With the Suns well out of the playoff picture and long-term health the main concern, Phoenix has decided to sit point guard Eric Bledsoe (6'1''-PG-89, college: Kentucky) for the remainder of the season according to AZCentral reporter Doug Haller. The 27-year-old sat out last night's game against Sacramento despite being in uniform and available to play. Immediately after Phoenix's 107-101 defeat, reports started surfacing that Bledsoe would not play again in 2016-17. Combined with the continued absence of veteran guard Brandon Knight, it would appear that Tyler Ulis will be the starting point guard for the Suns moving forward. The rookie out of Kentucky posted 13 points and 13 assists in 39 minutes of action against Sacramento. Bledsoe, meanwhile, will miss the final month of what was a career year. In his fourth season with Phoenix, the former first-round pick was averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest. Courtesy of: nba.com
Pelicans sweep Blazers 4-0 in 131-123 performance - 16 hours ago
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
Anthony Davis (6'10''-C-93, college: Kentucky) scored 33 of his franchise playoff-record 47 points in the second half, and the New Orleans Pelicans completed a first-round playoff sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers with a 131-123 victory on Saturday. Jrue Holiday capped his 41-point performance with an 18-foot pull-up jumper that gave the Pelicans a six-point lead with 40 seconds left. Rajon Rondo added 16 assists, and Davis also had 11 rebounds and three blocks for New Orleans, which is... [read more]
Anthony Davis (6'10''-C-93, college: Kentucky) scored 33 of his franchise playoff-record 47 points in the second half, and the New Orleans Pelicans completed a first-round playoff sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers with a 131-123 victory on Saturday. Jrue Holiday capped his 41-point performance with an 18-foot pull-up jumper that gave the Pelicans a six-point lead with 40 seconds left. Rajon Rondo added 16 assists, and Davis also had 11 rebounds and three blocks for New Orleans, which is moving on to the second round of the playoffs for only the second time since the NBA returned to the city 16 seasons ago. C.J. McCollum (6'4''-G-91, college: Lehigh) scored 38 for the Trail Blazers, who responded to a blowout loss in Game 3 by keeping Game 4 close until the final minute. Al-Farouq Aminu (6'9''-F-90, college: Wake Forest) scored 27, Damian Lillard (6'3''-PG-90, college: Weber St.) added 18 points and Jusuf Nurkic (7'0''-C-94) had 18 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out. Lillard's difficult driving layup had just tied the game at 60 when the Pelicans briefly pulled away, going on an 11-2 run capped by Davis' 3. Soon after, Nikola Mirotic (6'10''-F/C-91) added step-back 3. Davis, who scored 19 in the third quarter, then added a layup while falling down after a hard foul by Aminu, after which Davis flexed both biceps while still sitting on the court. Holiday's transition 3 made it 87-72, prompting Portland to call timeout while Holiday walked slowly toward mid-court, nodding and smiling wide as he soaked in the crowd's adulation. New Orleans led by 13 to start the fourth quarter, but Portland refused to wilt, opening the period on a 15-4 run that included Nurkic's hook shot, 20-foot jumper and dunk. McCollum's transition layup made it 104-102 with nearly nine minutes to play. Portland got as close as a single point on Aminu's layup with 5:08 to go, but Davis responded with 12 points over the final 4:56, staring with a layup as he was fouled and a 3-pointer. Holiday scored six points during the final 2:52, starting with his 3-pointer. The pair combined for all but one of New Orleans' points during that pivotal stretch. Leading up to Game 4, Lillard spoke of the need for the Blazers to ramp up their intensity and physicality. From the tip, it looked as though they'd done so. In stark contrast to Game 3, when New Orleans led by 18 in the first quarter, this game was tight and testy. Anthony and Ed Davis (6'10''-F-89, college: N.Carolina) received double technical fouls after bumping one another following one of Anthony Davis' dunks - and that was just the beginning. McCollum was called for a flagrant foul when he stormed into the lane behind E'Twaun Moore and grabbed the Pelicans guard by the shoulders to thwart a driving layup attempt. Moore then shoved McCollum and was assessed a technical foul. And in the final seconds of the half, double technical were assessed to Rondo and Portland center Zach Collins after Rondo lowered his forehead into Collins' chest and Collins shoved back. When halftime arrived, New Orleans led 58-56. Courtesy of: wwl.com
Rubio's triple-double leads Jazz past Thunder 115-102 - 16 hours ago
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
Ricky Rubio (6'4''-G-90) waited seven years for a night like this. Rubio, who never reached the playoffs in his first six seasons with Minnesota, had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Utah's first playoff triple-double in 17 years to help lead the Jazz to a 115-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. 'We were down by 10 and I just changed my mentality, trying to be more aggressive and make some shots,' Rubio said. 'We made a run and it helps a lot when you're mak... [read more]
Ricky Rubio (6'4''-G-90) waited seven years for a night like this. Rubio, who never reached the playoffs in his first six seasons with Minnesota, had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Utah's first playoff triple-double in 17 years to help lead the Jazz to a 115-102 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. 'We were down by 10 and I just changed my mentality, trying to be more aggressive and make some shots,' Rubio said. 'We made a run and it helps a lot when you're making shots and it felt great.' At one point, Rubio walked toward half-court with his arms outstretched, drinking in the deafening roar and subsequent 'RU-BI-O! RU-BI-O!' chants from the fans. Donovan Mitchell (6'3''-G-96, college: Louisville) added 22 points for Utah, which took a 2-1 lead in its first-round series with Oklahoma City. Rubio has never been known as a knockdown shooter, but his recent accuracy has opened new opportunities for his playmaking. 'Ricky attacked,' Utah coach Quin Snyder . 'He attacked, but with poise and he was making some shots. I thought he took good shots and it really stabilized our group.' The Spaniard has previously recorded five triple-doubles in his career and has played in big EuroLeague and Olympic games, but different than the energy and pressure of the NBA playoffs. "He was on, in so many ways,' Mitchell said. Joe Ingles (6'8''-SF-87), who had 21 points, made two 3-pointers around two free throws to spark a 13-0 surge that ended on Mitchell's 3 to put Utah up by 20 points in the fourth quarter. The big run was just par for the course in a series characterized by large runs by one team, then countered by the other. Rubio's triple-double was the first by a Jazz player in the postseason since John Stockton in the 2001 playoffs against Dallas. 'Having my name next to his name is an honor,' Rubio said of joining the Hall of Famer in making franchise history. 'I have huge respect for him.' Paul George (6'9''-G/F-90, college: Fresno St.) scored 23 points and Carmelo Anthony (6'8''-SF-84, college: Syracuse), Russell Westbrook (6'3''-PG-88, college: UCLA) and Raymond Felton (6'1''-PG-84, college: N.Carolina) each had 14 for the Thunder. Westbrook also had 11 rebounds and nine assists, just missing his ninth playoff triple-double but also had eight turnovers and shot 5 for 17. Rudy Gobert (7'1''-C-92)'s dunk and pair of free throws capped a 9-0 run in the third quarter to give Utah an 84-70 lead. Minutes later, Rubio hit a running 28-foot 3-pointer to make it 89-75 entering the final period. The Jazz changed coverages on Westbrook throughout the game and surprised the perennial All-Star with different players in his expected passing lanes. Utah also outrebounded the Thunder 48-33 and seemed much quicker to the loose balls in the midst of a charged atmosphere. The Jazz's hustle plays energized the packed arena festooned in the colors of Southern Utah - red, orange and yellow. With Utah trailing 47-43, Rubio scored 10 consecutive Jazz points and his 3-pointer and subsequent three free throws gave Utah a 53-49 lead. Rubio, playing just his third playoff game in his seven-year NBA career, had 19 at the half and the Jazz led 58-53. The Thunder, shot 16 for 24 on field goals and 7 for 11 on 3s, to lead 45-33 on Westbrook's layup with 7:26 left in the second quarter. Asked if the Rubio might have an encore in Game 4, Westbrook defiantly declared that he would shut down any chance of that happening. 'Guarantee that!' Westbrook said. Courtesy of: foxsports.com
Wolves Top Rockets 121-105 in Game 3, Cut Series Lead to 2-1 - 16 hours ago
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
Minnesota's slow-to-develop, up-and-down defense has finally started to shine, against this high-octane Houston team no less. There's been no wait quite like the one for a win by the Timberwolves in the playoffs, though. Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-89, college: Marquette) hit four 3-pointers among his 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0''-F/C-95, college: Kentucky) snapped back from a bad start to the series with 18 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Timberwolves past the Rockets 121-105 i... [read more]
Minnesota's slow-to-develop, up-and-down defense has finally started to shine, against this high-octane Houston team no less. There's been no wait quite like the one for a win by the Timberwolves in the playoffs, though. Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-89, college: Marquette) hit four 3-pointers among his 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns (7'0''-F/C-95, college: Kentucky) snapped back from a bad start to the series with 18 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Timberwolves past the Rockets 121-105 in Game 3 on Saturday night for their first postseason victory in 14 years. "This city deserves being in the playoffs a little bit longer," Butler said. "We'll see what we have. But as long as we guard, as long as we defend, we'll put ourselves in a good enough position to win." Jeff Teague (6'2''-PG-88, college: Wake Forest) scored 23 points and Andrew Wiggins (6'8''-G-95, college: Kansas) pitched in 20 points with another four 3-pointers, helping the Timberwolves match the NBA's best 3-point shooting team with 15 makes apiece from long range. Minnesota took 27; Houston launched 41. "I tell everybody all the time, as long as you're in rhythm, no matter if somebody's in front of you or not, it's a good shot for you because we think that you can make that," Butler said after the Wolves shot 50 percent overall from the floor. Not to be left out was Derrick Rose (6'3''-G-88, college: Memphis) and his 17 points off the bench, including 10 points in nine minutes before halftime. The Wolves closed the third quarter with a 26-14 run and produced spurts of 15-3 and 11-2 in the final period, perfecting their plan to play at a faster pace. "We've got to do a better job of imposing our will at the beginning of the game," said James Harden, who led the Rockets with 29 points. The Rockets made four 3-pointers on their last seven possessions of the first half to turn an 11-point deficit to just one in less than 3 minutes up until the break. Butler twisted his left ankle during that stretch, causing him to clutch his foot in pain and create some brief anxiety in the arena, but he didn't require, or at least accept, any medical attention. There was no hint that he was hurt in the second half. "He's the heart and soul," said Teague, who made three 3-pointers himself. "When he's out there competing, it rubs off on everybody." Taj Gibson (6'9''-F-85, college: USC) hounded Harden and forced an airballed 3-pointer, prompting the apex of the noise throughout the night with the Wolves ahead 77-70. Towns powered his way past Ryan Anderson (6'10''-F-88, college: California) for a layup and a three-point play with 1:57 left in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 10 points, and he flexed his biceps to the crowd after the whistle as he walked like King Kong to the corner of the court in celebration. There was no letdown in the fourth quarter, either. "Give them a lot of credit. A lot of their 3s were butt naked, too. We were giving them uncontested 3s, and you know we've got to be better," said Chris Paul (6'0''-PG-85, college: Wake Forest), who fouled out with 17 points. For the first time since May 29, 2004, the fifth game of the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA playoffs descended on downtown Minneapolis. The shine of this long-awaited return to relevance by the 29-year-old franchise was dulled a bit by the team's fade down the stretch to finish eighth in the conference and draw the most daunting matchup available against a Rockets team that won all four regular season games by an average of 16 points and took the first two games of this series in Houston. The occasion was still plenty special, though, with the memory of late coach and executive Flip Saunders not far from the minds of the Target Center regulars, and the sellout crowd matched the moment to make the arena louder than it had been all season. "It was crazy. All the fans were in the game the whole time," Wiggins said. "They helped us gain momentum going forward." Courtesy of: nytimes.com
Copyright (c) 1998-2018 Eurobasket Inc. Disclaimer
WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the
content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.
USA Basketball
Canadian Hoops
