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There were nervy moments late on but Jalen Brunson relished the responsibility, reeling off a new career playoff-high 47 points alongside 10 assists to power the Knicks into a hard-fought road win over Philadelphia, taking a commanding series lead in their first-round matchup with the 76ers. Continue reading “Knicks 97-92 Sixers: Brunson’s playoff high 47 helps New York take big series lead”
De’Andre Hunter’s three-point dagger with 9.2 seconds remaining sunk the Eastern Conference’s best team by record in a shellshocked Boston, who led by as many as 30 points during a tale of two halves as Atlanta rallied together after half-time without a cluster of their injured key players to log a morale-boosting comeback win at home, weeks before their postseason fate is settled. Continue reading “De’Andre Hunter’s dagger sinks Boston, capping a remarkable Atlanta turnaround”
There have been four coaching changes since late January and all in the Eastern Conference, but continuity is key for Orlando to fire on all cylinders with a young core growing together in the seasons to come. News of head coach Jamahl Mosley’s four-year extension this week only further reinforces that. Continue reading “Mosley’s new four-year deal comes with Magic quietly humming on all cylinders”
A year on from being traded to Brooklyn, Mikal Bridges’ name popped up frequently in trade talks before the deadline closed earlier this month – with the Nets keen to build around their ironman forward, enjoying a career-year as scoring leader. They’ve now dismissed head coach Jacque Vaughn, with Kevin Ollie’s promotion coming as they plot the future after a tough losing stretch. Continue reading “Nets fire Vaughn, Ollie promoted to interim HC as they build around Bridges”
After a career night against New Orleans, Deni Avdija feels he’s still getting better and there’s room for further growth – music to the ears of Washington Wizards staff and fans alike. The fourth-year small forward has shown glimpses of potential but not taken a significant leap like other draft class agemates have, as the ball club have needed to exercise patience with the 23-year-old. Continue reading “Forgotten fourth-year forward Deni Avdija must keep accelerating in Washington”
Dallas Mavericks’ franchise star Luka Doncic had long wanted a back-up center to better compliment his game and in new deadline day trade acquisition Daniel Gafford, the perennial All-Star guard finally has one. Elsewhere the Mavs made a shrewd acquisition to acquire PJ Washington from an uncertain situation across conferences in Charlotte, as they continue bolstering their backcourt. Continue reading “Doncic gets his long-awaited wish as Dallas do trade deadline day business”
Pascal Siakam produced a near triple-double – 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds – as the Indiana Pacers won well away in Charlotte on his 10th appearance since last month’s trade move from Toronto. Naturally, the two-time All-Star forward spoke about his excitement to rack up more wins and stress-test the ball club’s full potential alongside a healthy Tyrese Haliburton. Continue reading “Ten games into his Indiana stint, Siakam key in Hornets win and excited for more”
Just hours after being announced as one of the Eastern Conference’s seven All-Star reserve players, Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Tyrese Maxey shook off an ankle complaint and produced a new career-high 51 points to help lead an injury-hit Sixers team through to a gritty road victory in Utah as serious concern lurks in the background surrounding the status of reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Continue reading “Maxey marks maiden All-Star selection with 51-point showing in Utah road win”
Multiple ball clubs were interested in Toronto’s All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, yet it was the Indiana Pacers who put up the requisite assets needed to complete what has turned into a three-team trade for him. Considering they’ve already got key big man Myles Turner and a burgeoning star in Tyrese Haliburton to complement him, will it work out in the long-run? Continue reading “Pacers’ Pascal Siakam pursuit shows change in strategy, but will it pay off?”
Trae Young hit some clutch free-throws, Dejounte Murray added 25 and the Atlanta Hawks held their poise to outlast a short-handed Philadelphia 76ers team at home. Yet Wednesday night’s overtime win belonged to small forward Jalen Johnson (25 pts, 16 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks), who shone when called upon in ways many hadn’t come to expect from the third-year man. Continue reading “Jalen Johnson hails team chemistry, Hawks outlast Embiid-less 76ers in OT”
A strained calf and toe sprain have sidelined Jimmy Butler for eight games and counting, but the Miami Heat star remains optimistic about the immediate future and is encouraged he’s feeling less pain now than has been the case across two issues in a month. Just don’t ask him about his unavailability through injury deeming him ineligible to win end-of-season awards, mind. Continue reading “Jimmy Butler happy to close in on injury return, unbothered by awards ineligibility”
12-year veteran guard Ricky Rubio has today retired from NBA basketball after announcing a break last August for mental health reasons. Golden State were dealt another untimely blow as a key rotational piece is sidelined for a few weeks, while top draft pick Victor Wembanyama is unhappy with his minutes restriction in San Antonio as the struggling Spurs chug along. Read more below. Continue reading “NBA news: Rubio retires, Payton II injury, Wemby’s minutes restriction plus more”
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