Category: Basketball

Basketball News

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Woods’ 20 lead Tulane over Florida Atlantic 83-76 in American Athletic Conference Tournament

Asher Woods had 20 points in Tulane's 83-76 win against Florida Atlantic on Friday in the American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Woods shot 6 for 10 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Green Wave (19-13). Kaleb Banks added 17 points while shooting 7 for 11 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 0 of 3 from the free-throw line while he also had five rebounds.

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Josh Hart says Knicks are ‘moving on’ from Draymond Green’s comments about Karl-Anthony Towns

The Knicks are in the Bay Area to take on the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in what will be the final game of their five-game West Coast road trip. While the game itself is enough for NBA fans to want to tune in, the controversy surrounding Draymond Green and his comments about Karl-Anthony Towns has added a layer of intrigue to the matchup.

The outspoken Warriors forward made news when he suggested Towns did not want to play Golden State when the two teams matched up last week at The Garden. On his podcast, Green said Towns wanted to avoid Jimmy Butler.

Of course, Towns missed that game due to the loss of a family friend. When Green was asked about his comments after Golden State's game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 7, Green was surprised and offered condolences but didn’t apologize for his baseless accusation.

Josh Hart was asked about Green’s comments Friday and said the team is ready to move on, but wishes the former Defensive Player of the Year was more responsible. 

“I think KAT handled it the right way,” Hart told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “For me, I have my own podcast and all that stuff. Whenever I’m wrong about something, I’ll sit there and say I was (wrong). For me, I wish he kind of did that - just apologized. You don’t got to be embarrassed or feel like apologizing is when you’re wrong isn’t manly. I wish he did. Now that’s in the past and we’re moving on.”

Bondy asked Towns earlier this week for his reaction, and the first-year Knick stayed positive.

“I choose to approach that with love and not hate. That’s all I really care about,” Towns said. “I hope no one has to go through what I went through and those kids—and what those kids had to go through. Losing a parent is tough."

The Knicks enter Saturday’s matchup with a 2-2 record on the road trip and hope to finish it on a high note without their captain, Jalen Brunson who is out for a few weeks due to an ankle sprain. Entering Friday, the Knicks (42-23) sit five games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

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House and Jacksonville State defeat Middle Tennessee 70-68 in Conference USA Tournament semifinals

Freshman Quel'Ron House led Jacksonville State with 20 points, including two free throws with 22 seconds remaining as the Gamecocks took down Middle Tennessee 70-68 on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals. Jacksonville State will face Liberty in the championship game on Saturday. House shot 6 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (22-11).

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Mazzulla praises ‘overlooked' Holiday after big night vs. Heat

Mazzulla praises ‘overlooked' Holiday after big night vs. Heat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jrue Holiday may not be the first, second, third, or even fourth player who comes to mind when thinking about the Boston Celtics’ star-studded roster. Still, the All-Defensive guard is a crucial part of the C’s championship formula.

Holiday provided a firm reminder of that in Friday’s 103-91 victory over the Miami Heat, battling through his right-hand mallet finger injury to deliver a season-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. He also contributed four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal in a stellar two-way performance.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla heaped praise on Holiday after the win. When asked about the 34-year-old veteran’s impact being “kind of” overlooked, Mazzulla issued a correction.

“It’s not ‘kind of.’ It is overlooked,” Mazzulla said. “But it’s overlooked because that’s just the type of person that he is, and it’s also just the type of teammate that he is, that he’ll do whatever it takes to win for his team.

“Tonight, the ball found him early and I’m glad he was aggressive and then he was able to build through that. I thought he made some timely plays and some big-time plays. I’m really happy for him because he does get overlooked at times, but we’re really grateful to have him.”

Holiday has never been flashy or outspoken, but he has been among the most consistent two-way players since entering the league in 2009. The two-time NBA champion continues to lead by example in Boston, most recently by battling through a finger injury that forced him to miss several games.

“I’m doing the best I can. Today was a good day,” Holiday told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin. “Sometimes on the catch, it feels weird, but there’s no excuses out here. They don’t care that my finger’s broken or I have mallet finger. Just trying to come out here every game and focus and try to lock in.”

Holiday stepped up with Jaylen Brown (right knee posterior impingement) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined. The Celtics will hope to have the duo back in the starting lineup when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday for the second night of their back-to-back.

Tip-off for C’s-Nets is set for 6 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

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Chaz Lanier scores 23 as No. 8 Tennessee downs Texas to reach SEC Tournament semis

Chaz Lanier scored 17 of No. 8 Tennessee's first 21 points, and the Volunteers never trailed Friday beating Texas 83-72 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Volunteers (26-6) also gave coach Rick Barnes the 832nd victory of his career, moving him into sole possession of 10th all-time after being tied with Cliff Ellis. The Vols will play regular season champ and third-ranked Auburn, a 62-57 winner over Ole Miss, in the semifinals Saturday.

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PJ Haggerty scores 42 for Memphis after coach Penny Hardaway told standout guard he had to produce

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway was speaking from experience with his message to standout guard PJ Haggerty before the start of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. "When you’re the man and you’re expected to go out to produce, you’ve got to go out and produce,” Hardaway told the sophomore. Haggerty responded with a career-high 42 points, including nine in a 12-0 run after halftime that put the 16th-ranked Tigers ahead to stay in an 83-80 win over nemesis Wichita State in a quarterfinal game Friday.

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Bradley Beal open to trade this offseason, 'Different deal in the summer'

At the trade deadline last month, when the Suns needed to find a new home for Bradley Beal to complete a Jimmy Butler trade, there was no deal to be made. Part of that was a limited market for Beal, but a more significant issue was Beal having a no-trade clause that he would have to waive for any deal to get done.

If the Suns are going to attain their goal of reshaping the roster around Devin Booker and getting under the second apron of the luxury tax, Phoenix is going to have to revisit Beal trades this offseason (not just trade Kevin Durant). Beal is far more open to an offseason move, he told Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The one caveat is that he wants to go somewhere with a chance to win.

"It is a different deal in the summer," Beal said. "Everything is kind of more laid out on the table. You got more options...

And my biggest thing is when I came here, I want to win. I've scored 30 points a game. I've been an All-Star. I've been All-NBA. I want to win. That's always been my label -- I haven't won anything. So whatever that looks like for the team, whether that's me coming up the bench, whether it's me starting, whether it's me, whatever it is, I'm going to do it... I enjoy the game, man. This game is fun. I try not to let nobody take the joy out of it for me... I'm still playing in the NBA, I still have the best job in the world, and I still have my no-trade clause. So I'm smiling every day."

It's unclear how big a trade market there might be for Beal this summer, and it's likely the Suns would need to attach a draft pick to him in any deal to get a team to take on the $110.8 million he is owed over the next two seasons. Beal still has value in the league, he's averaging 17.7 points a game this season and is shooting 39.3% from 3. He can still get buckets. But his role on any team now will not be as a primary offensive creator, at least with the first unit. His price tag outweighs his contributions at this point, limiting the market for his services.

Beal is not eager to uproot his family and move, it will have to be to a situation where he feels comfortable and the team has a shot at winning. That said, there's a better chance a Beal trade happens in June around the NBA Draft or during free agency in July than there was at the trade deadline.

Expect a lot of Beal rumors this summer. Whether any of them pan out is another question.

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3 observations after 8-man Sixers build surprising lead but lose to Pacers

3 observations after 8-man Sixers build surprising lead but lose to Pacers  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers just about fielded a team Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.

They even built a significant lead over the Pacers before falling to another expected loss. Indiana came back for a 112-100 victory and improved to 37-28. The Sixers dipped to 22-44.

Jeff Dowtin Jr. tallied a career-best 24 points. Pacers star Pascal Siakam scored 27.

The Sixers were as shorthanded as you can get while still being allowed to play a game. They had more players out than available Friday. The full list is below: 

  • Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain and right finger sprain) 
  • Quentin Grimes (illness) 
  • Lonnie Walker IV (concussion) 
  • Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee sprain) 
  • Andre Drummond (left toe sprain) 
  • Justin Edwards (left ankle sprain) 
  • Paul George (left groin soreness) 
  • Kyle Lowry (right hip injury) 
  • Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury) 
  • Eric Gordon (season-ending right wrist surgery) 
  • Jared McCain (season-ending left lateral meniscus surgery) 

The Sixers will begin a six-road road trip Sunday afternoon against the Mavericks. Here are observations on their loss to the Pacers: 

Dowtin up for his 1st start 

Dowtin started for the first time in his NBA career and opened the scoring with a mid-range jumper. 

The Sixers’ highly makeshift lineup was better than the Pacers’ established unit, earning a surprising early lead.

Indiana missed some open jumpers, but the Sixers defended solidly and effectively varied their coverages. The Sixers also didn’t give the Pacers easy points at the foul line, which was especially important given the terribly undermanned state of the team. 

Dowtin maintained the momentum from his 20-point performance Wednesday in the Sixers’ loss to the Raptors. He reached his fifth consecutive double-digit scoring game with a patient, crafty turnaround bucket late in the first quarter. Dowtin played the entire quarter and made his first seven field goals. Thanks largely to his efforts, the Sixers led by as many as 12 points in the first period. 

Bona shines in 2nd quarter  

The Sixers had two debutants in two-way contract player Jalen Hood-Schifino and fresh 10-day contract signee Oshae Brissett. Alex Reese was the one other available player off the bench.

The Pacers scored the game’s first 11 bench points and the Sixers’ second unit started 0 for 7 from the floor. However, the Sixers kept their advantage after turning to the bench and went up 43-27 when Ricky Council IV drained a long three-pointer. 

Starting the second game of his rookie year, Adem Bona played a very strong second quarter. The UCLA product posted 10 points in the period and made 6 for 7 free throws. He also had two steals and a block with active, zealous work defensively. 

In addition to Bona, Guerschon Yabusele fought well on the glass Friday. Yabusele only scored five points on 1-for-6 shooting, but he snagged a career-high 15 rebounds.

Reality hits

Indiana’s offensive woes finally subsided a bit late in the second quarter. A Tyrese Haliburton three early in the third put the Pacers on top. 

Eventually, the game was bound to align more closely with anyone’s realistic expectations. Dowtin stopped making every shot, the Sixers had a string of disjointed possessions, and the team looked outmatched in the talent department. 

The Sixers did make another spirited push late in the third quarter, cutting the Pacers’ lead down to 74-73 on two Council free throws, but their burst wasn’t sustainable.

The Pacers dominated the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, restoring a double-digit lead and finishing off the comfortable win they always seemed destined to take.