Pelicans Provide Injury Updates On Zion Williamson, Four Others
The injury-ravaged Pelicans have announced in a press release that forward Zion Williamson is progressing well in his recovery from a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in about two weeks.
Reporting nearly two weeks ago indicated that Williamson wasn’t close to a return — the latest update from the Pelicans doesn’t suggest otherwise. While it’s possible the former No. 1 overall pick will be ready to suit up when he’s examined in two weeks, it’s more likely that his absence will extend beyond that date.
Williamson has been limited to just six games so far this season and hasn’t been active since November 6. The Pelicans have gone 1-12 since he last played.
Besides providing an update on Williamson, New Orleans also shared news on several other injured players within today’s announcement. Here’s the latest from the team:
- Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, like Williamson, is said to be progressing well through his rehabilitation process and will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks. Alvarado has been sidelined since November 11 due to a left hamstring strain.
- Second-year wing Jordan Hawkins, who has missed 11 games this season due to what the team has typically referred to as low back soreness, has been diagnosed with a lumbar spine annular fissure. He’ll be reevaluated in about a week.
- Forwards Brandon Ingram (right plantaris tendonitis) and Herbert Jones (right shoulder strain) both went through a full practice on Wednesday and will be listed as questionable to play on Thursday vs. Phoenix. Ingram has missed New Orleans’ past five games, while Jones has been out for 18 in a row. Shams Charania of ESPN reported earlier this week that both players were trending toward being able to return on Thursday.
Rockets Notes: Eason, Thompson, Green, Sengun, VanVleet
Discussing the Rockets on the latest episode of the Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reiterated a point he made last month, stating that rival teams believe Houston is poised to make a big trade, while the Rockets themselves are letting it be known that they’re in no hurry to pull the trigger on that sort of deal.
“You look at (their young players), you look at their draft assets, you look at where they are in the standings,” Windhorst said. “… It seems like they’re primed for a trade. And believe me, teams in the league believe the same thing. But the message that I have been told, and I think I was told it to spread the word, is that Amen Thompson and Tari Eason are untouchable.”
Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported a couple weeks ago that the Rockets aren’t looking to break up their core this season even if a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo is available. Tim MacMahon of ESPN said people in Houston have conveyed a similar sentiment to him.
“I’ve just spent some time around the Rockets and I was told by more than one person – very firmly, very adamantly – they will not change the core of that team this season,” MacMahon said. “Maybe they make a fringe rotation type of deal, but they are going to play this season out with the core of that team, is what they’re saying right now.”
As ESPN’s Tim Bontemps points out, the young player who seems most likely to be the centerpiece of a significant Rockets trade offer is Jalen Green, and he would be extremely difficult to move this season due to the poison pill provision, which – as a result of his recent contract extension – creates a significant disparity between his incoming and outgoing salary for matching purposes until July. With that in mind, it makes sense that Houston would prefer to wait until at least next summer to more seriously weigh its trade options.
Windhorst notes that the Rockets’ stance on certain players could change once they begin pursuing a trade in earnest.
“It’s also a negotiating position to say (Thompson and Eason are untouchable),” he said. “Because at the end of the day they are role players.”
“This is exactly what you do when you have 19 interesting trade assets, all these draft picks and all these young guys,” Bontemps added. “You say, ‘Hey, every good thing we’ve got, we’re not sure we’re going to do anything with any of those.’ And then you start to negotiate.”
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- The Rockets are going to be “very selective” about cashing in their top trade chips, according to MacMahon, who said on the Hoop Collective podcast that the team will be seeking an “age-appropriate” star to add to its core. Noting that Houston would have had serious interest in Donovan Mitchell if he had emerged as a trade candidate instead of signing an extension with the Cavaliers, MacMahon said the Rockets know they need a “legitimate offensive engine” in order to become a real title contender.
- Houston isn’t giving up on the idea that the offensive star they need could emerge from among the players currently on the roster, per MacMahon: “They’re not ruling out that Jalen Green could become that. I think they have some evidence that it’s possible from last season. They’re not ruling out that (Alperen) Sengun can continue developing. He’s still a young guy. … They’re not ruling that Tari Eason could become that.”
- After his statement about Eason was met with skepticism by Bontemps, who questioned the third-year forward’s offensive ceiling, MacMahon further explained the Rockets’ position: “(Head coach) Ime Udoka, on the record, he was asked (last month), ‘Who does Tari Eason remind you of?’ He said, ‘A young Kawhi Leonard, who I’ve coached.’ A lot of that is just the defensive impact. Physically, he’s as close to Kawhi as you can get. The size, the hands, the athleticism, the defensive impact. … But they’re not ruling out that Eason could have a Kawhi- (or) Jimmy Butler-type of track. Now that’s pie-in-the-sky, top-end scenario. I’m just saying they’re not ruling out that possibility. … All those guys, they’re not ruling out they could emerge as the No. 1 offensive player. (But) most likely, it’s going to have to be a trade.”
- While it’s probably not realistic to expect offensive stardom from Thompson, who has made just 14 career three-point shots, the Rockets remain very high on his upside due to his defense and athleticism. “We’ll see what Thompson becomes as a scorer, but they think he has to be a chance to be a hyper-athletic wing version of a Draymond Green, where you’re just wrecking things defensively,” MacMahon said.
- In a story for The Athletic, Iko explores how Fred VanVleet‘s experiences during his final years in Toronto helped prepare him to take a step back this season in order to accelerate the development of the Rockets’ young players. VanVleet’s usage rate so far in 2024/25 is 19.6%, which would be his lowest mark since 2018/19.
Kevin Durant Out At Least One Week Due To Sprained Ankle
Suns star Kevin Durant, who exited Tuesday’s win over San Antonio due to a left ankle sprain, will be reevaluated in one week, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Suns have confirmed the news in a press release.
Even if Durant is fully recovered in a week, he’ll miss Phoenix’s games in New Orleans on Thursday, Miami on Saturday, and Orlando on Sunday. The earliest he might return would be on December 13 in Utah.
Durant appeared to sustain the injury with about 4:30 left in the second quarter vs. the Spurs, when he drove to the basket and attempted to split a pair of San Antonio defenders for a layup (video link). He stepped on Julian Champagnie‘s foot as he attempted to rise up and ended up falling to the floor and grabbing at his ankle.
Durant was able to stay in the game a little longer, knocking down a free throw and a mid-range jumper before checking out with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter. He didn’t return to the game after that.
This will be Durant’s second injury absence of the season. The former MVP missed seven games in November due to a left calf strain — Tuesday was just his fourth game back.
The Suns have a solid 12-8 record for the season, but they went just 1-6 in games Durant missed, so they’ll be looking to do a better job of surviving without their leading scorer in the coming week.
Royce O’Neale, Josh Okogie, and rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are among the candidates for increased minutes with Durant out, while Phoenix’s other stars – Devin Booker and Bradley Beal – will take on more offensive responsibilities.
Haliburton: Pacers’ Play ‘Embarrassing,’ I Have To Be ‘Better Leader’
The Pacers were starting to hit their stride at this time a year ago, earning a spot in the knockout round of the in-season tournament and advancing all the way to the championship game in Las Vegas. This time around, Indiana went 0-4 in NBA Cup group play, capped by a one-sided loss in Toronto on Tuesday to a Raptors team that entered the game with a 6-15 record.
Speaking to reporters after the game, star guard Tyrese Haliburton stressed that he and his teammates are capable of more and that they need to start showing that (YouTube link).
“The product we’re putting on the floor right now as a group is embarrassing,” Haliburton said (hat tip to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). “… Every team is playing hard right now. Every team is young and has energy. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be matching that and beyond. I just think the product that we’re putting out there on a nightly basis right now needs to be better because we work too hard. Too many people care. We have too much pride in it. The product has to be better and the effort has to be better.”
Haliburton, who has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons and made the All-NBA Third Team in 2023/24, has gotten off to a slow start this fall. His 41.6% field goal percentage and 34.0% three-point percentage would both be career lows, and he’s averaging just 17.6 points and 8.5 assists per game after putting up 20.4 PPG and 10.7 APG over the previous two seasons.
The Pacers, who won 47 regular season games and made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, have struggled along with Haliburton, posting a 9-13 record through the first quarter of the season. Tuesday’s defeat in Toronto extended the team’s current losing streak to three games.
“There needs to be a reality check right now, individually and collectively,” Haliburton said. “Guys need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do better. That starts with me. I have to be a better leader. I’ve got to do everything better and harder because I’m not ready to piss away a year of my career or this organization or this team’s season.
“… We’re 9-13 right now. We can act like the world is falling apart and that’s not the case, but there also needs to be a sense of urgency. Everybody can keep saying, ‘Oh, it’s four games, we’ll be back to .500.’ It ain’t that easy.”
The Pacers have dealt with some injury issues in the first six weeks of the season. Starting guard Andrew Nembhard missed 12 games in November due to a right knee ailment and starting wing Aaron Nesmith has been out for over a month due to a left ankle sprain. Indiana also lost both of its backup centers – Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman – to Achilles tears.
Still, Haliburton doesn’t view that as an excuse, suggesting that the Pacers should be able to raise their compete level, regardless of who’s on the floor.
“You cannot control if you make every shot. You can’t control substitution patterns. You can’t control stuff like that,” Haliburton said (hat tip to Eric Koreen of The Athletic). “But you can control how hard you’re going to play. You can control your energy and your spirit. Those are all controllable things. Everybody’s got to do a little bit of a gut check, check themselves in the mirror and figure out what we can do better.”
The Pacers will have a chance to bounce back on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday when they visit Brooklyn to face the Nets, who will also be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Injury Notes: Cavs, Durant, Mann, George, Embiid, Reaves
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (shoulder) and Darius Garland (head) appear to have avoided major injuries after suffering scares in Tuesday’s win over Washington, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required).
While Garland, who took a hit to the back of his head in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game, may have to clear the NBA’s concussion protocol before he can play again, head coach Kenny Atkinson sounded optimistic about his status.
“He looked fine in the locker room,” Atkinson said of Garland, per Fedor. “Doesn’t look like anything that’ll hold him out. He gave me the thumbs up, and I don’t think he’ll miss any time at all. I think he’s fine.”
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Suns star Kevin Durant exited Tuesday’s win over San Antonio shortly before halftime and didn’t return due to a sprained left ankle, per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. Head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after the game that Durant had yet to undergo an MRI and that he didn’t have any information yet on whether the veteran forward will miss time. “I think he stepped on somebody’s foot in transition, and I think at halftime it stiffened up,” Budenholzer said. “We will have to evaluate him again in the morning, see how he feels coming out of it, see how he does overnight. I don’t really know a whole lot more than the report at halftime.”
- Clippers guard/forward Terance Mann fractured the middle finger on his left hand in Tuesday’s win over Portland, according to the team (Twitter link via Mark Medina of Sportskeeda). The Clippers indicated that Mann will be reevaluated on Wednesday, so we should have more information on his outlook once that evaluation has been completed.
- After playing a season-high 37 minutes and scoring 29 points in Tuesday’s win over Charlotte, Sixers forward Paul George will sit out Wednesday’s game vs. Orlando, tweets ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. That’s no surprise, given that it’s the second night of a back-to-back and George has dealt with a knee injury this season. As for Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ star center has also been ruled out for the Orlando game, but he’s getting back on the court and starting his ramp-up process, says Bontemps.
- Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who has missed the past two games with a left pelvic contusion, was a partial participant in today’s shootaround and is still considered questionable to play in Wednesday’s game vs. Miami, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Ja Morant Prioritizing Health Over Highlight-Reel Plays
After being sidelined for most of the 2023/24 season due to a shoulder injury and missing time this fall due to thigh and hip issues, Grizzlies point Ja Morant is making his health a top priority. As Tim MacMahon of ESPN writes, that means avoiding going out of his way to make the kind of risky highlight-reel plays that could result in an injury.
Midway through the second quarter of Tuesday’s game in Dallas, for instance, Morant stole the ball and had a clear path to the Mavericks’ net. He opted to finish by lightly dunking the ball, resulting in a few boos from the fans in Dallas (video link).
“I’m not trying to dunk at all,” Morant said after the game. “Y’all think I’m lying. I’m dead serious.
“… Continue to boo me,” he added, smiling. “Hey, I got two points. It was still a dunk. It was just not the dunk they wanted to see. But if they boo me off a little rim-grazer, I’m fine with that.”
According to Basketball-Reference, Morant has dunked just four times in 12 games this season. That’s a well below-average rate for a player who has been one of the NBA’s highest fliers since he entered the league in 2019. Morant still throws down the occasional highlight slam (video links), but he made it clear on Tuesday that he’s looking to minimize his injury risk if he can help it.
The former No. 2 overall pick injured his hip earlier this season when he was bumped in the air during an alley-oop attempt, resulting in a hard fall to the court (video link).
“Sometimes I get knocked out the air and (a foul) doesn’t get called, and now I’m out longer than what I’m supposed to be,” Morant said. “Sometimes the foul might get called; I still hit the floor, but after the game you might feel that little fall. So I just pick and choose, man. Hey, two points is two points. I get it done. That’s all that matters.”
After winning 56 games in 2021/22 and 51 more in ’22/23, the Grizzlies fell to 27-55 last season due to Morant’s limited availability and injuries to several other key contributors.
Memphis has dealt with some health issues again so far this season, but has a deep roster and looks capable of hanging with any opponent when Morant is available. The team is tied for the third-best record in the Western Conference so far at 14-8 and will be looking to reclaim its place as a legitimate NBA Finals contender in the spring.
“My focus right now is do what I can with the team and continue to try to get to 100 percent (healthy),” Morant said on Tuesday.
Rockets’ Ime Udoka Blasts Refs After Loss To Kings
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was unhappy with the officiating in his team’s 120-111 loss in Sacramento on Tuesday night, earning an ejection – along with center Alperen Sengun – when he came onto the court and confronted referee John Goble with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter (Twitter video links).
As Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) writes, even after speaking his mind to Goble on the court, Udoka had plenty to say during his post-game media session about how the game was officiated.
“Missed calls, blatant missed calls right in front of you,” Udoka said when asked why he was upset. “You’re calling ticky-tack moving screens and little s–t like that and then you don’t want to call the obvious ones right in front of you. That was it. Alpi got fouled a few times on that drive, on the layup and they don’t want to call it. Get some f—ing glasses or open your eyes.”
Asked if his outburst was about making sure his players know he has their backs and that he’s willing to stand up for them, Udoka admitted that wasn’t what was going through his mind.
“It wasn’t even about that, honestly,” he said. “Alpi got one (technical foul.) But take your sensitivity and emotions out of it and call the game the right way. It’s obvious, right in front of you. John Goble or whoever it was sees it and doesn’t call it. I’m gonna let him know about it. … They were missing calls all night, calling moving screens and every little touch call. Call the obvious one.”
While Udoka will almost certainly be fined by the NBA for his in-game actions and/or post-game comments, he isn’t the only Rocket who may face discipline from the league. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, as Houston forward Tari Eason was leaving the court at the end of the game, he was heckled by a Sacramento fan and responded by throwing his towel and yelling obscenities at the fan.
As Amick details, Eason tried to enter the stands to confront the fan, but was held back by security officials. He eventually relented and headed to the visitors’ locker room.
The Rockets, who had won three games in a row and 10 of their last 12 entering Tuesday’s game, now have a 15-7 record and hold the No. 2 seed in the West, a game-and-a-half behind the top-seeded Thunder.
Knockout Round Matchups Set For NBA Cup; Games Scheduled For Non-Quarterfinalists
Following the conclusion of the group play games in the NBA Cup on Tuesday, the eight teams advancing to the knockout round have been set, and the quarterfinal games have been scheduled.
After the Warriors, Rockets, and Hawks previously clinched spots in the knockout round, the Thunder, Mavericks, Bucks, Knicks, and Magic joined them as a result of Tuesday’s outcomes. The quarterfinal matchups are as follows, per the NBA (Twitter links):
Eastern Conference:
- Orlando Magic (No. 4) at Milwaukee Bucks (No. 1): Tuesday, December 10 (7 pm ET)
- Atlanta Hawks (No. 3) at New York Knicks (No. 2): Wednesday, December 11 (7 pm ET)
Western Conference:
- Dallas Mavericks (No. 4) at Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 1): Tuesday, December 10 (9:30 pm ET)
- Golden State Warriors (No. 3) at Houston Rockets (No. 2): Wednesday, December 11 (9:30 pm ET)
While those four games will be played in the home team’s arena, the winners will advance to a neutral site for the final four. The semifinals (Dec. 14) and final (Dec. 17) will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
[RELATED: Details On NBA Cup Prize Money For 2024]
The quarterfinal and semifinal results will count toward each team’s regular season record, whereas the final won’t. A team that loses in the quarterfinals will play the other quarterfinal loser in its conference in newly scheduled regular season games to make sure those clubs get the full 82.
Meanwhile, the 22 teams who did not advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup have each had two regular season games added to their initial 80 to fill that mid-December gap on their schedules.
Here are the newly added games for those clubs, according to the league (Twitter link):
Thursday, December 12:
- Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (7:30 pm ET)
- Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat (7:30 pm ET)
- Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans (8 pm ET)
Friday, December 13:
- Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 pm ET)
- Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers (7 pm ET)
- Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 pm ET)
- Brooklyn Nets at Memphis Grizzlies (8 pm ET)
- Charlotte Hornets at Chicago Bulls (8 pm ET)
- Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets (9 pm ET)
- Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz (9:30 pm ET)
- San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers (10 pm ET)
Sunday, December 15:
- New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers (5 pm ET)
- Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards (6 pm ET)
- Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs (7 pm ET)
- Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns (8 pm ET)
- Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 pm ET)
Monday, December 16:
- Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets (7 pm ET)
- Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons (7 pm ET)
- Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (7:30 pm ET)
- Cleveland Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 pm ET)
- Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings (10 pm ET)
- Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 pm ET)
And-Ones: Harper, Bailey, Demin, Wembanyama, Langford
It’s a mixed bag for the Rutgers’ freshmen duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey so far this season, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo. While Harper is considered a rising prospect and potential top pick, Bailey heads the list of prospects “who still have a lot to show.” The ESPN duo also identifies Houston’s Joseph Tugler, Duke’s Kon Knueppel and Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis as risers during college basketball’s first month with an eye toward the 2025 draft.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Duke’s Cooper Flagg may have a new challenger for the top spot — BYU guard Egor Demin is ranked No. 2 among draft prospects by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie. Why? Vecenie considers Demin’s passing and processing ability to be at an elite level. Harper, Bailey and Jakucionis round out his top five.
- No surprise, Victor Wembanyama is ranked No. 1 by ESPN NBA Insiders Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Woo among the top 25 players under the age of 25, based on potential. Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Chet Holmgren round out their top five.
- Former NBA guard Romeo Langford has parted ways with his French team, BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, BCM Basketball tweets. Langford last appeared in the NBA in 2022/23 when he played 43 games with San Antonio. The former lottery pick was waived by the Jazz during 2023 training camp.
Udoka, Atkinson Earn Coach Of The Month Honors
Ime Udoka of the Rockets and Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers have been named the league’s Coaches of the Month for games played in October and November, NBA Communications tweets.
Udoka took Western Conference honors as Houston finished November with a 14-6 record, the second-best mark in the conference. Mark Daigneault (Thunder), Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies), Tyronn Lue (Clippers) and JJ Redick (Lakers) were the other Western Conference nominees (Twitter link).
The Cavaliers posted an NBA-best 17-3 mark in October and November, earning Atkinson Eastern Conference accolades. Jordi Fernandez (Nets), Joe Mazzulla (Celtics), Jamahl Mosley (Magic) and Tom Thibodeau (Knicks) were the other nominees in the East.