Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
All-Star Friday: The best pictures
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Former MSU Basketball star and current Charlotte Hornets wing Miles Bridges won the NBA Rising Stars MVP tonight with 20 points, 5 rebounds.
In a game that featured big names like Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, and Ja Morant, it was former MSU Basketball star and current Charlotte Hornets breakout young wing Miles Bridges who won the NBA Rising Stars MVP Award tonight. The Rising Stars game is played each All-Star Weekend and features the best young players the league has to offer.
Bridges had 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on the night, but it might have been his insane dunk off the glass that made him stand out.from the other players.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was also present in the lineup and finished with 12 points and 7 assists.
Team USA was able to beat Team World in what is a largely fun and non-competitive exhibition, but it was still awesome to see two former Spartans showing off on a big stage. Both players were on the court with the best young players in the league and they both stood out as stars. This was a great night for Spartan basketball to watch two of the best NBA prospects the team has produced shine.
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Former Michigan State star Miles Bridges had an absolutely insane self alley-oop off the glass tonight in the Rising Stars game.
Michigan State Basketball has two former star players currently playing in the NBA Rising Stars Game. Jaren Jackson Jr., now of the Memphis Grizzlies was there with his teammate Ja Morant (and Brandon Clarke, who was on Team World). Miles Bridges was the second Spartan in attendance he was joined by his fellow Charlotte Hornets teammates PJ Washington and Devonte Graham. Miles Bridges might have had the highlight of the night with a crazy self alley-oop, off the glass to himself.
You can watch the clip in all of its glory below:
MILES BRIDGES OFF THE GLASS TO HIMSELF🔥
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/mIBIUUji9W
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 15, 2020
And here is one more angle for good measure:
MILES BRIDGES… OH MY pic.twitter.com/VaqR1appLh
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 15, 2020
On top of the crazy dunk, Bridges had a very nice night, particularly in the third quarter. He ended up with 20 points, good for second on Team USA. Jackson, to his credit, had 12 points on the night.
Based on the way both guys have been playing, they might be in the All-Star game someday instead of just the Rising Stars game.
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Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Many believe the NBA Draft will feature a stronger prospect pool in 2021 than what the 2020 class will offer. But it may get even deeper.
Our mock draft for 2021 featured blurbs on several high school juniors who have already reclassified to forego their senior seasons, including Terrence Clarke (Kentucky), Devin Askew (Kentucky) and JT Thor (uncommitted). Another high school junior who narrowly missed the cut was Cam Hayes, who committed to North Carolina State.
However, we believe that the topic of reclassification will become even more pressing in the coming few weeks and months. Perhaps one reason why high school juniors may want to join a class that is already loaded is the following year could become even more crowded.
It is fairly well known that the NBA may allow high school seniors to enter the draft in 2022 for the first time since Amir Johnson was selected in 2005. That means that the draft class will feature all of the usual college prospects as well as an influx of high school talent as well.
There would be an incentive, then, for top high school juniors to find a way to separate themselves by potentially showcasing what they are capable of when playing against NCAA talent. Scouts and executives are more familiar with evaluating college basketball players than high schoolers.
As such, here is what you need to know about the high school stars that are most rumored to join the ranks of the Class of 2020 and then potentially be eligible to be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
JONATHAN KUMINGA
Forward, 6-foot-8, The Patrick School (New Jersey)
Background: Jonathan Kuminga is considered, nearly unanimously, the best high school junior in the country. He averaged 20.8 points per game on the Nike EYBL Division B circuit in 2019, showing his prolific scoring ability. Kuminga also had the second-most points per game (27.4) among all players in the Peach Jam Tournament last year. As recently noted by SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, the forward could be a top-five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft if he chooses to reclassify. He will participate at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
NCAA: Back in October, the top prospect announced that he was not going to reclassify. However, that has not quieted any of the speculations that he will forego his senior season and play college basketball next season. He narrowed his collegiate decision to ten schools in November 2019. Kuminga also had an official visit from Kentucky head coach John Calipari in January. Corey Evans of Rivals believes Duke could add Kuminga via reclassification to their Class of 2020. Evans has called his recruitment “fluid” so though the talk of him reclassifying was once silenced, it could easily change.
Mousse Cisse | Moussa Diabete | Franck Kepnang | Charles Bediako | Zion Harmon | William Jeffress |
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Previewing Wednesday’s Charlotte Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Charlotte Hornets (17-36) are at Target Center to take on the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves (16-36) Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. E.T. We analyze the Hornets-Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Hornets
Timberwolves
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12 p.m. ET.
Timberwolves 117, Hornets 107
While both teams are amid massive slumps, the Timberwolves (-358) are big favorites over the Hornets (+280). Minnesota has lost 14 of its last 15 games, and Charlotte has lost 13 of its previous 15 games. Hopefully, newly-acquired point guard D’Angelo Russell can bring this Timberwolves team back to life Wednesday night. The Wolves just aren’t worth a play with a $10 bet returning a profit of only $2.80. PASS.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The TIMBERWOLVES (-8.5, -106) will need to win by at least 9 points to cover the spread against the Hornets, who have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games. Minnesota has been even worse against the spread of late, failing to cover in 10 of its last 11 games. While neither side inspires much confidence, take the Timberwolves at home and hope their recent trade proves to be worthwhile.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total for this matchup is set at 228.5, which feels a bit high. Charlotte has the league’s worst offense, averaging 102.7 points per game. While Minnesota’s offense is slightly better, neither of these teams can shoot very well. While it’s never fun to bet the UNDER (-110), it’s the smart bet in Minnesota.
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.
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After the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline, the focus of basketball transaction rumors often shifts to the potential buyout market for contenders.
After the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the focus of basketball transaction rumors often shifts to the potential buyout market for contenders.
As noted by our own Frank Urbina, the buyout market “might actually be more interesting” than previously expected. While we recently collected a list of potential candidates for a buyout, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that the last time a buyout addition played at least 100 playoff minutes for a team that won the title was in 2011. That would be Peja Stojakovic.
Aside from him, we broke down the biggest midseason free agency addition (via amnesty clause, buyout or otherwise) of the year each season since 2009-10.
2010: LARRY HUGHES, CHARLOTTE
Near the end of his career, former NBA guard Larry Hughes was included in a deal that sent Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks. After the move, he was waived by the Sacramento Kings and was subsequently picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats. He played 14 games with the franchise but made just two appearances in the starting lineup. Hughes scored just 8.1 points per game during the regular season. He played all four games for the team in the postseason, too, averaging 14.5 minutes per game. But he did not make much of an impact, scoring just 6.0 points per game.
2011: MIKE BIBBY, MIAMI
During his second-to-last season in the NBA, former NCAA champion Mike Bibby played for three different teams. He started the year with the Atlanta Hawks and was then moved to the Washington Wizards. After playing just two games, he and the organization agreed to a contract buyout and joined the Miami Heat. Bibby played 26.5 minutes per game for Miami, including 12 appearances in the starting lineup. The point guard connected on his personal-best 2.5 three-pointers per 36 minutes while shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc. He also started all 20 games during the playoffs for the Heat. However, Bibby averaged just 3.7 points and 1.2 assists per game during these contests.
2012: BORIS DIAW, SAN ANTONIO
Among all of the midseason free agency additions during the 2010s, former first-round selection Boris Diaw perhaps made the largest impact during his time with the team that signed him. The forward was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats in March 2012. However, within two days, he was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs. He started in seven of 20 games for the Spurs in the regular season and then all 14 appearances for the team in the playoffs. During the postseason, he was 9-for-18 (50.0 percent) from the three-point line. Diaw, who was originally claimed in 2012, remained with San Antonio until 2016 (winning a title in 2013) and became one of the more consistent figures in their rotation.
2013: CHRIS ANDERSEN, MIAMI
More famously known by his nickname Birdman, former NBA big man Chris Andersen was waived and amnestied by the Denver Nuggets in 2012 so that the franchise could avoid the dreaded luxury tax bill. After some push by head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat signed the 6-foot-10 veteran. He played on two ten-day contracts before eventually getting a deal for the remainder of the season in 2012-13. He played in just over half of the games (42) for the team in that campaign, averaging 14.9 minutes off the bench. He helped Miami go on a 27-game win streak shortly after he was signed. But most notable was his performance in the postseason in which he made all 15 of his first field goal attempts in Game 1 through Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. Overall, he shot a postseason-best 80.4 percent from the field en route to the Heat winning the title in 2013.
2014: DREW GOODEN, WASHINGTON
Former NBA forward Drew Gooden signed a five-year, $32 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010. However, he was waived by the team using an amnesty clause back in July 2013. Gooden was picked up by the Washington Wizards in February 2014. After two ten-day contracts, he was signed for the remainder of the season by the Wizards. Gooden played 18.0 minutes off the bench for Washington, scoring 8.3 points and grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game. After playing 10 contests in the postseason for the team, he signed a new deal with the Wizards and briefly became the starting power forward in 2014-15.
2015: AMARE STOUDEMIRE, DALLAS
Six-time NBA All-Star Amare Stoudemire was once a fixture for the New York Knicks. However, his role began to diminish during his final few years with the team. During his final 180 games with the Knicks, the big man was in the starting lineup just 50 times. He was waived by New York and was picked up by the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.8 points per game in 23 appearances during the regular season with his new team. The big then scored 7.8 points per game for Dallas during the playoffs.
2016: JOE JOHNSON, MIAMI
Seven-time NBA All-Star wing Joe Johnson was a major pickup by the Brooklyn Nets in 2012. But the franchise began to change its identity during the offseason leading into the 2015-16 campaign, letting longtime point guard Deron Williams test the open market and eventually sign with the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson, who had previously scored a field goal in a record 937 straight games, did not score against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 10, 2016. He played just three more games with the Nets before his contract was bought out on February 25. Johnson was fantastic on the Heat, scoring 13.4 points per game during the regular season and 12.1 points per game in the postseason.
2017: DERON WILLIAMS, CLEVELAND
Three-time NBA All-Star guard Deron Williams signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2015. He re-signed with Dallas the following season, though Williams missed time with a toe injury. Williams was waived by the team in February 2017 and was then picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams averaged 20.3 minutes per game in 24 appearances during the regular season for Cleveland. His best performance was a near-triple double in April, putting up 35 points with 7 rebounds and 9 assists. This ended up being his final year in the NBA, retiring after losing in the Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
2018: MARCO BELINELLI, PHILADELPHIA
Former first-rounder Marco Belinelli signed with the Sacramento Kings in 2015 after winning the NBA championship and three-point contest with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2016 and then to the Atlanta Hawks in 2017. The wing was waived by Atlanta in February 2018 and then claimed by the Philadelphia 76ers. Belinelli then put up a career-high 13.6 points and 2.0 three-pointers per game. He then scored 25 points against the Miami Heat in the postseason. He also hit a game-tying buzzer-beater to send a game against the Boston Celtics to overtime.
2019 WESLEY MATTHEWS, INDIANA
After an impressive tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2010 until 2015, Wesley Matthews signed a four-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. He was traded to the New York Knicks, where he played just two games for the team before he was waived in February 2019. Matthews was picked up by the Indiana Pacers, then connecting on six three-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans later in the month. He played 31.5 minutes per game in his 23 appearances during the regular season, starting in each contest. Matthews also started all four games he played in the postseason for Indiana.
HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report
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Previewing Monday’s Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons NBA matchup, with NBA betting odds, picks and best bets
The Charlotte Hornets (16-36) travel to meet the Detroit Pistons (19-36) Monday night at 7 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena. We analyze the Hornets-Pistons odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Hornets
Pistons
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Monday at 11:35 a.m. ET.
Hornets 118, Pistons 116
The HORNETS (+125) are worth a look on the road as short ‘dogs, as the Pistons (-150) are just too banged up to be favored against anyone right now. Yes, Charlotte is 0-5 straight up & against the spread across its past five, but this is the Hornets’ best chance in a while at a win.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Hornets to win outright would return a profit of $12.50.
The HORNETS (+2.5, -110) aren’t a bad play if you want a little bit of extra insurance, although taking them with the points won’t give you plus-money. The Hornets are 5-0 ATS in the past five meetings in this series, and 4-0 ATS in their past four trips to Motown.
The OVER 206.5 (-110) is a decent small-unit play, as neither team has been terribly mindful at the defensive end lately. The over is also 11-1 in Detroit’s past 12 as a favorite, including 7-1 in the past eight as a home favorite. The over is also 12-4 in the past 16 for the Pistons against teams with a winning percentage under .400.
For the Hornets, the over has connected in four of the past five overall, and four of the past five in which they are an underdog, too. The over is also 20-7-1 in the past 28 meetings between these teams in the Motor City.
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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The Los Angeles Lakers were able to outlast a depleted Golden State Warriors squad for a Saturday night road victory.
LeBron James had 22 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds while Anthony Davis had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, as the Los Angeles Lakers, defeated the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, 125-120.
Wiggins had a solid first game in his debut with the Warriors. He had 24 points, five steals, and three assists as he continued his career-long record of playing strong games against LeBron James and his teams. However, the Warriors weren’t very close to a win on Saturday night.
While Avery Bradley had a rare hot-shooting night for the Lakers, the Lakers had a phenomenal night shooting from the field. Bradley led the Lakers in scoring for much of the night but the Lakers shot over 40% from the 3-point line all night long.
The Lakers had several solid contributions from their bench on Saturday, as Kyle Kuzma, Dwight Howard, and Rajon Rondo each scored over double-figures in the victory. Howard played only four minutes in Thursday’s loss to the Rockets but his 13 minutes, 12 points and eight rebounds were mighty productive as the Lakers tried to secure the win against the Warriors.
The Lakers have just two games remaining before the All-Star break, with Monday at home against the Phoenix Suns before closing out their pre-All-Star schedule with Wednesday night at the Denver Nuggets.
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The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have an open roster spot but fans are seeing their potential targets go to other teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers decided to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline and while there have been public flirtations with free-agent point guard Darren Collison, Lakers fans are seeing plenty of other potential options from the buyout market to improve their team commit to other squads.
The Charlotte Hornets produced two buyout candidates over the past few days, but veteran forward Marvin Williams has already committed to signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. In addition to Williams, the Hornets are also agreeing to a buyout with Anthony Davis’ Kentucky teammate Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist, according to ESPN’s duo of Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim McMahon. MKG, according to ESPN, has a good chance of landing with the Dallas Mavericks.
Reporting with @espn_macmahon: Charlotte is finalizing a contract buyout with F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Dallas has emerged as a possible destination once MKG clears waivers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2020
The Clippers made a big move at the trade deadline, pushing in all of their assets to the New York Knicks in order to add forward help in Marcus Morris.
If the Lakers were to add anybody, they would have to cut someone on their team that’s laden with veterans who have been there the whole season. Given that the Lakers’ chemistry has been a major strength for them all season, the benefits of a move to add someone from the buyout market are likely tougher than they are for any other team.
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Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
All figures are courtesy of the NBA Player Salaries page on HoopsHype.
TYLER JOHNSON, PHOENIX
SALARY: $19,245,370
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
