Mavericks star Luka Doncic finished the game with 20 points shooting 6-18 from the floor and 3-10 from deep. In the second half, Doncic scored just two points and added six more turnovers to end the game.

In the post-game press conference, Coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Luka Magic will be better in Game Two and that Doncic understands how the Warriors will guard him.

“He’s only 23, and we really don’t talk about his age that much, but he understands what they’re trying to do, and he’ll be better. We believe that in the locker room, and there’s not much to say, we knew what was going to come, and we didn’t make shots. He got in the paint and created some looks for guys who normally make them, and they just didn’t go down this evening.”

The Mavericks shot 36 percent from the floor as a team and 22.9 percent from downtown.

Dallas looks to regroup and tie the series Friday for Game Two of the Western Conference Finals in Chase Center.

The post Jason Kidd On the Mavericks’ Inefficient Game 1 Against Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

Boston led by 13 points going into halftime; however, a 22-2 run sparked a comeback for Miami, led by 27 second-half points from Butler. He finished the game 17-18 from the free-throw line, the second-most by a player against the Celtics this playoff behind Kevin Durant.

Jaylen Brown told ESPN that Butler was too comfortable in Game 1 and that they would have to play him better the rest of the series.

“He’s very comfortable right now, and we’ve got to do a better job of breaking that rhythm that he’s in. That’s it. We’ve got to take the challenge.”

The Duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 53 points, but their dismal second-half effort hurt the guys in green badly as they finished the game with 16 total turnovers. Tatum only scored eight points in the second half.

Celtics Coach Ime Udoka told reporters that the Heat didn’t do anything different to throw them off the slow second half was a huge momentum shifter in the game.

“It wasn’t anything different that they did. They just came out and imposed their will,” Udoka said. “We semi-bounced back in the fourth and started to play well again and match their physicality, but 39-14 on 2-for-15 is tough to overcome.”

The Celtics look to even the series tonight for Game 2 and head back to the TD Garden with a 1-1 tie.

The post Jaylen Brown on Stopping Jimmy Butler Game 2: ‘We Gotta Break the Rhythm He’s In’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Suns can match any team’s offer for Ayton or move in a different direction and do a sign-and-trade package deal. However, in an exit interview with the media, GM James Jones addressed how much Ayton has improved this past season.

“Deandre had a great season, a really productive season,” Jones said. “I think across the board, when you look at what he did, he improved. That’s a testament to him and the hard work. That’s what you expect from a player of his caliber.”

Despite battling multiple injuries, Ayton averaged a double-double for a fourth straight season of 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in 58 games. In this year’s playoffs, Ayton averaged 17.9 points, and 8.9 rebounds before the Suns were eliminated at home in game seven against the Dallas Mavericks.

During Game Seven of the Western Conference semifinal round Ayton was benched after playing 17 minutes due to a reported heated exchange with Monty Williams. Ayton was benched with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Jones addressed this issue as in-game emotions to reporters and said that this is something they will improve from.

“It’s one of those things where you’re playing an emotional game and at an emotional point,” Jones said. “It’s a game of emotions and feelings, and sometimes your feelings get hurt, and you process it, and you move on, but we’re adults. We’re teammates. We’re grown, men. Those things you handle and you move on and improve from.”

Lastly, when asked about free agency, Jones told reporters that he’s looking to keep the guys they have, hinting at a possible Ayton return. Jones has worked in the Suns executive office since 2017 and was a part of the decision to draft Ayton first overall back in 2018.

“As far as free agency and those things, we’ll address them at the proper time,” Jones said. “That happens in July, end of June, but we want to continue to keep our consistency and continuity and keep the guys that we have and continue to help those guys improve upon the things that we did this year.”

The post Suns General Manager James Jones Confident Deandre Ayton Will Return Next Season appeared first on SLAM.

Howard erupted for 17 points in the first-quarter of action to start her historic evening, the most a rookie has ever scored in the first quarter in WNBA history. She shot 9-18 from the floor and knocked down three triples from downtown.

Howard has 83 points through her first four games, averaging a whopping 20.8 points per game for the Dream.

In a matchup where we saw the first two picks of the 2022 WNBA draft go head-to-head with Howard and NaLyssa Smith, who left the game with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. Before tip-off, Howard told reporters how proud she was of Smith and all her success.

“I applaud her for everything she’s done,” Howard said of Smith before the game. “I’m very proud of her. Just to see her out here excelling in her dream is just great, and I love that for her. But going against her, it’s all business on the court, but afterwards, it’s all love.”

The Dream will be back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the Fever on Tuesday at 7 pm.

The post Rhyne Howard Makes WNBA History After Scoring 33 Points In Fourth Game appeared first on SLAM.

When Smith left the game, she was working with a season-high 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 6-16 shooting from the floor, including knocking down three triples. The Fever ultimately fell short to the Dream, 85-79.

According to James Boyd of the IndyStar, Fever Coach, Marianne Stanley did not indicate how severe the injury was.

“It’s swollen,” Stanley said of Smith’s ankle.” But I don’t know how serious it is right now.”

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Rhyne Howard finished the game with 33 points, including a WNBA rookie record of 17 points in the first quarter. Howard shot 9-18 from the floor, including 3-8 from beyond the arc. The former Kentucky Wildcat added three rebounds, there steals, and two assists in 32 minutes of action.

The Fever will host the Dream again on Tuesday at 7 pm.

The post NaLyssa Smith Leaves Game Against Atlanta Dream With Right Ankle Injury appeared first on SLAM.

In her 22 years of coaching at Tyler Junior College, Trenia Tillis Hoard’s resume speaks for itself: she’s led the Apaches to three consecutive NJCAA National Tournament appearances, including taking home the 2022 National Championship while garnering 500 career wins and earning NJCAA DI Women’s Coach of the Year. She’s now the first Black women’s head coach to win the title.

And yet even with all of that success, Hoard admitted recently that she’s yet to receive an offers to coach at the Division I level. She’s even been told that all of her accomplishments would “overshadow” whoever she’d be working alongside with.

“I have been here for 22 years and I have not had an offer. No head coach, no assistant coach, nothing,” Hoard says on Zoom. “A big-time coach [once] told me, Why would they hire you as an assistant because you would overshadow them and possibly take their job. To me it feels like I’m too good but not good enough.”

As a Black female head coach with an all-Black female coaching staff, which includes Chelsea Hudson and Brianna Brooks, Hoard has solidified Tyler as not just the exception, but the standard. And while there’s often a misconception that Junior College (JUCO) programs aren’t competitive collegiate basketball programs, Hoard’s Apaches, who went 28-8 this season, rightfully deserve their respect.

“I would say respect it first,” Hoard says about JUCO college basketball. “Respect it as basketball at all levels—nothing has changed, [there’s] still three officials and ten players on the court. A lot of people have this perception on Junior college basketball. My girls are more than capable of competing against DI and DII schools. Basketball is basketball, give it its respect. Junior colleges are not ‘Last Chance U,’ it’s first chance U for a lot of players.”

As the celebrate the way, Hoard and her coaching staff at Tyler are already focused on continuing to ascend the program to new heights. WSLAM recently caught up with Hoard, Hudson and Brooks to learn more about how they’ve created a winning-program at Tyler and how important it is for women’s basketball coaches to be more supported and respected.

WSLAM: Coach Hoard would you say you brought the winning Culture to Tyler or was the foundation already set prior to you coming?

Hoard: There were 66 national titles before we captured the 67th. From our Soccer to Tennis teams all of our sports are very successful. It’s been tough for Women’s and Mens Basketball because our sport is a different animal but with the history of winning at our school it felt good to bring another title back home.

WSLAM: As a Black coach in basketball how does it feel to record 500 career victories with Tyler?

Hoard: It took a long time it took 22 years but it feels good. It was feat that’s only been done by one other woman African American Coach. We’re just continuing to make history everyday so when these two young coaches takeover the programs all over the country they are ready.

WSLAM: Take us back before your days at Tyler. How did you begin your coaching journey?

Hoard: I got into coaching accidentally. I just got done playing in Barcelona Spain and I was going to comeback and finish my masters at SF Austin. The Head Coach at Tyler invited to the school to get my masters and coach a little bit however, I was granted an opportunity at the university of Arkansas two weeks later to be an assistant. Four years later I interviewed for the Tyler position just for experience and look at where I am now 22 years later.

WSLAM: Who were some of your coaching role models that you looked up to at the beginning of your coaching career?

Hoard: I got to coach under coach Gary Blair who just recently retired from Texas A&M while I was at Arkansas. There is so many role models including that one from South Carolina greatness herself Dawn Staley. Seeing her success inspired me to continue to excel at the junior college level and keep elevating the game to black coaches everywhere.

WSLAM: To the assistant coaches, what has been some of the biggest takeaways you have learned from Coach Hoard?

Chelsea Hudson: Patience. She has a lot of patience for a lot of things Im still maturing in. Some of the things that test her I would’ve reacted to it differently. I watch her closely in that category so I can continue to grow in this industry.

Briana Brooks: I would say her versatility and transparency. A lot of times people want to tell you what to do and with coach Hoard she’s shown us more what to do. From on the court to behind the scenes she has shown us how to carry ourselves in the community and constantly being a great example for us.

WSLAM: What makes your coaching dynamic work so well, and why do you think we don’t we see more all-Black coaching staffs?

Hoard: Junior college is predominately white males that are coaching. During the national tournament we went against five teams all coached by white males. For us to have this dynamic of three African American coaches on one staff you’re just not going to see often. People see three black coaches and automatically expect drama and think our program is going to be ghetto whereas, we just don’t want to be a stereotypical unit. Knowing we are already considered behind we work ten times harder. I want to out work every staff, out dress every staff and beat every staff.

WSLAM: After a successful championship season, what does the future hold for Tyler?

Hoard: We’re excited about this championship and drinking cocktails right now but I know next year they are coming at us harder. Im only as strong as what is behind me so just coming together this offseason developing a plan of action to repeat as champions once again.

WSLAM: How can you as an African American coach can be more supported by the game of basketball ? and what can the BCA do for you to help this initiative?

Hoard: I think what the BCA can do for us is lend us an ear because sometimes we spend a lot of time fritting. It’s tough for me being in a situation where Im in a game with officials that are not the same race or gender and a perception is automatically put on us. When there is officials who is like myself now there’s a perception of bias towards us. I feel like I get more situations that are against me than for me and it’s like we’re starting behind the 8- ball. Instead of playing basketball we have to be more strategic and knowing that every game is not going to be in our favor. So if we just had that judicial ear to advocate for us I think we’ll see a huge change in how our games are being operated.

Photos by Chuck and Michael Alfaro.

The post Tyler’s Trenia Tillis Hoard, Chelsea Hudson and Brianna Brooks on the Importance of Respecting JUCO Women’s Basketball appeared first on SLAM.

The man behind the attempted comeback bid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, finished the game with 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. However, he shot 11-27 from the floor and 1-4 from beyond the arc.

Antetokounmpo was 2-12 from the field in the first half before taking over the third quarter with 18 points. The Greek Freak told assembled media that he just had to keep making plays even if he wasn’t at his absolute best.

“Just gotta keep making plays; this is what basketball is about; you’re gonna make shots, and you’re gonna miss shots, but at the end of the day, you play to make right plays and finding your teammates.”

He followed up by saying that he’s moving on from the Bucks’ tough Game 2 loss and is focusing on Game Three on Saturday.

“At the end of the day, I’m not gonna sit down and complain that I’m frustrated,” Antetokounmpo said. “I just keep achieving and finding more winning solutions for myself and my teammates. We did our job, and they did there’s, so now we gotta go back home and do our job again.”

The Bucks look to take back the series lead Saturday as they host the Celtics back home in Fiserv Forum.

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo Moving On From Game 2 Loss: ‘I’m Not Gonna Sit Down and Complain That I’m Frustrated’ appeared first on SLAM.

The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics and combined for 59 points— Brown dropped a 30 piece and was 6-of-10 from deep, while Tatum finished with 29 points and 8 assists.

“Locked in from last game, locked in from shootaround,” Tatum says, per The Athletic. “If I was a betting man, I would have bet that JB was gonna have a great game. And he set the tone, and that was big for us. Just how aggressive he was coming out making the right plays for himself and for others. He got us going tonight.”

Brown was electric in the first half, scoring 17 points in the first quarter.

“Just how you respond means everything in this League,” Brown says. “We didn’t play how we wanted to in the first game, and we couldn’t come back and drop another game at home. We knew we had to come out and play like our season was on the line.”

While the Celtics were without DPOY Marcus Smart, who was out with a bruised right thigh he suffered in Game 1, the C’s still held it down on the defensive end and limited Giannis Antetokounmpo to 28 points, which he scored mostly in the second half of the game.

“Strong bodies, being active, being physical—that’s pretty much it,” Antetokounmpo says on the Celtics’ defense making it tough for him inside. “It’s gotten tougher to find your teammates.”

Game 3 is set to go down on Saturday in Milwaukee.

The post ‘He Set the Tone’: Jayson Tatum on Jaylen Brown’s Electric 30-Point Performance in Game 2 appeared first on SLAM.

In the post-game conference, Coach Erik Spoelstra talked about how his team fought through the adversity of losing Lowry and Butler to close out this series. The Game 5 win was Spoelstra’s 89th career playoff win since becoming the head coach of Miami in 2008.

“This was just a really inspiring team win,” Spoelstra said. “We clearly had some adversity in this game not having Kyle or Jimmy, and our group doesn’t even blink. That wasn’t something we even had to address; we just pivot and out in the game plan. Defensively there were some incredibly inspiring plays all game long.”

Victor Oladipo led the team in scoring with 23 points shooting 8-of-16 from the floor. Bam Adebayo followed up with 20 points and 11 rebounds, snagging the game-winning steal to send the Hawks packing back to ATL.

Spoelstra boasted about Adebayo and Oladipo’s great performances to close the series out, especially in the fourth quarter.

“I thought Bam was just tremendous; that’s just winning basketball all the way around. Vic was really good for us, he was able to generate some looks for us in the paint, and I thought it was fitting for us to win this game off that last stop at the end.”

The Heat will face the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors series, where the Sixers currently have a 3-2 lead. Game 6 of that series will continue Thursday in Jurassic Park.

The post Erik Spoelstra On Heat Advancing to Eastern Semifinals: ‘We Clearly Had Some Adversity in this Game’ appeared first on SLAM.

Players have until 5 PM on Monday, June 13, to withdraw their names from the draft pool. Players who want to retain college eligibility have to withdraw no later than June 1st.

The NBA Draft Combine will begin from May 16th-May 22nd, and the NBA Draft will be held in Barclays Center Thursday, June 23.

The post NBA Announces 283 Players Have Declared for the 2022 NBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

In the post-game press conference, Green explained how he was not worried about how many fouls he had but about stopping the Nuggets’ best player from making a play in the final minutes.

“You can’t play defense the final minutes of the game and worry about fouling out,” Green said. “If I do that, I’ll be doing my team a disservice. I’m going against the Joker. I have to be willing to use all six of my fouls at some point.”

Green followed up by talking about the importance of winning on the road, especially in a playoff atmosphere, and taking advantage of silencing an away crowd.

“That’s what it’s all about going into an opposing team’s building and shutting that crowd up; it doesn’t get much better than that. There is no better feeling in sports than entering a hostile environment, and the crowd is yelling and booing, and ultimately you come out with the victory. It’s hard to duplicate that feeling and rush you get from experiences like that. For me, I enjoy the boos and everything that comes with it. I always say the real ones show up and make plays on the road, and then some people just show up at home.”

The Warriors look to complete the sweep on Sunday in Denver to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

The post Draymond Green On Clutch Play in Game 3 Win: ‘The Real Ones Show Up and Make Plays On the Road’ appeared first on SLAM.

Barring a setback, Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III intends to return in limited minutes for Game 3 vs. Brooklyn on Saturday, sources tell ESPN. If those minutes go smoothly, the expectation is that he’ll resume a significant minutes load for Game 4 on Monday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 22, 2022

Celtics center Robert Williams is expected to return for the Boston Celtics in Games 3 or 4 of their first-round matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Williams tore his left meniscus on March 27 and was listed out for the season.

Williams participated in a five-on-five this week with the team per Shams Charania of The Athletic, and the team will have a final decision before Game 3 on Saturday. The Celtics currently lead the series 2-0 against the Nets. With the series transitioning to Brooklyn, Williams will be a significant addition to the rolling Celtics team with the entire roster available.

Coach Ime Udoka told Celtics beat reporter Justin Leger that this is the best time for Williams to be with the team, especially in the playoffs.

“This is the time of year we want him around the team camaraderie-wise and his impact just being around the group, to be in that playoff atmosphere,” Udoka said. “He’s had no setbacks, and that benchmark of where we aimed of 4-6 weeks is looking good. We’re happy with his progress.”

Game 3 of the Celtics and Nets series will be on Saturday in Barclays Center.

The post REPORT: Robert Williams Expected to Play Limited Minutes in Game 3 Return appeared first on SLAM.

“We gotta come in with a desperate mindset and do whatever it takes to win this series,” Towns said.”The same way we got up 26 is the same way we gotta come back next game and play. This is home court; we’ve been doing a great job at home defending it. We are one of the best teams at home, so we really gotta up our chops on the line next game.”

Towns finished the game with eight points, five rebounds, and one assist. He shot 3-of-4 from the floor and only attempted one three-point shot. The backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards led the Wolves in scoring with a combined 41 points.

Towns followed up his statement by saying he has to work through the adversity and that sticking with his teammates will get them through this series.

“Stick with what got us here, believe what we’ve done all year, and continue to believe in through ups and downs like this, Towns said. “This one hurts, and we have some games like that this year and bounced back, so I just hope we can do that game four.”

The Timberwolves look to tie the series on Saturday when they play Game 4 in Target Center.

The post Karl-Anthony Towns On Game 3 Loss At Home: ‘This One Hurts’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ingram told reporters that everything was flowing, and the whole team felt connected on the floor.

“Everything was flowing,” Ingram said per ESPN. “Everybody was effective on the floor, all five. All five made something happen, whether it was offensively or defensively. We were really connected today.”

Ingram finished 13-21 shooting from the field and 3-3 from three-point range. In the third quarter, Ingram tweaked his ankle and continued to play. At some points of the game, you can see him grimacing while continuing to lead the Pelicans in scoring.

Pelicans Coach Willie Green praised the Ingram, calling his performance one of his best and how proud he was of Ingram.

“This is one of his best and it was on a big stage. I’m proud of that young man. He works his tail off, he’s a great teammate, high character, high IQ, and he put it on display tonight.”

The Pelicans team shot 57 percent from the three-point range. CJ McCollum shot 6-10 from three and assisted Ingram with 23 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.

The Pelicans look to take a 2-1 series lead against the No. 1 Suns in Game 3 on Friday.

The post Brandon Ingram Leads Pelicans Past Suns With 37 points in Game 2 appeared first on SLAM.

After a stellar 31-point first half, Booker exited the game with right hamstring tightness in the third quarter while Phoenix trailed 77-74.

During a press conference, Suns Coach Monty Williams told reporters that the injury happened as he was tracking Jaxson Hayes down on defense.

“It happened on a play during transition, and that’s where I think it happened,” Williams said. “Other than that, we don’t have much say about it, but it is a hamstring injury.

Booker missed multiple games early in the season with a hamstring injury. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, he returned to the sidelines in his warmup suit and did not re-enter the game.

Without its leading scorer, the Suns took an early lead in the fourth quarter; however, big shots from Pelicans stars CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram caused Phoenix to struggle defensively without Booker on the floor.

Williams told the press that the transition defense was the most significant difference once Booker was ruled out in the fourth quarter.

“Transition defense, it was probably for us the worst we ever looked in transition defense since I been here. For that to happen in a playoff was a bit unsettling for everyone. Our guys have to understand this team is going to play hard, as we seen in the third quarter. We missed a shot, and they were taking off, so that was a bit deflating, and they got hot from three. The transition defensive balance was not there at any level for us tonight.”

Game 3 will be played Friday, April 22, in New Orleans.

The post Monty Williams On Transition Defense Without Devin Booker: ‘Worst We Ever Looked in Transition Defense’ appeared first on SLAM.

Pelicans Coach Willie Green was an assistant coach under Coach Monty Williams last season when the Suns made it to the NBA Finals. Now facing his former team in the playoffs, Green told reporters about the adjustments he thinks the Pelicans will have to make ahead of Game 2.

“Well, we have to play faster,” Green said. “When teams have their hands on us, you can’t play slow, and you gotta get the ball out of bounds or rebound the ball and get up the court quickly and get into your actions with force. I think we were a step slow.”

Green followed up by stating how great it was seeing his team cut the lead to six points while only shooting only 33 percent from the field.

“We just gotta take our time. We did a good job getting into the paint and rebounding the ball, but overall we just gotta take our time with the ball. Gathering ourselves and getting shot fakes with Ayton down there will allow us to score. The one thing that is encouraging is that we cut the lead to only six points shooting 33 percent from the field, so we got some work to do, and that’s a really good team, so we have to come back and be better.”

The Pelicans look to even the series in Game 2 in Phoenix Wednesday.

The post Pelicans Coach Willie Green On Game 1 performance: ‘We Gotta Play Faster’ appeared first on SLAM.

“It’s nothing they’re doing defensively. Most of the shots I took were wide open… No way in hell I shoot 6-of-25 again.”

DeRozan followed up by saying that defense is going to give them the “opportunity to win” this series and that they need to turn it up.

“Offensively, I guarantee you we won’t shoot like we shot tonight again, but defense gives you an opportunity to win. In the 4th quarter, a couple plays got away from us, but a good learning experience. Gotta keep it up defensively and go to another level.”

The Bulls will look to tie the series in Game 2 on Wednesday.

The post DeMar DeRozan After Game 1 Loss to Bucks: ‘[Gotta] Go To Another Level’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Bucks entered the game having won 17 of their last 18 games against the Bulls. An early 32-16 lead looked promising, but then, scoring troubles, and 14 turnovers in the second half, caused the game to close in.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the team with 27 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks, praised teammate Brook Lopez for his performance, especially late in fourth quarter. When Antetokounmpo picked up his fifth foul during a stretch in which the Bulls cut the deficit to just one point, Lopez scored seven points, along with two boards and a blocked shot.

“Tonight in the fourth quarter he was amazing,” Giannis says, per CBS. “He was able to get to his spots, shoot his floaters, get to the rim, make his free throws. Defensively he was amazing, contesting shots. He’s big for us, he’s big. He had a great game, we need him to keep playing this way, we need him to keep helping the team any way possible. He is a big piece of who we are.”

Lopez finished with 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks as the second leading scorer for the team in Game 1. He also was a force on defense against the Bulls, who shot only 32.3 percent from the field, a season-low, and went 11-of-27 at the rim and 9-23 from mid range.

“We showed resiliency tonight,” Lopez says, per ESPN. “Things didn’t go our way offensively for a lot of the game, and we fought through it and did a good job defensively.”

The Bucks will now get ready to face off against Chicago at home for Game 2 on Wednesday.

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo on Brook Lopez’s Performance in Game 1 against Bulls: ‘He is a Big Piece of Who We Are’ appeared first on SLAM.

Bacot earned first-team All-ACC honors after leading the nation with 31 double-doubles tying David Robinson for the NCAA single-season record. He also led the ACC in rebounding with 13.1 boards per game while leading the Tar Heels team in scoring (16.3 points) on 56.9 percent shooting from the field and total blocks (65).

During the March Madness tournament, Bacot became the first player to have six double-doubles during the NCAA Tournament. In the Final Four matchup against Duke, Bacot recorded his fifth 20-rebound game, snagging 21 to send the Tar Heels to the National Championship.

In a video captioned ‘Tar Heel forever,’ Bacot elaborated on why he decided to stay one more season being so close to winning the title.

“This year’s experience showed me that I don’t want to miss the chance to do it again,” Bacot said. “On the court, we got so close this year. I know there are no guarantees, but I want to have the opportunity to play in those big games to keep Carolina on that national stage. My Carolina story is not finished yet, and next season starts right now. My name is Armando Bacot, and I’m a Tar Heel.”

The post Armando Bacot Returning to Carolina For His Senior Season appeared first on SLAM.

After the game, Irving was asked about fasting for Ramadan and playing at the highest level possible. During the entire month of April, Irving and millions of Muslims worldwide do not eat and drink from dawn to sunset.

“Well, it’s a journey with God. I’m not alone in this. I have brothers and sisters all around the world that are fasting with me,” Irving said. “We hold our prayers and meditation very sacred, and when you come out here, God is inside me, and he’s inside of all of us. I’m walking with faith, and that’s all that matters; when I get to showcase my talents granted to me strictly from God in this arena, I’m humbled.”

In a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff matchup, the Nets will go up against the second-seed Boston Celtics to start the post-season on April 17. Brooklyn bested the Celtics in five games last year when they met in the playoffs.

The Celtics won the regular-season series against the Nets 3-1. However, neither Kevin Durant nor Irving played two out of the four matchups. With both superstars in the lineup, this Eastern Conference matchup will be one to watch this year.

The post Kyrie Irving On Playing While Fasting For Ramadan: ‘It’s a Journey With God — I’m Walking With Faith’ appeared first on SLAM.

The backcourt of Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell combined for 59 points last night as Edwards finished with 30 points and Russel with 29 points.

The Timberwolves finished the fourth quarter on a 23-11 run led by big shots from second-year star Edwards including this huge dunk.

THERE IT IS pic.twitter.com/epHTOH8dwF

— x – Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 13, 2022

Veteran guard Patrick Beverly was proud of the young star and let reporters know how he felt about him stepping up in the big moment.

“No one can guard him, and I been telling him that all year,” Beverly said. “I don’t care who plays him. I done seen the best defensive guys, and I’m one of the best defensive guys on earth. No one can guard him. Credit to him, his hard work and patience at a young age understanding what comes with the game. This is his moment, and he deserves all of it.”

The Timberwolves will meet the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs starting on April 16. Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant was excited to finally see who their first-round matchup would be, and made sure to show some love on Twitter by shouting out Edwards.

This season the Grizzlies and Timberwolves split their regular-season matchup at 2-2, so this matchup of up-and-coming stars should be very entertaining.

The post Patrick Beverley On Anthony Edwards’ 30-Piece: ‘No One Can Guard Him, and I Keep Preaching That to Him’ appeared first on SLAM.

Harden finished the game with 13 points shooting 3-for-12 from the floor. In the fourth quarter, he only had four points on 1-for-4 shooting. In addition, he added 15 assists and four rebounds.

This is the second straight game where the Sixers’ offense has not been efficient in the second half. Harden told the Sixers reporter Ky Carlin that the lack of spacing hurts his ability to attack the basket.

“Our spacing, It’s been like that the last few days. We just gotta watch film and just talk about it and make sure we’re in our spots.” Harden said. “I think our spacing helps us with not turning the basketball over and getting quality shots, possession by possession, that’s very, very important in the postseason.”

The Sixers will close out the season at home this weekend and will host the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. On April 16, they will begin their championship quest in the first round of the playoffs and will most likely meet the Raptors again.

The post James Harden On Reason He’s Not Attacking the Rim: ‘Our Spacing, We Gotta Watch Film and Talk’ appeared first on SLAM.

Tucker initially played college basketball at Florida Gulf Coast and transferred to Arkansas-Little Rock after two seasons. After sitting out his junior year due to transfer rules, Tucker averaged 20.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior. He was named to the second-team All-Sun Belt Conference and declared for the 2019 NBA Draft.

After going undrafted, Tucker signed with Wisconsin Herd and played for the Bucks’ summer league team, where he averaged 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in five games. In 16 games with the Herd, Tucker averaged 23.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists before eventually signing with the Utah Jazz mid-season in 2019-2020.

After stints with the Jazz and 76ers, Tucker returned to the Herd in August 2021 and averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 13 games. In December, he would sign 10-day contracts with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets before returning to the Herd for his third stint with the team.

Yesterday the Milwaukee Bucks waived forward DeAndre’ Bembry, who recently underwent season-ending knee surgery, opening a roster spot for Tucker.

The Bucks will close out the regular season on the road as they travel to Detroit and Cleveland to prepare for postseason action.

The post REPORT: Milwaukee Bucks Sign Rayjon Tucker to Multiyear Contract. appeared first on SLAM.

In the 127-121 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, the second-year star went 16-18 from the field and 6 of 14 from 3-point range. At 20-years-old, Edwards now has five 40-point games surpassing Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant, who both have four 40-point games before the age of 21. LeBron James is the only player above Edwards with eight.

With the Timberwolves on the brink of postseason action, Edwards feels excited about his team heading into the playoffs.

“I feel like we’re gonna make a real good run in the playoffs, and they need to be ready for us.” Edwards said per ESPN.

The Timberwolves will close out the regular season by hosting the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Next Tuesday, the Timberwolves and Clippers will match-up in the Play-In tournament, with the winner facing off against the two-seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoff.

The post Anthony Edwards On Clinching Play-In Spot: ‘I Feel Like We’re Gonna Make A Real Good Run’ appeared first on SLAM.

In Tuesday night’s 121-110 victory against the Lakers, the Suns were led by Devin Booker’s game-high 32 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, shooting 6-9 from three-point range.

After the game, Booker presented Suns radio legend Al McCoy with an autograph jersey to pay homage to the broadcast announcer who’s covered Suns basketball since 1972. As he presented McCoy with the jersey, he had a message for the announcer after achieving the franchise record.

“50th season baby, franchise record. Love you, man. Appreciate you for real.”

Booker, who many believe should be in the MVP conversation, is averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season. In addition, his defense has also impressed fans and Coach Monty Williams as he boasts about him never backing down from a matchup.

“I’ve said it since I’ve been here: he’s more than a scorer. He’s more than an offensive savant – whatever people call him,” Williams said per NBA.com. “The young man plays defense. He guards his position every night. He’s one of the best two-way players in the game. He doesn’t back down from a matchup. He should get All-Defensive (Team) mention just because of where we are defensively and what he means to our team defensively.”

The Suns will close out the season’s final three games by traveling to Los Angeles to face the Clippers and Utah to match up against the Jazz. Their season finale will be at home Sunday against the Sacramento Kings, and then they’ll wait to see who they face first in the playoffs after the NBA Play-In tournament.

The post Devin Booker Leads Suns to Franchise History Recording 63 Wins On the Season appeared first on SLAM.

The 22-year-old shot 61 percent from the field and 6-10 from three-point range to give the Heat their fifth straight win in the final week of the NBA season.

In a press conference after the game, Herro told reporters, “I’m playing the best I’ve ever played in my life.”

Herro is averaging 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game off the bench, making him a clear favorite for the sixth man of the year award. Lou Williams is the only other player to average at least 20 off the bench in the last 30 years.

As the season winds down to its final two regular-season games, the Heat are 2.5 games ahead of the Boston Celtics for first place in the Eastern Conference. With a playoff ticket already punched the Heat will end the season hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and traveling to Orlando to face the Magic Sunday.

The post Tyler Herro After Tying Dwyane Wade’s Scoring Record: ‘I’m Playing the Best I’ve Ever Played’ appeared first on SLAM.

Staley, who last won Coach of the year honors in 2020, is the only coach – male or female – to have won the Coach of the Year award and Naismith Player of the Year. While playing for Virginia, Staley won Naismith Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. 

In our SLAM 237 issue, Coach Staley opened up about coming to South Carolina and changing the culture of the school.

“When I first took the job here at South Carolina, I wanted to change the culture. I wanted to make sure that we’re all cut from the same cloth. I work hard, everybody around me works hard. So, we wanted that reciprocated, with everybody that has a hand in our program and the players are a big part of it.”

The culture has indeed changed for South Carolina, bringing home the school’s first national title in 2017 with WNBA star A’ja Wilson. In 2019, the Gamecocks brought in Aliyah Boston, and many believed she would be the next Wilson for the program.

This season, Boston has averaged a team-high 16.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, tallying a total of 428 rebounds and 87 blocks, which rank second and ninth nationally. She led the nation in double-doubles with 28, and her streak of 27 straight double-doubles from November 29 to March 25 was an SEC record.

In last week’s 80-50 Elite Eight win against Creighton, Boston finished with 19 points and seven rebounds to send the Gamecocks to its fourth Final Four in the last seven seasons.

The Gamecocks look to redeem themselves in the Final Four this year after last year’s loss to Stanford in that same round. Boston, who showed a lot of emotion after the game last year, told Slam they are using that loss to fuel this year’s run to another title.

“After the game, we were sad, obviously. But when the coaches came in, Coach Staley told us that she was proud of us and that we worked hard and basically that we’re going to use this to continue to fuel us. We didn’t get what we wanted this year, but we still have another shot,” Boston says. 

South Carolina will meet Louisville Friday at 7 PM to punch a ticket to the national championship game.

The post South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston and Dawn Staley Awarded Naismith Player of the Year and Coach of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

“Life has a way of coming full circle,” said Holloway, who starred at Seton Hall as a player and later was an assistant coach. “This is certainly a full-circle moment for my family and I. Seton Hall is near and dear to my heart; it’s where I became a man, where I met the love of my life, where I spent countless hours honing my crafts as a basketball player and a basketball coach.

“To say that I’m excited to get started as the head men’s basketball coach at Seton Hall University would be an understatement.”

Holloway played for the Pirates from 1996-2000, where he set the program record for career assists and led the Pirates to a Sweet 16 appearance as a senior. Holloway was also a three-time All-Big East selection and was named the Most Improved Player of the Year during his senior season.

In 1996 he played alongside NBA veterans Mike Bibby, Stephen Jackson, and Kobe Bryant in the 1996 McDonald’s All-American game. Holloway was awarded the Most Valuable Player after recording seven points, eight assists, and six steals.

After ending his playing career overseas, he began coaching in 2007 as an assistant for Iona. He returned to his alma mater Seton Hall in 2010 as an assistant and spent eight seasons under the Pirates.

In 2018, Holloway got his first head coaching position with St. Peter’s. He was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2022 and won the MAAC conference tournament this season to send the Peacocks to their fourth NCAA tournament appearance in program history and first since 2011.

During the 2022 NCAA tournament, St. Peters upset the two-seed Kentucky Wildcats in the first round, followed by wins against seventh-seed Murray State and third-seed Purdue. St. Peters became the first 15-seed to advance to the Elite Eight in tournament history.

The post St. Peter’s Coach Shaheen Holloway Has Been Named the New Coach For Seton Hall appeared first on SLAM.

This year the 21-year old is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds for the current fourth seed Sixers as he shares the backcourt with veteran James Harden.

In a 118-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last night, Maxey finished the game with seven points on 3-11 shooting from the floor. He played 40 minutes and tacked on six assists and one rebound.

Though it wasn’t his best performance, Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer gave the young star props on his game and the confidence he plays with on the floor.

“The thing that stands out more than anything is just his confidence.” Budenholzer told the SixerWire. He’s out there playing, having fun, competing, playing hard, taking shots, driving, attacking, he just plays with a ton of confidence for a young guy. It’s good for our League.”

After the trade of Ben Simmons to Brooklyn, Maxey has become a staple piece in the Sixers season. As the regular season wraps up, he’ll be a pivotal piece in the playoffs, especially as a shooter. The second-year guard is shooting 41.3 percent from three-point territory this season.

SLAM has followed the Kentucky product ever since his days in high school and participated in the 2018 Summer Classic in Dyckman Park. Seeing his skills translate to the pros shows the basketball community the League is indeed in good hands.

The post Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer on Tyrese Maxey: ‘He Plays With a Ton Of Confidence For a Young Guy’ appeared first on SLAM.

In Sunday’s 134-112 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Williams exited the game at the end of the third quarter and did not return. He finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“Don’t know exactly what happened,” head coach Ime Udoka said after the game, per ESPN. “He said it wasn’t even a specific play that he remembers, but came out of the game, had some pain, obviously went back to get checked out and was in quite a bit of pain, and he’ll get scanned in the morning and we’ll know then.”

According Woj, the team is awaiting a further evaluation.

In his fourth season, Williams is nearly averaging a double-double, including a career-high 10.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg and 2.2 blocks. He’s remained a prominent part of the C’s domination this year, including their rise to the No.1 spot in the Eastern Conference with a 47-28 record.

The Celtics are set to face the Raptors on Monday. However, it looks like they’ll have to play without their starting center. Udoka also said that both Al Horford will miss Monday’s matchup, as well as potentially Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

The post REPORT: Robert Williams Suffers Meniscus Tear, Out Indefinitely appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2000 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, suited up for nine different teams throughout his career.

After stints with the Bulls, Knicks, and Warriors, Crawford joined the Atlanta Hawks in ’09 where he backed up stars Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. He averaged 18 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists off the bench that year, leading to him winning his first Sixth Man of the Year award. In addition, he also set an all-time NBA record for most career four-point plays in 2010, surpassing Reggie Miller.

In 2019, Crawford put the perfect cherry on top to his legacy by becoming the oldest player to tally 50-plus points; a record previously held by Michael Jordan. During the game, Crawford shot 60 percent from the field, 7-of-13 from three-point range, and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Throughout his time in the NBA, Crawford has been a prominent figure in the basketball community with his filthy handles and crazy hoop mixtapes over the year. His game has opened the doors for many of the finesse players we see today such as Lou Williams, Immanuel Quickley, and Bones Hyland.

As we’ve said before, a moment of appreciation for all that he’s done for the game.

The post Three-Time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford Retires from the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Notre Dame went up against Rutger in a play-in game to determine who would match up with Alabama in the Round of 64.

In a game of back and forth, action from both teams, and double overtime, the Fighting Irish came out on top, winning 89-87 after a last-second shot by Paul Atkinson Jr. with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.

With the tournament starting on Thursday, the turnaround for Notre Dame is quick as they must travel to San Diego to play their first-round game against Alabama on Friday.

After the game, Coach Mike Brey told his team on the plane that “Sleep is overrated” as the team celebrates their bid into the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

The post Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey On Quick Turnaround: ‘Sleep is Overrated’ appeared first on SLAM.

Marcus Smart came up huge with some big shots down the stretch and finished the game with 20 points, eight assists, and four rebounds.

In addition, the defensive presence Smart had against the high-powered Warriors team allowed for the Celtics to dominate on both sides of the ball. Jayson Tatum interrupted Smart’s post-game interview to let the country know Smart deserves a Defensive Player of the Year bid.

“This the Defensive Player of the Year. I know it’s been big men lately, but they gotta go back to the guards.” Tatum said.

The Celtics held the Warriors to 88 points, the 11th time Beantown has held a team to 90 points or fewer in a game. They currently have the top defensive rating in the League at 105.5. 

Smart this season has a total of 72 steals and 23 blocks. The last guard to win DPOY honors was Gary Payton in 1995-96, who finished with 231 steals and 19 blocks that season.

This win put the Celtics (42-28) have won eight of their last 10, winning six of their previous seven making them one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference. They are sitting at fourth in the East right now and look to continue the winning as they prepare to play the Kings on Friday.

The post Jayson Tatum on Marcus Smart: ‘This is the Defensive Player of the Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

Mike Singer of the Denver Post reported that it’s a toss-up on when we will see Murray back on the court this season. His time with Grand Rapids Gold will only consist of 5-on-5 action in practice and not full gameplay.

Jamal Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 48 games in 2020-21. With the Nuggets (41-28) currently sitting sixth in the Western Conference the return of the Blue Arrow would make the Nuggets a serious post-season contender.

We linked up with Jamal Murray to talk about creativity, music, mindfulness and Bruce Lee. Read his SLAM 230 cover story: https://t.co/m8J6UEeQKf pic.twitter.com/H1D6JswiAd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 23, 2020

The post REPORT: Nuggets Assign Jamal Murray to the NBA G League appeared first on SLAM.

The seven-footer is the team-leading scorer averaging 14.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three-point territory this season. Holmgren also became the second player in school history to block 100 shots in a single season.

Gonzaga Coach Mark Few shared his thoughts on Holmgren in a press conference after the WCC championship game on how much the freshman has grown and adapted to college play.

“He’s had his bouts with struggling early this season; he’s adapted extremely well this year. I think the officials this year has gotten away with letting players hold and grab on to him, and when it turns into a wrestling match, it can be hard for him to function. He’s incredibly gifted, strong, and tough. The stature may not show, but as we get into March, if the games are called correctly, he can be a really effective player.”

Selection Sunday for March Madness will be this weekend, and Gonzaga will likely be a one-seed going into the tournament. Winning the last 19 of their previous 20 games, Gonzaga looks to finally be the last team dancing this year after two devastating national championship losses in 2017 and 2021.

The post Mark Few on Freshman Chet Holmgren: ‘He’s Adapted Well This Year; He is Physically and Mentally Tough’ appeared first on SLAM.

Eubanks declared for the 2018 NBA Draft after a junior year campaign where Eubanks averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. After going undrafted, Eubanks signed a Summer League deal with the Spurs. He played well enough to garner a two-way deal from the organization. Eubanks went on to play four seasons in San Antonio, where he averaged 4.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

This past February, Eubanks, Thaddeus Young and a 2022 second-round selection were traded to the Toronto Raptors for Goran Dragić and a 2022 first-round draft selection. He was eventually waived and remained unsigned until Portland picked him up.

Sources: Full Spurs-Raptors deal:

Raptors: Thad Young, Drew Eubanks, 2022 Pistons second-rounder

Spurs: Goran Dragic, Toronto 2022 first-rounder (protected 1-14, protected 1-13 in 2023, turning into future seconds)

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 10, 2022

With a new beginning in Portland, Eubanks looks to continue to impress the organization as they travel up to play the Minnesota Timberwolves this weekend.

The post Trail Blazers Sign Drew Eubanks to Second 10-day contract appeared first on SLAM.

With 20 consecutive double-doubles on the season, Boston averaged 16.8 points and 11.9 rebounds to lead the Gamecocks to an impressive 27-1 record and the No.1 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament.

In addition to this, Boston and point guard Destanni Henderson was voted First Team All-SEC by the league’s head coaches. Henderson averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Junior guard Zia Cooke was named Second Team All-SEC after putting up 11.5 points per game, good for third on the team. After leading the Gamecocks to their sixth regular-season title, coach Dawn Staley was named SEC Coach of the Year for the fifth time.

“The main goal is just coming here, winning every game and making it all the way,” Boston said after a February 17 victory over Auburn. 

The Gamecocks have their sites set on the SEC tournament in Nashville this weekend after leading the women’s basketball rankings for much of the season. The Gamecocks will meet the winner of the Arkansas and Missouri matchup in the quarterfinal round. Winning the SEC tournament will likely cement their status as No.1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.

South Carolina is also looking for their seventh conference title since 2015 and completing a three-peat for the first time since winning four straight championships from 2015-2018.

The post SEC Names Aliyah Boston The 2022 SEC Player of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

Towns shot 14-22 from the floor and 8-11 from the free-throw line, which now puts the Timberwolves five games above the .500 mark sitting at 34-29 on the season. Former All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell knew that the key to victory over the Warriors (43-19) was to keep feeding the big fella the rock.

DOMINANT.

39 and 9 for KAT pic.twitter.com/48DTTjpwAS

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 2, 2022

“Feed him, feed him, feed him. If you run out of food, feed him the fork. I don’t know. Keep feeding him.” Russell told Wolves beat reporter Dane Moore.

Russell finished the game with 20 points and seven assists.

With guard Anthony Edwards sitting out with knee tendinitis, KAT prioritized setting the tempo and raising the competitive spirits for the entire team.

“You’re playing the Golden State Warriors; you know how everyone feels about that. You wake up with a different energy and a different vibe.” Towns said to ESPN.

DLo in the 4th is automatic. (via @Timberwolves) pic.twitter.com/h7QKIyqt5G

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 2, 2022

The Timberwolves will travel to Oklahoma City in a matchup against the Thunder to extend their winning streak to seven games. Through the leadership of Anthony Towns, Edwards, and Russell, the Timberwolves have emerged as a playoff threat. As of Wednesday, Minnesota is squarely in the play-in battle at the seventh seed in the Western Conference standings.

If the standings remain, the T-Wolves will make their first playoff appearance since 2018, when they were gentlemen swept by the Houston Rockets.

The post D’Angelo Russell on Karl-Anthony Towns’ Big Night: ‘Feed Him, Feed Him, Feed Him’ appeared first on SLAM.

Before tipoff, Pittsburgh played a tribute video to Krzyzewski where Sam Clancy, Dick Groat, and Coach Jeff Capel shared heartwarming remarks to the Duke coach.

“Coach, congratulations on the most amazing career in basketball. You have given so much to the game and given so much to us that have been fortunate enough to play for you. I’m grateful for you, I appreciate you, I love you and wish you nothing but happiness and joy in stepping away from the game” Capel said.

Capel played for Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils from 1993 to 1997. In 2011, he joined the Blue Devils coaching staff as an associate head coach until 2018, when he took the Pittsburgh head coaching position.

Duke’s 86-54 dub over Pittsburgh clinched a share of the Blue Devils’ first ACC regular-season title since 2010-2011 and ensured that they’re the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC tournament with a 27-4 record.

This weekend, Krzyzewski will coach the final home game of his career against bitter rival North Carolina in the last chapter of his rivalry with the Tobacco Road powerhouse.

The post Jeff Capel on Coach K: ‘Congratulations on the Most Amazing Career in Basketball’ appeared first on SLAM.

With a team built around a lot of upcoming players, head coach Eric Spoelstra leans on his superstars, including Jimmy Butler, to make the plays needed to win. Butler is currently averaging 21.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.8 assist on the season.

“I don’t dial him back. We have our team rules, and then there’s the Jimmy Butler rules,” Spoelstra said to Brady Hawk. “He can do whatever he wants because he can do some things I’ve never seen before–particularly when he’s on the weak side. The only guy you can compare it to is really when Dwyane [Wade] in his prime, would just be an incredible, instinctual playmaker off the ball. Jimmy can be that guy.”

The Miami Heat will look to extend their five-game winning streak on Wednesday as they matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The post Erik Spoelstra on Jimmy Butler: ‘He Can Do Some Things I’ve Never Seen Before’ appeared first on SLAM.

The sophomore guard, who suffered the injury against Notre Dame on December 5, has been sidelined for six games this season. Prior to the injury, Bueckers was averaging 21.2 points, 6.2 assist, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals.

“About a month ago, she walked in to athletic training room and she had a big swollen knee and everybody said ‘this is not good,’ and ‘this is going to set you back a long time,’” head coach Geno Auriemma said, per the Hartford Courant. “And she came back two days later and it was gone. I said, ‘what happened?’ and she said, ‘I’m different. I told God I needed the swelling to go down, and it went down.’

“I kid you not, this is the kind of stuff I’ve got to listen to. So the kid just has this knack. She heals at her own pace. We’ll see what happens. ‘Punxsutawney Paige’ If she sees her shadow, two more weeks of rehab? I don’t know.”

Bueckers return comes in at a more perfect time in the season as the Huskies prepare for their final two regular season games ahead of the Big East tournament.

The post UConn’s Paige Bueckers Returns From Injury, Expected to Play Tonight appeared first on SLAM.

DeRozan finished the game with 37 points shooting 71 percent from the field, making it his ninth straight 30-point game, a career-high for the veteran. In addition, this is DeRozan’s eighth consecutive game with at least 35 points on 50 percent shooting extending his record farther past Wilt Chamberlain’s run.

DEMAR IN THE CLUTCH ONCE AGAIN. STOP PLAYING W HIM! (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/UFec31CVoT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 25, 2022

“You love it, and you hate it,” DeRozan said. “Of course, you don’t want to be down and have the pressure on yourself to try to pull out a game. But when you’re in those moments, you’ve got to take it on. I love the moments. I love the challenge. I love the opportunity. It’s fun to me.”

KING OF THE FOURTH! @DeMar_DeRozan | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/tb3YXUDeER

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 25, 2022

The Chicago Bulls sit at 39-21 and are back at the top of the Eastern Conference standings at number one. Without veteran guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, the Bulls have continued to lean on the veteran experience of DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Zach LaVine.

The Bulls will look to extend their winning streak on Saturday against the Grizzlies.

The post DeMar DeRozan On Clutch Moments: ‘You’ve Got to Take It on. I Love the Moments’ appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN story on guard Jevon Carter planning to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks: https://t.co/LfR0lRHuEy

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 22, 2022

After signing Goran Dragic on Monday, the Brooklyn Nets waived Carter after averaging 3.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in 46 games this season with the Nets.

Carter joins a Bucks team that needs extra depth at guard after Pat Connaughton suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal on his right hand that will have him sidelined for four weeks. The Bucks are fifth in the Eastern Conference at 36-24. They have 22 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.

The West Virginia alum will be joining his fourth NBA team after being drafted to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018 and spending two seasons with the Phoenix Suns from 2019-2021. If he clears waivers by Saturday, he will make his debut with the Bucks when the defending champs play against the Brooklyn Nets.

The post Jevon Carter to Sign With Reigning Champion Milwaukee Bucks appeared first on SLAM.

The undrafted rookie out of LSU made a significant impact on the Blazers, averaging 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in their last ten games.

ESPN Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers are signing two-way rookie forward Trendon Watford to a new four-year, $5.8M deal that’ll include two non-guaranteed seasons. Blazers are also waiving guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is out several weeks with an elbow injury.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 21, 2022

The Blazers will also waive guard Dennis Smith Jr. after Portland announced he suffered a high-grade tear of the UCL in his right elbow that’s kept him sidelined since February 11.

never I won’t surrender & always I’m gon remember… check the date https://t.co/VbEPV9SwrK

— Trendon Watford (@trendonw) February 21, 2022

In 2019, Watford was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and played two seasons for the LSU Tigers, where he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2020. In his sophomore campaign with the Tigers, he averaged 16.3 points per game and 7.4 rebounds, leading LSU to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Trail Blazers (25-34) return to action against the Warriors (42-17).

The post Trendon Watford Signs Four-Year Deal With the Portland Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

Zion Williamson was supposed to return to practice in December, but he began experiencing soreness in his right foot, per https://t.co/VkatKRyY6a

“It is possible he will need a second surgery on his right foot, sources said, but nothing has been decided.” pic.twitter.com/CXDZDnmo6r

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) February 16, 2022

Williamson has reportedly been rehabbing his foot in Portland, Oregon. Back in November, he was cleared for full team activities, but his return was delayed in December due to soreness in his foot.

Last month, he admitted that the process has been “difficult” via an official team statement:

“As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult process for me. I know there’s work to be done in my recovery before I can safely return to the court, but I will continue to put in the time necessary so I can get back on the floor with my team and represent Pelicans fans and the city of New Orleans at the highest level. Basketball means everything to me, and I am thankful for the Pelicans organization and everyone who has surrounded me with love and support throughout this journey – my family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans, and everybody who has stood behind me and uplifted me when I needed it most.”

The Pelicans, who are ranked No.11 in the West right now, will surely look forward to their franchise star’s return. Zion averaged 27.0 points 7.2 boards last season.

The post REPORT: Pelicans Zion Williamson May Need a Second Surgery on Right Foot appeared first on SLAM.