Tag: Justin Patton

Rockets opening up another roster spot with release of Justin Patton

Patton had fallen out of Houston’s rotation in recent weeks following the trade acquisitions of D.J. Wilson and Kelly Olynyk.

Hours after news leaked of Houston’s plans to release Ben McLemore, it appears that fourth-year center Justin Patton will soon receive his release, as well, per Kelly Iko and Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic.

Patton had largely fallen out of Houston’s rotation following the acquisitions of D.J. Wilson and Kelly Olynyk at the trade deadline.

In 13 games with the Rockets, Patton averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game. The 6-foot-11 center, who entered the NBA as a first-round pick in the 2017 draft, had been signed by Houston off the G League affiliate of the New York Knicks.

General manager Rafael Stone indicated recently that Houston plans to spend more of its 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE) on a signing (or signings) later this season, and the additional roster spots from waiving both McLemore and Patton could signal that moves are coming.

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Bulls at Rockets: Lineups, injury reports, and broadcast info for Monday

After having two straight home games postponed due to winter weather, Houston will resume its schedule on Monday night versus Chicago.

After having two straight home games postponed due to the effects of a winter storm in Houston, the Rockets will finally return to action on Monday at Toyota Center against the visiting Chicago Bulls.

While Houston (11-17) enters on a seven-game losing streak, the Rockets will be healthier than when we last saw them in Wednesday’s closer-than-expected loss at Philadelphia. Defensive ace PJ Tucker (left thigh contusion) is probable to return after missing two games, while two-way guard Victor Oladipo (right foot strain) is a possibility, as well. However, head coach Stephen Silas explained that Oladipo is officially listed as doubtful, since he sat out a portion of Sunday’s team practice.

There’s also an odd situation involving veteran center DeMarcus Cousins, who is expected to be traded or released in the coming days. Yet, with the Rockets short on frontcourt bodies in the wake of Christian Wood’s ankle injury and desperately in need of a win to stop their slide, it appears that Cousins will be in Monday’s starting lineup — even with both the team and player knowing that the relationship is likely to end soon.

Silas said that Cousins did not finish Sunday’s practice due to foot pain, and he’s listed as questionable on Houston’s injury report with right heel soreness. However, he is expected to play, according to his coach.

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Here’s when you should tune in to see Monday’s game:

  • Date: Monday, Feb. 22
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. Central
  • TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
  • Live stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)

Probable starting lineups

Houston Rockets (11-17)

  • Guard: John Wall
  • Guard: Eric Gordon
  • Forward: Jae’Sean Tate
  • Forward: PJ Tucker
  • Center: DeMarcus Cousins

Chicago Bulls (13-16)

  • Guard: Coby White
  • Guard: Zach LaVine
  • Forward: Garrett Temple
  • Forward: Patrick Williams
  • Center: Wendell Carter Jr.

As for Chicago’s injury report, the Bulls are expected to be without Lauri Markkanen (shoulder sprain), Otto Porter Jr. (back spasms), and Chandler Hutchison (leg contusion) for Monday’s game.

The Bulls enter with momentum, having won three of their last four games. In Saturday’s 122-114 home victory (box score) over Sacramento, LaVine led the way with 38 points on 15-of-20 shooting (75.0%).

For Houston, newly signed center Justin Patton is expected to make his debut on Monday night. Given the inevitable split between the Rockets and Cousins that is expected to occur in the coming days, Patton could have an opportunity to earn more playing time later in the week.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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New Rockets big Justin Patton strives to become elite roller, defender

“I want to show that I can be one of the best rollers in this league. Coming in, bring energy, and also on defense, protecting the paint.”

Since being a near-lottery pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2017 NBA draft, things haven’t gone as planned for Justin Patton. Between a myriad of injuries and being traded twice as a throw-in alongside Jimmy Butler, the 6-foot-11 center only played in nine NBA games over three seasons.

But Patton worked hard in the NBA G League to earn another opportunity, and that will come with the Rockets after injuries to Christian Wood and Ray Spalding — which decimated Houston’s frontcourt.

On Friday, less than 24 hours after Patton’s agreement to join Houston, he participated in Friday’s team practice at Toyota Center. In comments after practice, the 23-year-old said he was thankful to be there.

“Oh man, this is great,” Patton told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. “Especially all that I’ve been through. Iniury-wise, team-wise, bouncing around. It’s great. I can only thank God. … At this point in my life, everything’s more deliberate. Everything’s intentional. I was just ready to get to work. The first thing I asked for was the playbook and the defensive schemes, so I can get the wheels turned on that.”

Patton said he was eager to use this latest opportunity in Houston to prove he belongs in the NBA.

“That’s the sole reason for what I’m doing,” Patton said. “Every single day I’m working with a chip on my shoulder, proving a point, just as everybody else on our team right now. That’s one thing that Coach [Stephen Silas] told me and [GM] Rafael [Stone] told me, everybody has a chip on their shoulder, and it’s only right that I have the same thing. It’s what I’m coming in with and I have a point to prove to everybody, everybody in the world who I am, what I’m coming here for, and what I deserve.”

Specifically, Patton says his priorities are contributing in the pick-and-roll game on offense and protecting the paint on defense. “I want to show that I can be one of the best rollers in this league,” Patton said Friday. “Obviously coming in, bring energy and also on defense protecting the paint, being a presence, and being a force on defense.”

Silas said he was pleased with what he saw in practice.

“He was good in practice,” Silas said of Patton. “He’s really a big guy, moves well. Defensively, he was good. Offensively, he picked things up so quickly, quicker than I ever thought he would.”

Patton should make his debut with the Rockets as the backup to DeMarcus Cousins during Monday’s home game versus Chicago. Tipoff between the Bulls and Rockets is set for 7:00 p.m. from Toyota Center.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmta0n2zvw

Rockets signing big man Justin Patton to two-way contract

The No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, Patton is taking the place of Ray Spalding, who suffered an Achilles injury earlier this week.

The Houston Rockets are signing Justin Patton to a two-way contract, as first reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Now 23 years old, the 6-foot-11 center was the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

Patton is taking the place of Ray Spalding, who suffered an Achilles injury shortly after signing a two-way deal with the Rockets. Houston is searching for a backup big man to help fill the usual minutes of Christian Wood, who is out for the time being with a sprained right ankle.

In the NBA G League’s current “bubble” season in Florida, Patton has averaged 8.3 points (50.0% FG), 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game with the Westchester Knicks.

At the highest level, Patton played three seasons with Minnesota (2017-18), Philadelphia (2018-19), and Oklahoma City (2019-20). He never received much playing time, averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.4 minutes. During those three injury plagued years, the athletic big man from the University of Nebraska only played in nine NBA games.

Given the deficiencies of Houston’s roster without Wood, Patton might be receiving the best opportunity of his young professional career. The Rockets (11-17) had won seven of eight games prior to Wood’s latest injury, but they’re 0-7 since his Feb. 4 departure from the team. Veteran DeMarcus Cousins is starting at center, but his minutes are somewhat limited due to his own injury history. Moreover, there’s no proven backup.

Two-way players such as Patton are allowed to shuttle back and forth between the G League and the NBA. Unlike most years, however, players on two-way deals can spend nearly the entire 2020-21 season in the NBA, owing to relaxed roster rules for the COVID-19 pandemic.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mppz04Rwpe8

Report: Andre Roberson could be on the move

According to Erik Gee of Sports Illustrated, Roberson is one of the players to keep an eye on as the Feb. 6 trade deadline gets closer.

There may still be moves to make for Oklahoma City ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

While names like Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams have already been mentioned in conjunction with multiple teams, there are a couple of new news that have popped up as potential trades.

Per Erik Gee of Sports Illustrated, the name that is the most “intriguing” is Andre Roberson.

The thought behind trading Roberson is someone might be willing to take him off (Sam) Presti’s hands because of his expiring contract if the Thunder were willing to part with a first-round pick. Not having to pay the rest of Roberson’s 10.7 million dollar contract could allow the Thunder to be buyers at the trade deadline.

Roberson has been sidelined since suffering a ruptured left patellar tendon on Jan. 27, 2018 and is coming up on two full years without playing competitively in a game.

While Billy Donovan had indicated at the start of training camp that Roberson could be back sometime this season, Roberson moved his rehab to Los Angeles in December and appears to be no closer to a return.

As noted by Gee, ESPN’s Bobby Marks also suggested that Mike Muscala could be on the trading block. Muscala has shot the ball extremely well lately, making four or more 3-pointers in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Oklahoma City made their first trade of the season on Friday when they sent Justin Patton and cash to the Mavericks in a deal for rookie forward Isaiah Roby. According to Marks, the trade is conditional upon Roby reporting and passing a physical.

The Thunder play in the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves.

Report: OKC deals Justin Patton, cash to Dallas for Isaiah Roby

The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly dealt center Justin Patton and cash considerations to the Dallas Mavericks for forward Isaiah Roby.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded center Justin Patton and cash considerations to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forward Isaiah Roby, reports the Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Patton, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound bruiser in his third season in the NBA, appears to be of interest to the Mavericks as a stopgap measure in the wake of losing center Dwight Powell to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

However, there may be something else afoot, as the Athletic’s Tim Cato reports the move is about clearing roster space, which would account for the unknown amount of cash to be included in the deal.

Roby, however, appears to be of interest to the Thunder as a future depth piece for the wing.

While he’s yet to play at the NBA level, the 6-foot 8 Nebraska product logged 11.8 points and 6.9 boards per game in his final NCAA season, and is signed to a very affordable four-year, $6.7 million contract ending in 2022-23.

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Thunder shorthanded Saturday vs. Portland

Danilo Gallinari, Terrance Ferguson, Abdel Nader, and Justin Patton are all out Saturday against the Trail Blazers.

Oklahoma City is shorthanded in Portland on Saturday night as Danilo Gallinari, Terrance Ferguson, Abdel Nader, and Justin Patton are all out against the Trail Blazers.

Gallinari is being held out due to rest, according to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman. Billy Donovan said the reason for giving Gallo rest on the second night of a back-to-back is to “keep him feeling how he’s feeling”. Gallinari is second on the team in scoring at 19.0 points per game.

Both Ferguson and Patton, who was a late scratch as noted by Lee, are out due to illness. Ferguson missed the second-half of Oklahoma City’s loss on Friday.

Nader is also out due to an ankle sprain. He suffered the injury in the first half of Monday’s win over the Timberwolves.

Hamidou Diallo and Darius Bazley both got the start on Saturday in place of Gallinari and Ferguson.

Steven Adams also made his return after suffering a right knee contusion during the first half of Wednesday’s loss to Toronto.

Per Lee, Adams will be on a minutes restriction on Saturday.

Report: Abdel Nader and Nerlens Noel out for game against Raptors

Abdel Nader and Nerlens Noel are two of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s most productive bench players.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will not have two productive bench players available Wednesday in their game against the Toronto Raptors.

According to The Athletic’s Erik Horne, Abdel Nader and Nerlens Noel will both be out with left ankle sprains. Nader suffered an ankle sprain Monday during the Thunder’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Noel will miss his sixth straight game due to the injury, which he suffered during the Thunder’s win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 4. 

Per Horne, the Thunder have also recalled Justin Patton from their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. On Tuesday, Patton had a stellar outing, scoring a team-high 45 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Patton shot 61.3% from the field and 50% from the 3-point line.

A third-year center out of Creighton, Patton has averaged 12.1 points per game this season in 23 games and leads the Blue in rebounds per game (8.2).

Nader, a third-year wing, is playing a career-high 16.3 minutes. His 3-point shooting production has rose with his increased minutes, as he’s shooting a career-high 36.4% from the 3-point line on a career-high 2.4 attempts.

Noel has been a key defensive player and rebounder in coming off the bench this season. He leads the team in blocks per game (1.5), and he also is averaging 5.1 rebounds.

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Justin Patton scores 45 for OKC Blue, most in G-League this year

Patton scored 45 points on 19-of-31 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 from three. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists.

If the Thunder were indeed looking to trade Justin Patton, Tuesday night’s game could certainly attract some buyers. Or, it could be the game that persuades Sam Presti to keep Patton within the organization.

Patton scored 45 points in the OKC Blue’s win 149-140 over the South Bay Lakers. He also grabbed 13 rebounds to complete the double-double, along with nine assists.

According to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, Patton’s 45-point game is the highest-scoring game for any G-League player this season.

He shot 61.2% from the field, hitting on 19-of-31 field goal attempts, including going 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Patton was on assignment to the Thunder’s NBA G-League affiliate after being with the Thunder on Monday night for OKC’s win over the Timberwolves.

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Patton was averaging 10.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.77 blocks in 27.4 minutes per game. He has played in 23 games for the Blue this year, starting in 22.

Patton had been the subject of trade rumors earlier this month when The Athletic reported on Jan. 2 that the Thunder “were likely to trade Patton within the week”.

That was before Nerlens Noel injured his ankle against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since then, Patton has been back-and-forth between the Thunder and the Blue.

He’s appeared in four games for Oklahoma City this season, scoring five points and grabbing four rebounds in 14 minutes of game time.

Deonte Burton, Justin Patton recalled to OKC ahead of game vs. Lakers

A day after being reassigned to the OKC Blue, both Deonte Burton and Justin Patton have been recalled to the Thunder.

Just a day after being reassigned to Oklahoma City’s NBA G-League affiliate, both Deonte Burton and Justin Patton have been recalled to the Thunder.

Burton and Patton were assigned to the OKC Blue on Friday afternoon and both were in the starting lineup for the Blue’s 120-97 win over the Raptors 905 on Friday night.

Patton played 29 minutes, scoring 15 points and 7-of-9 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists.

Burton saw 31 minutes of game time, scoring 8 points to go along with four boards and four assists.

Patton, Burton and the rest of the OKC Blue got some sideline support in the form of Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who sat courtside to watch the game.

Both Burton and Patton saw action in Oklahoma City’s win over the Rockets on Thursday night.

The Thunder tip-off inside Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday against a Los Angeles Lakers squad that will be without LeBron James.

Game time is set for 7 p.m.