Tag Archives: double-double

Lakers’ JJ Redick hopes Deandre Ayton will rejoin lineup by end of week

Posted on by
Reply

LOS ANGELES Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton was not available for Tuesday night’s home game against the Clippers, but the team hopes to have him back by the end of the week. Coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability that Ayton, who sat out Tuesday because of a right knee contusion, was experiencing swelling and had a bruise but that imaging on the knee came back “clean.” Ayton suffered the injury when he got hit in the knee during the first half of Sunday’s road win against the Utah Jazz. He sat out the second half because of the injury. “Don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing,” Redick said. “Hopefully it’s a game-to-game thing, and he’s back at some point by the end of the week.” Tuesday was Ayton’s second missed game of the season. He’s averaging 15. 5 points on 69. 6% shooting and 8. 4 rebounds in 29. 2 minutes per game. “He’s a good player, double-double,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said. “He’s really gotten better defensively. Used to be a guy that we tried to attack him [when he was] in Phoenix, but he’s gotten better at that. “They’re a good team. He’s a big part of what they’re doing, but Jaxson Hayes has been playing great as well. And then they’re coming with Maxi Kleber or [Jarred] Vanderbilt. So they’ll be OK.” With Ayton sidelined, Hayes started against the Clippers alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. After being in the second-half rotation on Sunday and impressing during his minutes, Kleber was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation against the Clippers. “He’s very valuable for the things he’s able to do on the court because he understands who he is and all of those things that he’s really good at are complementary to our best players,” Redick said. “The other thing that he brings every single day is that he’s the best teammate for all the guys. His spirit, whether he’s in the rotation, out of the rotation, in street clothes because he has an oblique injury, whatever it is, he’s the same guy every day. There’s a stability to him that’s really becoming increasingly hard to find in the NBA for players. There’s value in that.” TWO-WAY ADDITION The Lakers officially signed Drew Timme from their South Bay G League affiliate to a two-way contract on Tuesday morning. Timme, a three-time consensus All-American selection at Gonzaga who is the Bulldogs’ all-time leading scorer, played for the Brooklyn Nets to finish last season after going undrafted in 2023. He averaged 12. 1 points, 7. 2 rebounds and 2. 2 assists in nine games (28. 2 minutes) with the Nets in 2024-25 before signing with South Bay. “It’s great,” Time said. “This is why I came here, to be able to hopefully get this opportunity and it definitely came sooner than I expected.” After joining the South Bay Lakers, Timme averaged 25. 5 points, 7. 5 rebounds, 4. 0 assists and 1. 2 steals in six games in the G League. “He is tremendously skilled offensively,” Redick said. “We haven’t really had a big here as a hub, as like a passing guy that you can kind of play out of the high post with. [Anthony Davis], to an extent, but a lot of the stuff we ran for him in those spots was to get him a shot and not to be a playmaker. The thing that’s kind of underrated with [Timme] is his defensive rebounding is really good, particularly for his size. He’s produced at every level and looking forward to coaching him.” Timme was one of the South Bay players who had the opportunity to practice with James earlier in the month during his return-to-play process from sciatica. “It was pretty crazy, man,” Timme recalled. “I mean, that’s the G. O. A. T. [greatest of all time]. To be able to share the court with him, especially being a G League team, that’s so outside of the normal of anything. It was crazy. But I think it just shows how connected the two programs are, and it’s super cool. He came down, and that’s our job, was to help him get back, to get back into game speed. So we were just glad to help. And it was really cool to be able to hoop with him.” Timme added that he was able to learn from James during the practices. “Especially with this new role that I’ve had with South Bay, especially like being more of a ball handler and playing more on the perimeter and stuff, just how he was able to get to his spots,” he said. “He just looked like he was never sped up, the game’s in slow motion for him, and to see him, how he attacked different things, I was just kind of watching as a fan and a student, and it was cool.”.
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2025/11/25/lakers-jj-redick-hopes-deandre-ayton-will-rejoin-lineup-by-end-of-week/

Thunder continue comeback ways with win vs Grizzlies

Posted on by
Reply

The Oklahoma City Thunder followed up Isaiah Hartenstein’s career night with an impressive near 20-point comeback against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder erased a 19-point deficit, closing the gap to just 38 points in the second half of a 114-100 victory. This win finished off their four-game road trip with a strong 3-1 record, improving Oklahoma City’s league-best mark to 10-1.

Sunday’s 19-point comeback is the Thunder’s fourth-largest since 2022, showcasing their resilience and depth. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his stellar form, extending his streak of 30-plus point games to seven straight—his tenth in 11 outings—by putting up 35 points on 11-of-22 shooting. He also went 10-for-11 from the free-throw line and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc, complementing his scoring with seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.

Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren also shone brightly for the Thunder. Mitchell scored 21 points, marking his fourth 20-plus point performance this season. Holmgren matched that output with 21 points as well, making it his third 20-plus point game in just seven appearances. Isaiah Hartenstein added to his impressive streak, recording his third consecutive double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season.

The Thunder’s dominance over the Grizzlies continues to grow, as this win extends their head-to-head winning streak to 14 consecutive games, including last year’s first-round 4-0 playoff sweep. Achieving this feat without two starters, Jalen Williams and Lu Dort, in the final game of a tough four-game road trip speaks volumes about Oklahoma City’s depth and determination.

The team will enjoy a day off before returning home to the Paycom Center for back-to-back games against the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, starting Tuesday.

### Thunder Guards Step Up Amid 10-1 Start as Defending Champions

The Thunder’s guard rotation has been a key factor in their scorching 10-1 start to the season. Ajay Mitchell continues to impress in just his second year in the NBA. With Lu Dort sidelined for his third consecutive game due to an upper back injury, Mitchell has started three straight games and has risen to the challenge on both ends of the floor.

Mitchell functions as a second facilitator in the backcourt alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, providing strong defense and consistent production. Through 12 games in his sophomore season, Mitchell is averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.

Cason Wallace has also earned his role in the starting lineup amid Jalen Williams’ absence. Wallace leads the NBA in steals per game with 2.6, while averaging 9.6 points on 45.6% shooting, including an impressive 42.5% from three-point range, along with 3.8 rebounds per contest.

Meanwhile, Isaiah Joe has made a strong impact after missing the first seven games of the regular season. He is averaging 16.6 points on 48.2% shooting, including 44.4% from deep, and pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, scoring champion, and league-leading scorer, averaging 32.7 points per game, the Thunder’s guard corps is firing on all cylinders. This impressive backcourt depth and performance could not have come at a better time as Oklahoma City kicks off its 2025-26 campaign in pursuit of a repeat championship.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-continues-comeback-ways-win-grizzlies

Pelicans’ Trey Murphy dominates despite loss to Spurs

Posted on by
Reply

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy lit up the court with a career-best performance in Saturday’s game, but it wasn’t enough to secure a third consecutive win. The Pelicans fell 126-119 to the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.

Murphy tied his career-high with 41 points, shooting an efficient 15-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. He also contributed nine rebounds. With key starters Zion Williamson (hamstring), Yves Missi (illness), and Jordan Poole (quad strain) sidelined, New Orleans leaned heavily on Murphy. He scored 16 points in the first half and added 25 in the second. One of the highlights was his impressive 38-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 92-85.

Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears added 18 points, while Herb Jones contributed 15. Rookie forward Derik Queen delivered a well-rounded performance off the bench with 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two blocks in just 25 minutes. Queen also played the entire fourth quarter for a third consecutive game, helping the Pelicans close the gap to within one possession at 122-119 late in the contest.

Despite their efforts, all went unrewarded as the Spurs managed to hold on. San Antonio was led by De’Aaron Fox in his season debut. Fox, returning after missing the first eight games due to a hamstring injury, scored 24 points, including an impressive stretch of 13 consecutive points in the second quarter that helped build a halftime lead.

Victor Wembanyama posted a double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds, while Devin Vassell added 16 points. Harrison Barnes chipped in 15, and Stephon Castle recorded a double-double of 14 points and 14 assists. Julian Champagnie also contributed 14 points. The Spurs maintained a 43-40 rebounding advantage over the Pelicans.

This game marked New Orleans’ second defeat to San Antonio this season, following a 120-116 overtime loss earlier in October. The Spurs, playing the second game of a home back-to-back, improved their record to 7-2. The Pelicans dropped to 2-7.

New Orleans will look to turn things around in their next game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-orleans-pelicans/pelicans-news-trey-murphy-dominates-loss-spurs

Maine women’s basketball falls in season opener to St. Joseph’s

Posted on by
Reply

Adrianna Smith recorded a double-double in her first game back since missing all of last season with a knee injury, as the University of Maine narrowly fell 63-62 to Saint Joseph’s University in their season opener on Friday in Orono.

Smith, the 2022-23 America East Player of the Year, finished with an impressive 25 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. Despite Maine trailing 58-46 with just over four minutes left, the Black Bears mounted a late rally. Smith sparked the comeback with a 3-pointer, followed by a layup that brought the team within three points with 24 seconds remaining.

Saint Joseph’s managed to extend their lead with two foul shots from Rhian Stokes, pushing the Hawks ahead by five. However, Smith responded quickly with another layup. Stokes then made one of two free throws with 16 seconds left. In a dramatic finish, Asta Blauenfeldt sank a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired for Maine.

Blauenfeldt contributed 16 points for the Black Bears, while Sarah Talon of Windham added 10 points. Cheverus graduate Maddie Fitzpatrick, the 2024 Miss Maine Basketball winner, who also missed her freshman season due to injury, played 16 minutes but was scoreless for Maine.

For Saint Joseph’s, Gabby Casey led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds in the Hawks’ 1-1 start. Faith Stinon added 16 points, while both Rhian Stokes and Jill Jekot contributed 11 points each.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/07/maine-womens-basketball-falls-in-season-opener-to-st-josephs/

No. 3 UF routs North Florida by 40 as Gators bounce back from Arizona loss

Posted on by
Reply

GAINESVILLE, Florida — The Florida Gators bounced back from a season-opening loss to Arizona with a vengeance on Thursday night, delivering a dominant defensive performance and a strong showing from All-America candidate Alex Condon, who was sorely missed in Monday night’s game in Las Vegas.

North Florida never really stood a chance as the Gators rolled to a convincing 104-64 victory at the O’Connell Center. This win came after Florida’s 93-87 loss to Arizona, which marked the start of their title defense. Despite the early setback, national championship vibes were palpable throughout the packed arena.

A crowd of 10,065 fans roared with excitement even before tip-off as the school unveiled the 2025 national championship banner, now proudly hanging in the rafters on the stadium’s east side. The energy in the building was electric, underscoring the high expectations for the team this season.

Although UF held a clear talent advantage, North Florida put up an early fight. The teams traded the lead six times in the first five minutes before the Gators steadily pulled away and locked down on defense. The Ospreys struggled offensively, shooting just 31% from the floor, while Florida connected on 49%.

This victory marked Florida’s 35th straight home opener win, a streak dating back to a 76-74 loss to Texas in 1990 during coach Lon Kruger’s first season at UF.

Leading the way for the Gators was Alex Condon, who scored 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 10th career double-double. He also contributed four assists, three blocks, two steals, and committed just one turnover. This performance was a significant bounce-back from his earlier outing in Las Vegas, where he struggled against Arizona.

In that game, the 6-foot-11, 230-pound Aussie and preseason AP first-team All-America candidate managed only 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, had a career-high six turnovers, and was physically outmatched by true freshman Koa Peat, who scored 30 points.

Backup center Micah Handlogten also made a strong impact Thursday, finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Meanwhile, Thomas Haugh added 12 points and eight rebounds, helping Florida dominate the boards with a 64-24 rebounding advantage.

The Gators outscored North Florida 66-22 in the paint, establishing their inside presence as the key factor in the blowout win.

With the game well in hand late, the fans energized the crowd by chanting for 7-foot-9 freshman Olivier Rioux. Responding to the enthusiasm, coach Todd Golden gave Rioux a moment to shine. With Florida leading 102-61 and just over two minutes remaining, Rioux made his collegiate debut, becoming the tallest player to ever compete in a college basketball game.

The Gators’ emphatic win serves as a statement that they are ready to defend their national title and continue their dominance at home this season.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/06/florida-gators-mens-basketball-todd-golden-sec-north-florida-todd-golden-alex-condon-thomas-haugh-olivier-rioux/

Mark Williams sets ‘new standard’ in first start with Suns

Posted on by
Reply

PHOENIX – The emergence of the next Phoenix Suns big man could be in the form of 23-year-old center Mark Williams.

Let’s take a step back before making any bold claims. When the Suns traded for Williams on draft night, despite also selecting another center in Khaman Maluach, it felt like Williams might be brushed out of the rotation. That hasn’t been the case. In fact, he has become the focal point—and the crème de la crème—of Phoenix’s hectic center rotation, which includes himself and three other players at the position.

Even with the competition being an emphasis, head coach Jordan Ott knew that getting Williams physically right and on the appropriate regimen was more important than anything else. When the team announced Williams would be on a minutes restriction, it showed that Ott’s vision was coming to fruition.

While Williams could’ve pouted about the decrease in workload, he made the most of it. Fast forward to his first start in the purple and orange, and he delivered a standout performance. A 20-point, 11-rebound double-double, along with four steals and two blocks, had him popping out on the stat sheet.

That wasn’t even the most impressive part for Ott, though. It was much simpler than the numbers.

“That he can do it back-to-back games. I think after the last game (vs. Utah Jazz), we just talked about his standard as we learn him and he learns us. Obviously, he’s a big presence out there, and how he’s done back-to-back games. We were changing things up for Morant tonight,” Ott said.

“He’s able to do it, so even that’s not on the box score. I think there are multiple things there we can be happy about where Mark is at, and now that’s a new standard. Keeping them to that standard is what we’re all here to do.”

It isn’t just Jordan Ott who loves Mark Williams with the Suns. Another shining supporter is point guard Collin Gillespie, who was with Williams during the pre-draft process. Gillespie shared insights about their time together during training camp and media day, expressing confidence in Williams’ development.

Gillespie knew that the former Duke big man would come around. Earlier in the week, Williams’s approach didn’t change once he joined the Suns: he stayed ready, was patient, and made sure to maximize every opportunity.

The double-double immediately catches attention, but it was much more than that. Williams has stepped up in the screen-and-roll, filling the empty pockets for easy buckets, and establishing himself as a legitimate rim threat. Those are only a glimpse of what Gillespie has seen through four games.

“A big body. He could put a ton of pressure on the rim, rolling, and screening. He sets great screens and can give guys good looks coming off the screen,” Gillespie said postgame. “And he’s done a great job on the glass as well, but you kind of see it sometimes, he makes those little plays happen off of missed shots where he’ll tip it off the glass and then keep it to himself.”

“Yeah, he’s been effective for us. And he’s going to continue to get better as he plays more games, as we get more continuity with each other while playing. It’s been awesome so far.”

The back-to-back games won’t be an issue. The mentality isn’t an issue. Williams’ on-court performance has been exceptional up to this point. Now, it’ll be about maintaining that standard for the duration of the season.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-mark-williams-sets-new-standard-first-start-phoenix

San Antonio Spurs’ Star Delivers Verdict on 2025 NBA Draft

Posted on by
Reply

The 2025 NBA Draft was anticipated to produce one of the best classes in recent memory, and so far, it has lived up to the hype. In a recent matchup, first overall pick Cooper Flagg and second pick Dylan Harper went head-to-head as the San Antonio Spurs decisively defeated the Dallas Mavericks.

Flagg recorded a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds but was largely seen as disappointing due to his offensive inefficiency. On the other hand, Harper had a solid performance, posting 15 points and quickly finding his rhythm in the second half of his debut.

### Standout Performances Across the League

Elsewhere in the league, VJ Edgecombe dominated his game, while Jeremiah Fears and Tre Johnson also delivered solid outings. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle, Harper’s teammate and the reigning Rookie of the Year, shared his thoughts on both Flagg and Harper, expressing confidence in their potential for long NBA careers.

### San Antonio Spurs’ Star Delivers Rookie Verdict

Commenting on Flagg’s performance, Castle noted, “He didn’t shoot the ball well, but he seemed a lot more poised than I thought he would be. I mean, my first game, I was out there nervous, so I can’t really speak on it. He made some good reads, he didn’t seem too rattled. So, I think he’ll have a good year.”

Castle was naturally more complimentary about his teammate Harper. “Dylan, he’s been hooping all summer, all training camp. I knew once he got settled in, he’d be fine. He started off the game kind of shaky, but picked it up quickly and helped us a lot.”

Currently, Harper remains behind Castle on the Spurs’ depth chart and is expected to slot in as a backup to De’Aaron Fox once Fox returns to the floor. Flagg, conversely, has been tasked with playing point guard—a position he is not familiar with—which partly explains his rougher offensive showing.

### Harper Expected to Take More Time Than Flagg

Despite Harper’s more effective debut, he is considered a much more raw prospect compared to Flagg. It’s important to note that Flagg was playing point guard in his very first NBA game, a challenging role for a rookie.

Harper projects to be a pass-first guard, drawing comparisons to a younger James Harden. Alongside Victor Wembanyama, Harper forms an ideal running mate for the Spurs to rely on in the coming years.

### Spurs Look Ahead

Castle also had an impressive outing, scoring 22 points while contributing six assists and seven rebounds. Although De’Aaron Fox remains the best guard on the Spurs roster, his position could soon be challenged, especially if he spends more time on the bench than anticipated.

The 2025 season looks poised for exciting developments as these young talents continue to grow and make their mark in the NBA.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/san-antonio-spurs/stephon-castle-2025-nba-draft/