As his Pistons continue to improve into a frisky play-in-caliber team this season, guard Jaden Ivey has grown increasingly more comfortable in clutch moments, observes Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Patterson writes that the Pistons have gone 8-4 in games where Ivey scores 19 or more points. During the last 15 seconds of Detroit’s 114-113 upset win over the Kings this week, … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Ivey, Cunningham, Mobley, Lillard
Eastern Notes: Merrill, Bulls, Butler, Heat
Fifth-year guard Sam Merrill snapped out of his season-long shooting slump on Monday as the Cavaliers defeated Utah, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). Merrill, who grew up a Jazz fan in Bountiful, Utah, near Salt Lake City, notched a season-high 20 points in the 11-point victory, going 6-of-11 from three-point range while also chipping in four assists … [Read more...] about Eastern Notes: Merrill, Bulls, Butler, Heat
Central Notes: Giddey, Cunningham, Mitchell, Beasley
Should the Bulls give Josh Giddey an extension? Giddey, currently sidelined by an ankle sprain, will be a restricted free agent after the season. Coach Billy Donovan believes Giddey can be a foundation piece for the franchise. “I think like any player, coach, we all need to get better, so I’ll just start there,” Donovan told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times. “But I really … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Giddey, Cunningham, Mitchell, Beasley
Injury Notes: Doncic, R. Williams, Leonard, Jones, Heat, Wade
After missing the past two games with a left heel contusion, Luka Doncic was upgraded to available for Monday’s contest vs. Portland, the Mavericks announced (via Twitter). The perennial All-NBA guard had previously been listed as questionable. For the same game, big man Robert Williams was ruled out due to a left ankle sprain, per the Trail Blazers (Twitter link). Williams was … [Read more...] about Injury Notes: Doncic, R. Williams, Leonard, Jones, Heat, Wade
Central Notes: Bulls, Nnaji, Strus, Wade, Middleton
Although the Bulls have reportedly talked to the Nuggets about a possible swap centered around Zach LaVine and Michael Porter Jr., they have shown no interest in taking Zeke Nnaji‘s contract back in a deal with Denver, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link). Porter is making $35.9MM this season and LaVine’s cap hit is about $43MM. The Nuggets wouldn’t … [Read more...] about Central Notes: Bulls, Nnaji, Strus, Wade, Middleton