Jalen Green (36 points, 10 rebounds) and Cam Whitmore (24 points, 11 rebounds) each had their best games of the season as the Rockets routed Charlotte on the road.
In the opener of a road back-to-back, the Rockets put their recent struggles behind them in Friday’s dominant 138-104 win (box score) at Charlotte (10-33). Two nights after being upset at home by Portland, Houston (21-23) made amends as they battle for a potential spot in the 2023-24 Western Conference play-in tournament.
Third-year guard Jalen Green had his best night of the season to date with a team-high 36 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 12-of-20 overall (60.0%) and 11-of-12 on free throws (91.7%). His season-high totals came in only three quarters, owing to the blowout margin.
Rookie reserve Cam Whitmore had 24 points and 11 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes, shooting 9-of-18 overall (50.0%) and 4-of-9 on 3-pointers (44.4%). Veteran guard Fred VanVleet had 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, and he also had a career-high 6 blocks.
Fellow rookie Amen Thompson stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in 23 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 overall (66.7%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers, and 4-of-6 on free throws.
As a team, Houston shot 50-of-89 overall (56.2%) and 13-of-33 on 3-pointers (39.4%) on Friday while limiting the Hornets to 35-of-85 shooting (41.2%) and just 9-of-29 from 3-point range (31.0%). Led by 20 combined rebounds from Green and Whitmore, Houston dominated the rebounding battle by a decisive 53-32 margin.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 21 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 7-of-11 from the field (63.6%) and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
Here’s our look at Friday night’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is part two of this weekend’s road back-to-back on Saturday at Brooklyn (17-27), where tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Central.
Good for Charles Barkely to ask this important question.
UPDATE: The Athletic confirmed Barkley’s question to Silver was “on the spot and not scripted” during the broadcast.
Before the season officially tipped off, Inside the NBA spoke with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Charles Barkley had an important question.
During the time that the team had with Silver before the Lakers played against the Nuggets in Denver, the former NBA big man asked Silver about one of the more troubling issues in the league.
Before they cut to a commercial break, Barkley asked Silver about domestic violence allegations against several active players in the league. Earlier this offseason, Silver had a concerning answer about why Hornets forward Miles Bridges got a shortened suspension for his domestic violence incident.
Charles Barkley confronts NBA commissioner Adam Silver after numerous offseason incidents of domestic violence among NBA athletes: pic.twitter.com/u0LjxLiLRd
“I got a serious question for you. There’s a couple disturbing incidents of domestic violence in the NBA right now. What are we doing to address that? … You can’t put your hands on women, man. … What are we, as a league, going to do about that?”
“That’s an area where we’re not looking to compete against other leagues. … Our players’ association, credit to them, this wasn’t adversarial. We put in place a new program for how we deal with, first of all, accusations of domestic violence even before they are prosecuted. Part of it goes to training of our players, counseling of our players to make sure they understand during high-stress situations, never resort to violence against anyone. We’re addressing. We have state of the art counseling professionals dealing with our players. But of course, if a guy does cross the line, the consequences are enormous.”
This answer likely didn’t go far enough to address this serious concern, nor does it align with recent suspensions and discplinary actions.
"If a guy does cross the line, the consequences are enormous" does not exactly match what the consequences have actually been. https://t.co/W8lr7DpUvh
This Miles Bridges situation has gotten out of hand and the NBA is partially to blame
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Mike Sykes
The NBA needs to take a hard look at itself when it comes to how it deals with issues involving abuse. Because, let me tell you, right now? The league doesn’t look great at all.
At the center of this all is the Miles Bridges situation.
Both the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets went well out of their way to give the forward a second chance at having a career. To no one’s surprise, it looks like Bridges has completely blown it.
After Bridges spent the entire year out of the league, the NBA announced a ridiculous 10-game suspension for the forward in April of 2023 (which, by the way, is a sham in its own right). By July, the Hornets had signed him to a $7.9 million qualifying offer. It was almost like the June 2022 incident never happened.
Now, we’re being forced to live with it again.
Bridges is set to be served a criminal summons for violating a protection order stemming from the 2022 incident. According to the summons, he allegedly threatened the victim during a custody exchange, threw pool table balls at her car while their kids were in the car and threatened the victim to stop her from telling the police.
This allegedly isn’t the first time he’s violated the protective order, either. He turned himself into authorities on Friday for a warrant that was issued in January over another alleged prior violation.
This is a man who, we were told, learned his lesson. The Hornets told us he’d changed. The NBA welcomed him back with open arms as soon as it could. As it turns out, it seems we were sold a false bill of goods.
Miles Bridges is an abuser. And, yes, people deserve second chances. But those second chances are conditional. One has to truly commit themselves to becoming a better person. It’s very clear that, despite the work and therapy hours Bridges put in over the last year, that has not happened with him.
It’s up to the NBA to vet that. It’s up to the league to make sure that this does not happen again. The NBA didn’t do that. Neither did the Hornets. That’s why they both look foolish, feckless and selfish right now.
Unfortunately, that seems to be par for the course when it comes to this league right now. Just a few weeks ago, Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Nearly a month later he is still a Houston Rocket. He’s been barred from the team, sure, but only because Houston wants to trade him — not cut him.
There’s also Josh Primo, who exposed himself to women in the Spurs organization last year and was cut because of it. This year, he’s an LA Clipper. Oh, but wait! I forgot. He has a four-game suspension to serve now. Surely, that’ll teach him a lesson.
I don’t know what’s going on with the NBA. I don’t know why these punishments are so lax and the league is being so lenient. But I do know that what’s happening right now simply isn’t good enough. That’s why it keeps happening.
The NBA needs to be better.
What in the world is James Harden talking about?
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
It seems the chaotic version of James Harden we’ve all been waiting to see show up at 76ers camp is finally here.
Harden spoke to reporters on Friday about his future with the team. He was asked about his relationship with Daryl Morey again because, of course, if he’s going to play for this team he’ll have to work with him again.
Harden took things back to square one telling everyone who would listen about how broken their relationship is. Again.
James Harden tells reporters today that the relationship with Daryl Morey can't be repaired: “This is in life. When you lose trust in someone, it’s like a marriage. … I wanted to retire a Sixer. And the front office didn’t have that in their future plans.”
“This is in life. When you lose trust in someone, it’s like a marriage. … I wanted to retire a Sixer. And the front office didn’t have that in their future plans.”
I’m not saying Harden is wrong for not trusting Morey. We’ve seen how he’s done other players once they’re not useful to him anymore — Harden’s former teammates in Houston could tell you all about that. I just think this is all getting pretty ridiculous.
The trade will come. Harden just needs to hoop until it does. Hopefully, once the season tips off, he’ll be ready and we won’t have to hear about this anymore.
Where is the data that supports that conclusion, you ask? No idea. I guess we just have to take Dumars’ word for it.
“Before, it was a given conclusion that the data showed that you had to rest players a certain amount, and that justified them sitting out.
We’ve gotten more data, and it just doesn’t show that resting, sitting guys out correlates with lack of injuries, or fatigue, or anything like that. What it does show is maybe guys aren’t as efficient on the second night of a back-to-back.”
But, Joe, it was only eight months ago that Adam Silver told load management works. So what gives?
Obviously, the NBA is pushing players to play in more games. That’s why the league has a new 65-game minimum award policy and also why there are new player participation rules. We get it.
But just making things up on the fly won’t get anybody on the NBA’s side with this. Sorry, buddy.
Former Spartans basketball star Miles Bridges will officially return to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2023-24 season
Miles Bridges will officially return to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2023-24 season.
The Hornets announced earlier this week that Bridges has signed a qualifying offer to return to Charlotte for the 2023-24 season. It’s a one year deal, and he will be an unrestricted free agent after this next year.
The official terms of the deal have not been released but it was previously reported that Bridges will earn $7.9 million.
Bridges is currently on probation and also has a 30-game suspension with the NBA, ten of which he still has to serve after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence charges.
Click on the tweet below to read more on Bridges’ new one-year deal with the Hornets:
OFFICIAL: Miles Bridges has signed his Qualifying Offer and will play for us on a one-year contract for the 2023-24 season.
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It appears former Michigan State basketball star Miles Bridges will be returning to Charlotte next season
It appears former Michigan State basketball star Miles Bridges will be returning to Charlotte next season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is reporting that Bridges is “preparing” to sign a qualifying offer from the Charlotte Hornets for the 2023-24 season. The deal is reportedly worth $7.9 million.
ESPN Sources: Charlotte Hornets restricted free agent F Miles Bridges is preparing to sign a $7.9 million qualifying offer for the 2023-2024 season, clearing the way for him to become unrestricted next summer. Hornets and Bridges are far apart in extension talks. Story soon. pic.twitter.com/1uf2uh3uxQ
In signing the qualifying offer from the Hornets, Bridges will have the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Bridges and the Hornets are reportedly not close to reaching an agreed-upon extension.
Bridges is currently on probation and also has a 30-game suspension with the NBA, ten of which he still has to serve after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence charges.
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The Charlotte Hornets have extended a qualifying offer to Miles Bridges
On Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets announced that they are extended a qualifying offer to former Michigan State basketball star Miles Bridges, making him a restricted offer.
The move will allow other teams to still pursue Bridges as a free agent, but the Hornets would have the opportunity to match any offer for Bridges’ services.
Bridges is currently on probation and also has a 30-game suspension with the NBA, ten of which he still has to serve after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence charges.
The Charlotte Hornets announced today that the team has extended Qualifying Offers to the following players: Miles Bridges, Theo Maledon and PJ Washington, making all three restricted free agents.
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The league, though, credited the 25-year-old forward with 20 games served after he missed the whole 2022-23 season without a contract as a restricted free agent. That credit means Bridges will only serve a 10-game suspension if and when he signs a new contract and returns to the NBA.
It makes no sense why the league would call this a 30-game suspension if Bridges is only missing 10 games. It just feels performative so they can say it was the most significant punishment for a domestic violence case in league history, exceeding the 24-game suspension for Jeffrey Taylor in 2014.
But adding the 20-game credit just softens the actual discipline. Why should he get credit for 20 games served of a suspension from when he wasn’t even on an NBA roster?
During an interview with the Associated Press Sports Editors on Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver tried to explain why the league made this unusual decision. Via CBS Sports:
“The process (with Bridges) was that we worked with his representatives and the players association that he sat out the entire season,” Silver said. “And so we felt, on the balance, that because he had sat out an entire season and not been paid for an entire season, that we thought in fairness that would give him partial credit, I think, for having sat out that season.”
According to the commissioner, Bridges already “lost out on millions of dollars” by missing the entire campaign. But he wasn’t officially suspended for the 2022-23 season, so this is nothing more than a thinly-veiled 10-game suspension.
That is the bare minimum punishment from the league, as noted by veteran NBA reporter David Aldridge (via The Athletic):
And, keep in mind: 10 games is the absolute minimum the league can suspend a player for what it deems “Unlawful Violence,” as enumerated in Section 7 of Article VI of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The language is clear: “When a player is convicted of (including a plea of guilty, no contest, or nolo contendere to) a violent felony, he shall immediately be suspended by the NBA for a minimum of ten (10) games.”
The 20-game credit would have made more sound logic if Bridges were signed with a team last season. He would have gone on administrative leave as the league investigated the incident, and the time he missed would have counted toward his suspension.
That happened earlier this season when Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant was suspended for eight games due to conduct detrimental to the league, which included the five games he missed while the league investigated the matter.
But that scenario was impossible for Bridges, who was not employed by an NBA team. So providing him with a 20-game credit makes the 30-game suspension just an arbitrary number if the actual time missed while actually in the league is only 10 games.
Silver and the NBA could have done much more to discipline Bridges’ misconduct. But instead, they took a route that was the least harsh measure possible.
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In doing their due diligence on players who could help them, the Lakers are keeping tabs on the availability of rising star Miles Bridges.
It’s no secret the Los Angeles Lakers have been canvassing the NBA for trade offers for a while, and they would love to acquire one or two more serviceable frontcourt players.
One player who may be available, but is in a unique situation, is Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges.
At age 24, 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Bridges can play either forward position and seems to be a rising star. Last season, he achieved career highs of 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.8 blocked shots a game, and he has perhaps shown signs of developing a reliable 3-point shot.
He is a restricted free agent, however, he is facing a felony domestic violence case for an incident earlier this year.
The Lakers, along with other teams, are reportedly keeping tabs on what happens with Bridges.
"I'm told there are several teams, including the Lakers and Pistons that are monitoring the situation."
“Miles Bridges is a restricted free agent, so he is eligible to be signed by any team, but there is a league investigation ongoing after he pleaded no contest to a felony case. I’m told there are several teams including the Lakers and the Pistons that are monitoring the situation and waiting to see exactly what transpires with his conversations with Charlotte. And otherwise, he has a qualifying offer that did expire, but he still remains a restricted free agent.”
Bridges would hypothetically make a nice addition to the Purple and Gold, although at 6-foot-6 he may be a bit undersized for the power forward position. In addition, he’d likely have to come off the bench for L.A. after starting 188 of his 291 career contests.
Miles Bridges pleads no contest to felony domestic violence charges, will accept 3 years of probation
We finally have an update on the extremely sad story surrounding Miles Bridges. On Thursday, Baxter Holmes of ESPN reported that Bridges has pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and he will face three years of probation but no jail time.
Pleading no contest is different than pleading guilty or not guilty, in that you accept the punishment given by the court without admitting guilt.
This summer, Bridges was accursed of his then-girlfriend of assaulting her in front of their two children. Three felony charges were filed in July, to which Bridges originally pleaded not guilty.
NEWS: Hornets restricted free agent Miles Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court and will face three years of probation and no jail time as part of a deal with prosecutors. ESPN story: https://t.co/WYvFuSbX3M
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