Category: Basketball

In a game where Paul George delivered a team-high 34 points, frustration marred the Los Angeles Clippers’ encounter with the New Orleans Pelicans, with the star player expressing discontent with the officiating.

Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times reported George’s sentiments, revealing the player’s ongoing frustration with the referees.

Having already faced fines this season for criticizing officiating, George voiced his displeasure, saying, “It’s frustrating for a guy who constantly gets hit, whether it’s jump shots, attacking a basket.”

George’s frustration comes after earning only three free-throw attempts during the game. He emphasized the challenges he faces.

“It is just frustrating,” he said. “It’s deeper than what honestly I can answer to be honest because if I answer it, I get fined for it. And it continues. It’s a continuous thing that happens.

“So honestly, quite frankly, I don’t know honestly what else to do. You try to be aggressive to go make plays and I guess you got to be perfect.”

Monaco (6-4) orchestrated a thrilling turnaround, ending their two-game losing streak in the EuroLeague with a breathtaking performance that saw Jaron Blossomgame’s heroic put-back slam secure a 77-75 victory over Baskonia (5-5), disrupting the latter’s four-game winning streak under new head coach Dusko Ivanovic.

Blossomgame’s stunning play unfolded with just 2 seconds left on the clock, delivering a remarkable conclusion to a closely contested game and halting Baskonia’s ascent.

The matchup remained intensely competitive throughout, with Monaco surging into a 12-point lead in the final quarter.

However, Baskonia mounted a fierce comeback, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish. Markus Howard seemed to force overtime with a three-pointer just 6 seconds before the buzzer, but Blossomgame’s game-winning slam dashed those hopes.

Mike James emerged as a driving force for Monaco, exacting revenge on his former team with an impressive stat line of 28 points, 5 assists, and 8 rebounds.

Alpha Diallo provided crucial support, and John Brown contributed 8 points and 8 rebounds to secure the win.

Baskonia’s efforts were led by Howard’s 18 points, with Vanja Marinkovic adding 15 points and Tadas Sedekerskis contributing 13.

The Los Angeles Lakers (9-7) are facing potential challenges as both of their star players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, find themselves on the injury report ahead of a crucial road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (8-7).

In a concerning update for Lakers fans, the injury report outlines that Davis is probable with a left adductor injury and a hip spasm, while James is listed as questionable due to a left calf contusion.

The Cavaliers are dealing with their own injury concerns. Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain. Meanwhile, Isaac Okoro is also questionable with a left knee issue, and Ty Jerome is out with a right ankle sprain.

The Lakers are navigating a challenging period with injuries to key players, including Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent. Each of them is dealing with various injuries, further complicating the team’s lineup.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram led the New Orleans Pelicans (9-7) to a 116-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (6-8), putting an end to the Clippers’ three-game winning streak.

Williamson showcased his dominance with a season-high 32 points, while Ingram added 30, marking a triumphant conclusion to the Pelicans’ group play in the NBA In-Season Tournament.

The Pelicans, now 3-1 in West Group B play, demonstrated resilience and control, especially in the final quarter, as they secured their third consecutive win and extended their overall winning streak to five out of the last six games.

Despite a formidable effort from Paul George, who scored 34 points, and contributions from Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard (20 points each), the Clippers couldn’t withstand the Pelicans’ offensive prowess.

Although the Clippers made a late surge, cutting the deficit to 114-110, Williamson’s decisive putback layup with 34.1 seconds left solidified the Pelicans’ win.

Isaiah Canaan’s EuroLeague career soared with a 25-point performance, propelling Olympiacos Piraeus to a commanding 89-72 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas at home.

Olympiacos secured its fourth straight EuroLeague win, reaching a 6-4 record, while Zalgiris fell to 4-6.

Canaan’s 3-pointer at 84-66 with 2:44 left sealed Olympiacos’ triumph, thwarting any hopes of a Zalgiris comeback.

The Reds maintained dominance in shooting, starting 2-11 and finishing 15-29.

Alec Peters contributed 22 points with a 4-5 shooting record, and Thomas Walkup added 14 points with 4-7 triples.

Zalgiris, led by Keenan Evans with 21 points, trailed 43-31 at halftime against Olympiacos.

Despite a balanced first period, they couldn’t match up to Olympiacos’ overall offensive strength.

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Isaiah Canaan has career high to lead Olympiacos past Zalgiris #EuroLeague https://t.co/6BMid273lh

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) November 24, 2023

Damion Lee, the Phoenix Suns’ wing player recovering from right knee surgery last month, is currently reliant on crutches.

However, Coach Frank Vogel mentioned on Thursday that Lee will be discontinuing their use shortly.

When Lee underwent the knee surgery, the Suns didn’t provide a clear timeline for his recovery, promising updates as needed.

Despite inquiries on Thursday about a potential return in December or January, Coach Vogel couldn’t provide specific details.

“This year hopefully though,” Vogel said, referring to the 2023/24 season.

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ICYMI: Phoenix hopes to get Damion Lee back this season, plus more notes on the Suns: https://t.co/HhClbAkWk5

— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 25, 2023

The NBA is investigating accusations against Josh Giddey, the Thunder Oklahoma City guard. A league representative confirmed this to The Post on Friday.

When questioned about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, Giddey chose not to provide any comment on Friday. These claims emerged on social media on Wednesday night.

“I understand the question obviously, but no further comment right now,” Giddey told reporters, who pressed him repeatedly. “I get the question guys, I completely understand you want to know about it, but just for right now, I don’t have anything to say.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault gave a similar response when the subject was brought up during Friday’s practice.

“Personal matter,” he said. “I have no comment on that and that will be my answer on anything related.”

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NBA looking into allegations against Thunder guard Josh Giddey https://t.co/cxXDZb5LOM pic.twitter.com/hFfZmtGZsP

— New York Post (@nypost) November 24, 2023

This week on the Vizion Podcast, Kai Jones talked about ending his Hornets stint, expressing love for Charlotte but also the belief that a fresh start might be best.

Jones attributes his release to concerns from the Hornets about his social media activity and sleep patterns. The 22-year-old, dealing with personal challenges like the death of his great-grandmother, resisted when the team suggested speaking to a therapist.

“At this time, I’m stubborn, I’m like, ‘Bro, I do not want to see a therapist. I just want to meditate and clear my head and use my intuition to figure out my own issues,’” Jones said. “They’re like, ‘No, you should go to a therapist.’”

Despite eventually meeting with a therapist, Jones felt the sessions weren’t beneficial. When the Hornets asked him to skip training camp, he realized his time with the team was ending and requested a trade.

“(Hornets general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) tells me I’m not allowed to do training camp,” Jones said. “When he tells me that, that was when I was like, ‘Yo, I’m off of this team.’ How can I play here? They’re not letting me do training camp. They’re not allowing me to try out for my position, right? So I’m upset, I’m like, ‘Yo, I just wanna leave now. I’m gonna leave.’”

Jones requested a trade, but Hornets’ Kupchak claimed he wouldn’t have much trade value. Disagreeing, Jones was waived instead. Now a free agent, he’s spoken to multiple teams post his Charlotte exit.

“Right now I’m just meeting with teams, they’re trying to get to know me better, kind of analyzing my character,” Jones said. “I think the biggest thing for me is if I want to take it somewhere else in life and be more successful than I ever have been, I’ve gotta work harder than I ever have, be more detailed than I ever have, be more consistent than I ever have, and be stronger in my will, in my head space, and (physically) than I ever have.”

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Kai Jones Discusses Hornets Exit, Says He’s Meeting With Teams https://t.co/K32rQlhJBi pic.twitter.com/R5GDjM2EF7

— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 24, 2023

Once again, Shane Larkin showcased his exceptional performance in a spectacular season, leaving Partizan Mozzart Bet to experience the impact firsthand.

With an impressive 27 points, eight assists, and a Player Impact Rating (PIR) of 38, Larkin guided Anadolu Efes to a 100-94 triumph over Partizan in Istanbul.

This victory elevated the Turkish team’s record to 5-5, while Partizan from Belgrade slipped to 4-6.

Larkin’s clutch performance included scoring 12 crucial points in the final 10 minutes, with his two three-pointers in the last two and a half minutes playing a decisive role in securing the win.

With Larkin’s pivotal contribution, Anadolu Efes widened the gap to 96-89 with 47 seconds remaining, sealing the fate of Partizan.

Contributing to the success, Darius Thompson followed with 18 points, and Will Clyburn and Ante Zizic each added 12 points.

Tyrique Jones also reached double digits with 11 points, while Derek Willis chipped in 10 points for the winning side.

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Larkin leads Anadolu Efes past Partizan in thrilling encounter #EuroLeague https://t.co/2dJSMLNImf

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) November 24, 2023

Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Scott Brooks is super impressed with rookie forward Toumani Camara.

(via Portland Trail Blazers Docuseries: The Trail):

“The first thing that stands out about Tou is, man, who is this guy? He competes every second of the game. He’s a good defender with great instincts. He’s an offensive rebounder. Shot’s not broke, it’s going to continue to improve. He has the makings of a really good small forward in this league.”