There was a time when every hooper wanted to rap, and every rapper wanted to hoop.

Hip-hop and hoops is a marriage that can’t be divorced. In its truest essence, they’ve been partners since the musical genre was first created in the early 1970s. Hip-hop’s rhythm resonated from the Bronx and cascaded over hardwood surfaces and blacktops across the globe. It’s a dance that moves through crowds and invites participants to sing along to the melody of its hook.

This inseparable union is why Shaq featured Biggie, why AI sparked a dress code, why Kobe took Brandy to the prom. It’s Funk Flex DJing the Dunk Contest. It’s Drake’s commitment to the Raptors games. It’s LeBron throwing up the Roc. It’s The Knuckleheads. It’s Stephon Marbury. It’s Jigga bringing the Nets to Brooklyn. It’s an AND1 Mixtape. It’s the Knickstape. It’s why SLAM exists.

It’s why a young rapper named Dame D.O.L.L.A. would raise the bar by rocking a throwback Bill Walton Blazers jersey and a mic around his neck for SLAM 205. It was 2017, and at just one album deep (another would drop later that year), he had proven that music was more than a mere hobby. It had started from childhood when his cousin drove from New York to Dame’s boyhood home in Oakland in the early ’90s, bringing hip-hop with him. Dame just wanted to be in the car. Another family member and gifted MC, Brookfield Duece, would demonstrate that music was in his blood. It would never leave.

Although Drake had broken new ground by joining Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan on a SLAM cover the year before, SLAM 205 was the first time that we’d ever had a solo cover with a rapper front and center. It was “The Music Issue,” a momentous celebration of the basketball/music crossover that was executed with an intentionality that had only been alluded to previously.

Following this introduction to the basketball universe, Dame D.O.L.L.A. would go on to release four more albums and gain ongoing respect in his field. He would work with the likes of Jadakiss, 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne. He would contribute to the soundtrack of NBA 2K and enjoy recognition on the indie album charts. And he shows no signs of putting the mic down.

There was a time when every hooper wanted to rap, and every rapper wanted to hoop. Dame is pretty good at both.

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Campers receive mentorship from current and former NBA players and follow an advanced training regimen designed to prepare them for the next level. In addition, every camper participates in group discussions and classes centering on topics such as stress management, recruiting pressures and more. 

Since ’94, hundreds of NBA players have come through the Top 100 Camp. This year’s event is set to take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, FL, from June 8-13.

But first, to celebrate 30 incredible years, we’re looking back at the top 30 NBPA members who have hit the court at the Top 100 Camp.

30. Zach LaVine 

Of all the high-flyers on this list, Zach LaVine might have the craziest hops. At 6-5, 200 pounds, he somehow makes zipping past defenders, soaring through the air and punching a nasty jam over a seven-footer look effortless. His jaw-dropping highlights and incredible performances in dunk contests—like his legendary duel with Aaron Gordon in 2016—alone make him a suitable candidate for this list, but LaVine is also a two-time All-Star and an elite all-around scorer who has averaged over 20 points per game for his career. 

29. Zion Williamson 

It’s rare for a high school player to land on the cover of SLAM. But then again, it’s rare for a high school player to be like Zion Williamson was in 2017. The kid from Spartanburg, SC, demanded our attention, regularly going viral on social media for his unfathomable dunks and blocks. The eventual cover line: “He’s 16. He’s 6-7. He’s explosive like Russ. He dunks like LeBron. Are you ready for Zion Williamson?” No lies told. In fact, at the Top 100 Camp in 2016, he was named MVP. Unfortunately, the Zion experience has been limited in the NBA due to injuries, but when the New Orleans Pelicans star has been healthy, he’s been an unstoppable force who still lights up social media.

28. Bam Adebayo

In an interview with SLAM in 2019, Jimmy Butler described his teammate Bam Adebayo—now a 3x All-Star—perfectly: “He works super hard and he’s everywhere on the floor. You need him to pass it, he can pass it. He rebounds, he handles the ball, he sets great screens. You can’t take him off the floor. He’s a key part to what we want to do and what we will continue to do. [Head coach Erik Spoelstra] knows—in order to win, you gotta have Bam out there on the floor.” That all still applies today.

27. De’Aaron Fox

Don’t blink—you might miss De’Aaron Fox do something spectacular. The lightning quick guard was a McDonald’s All-American in high school, ranked as one of the top recruits in the nation. He went to the University of Kentucky for one year, starring alongside Bam Adebayo and Malik Monk, before entering the 2017 NBA Draft, where he was picked fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings. Slowly but surely, Fox has developed into an All-Star and made the Kings exciting and relevant for the first time in a long time. 

26. Karl-Anthony Towns

We have seen very few big men in the history of the NBA with the versatility and skill set of Karl-Anthony Towns. That’s to say: We have seen very few big men in the history of the NBA who are just as comfortable behind the arc and in the mid-range as they are in the paint. KAT, now 28, stands seven feet tall, has averaged 10.8 rebounds per game over his nine seasons in the League and is a career 40 percent three-point shooter. And he just helped lead the best Timberwolves team in two decades all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

25. DeAndre Jordan

During those peak Lob City years, DeAndre Jordan owned the paint for the Los Angeles Clippers. He controlled the glass, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game from 2013-18. He protected the rim, averaging 1.8 blocks over that same span. And occasionally, he threw down a dunk so vicious, so powerful, so unbelievable, that teammates and fans were left wondering what the hell just happened (please go rewatch his poster on Brandon Knight). Jordan now brings veteran leadership to the Denver Nuggets, where he helped the franchise capture its first championship in 2023.

24. Donovan Mitchell

Twelve teams passed on Spida in the 2017 NBA Draft. Twelve. Mitchell, who hails from Elmsford, NY, and went to college at Louisville, made most of those teams regret that decision almost immediately. He averaged 20.5 points as a rookie and was an All-Star by his third season. He’s now made five straight All-Star Games, including in 2023 when he was named a starter. Very few players in the League possess Mitchell’s combination of athleticism and skill. To put it plainly: the explosive guard—currently on the NBPA Executive Committee—is impossible to stop. And at 27 years old, he’s just entering his prime.

23. Al Horford

For the past 16 years, Big Al has been a big presence in the NBA. The reliable center is still playing a pivotal role for a historically good Boston Celtics team that just tore its way through the Eastern Conference. Horford was a star at Grand Ledge High School in Michigan, won back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida (2006, 2007) and has been named an All-Star five times during his lengthy NBA career (four times with the Hawks, once with the Cs). And he ain’t done yet. 

22. Kyle Lowry

When he entered the League in 2006, Kyle Lowry didn’t take off right away. In fact, it wasn’t until his fifth season in the NBA that the 6-0 point guard, who had been traded by the Grizzlies to the Rockets in ’09, became a permanent starter. Lowry hasn’t looked back since, guiding teams in Houston, Toronto, Miami and Philly with his hard-nosed, aggressive, energetic style of play—a style that has made him a fan favorite and earned him six All-Star selections. In the North, where he won a championship in 2019, Lowry will always be known as Mr. Raptor.

21. Baron Davis 

Baron Davis was an artist with the basketball. Ridiculous dribble packages, flashy assists, monster posters—the 1997 Gatorade National Player of the Year and two-time NBA All-Star always put on a show. After starring at UCLA, Davis was the third overall pick in the 1999 Draft and helped lead a formidable Hornets team for the first stretch of his pro career. He later joined the iconic “We Believe” Warriors squad that advanced to the second round of the 2007 playoffs as a No. 8 seed. Injuries robbed us of more years watching him play, no question, but when the electrifying guard was at his best, that was some of the most entertaining ball to watch.

The post NBPA Top 100 Camp Top 30 Players: 30-21 appeared first on SLAM.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in trading for Lowry too. The Timberwolves could move D’Angelo Russell to Miami for Lowry, and the Lakers have reportedly decided to stand pat at the trade deadline.

The Heat are still finding itself at the moment. Miami (23-20) is eighth in the Eastern Conference standings due to a dearth of injuries to key players like Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Victor Oladipo. Lowry is averaging 13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Miami trading Lowry could help them create a younger backcourt that could help reverse their fortunes for the season. Making a move with either the Lakers or T-Wolves could help them make a move in the offseason in the draft or the free agent.

Miami will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon.

The post REPORT: Lakers, Timberwolves Interested in Trading for Kyle Lowry appeared first on SLAM.

He just turned 23 in September, but Precious Achiuwa has already lived a lifetime’s worth of experiences.

Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the 6-8 forward did not start playing basketball until eighth grade, when he moved to the Bronx to play at Our Savior Lutheran School. From there, his hoops journey took him to St Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, followed by a year at Montverde Academy in Florida before he joined the University of Memphis. After winning AAC Player of the Year as a freshman, Achiuwa entered the 2020 NBA Draft and was taken 20th overall by the Miami Heat.

Following a rookie season of learning under the tutelage of Jimmy Butler, Andre Iguodala and Udonis Haslem, Achiuwa was lying in his bed inside the Olympic Village in Tokyo, Japan, where he was representing the Nigerian national team in the summer of 2021, when he got a text from a friend. “You getting traded bro?” the message read. Achiuwa went on Twitter and found out he had indeed been traded to the Toronto Raptors, who were sending Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade to the Heat.

When I met Achiuwa inside a dimly-lit contemporary Italian eatery in the heart of downtown Toronto for dinner in early November, the first order of business wasn’t discussing his season—one in which he’s averaging 8.8 ppg and 7 rpg, as we went to press. On this evening, it was to figure out which bottle to order off the wine menu. Over the next few hours, Achiuwa shares with me all of his off-the-court curiosities, a reflection of the new worlds he’s discovered since moving to North America.

He’s tried Port wines (which I learned is a sweet, red, fortified wine from Portugal), sampled different reds, including Bordeaux, Malbec and this evening’s choice, a Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. He’s saved this one on his wine app, which tracks everything he’s tried. He even has a vintage bottle from the Opus One Winery in Napa Valley at his home. He’s waiting for a special occasion to crack that one open. More importantly, he’s put all his friends—who were once skeptical—on to wine.

Achiuwa decided to move to New York at the age of 14 to be closer to his brother, God’sgift, who was playing basketball at St. John’s. In the Big Apple, he discovered a wide range of ethnic cuisine. Since being traded to Toronto, Achiuwa has tapped into the city’s diversity in food. Foran upscale dining experience, he prefers Via Allegro Ristorante, which also boasts a 5,000-bottle wine cellar. Achiuwa is among many Raptor players who have become regulars at Pai, a Northern Thai spot near Scotiabank Arena. His favorite restaurant in the city is Patois, known for its award-winning jerk chicken/Asian/Caribbean cuisine.

There’s a general curiosity within Achiuwa’s soul. Every hobby is a new deep dive. During the pandemic, he started to learn how to DJ, and after a cameo appearance behind the turntables at a recent team function, he’s now exploring the idea of DJing more events. There’s also fashion, something Achiuwa didn’t start to care about until high school. He admits his style isn’t meant to be flashy, like some of his NBA counterparts. He prefers his outfits to be personal and pay homage to Nigeria. This was evident in his Draft night suit, which Achiuwa picked out himself. The jacket was customized with his siblings’ names (Promise, Grace, God’sgift, Peace and God’s Will) stitched on the inside lining. He also wore an Aso Oke hat to pay homage to his home country. This summer, Achiuwa attended New York Fashion Week for the third time and rubbed shoulders with A-listers at the GQ party. He has started to work with his friends to design and produce one-of-one pieces for his tunnel entrances.

While he enjoys spending time expanding his wine palate, discovering new food spots and dipping his toes into fashion, Achiuwa knows it is the sport of basketball that has allowed him to discover the world. When our conversation turns to his improbable journey from Nigeria to the NBA, I ask him if he realizes how crazy his life story is to an outsider hearing it for the first time. As he finishes his glass of wine, he entertains the question and laughs.

“I think about it all the time,” he says. “Where I am right now, it makes sense, but it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes I sit and think, How did I end up here?”

To fully appreciate how far he has come, Achiuwa had to return to where it all began. He traveled back to Port Harcourt this summer for the first time in seven years to host a basketball camp through his non-profit foundation, WHAT IF UNLIMITED. After he announced the camp on his social media, kids from all over his home country started designing custom flyers to drum up excitement for the event. When Achiuwa arrived at the gym on the first day of camp, which had been planned for 350 kids, there was almost double the number in attendance. The four-day camp, which included a tournament on the final day, helped put Achiuwa’s entire journey into perspective.

“It was amazing,” he says. “These kids have probably never been around an NBA player before, and for them to see someone from the same place as them, that was special.”

The camp also allowed him to reunite with friends and family. He convinced his childhood friends to fly in from different parts of the country to play a pick-up game together, as they reminisced about how they would spend their weekends growing up trash talking each other on the court. By the end of the trip, Achiuwa was reinvigorated and felt a new sense of purpose and responsibility. The camp also changed how he viewed his stature as an NBA player.

“I told the kids that I got more out of the camp than they did,” he says. “It was a reminder of where I’m from and a reminder that I can’t take this for granted. I had no idea all these kids looked up to me.”

He already has plans to set up another camp back home.

Not long ago, Achiuwa was one of those kids, convincing his family to make the six-hour drive from his hometown to Lagos so he could attend a basketball camp organized by the Giants of Africa Foundation. “I was, like, 12,” he says. “I was probably the youngest camper they ever had.” (The foundation is run by Masai Ujiri, the current president of basketball operations for the Raptors.) The camp and the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program ignited Achiuwa’s interest in basketball and eventually landed him in the United States.

Now, everyone in Port Harcourt is rooting for him as he continues to grow with an up-and-coming team in Toronto. Playing for the only Canadian team in the League has allowed Achiuwa to have yet another brand-new experience in a new country. It’s the first time he’s gone to the grocery store and found bagged milk. The first time he hopped on the highway, Achiuwa was confused by the speed limit signs, which were in kilometers. “I saw 100,” he says, “and I was like, What?! Is this NASCAR? Then I got on the highway, and everyone was driving so slow.”

The stereotype of Canadians being generally nicer than their neighboring Americans has also been proven true. “When I first came here, people were so nice to me that I was confused,” Achiuwa says. “I had to start telling people there’s nothing to be sorry about. I still have to tell people that.” In Toronto, he’s also discovered the city’s enthusiasm for their basketball team. “The best fan base in the NBA,” he says. “It’s not even close.”

In his third NBA season, Achiuwa now has the potential to become a core piece on a Raptors team hoping to return to contention in the Eastern Conference with a full roster of athletic wings. After a promising finish to the ’21-22 season, Toronto is looking to him to take another step forward. And following a summer trip back home, the motivation is bigger than ever for him to become one of the best young players in the League. He wants to continue setting an example for those following him closely in Nigeria home.

“I want to be one of the most respected players in the NBA,” Achiuwa says. “I’m a role model for the kids back home. It’s given me a different type of fire.”

Photo via Getty Images.

The post Inside Precious Achiuwa’s Deep Curiosity for the World and the Fire that Drives Him appeared first on SLAM.

However, the two threes that Thompson hit moved him into some very elite NBA company. Coming off a recent game where he had just moved up to 13th in the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list, Thompson is also the 13th NBA player ever to make 2,000 career three-pointers.

Thompson now joins Stephen Curry, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, James Harden, Kyle Korver, Vince Carter, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry, and Paul Pierce as the only NBA players ever to accomplish such a milestone.

Becoming a part of such an elite group of sharpshooters must feel great to Thompson after battling his way back to form after suffering an Achilles injury in 2020 after just returning from an ACL injury in 2019.

This 2023 season has been sort of a “revenge tour” for Thompson, as he has trying to block out the noise and prove to the doubters that he’s still got it. Admittedly Thompson has come out and said that comments about his game “slipping” have hurt, but he knows that he can’t please everybody.

While it is a great career moment for Thompson, he and the Warriors look to get back on the winning track Thursday against the Indiana Pacers.

The post Klay Thompson Becomes the 13th NBA Player to Knock Down 2K Threes appeared first on SLAM.

The aggressive play of star center Bam Adebayo and the leadership of Kyle Lowry have brought the team to four victories in their last five games, with the most notable one being this past Friday against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

A game that featured the return of Miami superstar Jimmy Butler saw the forward shatter the hearts of the 19-5 Celtics by hitting one clutch shot after another. After the game, he posed high confidence in the Heat and its resiliency in tight situations but most notably made a promise to team President and all-time NBA legend Pat Riley, as he hopes this season shapes up to be Riley’s 10th championship run.

“When you’re talking about the Heat,” Butler said. “Deep run into the playoffs, championship caliber, that’s the second two is about. You put the two together, Pat Riley; we’re getting your 10th championship.”

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Butler came within reach of Riley’s 10th title on two separate occasions, as in the 2020 NBA Finals, the Heat came up short against the Los Angeles Lakers, losing the series 4-2. Last season, the Heat were once again in the Eastern Conference Finals against the rivaled Celtics, and in Game 7, Butler missed a critical go-ahead three-point shot in the final 18 seconds to give Boston the opportunity to ice the game and move on to the championship series against the Golden State Warriors.

Though the Heat hasn’t looked themselves this season, when Butler is on the court, his elite level of play places him in the upper echelon of star players across the League. He’s currently averaging 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.

The Heat Culture embodies a ‘bounce back’ mentality through their grit and determination on the floor, and Butler has certainly embraced it. However, at 33-years-old, time is certainly closing on him to achieve the dream of winning a championship.

Butler is capable of taking on the challenge on his own, but basketball is a team game, and Heat fans know that if a championship comes to South Beach, it’ll have to be a high-level team effort.

“We’re still going to win the championship, and I don’t care what nobody says,” Butler said on the early struggle of the Heat. “Count us out. We’re going to win the f—— championship. I’m telling you.”

The post Jimmy Butler to Pat Riley: ‘We’re Getting Your 10th Championship’ appeared first on SLAM.

A left knee tendinosis diagnosis has kept Oladipo sidelined for all 21 games Miami has played. Head coach Erik Spoelstra says, “I do not have a timeline” for when he can return.

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Oladipo could be the difference-maker for a struggling Heat team this season. In the Heat’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, Oladipo averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals off the bench.

Although the stats won’t show it, his best performance was against Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics, holding Brown to four crucial turnovers in the second half to force a Game 7 that ultimately highlighted his perimeter defensive skillset.

The guard play of the Heat has taken its strides from last season as Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry, and Tyler Herro are all playing to their capabilities, but Oladipo would be a bonus to a bench unit that has struggled to generate turnovers defensively, being third worst in the League.

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The situation for Oladipo can’t be as troubled as it was to start the season, however, as he has now been putting in reps with the squad in their current road trip. With Spoelstra wishing to coach a healthy lineup, adding Oladipo to team practices could help ease him into a minimal playing status.

“He’s on this trip for a reason, to continue to get good work, but also to get the connection piece, the fellowship piece with our guys,” Spoelstra said. “It’s really important. That’s as important for him, being out, just being around the group.”

The post Erik Spoelstra: ‘I Do Not Have a Timeline’ For Victor Oladipo’s Return appeared first on SLAM.

With three of the four losses coming down to the wire, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra feels the quality of his star players on the court, can set a difference in a short amount of minutes.

“At some point, hopefully, we’ll be getting some guys back,” Spoelstra said per Sports Illustrated. “Even if they’re not fully 100 percent, even if they’re close enough, maybe they can give us a little bit of reinforcement, even if it’s just short minutes. That’s where we are right now.”

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The Heat is dealing with a loss of their defensive identity in just one season. They were one of the best defensive teams last season; now, the Heat are currently tied for 14th in the League with the Atlanta Hawks, who both hold a 111.1 defensive rating. They average the second lowest blocks, even with the 16 out of the 18 games Adebayo has played.

Kyle Lowry isn’t the same focal point of an offense as he once was, but he has kept the Heat within reach in the last four games while averaging 18.3 points and 7.3 assists. The resurgence of Lowry is encouraging, considering his struggling performance in last year’s playoffs, but it’ll have to remain once Butler returns and looks to reclaim his spot as Miami’s top scorer.

“Just give us whatever you have,” Spoelstra said. “Whatever you have, just give us. If you’re used to playing 30 minutes, just give us 15. If you’re used to playing 20 minutes, give us eight, so we can kind of manage things right now.”

For now, the Heat remains without several of their former All-Stars, and it may stay that way for the time coming. Questions are piling up, and a fired-up Spoelstra may be the finishing touch to what has been a roller-coaster season for South Beach.

The post Head Coach Erik Spoelstra Awaits The Return Of Star Players appeared first on SLAM.

It wasn’t the prettiest of victories to their now three-game win streak, as the Suns held a 13 point-advantage at one point, but the dominance of Bam Adebayo showed up at the perfect time in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 30 points.

His two-way play seems to be pushing the team in the right direction, as his screens and playmaking are getting Caleb Martin and Kyle Lowry in much needed rhythm.

After the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke on the value Adebayo provides on both sides of the ball and how his responsibilities can benefit the rest of the team.

“He’s such a winner. He’s an absolute winner,” said Spoelstra. “He can morph into so many different roles for us where he makes it look so much easier to the average fan – everybody just wants him to score 40.”

Adebayo had been off to a slow start for the first seven games of the season, resulting in the Heat winning just two games in October. Now, winners of five of their seven games in November, Adebayo has jumped his averages to 20.7 points per game, 10.3 rebounds, and 40 assists per game on 52.7 percent shooting from the field.

The Heat is doing better once Adebayo takes over a game, but as co-star Jimmy Butler mentioned last week, Miami’s defense is “not where it needs to be.”

With a 111.8 defensive rating, the Heat are 17th in the League in that category, a major drop from their fourth-best rating last season. However, the team is third in the League in points allowed in the paint (44.7), courtesy of Adebayo’s anchoring down inside.

“Understanding how to read defenses and what’s necessary for this team,” said Spoelstra on Adebayo. “when to be assertive, when to create for others, when to set screens for guys, look, I’ve never coached really somebody where there’s been so many different responsibilities,”

Spoelstra has taken leadership over legends like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and of course, Butler, the current face of the team. Encouraging words like the one Spoelstra said on Adebayo should factor into how confident the big man plays the rest of the year.

The post Erik Spoelstra: Bam Adebayo ‘Can Morph into Many Different Roles’ appeared first on SLAM.

Last night’s 116-109 victory versus the Golden State Warriors was a huge statement win for Miami, as Kyle Lowry (13 points, nine assists, five rebounds) made history, passing Jason Kidd for 12th on the NBA’s all-time made three-pointers list after going 3-8 from beyond the arc. The Heat’s sharpshooters Max Strus and Duncan Robinson also came alive off the bench to combine for 41 points to power Miami to the win!

Lowry finished the game with 13 points on 50 percent shooting (5-10), nine assists, and five rebounds. The Strus got loose and went for 24 points to lead the team in scoring, making eight of his seventeen shots and shooting forty percent from deep. Then the icing on the cake was Robinson, who contributed 17 points on 62.5 percent shooting from three.

“For us to get a win like that is huge for us with how our season has gone thus far,” Strus said in a postgame interview with Bally Sports Sun’s Will Manso. “To grind one out, out of the mud, and win one like that is huge for our confidence, and hopefully, it pushes our momentum forward.”

Manso also caught up with Robinson postgame and asked about the Heat’s “next man up” mentality. Robinson had this to say following his hot shooting night;

“We’re a deep team, so somebody goes down, different guys are going to step up and try to contribute.”

Miami seems to be heating up at the right time and is looking to keep things rolling tonight versus the Sacramento Kings at home. There are still a lot of games left, which means that the Heat can only continue to improve from here on out.

The post Kyle Lowry Moves Up to 12th On All-Time Made Three Pointers List appeared first on SLAM.

All four of these games were part of a season-opening homestand. The last of which came in a 98-90 loss to the Toronto Raptors. However, Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry has a fix and a bit of perspective to help keep the Heat on track. 

“We’re just trying to figure it out. I mean, honestly, it’s four games in. I think we’re trying to figure it out. I know we said running it back, and I agree with that, but we still have different guys in different roles in different situations,” Lowry told The Miami Herald in Miami’s locker room following the loss. “So we have to figure it out how to all be on the same page.” 

Lowry is an NBA Champion and 36-years-old in his 17th NBA season, so he knows a lot about figuring it out. He’s averaging 10.8 points per game on 28.2 percent shooting from the field and 28.0 percent from three through four games this season. 

Lowry’s most significant adjustment has been his rise in playing next to Tyler Herro, who has been elevated to a starting position after his Sixth Man of the Year performance last season. Lowry is playing off-ball a lot more and has his lowest usage rate since his days in Memphis. 

“We got guys who can really play basketball. We’ve got guys who can really make plays, and we’ve just got to all find ways to mix and match, not take turns, but figure out how to play off each other a little bit better and play with each other a little bit better,” Lowry said. “Honestly, everybody has a different role this year; things are a little bit different, right? Tyler’s in the starting lineup, and Bam’s more aggressive. We’ve got different lineups with this, that and the other, and we’re just trying to figure it out right now.”

The Miami Heat will have plenty of time to set their season straight, and Lowry believes they have the talent to do so. 

The post Kyle Lowry Says 1-3 Miami Heat Are ‘Trying to Figure It Out’ appeared first on SLAM.

The rebuilding Jazz decided to move Mitchell to the Cavs over the summer, but it seems like Spida may have found an ideal fit in Cleveland. Mitchell has been labeled an All-Star piece that can help push Cleveland over the top as a playoff contender. The Lousiville product grew into that while in Utah; as a Cav, Mitchell has a better idea of how to mesh well with his new teammates and seems to be at ease.  

“He’s comfortable,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said per ESPN. “I think it’s that easy. This isn’t something he hasn’t done before. He’s carried teams on his back, so he understands the moment, and he’s capable of it. It’s not new, and it’s what we expected from him.”

Mitchell allowed the game to come to him on Wednesday, starting slowly with just four points in the first quarter. However, when his All-Star teammate Darius Garland exited the game with a left eye laceration, Mitchell ramped it up and carried a more significant offense load on his shoulders.

“That’s the big thing playing with a bunch of good guys, trying to find your spots, especially against a team like Toronto,” Mitchell said. “You don’t want to come in full bore; that’s how they want to turn you over. And then [Garland] goes down, so I’m on the ball more, directing traffic.”

“He’s an elite basketball player. There’s not many guys in this league that are better than Donovan or are capable of doing the things he can do. He puts so much pressure on the defense,” Coach Bickerstaff added. “He has the ability to make all the passes, so again that’s, he’s hard to deal with, but he makes defenses have to make tough decisions over and over again.”

Despite a few miscommunications with his new teammate and fellow All-Star Jarrett Allen, Spida had a strong debut. Natural growing pains will come with learning each other’s games, and the vibes remain positive after they opened the season with a 108-105 loss to the Raptors.

“It’s part of the game, part of the growing as teammates. It’s our first game playing together, our first official game playing together. We still have a lot of things to iron out, a lot of things to communicate about off the court after it happens,” said Jarrett Allen.

For the Cavs, Mitchell’s record night signals a high ceiling for the marriage between the All-Star and the rest of the team. As the guard put it, the Cavs “did a good job. But [they] can do an even better job.” Cleveland looks onwards and upwards as they seek to grab their first win of the season against the Chicago Bulls this Saturday.

The post ‘Comfortable’ Donovan Mitchell Drops 31 in His Cleveland Cavaliers Debut appeared first on SLAM.

Cunningham is now entering Year 2 with the franchise and is looking to grow individually and as a teammate. Cunningham’s rookie season started slowly due to injury, but as the season went on, Cunningham began to heat up. When the season was over, Cunningham averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds while only appearing in 64 games total.

During a recent interview with Andscapes Marc Spears, Cunningham reflected on his first year in the NBA, stating:

“It was tough. I wanted to go through training camp. I wanted to go through preseason and get my early feel before the regular season to fill my game out throughout the league and arenas. Sitting there watching helped my game a lot, mentally especially. I feel like there was a lot of things going on in my mind, but it just kept me poised and really helped me learn about myself and how to keep myself steady and be ready for the next day and ready to go.”

Cunningham’s words and stellar play impressed Pistons Coach Dwayne Casey, who said, “He is just mature,” Casey said. “He has what few players, like Kyle Lowry, have in their career. He’s a born leader. Does he make mistakes like other young players? Yes. But he knows it as soon as he does it. He’s a very smart player. He just has ‘it.’ He is not your typical 21-year-old man.”

Since appearing on the cover of SLAM 238, Cunningham has always been outspoken about wanting to build a special culture in Detroit, which the team has tried to showcase with its recent off-season additions. This past summer, the Pistons added veterans Bojan Bogdanovic, Nerlens Noel, and Alec Burks. The Pistons also have other talented young players to keep an eye on Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley III, and Isaiah Stewart.

However, Detroit’s new additions of talent and veteran leadership could not come without a price, and that price was trading away the key and very well-liked Jerami Grant to the Portland Trailblazers.

Cunningham touched on this, saying the following,

“He was a big part of our team. Letting him go was something that really changed the locker room but made me have to step up and be ready,”

When Cunningham was asked what the goal was, the Oklahoma State product said that he believed the Pistons “can turn the corner.”

Cunningham seems more than ready to lead the Pistons back to the ‘glory days,’ and even former NBA player Jalen Rose believes the Pistons have an ‘All-Star backcourt’ pairing in Ivey and Cunningham as well.

“We can turn the corner,” Cunningham said. “We’ve got a lot of talent in here, a lot of depth. We’re coming together more and more each day. We’re figuring each other out more. It’s an exciting time for us. But the league is tough. The league ain’t easy. So, we’re just taking it day by day and trying to get better each day. If we do that, then playoffs are our goal. We’re trying to get into playoffs and really just see where we can go.”

One thing is certain: there is, without a doubt, a storm brewing over in the Motor City, and it is no longer a quiet one.

The post Cade Cunningham is Confident Detroit Can ‘Turn the Corner’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Miami Heat come off a 53-29 record that earned them first place in a loaded Eastern Conference. Their championship dynamic seemed to have shined all post-season long as they knocked off the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Vincent scored 17 points to go along with three blocks, helping Miami rally to a 118-107 victory over the Boston Celtics. Vincent’s production took a slight decline for the next few games as Miami ended up finding themselves down 3-2 in the series.

The back-and-forth bout left for a critical Game 6 in Boston’s roaring TD Garden. Players and fans around the league had already written off the Heat before the pivotal game, as Draymond Green boldly said that the Warriors were prepared to face Boston in the NBA Finals.

The confident statement from Green sparked Jimmy Butler to go off for 47 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists to force a series-deciding Game 7.

The Heat had fought through Game 7, even when trailing by 15 with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter. It came down to a transition three attempt from the top of the break by Butler that, had he made it, would’ve punched Miami’s ticket back to the NBA Finals. However, the ball went off the rim and landed in the hands of Boston, allowing them to ice the game and have a date with the Warriors.

That miss started the off-season of the Heat, and there were many rumors about everyone not named Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo. PJ Tucker joined the 76ers while Max Strus, Tyler Herro, and Kyle Lowry were linked to trade talks for big-name superstars around the League like Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving or now-Cleveland Cavalier Donovan Mitchell.

The summer of rumors had worn off, and the Miami Heat kept most of their pieces together. Miami will be on the short list of Eastern Conference Finals threats that can make it out of the conference and into the Finals.

The post Gabe Vincent: Miami Has ‘What It Takes to Get Back to the NBA Finals’ appeared first on SLAM.

However, at 42-years-old and as the oldest active player in the NBA, the Heat legend has made it clear he’s still figuring out if he wants to play basketball next season.

“I don’t know,” Haslem said, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “We’re thinking about it. But either way, I’m always going to be a part of the Heat family. I’m not going nowhere, whether I play or not. I’m always going to impact that organization.”

Last season, Haslem played in 13 games and averaged 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. After 20 years, Haslem isn’t a major or consistent contributor in the Heat’s lineup. The former Florida Gator added that there’s a laundry list of things he has to consider before making his final decision.

“For me,” he said, “it’s just a lot going on. I have a lot of things that I had to really, really think about. 20 years is a conversation I had with my father.”

If U.D. decides to hang it up, the Heat will be out of a team leader who also played a pivotal part as the veteran who knows what buttons to push. If Haslem leaves, it’ll be up to the Heat’s other vets like Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry to fill in that void Haslem’s absence creates.

The post Udonis Haslem Still ‘Thinking About’ if he Wants to Play 20th Season appeared first on SLAM.

The teams competing in the showcase include: 

1.     K-Low Elite (Kyle Lowry)

2.     Team Curry (Steph Curry)

3.     Team Durant (Kevin Durant)

4.     Team Melo (Carmelo Anthony)

5.     Team Takeover (Victor Oladipo)

6.     Team Trae Young (Trae Young)

7.     Team Trezz (Montrezl Harrell)

8.     Team Truth (Quinn Cook)

Games will begin on Friday, August 12 and run through Sunday, August 14. See here for the full schedule of games.

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“We are thrilled to host this first-of-its-kind showcase featuring some of the outstanding travel teams of several of our members,” said Tamika Tremaglio, NBPA Executive Director. “Our players are so passionate about teaching the game to the next generation, and this showcase is about supporting their work in that space. By creating this platform with our players, we are building a unique experience for their teams to compete against one another while also providing critical educational resources — all in one of the best basketball cities in the country and my hometown, Washington D.C.!”

“This showcase is a great opportunity for these young players to prove themselves against other top talent from around the country and learn more about important topics off the court,” said Trae Young, NBPA member whose team will compete in the inaugural showcase. “To have all the teams competing affiliated with different players around the league is really special and I know I can speak for all of us when I say we will be closely following to see whose team really is the best.”

“We know it is highly critical to educate these young athletes now so that they can make informed financial decisions throughout their careers,” said Mark Jerome, Managing Partner, the Athletic Development Group (ADG). “We created and designed ADG MONEYBALL with that in mind, bringing in former players and experts to speak about financial literacy and NIL to set them up with the tools to succeed down the road.”

ADG MONEYBALL is presented in partnership with Chase and with the generous support of Events DC. Additional partners include ShowBall, BodyArmor, SLAM, Legends, and BallerTV.

“We are so excited to continue our partnership with the NBPA and provide important financial literacy content to these incredible student-athletes,” said Frank Nakano, Managing Director of Sports & Entertainment Marketing at JPMorgan Chase. “Understanding the significance that financial health plays in long-term well-being, we hope our educational sessions are able to help these athletes further develop their off-the-court confidence, especially in the arena of financial literacy”

“Events DC is honored to host and support the inaugural ADG MONEYBALL event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center,” said Ralph Morton, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Sports & Entertainment Division at Events DC. “Bringing together the nation’s top student-athletes in partnership with the NBPA and ADG combined with dynamic educational workshops is an exciting opportunity to create a valuable and enduring experience in the District. We are looking forward to presenting this elite amateur basketball tournament to the fans and our greater community from the heart of downtown Washington, DC.”

ADG MONEYBALL is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at www.adgmoneyball.com. For media interested in covering the event, please email communications@nbpa.com with your request.

The post NBPA and ADG Present the Inaugural ADG MONEYBALL appeared first on SLAM.

But Lowry doesn’t make much of his injuries and feels he doesn’t have to answer much about them. Despite the criticism he received last year, Lowry doesn’t take to them heavily, if at all. Lowry spoke about his injury woes and more before hitting the links at Raptor Coach Nick Nurse’s celebrity golf event in Toronto.

“If you know me, you know what I do. I don’t talk about it; I just go out there and operate,” said Lowry.

In the 10 games that he played in the playoffs, Lowry averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. Lowry posted 18 points and 10 dimes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Look out for Lowry and the Heat to bounce back while reaching for greater heights of NBA glory in this coming year.

The post Kyle Lowry Dismisses Injury Issues: ‘If You Know Me, You Know What I Do’ appeared first on SLAM.

At that point, Barnes had yet to fully embark on the entirety of a season that many are now calling perhaps the most impactful rookie season in Raptors’ history. But to have the chance to chop it up with a member of the inaugural Raptors team (Stoudamire won Rookie of the Year that season in Toronto, like Barnes) just seemed like fate. 

“He was just really telling me to try to get Rookie of the Year, keep doing what I got to do and really take over this League,” Barnes says while on set of his SLAM 239 cover shoot.  

That was Stoudamire’s first time meeting Scottie officially; he’d watched him play in high school and at different Nike EYBL and AAU events, but now he was actually seeing what Barnes was capable of doing in the League. Just a month prior to their meeting, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft had dropped a double-double on the Cs—in just the second game of his career. 

“He was a matchup nightmare,” Stoudamire, who’s now an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, later tells us on the phone. “The good Lord doesn’t bless us with everything, but if [Scottie] figures out a way, and he doesn’t have to be a knockdown guy, but once he figures out his spots on the floor in terms of shooting the ball on a consistent basis, it could be dangerous. He would have cracked the code then because, I mean, everything else he has.” 

SLAM 239 featuring Scottie Barnes is OUT NOW!

Barnes wasn’t even born when the Raptors drafted Stoudamire as their first-ever pick in 1995, or when he graced the cover of SLAM 11 in the spring of ’96 (subscribe here to the SLAM Digital Archive). When he got to Toronto, Stoudamire explains, the team was just trying to grow the game of basketball throughout Canada. But what he didn’t realize back then was that he’d ultimately be able to impact an entire country. Many after him have been just as revered—from Vince Carter and DeMar DeRozan to Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry. All-Stars. Champions. Icons. But in this new era of the game, Scottie Barnes isn’t a glimpse into the future of Toronto. He is the now, and even the legends who came before him see that already.

“He has [an] opportunity to lead Toronto, but then be the face of a country,” says Stoudamire.

Excitement has been buzzing all around T-Dot about their superstar-in-the-making. His SLAM 239 cover shoot feels like a momentous occasion, from the Drake tracks blaring over the speakers (Honestly, Nevermind had dropped just a few days before) to Scottie singing along in between takes while he rocks a black and gold Swingman uniform and an icy, blinged-out chain that has an even icier “SB” for the camera. It’s the crowning of a new star in the North. 

After all, it’s been three years since the Raptors won that historic, first-ever championship in 2019, and since then, the team has been well-equipped with an arsenal of All-Stars and bucket-getters who helped them make the playoffs every year except one. The arrival of Scottie has had the place boomin’ with hype around what’s to come, especially since the Raptors exceeded any and all expectations last season when they finished fifth in the East. 

“I feel like I have the defensive tools, I really just want to put on the offensive end,” Scottie says. “Make my game more all-around. I’m just working on being able to get to the basket, being unstoppable on the floor. Scoring, being in the midrange area and just being a consistent shooter. Being able to knock down shots consistently, being able to carry myself in that way as being one of those top people in the League.” 

He’d look at those goals every single day. Winning ROY was a major moment not only for him, but for his family. It’s one of the reasons why he surprised his mom, Kathalyn, with the news. He had watched her relentlessly sacrifice for him and his siblings growing up, working late nights to put food on the table and get them school clothes. “[She tried] to get a few pairs of shoes to go to school, try to have some swag going to school so we could carry ourselves with that confidence. She made a bunch of sacrifices for us. Even though we didn’t have that much, we were still some spoiled little kids, [wanting] everything, trying to flex.”

Winning ROY also meant something for Toronto, as Barnes became just the third Raptor ever to win the award, joining the company of Stoudamire and Vince Carter. “That award meant everything to me. Everything. All the hard work, effort I put in since I was a kid. It meant everything for the city of West Palm Beach, for the country of Canada, city of Toronto. Masai [Ujiri], Bobby [Webster]. They put their faith in me, and I put in the work. So, every single day, I try to carry that with me.”

Now, his Rookie of the Year trophy sits on a stand, right next to two Rookie of the Month awards, inside his game room at his house. Since the season wrapped up, he’s been mainly spending his offseason in his native Florida, while going back and forth to Toronto. It’s a place he’s now calling home, and he’s already found his go-to spots to eat at, too. “I got a couple. Harbour 60, Cactus Club. I just love the city. It’s beautiful.”

A few days before our shoot, Barnes was livestreaming when he raved about how hyped he was to be a Toronto Raptor. When we asked him about it, he didn’t hold back in letting us know how much he’s been embracing the city. 

“It’s a blessing for me to get drafted to Toronto. I felt like it was just the best thing for me and the program,” he says. “I felt like I found the right home, with them being able to draft me…I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I feel like it was just a big thing that happened to me. It’s amazing. I feel like Toronto, they always support me, even the whole country of Canada supports me, shows me love. And it just feels like we’re all family.”

Scottie reveals he’s already on a text message/IG story-reply basis with Drake (“It’s really small talk, but we can tell that we’re brodies”). When he first arrived in Toronto after the draft, he even hung out with him at his mansion.

“His house is humongous. He got a lot of things that’s going on in there, it’s a dope house. He got the basketball court as soon as you walk inside, where he plays his league basketball. You know, he be killing ’em, but his house is fire. I think we put up like a couple of shots, but we were just getting to know each other. Just really chatting it up.”

According to Scottie, Drizzy let him know then that he had to put on for the city. “He just told [me] that the city’s gonna love [me], just really put on for the city. Do what we got to do.”  

In his rookie debut against the Wizards, Scottie showed glimpses of exactly what he could do, from a lefty sky hook for his first bucket to dishing out an elite bounce pass to Chris Boucher in the fourth. Nick Nurse called his performance “OK,” but also pointed out, “I think we see a really good player there.” 

For Barnes, the mindset early on was to do what it takes to win by making the right plays and putting in the effort, whether it’s rebounding, passing or guarding the best player on the court. When asked about what he expected for himself early on in the season, “winning” is the one word he mentions over and over again. “I felt like coming into the season, I really just tried to focus on winning, try and do whatever it takes to win…I really tried to focus on those little things, and then I knew everything else would carry on to the court with me.”

Scottie’s always been competitive. Growing up, he’d compete with his older brother in school and try to get better grades than him so he could show it to his mom, hoping she’d give him a few dollars. He wanted to play on his brother’s basketball and football teams, too, even though everyone was a few years older. He started playing organized basketball in third grade at the Salvation Army on a team that was mainly made up of fourth graders. Scottie then went on to become a five-star product in high school—he played at the University School alongside Vernon Carey Jr and then with Cade Cunningham at Montverde before suiting up at Florida State, where he earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors.

Now he’s channeling that same drive into everything he does, from video games (“[I’m] the best out of all my friends in [NBA] 2K, top three in [Call of Duty]”) to whatever challenges were thrown at him on the court this past season—from guarding all five positions against the Bulls, Celtics and Wizards in October, including superstars like Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal. By November, he was logging 35 minutes a game, but as Nurse previously said, “one of the first things to instill” is playing the “full 48.” 

When asked about his early season performances, Scottie points out that for him, it was a matter of maintaining the energy. “I would say in the beginning, I showed a lot of energy, but you got to really try to find those ways of channeling it [differently] because sometimes you can express way too much energy and then that next possession, you get really tired…Being at Florida State, I played a good three, four minutes, and then I would get subbed if I was too tired. But now, it’s just like, you got to be able to maintain that energy throughout the whole entire game for however long you’re playing.”  

On a team full of different personalities—from “chill vibe types” like Fred VanVleet and Isaac [Bonga] to “funny guys” like himself, Justin Champagnie and Dalano Banton, according to Barnes—it also helped that the team fully embraced him and allowed him to be himself on the court, especially OG Anunoby. “He was really telling me to be me on the floor, each and every single time. That really [gave] me that confidence when I stepped on the floor to be who I am, keep being aggressive, attacking.”

In December, Barnes dropped a double-double against the Knicks, was a defensive ace with those five blocks against Sacramento a few nights later, and then followed that up with a 23/12/5 stat line against Brooklyn, while being matched up against Kevin Durant, making him the youngest Raptor ever since Tracy McGrady to put up at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 dimes. By January, Bradley Beal was already calling him a “special” talent and saying he “looked like a star” after Barnes put up 27 against the Wizards. 

The Raptors went on an eight-game winning streak going into February, and after the All-Star break, Scottie was averaging just under 20 points per game. When he dropped a 31-piece on the Lakers in March, even the King let everyone know what was up. 

“I saw Scottie Barnes for the first time in seventh grade and I told one of my good friends that this kid is going to be special,” LeBron James said after the game. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch.” 

Looking back on the season, Barnes says he’s started processing the game quicker, too. “I felt like on the court I really know where I could get to my spots, can score the ball at [and] how I can just set my presence throughout the game, on both ends of the floor. I feel like I’ll be able to make more of an impact on the game because I really just found ways to really just attack the game. I got smarter throughout the year, and I just really realized how the NBA works with the calls and all the little things about the game.”

This same team that had missed the playoffs the year prior soon found themselves in a first-round matchup against Philly. Barnes nearly had a triple-double in his playoff debut—15 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists—and despite missing Games 2 and 3 with an ankle injury, another SLAM 11 cover star, Magic Johnson, saw that the promise was all there. “There’s definitely a lot of ‘Showtime’ in him,” Johnson told the Toronto Star.

While the Raptors lost that series, it’s clear that things are really looking up in the 6ix. Their 48-34 record was a vast improvement from the previous year, and Barnes is making it clear that his past season was really just the beginning. “This is just us getting our footing together, but I feel like we’re gonna take that next step to try to make a deep playoff run and be one of those top teams in the League.”

And as for his own goals, this offseason has been all about prepping his body for the demand of the 82-game regular season (Barnes started all 74 games he played in), while also sharpening the tools he’s well-equipped with. You might’ve already seen recent videos of his “revamped jumper” circling around the internet, too. Scottie’s already looking ahead at the type of player he wants to evolve into. Him adding to his already extensive bag? Dangerous. 

“Be who I am on the floor [and] be able to keep developing my playmaking [and] really just improve my scoring,” Barnes says of what will take him to the next level. “Keep [doing] what I do on defense, but just amping it up to another level where I can change the impact of a game throughout the court. Really taking over on the defensive end where I can get multiple stops, being able to be so active on the floor where I can just alter shots, change shots, just give teams different looks where I can have that presence. Talking, communicating and kind of just step up my role of being a leader on this team. I feel like that’s really what’s going to take me to that next level.” 

Deyscha Smith is an associated editor at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and IG, @deyschasmith.

Portraits by Gabe Pineda/Victory Creative, follow them on Instagram @gabepineda/@victory. Styling by Ian Pierno, follow him on Instagram @ianpierno.

The post Scottie Barnes Has Everything it Takes to Become Toronto’s Next Star appeared first on SLAM.

“Wait till this year because every time I see him this summer on the court, it’s total focus, total intensity,” Nurse said. “I mean, something happened to him where he now understands what playing in the NBA is about, and he is on a mission.”

Nurse went on to say that Achiuwa “is really gonna take a step up” next season.

Over the summer, Achiuwa’s been seen training with his teammates in Las Vegas and hosting his own basketball camp in Nigeria (where he’s been throwing down some ridiculous slams). Nurse clearly loves what he’s seeing.

Achiuwa’s game took an impressive jump from year one to year two, as the Nigeria native averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season, considerable improvements from his 5-point, 3.4-rebound, and .5-assist averages the year prior. He also showed off his shooting stroke (35.9 percent from deep last season) after never attempting a three-pointer during his rookie year.

Achiuwa hit three or more three-pointers eight times last season and is now an inside-out scoring threat for Toronto. The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has found his footing in The 6 after being traded from Miami in a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry last summer.

With Nurse’s recent comments and his ability to develop talent, don’t be surprised if Achiuwa’s numbers increase yet again this upcoming season.

The post Nick Nurse Expects Breakout Season From Precious Achiuwa: ‘He Is On A Mission’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Wichita State product has two years remaining in his four-year deal (player option for the fourth year) and is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 8. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Raptors are looking to negotiate a three-four-year max extension. VanVleet himself has made it clear that he wants to stay in Toronto and be a Raptor lifer when he retires.

“I love being a Raptor,” VanVleet said in an interview with Daily Hive. “I would love to spend my entire career here. We have a great relationship with the city, the franchise, ownership, and management — it’s a match made in heaven for me. I love being a Toronto Raptor.”

“I would love to spend my entire career here… it’s a match made in heaven.”

Spoke to Fred VanVleet today, who says he’s “confident we’ll figure it out” when it comes to his next contract with the #Raptors. pic.twitter.com/UYn9pbrF2u

— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) June 15, 2022

With that being said, the feeling is mutual for VanVleet and the Raptors to continue their relationship. In fact, VanVleet is confident his team and the Raptors can agree to an extension.

“I’m not really too worried about contract discussions or anything like that,” VanVleet said. “That’s just the business aspect of it. And I’m confident that we’ll figure it out.”

The post Fred VanVleet Sounds off on Being a Toronto Raptor Lifer appeared first on SLAM.

The 36-year-old’s connection to the franchise and city is deep, so much so that Lowry intends to sign a one-day contract to retire as a Raptor when he decides to hang up his sneakers. It’s expected by most that Toronto will retire his jersey, and Raptors president Masai Uriji suggested a statue honoring the Villanova product is possible too.

Looking to the near future, Lowry will be getting a new road named after him in The 6, aptly named Kyle Lowry Road, according to David Rider of the Toronto Star.

As a member of the 2019 title team, Lowry will also be honored with a street titled Champions Way during a ceremony. Lowry left Toronto for Miami in a sign-and-trade deal last summer.

Lowry is entering his 18th season and second with Miami. He has two years remaining on his current deal.

The post Toronto to Honor Kyle Lowry With Street Name On June 13 appeared first on SLAM.

Oladipo is on the verge of free agency and could draw legitimate outside suitors after playing well in 15 playoff appearances. The former Indiana Hoosier is also headed towards the first offseason where he could have an offseason where he can work on his game and conditioning for the first time in years after he’s worked his way back from rehabbing a few quadriceps procedures, most recently going under the knife in May 2021.

“He’s going into the summer physically able to work at his craft,” Spoelstra said. “He’ll get back to the player that people were accustomed to seeing.”

That player is the one who is the 2018 Most Improved Player. The one who averaged over 20 points per game for the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets. After Oladipo showed, he’s still got some motion in him during Miami’s playoff run, and he’s likely to garner a better deal than the League-minimum deal he signed last year.

According to Ira Winderham of the South Floria Sun-Sentinel, the New York Knicks could be looking to sign the 2018 Most Improved Player of the year. The 2022 free agency market beings July 1, and Miami owns Oladipos Bird Right, which means the Heat can match a contract worth $20 million-plus this summer.

“So we’ll see where that goes,” Heat President Pat Riley said this week, “because Vic’s obviously a free agent, and we have his Bird Rights, and we’ll definitely be talking to his agent.”

Miami must ask themselves whether Oladipo would be worth that kind of money after showing enough playoff flashes of brilliance. With Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, and Tyler Herro already in tow, it could be challenging for Heat president Pat Riley to rationalize that decision. Herro is entrenched after bouncing back from a tough sophomore season and winning the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year. Lowry is 36-years-old but is still as cerebral as ever at point guard.

If Miami is to keep Oladipo, they could use him as a combo guard off the bench. He’s impressed Riley and Spoelstra with his hard work since coming back from being cleared for court work in January. He’s already got fans rooting for him within the organization, like assistant coach Chis Quinn, who has reminded Spoelstra just how unique Oladipo’s play has been after playing just 60 games over the last three years.

“Coach Quinn showed me — look, I’m aware of this, I’m fully aware because I’ve been with him for a full year — but that stat, in the last three years, how many games that he had missed, and then how many regular-season games he’s played in the last three years,” Spoelstra said, with that total at 60 over the three years, compared to a standard 82-game regular season. “For him to do what he did in this playoff run is really unheard of.”

The two-time All-Star has played 12 games in Miami since Houston traded him to South Beach in 2021. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during that time.

During the Heat’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Oladipo averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 dimes per game, scoring 23 points twice against Atlanta (Game 2) and Boston (Game 4).

“There’s a great story in watching him work, watching him come back, and then watching him get into games,” Riley said of Oladipo’s progression this past season. “It wasn’t easy at the beginning. When he had 21 in Toronto, then 40 in Orlando, and you started to see some of the things he could do again, like you saw in the past.”

“And then in the playoffs, I thought he had some great moments for us. He was the kind of player that I felt as the series began to grow, and all of them began to grow and became more competitive defensively, that you do need players that can break down a defense on their own or with their quickness and slashing can create their own shots.”

The post Miami Mulling Re-Signing Victor Oladipo This Summer appeared first on SLAM.

Wednesday’s Game 5 was perhaps their best chance to head back to Boston with a 3-2 lead. The Heat was up by five coming out of the halftime break, but Boston outscored Miami 56-38, with their suffocating defense forcing the Heat to miss their first nine shots of the third quarter. The Celtics grabbed a lead they wouldn’t surrender with an 8-0 run, taking a 69-58 lead into the final frame.

From there, Boston blew the game wide open, creating a 23-point cushion in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown (25 points) took over in the fourth, knocking down a trio of three-pointers, slamming the door shut on any Miami comeback when he drove down the late and threw down this hammer in the half-court.

“As disappointing and as frustrating as this game can be,” Spoelstra said per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “We get on to Boston and just come together.”

JB RELAX (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/GPksWm5fuG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 26, 2022

Now, the Heat have one more night to keep their season going, and should they win Friday’s Game 6, they host a win-or-go-home Game 7 in FTX Arena.

Miami’s consecutive losses have been flustering, starting with an uncharacteristic blowout loss 102-82 Game 4 loss in Boston after getting outclassed in the first quarter 18-1. In Game 5, Boston’s decisive 24-2 run in the third quarter put any notion of Miami taking a 3-2 lead into Boston to bed.

Miami’s problems are punctuated by the sudden ineffectiveness of their veteran leaders, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry.

Both have been a step slow in the ECF due to respective knee and hamstring injuries, especially Butler, who hasn’t played with his typical relentlessness. Lowry is 5-23 from the field in the conference finals, going 0-6 from the field and 0-5 from long-distance. Butler finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists, but he’s only attempted six free throws in the past three games after shooting 26 in Games 1 and 2.

To top it off, Sixth Man of the Year winner Tyler Herro has missed the last two games due to a groin injury. Miami’s numerous injuries make it challenging to thrive against a physical defense that ranks No. 1 amongst the final four teams in the playoffs.

“We’re not making any excuses for any kind of health or anything like that,” Spoelstra said. “We’re just going to figure it out and get on up there to Boston and enjoy that competition.”

BAM ON CLEAN UP DUTY!!! (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/oF9dSGWtPS

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 26, 2022

Now from this point on, it’s about surviving, taking it one game at a time

Lowry has held himself accountable, telling reporters that he has to play better while he’s out there.

The message is similar is from Butler. The six-time All-Star said that his bothersome knee is okay, but he needs to play better while on the court and help find ways to win. Bam Adebayo also said it’s time to adapt, not accepting the excuse that the Heat is injured when every team is dealing with the same bumps and bruises this late into the season.

“We’re still alive,” Spoelstra said. “We have an opportunity to play in front of a great crowd and an opportunity to make a memory that you’ll remember for a long time. That’s all we’re thinking about right now.

“And we have the kind of warriors that are going to tape up, brace up, do whatever we’ve got to do to get ready for the next one, and just embrace and enjoy that competition.”

Boston has a chance to close the ECF out on Friday when they host Miami for Game 6.

The post Miami Hopes to ‘Make a Memory’ in Wednesday’s Game 6 Against Boston appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat scored just 11 points in the first quarter and immediately found themselves down 18 at the end of one. Miami then went on to only reach 33 points at the end of the second quarter and was down by 24 points at halftime.

Heat star Jimmy Butler scored just six points on 3-for-14 shooting as Miami’s starters scored a combined 18 points in an underwhelming performance.

“This is part of the playoffs; there are these extreme highs and lows,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “We’ve proven that we can find solutions offensively in a lot of different ways.”

The Heat is struggling with multiple injuries, as Butler (knee inflammation), point guard Kyle Lowry (hamstring), and power forward P.J. Tucker (knee contusion) are all playing through nagging injuries. Tyler Herro, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year winner, is also hobbled and missed Game 4 with a groin injury.

“We are not making any excuse,” Spoelstra said. “We can do it in the mud. We can win it ugly. We can win it when the floodgates come open, hitting threes. We can do it with Jimmy taking over a game. We can do it when he’s facilitating. We have the mental fortitude and the collective toughness to be able to embrace what we have. It’s just a very competitive, good series.”

“No excuse for how I played tonight. It don’t got nothing to do with my knee,” Butler said. “I’ve just got to be better. I will be better. I’m not too worried about it.”

On the other side, Boston star Jayson Tatum scored 31 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III combined for 22 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Both teams will look to take a 3-2 advantage as the series heads back to Miami for an 8:30 tip-off at FTX Arena Wednesday night.

The post Erik Spoelstra On Game 4 Performance: ‘We Are Not Making Any Excuse’ appeared first on SLAM.

We know there will probably be some disgruntled fans out there, but we’ve come up with a list that we’re standing by. Here’s our top 66-75 best teams of all time:

75. 1997-98 Indiana Pacers

Coach: Larry Bird

Record: 58-24

Roster: Travis Best, Etdrick Bohannon, Austin Croshere, Antonio Davis, Dale Davis, Fred Hoiberg, Mark Jackson, Derrick McKey, Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Mark Pope, Jalen Rose, Rik Smits, Mark West

Yes, the ’97-98 Pacers lost a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series to the Bulls, but this was an extremely strong team. Indy was the next-to-last partner in Chicago’s “Last Dance,” but the Pacers won 58 games—second best in the East—and boasted a deep lineup led by the trio of sharpshooter Reggie Miller, 7-4 tower Rik Smits and do-everything forward Chris Mullin. The loss was disappointing, but the Pacers had plenty to be proud of.

74. 1994-95 Orlando Magic

Coach: Brian Hill

Record: 57-25

Roster: Nick Anderson, Darrell Armstrong, Anthony Avent, Anthony Bowie, Horace Grant, Geert Hammink, Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Tree Rollins, Donald Royal, Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw, Brooks Thompson, Keith Tower, Jeff Turner

In just their sixth year of existence, the Magic reached the Finals, thanks to the dynamic pairing of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. Orlando posted the East’s best record and then outlasted the Pacers to win the conference. Shaq was unstoppable inside, and Hardaway dazzled all over. Add in Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott’s long-range shooting and Horace Grant’s steady interior game, and the Magic were quite strong, even if Houston did sweep them in the Finals.

73. 1986-87 Boston Celtics

Coach: KC Jones

Record: 59-23

Roster: Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Darren Daye, Conner Henry, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Fred Roberts, Jerry Sichting, David Thirdkill, Andre Turner, Sam Vincent, Bill Walton, Scott Wedman

A year after domination, the Celtics returned to the Finals once again, but lost to the Showtime Lakers in six. The usual cast was back for the conference title winners. Larry Bird was practically infallible, and Kevin McHale and Robert Parish plundered inside. Dennis Johnson ran the show, while Danny Ainge irritated everybody but Celtics fans. But Boston lacked a strong bench, and that’s why the ’86-87 edition was very good, but not a champion.

72. 2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder

Coach: Scott Brooks

Record: 47-19

Roster: Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison, Daequan Cook, Kevin Durant, Derek Fisher, James Harden, Lazar Hayward, Serge Ibaka, Royal Ivey, Reggie Jackson, Eric Maynor, Nazr Mohammed, Kendrick Perkins, Ryan Reid, Thabo Sefolosha, Russell Westbrook

This was it. This was the last time the Thunder’s Big Three would be together, and Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden almost got it all done. The Thunder won the West and made it to the Finals. They even won the first game against Miami before dropping four straight. Durant, Westbrook and Harden combined for 70 ppg in the series but couldn’t finish the journey and hoist a trophy.

71. 1992-93 Phoenix Suns

Coach: Paul Westphal

Record: 62-20

Roster: Danny Ainge, Charles Barkley, Cedric Ceballos, Tom Chambers, Richard Dumas, Frank Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Tim Kempton, Negele Knight, Dan Majerle, Oliver Miller, Jerrod Mustaf, Kurt Rambis, Alex Stivrins, Mark West

The Suns had reached the Finals before, in 1976, but fell to Boston. This time would be different, even if they were facing the Bulls. Phoenix had the NBA’s best record, the League’s best offense and Charles Barkley, acquired from Philly in a blockbuster. The Suns were deep and fast and fun. But when they lost Game 4 of the Finals to Chicago to fall behind 3-1, you knew it was over. And it was.

70. 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 57-25

Roster: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tony Campbell, Michael Cooper, AC Green, Magic Johnson, Jeff Lamp, Mark McNamara, David Rivers, Byron Scott, Mychal Thompson, Orlando Woolridge, James Worthy

There would be one more last gasp for Showtime, but this really felt like the end of an era. Sure, the Lakers won the Pacific, put up the most wins in the conference and reached the Finals after posting a perfect 11-0 playoff record. But the usual suspects—Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, etc.—were beat up by the same Detroit Bad Boys they had defeated a year earlier.

69. 2018-19 Toronto Raptors

Coach Nick Nurse

Record: 58-24

Roster: OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Lorenzo Brown, Marc Gasol, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, Kawhi Leonard, Jeremy Lin, Kyle Lowry, Jordan Loyd, Patrick McCaw, Jodie Meeks, CJ Miles, Malcolm Miller, Greg Monroe, Eric Moreland, Norman Powell, Malachi Richardson, Pascal Siakam, Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright

In Canada for just one year, Kawhi Leonard proved his absolute greatness. The Raptors had been good, but they weren’t championship good. No way. Then Leonard averaged 26.6. He hit a quadruple-doink jumper to beat the Sixers in the Eastern Semis. And Kyle Lowry brought the toughness, while Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam bumped and banged inside. The Trophy had never been north of the border, but Leonard made sure it got there.

68. 1961-62 Boston Celtics

Coach: Red Auerbach

Record: 60-20

Roster: Carl Braun, Al Butler, Bob Cousy, Gene Guarilia, Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Sam Jones, Jim Loscutoff, Gary Phillips, Frank Ramsey, Bill Russell, Tom Sanders

Bill Russell didn’t lead the NBA in points, rebounds or assists, but he earned his third MVP award for leading the Celtics to a League-best 60 regular-season wins and his (and Boston’s) fifth title. It was arguably his best statistical season—a career-best 18.9 ppg, along with 23.6 rpg—and he upped those averages to 22.9 points and 27 boards in the Finals to lift Boston from a 3-2 deficit to a 4-3 victory over the Lakers.

67. 1980-81 Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Billy Cunningham

Record: 62-20

Roster: Maurice Cheeks, Doug Collins, Earl Cureton, Monti Davis, Darryl Dawkins, Julius Erving, Lionel Hollins, Ollie Johnson, Bobby Jones, Caldwell Jones, Steve Mix, Clint Richardson, Andrew Toney

It’s easy to forget how close the early ’80s Sixers came to dynasty status. There were Finals losses to L.A. in ’80 and ’82, and of course, before their eventual revenge in ’83. But the ’80-81 squad, led by Dr. J in his only NBA MVP season, was right there: They matched Boston’s 62 regular-season wins and took a 3-1 lead on the Celtics in the ECF before an epic Larry Bird-led comeback carried the Cs to the Finals.

66. 1984-85 Boston Celtics

Coach: KC Jones

Record: 63-19

Roster: Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Quinn Buckner, Rick Carlisle, ML Carr, Carlos Clark, Dennis Johnson, Greg Kite, Cedric Maxwell, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Scott Wedman, Ray Williams

The ninth Celtics-Lakers Finals matchup would be the first from which Boston did not emerge victorious. You could almost call it an upset. Larry Bird claimed his second straight MVP award, and the Cs won a League-best 63 games, then cruised through the Eastern Conference playoff bracket before stomping the Lakers by 34 in Game 1. Kevin McHale averaged 26 points and 10.7 rebounds for the series, but Boston couldn’t slow the Kareem-Magic-Worthy trio and fell 4-2 to L.A.

Get your copy of SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams Of All Time

Photos via Getty Images.

The post SLAM’s TOP 75 NBA Teams of All Time: No. 66-75 appeared first on SLAM.

#MIAvsBOS INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Herro (groin) has been ruled out of tonight’s Game 4 vs the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler (knee), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring), Gabe Vincent (hamstring) & P.J. Tucker (knee) will all warm up with the intent to play.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 23, 2022

The injury preventing Herro from playing is a groin injury. The Heat also announced that Jimmy Butler (knee), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring), and P.J. Tucker (knee) would warm up and likely play, barring any setback.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game during the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished the season averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 dimes per game.

The post Miami Heat Announce Tyler Herro Will Miss Monday’s Game 4 appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat have thrived in the regular season, the No. 1 seed in the East with a 53-29 record, and have made it to the ECF due to their veterans ensuring that the teams’ most significant strength is their communication with one another. Vets like Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker, Jimmy Butler, and Udonis Haslem have made sure that the Heat has held each other accountable while also letting each other know something they noticed on the court.

Having a team with solid veteran leadership makes life easier for you guys like Max Strus or Bam Adebayo, who is coming into his own as a veteran voice on the team. Haslem encouraged Adebayo to be more aggressive on Game 3, leading to the former Kentucky Wildcat scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds on a career-high 15-22 shooting from the field.

Strus (16 points on 4-7 threes) knocked down a clutch triple with two minutes left in Game 3 to stretch Miami’s lead from one point to four moments after Lowry suggested Coach Erik Spoelstra should run a play for Strus.

“To me, it’s a good thing everyone has an opinion instead of Spo always doing the talking and trying to figure everything out,” Adebayo said per the Miami Herald.

“It’s good that we have four or five guys communicating and talking about schemes so we can all get to a comfortable place where we can all agree on [things].”

Lowry has also been a critical mentor for backup point guard Gabe Vincent (11.3 points per game in the ECF). Vincent said Lowry has made sure to speak with Vincent about what he see’s on the court as an OG lead ballhandler and encourages him to maintain Miami’s preferred pace of play.

Spoelstra has solidified and encouraged the Heat’s culture of players leading the players. According to Tucker, Spoelstra permits his veteran circle so much leeway to speak up because they are high IQ players with substantive ideas to contribute to the game. Tucker further gave Spoelstra credit for not being “the dictator-type that he expected.”

“It’s about smart guys respecting each other, knowing what each other brings, and being able to bring that out of each other,” Tucker said. “Each of us calls each other out for not doing something right[but then] respect [each other] and keep going and not take it personally.”

Second-year center Omer Yurtseven summed up the Heat’s leadership structure as so: Tucker is the defensive guy, being more vocal on that side with some bits and pieces for the offense. Lowry is “very detail-oriented and very smart — he will see something and relay it to the team exactly, a clear picture.” Butler and Adebayo are vocal on both ends, and Haslem is “always talking, especially during timeouts.”

Having too many cooks in the kitchen could be a problem for some players. However, according to Strus, it helps “having a lot of guys that keep us stable.”

“All our veterans are really great about that,” Spoelstra said. “You can develop young guys all that you want, and we do — But what really kicks into another gear is just the veteran leadership of infusing confidence. That’s what Kyle has done the entire year.”

The Heat and Celtics will play Game 4 on Monday night, with Miami looking to leave Boston with a 3-1 series lead and home-court advantage heading back to FTX Arena.

The post Miami’s Veteran Voices Power 2-1 Series Lead in Eastern Conference Finals appeared first on SLAM.

Heat say Kyle Lowry is out tonight for Game 5.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) May 10, 2022

The 2019 champion reinjured his hamstring during Sunday’s 116-108 Game 4 loss. The semifinal series is now tied up 2-2. Lowry declined to say when the tweak occurred, but it’s known that he went to the locker room midway through the second quarter to get it checked out and didn’t play in the final nine minutes and 42 seconds of the game.

“Put it this way, you don’t want to play with it,” Lowry admitted after the Game 4 loss, per ESPN. “But we’re in a situation in the playoffs where we’re in a hostile environment; we’re in this together no matter what. Just trying to be out there for my guys, no matter what happens, no matter what the situation is.”

Lowry was undergoing treatment in Miami and said he would “go from there,” adding that he didn’t think another MRI was necessary. Lowry said the hamstring injury is the first time hes’ suffered a soft tissue injury.

The Miami-Philly semifinal series shifts back to Miami for Tuesday’s Game 5. They will face the winner of the Boston-Milwaukee series in the Eastern Conference for the Eastern Conference Finals title.

The post Heat Say Kyle Lowry Is Out For Game 5 Due to Hamstring Injury 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.

Through it all, Oladipo has worked hard to regain his All-Star form and provide some production to the No. 1 seeded Miami Heat. In their 97-94 Game 5 win, the resilience of Oladipo paid dividends after the two-time All-Star finished the elimination game with a team-high 23 points, three assists, and three steals.

Victor is hooooping rn.

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/IoeooP25ks

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 26, 2022

His big-time performance helped lift a Heat team that was missing Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.

“There’s nothing I can’t handle,” Oladipo told NBATV. “At the end of the day, I feel like I can come back and get through anything. So when they told me I needed to start tonight, I just stepped up to the plate and did everything I could to help my team win.

“I credit my coaching staff and my teammates for believing in me, my family, my God in heaven for getting me through. It’s only the beginning.”

“There’s nothing I can’t handle.”@VicOladipo talked to @RebeccaHaarlow after the Heat close out the Hawks in Game 5. pic.twitter.com/l6fuHbQlCy

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 27, 2022

The Heat also relied on their fourth-ranked defense to bottle up Trae Young (11 points, eight rebounds, six assists on 2-12 shooting from the field, 0-5 from the three-point line) and secure the series-concluding win on Tuesday. Miami was down for most of the first half before the Heat went on a 17-0 run late in the second quarter, never surrounding their lead.

However, the Hawks still put their head down and kept making pushes to make a comeback, going on 8-0 and 10-0 runs. Atlanta closed a deficit as large as 15 to within 95-93 before Oladipo closed the door on the comeback after diming Bam Adebayo for a clutch dunk with 59 seconds remaining on the clock.

Vic Oladipo dimes it to Bam to push the lead back to 4!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on NBA TV
https://t.co/rTTQ9EtLON pic.twitter.com/afYL5sVV39

— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2022

The Heat advanced to the second round and will play the winner of the 76ers-Raptors series.

I’m just trying to ball and live. How can I lose when we the who’s who’s? pic.twitter.com/XlaJD69cBp

— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) April 27, 2022

The post Victor Oladipo Leads Miami to Series Closing Win Over Atlanta appeared first on SLAM.

#ATLvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Kyle Lowry (hamstring) has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Game 5 vs the Hawks.

P.J. Tucker (calf) and Caleb Martin (ankle) are questionable.

Gabe Vincent (toe) is probable.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 25, 2022

Miami also stated that P.J. Tucker and Caleb Martin were questionable for Game 5 due to calf and ankle injuries, respectively. Gabe Vincent is probable to play on Tuesday as well.

It will be Miami’s second straight game without Lowry in the lineup after the 2019 champion missed Game 4 due to the same hamstring issue. He initially suffered the injury during Game 3.

The Heat is up 3-1 in their first-round series with the Hawks.

The post Miami Heat Announce Kyle Lowry Out For Game 5 appeared first on SLAM.

Playoff Jimmy always brings that energy.

(: @_theeyeg) pic.twitter.com/QRAEh79qO0

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 20, 2022

Last season, the Heat could not recreate that magic from their Orlando Bubble and fell to the eventual champion Miluwake Bucks in a first-round sweep. The playoff failure led to the Miami office bringing in Kyle Lowry to relieve Butler of playmaking duties. That change led to the Heat earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference after going 53-29 in the regular season.

Since he doesn’t have to be as ball-dominant as he was during the bubble, Butler has been able to focus more on getting buckets, which led to Butler being able to score 45 points in a 115-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks to grab a 2-0 lead as the first-round series shifts to Atlanta. A personal 7-0 run punctuated the primetime performance in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to increase Miami’s lead from three to 10 to cement the Heat’s win.

“I am a different player now than I was then,” Butler said per ESPN. “I just always want to play basketball the right way and do whatever it takes to help this team, this organization, win. That’s why they brought me here.”

JIMMY BUTLER.

45 PTS
5 REB
5 AST
2 STL

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/914leJRDH9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 20, 2022

Butler’s big-time outing arrived on the strength of some hot shooting. Butler finished the game shooting 15-25 from the field, 11-12 from the free-throw line, and hit 4-7 three-pointers as well. During the regular season, Butler shot 23.3 percent on triples; Jimmy G. Buckets is a career 32.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

Erik Spoelstra, head coach of Miami, said that Butler’s shooting from outside reminded him of the exploits of franchise legends Dwyane Wade. Wade, James, and Butler are the only Heat players to finish a playoff game with 40-points three times.

“It actually is a good comparison because if you get in those pressure moments and the moments of truth, if you’re on the other side, would you ever want to just give Dwyane Wade an open 3? You would not,” Spoelstra said. “Because he’s a killer. He’s going to seize that moment. And Jimmy has a lot of those same qualities. You can say whatever the percentage is — throw those all out when it becomes about winning. He’ll find a way to kill you.”

The Heat-Hawks first-round series resumes on Friday in Atlanta.

The post ‘Different’ Jimmy Butler Drops 45 to Lead Miami to 115-105 Win appeared first on SLAM.

Familiar face in attendance pic.twitter.com/FMquIbOMOE

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 3, 2022

“It’s a place I called home for a long time,” Lowry said told NBA.com. “I won a lot of basketball games here, set a lot of records here. I’ve got a banner hanging up in there. It’s just a special place.”

Lowry last played in Toronto when the then-defending champs lost to the Hornets on Feb. 28, 2020. Lowry could not play in Miami’s three prior contests against Toronto after missing nearly a month, Jan. 15-Feb. 3, of action because of personal reasons.

On Sunday, before the Heat and Raptors tipped off, Lowry, with his two young sons by his side, was given a standing ovation after the Raptors aired a video tribute to one of the most, if not the most important Raptor of all time. The Raptors fans and organization weren’t the only people to give Lowry his flowers either. The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, officially proclaimed Sunday “Kyle Lowry Day” and praised Lowry for his on-court exploits and charitable work away from the hardwood.

“I know if I cry, DeMar’s going to make fun of me, and it’s going to go viral and all that stuff,” Lowry said, referring to teammate and close friend DeMar DeRozan. “I’m looking forward to just being in the moment.

Lowry spent nine seasons with the Raptors, leaving as the franchise leader in assists (4,227), steals (873), made three-pointers (1,518), and triple-doubles (16). Lowry was a crucial piece of the Raptors’ 2019 championship as well.

The post Kyle Lowry Showered With Love From Raptors Fans appeared first on SLAM.

After battling the Warriors to a 50-50 halftime tie, the Heat gave up a 19-0 run to start the third quarter to a Golden State team without the services of Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Green.

Then during the timeout, it looked as if Jimmy Butler and Coach Erik Spoelstra had words. It was then when long-time veteran Udonis Haslem got into an altercation on the sideline with Butler. After teammates separated them, Spoelstra got angry with Butler as well, and then Heat players had to separate them.

Jimmy Butler was HEATED in the Miami huddle after the Warriors went on a big run to start the second half pic.twitter.com/6waBmHlL1r

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 24, 2022

Just moments later, the combative situation woke Miami up and sparked them to go on a momentum-shifting run to cut the lead to 81-80 by the end of the third quarter before the Warriors pulled away again to win 118-104.

So, to recap. Tied 50-50 at halftime. Warriors 19-0 run to 69-50. Then Haslem and Butler go at it. Now Heat within 81-80 going into fourth. Bananas.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) March 24, 2022

“You can use moments during the season to catapult you,” Spoelstra said about the potential effects of the event going forward via ESPN. “You can galvanize together over frustration and disappointment. Teams can also go the other way. I don’t see that with our group. I don’t see that with our locker room. But we have needed a kick in the butt.”

Wednesday night’s loss was the Heat’s second straight to a short-handed opponent. The Philadelphia 76ers beat them Monday night without James Harden and Joel Embiid in the lineup. 

When Heat point guard Kyle Lowry was asked about the heated moment, he downplayed the incident as not as big a deal as some make it out to be.

“It’s crazy, but it’s passion. … It’s good sometimes to get some anger and frustration out and just talk about it,” Lowry said via CBS Sports.com. “We’re gonna have situations that make people uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, as long as we’re comfortable and we figure it out, that’s all that really matters as long as we’re together. And we are.”

Miami has a chance to show their unity against the New York Knicks on Friday.

The post Heat Inspired by Altercation Despite Loss to the Shorthanded Warriors appeared first on SLAM.

#HOUvsMIA UPDATE: Victor Oladipo, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin will all warm up with the intent to play in tonight’s game vs the Rockets.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 7, 2022

After three years of dealing with surgeries and rehabs due to some troubling leg injuries, Victor Oladipo’s play status has been upgraded to questionable, heading into the Heats game against the Rockets on Monday.

With the Heat saying he’s questionable to play, that means there’s a coin flips chance of the two-time All-Star will make his season debut on Monday. Oladipo last played competitive basketball last year on April 8. Since then, he’s undergone a second surgery on his quadriceps tendon. He first suffered the injury in January 2019 while he played for the Pacers.

“He has great fortitude,” Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said per ESPN. “That’s the toughest thing for a professional athlete is to get injured, and most of your time is away from the team. Probably, when you talk about mental health, that is the most challenging thing for an athlete.

“You don’t necessarily always feel like you’re a part of it. You have doubts; you don’t know what it’s going to look like on the other side when you do get healthy; you’re not sure if all the work is really mattering. That’s a tough place for an athlete.”

With the Indiana product back in the lineup, the Heat have another layer of depth to rely on with 17 games left on the schedule. For his career, Oladipo has averaged 17.5 points per game, 19.5 with the Heat, Rockets, and Pacers before going down with his knee injury.

Oladipo has missed 89 games since last season, including the Heat’s playoff run. Since his initial surgery three years ago, he’s made 56 appearances, missing 201 games within that same timeframe.

“He looks great,” Heat forward Jimmy Butler said. “He’s been working for, whew, a long time, countless amounts of hours, rehab, in the gym, in the weight room. And I’m excited for him to get back.”

Oladipo has ramped up his rehab with the Heat’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls in anticipation of his return.

“Through this entire process, I’ve really respected and admired how Vic is able to keep his positive spirit,” Spoelstra said. “It really is a unique quality. I love that quality about him.”

The post Heat Announce Victor Oladipo Will Warm Up Against Rockets With ‘Intent’ to Play appeared first on SLAM.

Dragic said he had six different teams after his services. He picked Nets because “They have a really good chance to win a championship.”

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) February 23, 2022

Dragic gave a lot of credit to Nets coach Steve Nash due to their relationship at the beginning of his career in Phoenix. Their mentor/mentee relationship began when Nash was the starting point guard of the Suns, and Dragic was trying to find his way around the League. It was their background, coupled with a talented roster and a chance at an NBA title, that eluded him in the 2020 NBA Finals in the bubble that ultimately led him to the Nets.

“I chose Brooklyn because I think they have a really good chance to win a championship, especially to play alongside (Kevin Durant), Kyrie (Irving), Ben Simmons, (LaMarcus) Aldridge,” Dragic said via the New York Post.

Dragic played only five games with the Toronto Raptors this season after the 35-year-old came over from Miami in the Kyle Lowry deal. Dragic and Toronto had a tumultuous start that ended up in both parties agreeing to part ways until the team could find a trade partner at the trade deadline.

Dragic also shared that Nash’s influence goes back much further than this week, sharing that the two-time MVP inspired him to leave Europe to try the NBA in the first place.

“At that time, I made that decision I was going to come from Europe to NBA — only because of Steve,” said Dragic. “If that were some other team, I probably would have stayed in Europe another two or three years.”

The Nets were counting on Dragic’s postseason experience and leadership when he averaged 19.1 points and 2.8 assists per game during Miami’s run to the Finals.

It is unknown at this time when Dragic, who last played Nov. 13, will suit up for his debut.

The post Goran Dragic Credits Steve Nash’s Influence As Reason For Signing With Brooklyn appeared first on SLAM.

Despite not having the services of superstar Kawhi Leonard this season and losing Paul George in December to an elbow injury, they now stand at seventh place in the West with a 26-26 record. The team hasn’t closed the door on either player being shut down for the season and is looking for point guard help just in case.

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Clippers are in the market for a point guard in a trade with possibly six players being targets.

“If the Clippers dip below .500, it should come as no big surprise. But this isn’t a lost season without Leonard and George. Not at all. In fact, the Clippers found their identity on defense by examining their roster and trying to find out who will fit with their stars in the years to come.”

Despite all the good vibes on the court this season, no team is ever fully complete. Change is inevitable. And the next step for the Clippers is to find a new point guard.

While Reggie Jackson currently covers the position, the Clippers see him as more of a scorer. What they want by his side is a playmaker. Someone like Fred VanVleet or Kyle Lowry for Leonard in Toronto, or even George Hill was for a young PG-13 in Indiana. L.A. wants a point guard on that level, someone who can manage the game or provide a spark depending on the situation.

So, what kind of point guard can the Clippers reasonably obtain? Over the past few weeks, numerous reports have cited names like Jalen Brunson, Dennis Schröder, Kemba Walker, Goran Dragic, Spencer Dinwiddie, and John Wall as targets.”

The team plan’s on moving potential expiring contracts such as Serge Ibaka, Ivica Zubac (team option for 2022-23 season), or Nicolas Batum (player option for 2022-23)

The Los Angeles Clippers made team history by making Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the eventual conference champion, Phoenix Suns.

The post REPORT: The Clippers Make Multiple Players Available For Point Guard Help appeared first on SLAM.

The following has been announced by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/SDE7TcwtmE

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 1, 2021

According to reports from ESPN League insider Adrian Wojnarowski., The League started its investigation back on August 7 after the start of the free agency on August 2. They conducted numerous interviews with team executives and player agents and gathered electronic messaging of the front office’s executives of Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, and Toronto over the past four months.

Both Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls have since made a statement on the League’s news.

The Miami Heat said, “While we disagree, we accept the league’s decision.”

The Bulls released a statement, saying, “We are glad this process has concluded and look forward to the rest of our season.

Despite the news, both the Chicago Bulls (14-8) and Miami Heat (13-8) are off to a great start to the 2021-22 season due to the play of their offseason signings.

Miami negotiated a three-year, $85 million deal with Lowry in the sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors that sent guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors. At the same time, the Bulls traded veterans Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky to the Pelicans in a sign-and-trade deal for Ball, who signed a four-year, $85 million contract with the Bulls.

The post Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat Forfeit Second Round Draft Pick appeared first on SLAM.

And though the Heat has been an excellent start to the season, Shooting guard Duncan Robinson has struggled so far.

Robinson, who signed a massive five-year, 90 million dollar contract, is currently shooting 32.8 percent from three, short of his historic 44.6 percent from the season prior. He struggled during Monday’s games against the Denver Nuggets, shooting 1-9 from the three-point line.

Although Duncan has struggled to get his shot to fall, people throughout the franchise are still confident in Robinson’s abilities.

“I know Duncan is a heck of a shooter,” Heat guard Kyle Lowry said to the Miami Herald. “We all understand what he is, what he’s doing and how he can get the ball off, and how many shots he can make.

“Duncan knows exactly what he’s doing,” Heat teammate Max Strus said of Robinson per the Miami Herald, “He just got paid $90 million, I think he’s good enough. So he’s an unbelievable shooter. He’ll be fine. Trust me, it will all come around. It’s just a slump and he’ll get out of it.”

Robinson is still a lethal weapon in the Heat offense and should be more of an asset moving forward with Bam Adebayo out with a thumb injury.

The post Heat Confident Duncan Robinson Shot Will Fall appeared first on SLAM.

And although he is now a member of the Miami Heat, Lowry still seems to have strong ties to Toronto.

In an interview with Marc J Spears of the Undefeated, Lowry speaks about his time within Toronto.

“I’m a man’s man, but I know I’m going to be a little bit sensitive and crying that day. I don’t know. I might hold it in,” Lowry told The Undefeated. “I’ve talked to [former Raptors teammate] DeMar [DeRozan] about it. But it’s one of them days where I know it’s going to be a lot of love for me and me giving love back, it’s just going to be interesting how it goes down because I don’t know what to expect.

“It’s different when you got traded from Memphis and you go back. I still get love from Memphis, which is awesome. I still get love from Houston. This is different because I continued to grow as a person in Toronto. So eight years in the city, one year I was in Tampa, but nine years overall with one franchise is a long time.”

Lowry also opened up about his decision to leave the Raptors.

“I still text (general manager) Bobby (Webster). I still text (Raptors President) Masai (Ujiri). There are no hard feelings,” Lowry said. “We’ve all had an open line of communication. And for me, it was very bittersweet because I never wanted to leave. But it was more a sense of: ‘All right, my kids are getting older. I want to be somewhere where they can be stable no matter what.’

“And, yeah, everybody says you could just live in Canada, but you’d have to get Canadian citizenship to live there. And I don’t think I would’ve lived there for the rest of my life. But I’ll be able to go back. That’s still home. Like I’ve said, and I’ll say it now, I will sign a one-day contract and I’ll retire as a Toronto Raptor. That is my everything.”

Lowry has spent nine years with the Raptors, In that process, he was able to become the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (4,277), steals (873), 3-pointers made and attempted and trails only DeRozan in games played and points scored along with leading them to a championship in 2019.

The post Kyle Lowry Reflects On His Time With the Toronto Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA lockout was in full effect and there was no end in sight. Inside the legendary Palestra, players were gathering for the love of the game in front of their adoring fans. The players included a two-time NBA MVP, two top-10 all-time leading NBA scorers, 
one top-five all-time NBA assists leader, one NBA Rookie of the Year, three NBA and NCAA champions and four Olympic Gold medalists. The Nike mantra of “Basketball Never Stops” was alive and on full display. 

The summer/fall of 2011 was like getting multiple releases on the Snkrs app for a basketball fan—a remarkable, rare occurrence. While the owners and players union were debating over finances, the stars of the League made sure they filled their fans’ thirst for affordable, high-level action across the country in DC, L.A., Baltimore, Oklahoma, New York and Philadelphia.

“That is what made the lockout games so great,” says Jamar Smiley, Director of Player Relations for BDA Sports Management. “The everyday fan was able to see [the stars] play without sacrificing a day’s pay.” 

The idea for the game in West Philadelphia started with some territorial trash talk between Carmelo Anthony and Hakim Warrick about which city, Baltimore or Philly, had better players. The two were teammates on Syracuse in 2003, when the program won a national championship. 

The vision started to become a reality on the night of Saturday, August 20, on the drive home from watching The Capital Punishment game in DC, where the Goodman League, led by Kevin Durant and John Wall, faced off against the Drew League, featuring James Harden and DeMar DeRozan. 

I contacted Skinny [Hakim Warrick] via Facebook messenger, who then put me in touch with Smiley. Smiley and I spoke, and roles began to be defined. I would handle the logistics of the game, Skinny and Melo would be team captains and oversee coordination with the players, and Smiley would be my day-to-day contact.

Once the team captains committed and the $25,000 contribution to their designated charities was confirmed, it was time to get to work. We had to secure the venue and an insurance policy, get product for the players and advertise for the game.

The first task was locking down the historical Palestra arena, which sits on the Ivy League campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The Palestra is considered the Cathedral of College Basketball, and legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have all stepped foot on its court.

“From our first conversation, the game had to be at The Palestra; there was no second option,” Warrick says. “Plus, it is right around the corner from where I grew up in the Bottom West Philly.”

I called Philadelphia basketball icon, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and UPenn head coach Jerome Allen, who has known Skinny and I since we were both young.

Allen arranged for a series of meetings between the Palestra’s facility director, UPenn’s athletic director and myself. Penn administration met the idea of the game with skepticism, due to the uncertainty of when the lockout would end. I assured them the game would happen because there was no end in sight for the lockout. I was confident, since I had daily communication with Smiley, who worked for one of the most prominent NBA agents in Bill Duffy, who represented numerous NBA stars including Steve Nash and Yao Ming.

Other parts were moving outside of the UPenn meetings. Nike had confirmed that they would be the official product sponsor for the game, outfitting all the players. Urban retail store DTLR Sneaker Villa would pay for all the radio advertisements, along with acquiring the insurance policy. Ten days after the initial meeting with Penn’s administrators, a deal was put in place for the Palestra to host the game.

Once these parts were solidified, the announcement to the public was made, and interest for the game exceeded all of our expectations.

Streaming is a standard tool of viewership nowadays, but back in 2011, it was something new. The Basketball Channel, a new company, approached me about the idea of streaming the event via the internet using their partnership with Sports Illustrated. The event was now going global.

“The game became bigger than what we expected,” says Warrick, a 13-year NBA vet and the Team Philly captain. “This was before the explosion of social media. Between the venue and streaming, this wasn’t no pickup game at the rec.”

The date and time were picked based on the fact that the hometown Philadelphia Eagles were playing their NFC East rival New York Giants that afternoon at 1 pm. Our game was scheduled to start at 6. I knew this would be a dream sports day for Philly fans. The Eagles versus the Giants at 1. The lockout game at 6 at the Palestra. It doesn’t get any better.

It was a warm, fall day, with temperatures in the 60s, but inside, the Palestra was humid and hot like a summer barbeque in the middle of the afternoon. “You had a three-piece suit on,” Smiley says, laughing, remembering the day. “I don’t know how you did it; I had to take my rugby shirt off.”

Members of the Philly team started to arrive around 4:30. As Hakim Warrick, Lou Williams, Kyle Lowry, Flip Murray, Wayne Ellington, Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Mark Tyndale, Mardy Collins, Dionte Christmas and Aaron Owens began to take the court to warm up, a buzz started growing. Only three members of Team Melo were on the court: Donte Greene, Josh Selby and Gary Forbes.

The remaining players were still nowhere to be seen or found as it approached 30 minutes before tip-off. Fans were beginning to worry if the game was even going to happen.

I wasn’t worried at all. I was in contact with Worldwide Wes [William Wesley, current Executive Vice President for the New York Knicks] the entire time. Melo, Bron and CP3 were at the Eagles-Giants game, and Wes had arranged for them to have a police escort to the arena.

At 5:45 pm, my BlackBerry rang. It was Worldwide Wes asking, “Where do we pull up at?” I instructed them to go through the back entrance. A fleet of black SUVs pulled up. First Chris Paul jumped out, then Carmelo, then LeBron. All three of them entered the Palestra and walked under the stands to the locker room. When the fans caught a glimpse of the trio, the arena erupted.

Finally, as the clock hit 6:15, legendary Philadelphia referee Keith “Showtime” Saunders tossed the ball up for the opening tip. Players on both teams competed as if it were Game 7 of the NBA Finals, with Team Philly winning, 131-122. But to basketball fans, there were no losers.

For those lucky few who got inside the hallowed halls of the Palestra, watching all of those future Hall of Famers—watching history—it was a once in a lifetime event. 

Rahim Thompson is the founder of The Chosen League, the Philadelphia-based high school summer basketball league whose alumni include Kyle Lowry, Gerald Henderson and Kyle Kuzma. His book, Choose Wisely, is available at nomattertheodds.com.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Hunter/The Chosen League.

The post How LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul Linked Up to Play in the Legendary Battle of I-95 Game appeared first on SLAM.

Marcus Smart is entering year eight of his stellar career. This season, Smart will take on a more prominent role in the Celtics offense, from leadership to ball handling. Smarts says that working with Stoudamire has been “great.”

“He’s a great coach,” Smart says via Celtics.com. “We know him as a great player, and so to be able to have that type of experience from when he played and now bring it to the coaching side, to be able to hand down that wisdom and knowledge to me is good. So it’s been great working with him.”

Stoudamire suited up in the League for 13 seasons, averaging 13.4 points, 6.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds in 878 career games. But experience and knowledge go way past his playing career. He’s served as an assistant coach at Rice, Memphis and Arizona. He was an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies from ’09 to 2011, where he worked with Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with the likes of Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry,” Stoudamire stated. “And now, to be able to work with Marcus as he’s just about to enter the peak of his prime, I’m excited.”

“I really believe that Marcus has a ceiling that he hasn’t reached yet, and now it’s just a matter of getting him there,” he added. “I’m excited to be working with him. I’m excited for his opportunity as the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics, and I’ll do anything possible to help him reach and attain the level that he wants to, even if that means being a bad cop at times. I’ve always told him that my actions are showing you that, even if at times you don’t like me, it’s never coming from a bad place. I’m just trying to get you to be the player, maximize the player that you’re capable of being.”

The post ‘Marcus Has a Ceiling That He Hasn’t Reached Yet’: Damon Stoudamire ‘Excited’ To Work With Marcus Smart appeared first on SLAM.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Bradley was very much open to a return with the Heat, but they weren’t interested in bringing him back at that time. 

Bradley played in ten games with Miami last season, averaging 8.5 points in 21.1 minutes per game while shooting 42.1 percent from deep. As good as Bradley is, the Heat acquired Kyle Lowry, who will take up quite a few minutes at the guard position. 

Either way, Bradley is amongst the handful of players that the Golden State Warriors are working out this week. A savvy NBA veteran, he’ll likely find a place in the League at some point this season. 

The post Free Agent Avery Bradley Wanted to Return to Miami Heat appeared first on SLAM.

In fact, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Lowry had an offer on the table worth $5 million more from the New Orleans Pelicans to sign for three years.

Lowry obviously opted to sign the three-year, $85 million contract with the Heat instead, highlighting hopes of competing for a title and playing alongside one of his close friends in star forward Jimmy Butler.

Interestingly enough, the Pelicans’ offer didn’t finish second in Lowry’s priority list, as Jackson reports that an offer he received from the Dallas Mavericks was actually Lowry’s second choice.

It’s easy to see why Lowry’s interest may not have been in New Orleans, as the Pelicans finished 11th in the Western Conference last season, traded away starting point guard Lonzo Ball last week and hired a first-time head coach in Willie Green. While both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have shown themselves to be a dominant offensive forces, other variables (likely including Lowry’s age at 35) likely made the Pennsylvania native’s decision easier.

Lowry had a difficult season with the Toronto Raptors last year, as the team finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 27-45, and rumors swirled all season about a potential trade. However, Lowry had a solid individual season, averaging 17.2 points and 7.3 assists per game (46 games) on a true shooting percentage of 59.3.

The post REPORT: Kyle Lowry Turned Down Larger Offer from Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

Dragic has now walked those statements back and apologized to Raptors fans for the comment while talking with Sportsnet’s Micheal Grange.

“My message basically, to all Toronto fans, is I would like to apologize. It didn’t come out the right way. I know they love their team, and they should be proud, it is one of the best organizations in the NBA. They’ve already won a championship and I didn’t, so what I said, it really was not appropriate,” said Dragic.

Dragic found himself in this predicament after being traded to the Raptors as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Kyle Lowry to Miami Heat, where he went on to sign a three-year $85 million contract.

Dragic played seven seasons with the Heat before being traded, playing in 391 games and averaging 16.2 points and 5.2 assists per game.

The future for Dragic remains unclear after the trade to the Raptors. A trade is still possible that would ship Dragic back to a contender, or a buy-out is also on the table since Dragic is on an expiring contract worth $19.4 million.

There’s even a possibility that Dragic remains with the Raptors for next season, although that currently seems unlikely.

The post Goran Dragic Apologizes to Toronto Raptors Fans for Candid Comments appeared first on SLAM.

Oladipo will eye 2022 free agency to return to the market and sign a big contract once he’s fully healthy. Miami will retain Oladipo’s Bird Rights, allowing them to find the means to sign him again next offseason. https://t.co/IRPUndKXgj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 4, 2021

The signing could be considered a surprise due to Oladipo’s health after undergoing a second surgery in 28 months on his right quad in May.

The Heat will look for him to get back to the best two-way player that won the NBA’s Most Improved Player while making the All-NBA third-team and All-Defensive first-team in 2017-18.

Miami has been very busy since the free agency started. The Oladipo deal follows the Kyle Lowry sign and trade acquisition with the Toronto Raptors. Then they signed Jimmy Butler to a multi-year extension.

Victor was part of the huge four-team James Harden trade early last season. The Indiana Pacers dealt him to Houston, and at the trade deadline, Houston sent him to South Beach.

He averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from deep across 33 games in 2020-21.

The post REPORT: Victor Oladipo Will Return to Miami appeared first on SLAM.

Per Wojnarowski, Lowry’s contract with Miami will be a three-year deal.

Although the details of the transaction have not been confirmed, Miami’s decision to pick up the $19.4 million player option on point guard Goran Dragic was considered a potential precursor to a sign-and-trade involving Lowry.

Dragic, second-year big man Precious Achiuwa and a second-round pick are reportedly headed to the Raptors in the deal, per Christian Hernandez of Miami Heat Beat.

Lowry’s addition to the Heat’s roster is indicative of a familiar competitive spirit boasted by Miami, with the gritty playmaker averaging 17.2 points and 7.3 assists per game in the 2020-21 season (while shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point range) and boasting extensive postseason experience.

Although the savvy Dragic and athletic Achiuwa—a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft—were valued by Miami, Achiuwa’s relative lack of scoring impact (5.0 points per game in 2020-21) and Dragic’s defensive shortcomings appear to have made the Heat comfortable trading them in their efforts to acquire Lowry, long-known as an impactful two-way player.

The post REPORT: Kyle Lowry Heads to Heat in Sign-and-Trade with Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

There are a lot of mock drafts out there, but it’s never too late to hit you with a new perspective. Members of the SLAM Fam were assigned a team to pick for, and here are the results and explanations for who they’ve selected.

We’d also like to extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Terrence Clarke, who tragically passed away in April. Tonight would have been a special moment for him. Rest in Peace.

2021 FIRST ROUND

1. DETROIT PISTONS: Jalen Green (6-6 G, G League Ignite)

Jalen Green is a really, really, really good basketball player. He’s so good that it doesn’t look like he’s trying, for real, for real. But that’s foolish. Underneath the air that he occupies on his ever-elevating jump shots and on his albatross-like soaring dunks is a foundation of respect for the game and what it takes to be a really, really, really great basketball player. He’s a student of high-level basketball, rapidly consuming both mental and physical knowledge. That desire has separated him from his peers and will separate him from the League at some point. His computational capacity moves so swiftly that it doesn’t look like he’s trying, for real, for real. But that’s foolish. He is. And he is numero uno. — Max Resetar 

2. HOUSTON ROCKETS – Cade Cunningham (6-8 G, Oklahoma State)

Whether you’re interested in basketball players versus hoopers, or players with understated skill versus “a bag,” Cade Cunningham is the player for you.

At 6’8” and 220 pounds, Cunningham is a dynamic point-forward prospect that any team could realistically slot into their starting lineup at the 1, 2, or 3, and that’s perfect for a Rockets team with a veteran point guard on a rebuilding team (John Wall), a promising backcourt talent without a true position (Kevin Porter Jr.) and small forwards that are specialists, not polished two-way playmakers with an arsenal of scoring moves (including a stepback game that’s eerily reminiscent of the sensational Luka Doncic) that’s buoyed by his footwork, balance, body control, and ball-handling abilities. — Quenton Albertie

3. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS – Evan Mobley (7-0 C, University of Southern California)

Can’t count out Jalen Suggs here, especially if the Cavs end up moving Collin Sexton—which is a rumor that some reporters have been kicking around. All signs, though, point to Evan Mobley getting the call here. ESPN draft insider Chard Ford said this a couple of days ago: “I had a scout tell me the other night that Mobley is Chris Bosh on offense and Anthony Davis on defense. That’s an NBA superstar. That’s crazy.” If this forecast is accurate, the Cavs would be crazy not to take him.  — Franklyn Calle

4. TORONTO RAPTORS – Jalen Suggs (6-5 G, Gonzaga)

With Kyle Lowry’s likely departure ending an era he defined with professionalism, leadership, and grit, the Raptors can draft someone to continue that high standard. Suggs chose Gonzaga for the accountability and hard coaching, so he’ll embrace a similar situation in Ontario. A rotation of Fred Van Vleet, Suggs, and Malachi Flynn flexes versatility and hustle, while Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Chris Boucher uphold defensive tradition. Toronto won’t rely on Jalen’s on-court abilities immediately, but his leadership should convey from day one. In high school, Jalen was required to carry in two sports. He delivered state championships. At Gonzaga, he needed to be a do-it-all superstar. He delivered an unforgettable run. I don’t know what expectations are in Toronto, but I bet he’ll deliver. — Thilo Latrell Widder

5. ORLANDO MAGIC – Scottie Barnes (6-9 F, Florida State)

Now that the sexy picks are off the board, Scottie Barnes has the best potential that is not in the NBA Draft spotlight. Barnes made himself a top-five prospect dominating the pre-draft process. Teams were impressed with his incredible physical profile, wingspan, a strong bulky frame combined with a quickness.

He’s the perfect player to help set the defensive tone for Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley’s culture. However, his offensive game is limited due to his stiff shooting mechanics and confidence at times. Best case scenario, if he can combine his high energy, versatile defense with a reliable jumper, Scottie Barnes could have All-Star potential. Worst case, he could be a very capable All-NBA defender.  — Ronald Agers

6. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER – James Bouknight (6-5 G, Connecticut)

While the Thunder are looking to do everything they can to move into the top-five, Bouknight is still a great pick if they’re unable to. One of the most dominant scorers in this class, Oklahoma City would instantly have one of the most intriguing young backcourts in the league with him and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His assist and turnover numbers are certainly something to worry about, but Bouknight essentially had to carry the offense in college. At the next level, with more spacing and talent, he could look like a completely different player. While he hasn’t been a dominant defender to this point, he’s got the tools to develop into a solid perimeter defender. — Nick Crain

7. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – Jonathan Kuminga (6-8 F, G League Ignite)

Jonathan Kuminga is tuff. That’s all that needs to be said. – Theus McBee

8. ORLANDO MAGIC: Kai Jones (6-11 F, Texas)

Since Jonathan Kuminga was snatched up, Orlando will use their second lottery pick on Kai Jones, a raw athlete that fits the mold of a rim running, lob-catching threat. The Magic will continue their defensive theme in the lottery by drafting a player who shows potential with mobile defense with the ability to switch multiple positions. Offensively, he is a project with inconsistent shooting mechanics and no reliable post moves. Assuming Orlando drafts him at the 8th spot, they will need to have patience with him. They’ve done it before with another Texas Longhorn, Mo Bamba. If the Magic passes on Jones, look for a drop near the 20th selection. — Ronald Agers

9. SACRAMENTO KINGS: Franz Wagner (6-9 G/F, Michigan)

The needs of the Sacramento Kings this offseason are clear, they need help on the defensive end. Statistically, Sacramento had the worst defense in the NBA last year, clocking in with a defensive rating of 117.2, dead last in the league. Franz Wagner, a sophomore out of the University of Michigan, is a 6-foot-9 wing who showed the ability to defend multiple positions both on and off-ball at a high level in his two years with the Wolverines. Wagner’s versatile defensive abilities, along with improved jump shooting and playmaking on offense in his sophomore year, make him a great fit for the Kings at ninth overall. — Zach Dupont

10. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Josh Giddey (6-8 G, Adelaide 36ers (NBL)

 Josh Giddey’s game speaks itself, but if we are gonna dive into what makes him such a standout, our editorial intern, Jared, described him best: He’s a gifted passer who thrives in transition with an advanced ability to find the descending big man in pick and roll scenarios. Armed with a bounty of knowledge and experience from mentors, a year playing professionally and a playmaking bag rivaled by the League’s top guards, Josh Giddey is ready for what he’s been waiting for. 

Giddey is already a pro who dominated in the NBL and finished the season with 13 double-doubles, and three triple-doubles. His playmaking ability will only add to the Grizzlies’ roster offensively, especially when he’s alongside a bucket like Ja. – Deyscha “Sway” Smith

11. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Alperen Sengun (6’9 C, Besiktas (Turkey))

Traded to Washington for the No. 15 pick and Thomas Bryant

Beal. Westbrook. Hachimura. Bertans. Avdija. The core of an exciting playoff team is here, so moving up in the draft makes sense for Washington to grab Turkish big man Alperen Sengun. The MVP of the Turkish Super League last season–who just turned 19 on Sunday–averaged 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in under 30 minutes per game. Last season’s emergence of Daniel Gafford made us feel comfortable moving Thomas Bryant and his expiring contract to clear some cap space since both Alex Len and Robin Lopez are also free agents. Sengun, who models his game after reigning MVP Nikola Jokić and MVP runner-up Joel Embiid, should be ready to contribute right away. – Aron Phillips

12. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Davion Mitchell (6-2 G,  Baylor)

Mitchell is quite possibly the most capable player in the draft to step in and be a major contributor to whichever team drafts him. The Spurs selecting him at 12 is a fantastic fit for an organization known to garner the most out of their young draft talent. Mitchell’s size at 6’3 and age of 23 by the time the 2021 season tips off doesn’t necessarily scream lottery material, yet when you turn on the tape of Mitchell in this past year’s Final Four, those concerns seem to evaporate. — Josh Frohlinger

13. INDIANA PACERS: Corey Kispert (6-7 SG, Gonzaga)

Standing at 6-7 this wing is a walking bucket. I’m talking about a three-point sniper deemed one of the best all-around shooters in the draft. Once he’s hot this kid poses as a true threat from downtown. He may very well be the missing piece that Naptown needs. — Charlie Desadier

14. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Josh Christopher (6-5 G, Arizona State)

With Klay Thompson back in the mix this coming season, the Warriors are gearing up for yet another championship run. With two lottery picks in this draft, the Warriors have the ability to take a bit more of a gamble at 14 as opposed to 7; and that’s what they do snagging Arizona State’s Christopher higher than most mock boards have projected. As a 6’5 shooter with confidence and elite athleticism, Christopher already displays an NBA-ready frame with suburb transition finishing.

15. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (via Washington): Quentin Grimes (6-6 G, Houston)

Just one game away from the 8-seed a year ago, Charlotte is on the cusp of being a regular playoff contender. I tried to keep the team young while also adding guys who can contribute on day one. We moved back a few picks and added Thomas Bryant via the Wizards, who will fight for the starting center job should Cody Zeller take his talents elsewhere. After moving down to 15, adding Quentin Grimes was an easy choice. The Houston shooting guard is uber-efficient as a scorer and showed he can run an offense while at the NBA Combine. He’s a perfect fit to replace Devonte Graham in the Hornets’ guard rotation feat. LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, and can play alongside either, or on his own. — Ian Pierno

16. OKC THUNDER: Moses Moody (6-6 G, Arkansas)

There’s a real chance that Moody is taken in the top ten on Thursday, so the Thunder getting him at sixteen would be a pleasant surprise. Although OKC is looking to package No. 16 and No. 18 to move up and grab another lottery pick, they certainly wouldn’t be upset with a lottery talent like Moody falling to them here. While he may not have the ceiling of others in this class, his floor feels high. At a minimum, he projects to be a solid 3-and-D player at the next level. With a long frame and smooth stroke, Moody is a safe pick for a team that’s looking for a solid NBA player. — Nick Crain 

17. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Cam Thomas (6-4 G, LSU)

An instant-offense bucket-getter who, when he’s hot, cannot be left open under any circumstance. In other words, the perfect guy to stretch the floor alongside Zion Williamson. Done deal. — Adam Figman

18. OKC THUNDER: Jalen Johnson (6-9 G/F, Duke)

If it weren’t for his off-the-court issues, we could be talking about Johnson going just outside the top five of this draft. One of the most gifted prospects in this class, he’s an absolute force in transition. Johnson has the build of the perfect modern NBA forward and can do a little bit of everything. With their third pick in the top-20, OKC has the ability to take a gamble here, with Johnson being one of the highest risks in the draft but having the potential to be the biggest steal at the same time. — Nick Crain

19. NEW YORK KNICKS: Keon Johnson (6-5 G, Tennessee)

There’s no need to mince words. Keon Johnson is explosive. Watching him is almost akin to watching a bull in a china shop; he drives into the paint with the fury of a battering ram, unconcerned, and largely unbothered, by the less-athletic defender in front of him. The Knicks at No. 19 are a perfect landing spot for Johnson; while he still needs to address some major mechanical issues in his game—including tightening up his shot-motion and handle—his developmental upside will be cultivated and fostered by Tom Thibodeau and a potential rotation of him, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett long term could end up putting the League on notice. — Jackson Wald

20. ATLANTA HAWKS: Sharife Cooper (6-1 G, Auburn)

Rife is Trae 2.0. Put these two together and you got the new Mobb Deep. Both are small guards, but ready to make any play turn into a highlight reel. Sharife’s short college season left an imprint around the country of his game not slowing down due to all the allegations he faced his freshman year. The Hawks had an incredible season/playoff run making it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Adding Cooper can only elevate their motion offense and create even more three-point possessions. In all honesty, Cooper’s a dawg, and I wish the Knicks were getting him next pick! — Nick Torres

21. NYK: Chris Duarte (6-6 G, Oregon)

Duarte is a proven commodity; he is a plus-defender, a reliable three-pointer shooter (he shot 42 percent last season at Oregon), and someone who will fit seamlessly in the Knicks’ new age grit-and-grind culture. Duarte has arguably the safety floor of any prospect selected after pick twenty. Also, as we saw with Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder in the NBA Finals, it never hurts to have a solid core of 3-and-D wings. — Jackson Wald

22. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Tre Mann (6-5 PG, Florida)

You know those players that make you feel like you’re getting punched in the gut every time they make a three against you? Tre’Shaun Mann is one of them. All you have to do is turn on the tape for a couple of minutes and you’ll see not many people in the world possess his combination of size, athleticism, and scoring creativity. It may or may not happen right away, but when Tre gets comfortable in the League he’s going to be one of the most dynamic guards. — Christian Quezada 

*We’re breaking a few rules here and adding another name to this list, too.

BJ Boston (6-7 F, Kentucky)

Say what you want about his performance last season at Kentucky, but BJ Boston says he’s improved his game “tremendously” since his college days. Word is he even recently had a “great” pre-draft workout with the Lakers and dominated their “Mentality Drill.” 

Anyone who has been following BJ’s trajectory will tell you that he’s been ready for the bright lights since the start. He knows how to navigate a spotlight, and how to power through negativity while focusing on his game and the things only he can control. If the Lakers don’t draft Mann, then it sounds like BJ could fit in on a star-studded roster led by the King.  — Sway

23. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Usman Garuba (6-8 PF, Real Madrid (Spain))

After selecting Cunningham second overall, the Rockets’ focus now shifts to their center position. Enter Usman Garuba, a Nigerian-Spanish big man with extensive experience in international competition and a few awards in his trophy case to boot.

At 6’8” and 230 pounds (with a 7’3” wingspan), Garuba is already a high-energy defensive force thanks to an exceptional feel of how to disrupt passing lanes and shot attempts, as well as enough agility and fluidity to guard out on the perimeter or in space. Combined with his abilities as a passer and potential as an outside threat, there are many who see him in the Draymond Green mold.

With a bevy of offensive talents, players willing and capable of thriving without the ball in their hands (and who can be a defensive menace in the same breath) are invaluable. — Quenton Albertie

24. ROCKETS: Josh Primo (6-6 G, Alabama)

The Rockets, all-in on their rebuild, select another of the 2021 NBA Draft’s youngest players: 18-year-old Josh Primo, a one-and-done at the University of Alabama.

Primo’s most NBA-ready skill at this point is his outside shooting, as he knocked down 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts at Alabama with his 3-point attempts amounting to 57.9 percent of his overall shot attempts. With that said, not only does Primo’s selection fit the Rockets’ current timeline but it addresses the team’s mediocre outside shooting as well.

Due to his youth and need to develop his other guard skills, Primo may not get minutes early on, at least outside of the G League. But he’ll grow alongside Houston’s vibrant young core until his number is called, and likely hit at least one three by the time he leaves the game, no matter how small the role. — Quenton Albertie

25. LA CLIPPERS: Jared Butler (6-3 G, Baylor)

LA is known for helping young guards develop into immediate NBA talent (just look at what Terance Mann was able to do in the playoffs this year)  and Jared Butler is next up for the Clippers. A smooth, consistent guard for the national champion Baylor Bulldogs, Butler’s veteran mindset and consistent shooting will likely make him an immediate rotation staple on the Clippers. — Camille Buxeda

26. DENVER NUGGETS: Ayo Dosunmu (6-5 G, Illinois)

Ayo Dosunmu was, for the large majority of last year’s college basketball season, the best player on the best team in the nation. Dosunmu is an all-around ballplayer; need him to lock down the opponent’s best player? He’s on it. Need him to get you some buckets? He’ll drop twenty-plus. He’ll face a pretty serious adjustment coming into the league, where he will likely never be the main ball-handler or facilitator, but Ayo has the experience and drive to make it in the league for a long time. — Saheem Anthony

27. BROOKLYN NETS: Jaden Springer (6-4 SG, Tennessee)

After declining his player option, Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets will most likely be parting ways this offseason, which leaves the Nets with a major need for defensive prowess and playmaking. While he needs to fine-tune his shot creation abilities, Tennessee’s Jaden Springer is a great grab for the Nets at 27. Springer could serve as the next young developmental guard in the rotation amidst a roster that has a plethora of shot creation abilities. An energizer on both ends of the floor, Springer averaged 12.5 points a game in his lone season with the Volunteers and is a tenacious on-ball defender. He’s a perfect fit alongside the likes of Bruce Brown for Steve Nash’s small-ball lineup that lacked the ability to effectively defend ball screens and switches this past season. — Jared Ebanks

28. PHILADELPHIA SIXERS: Ziaire Williams (6-8 F, Stanford)

Although Williams had a somewhat underwhelming freshman year at Stanford, he’s still the same Ziaire. Looking past the pressure of being an incoming Top 10 player in the country, Williams showed flashes of high-level scoring mixed with impressive athleticism. Going to the cup more could do him wonders and he simply has too much potential to slip past the first round. At a lengthy 6’8 185, he fits the modern-day NBA’s positionless basketball scheme to a tee. His shooting needs to improve if he wants to get big minutes, but Williams can definitely lighten the scoring load off the bench for Philly in the 2021-22 season. — Caleb Gagne

29. PHOENIX SUNS: Isaiah Jackson (6-10, F, Kentucky)

Although there were hints of returning to Kentucky, Jackson is taking his talents to the NBA. Jackson is an all-around hooper who can get it done on both ends of the floor. He averaged 2.6 blocks per game and was selected to the SEC All-Defense team. Jackson is a versatile player who can do it all for a big man. His playmaking ability stood out as he is able to put the ball on the floor and advance the ball. The Suns could use a player to develop behind star center Deandre Ayton, giving them the bench support they can use in the frontcourt. — Kobe Blackwell

30. UTAH JAZZ: Kessler Edwards (6-8 F, Pepperdine)

Did I just take someone out of Pepperdine in the first round? It’s a hard sell considering just two Waves —Doug Christie and the oft underrated Dennis Johnson— have had a five or more year career in the NBA. How’s that for trivia? I believe Kessler Edwards could become the third. The Jazz could trade out to dump contracts, but after a failed move with Charlotte, I decided to examine team needs. Joe Ingles is getting older and slipping on defense and the loss to the Clippers exposed Utah’s need for perimeter stoppers. Edwards shot 38% from deep on 119 attempts and with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and strong fundamentals, he’s a prototypical 3-and-D wing. — Thilo Latrell Widder

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One of their core pieces, veteran guard Mike Conley, is set to hit free agency this summer, but according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the expectation around the League is that Conley will stay in Utah.

“League executives believe Conley is most likely to stay in Utah,” Windhorst wrote. “With the Jazz investigating the possibility of reducing payroll to make room next to Donovan Mitchell’s new max contract coming onto the books.”

This should ease the nerves of many Jazz fans as Conley had been reported to have many teams interested and pursuing him this summer. In the same article, Windhorst reports that the Dallas Mavericks also have a high-interest level in Conley as well as Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul.

Conley will be 34-years-old next season, so some question how long he can remain effective in the NBA. Despite his age, Conley is coming off a strong 2020-21 season for the Jazz averaging 16.2 points and 6.0 assists per game while shooting a career-high 41.2 percent from three.

NBA free agency begins next week on Monday, Aug. 2, following the NBA Draft this Thursday.

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As first reported by Matt Moore of Action Network, the Toronto Raptors are the team most engaged in trade discussions for Simmons at this point. He would go on to say that Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and the fourth overall pick in Thursday’s draft for Simmons was rejected by Toronto.

For Philadelphia, Kyle Lowry is still at the top of their list of targets this offseason. It appears that for now, the trade framework they’ve originally offered won’t help in landing the veteran point guard. 

Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game last season for the Sixers and was one of the best defenders in the entire NBA. 

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Now, Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner links the Lake Show to both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

He reports:

“DeRozan, who starred at Compton High and USC, has interest in returning home to play for the Lakers, even if it is for less than the $27.7 million he earned last season in San Antonio, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Though the Lakers didn’t acquire Lowry at the trade deadline, he remains interested in joining them, according to people with knowledge of his situation.

The Lakers made multiple runs at DeRozan in the past. In 2016, Los Angeles reportedly made a big offer only for DeMar to accept Toronto’s max deal. Lowry has been linked to the Lakers as far back as the trade deadline.

For the Lakers to get Lowry, it will have to come in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors centered around Schroder and others. The deal would eliminate flexibility from the team’s salary cap, leaving the only option of filling out the roster with minimum players.

The Lakers have six players under contract with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie (non-guaranteed). Montrezl Harrell has a player option for next season at $9.7 million, and he has a July 31 deadline to inform the Lakers.

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This award is selected by NBA players & recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to his team. pic.twitter.com/2aQOzu9A92

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 3, 2021

The Twyman-Stokes award recognizes the one player considered the best teammate based on a combination of selfless play, leadership, mentorship, and commitment and dedication to their own team.

The other award nominees were Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers); Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets); Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers); Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat); Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors); Boban Marjanović (Dallas Mavericks); Paul Millsap (Denver Nuggets); Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns); Theo Pinson (New York Knicks); and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves).

Lillard received 40 first-place votes adding up to 1,012 total points. Paul finished in second place with 1,001 points.

At this point, Dame’s off-the-court achievements are starting to rival his on the court excellence.

This season, he received the April NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente for the third time thanks his continued efforts in the Portland community. Two years ago, Lillard won the 2018-19 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his outstanding service and dedication to the community.

However, Dame continues to cement his legacy as one of the clutch superstars in the NBA averaging 28.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds this season.  His exploits helped lead the Trail Blazers to their eighth straight playoff appearance.

Despite losing in the first round, he gave a technicolored example of what Dame Time is by scoring 55 points in a record-setting performance in Game 5’s double-OT loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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Ian Begley of SNY recently reported that the New York Knicks are looking to add a star to the roster, keeping an eye on players who could get unhappy with their current situation and request a trade. More specifically, New York is monitoring Damian Lillard and any other star who may seek a move if things start to go sour with their current respective franchise.

Outside of Lillard, Begley reported the Knicks are keeping an eye on the situations of Dennis Schroder, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry, who would be options via free agency, rather than trade.

For the first time in a while, the Knicks might actually be an extremely attractive destination for a star to join. Not only do they have an excellent young core, but they also have some of the most available cap space of any team this offseason.

Amidst their best season in years, the New York Knicks are playoff-bound, sitting at 38-30, good for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. With an exciting roster and cap flexibility, they could be on the verge of landing another star soon.

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VanVleet is set to miss the next regular season game while Bembry will miss tonight’s game against Chicago. Emerging Lakers talent Talen-Horton Tucker also faces suspension, while Montrezl Harrell was fined for their involvement in Tuesday night’s debacle.

The Raptors are now operating with a highly limited roster, as Kyle Lowry, Rodney Hood, Jalen Harris, Patrick McCaw and Paul Watson Jr. are all currently out due to COVID-19 protocols or injuries.

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With an understanding that Schroder was in the final season of a four-year, $70 million contract he signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017, the Lakers likely acquired him from the Oklahoma City Thunder with the understanding that they would have to address his contract in the future.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Los Angeles did recently discuss Schroder’s contract situation, with the Lakers offering a four-year, $84 million contract extension (the most that Schroder could be offered under the current CBA).

Due to him he and Los Angeles having difficulty reaching an agreement on a contract extension, Schroder was made available in certain trade talks at the deadline, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Bill Oram. Buha and Oram also add that Schroder discussed his future with the franchise last week, saying “at the end of the day, I want to be a Laker for a long time… I just want it to be fair.”

Schroder is having a solid year, averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game in what’s his eighth NBA season.

With his scoring ability, playmaking, defensive potential and hustle, he’ll end up getting a big payday whether he re-signs with the Lakers or heads elsewhere in free agency.

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Currently 21-18 and fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, HoopHype’s Michael Scotto reports that Miami has expressed interest in acquiring Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors ahead of the Mar. 25 trade deadline in a package that could include Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk and Kendrick Nunn.

Winners of 10 out of their last 11 games, a Heat team that had a mediocre start to the 2020-21 season is starting to find it’s stride. Nonetheless, Miami knows as well as any franchise how competitive an NBA roster needs to be in order to win an NBA championship.

Lowry, on an expiring contract, could legitimately be the piece that the Heat are missing.

An upgrade over both Dragic and Nunn (a 3-point specialist with a career 3-point percentage of .351), Lowry’s combination of on-court talent, league experience, veteran leadership and toughness are right up the Heat’s alley.

Through 31 games this season, Lowry is averaging 18.1 points, 7.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds per contest while shooting .445 percent from the field and .397 percent from deep.

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Regardless of whether he finishes out this season with the Raptors, or is traded to a new team, Lowry has said that he wishes to retire a member of the Toronto Raptors one way or another. 

“I will retire as a Toronto Raptor…One-day contract, hey whatever happens.”

So far this season, Lowry has appeared in 29 games, averaging 18.0 points, 7.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per contest. Still a valuable piece at 34 years old, Lowry will make an impact on any team he plays for. 

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With that in mind, his time in Toronto could be coming to an end as the 34-year-old is a free agent this offseason and could be moved before that happens. With Fred VanVleet earning a huge payday last offseason and showing full capability of being the starting point guard of the future, Lowry could be on a new team before the March trade deadline. 

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and LA Clippers could be teams that become trade destinations if Lowry does in fact become available. 

Lowry is averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 assists per game and still has plenty to contribute to a contender. The Raptors were 16-0 in their last 16 games without him in the lineup, proving that they’re capable of winning without him. 

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“There is a portion of Raptors personnel, league sources said, that believes the franchise should bid its beloved All-Star farewell and begin Toronto’s next chapter in earnest.” Per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.

The six-time All-star has been one of the most important components keeping the Raptors team together while also winning a championship alongside former teammate, Kawhi Leonard, back in 2019.

According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, the Raptors have formed a team consisting of younger players with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet who are both 26, and OG Anunoby who is 23. The team could be looking to take advantage of their fresh talent by building around them.

It was only a year ago that Lowry agreed to a one-year extension with the Raptors. The guard could potentially have a few options, only if cap space does not pose as an issue considering most teams are maxed out.

Whether or not Lowry will be placed in the market remains unclear considering there haven’t been any serious notions regarding the guard and a possible trade.

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The team’s primary core of Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have lived up to the bar they set last season but Norman Powell’s early impact has fallen short.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

OG Anunoby	12.7p, 6.7r, 1.7a
Chris Boucher	11.3p, 5.3r, 0.3a
Stanley Johnson	3.5p, 4.0r, 0.0a
Matt Thomas	7.0p, 1.7r, 1.7a
Kyle Lowry	19.3p, 3.0r, 9.7a	–
Pascal Siakam	18.7p, 9.0r, 4.7a
Fred VanVleet	14.7p, 4.0r, 6.0a
Aron Baynes	8.7p, 7.3r, 0.7a
Alex Len	2.0p, 5.0r, 2.0a
Norman Powell	6.0p, 1.0r, 1.0a
DeAndre’ Bembry	1.0p, 0.5r, 0.0a
Terence Davis	0.0p, 0.0r, 0.0a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

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After their second straight loss of the season, Lowry spoke to the media and let out his frustrations.

“We’re 0-2, I haven’t had this record for a long fu**ing time, we gotta figure this out.”

Lowry holds himself and his teammates to the highest of expectations. He hasn’t missed the playoffs since the 2012-13 season, showing just how much success he is used to having. There’s no need to make dramatic adjustments quite yet for the Raptors, but in a shortened 72-game season, every game counts when it comes to seeding in a tough Eastern Conference.

Through two games, Lowry is averaging 17.0 points and 10.0 assists per contest, shooting .400 from beyond the arc. The Raptors will have a chance to earn their first win of the season Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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We broke down the Raptors’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Raptors’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• How productive will the center rotation be? After losing Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, that rotation will be completely new.
• Can Pascal Siakam shake off the rust we saw in the bubble? As good of a player as he has the chance to be, that wasn’t his best stretch of basketball. How close is he to his ceiling?

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

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Next season, the Raptors will need this trio to remain lethal if they’re to return to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, as their offseason was anything but ideal.

Raptors Offseason Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Aron Baynes: Aron Baynes is tough as nails and strong as (you guessed). Having developed his 3-point stroke over the last two seasons, Baynes is now a respectable stretch-big who can replace what Marc Gasol brought to the Toronto Raptors in a lot of ways.

• Alex Len: Alex Len, in contrast to Aron Baynes, is better on offense than defense. That’s going to be highly important as the Raptors try to find ways to make up for what they lost when Serge Ibaka departed for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Raptors Offseason Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Serge Ibaka: Serge Ibaka looked reinvigorated last season, averaging 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while posting a true shooting percentage of .583. He’s going to be a hard loss for the Toronto Raptors to swallow and they failed to replace him at all this offseason.
• Marc Gasol: Marc Gasol may not have had his best season in 2019-20 but he remains a smart, savvy veteran center with above-average playmaking ability. Perhaps newcomer Aron Baynes can make it eaier for the Raptors to forget about Gasol.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

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VanVleet was a vital part of Toronto’s 2019 NBA title team and has emerged as important offensive piece for the Raptors heading forward. The combo guard shares a backcourt with Kyle Lowry.

The Detroit Pistons were also said to be in the mix for VanVleet but Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports reports that they ultimately walked away when the price got too high.

VanVleet averaged 17.6 points per game in 2019-20, his first full campaign as a starter. VanVleet’s four-year deal will run through the 2023-24 campaign, in parallel with the extension that Pascal Siakam inked with the team last year.

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However, the Raptors’ performance in the regular season was a lot different than it was in the playoffs, where rising star Pascal Siakam demonstrated how important it is for players with physical prowess to improve their guard skills. Subsequently, Toronto’s focus this offseason should be on player development and free agency rather than the 2020 NBA Draft.

This is particularly true due to the Raptors having just the second-to-last pick in each round.

Related: Full Toronto Raptors 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Raptors Draft Needs

It’s always wise to shore up depth or plan ahead and that’s exactly what Toronto will be doing during the 2020 NBA Draft. The Raptors could have 15 players entering free agency, an absurd number when considering that thy were just in the NBA Finals last year and made it as far as the second round of the NBA Playoffs this year.

Using their draft picks on fringe roster or fringe rotation players will be a cheap way of maintaining the status quo. It also allows them to maximize their cap space for the 2021 offseason, should they decide that they want to chase one of the established stars whose contracts will expire in 2020-21.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

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In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.

Projected Roster Players

Projected Free Agents

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

• Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000

Key Offseason Decisions

• What happens with Fred VanVleet? Can Toronto sign him to a new deal before one of the point guard-needy teams with cap space can throw him a huge offer?
• Will the Raptors run it back one more year? They’ll hang onto free agent rights for Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka and others. The question is if they’ll re-sign them.

Projected Team Salary

$200,525,196

Anything Toronto does this offseason is with the 2021 offseason in mind. The Raptors have big dreams of bringing in a star that summer. If they bring back Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, it’ll be on one-year deals. That makes a new contract for Fred VanVleet the real decision to watch. He’ll command a long-term deal. It’s up to Masai Ujiri to get creative to keep VanVleet, while maintaining as much flexibility as possible for 2021. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$91,385,196 (30^th out of 30). $47,369,395 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Toronto Raptors: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

This didn’t seem to be a problem all season. Exceeding expectations, the 26-year-old led his team to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. He also led the Raptors in scoring with 22.9 points per game.

In the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets, Siakam looked great. He produced 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest. His scoring wasn’t as efficient as it was in the regular season but he was able to help his team offensively nonetheless.

Then came the second round against the Boston Celtics, where Siakam would really struggle. In that seven-game series, he averaged just 14.9 points per game on .382 shooting from the floor and .125 from deep. Of the 32 three-pointers he attempted, he made just four. In Game 7, when Toronto could have used his scoring down the stretch, he scored only 13 points on 12 shot attempts.

After their disappointing playoff exit, his teammate Kyle Lowry talked about how this will be a learning experience for Siakam and it would only make him better next season.

“I would not be surprised to see him come back even more hungry and destroying people.”

Lowry would go on to talk about his own personal experiences in the playoffs and the advice that he would give Siakam.

“For myself, when we got swept against the Wizards, I read every single article. I read every single thing that was said about me. Good, bad, evil, terrible, awesome, and I used it as motivation. And that’s what he’s going to do…That’s the advice that I would give him is that you look at everything. You go back and look at all these moments and you see who’s saying what, because you’re going to use it as fuel…I think this is a learning experience, and I think it’s only going to make him a better basketball player, a better man, a better everything.”

Overall, Pascal Siakam’s struggles in the second round of the playoffs is nothing to be concerned about long-term. After making the 2020 NBA All-Star team, there is nothing but a bright future ahead of him. With excellent leaders in his locker room like Kyle Lowry, he will be able to learn from this experience and use these lessons going forward.

The post Kyle Lowry Thinks Pascal Siakam Will Come Back Even Better appeared first on SLAM.

The six-time All-Star has stepped up to the plate throughout the competitive series. In game 6 on Wednesday, he dropped a game-high 33 points. He also ended the night with 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block to lead Toronto to a 125-122 double overtime victory.

Lowry’s effort and fearlessness on the court has helped tie the series 3-3. His all-around play has too often been overlooked, as Celtics head coach Brad Stevens stressed afterwards.

“He’s an All-Star, but he might be the most underrated player in the league,” Stevens said, via USA Today. “I just feel like he’s a terrific defender, he’s a terrific leader, a terrific effort player. Offensively, he puts you in a bind by getting fouled, making tough shots, and obviously, he does every little thing that helps teams win. Somehow he’s been underappreciated. The more people watch him in these settings, the more people appreciate him. He’s an amazing player, and certainly a big engine to them.”

“He’s a great one. He’s fun to watch. He’s the ultimate competitor,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse added, per USA Today. “He stepped step into it. He’s not afraid of the moment. Made some big ones for sure. Played great.”

Game 7 is set for Friday at 9:00 pm ET. The winner will meet Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.

—

Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo via Getty.

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We broke down Wednesday’s matchups below.

No. 2 Toronto Raptors 125 at No. 3 Boston Celtics 122 (2OT)

Series tied 3-3

It took nearly 54 minutes of play for Kyle Lowry to push the Raptors across the finish line in the second overtime of tonight’s Game 6, but he did it nonetheless. He got help from Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell, who contributed 21 and 23 points respectively but Pascal Siakiam struggled once again. Shooting just .263 from the floor, Siakam scored 12 points in 54 minutes of play. Kemba Walker struggled for Boston, producing only five points in a game where they needed him most. On the bright side, Marcus Smart notched a triple-double while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 60 points and 30 rebounds.

No. 2 LA Clippers 96 at No. 3 Denver Nuggets 85

LAC Leads Series 3-1

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead in Game 4 and held a 14-point lead after the first quarter. Denver did their best to chip away at the lead throughout the game but never really got within striking distance in this one. The Clips led for every minute of this game and were up by as many as 19 points. Kawhi Leonard led them in points (30), rebounds (11) and assists (9) as he nearly achieved a triple-double. Outside of him, nobody else scored more than 12 points for the Clippers in this low scoring affair. Of Denver’s 85 points, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. scored 69, as the rest of the roster really struggled offensively.

• Sep. 7: Post Up: Clippers Dominate Late to Take Series Lead
• Sep. 6: Post Up: Khris Middleton Takes the Wheel
• Sep. 5: Post Up: Nuggets Cruise to Tie
• Sep. 4: Post Up: Rockets Over Power In Second Round Debut
• Sep. 2: Post Up: The Close-Out Closeout
• Sep. 1: Post Up: Nuggets Grind Through Game 7
• Aug. 31: Post Up: The Jimmy Butler Effect
• Aug. 29: Post Up: A Guard Duel For The History Books
• Aug. 24: Post Up: Thunder Rally Back
• Aug. 23: Post Up: Where Luka Happens
• Aug. 22: Post Up: Lakers Hit Next Level
• Aug. 21: Post Up: Kawhi Carries Clippers
• Aug. 20: Post Up: The Empires Strike Back
• Aug. 19: Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived
• Aug. 18: Post Up: Crazy Eights
• Aug. 17: Post Up: Donovan Mitchell Makes History

The post Post Up: Raptors Force Game 7 in 2OT Thriller appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve listed the entire roster with comparisons to last year’s launch rating below. We’ve also identified some general NBA 2K21 ratings trends for the league as a whole.

Raptors NBA 2K21 Ratings

View the NBA 2K21 player ratings for other teams below.

The post Toronto Raptors: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down Saturday’s games here:

No. 2 Raptors 100 at No. 3 Celtics 93

Series tied 2-2

Fuelled by OG Anunoby’s miracle Game 3 winner, the Raptors looked renewed in their Saturday night bid against the Celtics. The Raps took advantage of Boston’s inability to connect from deep to build out a third quarter lead and not look back. The C’s starters shot 5-for-29 from beyond the arc while Toronto managed to hit 17 triples despite a sub-.400 mark from the field. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 24 while Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry each had 23.

No. 3 Nuggets 110 at No. 2 Clippers 101

Series tied 1-1

The Nuggets absolutely obliterated the favored Clippers in the first quarter of their Game 2 matchup Saturday, ending the quarter with a 19-point lead. While Los Angeles would slowly claw back at the deficit to the point where they trailed by only five, Denver managed to hold on. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic looked customarily brilliant, the former with 27 points, the latter with 26 and 18 rebounds. The Clips’ dynamic duo was considerably less impressive. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard combined to shoot just 11-for-36 from the field.

• Sep. 4: Post Up: Rockets Overpower In Round 2 Debut
• Sep. 2: Post Up: The Close-Out Closeout
• Sep. 1: Post Up: Nuggets Grind Through Game 7
• Aug. 31: Post Up: The Jimmy Butler Effect
• Aug. 29: Post Up: A Guard Duel For The History Books
• Aug. 24: Post Up: Thunder Rally Back
• Aug. 23: Post Up: Where Luka Happens
• Aug. 22: Post Up: Lakers Hit Next Level
• Aug. 21: Post Up: Kawhi Carries Clippers
• Aug. 20: Post Up: The Empires Strike Back
• Aug. 19: Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived
• Aug. 18: Post Up: Crazy Eights
• Aug. 17: Post Up: Donovan Mitchell Makes History

The post Post Up: Nuggets Cruise to Tie appeared first on SLAM.

This just means that the East was top-heavy, which isn’t surprising based on how the regular season shook out. This also means that both of the second-round matchups should be extremely competitive and fun to watch.

Let’s dive into both of these pairings. Our preview of the Western Conference’s second round will be published when those games are set.

1 Milwaukee Bucks (56-17)
5 Miami Heat (44-29)

The Milwaukee Bucks came out of the gate slow, losing game one of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic. From there, they would go on to win four straight by a combined 58 points. This series wasn’t expected to be particularly close but the Bucks for the most part looked like the team we all expected them to be.

They will now matchup with the Miami Heat, who swept the Indiana Pacers in their own first-round matchup. The Heat won each of their first round games by at least nine points and looked unstoppable in the fourth quarters. In the regular season, these teams played three times, Miami taking two of them to win the regular season series.

When it comes to teams best equipped to take on the Bucks, who had the best record in the NBA this season, there is none better than the Heat. Behind their defensive anchor in Bam Adebayo, who will be expected to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami has a real shot at making this series interesting.

Jimmy Butler will also be a player to watch for the Heat, especially considering he only suited up in one of the three regular season matchups against the Bucks. Goran Dragic led Miami in scoring in the first round of the playoffs, averaging 22.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting .414 from deep.

NBA All-Star Khris Middleton will be key for the Bucks to continue their playoff run as one of the favorites to win a title this season. In their first-round series, Middleton struggled tremendously, averaging just 15.0 points per game and shooting .361 from the floor. Antetokounmpo, who averaged 30.6 points and 16.0 rebounds per game, will need guys like Middleton to step up and help out in this upcoming series if they want to have success. Additionally, a league-worst 16.6 turnovers per game in the playoffs thus far for the Bucks is something else they will need to clean up.

Both teams heavily rely on three-point shooting. In the playoffs thus far, these teams combine for 74.5 attempts per game and both have shot over .380 from beyond the arc. Overall, Milwaukee should be a relatively heavy favorite in this series but don’t be surprised if Miami gives them a run for their money with how well they have played recently.

2 Toronto Raptors (53-19)
3. Boston Celtics (48-24)

Both the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics swept their first-round opponents, making their second-round matchup extremely interesting. The Raptors showed no mercy against the Brooklyn Nets, winning the series by a combined 82 points. The Celtics series wasn’t as much of a blowout but that was largely due to them matching up against a more solid Philadelphia 76ers team. Regardless, these teams finished the regular season just five games apart in the standings and will be very evenly matched.

When it came to the regular season, Boston took care of business against Toronto, winning the season series 3-1. With that in mind, the playoffs are a completely different stage and the Raptors will look to make adjustments and ensure the Celtics don’t have similar success in the playoffs.

A few matchups stick out initially when it comes to these two teams, one of which is Jayson Tatum and Pascal Siakam. Both are young, long wings that led their teams in scoring during the regular season. Point guard play will also be something to watch, as Kemba Walker and Kyle Lowry are both veteran floor generals who will look to keep their respective offenses running smoothly. Although Lowry struggled a bit in the first round, producing just 12.5 points on .368 shooting from the floor, he could be a key piece and bounce back in this series.

Highly productive bench play will also be crucial in this matchup. Through the first round, the Toronto bench has been the best of anyone in the playoffs, averaging 56.5 points per game. A good chunk of this production comes from Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell, who together produced 36.8 points per game in the first round. On the flip side, Boston’s bench through their four playoff games has only averaged 20.0 points per contest, which is the worst of any team still remaining in the playoffs. With the absence of Gordon Hayward, someone on the Celtics’ bench will need to step up and score the ball.

In what could easily be a seven-game series, the Boston Celtics came out hot in the first game of this series, winning 112-94 and taking a quick 1-0 lead. It was a poor shooting night from Fred VanVleet, who will look to turn things around in Game 2 as one of Toronto’s most important offensive pieces.

Nick Crain is a contributor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter.

The post 2020 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference, Round 2 appeared first on SLAM.

Here’s our breakdown of Sunday’s action.

No. 3 Celtics 110 at No. 6 Sixers 106

BOS wins series 4-0

The Celtics kept their foot on the gas against a vulnerable Philadelphia team and ended up holding on to a fourth consecutive win in their first-round series. Sixers forward Tobias Harris suffered a head injury scare after a nasty fall in which his face hit the hardwood. Fortunately, despite the unbraced fall, he managed to avoid significant damage and returned to the game with a facial laceration. Harris and Joel Embiid paced Philly with 20 and 30 points respectively but the well-oiled C’s, led by Kemba Walker’s 32 points, were too much to overcome.

No. 2 Clippers 133 at No. 7 Mavericks 135 (OT)

Series tied 2-2

Luka Doncic had a triple double with eight minutes left in the third quarter on Sunday and that wasn’t even the most impressive thing that he did. The superstar 21-year-old, who wasn’t even a sure bet to play due to the ankle sprain he suffered in Game 3, toyed with the Clippers all day long eventually nailing a game-winning three at the buzzer in overtime. Doncic finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists while continuing to exceed any rational human being’s expectation of what a second year NBA player should be capable of. The Mavs win came without Kristaps Porzingis, who ended up sitting out with a sore knee and despite a 36-point performance from uber reserve Lou Williams. This was a Hardwood Classic in real time, catch it on League Pass if you missed it.

No. 2 Raptors 150 at No. 7 Nets 122

TOR wins series 4-0

The Raptors hit the 100-point threshold with over three minutes remaining in the third quarter of their Game 4 win over the Nets, ultimately settling with 150 points in a lopsided victory to close out their series sweep. Not only did every Raptors player score in this one but every one recorded at least one assist. It wasn’t all good news for Toronto, however, as the team lost veteran leader Kyle Lowry to a foot injury in the first quarter. Caris LeVert hit 35 points in the losing effort.

No. 3 Nuggets 127 at No. 3 Jazz 129

UTA leads series 3-1

The Nuggets and Jazz went toe-to-toe for four quarters but only one team could come out on top. Thanks to yet another impressive performance from elite closer Donovan Mitchell, Utah will take a stranglehold on the series. Mitchell finished with 51 points, his second 50-piece of the series, but it was the late buckets that put the nail in the coffin for Denver. Jamal Murray added 50 points of his own but will now face elimination despite a remarkably improved showing after a disastrous Game 3.

• Aug. 22: Post Up: Lakers Hit Next Level
• Aug. 21: Post Up: Kawhi Carries Clippers
• Aug. 20: Post Up: The Empires Strike Back
• Aug. 19: Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived
• Aug. 18: Post Up: Crazy Eights
• Aug. 17: Post Up: Donovan Mitchell Makes History

The post Post Up: Where Luka Happens appeared first on SLAM.

The Toronto Raptors have revealed that Kyle Lowry has injured the arch of his left foot, not his ankle as was originally speculated when he suffered the setback in the team’s Sunday game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Lowry stepped on the foot of Nets defender Chris Chiozza in the final minutes of the first quarter. He initially attempted to return to action but promptly stopped play and went to the locker room.

The severity of the foot injury is currently unclear, Lowry is expected to get an MRI on the injury which should provide clarity.

A silver lining for the Raptors is that the injury comes just as the team is set to enjoy a few days rest. Toronto dispatched the Nets in their first-round matchup and will now await the second round.

According to Andrew Lopez of ESPN, the Raptors went 12-2 without their veteran point guard but that’s not something that head coach Nick Nurse is particularly eager to push his luck with.

“You certainly want your best players out there — without question,” Nurse said after the game. “But sometimes you don’t have much choice.”

The post Kyle Lowry Injures Arch of Foot, Diagnosed with Sprained Ankle appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down each of Wednesday night’s matchups below. For a crash course on Tuesday’s games, when both conference’s No. 8 seeds slayed their No. 1 seeded opponents, click here.

No. 2 Raptors 104, No. 7 Nets 99

TOR leads series 2-0

The Nets came back swinging after getting punched in the mouth in their first-round opener and even started to pull away from the defending champions for a quick minute in the first quarter. As the Game 2 match progressed, however, the Raptors clawed their way back in front thanks to a 24-point, 10-assist showing from Fred VanVleet. Each of Brooklyn’s starters scored 14 or more points and that helped them play the Raps close until the bitter end but it wasn’t enough. All but 16 of Toronto’s 104 points came from VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell, indicative of the multitude of scoring options the Raptors bring to the table.

No. 3 Nuggets 105, No. 6 Jazz 124

Series tied 1-1

Donovan Mitchell followed up a historic playoff opener with a second star performance and while he topped out at 30 points in this one, his Jazz took and finished with a commanding lead on their favored opponents. Hired gun Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 26 points off the bench, leaving the Nuggets reeling and reconsidering their efforts on the defensive end. It was a night to forget for Denver’s starters, though Michael Porter Jr.’s 28-point showing, including six made threes, could be interpreted as a sign of hope for the future.

No. 3 Celtics 128, No. 6 Sixers 101

PHI leads series 2-0

The Sixers jumped out to an early lead in their second game against the Celtics but it wasn’t long before Jayson Tatum continued to evolve into a veritable superstar. The fearless 22-year-old shot 8-for-12 from beyond the arc, for a grand total of 33 points, and the Cs handled their business for the final three quarters of the game. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 34 but couldn’t prevent his squad from being simply outmatched.

No. 2 Clippers 114, No. 7 Mavericks 127

Series tied 1-1

The Luka Doncic show continued in the bubble but the best thing to happen to the Mavericks in their Game 2 bout with the Clippers came when he was sidelined with five fouls. The cavalry appeared for the Mavs and the glimpse of depth changes the forecast for the No. 7 seed. Former Michigan teammates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke combined for 33 points in the win, while Boban Marjanovic wowed with 13 points and nine boards in his own nine minutes of action. The Clippers got little support outside of Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams.

The post Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve laid out the biggest takeaways from the games below.

No. 3 Nuggets 135, No. 6 Jazz, 125 (OT)

DEN leads series 1-0

The short-handed Jazz learned early on that their best chance of stealing a win from the favored Nuggets would come from feeding Donovan Mitchell. Utah’s 24-year-old All-Star accepted the challenge and blew up for 57 points, the third-highest individual playoff point total in NBA history. Ultimately though, it was Denver’s depth that allowed them to eke out the win despite a less-than-perfect performance. It took overtime but the Nuggets preserved home court advantage thanks to a gutsy performance from combo guard Jamal Murray. Nikola Jokic got the better end of a fascinating head-to-head matchup with Rudy Gobert, while Monte Morris and Jerami Grant were solid off the bench.

No. 2 Raptors 134, No. 7 Nets 110

TOR leads series 1-0

The Raptors ran up the score early in their first-round debut against the Nets but give Brooklyn credit for at least showing sporadic signs of life throughout. Six Raptors players hit at least two three-pointers, while Fred VanVleet took center stage with eight bombs and a game-leading 30 points. Kyle Lowry was up to his usual savvy tricks, and complemented the pile of charges drawn with 26 points and 11 assists. The Nets were led by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who connected on six threes and emerged as the only Brooklyn player with a positive plus-minus.

No. 3 Celtics 109, No. 6 Sixers 101

BOS leads series 1-0

The Celtics are in good hands with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown carrying the franchise and the young core paced their offense with 32 and 29 points respectively. The game went back and forth but the Cs wrestled the lead away in the fourth and didn’t look back, despite Joel Embiid’s solid showing on offense and even more impressive command of the boards. Embiid finished the game with 26 points and 16 rebounds. The Celtics were dealt a blow in the fourth when Gordon Hayward sprained his right ankle after landing awkwardly on the foot of Daniel Theis in the paint. His status heading forward isn’t yet known.

No. 2 Clippers 118, No. 7 Mavericks 110

LAC leads series 1-0

The Clippers broke out of the gates in typical, physically dominant form and it rattled the upstart Mavericks. If you think super sophomore Luka Doncic didn’t adjust, however, think again. The Mavs rallied back from a 16-point hole in the first to somehow win the quarter. The two offenses went at it for the next two quarters until Kristaps Porzingis was controversially ejected with nearly nine minutes remaining in the third. The unicorn picked up his second tech for getting a little too involved in an otherwise mild Doncic-Marcus Morris confrontation. The Clippers were far from perfect in the opener, which shows just how good an opponent needs to be in order to win a game against this powerhouse. Doncic set an NBA record with 42 points in a playoff debut but the 11 turnovers he recorded are indicative of the challenges he faces against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley.

The post Post Up: Donovan Mitchell Makes History appeared first on SLAM.

While some of the series in this conference were locked in during the early days of the seeding round, the middle portion of the playoff bracket was in flux up until the final day of the season. Now teams will get the chance to renew rivalries under the spotlight of postseason basketball.

With the playoff matchups finally set, let’s take a look at each Eastern Conference series in the first round. Our Western Conference series preview is available here.

1 Milwaukee Bucks (56-17)
8 Orlando Magic (33-40)

The Milwaukee Bucks were the best team in the NBA during the regular season and their record shows it. Although they struggled in the bubble, going 3-5, there is absolutely no need to worry about this team. Looking at a larger sample size, prior to the NBA hiatus, they were 53-12 and on track to have one of the best regular season records in team history. The Orlando Magic on the other hand had a solid season, earning a second consecutive playoff appearance after a six-season drought.

The Bucks swept the Magic in the regular season, beating them four times by a combined 68 points. There is a good chance this upcoming playoff series will be no different. Behind reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee will look to cruise past Orlando in the opening round while keeping their core fresh for the next few rounds of the playoffs.

2 Toronto Raptors (53-19)
7 Brooklyn Nets (35-37)

One of the biggest surprises all season has been the Toronto Raptors, who ,after losing Kawhi Leonard in free agency, actually finished with a better win percentage this season than last. They will face off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round – or what is left of them. After a decent season for the Nets, they entered the bubble without most of their key regular season pieces in Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince. Regardless, Toronto won the regular season series against Brooklyn, taking three of the four games they played.

Assuming the Raptors play the way they have all season, this series won’t be particularly long. Behind Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and others, Toronto will be a heavy favorite. With that said, Brooklyn played excellent in the bubble, even without many of their key pieces. They finished 5-3, which gave them the third best record among Eastern Conference Teams in the bubble. For the Nets, this series will still be beneficial for getting some of their guys playoff experience prior to Kevin Durant and Irving looking to take them the distance next season.

3 Boston Celtics (48-24)
6 Philadelphia 76ers (43-30)

The Philadelphia 76ers got the best of the Boston Celtics in the regular season, winning three of the four games they played. However, looking at the bigger picture, they had a variety of problems all season and finished in just the No. 6 seed in the East. The Boston Celtics have been excellent this season with the emergence of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with the addition of veteran point guard Kemba Walker.

Although Ben Simmons of the 76ers will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, Philadelphia still has enough talent to potentially upset the Celtics in the first round, even as an underdog. Boston’s weakest link is their depth and production at the center position. Philadelphia has two guys in Joel Embiid and former Celtic Al Horford who will be a matchup nightmare for Boston, just like they were in the four regular season matchups. Unfortunately for the 76ers, who went 31-4 at home this season, there will be no games played at the Wells Fargo Center in the playoffs.

4 Indiana Pacers (45-28)
5 Miami Heat (44-29)

Miami and Indiana have a long-standing rivalry. Their fourth and final matchup of the 2019-20 regular season took place on Friday, with the winner, Indiana, taking the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and the loser falling to the No. 5 seed. Up until that game, the Heat had won all three matchups against the Pacers this season. Although home court advantage likely won’t matter much in the bubble, Indiana will hope that they can keep the momentum going.

Indiana will more than likely be without a key piece in Domantas Sabonis in this series who would have been a great matchup against Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. To combat this, the Pacers will need T.J. Warren to continue his hot streak of scoring, after producing 31.0 points per contest in the bubble. Before he ruptured his quad last season, Victor Oladipo was playing at an MVP-caliber level. Now, fully recovered from that injury, the sky is the limit with how far he can take this Indiana team. On the flip side, NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler will look to take Miami on a deep playoff push in his first season with the team.

The post 2020 NBA Playoff Matchups: Eastern Conference appeared first on SLAM.

Big man Serge Ibaka had raised his game to a new level before the hiatus, averaging 18.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game (up from 15.9, 8.0 and 1.3 prior).

What’s more, all of Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell were putting up north of 23.0 points per game when the league was suspended. If those hot hands continue in the bubble, the slept on champions will wreak havoc in the restart.

Don’t forget to factor a healthy Marc Gasol into the mix, either.

SLAM’s Heat Check series compares each individual player’s personal production in the month of March with their production prior. The goal is to get a sense of the direction in which players were trending when the league stood still. For a more in-depth description, check out our Heat Check (Hiatus Edition) introduction.

TOR

Serge Ibaka
Norman Powell
OG Anunoby
Kyle Lowry
Pascal Siakam
Chris Boucher	–
Patrick McCaw
Malcolm Miller
Matt Thomas
Stanley Johnson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Terence Davis
Marc Gasol

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check (Hiatus): Toronto Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

“I don’t support going into Orlando,” said Irving, per The Athletics‘ Shams Charania. “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. … Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up.”

The call, which reportedly lasted 90-100 minutes, focused on “combating systemic racism, investing in black communities and sticking together through this process,” reports Yahoo’s Chris Haynes. Several players suggested that they’d be willing to sit out the remainder of the season, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

While Irving made it known he was against resuming the NBA season, he said he would travel to Orlando if the players agreed it was the right decision.

“If it’s worth the risk, then let’s go and do it,” said Irving, per Haynes. “But if you’re not with it, it’s OK, too. We’ve got options for both ways. Let’s just come to a middle ground as a family.”

According to Haynes, WNBA players on the call vowed to stand united with the NBA counterparts, as they prepare for a season tipoff in July.

NBA players on Friday’s call included:

• Kyrie Irving, Nets
• Kevin Durant, Nets
• Spencer Dinwiddie, Nets
• Garrett Temple, Nets
• Chris Paul, Thunder
• Russell Westbrook, Rockets
• CJ McCollum, Blazers
• Carmelo Anthony, Blazers
• Zach Collins, Blazers
• Joel Embiid, Sixers
• Tobias Harris, Sixers
• Dwight Howard, Lakers
• Avery Bradley, Lakers
• Donovan Mitchell, Jazz
• Mike Conley, Jazz
• Malcolm Brogdon, Pacers
• Myles Turner, Pacers
• Justin Holiday, Pacers
• Al-Farouq Aminu, Magic
• Mo Bamba, Magic
• Kyle Lowry, Raptors
• Lou Williams, Clippers
• Andre Iguodala, Heat
• Rudy Gay, Spurs
• Harrison Barnes, Kings
• Mason Plumlee, Nuggets

WNBA players included:

• Tiffany Hayes, Dream
• Renee Montgomery, Dream
• Kristi Toliver, Sparks
• Natasha Cloud, Mystics

RELATED: NBA Players Planning To Take Stand Against 2019-20 Season Restart

The post Kyrie Irving Plays Key Role in Conference Call Featuring 80+ NBA Players appeared first on SLAM.

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 227 FEATURING THE RAPTORS

—

There is classical music blasting through the hallway that runs parallel to the baseline at the OVO Athletic Centre in Toronto.    

A whole lot of it. 

On this brisk and snowy weekday morning in late February, the Raptors players are scattered throughout the state-of-the-art practice facility. Practice is slated to start soon and some of the players are out on the hardwood stretching. Others are already getting some shots up while a couple of them are still in the locker room area.  

As the team gets ready to start, SLAM’s staff is simultaneously doing a location scouting walk-thru to prep for our cover shoot after practice. Between wheeling in equipment and figuring out the exact shooting location, we end up being led down a hallway, past a row of offices. It is there where we hear Beethoven’s greatest hits album being played loudly. We think nothing of the classical music at first, other than it’s much louder than you’d expect it to be at an NBA practice facility minutes before the start of practice.

But, hey, we’ve seen and heard weirder stuff on set at shoots. 

Then, all of the sudden, the music stops. And then it restarts for a few seconds before stopping and picking up where it left off once again. 

Turns out there isn’t a vinyl record playing inside someone’s office. Someone’s actually playing the keyboard. And after a quick glance around the hallway, we realize it’s coming from the office that says “Nick Nurse” in front of it. Wearing a black hat and sitting adjacent to his desk while facing the wall, the Raptors head coach is jamming away on the piano. 

No cap, he’s actually good. 

Last summer, just days after defeating the Golden State Warriors and subsequently leading the Raptors to their historic first ever NBA championship, Nurse joined Canadian rock band Arkells on stage during a concert in Toronto. He played the guitar with them that night, and so clearly has a thing for music.

Nurse playing piano right before practice while the guys are warming up is so fitting and perfectly reflective of where the Toronto Raptors stand in the post-Kawhi Leonard era—confident, and looking to broaden and strengthen an already impressive arsenal. 

Life is good in the 6ix.

—

When the annual preseason GM survey was released last fall, the Raptors were picked to finish fourth in the East (they were actually tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the fourth seed). Disrespectful for a team that was fresh off an NBA championship and bringing back most of its core? Or fair considering that the squad had just lost their Finals MVP to the Clippers? Are they actually better off being slept on once again? 

When we bring up the very same questions during our shoot, the guys point out that they had no idea about the GM survey.

“I didn’t see that,” Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka say in unison. They sort of shrug at whether the preseason projection was a good or bad thing. It was irrelevant.

What they did see and vividly remember, though, is all the memes, jokes and tweets that followed in the aftermath of Leonard’s decision to leave the Raptors last summer. Lots of them had one common sentiment—the team was no longer even playoff-caliber, they foolishly said.

Yet, here they are on set at the cover shoot for our NBA Playoff preview issue. It’s late February and the Raptors are sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.      

“I just think, overall, the stuff that came out about us not even being a playoff team, we laughed at that,” says VanVleet. “Other than that, we don’t really care.” 

Ibaka quickly jumps in: “The one that surprised me [was] when they said we’re not even going to make the playoffs. To me, that was kind of funny. We [use] that as a motivation as a team. But we don’t really try to worry about those things.”  

Regardless of the final outcome, the team has already accomplished some historic feats this season. They went on a 15-game winning streak, going a full month without losing a game. The streak not only marked the longest winning stretch in franchise history, but was also the longest winning streak by a Canadian-based franchise in the NBA, MLB, NHL or CFL.

The margin of victory during that stretch was a convincing 10.6 points (including 29-point and 27-point victories), while only two games were decided by a single possession. Even more impressive was the fact that the team went on that historic run despite many of its core players missing games during that same stretch due to injuries. Four of the team’s six players averaging double-digit points this season missed games during that period—Norman Powell missed five of them with a broken hand, VanVleet missed a couple, and Kyle Lowry and Ibaka missed one game each.     

While the historic streak gave local fans a lot to be excited about and definitely made those who swore the team had no shot at making the playoffs look silly, the players have a different perspective. 

“You want the real truth? [It meant] nothing!” says Lowry of the streak. “We hoop to hoop—to win every game. It didn’t mean nothing to us.

“You know what the goal is. That’s all that matters. We always know what the goal is. Now we’ve gotten there and we know what to do. We know what it takes. It’s never going to be easier. It’s going to be harder. But we know what it is and that’s what we want.”

For Lowry, this season marks his eighth year in Toronto. He’s the second oldest player on the team behind Marc Gasol, but the longest-tenured. As he sits next to his teammates while being filmed for the latest episode of our “Point ’Em Out” video series after the cover shoot [see above], the 6-0 guard notes that he’s seen every single player in the group get drafted by the Raptors over the past few years with the exception of Ibaka (Gasol had to dip after the photo shoot and therefore wasn’t around for this portion). He emphasizes that he’s witnessed the development of the team’s core first-hand.

“I think the team is just different because of OG’s growth, Fred’s growth, Norm’s growth, Serge—he’s gotten better throughout the years, and since he’s been here, he’s changed his game and adapted with us,” says Lowry, who had his Villanova jersey retired in Philadelphia the night before our shoot. “We all know about Pascal and what he’s done. I would just say the growth, maturity and the confidence of what they know they could do is the thing that’s different. We have a good mixture—I’m [one of] the oldest guys on the team and OG is one of the youngest guys on the team, but we all get together, we all can hang out, we can talk smack, we all can have fun with each other. We have a good mix of not being able to take things so serious. We know what our end goal is. We want them championships and we want everybody to be able to take care of their families.” 

The next oldest player on the squad, Ibaka, is actually posting career-best numbers this season. The 30-year-old is averaging 16.0 points (a career-high) and 8.3 rebounds per game as we head to press, while playing the third fewest minutes in his 11-year career. Despite no longer being the full-time starter he once was—he’s started in about half of the games he’s played this season—Ibaka seems as comfortable as ever. 

“Every year has been different for me. But being here, to me, really helped my game a lot. The way they play here really fits my style. The guys here, we don’t really have any egos. To me, it just motivates me. When I was watching my teammates play, the way they played, I was like, Man, if I work my game this way, it’s going to help me because the way our guys play [makes it] easy,” says the Republic of the Congo native. “I feel like 11 years I’ve been playing in the League—this is my first time I feel like I’m playing the way I want to. I used to be the kind of player where I had to play the way the system wants me to play. But since I got here, the way we play—the trust they give me—it forced me to work on my game in different ways. It’s been fun. It doesn’t feel like it was 11 years because I feel like it just started because of the joy of playing with those guys.” 

You can go down the roster list and notice how seamlessly players have adjusted to their new roles this season. VanVleet is now a full-time starter in the backcourt, averaging over 17 points and 6 assists per game, after a dominant postseason run last year. He’s a constant reminder of how gritty and fearless this team really is. In an era where many teams now run with big guards, the Raptors backcourt is occupied by two guys who barely even measure at 6-0. 

“You know Fred Van-De-le? You know him?” says Ibaka, purposely enunciating VanVleet’s name differently and drawing laughter from his teammates. “That’s a dog out there! Big Dog! He’s short but that’s Big Dog. He’s Big Dog Freddy. Can get a bucket anytime he wants—he don’t care what’s your size, he’s going to drive to you, hit your shoulder and bucket!” 

Then there’s Siakam, who just one year after claiming the Most Improved Player award is now a full-blown NBA All-Star. He’s averaging a team-best 23.6 points as of early March.

Another player who saw his role change completely this season is OG Anunoby. He became Leonard’s replacement as the new starting small forward. With big shoes to fill, the former Indiana standout has become the most important defender on the squad and is in charge of guarding opponents’ best perimeter players. Two to four, he can be matched up at different spots in the lineup. As we head to the printer, Anunoby is fresh off a then career-high 6 steals against the Hornets, which he followed up with a career-high of 32 points and a new career-high of 7 steals the very next game against the Nuggets. 

Gasol, the oldest player on the team at age 35, continues his steadily productive numbers as the starting center. Meanwhile, Powell has been a strong off-the-bench force for Toronto and has even stepped up and started a bunch of games this season because of injuries to the first unit. During one stretch, he finished with 20 or more points in eight out of nine games and is averaging over 16 points per game as of early March.

“I feel like every year we were doubted and left out, and every year we continue to change the view and prove people wrong. That’s what I think is so special about this group of guys,” says Powell. “Throughout their whole careers, they’ve been doubted and overlooked, and we keep working, we keep grinding, and we keep turning heads. We have a group of winners here.”

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 227 FEATURING THE RAPTORS

Franklyn Calle is a senior producer at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson.

The post The Toronto Raptors Cover SLAM 227 appeared first on SLAM.

Both teams fought in regulation and overtime, but it was Atlanta that finally pulled away in the second extra period. Trae Young put up 31 points and 16 assists in the Hawks’ win. On the other side, Terry Rozier notched a career high with 40 points.

Bucks 95 (53-12), Nuggets 109 (43-21)

Denver had control of this game from the first quarter on, easily dispatching a Bucks team that was resting several key starters. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 21 points, followed by Paul Millsap’s 20 points. Kyle Korver posted 23 points in 24 minutes off the bench.

Raptors 101 (46-18), Jazz 92 (41-23)

Despite the Jazz’s fourth-quarter comeback, Toronto locked down to secure the road win. The Raptors featured a three-headed scoring attack of Pascal Siakam (27 points), Serge Ibaka (27 points) and Kyle Lowry (21 points). Joe Ingles paced Utah off the bench with 20 points.

The post Post Up: Trae Young’s Double-Double Helps Hawks Outlast Hornets appeared first on SLAM.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored a team-high 24 points in Brooklyn, including two clutch free throws down the stretch. Joe Harris and Caris LeVert each had 23 apiece.

Pelicans 120 (28-36), Timberwolves (19-44)

Jrue Holiday (37 points) was one rebound and two assists away from a triple-double. Zion Williamson was the Pels’ second-leading scorer with 23 points and had a MEAN windmill dunk the fourth quarter.

Lakers 112 (49-13), Clippers 103 (43-20)

LeBron James (30 points) and Anthony Davis (28 points) combined for 58 points in Sunday’s matinee against the Clippers. Avery Bradley was the other starter who finished in double digits, scoring 24 points.

Suns 140 (26-38), Bucks 131 (53-11)

All five Suns starters finished in double digits – Devin Booker (36 points), Ricky Rubio (25), Aron Baynes (24), Mikal Bridges (24) and Dario Saric (11).

Thunder 105 (40-24), Celtics 104 (42-21)

Dennis Schroder made the game-winning layup after stripping the ball from Jayson Tatum with 8.5 seconds in the 4th quarter. The Thunder overcame a 18-point deficit due to the stellar play of Schroder (27 points) and Chris Paul (28 points).

Heat 100 (41-23), Wizards 89 (23-40)

Bam Adebayo finished with a double-double (27 points and 14 rebounds) in the Nation’s Capitol. Ducan Robinson caught fire from deep, knocking down six 3-pointers, en route to a 23-point performance.

Pacers 112 (39-25), Mavericks 109 (39-26)

Victor Oladpio scored the final six points to give Indiana the W in Dallas. Domantas Sabonis finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds, TJ Warren and Myles Turner had 16 apiece.

Magic 126 (29-35), Rockets 106 (39-24)

Orlando’s bench came up huge in H-Town – D.J. Augustin scored a team-high 24 points, and Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross each had 16. Aaron Gordon finished with 19 points.

Knicks 96 (20-44), Pistons 84 (20-45)

New York pulled away in the fourth to get the win at The Garden. Julius Randle had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Elfird Payton finished 16 points and RJ Barrett added 12.

Queensbridge’s finest. (via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/BTUvAOyhTd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 9, 2020

Cavaliers 132 (19-45), Spurs 129 (26-36)

After Rudy Gay hit a jumper to force OT, Kevin Love’s late-game 3-pointer gave the Cavs the lead. Love finished with 14 points, Andre Drummond had 28 points and 12 rebounds and Collin Sexton finished with 26.

Raptors 118 (45-18), Kings 113 (28-36)

Both teams went back and forth, but Pascal Siakam made some huge plays to give Toronto the edge on the road. Siakam finished with 23 points. Norman Powell finished with 31 points and Kyle Lowry had 30 points.

The post Post Up: LeBron & AD Combine for 58 Points in Battle for LA appeared first on SLAM.

In Tim Duncan’s head coaching debut, the Spurs picked up a win in a tight game on the road in Charlotte. San Antonio was led by Dejounte Murray, who finished with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. For the Hornets, Terry Rozier dropped 20 points to go along with 5 assists and 6 rebounds, and PJ Washington added 19 in the loss.

Nets 129 (27-33), Celtics 120 (41-19)

It was an absolutely wild one in TD Garden.

The Nets trailed by as many as 21-points in the second half, and were down 17 heading into the fourth. Then Caris LeVert put on a show. The Nets outscored Boston 51-34 in the fourth to force OT behind an insane 26-POINT quarter from LeVert. He stayed hot in OT, scoring all 11 points for Brooklyn and lifting them to the win. Despite having just 14 points at the start of the fourth quarter, LeVert finished with a career-high 51 on 17-26 shooting and 5-10 from downtown. The Boston defense just had no answer for the Michigan product, who put on one of, if not the best performance of the 2019-2020 season thus far.

The Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who dropped 22, and Kemba Walker, in his return from injury, who added 21. Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in the loss.

Timberwolves 139 (18-42), Pelicans 134 (26-35)

In a high-scoring affair, the Timberwolves outscored the Pelicans 30-23 in the final frame to pick up the win on the road. Malik Beasley led the way, finishing with 28 points on 11-13 shooting and 4-5 from three. DeAngelo Russell added 23 points and 8 assists in the win, and James Johnson dropped 19 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Zion Williamson extended his streak of 20-point games to 12, finishing with 25 points and 8 rebounds on 10-19 shooting. Zion was one of five Pelicans to finished with 24 or more points. Jrue Holiday was awesome, completing a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Lonzo Ball added 26 points (including 7 threes), 8 assists and 5 rebounds, and Brandon Ingram dropped 24.

Clippers 109 (42-19), Thunder 94 (37-24)

In a battle between two Western Conference playoff teams, the Clippers picked up the impressive win on the road, their 5th straight victory. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 to go along with 8 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 to lead the way. For OKC, Dennis Schroder dropped a team-high 24 in the loss. Chris Paul added 14 points and 7 assists.

Warriors 116 (14-48), Nuggets 100 (41-20)

The Warriors picked up one of their most impressive wins of the season, beating the Nuggets by double digits in Denver. Andrew Wiggins showed out, finishing with 22 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds to lead Golden State. Eric Paschall added 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists off the bench. Paul Millsap and Will Barton each dropped 18 in the loss for Denver. Nikola Jokic added 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Raptors 123 (43-18), Suns 114 (24-38)

Trailing by 7 at the break, the Raptors rallied in the second half to beat the Suns in Phoenix. Pascal Siakam was dominant, dropping 33 points on 12-20 shooting and 5-9 from deep. Kyle Lowry added a very solid stat line of 28 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, and Norman Powell dropped 26 in the Raptors win. Devin Booker scored a team-high 22 and added 10 dimes, and Cam Johnson finished with 21 points on 5 made threes in the loss.

Lakers 120 (47-13), 76ers 107 (37-25)

The Lakers blew the game open in the second quarter, outscoring Philly 37-19, and maintained the lead in the second half to secure the home win. Anthony Davis went off, scoring 18 of his game-high 37 in the second quarter. AD also finished with 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. LeBron added a light 22 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds on 9-16 shooting in the win. Without Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, Philadelphia was led by Glen Robinson III, who dropped 25 points on 10-15 shooting off the bench.

Kings 133 (27-34), Wizards 126 (22-38)

The Wizards stormed back after being down by 28, outscoring Sacramento 46-19 in the third quarter to tie the game heading into the fourth. But Washington responded, winning the final frame 38-31 to secure the win on the road. The Kings were led by De’Aaron Fox, who dropped 31 points on 12-19 shooting in the win. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 21, and Buddy Hield scored 17 off the bench. For the Wizards, Bradley Beal finished with a game-high 35 points in the loss.

The post Post Up: LeVert Erupts for 51 in Win Over Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

The Magic played incredible, with Terrence Ross recording a season-high 33 points, Nikola Vucevic having 27 points and 10 boards and Aaron Gordon enjoying his first triple-double of his career with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

D’Angelo Russell was solid for the Wolves, scoring 28 points and dishing 7 assists with a respectable +8 plus/minus on the night.

Hawks 141 (18-43), Nets 118 (32-36)

This wasn’t just a promising game for the Hawks because they won, but also due to the fact that their young core of players were the biggest contributors to their success. Trae Young dropped 22 and 14 assists. John Collins popped off for 33 and 12 boards. Kevin Huerter scored 15 on an efficient 60% from the field. The rook DeAndre Hunter had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Cam Reddish had perhaps his best game of the season with 26 points on 6-9 from deep.

As for the disappointing Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie did his best with 24 points and 13 assists, but it simply wasn’t enough.

Hornets 99 (21-38), Raptors 96 (42-17)

Well, this was a surprise.

The Raptors usually steamroll objectively inferior opponents, but not tonight, apparently. No Hornets starter even scored 20 points, but they all reached double figures. Solid performances from Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell and Kyle Lowry weren’t enough to offset a bench that only mustered nine points.

Despite all that, there was still a chance to win, with the game tied at 96 with about two seconds left, Hornets ball. But Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was called for an off-ball foul. Tough way to lose.

Heat 126 (37-22), Mavericks 118 (36-24)

This was a very quality win for the Heat, beating a bona-fide playoff team in the West and one of the best offenses in league history. Jimmy Butler predictable led the way in scoring with 26, but Duncan Robinson (24 points, 6-9 from deep, +24 plus/minus) and Kelly Olynyk (13 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists in only 19 minutes) were the unsung heroes.

For Dallas, despite a Seth Curry explosion of 37 points and stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis both scoring in the 20’s, Miami was too tough.

Kings 104 (25-34), Grizzlies 101 (28-31)

The Kings are closer to the 8th seed than you think. After beating the Grizzlies, a team currently above them in the chase, Sacramento is only three games out of a playoff berth. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 25 points in what was a very solid all-around team win.

The Grizzlies are crumbling right now, through no fault of their own. Young bigs Jaren Jackson Jr and Brandon Clarke are out with injuries, and they traded two reliable wings in Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill for a Justise Winslow, who is still recuperating from injury. Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 32.

Bucks 133 (51-8), Thunder 86 (37-23)

This was simply an annihilation. The scary part is OKC is a tough, gritty and respectable team with the second best record in the entire damn league since Thanksgiving. But they were no match for Milwaukee and their unskilled star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who dropped an easy 32 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists in 27 measly minutes.

Pelicans 116 (26-33), Cavaliers 104 (17-42)

The Pelicans have now won six of their last 8 games thanks to a mixture of superhuman Zion Williamson efforts and excellent supporting cast members in Brandon Ingram (an All-Star!), Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball, plus a deep cadre of role players.

Ingram led the Pels with 29 points, Zion followed with 24 and Holiday had 22.

Pistons 113 (20-41), Suns 111 (24-36)

We were just treated to a throwback Derrick Rose game.

Rose dropped 31 points and the game-sealing bucket, a beautiful driving, off-balance floater. Also, shoutout to Brandon Knight, who has endured many tough injuries, for scoring 19 points in the win.

Jazz 129 (37-22), Wizards 119 (21-37)

Between a losing streak, uncharacteristic drop in efficiency and some epic role confusion over who is starting and sitting between Mike Conley, Joe Ingles and Royce O’Neale, Utah needed this. Donovan Mitchell once again put the team on his back, going for 30 points and this monster dunk on poor Rui Hachimura.

Bradley Beal can’t be happy after dropping 42 points, 5 boards, 10 assists and 2 steals and still coming away with a loss.

Clippers 132 (40-19), Nuggets 103 (40-19)

Big win for the Clips, who inch closer to the Nuggets for 2nd place in the Western Conference standings.

It was quite the balanced victory, with all ten rotation players notching between 19 and 25 minutes.

Paul George had 24 on an efficient 9-15 shooting, and Kawhi had 19 points on 50% shooting.

The post Post Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo Goes Off Against Thunder appeared first on SLAM.

With the game close down the stretch, Lebron James (29 points) hit a clutch turnaround to give the Lakers the lead as they escaped with the W on Sunday afternoon.

Anthony Davis finished with 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma was huge off the bench, scoring 16 points.

Raptors 127 (41-15), Pacers 81 (33-23)

Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 21 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and Serge Ibaka finished with 15 points to give Toronto its 17th of 18th win. Matt Thomas (17 points), Terence Davis (13 points) and Rodae Hollis-Jefferson (12 points) combined for 43 bench points.

Nuggets 128 (39-18), Timberwolves 116 (16-39)

Four of Denver’s starters finished in double figures with Paul Millsap scoring 25 points in 26 minutes. Monte Morris had 13 points off the bench.

Thunder 131 (35-22), Spurs 103 (24-32)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with a team-high 22 points, Steven Adams finished with 21 points and Luguentz Dort went 6-for-6 from the field, adding 15 points in the win.

Bulls 126 (20-38), Wizards 117 (20-35)

Zach LaVine put up 32 points in 36 minutes in the home win. Coby White had an impressive performance, too, scoring 33 points off the bench.

Pelicans 115 (25-32), Warriors 101 (12-45)

Zion Williamson scored 28 points, scoring 20-plus points for the eighth-straight game. Jrue Holiday finished with 23 points and dished out 15 dimes in the Bay.

Trailblazers 107 (26-32), Pistons 104 (19-40)

CJ McCollum had a 41-point performance in the W. Carmelo Anthony was the Blazers’ second-leading scorer with 32 points.

The post Post Up: LeBron Hits Clutch Basket to Lead Lakers Past Celtics 👑 appeared first on SLAM.

Byron Spruell, the NBA’s president of league operations, told Lowe that nothing was official for next season’s All-Star Break but that it could reasonably be assumed that the successful format would return.

The format may see minor tweaks, however, and Spruell mentioned several potential ideas that could modify the experience further. Among them, a prohibition of free throws when the game is on the line.

Whereas this year’s game ended when Kyle Lowry put Anthony Davis on the free-throw line in the fourth, one hypothetical alternate that the league has discussed is a change that penalizes the fouling team, instead of rewarding the player that was fouled.

That could come in the form of a deducted point for the team that committed the foul and potentially even the forced removal of the offending party. Sorry, Kyle.

The original creator of the revised format, Nick Elam, isn’t as concerned about the game ending on free throws and fears that over-regulation to avoid such a scenario could cause more trouble than it’s worth.

“This is something I’ve tried to scratch out on paper and tinker with over the years, and it just seems like any sort of explicit regulation on preventing games from ending on free throws is going to have unintended consequences,” Elam told Nick Greene of Slate. “I think you just have to leave that possibility in the game“.

Elam speculates that 15-to-20% games end this way in The Basketball Tournament, the first major hoops platform to adopt the finish, and that he considers it to be a palatable amount.

The final possession in Sunday’s All-Star tilt unfolded after a wild stretch run and the actual foul came as a result of Lowry draping himself over Davis to compensate for a significant mismatch, eventually tugging his arm and bringing them both to the floor.

For those keeping score at home, the reason Lowry was checking Davis at all is because of a miscommunication at the top of the possession when James Harden, tailed by Lowry, set a screen for Davis.

Davis’ defender, Joel Embiid, stayed with Davis but Lowry switched on the screen, leaving Harden open. In the panic, Embiid bailed to check Harden. The initial play then reset and Davis took advantage of the smaller defender.

The post NBA Considers Free Throw Tweaks For Next Elam Ending appeared first on SLAM.

Only 12 players will be selected to participate in the actual games, so we’ll see a number of these players withdraw from consideration and then a select 12 hand-picked from those that remain.

A total of nine players represented the country at the Olympics four years ago in Rio de Janeiro and the only three from that squad not on this list are Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan.

All of the 12 players who represented America during last summer’s FIBA World Cup have been selected to participate in the preliminary stages of the Olympic roster selection process.

A total of five players have been selected from both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Team USA Men’s Basketball Roster For Tokyo Olympics appeared first on SLAM.

Below are the rosters in the order that they were drafted, pick-up style, by team captains, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The results are coming in in real-time on TNT and this post will be updated accordingly.

Team Giannis

Starters

F – Giannis Antetokounmpo (C)

C – Joel Embiid (2nd)

F – Pascal Siakam (4th)

G – Kemba Walker (6th)

G – Trae Young (8th)

Bench

G – Khris Middleton (9th)

C – Bam Adebayo (11th)

C – Rudy Gobert (13th)

F – Jimmy Butler (15th)

G – Kyle Lowry (17th)

F – Brandon Ingram (19th)

G – Donovan Mitchell (21st)

Team LeBron

Starters

F – LeBron James (C)

C – Anthony Davis (1st)

F – Kawhi Leonard (3rd)

G – Luka Doncic (5th)

G – James Harden (7th)

Bench

G – Damian Lillard (10th)

G – Ben Simmons (12th)

C – Nikola Jokic (14th)

G – Jayson Tatum (16th)

G – Chris Paul (18th)

G – Russell Westbrook (20th)

C – Domantas Sabonis (22nd)

Notable

• The two starting lineups are split exactly down East/West conference lines.
• For the second time in a row, LeBron James drafted Anthony Davis with his top pick.
• Only two sets of teammates in real-life will play for different All-Star teams. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum have been split up, as have Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
• Teammates paired together on All-Star teams: Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Chris Paul, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
• Team Giannis is composed of 9 East players and 9 West players. Team LeBron is composed of 9 West players and 3 East players.

The post 2020 NBA All-Star Game Draft Rosters appeared first on SLAM.

The Raptors’ win streak seemed to be in jeopardy after they entered the half trailing 63-48, but a second half charge secured a franchise-record 12th straight win for Toronto. The win put the Raptors one game ahead of where they were through 51 games a season ago.

Pascal Siakam had 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, Kyle Lowry had 32 points and 10 assists and Serge Ibaka scored 30. Ibaka’s clutch 3 sealed the win.

Nuggets 98 (36-16), Jazz 95 (32-18)

The Jazz looked ready to cruise to victory, but they were only able to muster up five points in the final six minutes of the third quarter as the short-handed Nuggets clawed their way back in to the game.

Nikola Jokic put the team on his back, racking up 30 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals. The Nuggets were only able to dress seven players due to injuries and a pending trade.

Heat 111 (34-16), Clippers 128 (36-15)

The Clippers’ stars carried them to victory as Kawhi Leonard recorded a +24 plus-minus in 31 minutes and Paul George notched a +22 in 26 minutes. The Clippers hit 24 threes — a franchise-record.

Landry Shamet and George each scored 23 points to lead the Clippers and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 25 off the bench for Miami.

Suns 108 (20-31), Pistons 116 (19-34)

The Suns’ young core of Devin Booker (22 points, 7 assists), Kelly Oubre Jr. (30 points) and DeAdnre Ayton (26 points, 12 rebounds) showed up, but 21 team turnovers plagued Phoenix.

Despite allowing the Suns to shoot 54.5 percent from the field, the Pistons were able to take care of business thanks to 31 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals from Andre Drummond. The Pistons also had 14 offensive rebounds as a unit.

Magic 100 (22-29), Celtics 116 (35-15)

Jayson Tatum did a little bit of everything as he picked up 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks to accompany his 33 points on the stat sheet.

Warriors 88 (12-40), Nets 129 (23-27)

D’Angelo Russell (17 points) received a warm welcome in his return to Brooklyn, but his new squad suffered the largest loss in Barclays Center history as six Nets players scored at least 10 points. Caris LeVert’s 23 points and 8 assists led the way for Brooklyn.

Hawks 127 (14-38), Timberwolves 120 (15-35)

The Timberwolves dropped their 13th straight game as Vince Carter hit a game-clinching 3 for the Hawks on the 22nd anniversary of his NBA debut.

Trae Young had 38 points and 11 dimes for Atlanta.

Cavaliers 103 (13-39), Thunder 109 (31-20)

The Cavaliers had a well-balanced offensive attack with seven players scoring double-digit points (Kevin Love’s 20 and Collin Sexton’s 23 led the way), but they couldn’t stop Oklahoma City’s bench.

Dennis Schroder was a team-best +13 as he scored 30 points and dished out 6 dimes off the pine. No Thunder bench player had a negative plus-minus.

Grizzlies 121 (26-25), Mavericks 107 (31-20)

Memphis’ offense was nearly flawless, shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 48 percent from deep while turning the ball over just 10 times.

Jaren Jackson Jr. (19 points, 4 threes), Ja Morant (21 points on 10-for-12 shooting), Brandon Clarke (18 points on 7-for-10 shooting) and Tyus Jones (19 points on 8-for-8 shooting) pushed the Grizzlies’ scoring effort.

Kristaps Porzingis had 32 points, 11 rebuonds, 2 steals and a block in just 29 minutes for Dallas.

The post Post Up: Raptors Win Franchise-Record 12th Straight after 19-Point Comeback appeared first on SLAM.

Toronto held off a Cleveland rally late to hold on to the road win. Serge Ibaka led the team with 26 points, while Kyle Lowry added 23 points. Collin Sexton and Kevin Love each scored 23 points for the Cavs.

Hornets 107 (16-32), Wizards 121 (16-31)

Bradley Beal was fed up with his All-Star snub. The Washington guard went out and let his game do the talking, posting a near triple-double of 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

76ers 117 (31-18), Hawks 127 (13-36)

Trae Young had a career night and earned the victory to boot. Young posted 39 points, 18 assists (a career high) and 6 rebounds to beat Philadelphia. Ben Simmons led the 76ers with 31 points.

Warriors 104 (10-39), Celtics 119 (32-15)

Boston took control after the first quarter, growing their lead to as large as 19 while they coasted to a win. Three Celtics hit 20+ points: Gordon Hayward (25), Marcus Smart (21) and new All-Star Jayson Tatum (20).

Jazz 100 (32-16), Nuggets 106 (33-15)

The Nuggets outscored the Jazz by eight in the second half, which was enough to lift them over Utah. Nikola Jokic put up a double-double of 28 points and 10 assists. Jordan Clarkson went off for 37 points for Utah.

Kings 124 (18-30), Clippers 103 (33-15)

Sacramento blazed the Clippers from beyond the arc, setting a franchise record with 21 made threes in the win. De’Aaron Fox also registered a career-high 34 points.

The post Post Up: Bradley Beal Nears Triple-Double in Win After All-Star Snub appeared first on SLAM.

The 14 reserves will join then 10 All-Star Game starters already selected in a pool of players that will then be drafted, pickup-game style by the two captains.

This year’s captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will divvy up the teams on national television on Feb. 6.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Notable

• A total of six All-Star Game reserves will be making their debut in the game this year (Adebayo, Gobert, Ingram, Mitchell, Sabonis, Tatum)
• The reserve with the most experience at All-Star Weekend is Chris Paul. Paul will be making his 10th All-Star Game appearance, with a total of three different franchises. Paul is the 44th player in NBA history to make double-digit All-Star Games.
• Domantas Sabonis has now made more All-Star Games than his Hall of Fame father, Arvydas Sabonis
• Among those notably absent from the list are Bradley Beal (who finished second in player voting) and Kyrie Irving (who finished third in overall starter voting).

Related: The NBA has elected to fully revamp how the All-Star Game works

The post 2020 NBA All-Star Game Reserves appeared first on SLAM.

In this post, just one of a series of 30, we’ll break down the reports that have started to trickle out about Raps players that may or may not be on the move. While there’s no guarantee when it comes to a league as wild as the modern NBA, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on each squad’s roster as the deadline draws near.

Players Unlikely To Be Traded

• Kyle Lowry
• Fred VanVleet
• Pascal Siakam

The Raptors looks different this season without Kawhi Leonard, though they are still finding success on the court. The team could go in many directions at the trade deadline, yet don’t expect the franchise to take on long-term money that extends past the summer of 2021 since there are whispers that the team has eyes for a certain Greek superstar who could be available at that time.

As for the team’s current star, Pascal Siakam, don’t expect him to go anywhere. The big man just inked a rookie-scale extension. Kyle Lowry just inked a one-year veteran’s extension that brings his contract to the summer of 2021 and while Fred VanVleet is in the final season of his deal (and is expected to see a sizable raise on his $9.3M salary), all signs point toward the Raptors keeping him and rewarding his play with a new deal this offseason.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol was a major contributor during the Raptors’ title run, though he’s on an expiring $25.6M contract. That, combined with the report in which Toronto was floated as a potential trade destination for Andre Drummond, indicate that the team isn’t tethered to the soon-to-be 35-year-old big man.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka is another player on an expiring deal ($23.3M) and while there have been no reports of the team trading the big man, it would make sense for the team to listen to offers. Toronto will be hard-pressed to bring all of its free agents back this summer and if the franchise can get an asset for one of the players who could leave, it could further set up the team for the future.

Trades Are Possible

• Norman Powell
• Patrick McCaw
• Stanley Johnson
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• OG Anunoby
• Chris Boucher
• Malcolm Miller
• Matt Thomas
• Terence Davis
• Dewan Hernandez

Norman Powell’s confidence behind the arc is apparent in year one post-Kawhi. He’s taking 5.0 treys per game this year and hitting them at a .409 clip, which is a slight increase from last season. Patrick McCaw has only appeared in 23 games for the Raptors this season because of various injuries. Former first-round pick Stanley Johnson’s role on the team has been minimal. He’s seen action in 15 games, catching 5.2 minutes per contest. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played some four while Siakam was sidelined. That’s probably his best spot given his .143 mark from three. There’s so much potential in OG Anunoby, though his inconsistency has been on display. It would be surprising if the Raptors trade him. No player on the team has more blocks than Chris Boucher despite the fact that he’s played under 500 minutes this season. Second-year forward Malcolm Miller has seen spotty playing time this year. He’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the year as long as the team issues him a qualifying offer. Matt Thomas has appeared in 19 games this year. He’s hitting 46.8% of his shots from behind the arc. Rookie Terence Davis has been a nice contributor for the Raptors this year. He’s sporting a 15.2 player efficiency rating. Dewan Hernandez has bounced back and forth between the Raptors and their G League team. He’s seen just 11 minutes of NBA action this year.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Toronto Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

Another game without a star (this time Paul George), and yet another win for the Clippers. Reaching win number 30 on the season was no breeze though, with the feisty Pelicans leading for a good chunk of the game. But ultimately, Kawhi Leonard was too much to handle. He had himself a phenomenal game, with 39 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. And who could forget Lou Will, who dropped a cool 32 points off the pine.

For the Pelicans, Lonzo Ball had a triple double, scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing 11 assists. Derrick Favors was also excellent, scoring 22 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting along with 11 boards.

Bucks 117 (38-6), Nets 97 (18-23)

The Bucks just do not let up. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes, Khris Middleton had 20 of his own, and Brook Lopez did a fantastic job protecting the rim, notching 5 blocks.

The Nets were helpless against the brutal efficiency of the Bucks, and it showed with no player scoring higher than 17 points.

Suns 123 (18-24), Celtics 123 (27-14)

Fantastic win for the Suns beating Boston at home. Devin Booker went inferno, with 39 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Deandre Ayton backed that up with a monster 26 points and 15 boards.

Despite the loss, Marcus Smart went bonkers, with a career-high 11 3-pointers made for 37 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.

Pistons 136 (16-27), Hawks 103 (10-33)

It must have been very cathartic for Detroit to finally blow somebody out. Derrick Rose, recently inserted into the starting lineup to fill the playmaking black hole, was excellent. D Rose scored 27 points along with 9 assists and a plus/minus of +24. Andre Drummond also cleaned up as usual, with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 swipes.

76ers 90 (28-16), Knicks 87 (11-32)

A surprisingly close game, but all Philly should care about is getting the victory. Ben Simmons was fully in control, ending the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.

Raptors 122 (28-14), Timberwolves 112 (15-27)

The Raptors have been butchered by injuries all year, and they finally had their core group together again, and the results were excellent. Fred VanVleet (29 points, 4 steals, 7-8 from deep) barely missed a beat from his weeks-long absence. Kyle Lowry was great too, scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and splashing 5 3-pointers.

Bulls 118 (16-28), Cavaliers 116 (12-31)

What an impressive win from the Bulls! Coming into the 4th quarter down a sizable 15 points, none other than Zach LaVine went off. The star guard had 42 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals for a wild performance.

Don’t blame the loss on Kevin Love though. He had a 29-5-6 line and the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 11 points when he was in.

Warriors 109 (10-34), Magic 95 (20-23)

Orlando may have a subpar record, but they’re long, athletic and make you beat them, making this a quality win for a youthful Dubs team. DLO had 26 points, 12 assists and 2 steals along with a beautiful 3 late in the game.

Also, let’s take a moment, even in defeat, to appreciate the comeback of Markelle Fultz. Dude has been a problem for defenses.

Lakers 124 (34-8), Rockets 115 (26-15)

No Anthony Davis and on the road against the Rockets…that’s a quality win right there, Lakers. LeBron was fantastic as usual. He put up 31 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all showed out as well.

For the Rockets, Russell Westbrook scored 35 points and James Harden scored 34, but no one else really stepped up.

Jazz 123 (29-13), Kings 101 (15-27)

The Jazz are rolling. Other than a slight hiccup against the Pelicans a couple of nights ago, they’ve been creaming everyone in their path and tonight was no different. Bojan Bogdanovic had a clean 30 points, Rudy Gobert had a monster 28 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Jordan Clarkson had another quality performance off the bench with 20 points.

Thunder 119 (24-19), Blazers 106 (18-26)

Chris Paul had 30 points and 7 assists on 11-15 shooting in just 28 minutes, while his protege and backcourt mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

For the Blazers, it’s unfortunately becoming a common trend to see Dame go off (34 points, 6 assists), but lose the game.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Pops Off for 39 Points to Defeat Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

It was the Melo show in Toronto tonight. He dropped a season-high 28 points on 10-17 shooting, including a game-winning pull-up jumper with 3 seconds left to lift the Blazers to the impressive road win. Damian Lillard added 20 points and Hassan Whiteside finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds for Portland. For the Raptors, Kyle Lowry dropped 24 in the loss.

Pistons 115 (14-24), Cavaliers 113 (10-27)

Detroit outscored Cleveland 31-18 in the fourth quarter, and Derrick Rose hit a smooth go-ahead floater with 26 seconds left to secure the win on the road. The bucket gave Rose 2 of his team-high 24 points, and Andre Drummond was a monster again, finishing with 23 points and 20 rebounds. Kevin Love led the Cavs in the loss, dropping 30 points on 12-15 shooting.

Thunder 111 (21-16), Nets 103 (16-20)

After Chris Paul tied the game with a pull-up jumper, Spencer Dinwiddie missed a free throw in the final seconds, sending the game to OT. The Thunder outscored the Nets 10-2 in overtime, giving struggling Brooklyn their 7th straight loss. CP3 was awesome, dropping 20 of his game-high 28 in the fourth quarter and OT. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his stellar play, dropping 22 for OKC. The nets were lead by Taurean Prince, who finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Caris LeVert, who dropped 20 off the bench.

Grizzlies 119 (16-22), Timberwolves 112 (14-22)

The Grizzlies scored 37 fourth quarter points to secure their third win in a row. Memphis was led by Ja Morant, who finished with 25 points (12-18 FG) and 7 assists, and Dillon Brooks, who dropped a game-high 28 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points in the win. For Minnesota, the rookie Jarrett Culver finished with a season-high 24 points on 8-11 shooting.

Kings 114 (15-23), Suns 103 (14-23)

The Kings stormed back late to beat the Suns, winning the fourth quarter by a score of 36-16. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 27 points and 6 assists, and Nemanja Bjelica added 19 points and 7 rebounds. For Phoenix, Devin Booker dropped 34, his seventh straight game with 30+ points. Deandre Ayton added 21 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

Lakers 117 (30-7), Knicks 87 (10-27)

The Lakers dominated the Knicks throughout to pick up their 30th win of the season. LeBron James led the way, finishing with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Anthony Davis left the game in the third quarter after a scary fall, but x-rays on his lower back were negative. For the Knicks, RJ Barrett dropped a team-high 19 points.

The post Post Up: Melo’s Game-Winner Lifts Blazers Over Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

Memphis dominated the first and third quarters and shot 46.2 percent from three. The Grizzlies would lead by as much as 28 points during the fourth quarter.

Jae Crowder dropped a team-high 27 points with 8 boards, 7 dimes, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

Raptors 121 (24-12), Nets 102 (16-18)

Toronto outscored the Nets by 16 points in the fourth behind Kyle Lowry’s inspired late play.

Lowry dropped 26 points with 5 dimes. Fred VanVleet added a game-high 29 points and 11 dimes.

Brooklyn has now lost 5 straight games.

Jazz 109 (23-12), Magic 96 (16-20)

Utah outscored the Magic by 12 points in the fourth quarter en route to their fifth straight win.

Donovan Mitchell dropped a game-high 32 points (14-21 FG) with 6 dimes.

Thunder 121 (20-15), Cavs 106 (10-25)

OKC took the lead late in the first quarter and wouldn’t trail for the rest of the game.

Steven Adams dropped 10 points with 16 boards. Dennis Schroder added a team-high 22 points.

OKC has now won 5 straight games.

Pacers 111 (22-14), Hawks 116 (8-28)

After blowing a 22-point lead in the first half, the Hawks regained the advantage in the fourth quarter to win the game.

After dropping 30 points in the first half, Trae Young finished with a game-high 41 points and 8 dimes.

Celtics 111 (25-8), Bulls 104 (13-23)

The Celtics saw their 16-point lead dwindle all the way to 3 late in the game, but Boston was able to hold on.

Jayson Tatum dropped a team-high 28 points (12-15 FG) with 7 boards and a dagger three.

Nuggets 114 (24-11), Wizards 128 (11-24)

Even without seemingly half of their regular rotation players (including Bradley Beal), the Wizards were able to pull away with the game in the fourth quarter.

Washington got an incredible 92 points from its bench, including a career-high 32 points from Ish Smith.

Pistons 111 (13-23), Warriors 104 (9-28)

Detroit outscored the Warriors by 10 points in the second half en route to the road win.

Andre Drummond dropped 14 points with 18 boards and 3 steals. Derrick Rose added a team-high 22 points.

Spurs 118 (14-20), Bucks 127 (32-5)

After taking the lead mid-way through the second quarter, the Bucks did not trail for the rest of the game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped a game-high 32 points (7-12 FG) with 8 boards.

Milwaukee has now won 5 straight games.

Hornets 123 (15-23), Mavs 120 (22-13) (OT)

Charlotte battled back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force OT. They would then drop 20 points in the extra period to get a big road win.

Terry Rozier dropped a team-high 29 points with several clutch buckets. Devonte Graham added 27 points with 13 dimes.

Pelicans 117 (12-24), Kings 115 (13-23)

New Orleans dropped 41 points during the fourth quarter to regain the lead and gut out the road win.

Lonzo Ball dropped a team-high 24 points with 10 dimes and 6 boards. JJ Redick added 18 points, including the game-winner.

The post Post Up: Grizzlies Blow Out Clippers Behind Jae Crowder’s Career Night appeared first on SLAM.

The Celtics lead from start to finish and cruised to an easy win on the road. Boston was lead by Jayson Tatum, who finished with 24 points and 7 rebounds, and Gordon Hayward, who stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kemba Walker added 22 points and 7 assists.

Pacers 115 (22-12), 76ers 97 (23-13)

Indiana outscored Philly 38-16 in the second quarter and held on to the large lead for the remainder of the game, securing an easy win at home. Domantas Sabonis continued his impressive play, finishing with 23 points (10-16 FG), 10 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead the Pacers. T.J. Warren added 21 points on 9-11 shooting. Josh Richardson led the 76ers with 20 points, and Ben Simmons added 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Clippers 105 (24-11), Kings 87 (12-22)

The Clippers secured their 10th road win of the season in convincing fashion. LA was lead by Kawhi, who finished with 24 points and 7 assists, and PG, who dropped 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists. Richaun Holmes finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Buddy Hield added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the loss.

Raptors 117 (23-11), Cavs 97 (10-23)

The defending champions closed out 2019 with an easy win at home. Kyle Lowry finished with 24 points and 8 assists to lead the Raptors, and Serge Ibaka added 20 points and 10 rebounds. Collin Sexton dropped a team-high 22 points in the loss for Cleveland.

Rockets 130 (23-11), Nuggets 104 (23-10)

The Rockets dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 38-15 to get the win at home. Russell Westbrook and James Harden showed out in their last game of the decade. The Beard finished with 35 points on 10-17 shooting, and The Brodie added 28 points and 8 assists. Clint Capela returned from injury and dropped 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 21 points in the loss.

Spurs 117 (14-8), Warriors 113 (9-26)

The Spurs outlasted the Dubs in an overtime thriller, outscoring Golden State 17-13 in the extra period. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with a team high 24 points on 11-18 shooting, and Patty Mills added 18 off the bench. For the Warriors, Alec Burks finished with 28 points, and Glenn Robinson III dropped 25 on 10-17 shooting in the loss.

Thunder 106 (18-15), Mavericks 101 (21-12)

The last game of 2019 was a great one, as the Thunder outscored the Mavs 29-23 in the fourth quarter to pick up the win at home. Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schroder both dropped a team-high 20 points, and Chris Paul added 17 points (including 13 in the fourth), 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Thunder. For the Mavs, Luka Doncic finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss.

The post Post Up: Harden and Westbrook Combine for 63 in Rockets Win appeared first on SLAM.

Denver led the entire game, and mostly by double-digits.

Nikola Jokic dropped a game-high 31 points with 10 boards and 10 dimes.

Raptors 113 (22-10), Celtics 97 (22-8)

Toronto successfully countered every Boston run to snap the Celtics’ 5-game win streak.

Kyle Lowry dropped a game-high 30 points with 7 dimes.

Pacers 98 (21-12), Pelicans 120 (10-23)

New Orleans outscored the Pacers by a combined 31 points in the second and third quarters.

Brandon Ingram dropped a team-high 24 points with 7 dimes.

Jrue, Aaron and Justin Holiday became the first trio of brothers to play in the same game.

Hawks 81 (6-27), Bulls 116 (13-20)

Chicago controlled the entire game against the Trae Young-less Hawks.

Zach LaVine dropped 19 points with 7 boards. Lauri Markkanen added a team-high 25 points.

Atlanta has now lost an abysmal 10 straight games.

Cavs 94 (10-22), Wolves 88 (11-20)

Cleveland led for the majority of the game against the Wolves, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Tristan Thompson dropped 12 points with 15 boards. Collin Sexton added a game-high 18 points.

Knicks 107 (9-24), Wizards 100 (9-22)

New York built a few double-digit leads only to see them disappear to the Bradley Beal-less Wizards. But they held on to the lead when it mattered the most during crunch time.

Julius Randle continued his strong play, dropping a game-high 30 points with 16 boards and 6 dimes.

Sixers 116 (23-12), Heat 117 (24-8) (OT)

Miami battled back from a 5-point deficit with 1 minute to play to take the lead on a clutch three-pointer by Tyler Herro. But the Heat fouled Josh Richardson with less than a second left. J-Rich intentionally missed his second free-throw and Ben Simmons got a putback to send the game to OT.

The Heat would hold on to improve to an incredible 6-0 in OT this season.

Jimmy Butler dropped a team-high 25 points with 9 dimes and 9 boards. Herro added 17 points (4-8 3FG) off the bench.

Miami has now won 5 straight.

Nets 98 (16-15), Rockets 108 (22-10)

Brooklyn battled back to take the lead in the fourth quarter after falling down by 18 points in the third. But the Rockets would pull away during the final minutes of the game.

James Harden dropped a game-high 44 points with 10 boards and 6 dimes.

Pistons 109 (12-21), Spurs 136 (13-18)

San Antonio would outscore the Pistons by 17 points in the third quarter and go up by as much as 29 points during the fourth.

LaMarcus Aldridge dropped 25 points (5-6 3FG) with 12 boards. DeMar DeRozan added a game-high 29 points.

Mavs 141 (21-10), Warriors 121 (9-25)

After going off for 30 points in the first half, D’Angelo Russell went down with a scary-looking shoulder injury with 5:20 left in the third quarter—and the Mavericks proceeded to blow open the game.

Luka Doncic dropped a team-high 31 points with 15 dimes and 12 boards as Dallas snapped the Warriors’ 4-game winning streak.

Magic 100 (14-18), Bucks 111 (29-5)

Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) missing his second straight game, Milwaukee jumped out to a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

Ersan Ilyasova dropped 17 points with 14 boards and 5 dimes. Khris Middleton added a team-high 21 points.

Suns 112 (12-20), Kings 110 (12-20)

Phoenix blew a 14-point third quarter lead but held on to snap an 8-game losing streak.

Devin Booker dropped a game-high 32 points with 10 dimes.

Sacramento has now lost 6 straight.

Lakers 128 (25-7), Blazers 120 (14-19)

The Lakers looked sharp after their Christmas Day loss to the Clippers, snapping their 4-game losing streak.

LeBron James dropped 21 points with 16 dimes and just 1 TO. Kyle Kuzma added a team-high 24 points.

Jazz 120 (20-12), Clippers 107 (23-11)

Utah outscored the Clippers by 12 points during the fourth quarter to pick up a big road win.

Donovan Mitchell dropped a game-high 30 points with 9 dimes and 7 boards.

The post Post Up: Heat Defeat Sixers Behind Tyler Herro’s Clutch Heroics appeared first on SLAM.

The Raptors came out scorching hot, with Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry fueling a 10-0 run to start the game, but it was all green from there on out. The Celtics played a sound game, with all five starters scoring in double-digits and Enes Kanter coming in off the bench to put up 12 points and 11 rebounds in only 18 minutes. 

The matchup also served as a wonderful national exposure for Jaylen Brown, and how much he has improved this season. Brown scored 30 points on an efficient 10-13 shooting with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, displaying his smooth handles on this sweet step-back jumper.

Sixers 121 (23-10), Bucks 109 (27-5)

In Philly’s first Christmas Day game in 31 years, Joel Embiid put up a triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds) in the W. The Sixers caught fire from deep, knocking down a franchise-record tying 21 3-pointers, to go 16-2 at home. Tobias Harris was Philly’s second-leading scorer with 22 points.

Rockets 104 (21-10), Warriors 116 (8-24)

Golden State earned its first win of the season against a team over .500 thanks to a dominant fourth quarter against the Rockets. The Warriors boasted three 20-point scorers in Damion Lee (22 points), D’Angelo Russell (20 points) and Draymond Green (20 points). Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 54 points, but fell short of the Christmas win.

Clippers 111 (23-10), Lakers 106 (24-7)

The second Battle for Los Angeles lived up to its name as the Clippers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to down the Lakers — the largest comeback win on Christmas Day since 2003.

Patrick Beverley — who was a game-high +26 for the Clippers — blocked LeBron James’ potential game-tying 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds to go. Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points on 11-for-19 shooting to lead all players. Kyle Kuzma had a team-high 25 off the bench for the Lakers.

Pelicans 112 (8-23), Nuggets 100 (21-8)

Brandon Ingram had a career night in the Mile High City, hitting 7 3s en route to a 31-point performance, as the Pelicans snapped Denver’s seven-game winning streak. Jrue Holiday was the Pelicans’ second-leading scorer with 20 points, JJ Redick had 15 and Lonzo Ball finished with 10 points.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Drops 35 Points in Battle for LA on Christmas Day appeared first on SLAM.

Cleveland has popped off three straight wins. The Cavs’ backcourt duo of Collin Sexton (25 points) and Darius Garland (21 points) stepped up to provide the scoring. Trae Young put up 30 points for the Hawks.

76ers 125 (22-10), Pistons 109 (11-20)

Ben Simmons dropped a career-high 17 assists to top off his triple-double; he also contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds. Philadelphia enjoyed a team-high 35 points from Tobias Harris.

Raptors 115 (21-9), Pacers 120 (21-10)

Indiana prevailed in overtime to secure the home win. The Pacers were led by 24 points apiece from Myles Turner and TJ Warren. Kyle Lowry scored 30 points in the loss.

Wizards 121 (9-20), Knicks 115 (7-24)

Bradley Beal (30 points) and Troy Brown Jr. (26 points) helped propel Washington to a road victory. Julius Randle put up 35 points for the Knicks.

Bulls 95 (12-20), Magic 103 (13-17)

Jonathan Isaac registered an all-around game, notching 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Terrence Ross led the team with 26 points and six made 3-pointers.

Jazz 104 (18-12), Heat 107 (22-8)

The Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Utah 31-23. Miami had six players in double-digits, led by Jimmy Butler’s 20 points. Joe Ingles paced the Jazz with 27 points.

Spurs 145 (12-17), Grizzlies 115 (11-20)

The scoring came in bunches for San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge put up a monster night of 40 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. DeMar DeRozan added 26 points and 10 assists.

Nuggets 113 (21-8), Suns 111 (11-19)

Denver and Phoenix were tied late until Jamal Murray sunk a dagger into the Suns. Murray, who scored a game-high 28 points, found room with two seconds left to hit the step-back game-winner. Teammate Nikola Jokic contributed a double-double of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Pelicans 102 (8-23), Blazers 94 (14-17)

Portland wasn’t able to overcome a poor shooting night, going just 4-29 from deep. On the other side, five Pelicans hit double-digit scoring, led by Jrue Holiday (21 points).

Rockets 113 (21-9), Kings 104 (12-18)

James Harden (34 points) and Russell Westbrook (28 points) helped Houston fend off the Kings. De’Aaron Fox scored a season-high 31 points in the loss.

Timberwolves 104 (10-19), Warriors 113 (7-24)

D’Angelo Russell and Alec Burks combined for 55 points as Golden State held onto its lead late. Andrew Wiggins put up 22 points for Minnesota.

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Toronto rallied back from 30, the biggest comeback in franchise history, behind Kyle Lowry’s game-high 32 points and 10 assists. Chris Boucher had 21 off the bench.

Celtics 119 (20-7), Hornets 93 (13-20)

Jayson Tatum posted a career-high 39 points, scoring 22 of those points in the fourth quarter. Tatum joins Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker as the third youngest Celtics player with a 30-point, 10-rebound game. Kemba Walker scored 23 points against his former team.

Thunder 118 (15-14), Clippers 112 (22-10)

Paul George returned back to OKC, but was unable to give his new team a W at Chesapeake Arena. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied his career-high 32 points in the victory. Dennis Schroder (28 points) came up huge down the stretch, knocking down a triple late in the game to put OKC up and a layup that pushed the lead to six.

Bucks 117 (27-4), Pacers 89 (20-10)

Four of Milwaukee’s starters finished in double figures with Wesley Matthews scoring a team-high 19 points. George Hill (17 points) and Robin Lopez (13 points) put up 30 bench points.

Nuggets 128 (20-8), Lakers 104 (24-6)

Denver defeated the Lakers to give them their third-straight loss. Paul Millsap scored 21 points in 21 minutes, Garris Harris finished with 19 and Nikola Jokic finished with 18.

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