Nets Notes: Bridges, Thomas, Claxton, Johnson
Cam Thomas returned from an ankle sprain for the last two Nets games and it’s had a positive effect on their top player, Mikal Bridges, according to The New York Post’s Brian Lewis.
Thomas had 29 points and five assists in a win over Cleveland on Sunday, while Bridges had his best offensive output in five games, supplying 25 points and five assists. Bridges shot 9-for-14 from the field.
“It was good for Mikal, too, to see some shots go in, and coming off the curl, playing off [Thomas], just taking the pressure off himself and stepping up,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “He puts so much work in, so I know those seeds that he’s planted are going to bloom and blossom at some point.”
We have more on the Nets:
- Speaking of Thomas, the team is looking for him to be a more well-rounded player instead of just being known as a scorer, Lewis writes. He showed signs of that against the Cavaliers. “Yeah, we challenged him about the EGBs [energy-generating behaviors]. He had seven rebounds, five assists. So it wasn’t all his scoring,” Ollie said. “He was contributing in other ways, and that’s great to see. I want him to keep that up. We’re gonna keep challenging him. We want him to be a masterpiece on the offensive end and a masterpiece on a defensive end. And he can do it. But we’ve got to keep challenging [him].”
- Thomas is extension-eligible this offseason and it’ll be tough to attach a dollar figure to him due to his reputation as a one-dimensional player, Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily.com opines. Meanwhile, unrestricted free agent Nic Claxton will be one of the top players on the market. Claxton is the team’s defensive stalwart but his inconsistent performances sometimes lead to bad losses, Kaplan writes.
- Forward Cameron Johnson has been upgraded to probable for the team’s road game against the Magic on Wednesday, Lewis tweets. Johnson has missed the last three games.
Karl-Anthony Towns Undergoes Knee Surgery
Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a left knee lateral meniscus tear, the team announced in press release. He will be reevaluated in four weeks, the statement adds.
Towns obviously won’t return for the regular season. The reevaluation timeline leaves the door open for Towns to make it back sometime during the postseason, depending on how his rehab goes and how deep a run Minnesota makes.
Towns was diagnosed with the injury after his most recent outing on March 4 against Portland. The Timberwolves have gone 1-2 since Towns was sidelined, sliding to third place in the Western Conference standings.
Towns, whose career has been marred by long-term injuries in recent seasons, averaged 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 60 games this season.
A Grade 3 calf strain limited him to 29 regular season games last season. However, Towns bounced back strongly this season, sitting out only two games until he experienced soreness in his knee.
Naz Reid has averaged 24 points and six rebounds the past three games. The team signed T.J. Warren to a 10-day contract, which expires on Friday, and he’s gotten rotation minutes off the bench with Reid sliding into the starting lineup. Warren is averaging 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per night over the past three games.
Rockets’ Sengun Has Severe Ankle Sprain, Bone Bruise On Knee
MARCH 12: It’s a Grade 3 right ankle sprain for Sengun, according to Shams Charania of Stadium (Twitter video link), who confirms that the big man will be out for several weeks and is unlikely to return this season. The bone bruise isn’t considered as serious as shouldn’t take as long as the ankle to heal, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).
MARCH 11: Rockets center Alperen Sengun has a severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his right knee, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (Twitter link).
All things considered, the news isn’t as bad as it could have been. Sengun escaped a major injury to his knee, though he’s likely done for the season. While that hasn’t been officially determined yet, “significant healing” would have to occur for him to be cleared to play before the end of the season, sources tell Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
The Rockets’ regular season finale is April 14 and they’re 4.5 games behind the Warriors for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Sengun underwent an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.
The breakout star big man was taken off the court in a wheelchair with 39.1 seconds remaining the Rockets’ 112-104 victory over Kings Sunday night. Sengun landed awkwardly after contesting a shot in transition by Domantas Sabonis. He immediately grabbed his right knee in agony and put his hands over his face as he was wheeled off the court.
Sengun is averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in his third season with the Rockets and is a prime candidate for the Most Improved Player award, even though he fell short of the 65-game minimum required for award eligibility. A player who appears in at least 62 games and then suffers a season-ending injury can retain his eligibility if he appeared in at least 85% of his team’s games and is deemed more likely than not to be sidelined through May 31.
Sengun will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
With the Rockets’ starting center out, Jock Landale, Jeff Green and Boban Marjanovic could all see a jump in playing time.
Raptors’ Chris Boucher Has Partial MCL Tear
Raptors big man Chris Boucher has a partial MCL tear in his right knee, Michael Grange of Sportsnet relays via a team press release (Twitter link).
He will undergo further evaluation by specialists but isn’t expected to require surgery, Grange adds. Still, any sort of MCL tear typically results in a multi-week absence.
Boucher was injured during the final second of regulation when he made a tip-in to force overtime against Portland on Saturday. Boucher finished that contest with 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a season-high 31 minutes. He had 11 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes against Phoenix on Thursday.
Overall, Boucher has appeared in 50 games, averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per night. He has been a part of Toronto’s rotation, mostly off the bench, for five seasons.
Boucher is in the second season of a front-loaded three-year, $35.25MM contract. He’s making $11.75MM this season and will take in $10.81MM in the final year of the deal.
Boucher joins Scottie Barnes (hand) and Jakob Poeltl (finger) as injured Raptors who don’t have a set timeline for a return.
Clippers G League Franchise Moving To San Diego
The Clippers’ G League team will relocate to Oceanside, Calif. and rebrand as the San Diego Clippers, according to a team press release.
They’ll play at the brand new Frontwave Arena for the 2024/25 season. The NBA Clippers will also have new digs next season, as they’re on track to move into the $2 billion Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
It’s a sort of homecoming for the Clippers organization, as the NBA team played in San Diego from 1978-84. Their current G League franchise, named the Ontario Clippers, will complete its season in Ontario, Calif. The NBAGL club was previously named the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank will continue to oversee basketball operations for both teams.
“We are proud to re-introduce the San Diego Clippers into this passionate sports market,” Halo Sports and Entertainment CEO Gillian Zucker. “Our G League team is a critical part of our business and basketball operation, and we are thrilled to be relocating to the new Frontwave Arena next season.”
New York Notes: Anunoby, Randle, Johnson, Thomas
Knicks forward OG Anunoby is expected to return to action as early as Tuesday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweets.
The Knicks play a home game against Philadelphia on Tuesday before embarking on a West Coast swing. He’s listed as questionable to play against the Sixers, Ian Begley of SNY TV tweets.
Anunoby, who hasn’t played since January 27 after undergoing elbow surgery, had been trending in the right direction in recent days, scrimmaging five-on-five and taking contact. The Knicks are 12-2 with Anunoby in the lineup this season after acquiring him from Toronto and have gone just 8-10 since he was sidelined.
We have more on the New York teams:
- It’ll take more time for Julius Randle to return to the lineup, Charania reported in a video relayed by New York Basketball (Twitter link). The Knicks have to be careful that Randle doesn’t aggravate his shoulder injury during his rehab. “These shoulder injuries are ones where you want to make sure when you’re back on the court, you don’t just pop it again, you don’t have another issue that then leads to that season ending surgery,” Charania said.
- Nets forward Cameron Johnson has missed the last three games due to a sprained right ankle. Interim coach Kevin Ollie said he’ll know more about Johnson’s progress when the team practices on Tuesday. “It’s day-to-day with Cam, how’s he responding to treatment,” Ollie told The New York Post’s Brian Lewis. “I know he got on the court a little bit … and probably seeing how he responds. It’s just day-to-day. I can’t speculate if he’s going to be ready to practice on Tuesday when we get back. That wouldn’t be right for me to speculate that. But like I say, I’m always gonna say, I’m gonna lean on the player, lean on our medical staff to make the right judgment. And when he’s out there and when he’s ready to go, I expect the full Cam Johnson to come out and play his best basketball for us in this last little homestretch that we have.”
- Nets guard Cam Thomas believes he should be given heavy consideration for the Most Improved Player award, he told Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes in a video interview (hat tip to Clutch Points’ Eric Slater). “I feel like my name should definitely be in the conversation more… With what I’ve honestly gone through my first two years just playing sporadically… Having a jump like this, that can’t go unnoticed,” Thomas said. In 50 games this season, Thomas is averaging 21.3 points and 2.7 assists in 29.8 minutes per contest. During his second NBA season in 2022/23, he averaged 10.6 points and 1.4 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.
Otto Porter Jr. Announces Retirement
Otto Porter Jr. has announced his retirement, according to a Jazz press release. Porter was waived earlier in the day.
“For the past 11 years, I had the chance to live my lifelong dream of playing in the NBA,” he said in a statement. “That dream was capped by winning an NBA Championship! Unfortunately, my body is not allowing me to play at the level that I expect of myself, and I have therefore decided to retire.”
Porter played 11 NBA seasons with the Wizards (2013-19), Bulls (2019-21), Magic (2021), Warriors (2021-22), and Raptors (2022-24).
Drafted third overall in 2013 by Washington, the 6’8″ forward appeared in 527 career regular season games (319 starts) and averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 25.4 minutes per contest.
After emerging as a reliable three-and-D wing for the Wizards and earning a maximum-salary offer sheet from the Nets (which was matched by Washington) during the summer of 2017, Porter’s career was derailed by injury issues. He has appeared in more than 28 games just once in the past five seasons.
That one healthy season was 2021/22, when Porter was a member of Golden State’s championship team. During the ensuing offseason, he signed a two-year, $12.3MM contract with Toronto.
Porter, 30, was traded from Toronto to Utah at the deadline in the deal that saw Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji moved to the Raptors. He never played for the Jazz.
Central Notes: Cunningham, Weaver, Toppin, Walker
A lot of things have gone wrong for the Pistons this season but there’s at least one promising development: Cade Cunningham is playing like an All-Star, James Edwards III of The Athletic writes.
Cunningham, who is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, is averaging 25.8 points, 7.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game since the All-Star break while shooting 47.6% from 3-point attempts. The Pistons combo guard has become a legitimate three-level scorer, Edwards notes, and has particularly been on the mark as a pull-up 3-point shooter over his last nine games.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons general manager Troy Weaver had a verbal exchange with a heckler in the stands during Saturday’s loss to Dallas and Edwards reports that the fan had been pestering Weaver in the build-up to what was captured on video. Weaver ignored the fan’s comments when he approached Weaver the first time. The second time, Weaver said something along the lines of, “I don’t come to your work and harass you.” The heated exchange, which was partially captured on video by another fan, showed the fan’s third time at provoking Weaver, according to Edwards.
- Obi Toppin, who is headed to restricted free agency this offseason, has continued to be productive coming off the bench after the Pacers acquired Pascal Siakam to take his starting spot, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star writes. Toppin contributed 17 points in a win over Orlando on Sunday and has generally delivered offensively by finishing at the rim and making enough 3-pointers to keep opponents honest. “The guy gets out and runs better than anyone I’ve ever seen. He creates so much energy and disadvantages for the other team,” guard T.J. McConnell said.
- With Bennedict Mathurin out for the season due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder, rookie Jarace Walker has a path to steady playing time, Dopirak notes. The Pacers have a need for another wing on the second unit. “Jarace can play 3 and 4,” coach Rick Carlisle said. Walker has appeared in 23 games, averaging 9.9 minutes in those outings.
Southwest Notes: Sengun, Landale, Murphy, Jones
Rockets center Alperen Sengun will undergo an MRI on both his right knee and ankle on Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
The breakout star big man was taken off the court in a wheelchair with 39.1 seconds remaining the Rockets’ 112-104 victory over Kings Sunday night, according to ESPN News Services. Sengun landed awkwardly after contesting a shot in transition by Domantas Sabonis. He immediately grabbed his right knee in agony and put his hands over his face as he was wheeled off the court.
Sengun is averaging 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his third season with the Rockets and is a prime candidate for the Most Improved Player award. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Even before Sengun’s injury, Jock Landale‘s role as a Rockets reserve had expanded, Jonahan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. Landale has played anywhere from six to 17 minutes over the past six games, including a 9-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist outing against the Kings on Sunday. “He always stayed ready,” coach Ime Udoka said. “I think guys across the board on our team have been great as far as that this year. A big part of it is numbers more than anything. We’ve had a lot of guys play well, and they can’t all play. But they stay ready.” Landale has three years remaining on his contract, but they’re all non-guaranteed.
- Trey Murphy continued his scoring binge against Atlanta on Sunday, firing in 28 points. The Pelicans wing has scored 20 or more points in five of the last six games. Murphy is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason. “I knew he (Murphy) was going to figure it out at some point,” coach Willie Green told Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.“From time to time, I may talk to him. But him and (coach) Corey Brewer have done a great job of refocusing and going out and doing the little things. That’s what it takes sometimes when your shot isn’t falling. Concentrating on winning plays, winning habits. There is a lot you can do to contribute to winning without scoring.”
- Herbert Jones is a candidate one of the league’s top young defenders but the Pelicans forward won’t campaign for All-Defensive honors, he told Clark. “I have been like this all my life,” Jones said. “I have never really wanted the spotlight on me. Especially because it’s a team game. I don’t do anything alone. I really don’t care to get the credit. As long as the team wins, I’m great.”
And-Ones: Lamb, Thomas, McLemore, Biggest Buyers
Jeremy Lamb suffered a season-ending ankle injury while playing for the Kings’ NBA G League team in Stockton, Sacramento Kings radio reporter Sean Cunningham tweets.
Lamb resurfaced in the G League after the Sacramento waived him during training camp.
A former lottery pick, Lamb has appeared in 573 career regular season games with four teams, including – most recently – the Kings. However, the veteran swingman wasn’t in the league last season following a down year in 2021/22. He averaged 7.3 PPG on .383/.324/.840 shooting in 56 games (16.7 MPG) for Indiana and Sacramento in ’21/22.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Isaiah Thomas made a strong impression in his first game with the Jazz’s G League in Salt Lake City. Thomas, who signed with the Stars less than a week ago, posted 32 points and four assists in a win over the Texas Legends on Thursday. He followed that up with a 30-point, 8-assist outing on Sunday. Thomas is aiming to get back in the NBA. “I’m not going to give it up until nobody calls and they’re like, ‘Just stop.’ This has just been my life. It’s been an amazing run and I’m going to just keep it going,” Thomas told Alex Vejar of the Salt Lake Tribune.
- Former NBA guard Ben McLemore has issued an apology for a drunken driving incident in Lugo, Spain, according to Eurohoops.net. McLemore is currently playing for CB Rio Breogan. “I have made a mistake that I am not proud of. Now, more than ever, my wish is to continue helping my teammates and the club, learn from this mistake, and set the right example for all those who believe in me, especially for the little ones,” he said via the statement. “For this reason, I sincerely apologize and I ask that no one doubt that I will give my best, personally and professionally, to help achieve the goals that we all want.”
- Who will be the NBA’s biggest spenders this offseason? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report takes a closer look at that subject, naming 10 teams that could be major players in the free agent market.