More commonly known as “Bee”, Beatrice is a multimedia sports reporter for Rappler, who covers Phillippine sports governance, national teams, football and the UAAP. Stay tuned for her news and features on Philippine sports and videos like the Rappler Athlete’s Corner and Rappler Sports Timeout.
Earlier in the month, the Boston Celtics had a handful of games where they looked like they were gaining momentum or, at the very least, flirting with consistency. Then, as usual, injury absences and poor play caused them to lose a stretch of highly winnable games. We’ve seen this before, of course, but this time around there was a potentially important development: rookies Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith are making their impact felt on the court.
Let’s go back to the latest “worst game of the Celtics season,” Tuesday's ignoble loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was demoralizing to watch an organization fielding a ridiculously young roster and actively rooting for the worst possible record beat the Celtics 119-115. The only silver lining here was that Boston had the excuse of being without both Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker. In their absence, the Celtics mostly ran their offense through Jaylen Brown who 39 points in the losing effort. Surprisingly, however, it was Pritchard who emerged as the team’s second option, scoring 28 points while at times looking like the only member of the team not sleepwalking for extended periods of time.
Tatum was back the next day, although the apparently jinxed Walker remained on the injury list. The two Jays obviously accounted for the majority of the scoring against the Charlotte Hornets in the 120-111 victory, but Boston’s young players also came up huge. Pritchard cooled off considerably, scoring only eight points in the 29 minutes, but he still picked up three rebounds and three assists. This time it was Nesmith who the key, scoring 15 points on Wednesday while willing his way towards nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks. His fingerprints, as it were, were on every part of the win.
With Marcus Smart out due to a last-minute suspension, Nesmith managed to do his best Smart imitation. If anything, he was even more willfully reckless than Smart, sacrificing his whole body on every play. It’s maybe not the smartest approach to the game—the risks of bodily harm alone are concerning—but during a season where lack of effort has become a team-wide problem, it might just be exactly what the Celtics need at the moment.
“I’m just going out there 110 percent, trying to make any effort plays that I can, because I know every team needs effort plays,” Nesmith said after the game. “Effort plays, 50/50 balls, that’s what wins ballgames. And so I’m going to go out there and put my body on the line in order to make a play happen.”
That feels like a list of everything that the Celtics have been missing during their many, many off-games this season. Yes, their roster has been ravaged with injuries, and players like Tatum and Evan Fournier have been playing through the after-effects of Covid-19, but at least some of what has been going wrong with them has been the result of a collective lapse of concentration. Pritchard and Nesmith will need more time to become consistent NBA players—at least that’s the hope—but if they can just provide a spark of energy off the bench when called upon, they could end up being the catalyst that this team obviously needs.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 50 points and was one of three Houston Rockets to post double-doubles in a shocking 143-136 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
Porter added 11 assists to his dazzling statistical line, reaching 50 points on a free throw with 20.9 seconds left.
The Rockets erased a 17-point deficit and held firm when the Bucks seized the lead early in the fourth quarter, pulling even at 125-125 on a Porter three-point play at the 5:01 mark and then pulling away after Porter added back-to-back 3-pointers in 58 seconds.
But Porter wasn't alone as the Rockets, who had dropped 10 of 11 games, torched the Bucks' highly rated defense. Christian Wood added 31 points and nine rebounds, while Kelly Olynyk paired 24 points with 13 rebounds.
D.J. Wilson, acquired from Milwaukee in the deal that sent P.J. Tucker to the Bucks at the trade deadline, added 15 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
Led by Porter, who hit 9 of 15 from deep, the Rockets finished 25 of 46 on 3-pointers.
Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 33 points, while Bryn Forbes added 30 on 6-of-10 3-point shooting off the bench.
Jrue Holiday tallied 29 points and 10 assists for Milwaukee, which lost two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to a right ankle sprain early in the first quarter.
Despite losing Antetokounmpo one minute into the game, the Bucks turned an 11-0 run into a 23-10 lead.
Forbes closed the first quarter with nine points to pace a balanced attack sans Antetokounmpo, with three others chipping in six points apiece.
Milwaukee seemed poised to run away and hide in the second quarter, extending to a 69-52 lead before the Rockets mounted a surprising comeback.
Olynyk and Wood combined to score all 10 points in a 10-2 run that closed the half, with both stroking 3-pointers during the rally.
The Bucks led 73-65 at the break by virtue of shooting 55.1 percent in the first half, including a sizzling 11 of 20 from behind the arc.
But Porter and Wood combined for 37 points prior to the break, setting the stage for their explosive third quarter, one the Rockets started with a 20-6 blitz.
Though it shouldn’t come as a surprise, the Nets will be playing shorthanded while hosting the Portland TrailBlazers Friday.
After his 42-point masterclass against the Indiana Pacers, Kevin Durant will be held out against the Blazers due to “injury management of his left hamstring,” per the official status report. No shocker here; Durant has not participated in a back-to-back since January 13th against the New York Knicks, the day that the Nets made the James Harden trade and had just nine players available.
With Durant out, Kyrie Irving will step in his shoes and man the responsibilities as Brooklyn’s star leader. Irving, of course, did not play against Indiana and will be rested up for the battle against the perennial Pacific Northwest playoff team.
The biggest surprise on the status report was Bruce Brown, who remains out with knee soreness. On Tuesday, head coach Steve Nash said that he expected to get Brown back by Friday. Clearly, things have changed since then.
“Just some soreness, swelling in his knee so he’s not on this trip, but we expect him back on Friday,” said Nash on Tuesday. “The word that he gave me was that it wasn’t limiting him so much, but I think when you have that much fluid in it, it’s beneficial to take it out, and then when you take it out, you do need a few days. He’s positive, optimistic as we are that he’ll be back Friday.”
With Brown and his rebounding prowess out of the fold (second on the Nets in boards per game during the month of April), look for Alize Johnson, fresh off a 20/20 game against the Pacers, to pick up the slack on the glass.
As for the rest, Nicolas Claxton remains in health and safety protocols and will miss his seventh consecutive game, the longest stretch of any player on the Nets this season. James Harden (right hamstring strain), Chris Chiozza (right-hand fracture), and Spencer Dinwiddie (right ACL partial tear) all remain out as well.
Should the Nets pull this one off, it’ll be in the mix for the best victory of the season. The Blazers allow the fifth-most corner threes on the worst percentage in the league (opponents are shooting 44.1 percent on corner looks against Portland, yikes!), so if the Nets do come out victorious, expect three-point shooting to be a big factor.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 42 points and dished out 10 assists as the firast-place Brooklyn Nets won their fourth straight game with a 130-113 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
Durant scored 22 points in the third quarter as the Nets closed out Thursday’s contest with a 17-7 run and improved to 43-20 with the victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“I want to create that double team,” Durant said. “But when I have scoring opportunities, I like to take advantage as well.”
Injuries have taken a toll on Brooklyn’s roster this season as they were without former league MVP James Harden and all-star Kyrie Irving. But they have shown that they are one of the deepest teams in the NBA by continuing to win despite rarely being able to field a lineup that includes all of their Big Three of Durant, Harden and Irving.
Harden, who is out with a strained hamstring, has played just four minutes in April.
Forward Durant made 16 of 24 shots against the Pacers in his eighth start since being sidelined for nearly two months with a hamstring injury.
“What can I say? I have the luxury of coaching Kevin Durant,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “You stick him in the game and good things happen.”
Reserve Alize Johnson had 20 points and 21 rebounds while all five of the Nets starters finished in double figures, including Jeff Green, Joe Harris and Landry Shamet who each scored 14 points.
“The energy was there from the moment I walked into the building,” said Johnson, who was drafted by Indiana three years ago. “I was ready to go out there and prove that I belong.”
The Eastern Conference-leading Nets, who have already clinched a playoff spot, now have a one and a half game lead on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Caris LeVert scored 36 points, Edmond Sumner added 16 points and Doug McDermott scored 15 for the Pacers, who lost point guard Malcolm Brogdon in the second quarter with a hamstring problem.
Indiana dropped to 29-33 on the season as they are in the midst of the race for one of the four play-in tournament spots. They are in ninth spot, one game back of the Charlotte Hornets.
Seeds seven and eight need to win one game to advance to the NBA playoffs while seeds nine and 10 would need to win twice in order to get in.
As it stands now, the Pacers are on track for just their second losing season since 2011.
Elsewhere, Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets went on a 15-0 run to start the final quarter en route to defeating the Toronto Raptors 121-111 in Denver.
Michael Porter scored a team high 23 points, JaMychal Green scored 15, Facu Campazzo had 12, Shaquille Harrison and Austin Rivers scored 11 each and P.J. Dozier added 10 for the Nuggets, who have won four straight.
OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Kyle Lowry and Khem Birch added 20 apiece for Toronto, who were missing star guard Fred VanVleet because of a hip problem.
Denver were down by three at the end of the first quarter, led by two at the half then pulled away with a fourth quarter surge.
They quickly turned a two-point lead at the end of the third into a 17 point cushion by going on a 15-0 run, and the Raptors would never recover.
In Detroit, Tim Hardaway poured in a career-high 42 points and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Detroit Pistons 115-105.
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CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UPNo. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards exploded for 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter on Thursday to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 126-114 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Edwards finished the contest by converting on 10-of-19 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, in 34 minutes of work. The performance marked his 14th 25-point game of the season, the most by a rookie this season.
With the Timberwolves next up on Saturday, Edwards concluded the month of April averaging 21.6 points per game. His 44 3-pointers in April are the most by a rookie during a single month in NBA history, topping the 43 by Landry Shamet in March 2019.
YOUNG MAN.
HOW?????? pic.twitter.com/uBQnZM1mlI
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 30, 2021
Behind Edwards’ monster fourth-quarter effort, the Timberwolves managed to put the Warriors away for their fourth straight win. Edwards, along with the rest of the team, has played exceptionally as of late and the Timberwolves are rolling for the first time this season.
With the season winding down, Edwards is showing the NBA awards voters why he deserves to be the Rookie of the Year and it should be fun to watch him over the last eight games of the year.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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Nebraska will face Northwestern tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Dillon Tennis Center. Admission is free and open to the public.
Results
Singles
1. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Christian Lakoseljac (PENN) 6-3, 6-4
2. Bora Sengul (PENN) def. William Gleason (NEB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Miko Eala (PENN) def. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) 7-5, 6-4
4. Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) vs. Tim Ruetzel (PENN) 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 1-3, unfinished
5. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulo (PENN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Patrick Cacciatore (NEB) def. Charl Morgan (PENN) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9)
Doubles
1. Christian Lakoseljac/Bora Sengul (PENN) def. Victor Moreno Lozano/Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) 6-2
2. Nic Wiedenhorn/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Miko Eala/Tim Ruetzel (PENN) 7-5
3. Patrick Cacciatore/William Gleason (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulo/Alp Sentay (PENN) 7-5
Match Notes:
Penn State 7-10
Nebraska 2-15
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,5,3,2,6)
LINCOLN, Neb. — Penn State men's tennis (7-10, 7-9 B1G) fell to Nebraska (2-15, 1-15 B1G) by a final score of 4-2 Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Big Ten men's tennis tournament.
"Not the way I expected this match to turn out," associate head coach Paul Tobin said. "We let huge leads slip away in both singles and doubles. Hats off to Nebraska. It has been a challenging year for them and they kept fighting to get a big win at home."
DOUBLES
The doubles point came down to wire where Nebraska clinched the first point of the contest with wins at No. 2 and 3.
At No. 1, Christian Lakoseljac (King City, Ontario, Canada) and Bora Sengul (Denizli, Turkey) earned a victory against Victor Moreno Lozano and Albert Sprlak-Puk, 6-2. The pair improved to 2-0 as a doubles team this season.
Tim Ruetzel (Munich, Germany) and Miko Eala (Philippines/Manacor, Spain) fell to Huskers' duo of Nic Wiedenhorn and Shunya Maruyama, 7-5 at No. 2.
On court three, Christos Antonopoulos (Athens, Greece) and Alp Sentay (Izmar, Turkey) came up short against Patrick Cacciatore and William Gleason, 7-5.
SINGLES
The Huskers first earned wins at No. 1 and No. 5 to extend their lead to 3-0. The Nittany Lions stormed back to claim two singles victories, but were unable to complete the comeback.
Miko Eala defeated Victor Moreno Lozano in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 to put the Nittany Lions on the board. With the win, Eala holds a 12-5 overall record in singles play and is 7-3 at No. 3.
To bring the score within one, Bora Sengul improved to 7-7 at the No. 2 slot as he earned a win in three sets over Nebraska's William Gleason 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
At No. 6, Huskers' Patrick Cacciatore clinched the match over Charl Morgan (Johannesburg, South Africa) in a third set tiebreak 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Ruetzel's match against Albert Sprlak-Puk was left unfinished by a score of 5-7, 7-6, 3-1.
RESULTS
Nebraska 4, Penn State 2
Doubles results:
1. Christian Lakoseljac/Bora Sengul (PSU) def. Victor Moreno Lozano/Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) 6-2
2. Nic Wiedenhorn/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Tim Ruetzel/Miko Eala (PSU) 7-5
3. Patrick Cacciatore/William Gleason (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulos/Alp Sentay (PSU) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles results:
1. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Bora Sengul (PSU) def. William Gleason (NEB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Miko Eala (PSU) def. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) 7-5, 6-4
4. Tim Ruetzel (PSU) vs. Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) 5-7, 7-6, 3-1, unfinished
5. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulos (PSU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Patrick Cacciatore (NEB) def. Charl Morgan (PSU) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(9)
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 6
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State men's tennis team during the season. Follow the team on Twitter @pennstateMTEN, Instagram @pennstatemtennis and on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatemenstennis.
It will be a big deal for Gilas Pilipinas to have someone like Jordan Clarkson in future FIBA campaigns, according to Gilas veteran Gabe Norwood.
This, as the Fil-American Utah Jazz guard player has developed immensely, gaining years of playing experience in the NBA.
"Lord willing that happens and Lord willing he's here," Rain or Shine's Norwood said in an interview on The Game, when asked about the possibility of having Clarkson for Gilas.
"Internationally, I think he just ups everybody's game. With the young talent that we have, that's all those guys need - a little push."
Clarkson has repeatedly said he is willing to wear the Gilas jersey again if he gets the green light from FIBA.
However, the world governing body in basketball still would not consider him a local despite Clarkson securing his Philippine passport before the age of 16.
Norwood has developed a bond with the 6-foot-5 shooter, having known Clarkson since the latter's playing days with Missouri in the NCAA Division 1.
Norwood sent him a pair of Kobe shoes (Nike Kobe 9 EM Philippines) as a gift.
"When he declared for the draft it just so happened to be training with my college teammate... that's how I got connection with the shoes, sent the shoes out to him," said Norwood.
"I let him know how and understand the support he has here in the (Philippines) and how's that's gonna be with him for the rest of his career."
Clarkson was able to join the national team in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and this was before he became a leading candidate for NBA's Sixth Man of the Year.
"The way he's playing right now, if he continues to get better, he's going to put us on a whole another level in terms of international play, especially in Asia," said Norwood.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 50 points and was one of three Houston players to post double-doubles as the Rockets upset the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 143-136 on Thursday.
Milwaukee lost two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to a right ankle sprain early in the first quarter.
Porter added 11 assists, Christian Wood finished with 31 points and nine rebounds and Kelly Olynyk paired 24 points with 13 rebounds for Houston. D.J. Wilson, acquired from Milwaukee in the deal that sent P.J. Tucker to the Bucks at the trade deadline, added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets.
Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 33 points, and Bryn Forbes added 30 on 6-of-10 3-point shooting off the bench. Jrue Holiday tallied 29 points and 10 assists for the Bucks.
Mavericks 115, Pistons 105
Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in a career-high 42 points and Dallas edged away from host Detroit. Hardaway shot 13-for-23 from the field, including six 3-point makes, and knocked down all 10 of his free throws.
Trey Burke scored 15 points off the bench for the Mavericks. Dallas star guard Luka Doncic sat out with a left elbow contusion, while the Pistons held out several regulars, including starters Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee. Mavs big man Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with right knee soreness after scoring 11 points.
Rookie Isaiah Stewart scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Detroit. Frank Jackson had 20 points off the bench.
Nuggets 121, Raptors 111
Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points, Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 rebounds and host Denver beat Toronto.
The Nuggets, who had seven players score in double figures, earned their fourth win in a row.
OG Anunoby scored 25 points while Kyle Lowry and Khem Birch added 20 apiece for Toronto. The Raptors played without guard Fred VanVleet due to a hip injury.
Nets 130, Pacers 113
Kevin Durant shot 16 of 24 from the floor en route to matching his season-high of 42 points, Alize Johnson recorded 20 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, and Brooklyn completed a season sweep of Indiana in Indianapolis.
All five Nets starters scored in double-figures, with Jeff Green, Joe Harris and Landry Shamet all hitting for 14 points and Tyler Johnson adding 11. Kyrie Irving sat out due to a groin ailment.
The Pacers got 36 points from Caris LeVert, who produced a 5-of-9 performance from 3-point range.
Timberwolves 126, Warriors 114
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points and came through during a crucial fourth-quarter stretch, propelling Minnesota over visiting Golden State in Minneapolis.
Ricky Rubio scored 26 points and Anthony Edwards added 25, helping Minnesota build a four-game win streak for the first time since November 2018.
Stephen Curry finished with a game-high 37 points and a team-high eight assists for the Warriors.
Pelicans 109, Thunder 95
Zion Williamson scored 27 points to lead New Orleans to a road victory over Oklahoma City.
The Pelicans, who won for the third time in five games, moved within three games of the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference with the win and Golden State’s loss at Minnesota. The Thunder lost for the 15th time in 16 games.
Brandon Ingram added 24 points for the Pelicans, who were just 5 of 29 on 3-point attempts but scored 64 points in the paint. Luguentz Dort led the Thunder with 17 points.
--Field Level Media
Anytime the Clippers have faced the Suns this season, things have gotten testy. Last night was no exception.
As Paul George and Chris Paul were giving their post-game handshakes, they both had an awkward little encounter. Both Paul George and Chris Paul stared at each other, took a moment to acknowledge it, and then refused to shake each other's hands. Now it could have just been an awkward moment caught on camera, but Paul George's post-game comments seem to indicate otherwise.
When George was asked about Chris Paul's performance after the game, all George had to say was "next question."
Throughout their entire careers, there never seemed to be a moment that indicated that Chris Paul and Paul George disliking each other. That's changed a bit this season, even before this moment. There was another awkward moment in January between the two, that seemed to start this animosity.
“I was talking to the ref, [Chris Paul] jumped in and it escalated from there,” George said in January. There was never any altercation, there was always peace when I am on the floor but for whatever reason, there’s a lot of chirping and people just living in the past."
Every single game the Clippers and Suns have played against each other has been entertaining. Both from an on-court standpoint, and a rivalry standpoint. Get the popcorn ready if these two teams face off in the playoffs.
Tyronn Lue: Play-In Tournament Gives Top Seeds a Disadvantage
Is There Beef Between Paul George and Chris Paul?
Three Takeaways from the LA Clippers' Loss to the Phoenix Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo gives a thumbs up while walking off the court after the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.
Milwaukee’s surprising Thursday night 143-136 defeat to Houston included an early injury sting, as two-time Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to leave with a sprained right ankle less than one minute into the game. Antetokounmpo did not return, finishing with one point on a made free throw.
Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a right ankle sprain and will not return to tonight’s contest.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 30, 2021
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters after the game that the team was “hopeful it’s not that serious.” Antetokounmpo will undergo treatment and the team will evaluate how he responds.
Milwaukee’s defense did not step up in his absence, allowing the Rockets to shoot 25-for-46 (54.3%) from 3-point range in the loss.
The Bucks are now firmly entrenched in third place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind second-place Philadelphia with 10 games remaining. Behind Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee is hoping to earn its first Finals appearance since 1974.
Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in a career-high 42 points and the Dallas Mavericks edged away from the host Detroit Pistons 115-105 on Thursday.
Hardaway shot 13-for-23 from the field, including six 3-point makes, and knocked down all 10 of his free throws. Trey Burke scored 15 points off the bench and Jalen Brunson had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Dallas star guard Luka Doncic sat out with a left elbow contusion, while the Pistons held out several regulars, including starters Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee. Mavs big man Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with right knee soreness after scoring 11 points.
Rookie Isaiah Stewart scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Detroit. Frank Jackson had 20 points off the bench, Saddiq Bey scored 18, Sekou Doumbouya contributed 14, Josh Jackson had 13 and Hamidou Diallo added 10 along with 10 rebounds.
The Mavericks led 60-54 at halftime. Neither side led by more than seven points during the half.
Hardaway had 17 points to lead Dallas prior to the break, while Stewart topped Detroit with 12 points.
A 7-1 Dallas spurt early in the second half established its first double-digit lead at 69-59. Detroit soon scored seven unanswered points, including five by Bey, to cut its deficit to three points.
The Pistons tied it on two occasions late in the quarter. Hardaway drained a 3-pointer and Burke made a layup in the final minute to give Dallas an 86-81 lead. Frank Jackson made a layup in the final second to make it a three-point spread heading into the fourth quarter.
Jackson hit a 3 with 10 minutes to go, giving Detroit a 90-88 edge.
Hardaway continued to carry the Mavs offensively but two Stewart 3-pointers in a 39-second span gave the Pistons a 102-101 lead.
Hardaway's baseline shot with 2:09 left moved Dallas into the lead at 106-104. His 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining made it 109-105. A Brunson layup after a Pistons turnover sealed the win.
Dallas won the first meeting on its home court 127-117 with Doncic supplying 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
For the first time in 11 years, the Phoenix Suns clinched a playoff berth Wednesday night.
Of course, that was mostly a formality after the season that the Suns have had. With 10 games left in thie shortened regular season, the Suns stand with a 44-18 record, on pace for 58 wins in a normal NBA season. That record has put them just one game back of the Utah Jazz for the coveted spot of No. 1 team in the NBA.
The tiebreaker situation — which is in the Suns’ favor after they won the first two matchups earlier this season — means that the winner of Friday night’s contest between the two teams will become the No. 1 seed.
The only thing that keeps the matchup from being the most anticipated game of the NBA’s season is the injury report. The absence of Donovan Mitchell due to the right ankle sprain suffered two weeks ago is confirmed, while Mike Conley will likely not play due to a reaggravation of his hamstring pull in the Jazz’s game against the Timberwolves Monday. Role players Dario Saric and Jae Crowder missed the Suns’ game against the Clippers on Wednesday, and their status for Friday’s game has yet to be announced.
Still, the Jazz showed that they can put up a fight if their shots are falling, even without their top two guards, on Wednesday against Sacramento. But thanks to their strength and health, the Suns will be the clear favorites to earn that No. 1 seed on Friday — a situation that would have seemed outlandish even a year ago.
It’s clear what the biggest difference is: the arrival of one Point God. Chris Paul’s second-most-famous nickname — the shorter “CP3″ a little too obvious — reflects his seemingly omnipotent power over what happens on a basketball court, despite being the smallest starter in the NBA in terms of height.
Want proof? Compiled by StatMuse, here’s a roundup of the five teams he’s played for in his career, and their winning percentage before and after acquiring Paul:
The smallest difference on that list might be the most remarkable of them all. Yes, he only made the Oklahoma City Thunder one game better, a paltry accomplishment for Paul. Except that was the season that both Russell Westbrook and Paul George left Oklahoma City for what they considered greener pastures; Paul took the rag-tag roster in 2019 and carried them into the playoffs.
“Chris is a different breed,” Jerry West, the Hall of Fame Lakers legend, told The Athletic. “I love him as a player. I always have. He’s smart. He’s clever. He can make shots. He can defend like crazy. Again, he does everything that you would want in a leader. He’s just a remarkable player. He’s just a tremendous, tremendous player. The ultimate competitor. He’s been like this his whole career.”
The arrival of Paul has changed everything in Phoenix. Star guard Devin Booker, truthfully, is putting up the same stats as he did last season, but now he can afford to play some time off the ball, too. DeAndre Ayton’s efficiency has skyrocketed, as he now can finish more of Paul’s trademark lob passes. The 24-year-old Mikal Bridges has continued to develop into one of the NBA’s best role players, knocking down 40% of his threes this season while playing stellar defense.
Also important has been the contributions of head coach Monty Williams, now considered the frontrunner for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award. Action Network commentator Matt Moore summed up Williams’ contributions:
“Monty Williams took a team that everyone thought was HOPELESS because of ownership and has them as a top-2 seed in the West,” Moore wrote. “The big thing I noticed about the Suns three years ago was that no one knew what they were doing at any point and now they are ALL always prepared.”
The total package has meant that the Suns have been surprising teams all year long, climbing up the standings. After a 6-7 January, the Suns went 12-3 in February, 11-3 in March, and 11-4 in April.
The question with the Suns is the same as with the Jazz: can they get it done in the playoffs? Neither core of young players has seen the later rounds of the NBA playoffs, and while Paul’s playoff stats are quite good, he’s never reached an NBA Finals.
But those questions will begin to be answered 10 games from now. For now, for this Friday’s contest, the two teams who have done everything they can to put themselves in position will see who can edge out the No. 1 spot.
JAZZ AT SUNS
When • Friday, 8 p.m. MT
TV • ATTSN
The Brooklyn Nets continue their pursuit of the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. The Nets (42-20) became the first team in the East to wrap up a playoff spot in Tuesday's victory over Toronto, stretching their winning streak to three games. Indiana (29-32), winners of three in a row before Tuesday's drubbing by visiting Portland, is sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and is trying to move up to sixth to avoid a spot in the NBA's play-in tournament. James Harden (hamstring) remains out for Brooklyn, while Kyrie Irving (groin) has been ruled out of this matchup.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. The latest Nets vs. Pacers odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Brooklyn as a five-point favorite. The over-under is set at 241.5. Before finalizing any Pacers vs. Nets picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned over $9,400 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up over $1,400 on its top-rated picks this season and entered Week 19 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 97-60 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nets vs. Pacers. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Pacers vs. Nets:
Despite having its Big Three in the lineup together for only seven games, Brooklyn still features the No. 2 scoring offense in the league at 118.7 points per game. Kevin Durant averages 27.1 points per game and he'll be asked to carry the load in this one with Irving and Harden out. Durant scored seven of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and buried a 3-pointer to close out a victory against the Raptors on Tuesday.
Five players were ruled for their last game but the undermanned Nets still received a combined 38 points from reserves Blake Griffin, Mike James and Tyler Johnson. Griffin had 17 points and six rebounds and is averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 boards over the last three games. James was signed to a 10-day contract last week and has fit in seamlessly, contributing 11 points and eight assists Tuesday while playing all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter.
Top scorer Malcolm Brogdon struggled with his shot and finished with 18 points in Tuesday's loss to Portland, but he scored at least 23 in seven of his previous nine games and also hit at least seven 3-pointers on seven occasions in that span. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging career bests in points (21.5) and rebounds (5.3) while handing out 5.9 assists per game. Brogdon scored a team-high 24 points in last month's loss to Brooklyn.
As part of the blockbuster four-team trade in January that landed Harden, the Nets shipped guard Caris LeVert to the Pacers. LeVert is averaging 18.7 points with Indiana and his numbers across the board pretty much mirror his production from his 12 games with Brooklyn. He scored 19 points in his first meeting against his former teammates on March 17 and has picked up his offense this month, averaging 21.2 points in April.
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 253 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60 percent of the time. You can get that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pacers vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits well over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a roll on NBA picks.
Defending NBA champions LA Lakers will look to return to winning ways when they take on the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center on Friday.
The LA Lakers lost to the Washington Wizards in their last game, despite Anthony Davis producing his best performance since making his return from a lengthy injury layoff. Andre Drummond produced yet another double-double. LeBron James is still some way from a return, though.
Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, were at the receiving end of a thrashing from Utah Jazz, as they conceded 154 points and endured a woeful shooting night. Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes were the joint top-scorers with 18 points apiece, while Maurice Harkless played for over 23 minutes but scored no points despite taking five shots.
Fixture: Sacramento Kings vs LA Lakers | NBA Season 2020-21.
Date & Time: Friday, April 30th, 2021; 10:30 PM ET (Saturday, April 29th; 8:00 AM IST).
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.
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The Sacramento Kings have struggled to get going in the absence of their best player, De’Aaron Fox. They have lost both games in his absence and are now 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
With their playoff hopes virtually gone, the Sacramento Kings were handed a morale-affecting loss by the Utah Jazz in their last meeting.
Marvin Bagley III and Robert Woodard II will miss this game, while Harrison Barnes has been listed as doubtful.
20-year old Tyrese Haliburton has been nothing short of impressive in his rookie season for the Sacramento Kings.
He has an overall shooting efficiency of more than 55% and is shooting at just over 40% from the 3-point zone. Haliburton is averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game and is expected to start his fourth consecutive match.
He has averaged more than 17 points in his last three starts, which includes a double-double against the Dallas Mavericks. Haliburton has been a rare silver lining in a dismal campaign blighted by injuries for the Sacramento Kings.
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Point Guard - Tyrese Haliburton | Shooting Guard - Buddy Hield | Small Forward - Harrison Barnes | Power Forward - Maurice Harkless | Center - Richaun Holmes.
The LA Lakers lost against the Washington Wizards for the second time this season but will be happy to see Anthony Davis producing a solid performance. Dennis Schroder had an off-night, but he produced 13 points and eight assists, while Ben McLemore and Montrezl Harrel both scored in double digits off the bench.
Alex Caruso is listed as doubtful but might be fit enough to feature, while Andre Drummond could be a key player for the LA Lakers in this game. Jared Dudley and LeBron James are both confirmed to be out, with the latter still without a confirmed return date.
Anthony Davis’ injury layoff means he is not a contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award, let alone the MVP. However, his return could not have come at a better time for the LA Lakers as the regular season winds to a close.
Davis will be required to steady the ship and ensure the LA Lakers are able to hold on to a high playoff seed in the coming weeks. He produced his best shooting game against the Wizards since his return from injury and is expected to be back to full fitness before the playoffs commence.
Point Guard - Dennis Schroder | Shooting Guard - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Small Forward - Kyle Kuzma | Power Forward - Anthony Davis | Center - Andre Drummond.
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The LA Lakers have long lost their air of invincibility and are now sixth in the Western Conference standings. Nevertheless, Anthony David’s performance against the Wizards should give the LA Lakers a huge boost despite losing on the night.
The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, have their own injury concerns and are coming into this game off arguably their worst loss of the season. The LA Lakers are the clear favorites to win this matchup.
The Sacramento Kings vs LA Lakers game will be locally televised on Spectrum SportsNet and NBC Sports California. The match can also be streamed live with an NBA League Pass.
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 38 points, Jayson Tatum 35, and the Boston Celtics rebounded from an embarrassing loss a night earlier with a 120-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Brown has reached 30 points in three of his last five games.
Tristan Thompson chipped in with 12 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which had lost four of its last five following a six-game winning streak. Devonte’ Graham led Charlotte with 25 points, and P.J. Washington and Miles Bridges each had 19.
Hornets’ leading scorer Terry Rozier was held to 15 points on 4-for-18 shooting, collecting nine in the final quarter.
The Phoenix Suns clinched their first playoff berth since the 2009-10 season with a 109-101 win over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Chris Paul scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Suns, who improved to 1-2 this season against the Clippers. Paul also had 10 assists and three steals.
Phoenix (44-18) is now two games ahead of the Clippers (43-21) for second place in the Western Conference. The Utah Jazz (45-17) lead the conference standings by a game over the Suns.
Phoenix's Devin Booker added 21 points and six rebounds. Reserves Cameron Payne (15 points) and Frank Kaminsky (13) proved to be vital while starters Mikal Bridges (13) and Torrey Craig (10) also contributed double-digit points.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Paul George had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 16 points. Ivica Zubac finished with 14 points, Terance Mann had 10 and Reggie Jackson wound up with 10.
George had 39 points in the first meeting with the Suns this season and 33 in the second while combining to shoot 27 of 43 from the field, including 14 of 19 from 3-point range. On Wednesday night, George, who is battling ankle soreness, made 9 of 21 shots from the field and 3 of 9 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard (foot) for the fifth straight game. Newly signed DeMarcus Cousins also did not play.
Jae Crowder and Dario Saric sat out for the Suns because of ankle injuries.
The Suns never trailed in the game and led by as many as 14 points in the first half and 13 in the third quarter.
Los Angeles got within four on a layup by Rajon Rondo with 32.4 seconds left in the third, but Payne answered with a jumper to increase the margin to 86-80 going into the fourth quarter.
The Clippers drew within 93-92 on another Rondo layup with 6:08 left, but three consecutive baskets by Paul turned the tide. His layup with 4:42 left gave Phoenix a 99-92 edge.
After Zubac made a dunk to cut the deficit to five, Paul answered with another jump shot.
Phoenix's Cameron Johnson and Deandre Ayton each grabbed offensive rebounds on a possession that ended with two free throws by Bridges, pushing the Suns' lead to 107-98 with 50.1 seconds left.
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
With just under 10 minutes left in the game and the Hornets holding momentum after cutting the Celtics’ once sizable lead to four, Robert Williams set a screen up high for Tremont Waters. The guard drove to the basket and lofted an off-the mark lob for Aaron Nesmith.
His shot bounced off the rim, but Williams alertly moved toward the basket, and the ball, as it so often does, found him. He caught it and laid it in in one motion.
After two weeks off with a knee injury, Williams wasn’t back at the peak of his powers yet, but his presence gave the Celtics a lift. That play seemed to steady Boston, which survived some mildly anxious moments before pulling away for the 120-111 win.
Williams had four points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 17 minutes.
“We missed his presence,” Jayson Tatum said. “Glad he was back. I love playing with Rob. He’s probably my favorite person to play with, with the energy he brings and all the little things he does on the floor.”
Jaylen Brown agreed.
“He just adds a threat when he’s rolling to the paint,” Brown said. “It was his first game back, but the better he plays, the better we’re going to go. We’re looking to get him rolling. Hopefully by playoff time he’s in full form.”
Williams’ return kept both Luke Kornet, whose contributions Tuesday were overshadowed by the result, and Jabari Parker from entering the game. Grant Williams only played just one minute as Brad Stevens shortened his rotation.
“It felt great being out there with my teammates,” Williams said in his postgame interview with the Celtics’ web site. “I missed a couple of games. It was kind of sad because I felt like I could help them a lot.”
EVAN FOURNIER STILL RECOVERING - On April 4, right before Evan Fournier contracted COVID-19, he had 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting. It was his second straight strong offensive performance as he appeared to be settling into a role following the trade from Orlando.
But after a 19-day pause, he’s yet to rediscover his shot. He’s 5-for-29 (17.2%) in his last four games, including 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.7%) after Wednesday’s 1-for-7 (0-for-3 on 3-pointers) shooting.
Brad Stevens said Fournier is still fighting his way through COVID aftereffects.
“He will not make this excuse, but he is dealing with some of the aftereffects of it. He’s feeling better wind-wise, but he’s just a little foggy,” Stevens said. “He’s talked about it openly and we’ve done our best to help him, but the way he can best get through it, from everything they know, is to continue to log minutes and log experience. He is frustrated by it, I’m sure. But it affects everybody differently. It’s been a challenge for him, but all he wants to do is play and help us win.”
NEW STARTERS - WIth Marcus Smart (suspension) and Kemba Walker (side injury) both out, Stevens started Tremont Waters instead of Payton Pritchard and kept Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup even with Williams back.
Waters had six points and six assists in a career-high 25 minutes. Thompson had 12 points and 13 rebounds including nine points and eight boards in the first half.
FORMER CELTICS - Terry Rozier didn’t have a great shooting night against his former team, but he scored nine of his 15 points and three of his seven assists in the fourth quarter when Charlotte threatened to close the gap. Each time the Hornets got within three points, it was Rozier who got them there.
Brad Wanamaker had two points and three assists in 21 minutes in his fourth game against the Celtics this season (three with Charlotte and one with Golden State).
SCOREBOARD WATCHING - Of the three games that could impact the Celtics’ spot in the standings, only one finished the way Boston wanted.
The Sixers crushed the Hawks, 127-83, allowing the Celtics (33-30), who are tied for sixth to move within a game of fifth-place Atlanta (34-29). The Heat, who are sharing sixth with Boston, held off San Antonio, 116-111.
The Knicks, who are in fourth at 35-28, pulled away from the Bulls, 113-94. They have a two-game lead over the Heat and Celtics, and are one game on the Hawks.
ETC.- Patriots owner Robert Kraft was in attendance at the game sitting with Celtics counterpart Wyc Grousbeck. ... Pritchard missed several minutes in the second half with ice on his nose as he tried to contain a nosebleed after taking a stray elbow to the face. ... The Celtics have had four three-game losing streaks this season, but Wednesday’s win helped them avoid their first four-game skid.
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Philosophy, process and people. That's the Phoenix Suns' new formula that helped the franchise break a decade-long drought.
The Suns are one of the best teams in the National Basketball Association's 2020-21 season, sitting second in the Western Conference and going 20-7 since the All-Star break. Business improves as the wins accumulate and the refurbished arena welcomes fans back.
"In my view, people are the most important," team owner Robert Sarver told CNBC on Wednesday hours before the team beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 109-101. "In this business, from a basketball standpoint, it's people that can identify talent, develop talent, and people that can coach talent."
One of those people is team general manager James Jones, who helped establish the agenda and position Sarver to increase the team's $1.7 billion valuation.
"Your team in general needs a clear philosophy," Jones told CNBC. "That's what I learned [with the Miami Heat]. It was, 'This is our philosophy. This is our process. And these are our people.' You need all three of those things to be aligned," he added.
So far, the plan is working. The Suns are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Back then, the faces of the franchise were Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire.
But the road from the NBA's basement to a club that now attracts top corporate partners started with a key move in 2019, when Sarver changed executives. It showed signs Sarver was maturing in selecting people.
When Sarver purchased the team for roughly $400 million in 2004, former Suns owner and respected basketball executive Jerry Colangelo said he was "the right guy" to own the club. Unlike most NBA owners, Sarver isn't afraid to look outside the box while hiring.
He did it when he hired then top player agent Lon Babby to run the team in 2010. And before that, Sarver put Steve Kerr in charge to run the club.
Phoenix's "seven seconds or less" offensive era was over after Stoudemire left for the New York Knicks. The decline started in 2010, and the playoff drought intensified under GM Ryan McDonough.
From 2013 to 2019, the team went through three coaches under McDonough. The final attempt came after he hired Igor Kokoskov. Days before the 2018-19 season, Sarver fired McDonough and gave the keys to Jones, a well-traveled NBA player.
"I just knew it was time to make a change," Sarver said of the move. "There is no perfect time to make a change, but when it's time to make a change, you need to make a change."
Sarver said he built a relationship with Jones while Jones was playing for the Suns. He also admired how Jones was able to study under well-established NBA executives, including Larry Bird in Indiana, Pat Riley in Miami, and Larry Miller in Portland, Oregon. Sarver said Jones would instill a "championship culture" when he promoted him.
Said Jones: "Robert is showing confidence and belief in me as a young, fresh executive to help lead this franchise and guide it back toward where we know it should be — one of the top franchises in the NBA."
Jones' first move saw the team hire Monty Williams as head coach. And perhaps the best move since then was when he brought in All-Star point guard Chris Paul. The plan with Paul was to accelerate the growth of younger players such as Deandre Ayton and to prove to current franchise player Devin Booker the team was committed to winning.
"Chris helps our young guys get up to speed faster so we can accelerate their growth, and they're better able to withstand and shoulder the burden of what the franchise will expect from them for us to compete," Jones said. "In order to win championships, your expectations must be high," he added. "And you don't have championship culture unless you win a championship."
While James is helping steer the basketball side, Sarver has kept Suns CEO Jason Rowley commanding the business.
The Suns brought in $220 million in revenue during the 2019-2020 season, according to Forbes, and are locked in to a local media deal with Sinclair. The jersey patch deal with PayPal is secure and should see an increase in value once the postseason starts.
And the Suns are positioned to capitalize on sports betting in Arizona, following a partnership with FanDuel. The betting company will have a sportsbook retail location inside the Suns' arena.
But a key asset up for grabs is the arena name. The Suns building went through a $230 million renovation, which included $150 million from the City of Phoenix, locking the team in until at least 2037. Talking Stick Resort didn't renew its arena rights deal and ended the partnership last November.
Rowley said the asset is available at the right time and the naming slot could benefit smaller companies looking to increase branding.
"We're not lacking a name on our building due to a lack of interest and conversation," Rowley said. "We're making sure we pick the right partner, and it's a good fit for the partner and us. These are long-term relationships that need to be mutual and beneficial."
Rowley has been with the club since 2007, taking over his current role as CEO in 2012. If anyone in the franchise besides Sarver can appreciate the team returning to the postseason, it's Rowley. He called the Suns' retooling an "inflection point," crediting Sarver's improvement as a sports owner.
"The thing about Robert that has not changed or ever will change is his passion and his desire to win and his commitment to winning," Rowley said. "He's gotten better and matured as an owner, as anybody does in a position that's new to them."
Asked about his maturity improving, as Sarver went through a learning curve in his ownership era, he responded: "Over time, you learn the business and get better at it. There is no substitute for experience — learning everything from evaluating players to understanding how trades work to agents to dealing with coaches to dealing with fans and sponsors. It's just experience."
Sarver wouldn't describe in two words what type of sports owner he is now, but he said he's grown in evaluating and recruiting key people to his franchise.
"Professional sports is humbling for successful businesspeople," Sarver said. "Most people get into a position to own a franchise because they've had success in other things they've done and their success rate is probably better than 50[%] or 60%. But in sports, we have to figure out another way, because only half the teams win every night. It's not a business you get in and be right 99% of the time."
The job isn't done, though. Returning to the playoffs will make the spotlight even bigger for Sarver and the Suns. But the championship window is open again, and Jones and Rowley said the franchise is prepared and aligned on its culture.
"Nobody has a crystal ball," Rowley said. "But if you look at the people we have on the team, and most importantly, you look at the culture that's been built here — when I look at the success we're having now, I feel like we're just scratching the surface. We have the opportunity to have something sustainable."
Disclosure: CNBC parent Comcast and NBC Sports are investors in FanDuel.
Highlights Dallas edged out OKC in Game 6 with a single point, advancing to the West Finals. A controversial foul from SGA on a three-...
