Cavaliers vs. Warriors: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016-17 Regular Season
January 16th, 2017 by Rob Goldberg No comments »
The Golden State Warriors avenged their Christmas Day loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers to split the season series between the last two NBA champions.
Golden State dominated from the opening tipoff and never trailed en route to a 126-91 win Monday night.
The Warriors' lights-out shooting—including this deep shot by Stephen Curry, via NBA on TNT—led to a 29-point advantage at halftime:
Though the Cavaliers played better in the second half, it wasn't enough to catch up on the scoreboard. Cleveland fell to 29-11 on the season, while Golden State improved to 35-6.
Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post pointed out a number of reasons for the blowout:
The play of the Warriors' Big Four was another. Draymond Green earned his third triple-double of the year with 11 points, 11 assists, 13 rebounds and five blocks.
It was also a solid all-around night for Curry, who finished with 20 points, 11 assists and four steals.
Kevin Durant ...
Kevin Love Injury: Updates on Cavaliers Star’s Back and Return
January 16th, 2017 by Joseph Zucker No comments »
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is dealing with back soreness that caused him to exit Monday's matchup against the Golden State Warriors early.
It is currently unclear when he'll return to the court.
Continue for updates.
Love Injury Details Revealed
Monday, Jan. 16
At the start of the second half, Love was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to lower-back soreness, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Love scored three points and grabbed three rebounds in 16 minutes before exiting in the second quarter.
Love's defensive stand against Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals almost single-handedly turned around the narrative on his tenure with the Cavaliers.
Love remained productive during the first two years he spent in Cleveland, but the three-time All-Star failed to match his numbers from his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Buoyed by the Cavs' title and his role in making it happen, Love has returned to his old self. ...
Draymond Green Clotheslines LeBron James, Receives Flagrant Foul
January 16th, 2017 by Joseph Zucker No comments »
LeBron James and Draymond Green added another chapter to their ongoing rivalry during Monday night's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.
Green received a flagrant foul after running into James at midcourt:
Green thought James embellished the contact and mimicked a flopping motion while walking away from the play:
Although James got the better of his adversary in that moment, Green and his Warriors teammates had the clear advantage at halftime. Golden State entered the locker room with a 78-49 lead at the end of the first half.Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Anthony Davis Injury: Updates on Pelicans Star’s Hip, Thumb and Return
January 16th, 2017 by Joseph Zucker No comments »
The New Orleans Pelicans announced big man Anthony Davis was doubtful to return to Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers because he suffered injuries to his right hip and left thumb.
Continue for updates.
X-Rays on Davis Negative
Monday, Jan. 16
The Pelicans noted Davis was fouled on a drive and landed "hard on his back." The team added that X-rays were negative on the star big man.
Ever since he entered the league, Davis' talent has rarely been in doubt. His durability, on the other hand, remains a question mark. The three-time All-Star never played more than 68 games in his first four years in the league.
The Pelicans shut Davis down in March last season as a result of a torn labrum and a left knee injury.
The constant injury problems are a major concern for New Orleans. The franchise has rightly staked its future in the 23-year-old, but in order for Davis to truly ...
Steven Adams Injury: Updates on Thunder Center’s Concussion and Return
January 16th, 2017 by Adam Wells No comments »
Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams will miss Monday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers after being diagnosed with a concussion, according to ESPN.com's Royce Young.
Continue for updates.
Adams' Status Remains in Doubt for Warriors Game on Wednesday
Monday, Jan. 16
Adams played only 20 minutes in Oklahoma City's 122-118 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday after exiting early.
The Oklahoman's Erik Horne reported the 23-year-old big man is in the NBA's concussion protocol and will have to clear it before he's available to play Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors.
Adams has slowly evolved into one of the most important players on the Thunder roster. He is averaging a career-high 12 points per game, while his 7.5 rebounds per game match his career best. He also ranks third on the Thunder with .154 win shares per 48 minutes, per Basketball-Reference.com.
The conversation around Oklahoma City this season has been dominated by Russell Westbrook, which is understandable ...
Nerlens Noel Injury: Updates on 76ers Star’s Ankle and Return
January 16th, 2017 by Rob Goldberg No comments »
Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel has been sidelined with another injury, this time a sprained ankle, the team announced Monday.
Continued for updates.
Noel Ruled Out vs. Milwaukee
Monday, Jan. 16
A left ankle sprain will keep Noel off the court for Monday's battle against the Milwaukee Bucks. He suffered the injury in Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards but did not leave the game.
Injuries have been a problem for him throughout his short career. He missed his entire first season in the NBA while recovering from a torn ACL in college. He then missed 22 games over the next two years with various issues.
The problems continued into this year, as knee surgery sidelined the 22-year-old at the start of the season.
It took some time for him to earn a spot in the rotation, but he has since found his role. Noel is averaging 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 13 games since ...
Injuries Having the Biggest Impact on the 2016-17 NHL Season
January 16th, 2017 by Lyle Richardson No comments »
Midway through the NHL's 2016-17 season, several notable players have suffered serious injuries. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, losing captain Steven Stamkos to a knee injury is adversely affecting their performance. Considered a Stanley Cup contender when the season began, the Lightning currently sit outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Lightning aren't the only club struggling with the absence of an injured star. Some teams, such as the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, have had key players sidelined since the season began. Others, such as the Nashville Predators, could face playing the remainder of this season without one of their top talents.
This slideshow examines the injuries having the biggest impact so far upon this NHL season. We'll list the sidelined players, their importance to their respective teams and how their absences have affected their rosters. Feel free to weigh in with your views in the comments section. Begin Slideshow
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Odds, Analysis, NBA Pick
January 16th, 2017 by OddsShark.com No comments »
The Golden State Warriors (34-6) will try to snap a four-game series losing streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers (29-10) as solid home favorites Monday.
The top teams in each conference will meet for the second time this season. The Cavaliers upset the Warriors 109-108 as 3.5-point home underdogs this past Christmas after rallying back from a 3-1 deficit to top Golden State for their first league championship in the NBA Finals last June.
Point spread: The Warriors opened as 7.5-point favorites; the total is at 226, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark (line updates and matchup report).
NBA pick, via OddsShark computer: 116-106 Warriors (NBA picks on every game)
Why the Cavaliers can cover the spread
Cleveland has Golden State's number right now in more ways than one, going a perfect 4-0 against the spread in winning the past four meetings. The Cavaliers have been underdogs in three of those games, holding the Warriors to ...
Kevin Garnett Has Found the Perfect Pupil in Trash-Talking DeAndre Jordan
January 16th, 2017 by Josh Martin No comments »
LOS ANGELES — DeAndre Jordan doesn't miss much on the defensive end—not a dribbler attacking the rim, not a cutter looking for a lob and definitely not a Los Angeles Clippers teammate slipping on an assignment.
If you let a guy drive by you or don't rotate to Jordan's man when he steps up to help you, "DJ's going to let you know about it, for sure," Austin Rivers said, "and you'll be better for it."
And if you are there in time? If you do your job? Well, don't expect a cookie from Jordan, unless Doc Rivers brings over the jar.
During the Clippers' 98-86 win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 8, the Clippers head coach insisted Jordan thank J.J. Redick for having his back when boxing out Hassan Whiteside.
"DJ, he was there, so tell him 'Thank you,'" Rivers instructed. "TELL HIM!"
So Jordan obliged.
"I blew him a kiss," he said. "I think ...
How New York Knicks Should Address Each Area of Need at the NBA Trade Deadline
January 16th, 2017 by Zach Buckley No comments »
The New York Knicks have the NBA's 11th-highest payroll and ninth-lowest net efficiency rating.
That should make them an active participant of the 2016-17 trade season, though it's tough to tell which role they'll play at the deadline.
If they're buying, their wish list will be extensive. Most of their needs revolve around their 25th-ranked defense, but they'd take better ball-movers and steady scorers if they could find them.
If New York sells, it could be one of the few clubs—if not the only one—offering a plug-and-play All-Star. If the front office has elevated Kristaps Porzingis atop the internal pecking order, it must consider demolishing today's core for better assets tomorrow, and that means moving Carmelo Anthony.
Only the Knicks know where they'll turn, so we've provided blueprints for both contingencies. With the Feb. 23 deadline looming just over the horizon, here's how the Knicks can work either a quick reshuffle or a long-term ...