in September when the owners meet again prior to the start of next season.
Bontemps points out that Dolan has clashed with the league on numerous topics over the last few years. He resigned from the advisory/finance and media committees in the summer of 2023 and sent a letter to the league last year criticizing its new television deal, which he claims will make regional sports networks “unviable.”
Eric Fisher of Front Office Sports notes that Sphere Entertainment Co., which is led by Dolan, released a statement Monday saying that its MSG Networks may have to file for bankruptcy soon unless $800MM in debt can be restructured. The company warned that the NBA’s new national media deal could take too many games away from local outlets.
Reed Sheppard Out At Least Four Weeks With Thumb Fracture
Rockets rookie guard Reed Sheppard will miss at least the next four weeks due to a fracture in his right thumb, writes Sam Warren of The Houston Chronicle.
Meeting with reporters before tonight’s game, coach Ime Udoka said Sheppard hurt the thumb while “slapping down” in an attempt to steal the ball from the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson during Thursday’s contest. Sheppard was able to continue playing after the contact and his hand wasn’t bandaged following the game, according to Warren.
Udoka said Sheppard will have his thumb in a splint for the next four weeks to give the fracture time to heal. He added that it’s fortunate that the fracture occurred in the top joint of the thumb, rather than the lower joint, which would have carried a longer recovery timeline.
With a little more than five weeks remaining in the regular season, Sheppard may not be able to return before the start of the playoffs.
The No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, Sheppard got off to a slow start and was sent to the G League for a few games in the middle of the season. He has been more productive since being called back up to the NBA in early February, averaging 11.8 minutes and 4.0 points per game over the past month and scoring a career-high 25 points Monday at Oklahoma City.
Sheppard was selected to appear in the Rising Stars event at All-Star Weekend. For the season, he’s averaging 3.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 45 games while shooting 33.2% from the field and 27.9% from three-point range.
Heat’s Bam Adebayo Fined $50K For Response To Official
Heat center Bam Adebayo has been fined $50K for “making inappropriate contact with and directing profane language toward a game official,” the NBA announced (via Twitter). The incident happened following Miami’s 106-104 loss to Minnesota Friday night.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was also critical of the officiating, believing that Adebayo got fouled by Minnesota’s Julius Randle on a last-second three-point attempt, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Adebayo said he was “too busy shooting the ball” to determine if Randle fouled him, but he was upset about referee Kevin Cutler’s refusal to discuss the play.
“Nothing, nothing,” Adebayo told reporters when asked if Cutler offered an explanation. “And it wasn’t even about the last play. It was throughout the whole game. To me, like I said, I don’t really get too confrontational. I really don’t get into it with the refs because it’s their job and it’s our job too at the end of the day. We got dudes fighting for everything on the line. So to me, it’s like have the decency enough to look me in my eyes when I’m having a conversation.
“Obviously, we lost. I don’t understand why they think we can’t be emotional. We’re going to be emotional. Win or lose games, if we have a conversation and it gets heated, it’s not because I just want to go at you. It’s because [expletive] is happening in the game. Like I said, man, have the decency enough to look a man in his eye and not walk away. That to me is utterly disrespectful in a man’s game.”
Chiang points out that Adebayo has only been whistled for one technical foul all season and has just one ejection in his career. Adebayo indicated that the respect he shows toward officials made it especially frustrating when Cutler refused to respond.
“I’m pretty cool with all the referees,” Adebayo continued. “That’s the thing. I’m not confrontational, but I am emotional when I’m out there because we’re fighting to get wins. Everybody does it. I’ve seen dudes really say some crazy stuff to referees and they don’t take them out. So I had the decency enough to wait until after the game to have my conversation because it’s like, ‘I want to have a conversation with you.’ That’s what you’re supposed to do as a man, face to face. But when you’re walking away and stuff like that, that’s just truly disrespectful and I feel like stuff should happen when they do that. Because when we get emotional and we walk away, we get (technicals) and we get fined and I think that’s crazy.”
Chiang adds that the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report issued today confirms that the no-call was the correct decision, stating that Randle made “marginal contact.”
Jason Kidd: Kyrie Irving’s Injury Was ‘Freak Accident’
Kyrie Irving had been taking on a larger workload since Luka Doncic was injured on Christmas Day and ultimately traded, so there was speculation that the increased stress on his body contributed to the season-ending ACL tear he suffered Monday night. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd strongly disagreed with that theory during a session with reporters prior to Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.
“The load didn’t have anything to do with the injury,” Kidd said. “We’re talking about one play. It’s a freak accident. That’s how it should be reported, but we’re not reporting it right. We’re reporting on conspiracy theories.
“We want our stars to play as many minutes [as possible],” Kidd continued. “This isn’t supposed to be a ‘rest’ league. Kai is our leader. Kai was playing [high] minutes. He also was playing at a high level, maybe some of the best basketball that he’s played in his career. And it’s all right to play 40 minutes. We can’t talk from both sides and say that our stars don’t play enough minutes or guys don’t play enough.”
The “freak accident” that Kidd referenced came in the first quarter of Monday’s game against Sacramento when Irving tried to split defenders DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. He landed awkwardly on his left leg before falling to the ground and grabbing his knee. He was fouled on the play and managed to make two free throws before being helped to the locker room.
With only eight healthy players on the roster, Dallas lost by 30 points to the Bucks after falling by 24 points against the Kings. The Mavericks are now 32-31, and their hold on the West’s final play-in spot looks increasingly shaky.
Kidd added that Irving embraced the idea of taking on extra minutes in light of the injuries.
“He’s well conditioned and he invited that,” Kidd said. “He wanted that. Are we reporting that? No, we’re not reporting that. We’re reporting that we’re running someone into the ground. That’s not true. That’s his job, it’s to play. He loves to play. It’s all right to play 40 minutes at the age of 32 in a month’s span. This isn’t the whole season.”
Irving certainly seemed capable of handling the increased minutes, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games this season. He made his ninth All-Star appearance last month and has rehabilitated his image after a series of controversial incidents in Brooklyn.
That was among the points Bucks coach Doc Rivers made in his pregame press conference, Curtis adds in a separate story.
“Kyrie’s a massive loss,” Rivers said. “I feel awful about that. He’s done a lot for Dallas, the team. He has really changed the perception of him. He’s always been one of the more likable guys in the league. Always the first to talk to the other players. Just watching [the injury] was sad, watching him shoot free throws. … Just a tough blow.”
Lakers Notes: Doncic, LeBron, Reaves, Buss, Davis
Luka Doncic‘s elite play-making skills can take time to get used to, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Doncic has brought a new dynamic to the Lakers‘ offense since being acquired from Dallas last month, but it took a while for his new teammates to adjust to the unexpected passes he sometimes delivers.
“There’s a non-cadence to the way Luka plays, if that makes sense,” coach J.J. Redick explained. “A lot of offensive players have pre-programmed reads. He just does [expletive] that you’re like, ‘What, why did you do that?’ There was a blitz against our bench in the second half. Could have made one read, could have made another read, made the read that I would have picked last and we ended up getting the layup on it.”
The Lakers have scored 122.8 points per 100 possessions over their last three games as the team gets more comfortable with Doncic in charge of the offense. The biggest beneficiary has been LeBron James, who has averaged a team-high 27.2 PPG in the 10 games he has played alongside Doncic.
“In order for us to be the team ultimately we need to be, the ball needs to be in Luka’s hands,” James said. “And then when Luka sits down, the ball can be in my hands or be (Austin Reaves’) hands when he gets back. But I’m very comfortable playing off the ball and finding my spots, running the floor, getting the outlet pass from Luka, being on the backside of the defense if he’s either being blitzed in pick-and-rolls or switched in pick-and-rolls. He attracts so many eyes and bodies. I’ve been very blessed to be able to be adaptable to whatever team I’ve been on throughout my career, to be able to change. And this is another instance and I’m looking forward to that.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- James reached another career milestone Tuesday night, becoming the first player in league history to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James accomplished the feat on his first shot of the night and went on to score 34 points in a victory over New Orleans. “It’s a hell of a lot of points, and I’m super blessed to be able to put that many points up in the best league in the world with the best players in the world over my career,” James said in a post-game interview with Spectrum SportsNet. “It’s pretty special.”
- Reaves is listed as probable for Thursday’s matchup with New York after missing the last two games with a right calf strain, McMenamin tweets. After leaving Friday’s game early due to the injury, Reaves underwent an MRI on Saturday that didn’t reveal any serious damage.
- In a discussion of the Doncic trade during an NPR interview, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss referenced Anthony Davis‘ distaste for playing center and the team’s recent playoff frustrations as reasons for the deal. “We gave up a lot to get Luka Doncic. We’re happy we have him,” Buss said. “We have lost the last three years in a row to the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and we really didn’t have anything that was going to look different going into the playoffs again. Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was being played and he wasn’t happy. So I think this was a positive for both teams. They got what they were looking for; we got what we were looking for. And I didn’t realize it was going to be international news like it was, but that’s the power of the Laker brand and its ability to draw big names who want to write their own chapter in Lakers history.”