Category Archives: NBA Player News

Amare Stoudemire looking to return to New York Knicks in Game 3

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Amare StoudemireAmare Stoudemire looking to return to New York Knicks in Game 3

New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is expecting Amare Stoudemire to return to the team’s lineup for Game 3 of their series with the Indiana Pacers.

Stoudemire hasn’t played since March 7th due to an injury to his right knee. Amare underwent a minor surgery back on March 11th to clean out some debris in the knee.

He’s been officially ruled out of Games 1 and 2 of the Pacers-Knicks series, but has a good chance playing in Game 3, which will be played a week from Saturday.

Woodson said that Stoudemire will start scrimmaging with the team on Thursday. If his knee holds up, he will partake in scrimmages again on Friday.

Mike Woodson told reporters,

“If he feels fine after Friday, then I think we will play him Saturday.”

There has been definite concern regarding how Stoudemire would fit into New York’s scheme. The Knicks ended the regular season going 17-6, while Stoudemire was sidelined, and they are just coming off of winning their first NBA playoffs series since 2000.

Kenyon Martin has been a solid contributor in place of Stoudemire. Coach Woodson also told reporters that Martin’s minutes would not be affected by Stoudemire’s return. Most likely Stoudemire would take minutes that would normally be given to injured guard Steve Novak.

Woodson has no doubt that the 6’11″ Stoudemire would help the New York Knicks in the paint versus an Indiana team that holds a significant size advantage over them.

Woodson went on about Amare Stoudemire saying,

“If he’s right he can help us a lot. There’s no doubt.”

Stephen Curry does it again, Warriors beat Nuggets for 3-1 series lead

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Stephen CurryStephen Curry does it again, Warriors beat Nuggets for 3-1 series lead

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry put up another spectacle of a performance in Game 4 of his team’s first-round NBA playoffs series versus the Denver Nuggets, as they won by the score of 115-101 Sunday night.

Curry, who injured his ankle during Game 2 of the series, ended up scoring 31 points 10 of 16 shooting, including 6 of 11 from three-point land, while making all five of his free throw attempts. He dropped 22 of those points during the third quarter alone, as he made five of his three-pointers in the period.

Curry dished out seven assists and grabbed three rebounds in the Warriors victory. He also recorded four steals and committed only two turnovers in 33 minutes of playing time.

Stephen Curry was forced to leave the game at the beginning of the final quarter because he was poked in the eye, and he didn’t return with the Golden State Warriors ahead comfortably.

Kevin Durant drops 41 points as Thunder get win in Houston, go up 3-0

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Kevin-DurantKevin Durant drops 41 points as Thunder get win in Houston, go up 3-0

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant played in his first game without teammate and friend Russell Westbrook, who will be sidelined for the remainder of the NBA playoffs after undergoing knee surgery.

Durant knew he was in uncharted territory, however he promised that he’d do whatever it took to carry his team as far as possible.

He started fulfilling that promise Saturday night as Durant dropped 41 points on the Houston Rockets to lift the Thunder to a win in Game 3 by the score of 104-101 as Oklahoma City took a 3-0 series lead.

KD shot 13 of 30 from the field, including 4 of 9 from three-point land, and made 11 of 13 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out four assists in the Thunder victory.

Kevin Durant added two steals, blocked one shot and committed four turnovers in 47 minutes of playing time.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to close out the series in Game 4, which will be played on Monday night.

Al Horford helps Atlanta Hawks beat Indiana Pacers in Game 3

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Al HorfordAl Horford helps Atlanta Hawks beat Indiana Pacers in Game 3

After getting blown out in the first two games of the series, Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford posted a monster double-double to lead his team back from the “dead” to beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their NBA playoffs series by the score of 90-69.

Horford put up 26 points, on 12 of 20 shooting from the field, and grabbed 16 rebounds. He also dished out one assist and made 2 of 4 free throw attempts in the Hawks victory.

Al Horford added two steals, blocked two shots and committed two turnovers in 40 minutes of playing time.

The Atlanta Hawks will now look to even up the series at 2-2 when they play game 4 at home, where they have beaten the Indiana Pacers 12 times in a row dating back to 2006.

Russell Westbrook injury leaves him out indefinitely for Thunder

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Russell Westbrook InjuryRussell Westbrook injury leaves him out indefinitely for Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook injury to his right knee will force him to undergo surgery so the cartilage that is damaged can be repaired. The loss is a huge blow to the Thunder since Westbrook is listed on the team’s injury report as “out indefinitely.”

Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti told reporters Friday that the team is yet to schedule Westbrook’s surgery, and that they would not have an exact timeline on when he would be able to return until after he has gone through with the procedure. The Thunder refuse to rule out Westbrook possibly returning if the team continues to advance in the NBA playoffs, and teammate Kevin Durant said that everyone on the team “hopes” he can comeback and play again this postseason.

Durant went on to say,

“We’re not trying to rush him or bring him back ahead of schedule. We want to make sure he’s healthy and his knee is right. That’s our only concern with it right now. We have to come together as a team and worry about the basketball. All he has to worry about is him getting healthy.”

The Russell Westbrook injury was suffered during Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series versus the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. Rookie guard Patrick Beverley went to steal the ball from Westbrook in the second quarter when his hip collided into Russell’s knee.

Steve Blake injury leaves him out indefinitely for Los Angeles Lakers

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Steve Blake InjurySteve Blake injury leaves him out indefinitely for Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake injury has him listed on the team’s injury report as being “out indefinitely” after an ultrasound revealed a moderate strain in his hamstring on the right side.

Blake was forced to leave Wednesday’s game during the fourth quarter versus the San Antonio Spurs after suffering the injury while attempting to drive the lane. He was helped by teammates off the court, and did not return.

Before the Steve Blake injury, he was posting averages of 14 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists, two steals and 1.5 blocked shots during the NBA playoffs, all on top of shooting nearly 42 percent from beyond the arc.

With Steve Nash is also listed as “doubtful” on the Los Angeles Lakers injury report, after receiving one cortisone shot in his right hip and two epidural injections in his back on Thursday, so look for Darius Morris to start at point guard for LA in Game 3, which will be played Friday night.

Zach Randolph helps Grizzlies back into series with win over Clippers

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Zach RandolphZach Randolph helps Grizzlies back into series with win over Clippers

After two games where he was virtually irrelevant, it was clear that Zach Randolph just needed some home cooking to get his game going again.

Randolph ended up scoring 27 points and pulling down 11 rebounds during Game 3 Thursday night as the Memphis Grizzlies got back into their NBA playoffs series versus the Los Angeles Clippers by winning at home by the score of 94-82.

Z-Bo shot 9 of 18 from the field while making 9 of 10 attempts from the charity stripe. He also dished out two assists in the Grizzlies victory.

Zach Randolph added one steal and committed only one turnover in 37 minutes of playing time. The Memphis Grizzlies will look to even the series at 2-2 on Saturday when they play Game 4.

LeBron James efficient play carries Miami Heat past Bucks in Game 1

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LeBron James EfficientLeBron James efficient play carries Miami Heat past Bucks in Game 1

Miami Heat forward LeBron James efficient play has been prevalent all season long, and it continued in his team’s NBA playoffs opener as they beat the Milwaukee Bucks by the score of 110-87 at home to take 1-0 series lead.

James finished with 27 points on 9 of 11 shooting from the field, including going 1 of 2 from three-point land, while making 8 of 11 free throw attempts. He almost messed around and got a triple-double by pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists in the Heat victory.

LeBron James did commit five turnovers and took the fewest number of shots that he has ever taken in his career during a playoff game, however his efficiency helped the Miami Heat smother the Milwaukee Bucks, who has not won an NBA playoffs season opener since 2001.

Paul George triple double guides Indiana Pacers to Game 1 win

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Paul George Triple DoublePaul George triple double guides Indiana Pacers to Game 1 win

Indiana Pacers guard Paul George triple double that he recorded in his team’s playoff opener lifted his team to a 107-90 win over the Atlanta Hawks to take a 1-0 lead in their NBA playoffs series.

George, coming of the best NBA season of his career, led all scorers with 23 points to go along with 12 assists and 11 rebounds. He shot only 3 of 13 from the field, which included 0 of 5 from beyond the arc, but he, made 17 of 18 from the charity stripe in the Pacers victory.

Paul George triple double was topped off with one steal, one blocked shot and four turnovers in 44 minutes of playing time for the Indiana Pacers.

David Lee injury in Game 1 leaves him out for remained of the season

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David Lee InjuryDavid Lee injury in Game 1 leaves him out for remained of the season

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee injury, which he suffered in his team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, has been diagnosed as a torn right hip flexor, which will sideline him for the rest of the NBA season.

Even though x-rays taken on Saturday came back negative, an MRI taken early on Sunday showed the complete tear.

Saturday’s game was David Lee’s first playoff game of his career, and he’s been in the NBA since 2005.

The Golden State Warriors trail the Denver Nuggets 0-1 in their best of seven NBA playoffs series.