NBA

Gilgeous-Alexander produces career-high 45 and against who else but the Clippers?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Paycom Center...

Critics will quickly opine the Thunder are a regular season team, exciting and easy to root for when it’s going well, but if adversity arrives then their supplementary players start to hide or falter under the brightest lights. Nights like this, where their franchise star reached new heights, suggests otherwise. Continue reading “Gilgeous-Alexander produces career-high 45 and against who else but the Clippers?”

NBA

Mitchell Robinson’s injury recovery setback brings Knicks new preseason woe

Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers go after a loose ball during the second half in Game One of the...

Amid all the excited optimism surrounding a successful offseason for Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks, their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign has been tempered by news of big man Mitchell Robinson’s surgically repaired left ankle needing more time to fully heal – having undergone the same procedure last December… meaning they’ll have to be flexible once more.

Continue reading “Mitchell Robinson’s injury recovery setback brings Knicks new preseason woe”

NBA

Olympics: SGA leading the way for Canada before France quarterfinal – of course he is

Spain's Sergio Llull defends against Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between Canada and...

Canada seek their first men’s basketball Olympic medal since clinching silver back in 1936 and know they must sustain their excellent group stage play to do so. The bulk of the focus surrounds Team USA for obvious reasons but as RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks have played important support roles, Canada’s star guard leads by example – Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Continue reading “Olympics: SGA leading the way for Canada before France quarterfinal – of course he is”

NBA

Chicago trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in surprise deal – OKC stay being shrewd!

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder attempts to drive past Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Paycom Center...

The market for Alex Caruso stretched far and wide, before the February trade deadline and quietly behind-the-scenes afterwards, but yet again Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has done it – a straight swap with Josh Giddey – for the league’s most-coveted role player at a time of his career where he can seamlessly elevate a championship-contending team again.
Continue reading “Chicago trade Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey in surprise deal – OKC stay being shrewd!”

NBA

Luka Doncic’s sharpened focus sees Dallas regain series lead in Oklahoma, now 3-2 up

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second...

After a disappointing two-game home stint, Dallas Mavericks’ superstar Luka Doncic rebounded with a big Game 5 showing in Oklahoma – a 31-point triple-double – as Jason Kidd’s side regained a slender series lead and can now clinch a WCF berth this weekend among home comforts vs. the West’s #1-ranked team. Continue reading “Luka Doncic’s sharpened focus sees Dallas regain series lead in Oklahoma, now 3-2 up”

NBA

Mature beyond his years, Houston’s Alperen Sengun is already must-watch TV

Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets celebrates after a three point basket in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center on...

In an ever-changing era where unicorns are being heralded, the role of your traditional big man has continued to evolve. Houston center Alperen Sengun has thrived this season, Year 3 of the Turkish international’s NBA experience and his maturity translates on the court – particularly in games like yesterday’s dominant display against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.  Continue reading “Mature beyond his years, Houston’s Alperen Sengun is already must-watch TV”

NBA

Lakers 130-133 Thunder: OKC hold firm away as LeBron breaks Kareem’s 38-year scoring record

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, surpassing...

Lakers star forward LeBron James made history in the early hours on Wednesday, breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38-year record as the league’s highest points scorer of all-time. A recurring foot issue saw him sidelined late on but didn’t dampen the mood on a celebratory night, despite what proved a narrow 133-130 home defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Continue reading “Lakers 130-133 Thunder: OKC hold firm away as LeBron breaks Kareem’s 38-year scoring record”

NBA

Chet Holmgren injury: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti stresses team won’t tank after Lisfranc diagnosis

Chet Holmgren stands on the court during the CrawsOver Pro-Am game at Seattle Pacific University on August 20, 2022 in Seattle, Washington.

Disaster has already struck for OKC after news today confirmed their no. 2 draft pick, Chet Holmgren, will miss his entire rookie season with a Linsfranc injury to his right foot suffered in last week’s CrawsOver Pro-Am event. OKC’s GM Sam Presti told reporters this unwelcome blow will not impact the team’s competitiveness this coming season. But how does he know?
Continue reading “Chet Holmgren injury: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti stresses team won’t tank after Lisfranc diagnosis”

NBA

NBA Draft: Orlando take Paolo Banchero with No. 1 pick, Holmgren to OKC and Smith Houston-bound

Commissioner Adam Silver and Paolo Banchero pose for photos after Banchero was drafted with the 1st overall pick by the Orlando Magic during the 2022...

After countless reports suggested Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr would be this summer’s top draft pick, the Orlando Magic presented the first in a night of surprises and trade moves aplenty by selecting Duke’s Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick – adding another talented youngster to an ever-growing core of players hopeful they’ll be nowhere near the lottery in the near future. Continue reading “NBA Draft: Orlando take Paolo Banchero with No. 1 pick, Holmgren to OKC and Smith Houston-bound”

Archives

Jokic again justifies the MVP chants with 35-point winning performance vs. Thunder

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 26, 2022 at the Ball Arena in Denver,...

On another evening decided by slim margins, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic produced a masterful showing and played through an intricate eye injury late on to help a depleted Denver overcome the tenacious Thunder without their two best players. With seven regular season games left, it makes you wonder: how will they manage in the playoffs? Continue reading “Jokic again justifies the MVP chants with 35-point winning performance vs. Thunder”

Archives, Specials

Tyrese Haliburton’s recent surge shows Sacramento have long-term puzzle to consider

Tyrese Haliburton of the Sacramento Kings celebrates with teammates Terence Davis and Maurice Harkless after a play in the second quarter against the...

Tyrese Haliburton has now recorded six games with 20+ points this season — five have come since December 17, with franchise guard De’Aaron Fox missing four outings during that stretch after entering the league’s health and safety protocols. Given the startling statistics with and without his backcourt partner, do Sacramento have a potential long-term issue on their hands? Continue reading “Tyrese Haliburton’s recent surge shows Sacramento have long-term puzzle to consider”

Archives, Specials

Ja Morant is right to feel hurt, but Memphis must show their star some love

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies stands during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 20, 2021 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee....

Memphis Grizzlies’ franchise star Ja Morant returned from a 12-game absence on Monday, but the 22-year-old point guard was hurt by heckling home fans courtside who suggested he “sit back out,” en route to their 102-99 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder – amidst a deep dive into whether they’re actually a more efficient unit without his ball-dominant tendencies. Continue reading “Ja Morant is right to feel hurt, but Memphis must show their star some love”