Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart To Have Finger Injury Reevaluated In Two Weeks

December 28th, 2024 at 5:24pm CST by Arthur Hill

Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart will be reevaluated in two weeks after suffering a partial tear of the proximal extensor hood of his right index finger, the team announced (via Twitter).

Smart injured his finger during last Saturday’s game against Atlanta. He left in the second quarter and didn’t return, according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.

After injuries limited him to 20 games in 2023/24, Smart has already missed 14 of the team’s first 32 contests this season. He has struggled to score when he’s been able to play, averaging 9.2 points per game, his lowest mark in six years, while shooting 37.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

There have been rumors that the Grizzlies would like to find a taker for Smart’s contract, which has one more season remaining at $21.6MM, but they may not get many takers considering his decreased production and recent injury history.

Memphis plays seven games over the next two weeks, starting with Sunday’s contest at Oklahoma City. Smart could be back for the January 13 game at Houston if he’s able to return immediately after being reevaluated.

The Grizzlies also revealed that forward Santi Aldama has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle he suffered Thursday against Toronto. He’s considered week-to-week.

Aldama is averaging career highs of 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his fourth year with Memphis.

Central Notes: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Smart, Beasley, Cunningham

December 23rd, 2024 at 5:52pm CST by Rory Maher

The Bucks have ruled out both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for Monday’s game vs. Chicago due to a non-COVID illness, as Jamal Collier of ESPN relays.

According to Collier, several of Milwaukee’s players and staff members have been feeling sick since winning the NBA Cup final last Tuesday. Lillard missed a pair of games over the weekend due to a right calf injury and was previously doubtful heading into Monday’s game with that ailment, while Antetokounmpo was out for Saturday’s back-to-back and was questionable prior to Monday’s contest with back spasms.

In an unrelated story, Antetokounmpo acknowledged he’s at a loss as to why the Bucks aren’t playing on Christmas for the first time in seven seasons, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. The former Finals MVP said he was “little bit upset or kind of questioning it” in part because 10 other teams received the invitation, while Milwaukee did not.

“There’s gotta be an algorithm because if it’s — how can I say — like a popularity contest, I can give you facts,” Antetokounmpo said. “You want me to? Two of the NBA All-Star starters, Dame and Giannis, and the All-Star MVP, right? And the No. 1 vote-getter — not in the East, in the whole NBA — is not in the Christmas game? What? No, it’s a fact.

“The votes came out last year. I was the No. 1. Dame was a starter. I was a starter. Dame won the MVP. Dame won the three-point contest. Maybe that has nothing to do with it. I believe we were one of the best teams in the East last year. Maybe not this year, OK. We don’t get a Christmas game. Why? Because we got a small market? Maybe that’s the case. Or I want to believe what I tell you, I think there’s an algorithm within the NBA that they choose which team will get the most attention, the most viewership that day.”

While Antetokounmpo said he was “pissed” he wouldn’t be competing on a marquee day, he and many other Bucks also said they’re happy they get to spend the holiday with their families, according to Nehm.

Here’s more from the Central Division:

The Pacers dominated the Kings in Sacramento on Sunday en route to their fourth straight victory, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell said the team never splintered in the face of adversity — Indiana has had to a sluggish start to the season and is still just 14-15. “I really like how everyone in here didn’t hit the panic button while everyone else was,” McConnell said. “I feel like people don’t realize last year, at one point we were 14-14. Long season. Obviously, we didn’t start the way we wanted to. We went on a couple losing streaks, but we’re well coached. That’s kept us together and we have a really together group. Everyone is for everyone in here. In the NBA, that’s all you can ask for.” According to Dopirak, many Pacers, including McConnell, noted that injuries to Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith have hurt the team. Nembhard and Sheppard have returned, improving the perimeter defense and offensive spacing, while Nesmith continues to be sidelined with an ankle injury. Although it’s obviously a positive that the Pacers have rebounded, they’ll be challenged by a difficult schedule — including a home-road back-to-back against Oklahoma City and Boston — over their next four games, Dopirak observes.
The Bulls have been better than expected to this point, currently holding a 13-16 record. Star guard Zach LaVine and head coach Billy Donovan have made it clear the players and coaches have no plan of tanking. That means the front office will play an important role if the team hopes to retain its top-10 protected first-round pick, and a source tells Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times that head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley still have “full autonomy” to change the roster ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Based on his wording, it’s unclear whom the Grizzlies might be interested in out of LaVine or Nikola Vucevic, but Cowley says Memphis “would love” to shed Marcus Smart‘s salary, noting the former Defensive Player of the Year has played sporadic minutes of late. However, Cowley states that Chicago doesn’t want to take on multiyear contracts unless it receives draft compensation in return — Smart makes $20.2MM in 2024/25, followed by $21.6MM in ’25/26. For what it’s worth, Vucevic is a near-perfect salary match ($20MM in ’24/25, $21.5MM in ’25/26).
Malik Beasley is on pace to break the Pistons‘ single-season record for three-pointers made and his outside shooting has opened up driving and passing lanes for reigning East Player of the Week Cade Cunningham, per Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press. The Pistons have been very effective (+6.8) when the two players share the court together, Sankofa adds. “It’s really just understanding each other’s games, understanding where our spots are,” Cunningham said. “We play so well off of each other. He gives me an outlet so many times whenever guys send more at me, and for me, I think he loves playing with me because I throw it over to him. It’s just about building that relationship on and off the court and continuing to grow.” Beasley, 28, will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason after signing a one-year, $6MM deal with Detroit last summer.

Southwest Notes: Pelicans Trade Rumors, McCollum, Hawkins, Morant, Smart

December 19th, 2024 at 9:40am CST by Dana Gauruder

Reacting to a report that the Pelicans have made most of their roster available in the trade market, head coach Willie Green said he’d address the rumors with the team at the appropriate time.

“Eventually, we’ll have some discussions on what’s true and what’s not true,” Green told Rod Walker of the New Orleans Times Picayune. “But for the most part, we try to block out any noise, any distractions. We’ve got a lot to focus on without that. Our focus is on coming in every day with the right perspective, getting after it at practice, locking in to our film work and getting prepared for our games. Some of the rumors and some of the things we are hearing are out of our control. We’ll do the best that we can to continue communicating with our group.”

Veteran guard CJ McCollum, one of the players who could be on the move, understands why there is so much trade buzz around the team.

“Obviously we aren’t doing well,” McCollum said. “So teams are going to be circling like sharks to try to figure out who they can poach. Our team may be entertaining trades, may not be entertaining trades. Who knows?”

We have more from the Southwest Division:

Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure) could return to action tonight for the Pelicans against Houston. He was upgraded to questionable on Wednesday’s official injury report, according to a team press release. The second-year guard has missed the last eight games. Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (low back disc protrusion), Daniel Theis (personal reasons) and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) remain out.
The Grizzlies could be without two prominent guards against Golden State tonight. Ja Morant is listed as questionable with left shoulder soreness, while Marcus Smart is doubtful due to lower back soreness, the team’s PR department tweets.
Smart has been coming off the bench, but he’s been getting crunch time minutes. That has helped the Grizzlies guard accept his new role, he told Mark Medina of Sportskeeda. “At the end of the day, you want to be on the court,” he said. “You want to be on the court in the moment of the game that matters the most. That’s the goal. As long as I’m in those moments, I’m not really complaining. I think my resume speaks for itself that it shouldn’t even be a question on whether I’m going to be in those moments or not. But like I said, I can just control what I can control.”

Southwest Notes: Ingram, Pelicans, Udoka, Wells, Smart

December 11th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans were upset about the play that caused Brandon Ingram‘s ankle injury, according to Rod Walker of NOLA.com, who says the team sent video of the play to the league office to review. They hadn’t heard back as of Tuesday, per head coach Willie Green.

The injury occurred after Ingram attempted to rise up for a shot over Luguentz Dort (Twitter video link). Ingram’s elbow appeared to make contact with the Thunder defender, causing him to fall backwards to the floor. When Ingram landed, he came down on Dort’s foot, twisting his ankle. An offensive foul was called, with the Pelicans arguing that Dort didn’t give Ingram enough room to make a normal shot attempt or to land after his jump. However, their challenge was denied.

“If you go back and watch that play, he (Dort) got up under B.I,” Green said on Tuesday. “They called an offensive foul and we didn’t agree with that.”

It’s unclear what the Pelicans hope to accomplish by getting the league office involved, but regardless of whether anything comes of it, Ingram will still be sidelined indefinitely. It’s the latest health issue for a player who has missed between 18 and 37 regular season games in his previous three seasons.

“Mentally, having the injury has been tough for him,” Green said. “I’ve had a chance to talk with him. It’s going to be something that he has to continue to try to take some positives out of it, take it day-by-day and attack each day. The good news is it’s not career ending. It’s not career threatening. It’s not season threatening. It’s just a matter of how soon can he get back to himself.”

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

Will the Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram? Trade Zion Williamson? Trade both? Keep both and run it back next season? William Guillory of The Athletic considers the paths available to New Orleans and weighs the likelihood of each outcome. In Guillory’s view, an Ingram trade seems likely to happen by February 6, but the franchise still seems committed to making things work with Williamson.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN outlines how Ime Udoka‘s ornery, hard-nosed personality has bled into the Rockets‘ culture since his arrival in Houston in 2023 and how the head coach’s high standards for his players have helped fuel the team’s turnaround after several seasons in the lottery. According to Udoka, veteran point guard Fred VanVleet sometimes “goes against his natural inclination” and plays “good cop” to Udoka’s bad cap since the Rockets coach can be so harsh on his young players.
Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who is making a case for Rookie of the Year consideration this fall, spoke to Grant Afseth of Sportskeeda about his strong start, his “learning moments,” and the impact Marcus Smart has had on his development as a veteran leader. “Marcus has been huge for me,” Wells told Afseth. “He talks to me during walkthroughs, in the locker room, and on the court. He’s always giving me tips, whether it’s about tendencies or how to play tough without fouling. Watching how he sets the tone defensively has taught me a lot.”

Southwest Notes: Smart, Grizzlies, Sheppard, Thompson

December 8th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Ahead of an eventual win for his new team over his old one, Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart reflected on the Celtics’ decision to trade him as part of the three-team deal that sent center Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. The Celtics went on to win the title in the first year after the trade.

As Bobby Manning of CLNS Media (Twitter video link) relays, Smart was surprisingly generous in his assessment of the transaction.

“Great trade, business-wise, just wish they would’ve went about it a little differently, letting me know,” Smart said.

The Celtics drafted the 6’3″ wing with the No. 6 pick in 2014 out of Oklahoma State. He spent his first nine NBA seasons with the team, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors on the 2021/22 squad that made the Finals.

There’s more out of the Southwest Division:

By besting Boston on its home floor in a 127-121 victory Saturday, the Grizzlies snapped a 10-year losing streak at TD Garden, notes Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian. All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way, with Morant scoring 32 points and registering a near triple-double (nine rebounds, nine assists), and Jackson adding 27 points. With the win, Memphis improved to 16-8 record on the season.
Rookie guard Reed Sheppard is finally beginning to look at home on the hardwood for the Rockets, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. “I think just being out there every day, just learning as much as I can,” Sheppard said. “Every game is different. There is a lot going on. So, I think I’m just learning as much as I can and enjoying it. A lot of it comes from experience.” As Feigen notes, Sheppard has looked overly cautious and tentative on offense in the early going, perhaps too focused on avoiding mistakes on a rising playoff team with lots of wing depth. Sheppard is playing 11.8 minutes per night and has made just 32.1% of his three-point tries, but the team is confident that his shooting stroke will come around. “I see the game slowing down for him and understanding where his shots are going to come from, and adjusting to the physicality and size of defenders,” head coach Ime Udoka said.
Ascendant Rockets forward Amen Thompson believes he’s rounding into form as an elite defender on the wing, as he tells Mark Medina of Sportskeeda. “I view myself as one of the best defenders,” Thompson said. “Obviously, I think it’s very hard to score on me. I think my presence is known on defense.” The second-year swingman is a big part of the reason why the 15-8 Rockets boast the league’s third-best defense entering Sunday’s games.

Southwest Notes: Thompson, Mavs, Smart, Wembanyama

December 6th, 2024 at 8:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Klay Thompson is averaging just 12.6 points per game with career-worst shooting percentages of 38.1% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc through his first 19 games with the Mavericks. As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst writes in an Insider-only story, Thompson has started every game he has played so far for Dallas, but hasn’t always been part of the team’s closing lineup.

“Klay has been an awkward fit so far,” one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “Derrick Jones shot the ball better and played better D for them last year.”

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps points out in the same story that the Mavericks are running into a similar issue Golden State did last season — since Thompson has lost a step following ACL and Achilles injuries, playing him alongside two offense-first guards (Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski last year; Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving this year) compromises his team’s defense.

“He’s the exact same player he was with the Warriors,” one scout told Bontemps. “A quality spot-up shooter who can get hot and make shots still and who can occasionally guard.”

While Thompson certainly hasn’t come flying out of the gates this season, the Mavericks have been better with him on the court (+9.8 net rating) than off it (+4.5). And at least one scout believes it’s too early to be concerned about the veteran sharpshooter’s production.

“Klay has been fine,” that scout told ESPN. “His impact will be determined in the postseason, and if he has a few big games, then no one will remember what he shot from three in November.”

We have more from around the Southwest:

Asked about nearing the end of a grueling 28-day stretch in which the Mavericks have had 15 games on their schedule – including 12 on the road – and have had to repeatedly traverse several time zones, head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged it hasn’t been easy, per Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. “We’ve gone as far as you can go west, and now we’re going as far as we can go east,” Kidd said. “We’re not going to complain about it. It is what it is, but it’s not fair if you want players to play. And so when guys sit out, they (the NBA) can’t complain about guys sitting out when you have a schedule like this.” The Mavs have handled the travel- and schedule-related challenges admirably, having gone 10-4 entering the final contest of that 15-game run on Saturday in Toronto.
Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart will be looking to get a rare win against his old team in Boston on Saturday. The Celtics have beaten Memphis in 16 of their last 17 meetings dating back to 2016, according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “You want him to get that win and get that feeling of beating the team that traded him or whatever,” Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. said. “At the end of the day, we want to have Marcus’ back and go up there and get the win.”
Victor Wembanyama tested his sore lower back in warmups on Friday before being ruled out of the Spurs‘ game vs. Sacramento, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). Head coach Mitch Johnson said “the hope” is that Wembanyama will be good to go on Sunday against New Orleans after missing two games this week. Tre Jones (left shoulder sprain) is missing a third consecutive contest for the Spurs on Friday, while Devin Vassell (right foot injury management) is sitting the second end of a back-to-back, but should be available Sunday.
In case you missed it, we passed along a handful of Pelicans-related notes and rumors earlier this evening.

Southwest Notes: Smart, Spencer, VanVleet, Wembanyama

December 3rd, 2024 at 7:09pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Marcus Smart‘s willingness to come off the bench has made a big impression on his Grizzlies teammates, Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. Smart, who started 185 regular season games between bench appearances from 2021-24, has been part of Memphis’ second unit in his last six outings.

“That’s a vet, that’s a pro,” Grizzlies star Ja Morant said. “That’s what he brings to this team. Obviously, it’s a different situation than he’s been in in his career, but for him to embrace that and still push guys like Jaylen (Wells), who’s in the starting lineup, to be even better, and then he comes in and makes a difference for us in the game. It’s his handle . . . We’re very appreciative.”

Smart is averaging 16.7 points and 5.7 assists over the last three games. His current contract runs through next season.

We have more from the Southwest Division:

Rookie guard and second-round pick Cam Spencer had a huge game at the NBA G League level for the Grizzlies’ affiliate, Cole notes. Spencer erupted for 51 points for the Memphis Hustle, including 12 three-pointers, against the Birmingham Squadron on Monday. Spencer, who won a national title with UConn in the spring, is on a two-way contract.
The Rockets are playing like true contenders. They’re just a half-game out of the top spot in the West after defeating conference leader Oklahoma City behind Fred VanVleet‘s 38 points. “The foundation that we’re laying, it’s easy to see it when you’re just competing,” VanVleet told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “But to see wins against good teams at different stages of the season, it’s a good sign that what we’re doing is working. We’re getting better.”
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama posted his third career triple-double (34 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists) in a win over Sacramento despite an uneven performance through the first three quarters, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. “I thought he had some very poor moments in the first three quarters in terms of fundamentals and solid basketball,” acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. “And it’s a testament to him, and his ability to lock in (that he figured it out). I thought in the fourth quarter, (that) he was a man. And I thought he dominated. He’s so good, but the dominating (of) the fundamentals for him — the catches, the passes, the solid stuff — (is key). It’s still spectacular, but when he does that, he’s a load.”

Southwest Notes: Edey, Smart, Sochan, Rockets

November 29th, 2024 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Grizzlies center Zach Edey, who is out for a sixth consecutive game on Friday due to a left ankle sprain, is moving closer to a return, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. Head coach Taylor Jenkins addressed the rookie’s status ahead of Friday’s matchup with New Orleans.

“With Zach, I think probably end of the week or middle of next week,” Jenkins said. “We’re starting to get him ramped up a little bit more on the court, so hopefully it’s on the shorter term.”

Jenkins clarified after the game that his reference to the “end of the week or middle of next week” was about Edey’s ramp-up process rather than his projected return date (Twitter link via Cole).

The Grizzlies are back in action on Sunday vs. Indiana before heading on the road to face Dallas on Tuesday and then returning home to host Sacramento next Thursday. Based on Jenkins’ comments, it sounds like could make it back by the end of that stretch if all goes well with his ramp-up.

This year’s No. 9 overall pick had been playing some of his best basketball prior to the injury. In his last four full games before getting hurt, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game off the bench, with a .581/.800/.923 shooting line and a +26.6 net rating.

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

Marcus Smart had his best game of the season – and one of his best outings since joining the Grizzlies – on Wednesday vs. Detroit, racking up 25 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals in just 20 minutes of action. As Cole details in a separate story for The Memphis Commercial Appeal, injuries have limited Smart to just 30 total appearances since he arrived in Memphis, but Wednesday’s performance was a reminder of why the Grizzlies traded for him and what he can bring to the team.
Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan participated in 5-on-5 work on Friday, another sign that he’s close to returning from the thumb surgery that has sidelined him since November 4, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. “I think we’re going to have our full team finally in (Sacramento on Sunday) or at least in Phoenix (on Tuesday), hopefully,” point guard Tre Jones told reporters.
Through 20 games, the Rockets hold a 14-6 record and control the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. With three days off before Sunday’s showdown with the No. 1 Thunder, head coach Ime Udoka spoke about what he’s liked from his team so far this season and areas where he still sees room for improvement. “Offensively, I think we’re doing a great job on the glass. We wanted to be No. 1 at that,” Udoka said, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). “I think our pace can improve and it has. It was a little slow early. The shooting, we wanted to become a better shooting team, and we’d have some more wins now due to that. But nobody tries to miss shots on purpose. Guys take the right ones, and we can live with the result.”

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant To Return Following Eight-Game Absence

November 25th, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Star point guard Ja Morant will be activated on Monday by the Grizzlies against Portland, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).

Morant has been out since November 6, having missed Memphis’ past eight games due to what the team referred to as a posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) along with multiple associated Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains. He suffered the injury when he fell awkwardly to the court after trying to catch an alley-oop pass.

Morant spent some time on crutches after initially suffering the injury, but was determined to “attack” the rehab process and return as quickly as the team would allow him to after he got off those crutches, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes.

“I had to be smart, cautious, but also, I hate being off the floor,” Morant said.

Veteran guard Marcus Smart is also off the injury report after missing the past four games due to an illness. He explained to reporters, including Cole, that he had a case of food poisoning that seriously affected his conditioning.

The Grizzlies have held their own without two of their top guards, going 5-3 since Morant went down. The emergence of reserve point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has been crucial for the team.

Pippen has averaged 13.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game across eight outings as a starter, making 47.1% of his shots from the floor and 35.7% from beyond the arc. He set a new career with 30 points in Saturday’s victory in Chicago and figures to continue playing a regular role even with Morant and Smart back in action.

Morant is one of several stars returning from an injury this week. As we relayed earlier today, Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis is set to make his season debut on Monday, Suns forward Kevin Durant and guard Bradley Beal are expected to return on Tuesday from calf strains, and Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is on track to play on Wednesday for the first time since opening night.

Southwest Notes: Pippen, Smart, V. Williams, Mavericks, Popovich, Wembanyama

November 13th, 2024 at 11:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

There’s extra motivation for Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. any time he faces the Lakers, writes Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. Pippen signed a two-way contract with L.A. in 2022 after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt. He only appeared in six NBA games that season, but starred with the team’s South Bay affiliate in the G League. He returned to South Bay the following season before Memphis signed him in January of this year.

“It’s been full circle,” Pippen said. “When I was over there (in L.A.), not really much opportunity.”

The Grizzlies are 2-0 since Ja Morant was sidelined with a hip injury and Pippen took his place in the starting lineup. He’s making the most of the opportunity, posting a triple-double in his first start with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists last Friday and following that with 17 points and four rebounds on Sunday.

In an interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Pippen expanded on his time with the Lakers, saying he didn’t get much feedback from the people in charge.

“I was kind of in the dark with that,” he said. “I didn’t really know what they wanted from me and what they expected from me. Once I left there, I felt like it was a feeling that they didn’t want me there and that I didn’t have a future there. I didn’t really get too much dialogue on why I wasn’t there.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Grizzlies welcomed Marcus Smart back tonight after he missed two weeks with a sprained right ankle, per Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com (Twitter link). Vince Williams, who hasn’t played yet this season due to a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia, has “looked fantastic” in workouts this week and may be ready to return Friday, Wallace adds (Twitter link).
The Mavericks need to solve their problems with late-game execution, observes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. The Mavs have dropped three straight games by three points or less, leaving them in 12th place in the West when they could be near the top. “In the last two minutes, we have to get better,” coach Jason Kidd said. “The last three games, the last two minutes, we’ve turned the ball over. We haven’t been rebounding the ball. We can’t maintain offensive rebounds.”
In a session with reporters before Wednesday’s game, Spurs general manager Brian Wright said coach Gregg Popovich is “doing well” in his recovery from a mild stroke, relays Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Wright also talked about the emotional toll on players and staff members from watching their leader deal with a medical emergency. “Coach Pop has been the leader of this organization for the last three decades, right?” Wright said. “And we all have come across or know people that just have a different aura, different presence about them, and clearly he’s one of those people. When we walk into the building each and every day, we feel that leadership, we feel that presence. And so not having him, there’s clearly a void and we miss him.”
In Wednesday’s win over Washington, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 50 points for the first time in his NBA career. He’s the fourth-youngest player in league history to reach that mark, as well as the tallest, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.

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