Tag: Jordan McRae

Jordan McRae, Pistons remain home during NBA restart

Jordan McRae, Pistons remain home during NBA restart.

ORLANDO — The NBA has officially restarted its season with the top 22 teams finishing up the regular season. Four former University of Tennessee basketball players are competing in the league’s bubble in Central Florida.

Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris are set to return to the hardwood Saturday when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m.

Grant Williams played four minutes for the Boston Celtics in their return to the floor Friday night in a 119-112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Meanwhile, Admiral Schofield played six minutes and grabbed a pair of rebounds for the Washington Wizards in a 125-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

While those former Vols are back, one former Tennessee star did not return, and will not until next season.

The Detroit Pistons did not qualify to go to Orlando, meaning that VFL Jordan McRae will remain on the sidelines during the summer.

McRae, who won a championship with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, joined the Pistons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He began the season with the Washington Wizards before being acquired by the Denver Nuggets at the 2020 trade deadline. The former Vol played sparingly for Denver before being put on waivers. He was later signed by the Pistons.

McRae was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs and made his NBA debut for the Suns. He has also played in the NBA G-League and in Europe.

After waiver claim, Jordan McRae scores 15 for Pistons

After waiver claim, Jordan McRae scores 15 for Pistons.

DETROIT — When former University of Tennessee basketball player Jordan McRae was dealt to the Denver Nuggets at the NBA trade deadline, he was supposed to provide the Nuggets with depth and another shooter.

McRae, who was having a solid season with the Washington Wizards at the time of the trade, didn’t find much joy with the Nuggets, who are in a battle with the Los Angeles Lakers for the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

He played just four games for the Nuggets and was placed on waivers.

But it didn’t take McRae long to find a new home as the Detroit Pistons claimed him off the waiver wire.

Like the Wizards, the Pistons are not in a playoff chase in the Eastern Conference, but McRae was impressive in his debut in the Motor City.

During warm-ups Wednesday night, his jersey was still being prepared and he was familiarizing himself with Little Caesars Arena.

But when he took the floor, he scored 15 points, dished out three assists and grabbed two rebounds in Detroit’s 114-107 loss to Oklahoma City.

The Pistons host Utah Saturday at 7 p.m.

Jordan McRae scores eight points in debut for Nuggets

Jordan McRae scores eight points in debut for Nuggets.

DENVER — Former University of Tennessee basketball player Jordan McRae made his debut for the Denver Nuggets Tuesday night.

He scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists in Denver’s 127-120 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Pepsi Center.

McRae, now an NBA veteran, was enjoying a solid season with the Washington Wizards, despite missing some games due to injury earlier this season.

He played his first game in the Mile-High City Tuesday night after being a trade-deadline acquisition by the Nuggets last week.

The Nuggets acquired McRae to pick up another shooting presence in their run to the playoffs. He is now in the thick of a playoff race as Denver (38-16) is the second-place team in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who are 40-12 this season.

Jordan McRae finds scoring touch in return from injury

Jordan McRae finds scoring touch in return from injury.

WASHINGTON — Former Tennessee basketball player Jordan McRae missed several games for the Washington Wizards due to an early-season injury.

But since returning to Washington’s lineup, McRae has given the Wizards a huge lift.

He scored 19 points Monday night as the Wizards outlasted Boston, 99-94. McRae also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out an assist for Washington (12-24).

Admiral Schofield, another former Vol, played four minutes against the Celtics (25-9), but failed to score.

For the Celtics, Grant Williams, who left Tennessee as the two-time defending SEC Player of the Year, scored nine points and pulled down nine boards.

McRae has had a huge impact for Washington since returning after Christmas.

He scored 35 points in a 122-103 loss to Portland on Jan. 3. McRae had a 20-point game against the New York Knicks on Dec. 28 and scored 15 against Orlando on New Year’s Day.

He also scored 29 against the Miami Heat on Dec. 30.