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The Tip-Off
Highlighting some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Since we last spoke, the Duke Blue Devils earned a place in the Final Four. Coach K’s accomplishments are outstanding, and in celebrating his recent victory, star freshman Paolo Banchero actually made him blush.
Our own Andy Nesbitt has more on why Banchero called him the GOAT:
“Coach K has now gone to the Final Four in five different decades, which is just insane, and this will be the 13th time he’s made it to the Final Four.
Right after the game he was being interviewed by Tracy Wolfson when two of his best players – Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore – jumped in and shared a special moment with their coach.”
Banchero is projected at No. 3 overall in my latest NBA mock draft.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico)
Hornets (+135) vs. Nuggets (-3.5, -170), O/U 223.5, 7 PM ET
Look at Nikola Jokic’s face. That’s the kind of face that I make when I watch both him and LaMelo Ball play basketball.
Call me crazy, but I’m going to jump at any opportunity I can to watch a former NBA MVP (who deserves a second trophy!) in Jokic face off against a potential future MVP in Ball. Is there any assurance that Ball will win an MVP award? There is no assurance of anything in this world! However, I’m confident Ball has as good of a chance to win the award one day as anyone.
This game can have a lot of scoring in it and I want to hammer the over!
Who’s in and out?
—Almost the entire Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder rosters were listed on the injury report, which is longer than a CVS receipt.
— Boston’s Robert Williams III suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee and is out for several weeks.
— Indiana’s Myles Turner will miss the remainder of the season due to a left foot injury.
— Clippers’ Paul George will participate in five-on-five and could be cleared to play in a game this week.
Shootaround
— We spoke to clothing designer Eric Emanuel about designing the uniforms for the McDonald’s All-American Game.
— Based on analytics alone, per HoopsHype, this is how the upcoming MVP race should look.
— Multiple Sixers were upset with wasted possessions on offense in loss to Suns, writes Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
— Celtics Wire’s Justin Quinn provides an update on stashed Boston guards Yam Madar and Yuhan Begarin.
So long, folks!
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