#oklahoma-city-thunder

#oklahoma-city-thunder

The Toronto Raptors are going to be faced with a very daunting West Coast swing.On top of the fact that the 32-33 team will have to take on both LA teams in their building, they will face off against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets twice in four games.The Raptors could go into eighth place in the conference, which would allow them the benefit of losing one of the play-in games and still staying alive, if they end up performing well on this trip.

Hey, there's a new bench boss north of the border.Sorry this is a bit late, I was watching the new Spider-Man.It was great.The Raptors have hired Darko Rajaković as the leader of the next era.Let's give you the rundown really quickly:


Not that this is a shock, but Darko's spoken ideals on offense run somewhat counter to how the Raptors have played the past couple years.5 players (quick decision makers), teamwork, in pursuit of "beautiful basketball" Scottie Barnes touches going UP https://t.co/IxGOzcGAOG-

With just ten games left in the regular season heading into Wednesday night, the Lakers started off their final stretch on the right foot, taking care of the Phoenix Suns 122-111.The Lakers are now 36-37, and back in play-in positioning in a Western Conference race that's as tight as ever.Prior to the game, Darvin Ham hinted he had "something up his sleeve" regarding the starting lineup.

Friday's ESPN doubleheader is tonight, folks!Time is running out to get your snack tray in order.There are two superb games on the docket, first with the Miami Heat (30-27) facing the Milwaukee Bucks(41-17), and then the Oklahoma City Thunder (28-29) taking on the Phoenix Suns (32-28).These are four professional basketball teams and both games should be competitive late into their fourth quarters.

Everything changes when Kyrie Irving plays like a superstar.Irving exploded for a season-high 48 points in Brooklyn's 117-106 win against the Utah Jazz on Friday.He is now the Nets' all-time franchise leader in games with at least 45 points scored.And it was a welcome sight given Irving's offensive struggles since Durant exited the rotation with a sprained MCL.

D'Angelo Russell was the latest Laker to suffer an injury, exiting Thursday's win against the Warriors with a right ankle sprain, proving not even newly-acquired Lakers are immune to the inescapable fate of suffering an injury at some point this season.Russell suffered the injury during the first quarter of the game, and was quickly declared out for the rest of the night.

The Lakers were without LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell on Wednesday night but still found a way to win a critical game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-117.Scoring was a struggle at times for L.A. but the team spread the ball around and had a balanced attack with six players finishing in double digits.

The constant concern about Anthony Davis' health led many fans to have a small panic attack on Wednesday afternoon when he was unexpectedly listed as out for the team's game against the Thunder.For many reasons, the Lakers needed AD for the contest, perhaps none more important than the simple lack of talent available with both LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell out.

After missing the last three games with an ankle sprain he suffered less than nine minutes into the fourth game in that stretch, it sounds like Lakers starting point guard D'Angelo Russell will miss at least one more contest.Following the team's undermanned road win vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, Russell told Dave McMenamin of ESPN that he will not play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday:

D'Angelo Russell will miss a fourth straight game Friday against Minnesota because of his right ankle sprain, Russell told ESPN.

With massive postseason implications on the line Friday night, the Lakers lived up to the challenge, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-11 in the penultimate game of their current homestand.The win not only moves the Lakers to a tie for seventh place in the standings, but also, gives them an important tiebreaker now over the Thunder.

LeBron James held the microphone while addressing the media Sunday before the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, focusing on what's ahead for the Lakers."It's 23 of the most important games of my career for a regular season," James said."And, it's the type of mindset that I have and I hope the guys will have coming off the break."

The Lakers' goal is to finish in the top six in the Western Conference and earn an automatic spot in the playoffs.Now, if the Lakers finish in the top 10 and are forced to compete in the NBA's play-in tournament, they would accept that too.But after they had their first practice Wednesday following the All-Star break, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said the team has higher aspirations.

Midway through a win over the Dallas Mavericks that will go down as one of their best victories of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers got a bit of a scare when LeBron James fell to the ground and grabbed his right foot/ankle area, and appeared to be yelling "I heard a pop" when lip reading from the broadcast.

The hits just keep coming for the Los Angeles Lakers.After news leaked that LeBron James likely won't return for at least two weeks, head coach Darvin Ham said it's unlikely that trade deadline acquisition D'Angelo Russell will play in the team's next two games.While speaking with reporters before the Lakers take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, Ham said that Russell would likely miss the team's Wednesday matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in addition to the Grizzlies game:

Darvin Ham says that it's doubtful that D'Angelo Russell (ankle) will play on either of the final two games on this road trip in Memphis today or Oklahoma City tomorrow.-

The Toronto Raptors might be talking a big game about using their first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on a player that fits in with the versatility and switching they have traditionally sought out, but the need for shooting is so desperate that the club might forgo that mindset and draft the best offensive player available.

Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is a Neo-Impressionist masterpiece, a subtle story of modernity and degeneracy, urban and rural divide, and pet monkeys.It is also a pointillist painting, made up by uniform dots (anywhere from 200,000 to millions, depending on where you look) that each contribute to the story.

A life outside the Play In Tournament is slipping away from the Toronto Raptors, but there's still upside potential.One game back of the Atlanta Hawks, they still have a chance to host one of the play in games.It's not the most inspiring goal, but something small for the bulletin board nonetheless.The Oklahoma City Thunder come into Toronto tonight with similar circumstances, though a bit more upside exists.

Days after Brad Stevens said he wanted experience on Joe Mazzulla's Boston Celtics coaching staff, he went out and go it, but what is next?Of the seven coaches that were on the Boston Celtics staff during the 2022 NBA Finals run, only two remain standing.According to reports from the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn, Ime Udoka has taken three of the C's coaches, Aaron Miles, Ben Sullivan, and Mike Moser as he seeks to rebuild the Houston Rockets back into a competent basketball team.

If the Nets hope to avoid the Play-In Tournament and retain their standing as an uncontested playoff team, they're going to have to solve their rebounding issue.It's the Achilles heel for a team still clinging to postseason aspirations in the aftermath of the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades.The Nets can get stops and, at times, generate quality offense - but their lack of true depth at the five and true size in the front court leaves them susceptible to being outworked on the glass.

If you are like me and absorb news through images first and foremost, here's a short visual summary of what you may have missed this past week - news from California and West Coast commissioned by Los Angeles Times.:::
Following the Feb. 6 devastating Turkey and Syria earthquake, search-and-rescue teams from 68 countries traveled to the region to assist with rescue and other efforts to help those affected by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

The Washington Wizards finally have their general manager.According to reports, the Wizards are bringing in OKC executive Will Dawkins to work under new president Michael Winger as the general manager.Dawkins has worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a variety of front-office positions since 2009, including as a video coordinator, scout, and vice president of basketball operations.

Michael Winger, the general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers, has been hired as the president of Monumental Basketball.Winger has experience working in the front offices of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers as well.On a special "emergency" episode of Bleav in Wizards, Dan Favale of the Hardwood Knocks podcast and Bleacher Report joined me to break down all aspects of the hire.

Klay Thompson's consistent play throughout this season has made him an essential player in this tense first-round series between the Warriors and the Kings.And it could manifest another Game 6 Klay moment.Thompson played in foul trouble throughout most of Game 5 and finished with 25 points, second only to Stephen Curry's 31.

For the first time in NBA history, we could have all four teams from the state of California qualify for the playoffs.And according to the sports books, it is the Golden State Warriors who are the favorites of the bunch to advance the furthest in the post season.The pack is shockingly led by the Sacramento Kings.

Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (26) is restrained after being called for a technical foul during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in New York.BROOKLYN Things in Nets World could be better these days.The Nets dropped their fourth consecutive game on Tuesday night and are dangerously close to falling into a play-in round spot with another date with the Cavaliers set for Thursday.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Josh Giddey had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-107 on Tuesday night for their sixth win in seven games.

The Boston Celtics acquired center Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Justin Jackson and a pair of second-round picks, the teams announced Thursday.Muscala, who is averaging 6.2 points per game and shooting 39.4% on over 3.3 attempts per game, gives the Celtics valuable depth behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III -- something Boston has been looking to add in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

When LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday night, a ton of discussion in the aftermath had nothing to do with the celebration of the monumental achievement.Instead, a ton of speculation and chatter online had to do with the lack of it, from his Lakers co-star Anthony Davis specifically.

The Lakers fought hard sans-LeBron and D'Angelo Russell on Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, but it wasn't enough.After a slow first half, Ja Morant caught fire in third, scoring 28 points and ending the night with 39 total to hand L.A. their first loss in four games, ultimately falling 121-109.

The Spurs had the best player on the floor.With Kevin Durant (MCL sprain) out and Kyrie Irving (right calf soreness) scratched hours ahead of tipoff, San Antonio's star forward Keldon Johnson erupted for a career-high scoring night to hand the Nets a 106-98 loss last Tuesday night.The Nets have now lost three straight games in the aftermath of the right knee injury projected to sideline Durant another three weeks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are stomping into Scotiabank arena tonight to face off against the Toronto Raptors for the second time this season and this time there is plenty at stake for both of these teams.OKC sits at a record of 34-35 and are currently the 9th seed so they are looking to get every win they can so they can rise up in the standings and the same can be said for Toronto who sits at a record of 33-36 and is also the 9th seed currently.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves just conducted a trade to send former Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook was traded to Utah.But what does this have to do with the Wizards?Chris Haynes from Bleacher Report reported that the Jazz will likely buy out Westbrook's contract.

We all remember where we were and what it felt like when we first heard the "I'm Coming Home" promo announcing Carmelo Anthony's return to New York and joining the Knicks.That was over a decade ago, and since Melo's time with the Knicks, the franchise fell into despair as soon as he left.Not because he was still the MVP candidate he'd been in 2013 or the single Knicks bright spot in over two decades, but because without his aura and scoring, the team simply sucked.

There is optimism that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will return from his left leg injury during the team's three-game road trip next week, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.Curry has not played since Feb. 4, when he suffered partial tears to his superior tibiofibular ligaments and interosseous membrane as well as a contusion to his left lower leg when the knee collided with one of Dallas Mavericks point guard McKinley Wright IV's knees.

OKLAHOMA CITY If and when the apocalypse comes, Jordan Poole hopes to be surrounded by his cats.Short of that, he'd settle for Andre Iguodala.But Iguodala might not even be available for the Warriors' next game, let alone an apocalyptic crisis.Iguodala and Draymond Green are listed as probable for Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There could be one of the most significant events of the entire NBA season taking place when the Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles on Tuesday, as Austin Reaves said at practice on Monday that he will likely return to the team's lineup for that matchup.What, did you think I was talking about something else?

Austin Reaves said he "feels great", and expects to be probable to play tomorrow vs. OKC after missing the last month and change with a hamstring injury.-

SAN FRANCISCO The Warriors got another win to bring them above .500again but might've lost Stephen Curry in the process.Curry's premature exit from Saturday's game with an injury overshadowed the Warriors' 119-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.Curry is scheduled to get an MRI after he hurt his left leg in a collision with Mavericks guard McKinley Wright IV in the third quarter.

Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett couldn't help but praise Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for putting up MVP-type numbers during the 2022-23 season after he put up 34 points, five assists, and five rebounds in a 101-99 win against the Denver Nuggets on January 22.
Gilgeous-Alexander has had averages this season of 30/5/5, so Sunday night was right on par for the Thunder's first-time All-Star - he hasn't officially been named one this season, but SGA being snubbed would be an all-time gaffe from voters.

This is our GAMETHREAD: Chat live about the game here!The Miami Heat (21-20) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-22) at the FTX Arena tonight in a nationally televised game on TNT.Starters Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and Caleb Martin will all sit out.INACTIVE/INJURIES
Heat


Gabe Vincent, available
Dewayne Dedmon, available
Bam Adebayo, out
Tyler Herro, out
Udonis Haslem, questionable
Caleb Martin, out
Kyle Lowry, out
Nikola Jovic, out
Duncan Robinson, out
Omer Yurtseven, out


Thunder


Chet Holmgren, out
Ousmane Dieng, out
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl , out
Aleksej Pokusevski, out


BROADCAST INFORMATION:


TV: Watch the game live on TNT, Bally Sports Sun or NBA League Pass
Radio: Listen live on KKSE 92.5FM, S: WAQI 710


Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. EST

On a night where the Miami Heat set a single-game NBA record for most free-throws made without a single miss, Jimmy Butler's game-winning three-point play - capped by his 23rd made free-throw of the game - with under 12.9 seconds left punctuated the Heat's 112-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

The Miami Heat came into their most recent game banged up, to say the least.A Tuesday night matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in Miami and on the national television airwaves of TNT nonetheless, the Miami Heat would fight and claw up until the very in to eke out a win.But the result is no fun without the lead-up, one that occurred without four regular starters in the game for the Heat.

The Miami Heat were down a ton of guys coming into their Tuesday night matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.Virtually missing four starters, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, and Kyle Lowry, they would be tasked to get the job done without them.And because a name that's often on the injury report-wasn't for this particular game, Jimmy Butler, you knew it meant a big night for him.

The Miami Heat, and not the NBA, have suspended center Dewayne Dedmon one game without pay for conduct detrimental to the team in lieu of his actions in the first half of Tuesday's one-point win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson reported Wednesday night.Heat suspends Dedmon for one game after consulting with NBA- Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz)
January 12, 2023

Miami's Dewayne Dedmon has been suspended one game, in consultation with the team and NBA, for actions Tuesday night that included knocking a massage gun onto court.-

NEW YORK (AP) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey each scored 28 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.Lu Dort added 22 points for the Thunder, who earned a third straight win to wrap up a road trip to the East and improved to 21-23."It's positive times," Giddey said.

Celtics Trade Targets with 2023 NBA Trade Deadline a Month Away

For the first two months of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Boston Celtics enjoyed a charmed existence atop the entire basketball world.The last month, though, has proved to be anything but charmed.Tuesday night's 150-117 shellacking at the hands of the rebuilding (and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-less) Oklahoma City Thunder dropped Boston to 5-7 over its last dozen outings.

It's been a rough month or so for the Boston Celtics and their fans.Since dominating the Phoenix Suns on a Dec. 8 matchup, Boston has dropped seven of their last 12 games.The recent skid has caused some panic amongst supporters of the 17-time NBA Champions.It sounds silly after last season's Celtics team got off to a 18-21 start before making a run to the NBA Finals, but it's tough not to get frustrated when they lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder by 33 points.

The Washington Wizards dropped their second road game in a row to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.The young Thunder squad played with energy and aggression that the Wiz simply did not match en route to a 127-110 loss.That was evident from the opening tip.After trading baskets early leading to a 7-7 tie at the 8:55 mark, OKC outscored Washington 28-10 for the rest of the first quarter to take a 35-17 lead after 12.