NBA teams were 0-13,884 in the last 20 seasons when trailing by at least nine with 35 or fewer seconds remaining, per
@ESPNStatsInfo
.
Luka Doncic and the Mavs pulled off a miracle.
Luka Doncic says the official scorer got this wrong calling it a missed layup and putback dunk for Dorian Finney-Smith. “That was a pass … I’m not going to [attempt] a layup and not touch the rim.”
An email from Mark Cuban to Mavs employees informing them of a plan to pay approximately $35M in bonuses in the wake of selling a majority stake of the franchise:
Mavs 77, Clippers 27 at the half. Per
@ESPNStatsInfo
, that's the biggest halftime deficit in an NBA game during the shot-clock era, which started in 1954-55.
Russell Westbrook: “Pat Bev trick y’all, man, like he playing defense. He don’t guard nobody, man. He just running around, doing nothing.” Made sure to note that James Harden scored 47 tonight.
Mark Cuban confirmed that he picked up Delonte West today at a Dallas gas station and is working with West’s family to try to help the homeless former NBA player get his life back on track. First reported by
@TMZ
.
Adam Silver on Ja Morant: “We’ve uncovered a fair amount of additional information. We probably could have brought it to a head now, but we’ve made the decision that it would be unfair to these players and these teams to announce that decision in the middle of this series.”
James Harden says Rockets are "just not good enough ... I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed."
Filed to ESPN — Sources: Mavs plan to release J.J. Barea on Thursday. Mark Cuban knew this move was likely when Barea signed a 1-year, $2.6M deal last week but wanted to reward him for his impact over 11 years with Mavs. Barea, 36, still hopes to play in NBA this season.
Steve Kerr: “When are we going to do something? I’m so tired of coming up here offering condolences to the devastated families. I’m so tired of moments of silence. Enough.” He calls out senators to take action. “We can’t get numb to this.”
ESPN story on Gregg Popovich wrapping up his pregame media session with a passionate, 9-minute speech lobbying for gun control and calling out “cowardly legislators who are selfish”:
Tee Morant to Donovan Mitchell: “Y’all didn’t have to show us love like that. ... That’s why I hope the Jazz win the championship.”
Mitchell told ESPN, “For me, it was just the ultimate sign of respect.”
ESPN story:
Gregg Popovich asked whether any of us were carrying guns at the end of his pregame media chat.
"I just wondered because we have a governor and lieutenant governor and an attorney general that made it easier to have more guns. That was a response to our kids getting murdered.”
Rockets point guard Kevin Porter Jr. lost his temper during a heated halftime discussion and didn’t return to the court, leaving the Toyota Center during the second half of tonight's loss to the Nuggets, sources told
@wojespn
and me.
ESPN story coming soon.
Highest-scoring triple-doubles this season:
44 -- James Harden
42 -- Luka Doncic
41 -- Luka Doncic
39 -- Luka Doncic
39 -- LeBron James
38 -- Luka Doncic
38 -- Luka Doncic
35 -- Luka Doncic
33 -- Luka Doncic
Source: Rockets are working with NBA office to review video of James Harden at a strip club. If the video circulating on social media is verified to be recent, it is a violation of league's COVID protocols, which would put Harden's availability for tonight's opener in jeopardy.
Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
And Brooks had plenty more to say.
Joe Ingles last week, in anticipation of being traded: "If I’m able to get someone back that would help them make a push for the end of the year, I understand that. I’m not going to sit here and be sour and upset."
Mike D’Antoni coughed before his pregame media availability, so I asked if he caught the illness that Melo has. “It’s going around,” he said. “And you’re not funny.”
Mark Cuban says the NBA has told teams that they can continue to practice. He adds that players have been told they should not have visitors from out of town.
Luka Doncic asked security to eject this Suns fan, who was sitting two rows behind midcourt press row. The comment the fan made that drew Doncic’s wrath: “Luka, you’re tired! Get your ass on the treadmill!”
Undrafted Dallas F Dorian Finney-Smith, fresh off agreeing to an extension worth about $55 million: “My mama worked at Church’s my first few years in the league. I tried to get her to quit. I’m glad she can just kick up her feet and chill.”
Luka Doncic’s reaction to surpassing Michael Jordan for longest 20-5-5 streak since ABA/NBA merger: “I think it’s a little bit too much stats. You can’t compare nobody to Michael Jordan.”
Mark Cuban tells ESPN that he will not consider a coaching change. "Let me tell you how I look at coaching. You don't make a change to make a change. Unless you have someone that you know is much, much, much better, the grass is rarely greener on the other side."
Rick Carlisle, asked by
@MacEngelProf
if he believes he is still the right coach to lead the Mavericks after 10 seasons without winning a series: "That's a question you'll have to ask Mark (Cuban). I obviously do, but I'd text him and see what he has to say about it."
Luka Doncic, whose Mavs are 7th in the West: "I don't understand the idea of the play-in [tournament]. You play 72 games to get in the playoffs, then maybe you lose two in a row and you're out of the playoffs. I don't see the point of that."
Rick Carlisle: "Disgrace" that ESPN published LaVar Ball ripping Luke Walton. “They should look at their sources and do a better job of determining whether they have any merit or any validity. Or are they just blowhard loudmouths?”
Luka Doncic on this between-the-legs dime in OT: "I don't know why I did it. I just did it. I saw it, I don't know. I didn't think about it before -- right in the moment."
Kristaps Porzingis probably will not play for the Mavericks this season as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered a year ago, Dallas owner Mark Cuban told ESPN.
Luka Doncic: "Obviously, Klay and Steph are incredible offensive guys, but I think the key to the Warriors’ team is Draymond. He’s just unbelievable. I really respect him and everything he does."
That includes trash talk. "That��s the fun of the game. I love that part."
NBA spokesman Mike Bass: "The NBA commenced an investigation today into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ roster decisions and game conduct with respect to last night’s Chicago Bulls-Mavericks game, including the motivations behind those actions.”
Luka Doncic joined LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to score 40+ in triple-doubles as 20-year-olds. Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Oscar Robertson are the only players to put up such lines at age 21. The kid is consistently in historically elite company.
Sources: Mavs are waiving Kemba Walker, whose salary would have become guaranteed Saturday. Two-way G McKinley Wright IV has earned minutes and Mavs also want to leave path for rookie Jaden Hardy to get playing time. Walker had 32-point game for Mavs and was ultimate pro.
John Wall called JJ Barea “just a little midget trying to get mad.” Barea responds by saying he finally has someone in the NBA he doesn’t like. “I don’t think his teammates like him, either.”
To be clear, the Rockets aren't searching for a starting center. They're playing small-ball and rolling with PJ Tucker at the 5. But they need a big to throw at Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, etc. in the playoffs.
Sources: Jordan Bell is also headed to Houston, as first reported by
@Jonathan_Feigen
. Rockets will continue being aggressive in search for a center, either via trade or in buyout market.
Players to score 40+ in a playoff game and win it with a buzzer-beater (per
@bball_ref
):
Michael Jordan
LeBron James
Kawhi Leonard
Damian Lillard
And now Luka Doncic.
Luka Doncic on All-Star voting results: “I didn’t expect that I was going to start this game. I know that maybe [Damian] Lillard deserved it more than me.”
Mike D'Antoni, asked if new Nets coach Steve Nash was involved in game planning as a Suns point guard: "The game plan was get it to Steve and, 'Steve, you figure it out,' so yeah, he was pretty involved."
Source: Rockets big man Christian Wood is expected to return tonight vs. Warriors. Houston is 0-17 since Wood, the Rockets’ leading scorer and rebounder, went down with a sprained right ankle.
Russell Westbrook was Ja Morant's favorite player growing up. "I still feel like he’s highly disrespected," Morant told ESPN. "People take his play for granted."
Westbrook: "I'm going to keep busting everybody's ass."
Rockets source: Stance on James Harden has not changed. Houston hopes to be competitive with him this season and does not envision a scenario where Harden would be traded before the opener.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas said James Harden was not at practice today. "We felt that it was best for the group and best for James not to come to practice."
Luka Doncic is a strong supporter of Mavs assistant coach Jamahl Mosley. “He’s got the things that are needed for a head coach," Doncic said after Mosely's one-game fill-in for a win over the Knicks this season. "He can be the head coach, for sure.”
The Mavericks will not seek any compensation from a team that hires Rick Carlisle despite the coach resigning with two years remaining on his contract, sources told ESPN. Mark Cuban does not want to complicate Carlisle’s quest for a new opportunity.
Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant is a ruthless competitor who goes home after games and watches the film with his mom and dad. My story on the Grizzlies' 20-year-old highlight reel and rising star:
Rockets were looking to move Christian Wood to clear playing time for Alperen Sengun and likely the No. 3 overall pick, whether that’s Paolo Banchero or Chet Holmgren. They pounced on chance to acquire a first-round pick (and no long-term salary) in the process.
Ja Morant says his status for Game 2 is “in jeopardy.” He was downtrodden and not even able to use his right hand to undo a balled-up pair of socks. “Feels like it’s one thing after another.”
Maxi Kleber: "This is the playoffs, so I’m going to try to contest a shot. I don’t care about [being on a highlight]. You don’t try to give up easy baskets. ... I would do it every time again."
Source: Gerald Green has agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal for the veteran’s minimum with the Rockets. Green, a Houston native and fan favorite, will try to make the team during camp after missing last season due to a broken foot.