Tag: NBA Preseason

OKC Thunder set to play 2023 preseason game in Canada

The Thunder will play against the Pistons on Oct. 12.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Thursday that they will play a preseason game in Canada this year.

The Thunder will play the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Oct. 12 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This will mark OKC’s first international preseason game since 2016.

As most know, the Thunder roster is littered with Canadians. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort are preparing to represent Canada in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

This gives Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort a chance to play in their home country outside their annual road contest against the Toronto Raptors.

“So excited to bring the guys here and play here in Montreal,” Dort said about the news. “It’s been so long since I’ve been here at home, so it’s going to be so great to play here and in front of the fans.”

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Luka Garza signs two-way deal with Minnesota Timberwolves

Iowa center Luka Garza has found a new home with the Minnesota Timberwolves, signing a two-way deal.

Luka Garza has a new home in Minnesota.

The Athletic and Stadium NBA inside Shams Charania reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves have signed former Iowa center Luka Garza to a two-way deal. Already under contract, the real news is that they are converting the deal to a two-way contract.

Garza’s confirmed position in the Wolves’ organization comes following a strong showing in the NBA Preseason. Garza averaged 7.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting just over 61 percent from the floor. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch called Garza a perfect fit for the Timberwolves system following Minnesota’s 118-113 win over the Lakers.

“He’s the perfect system fit for us. Great acquisition by our front office. He’s a guy I think can really grow into our system here. He can stretch the floor and he can score around the basket. That’s a great combo. Not a lot of bigs can do that,” Finch said.

Garza displayed the three ball this preseason, hitting 66% of his 3-point attempts.

Given Minnesota’s current center situation, bringing in multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert alongside the returning Naz Reid, it seems more likely than not that Garza will spend most of the upcoming season with the Timberwolves’ G-League affiliate.

Garza was a standout performer for the Motor City Cruise, Detroit’s G-League affiliate, earning a spot on the All-NBAGL third team last season.

While the 23-year-old may not see a ton of playing time this season with some more established talent ahead of him on the depth chart, his ability to stretch the court from the center position could provide value off the bench.

Even if it is not this year though, it does seem that Finch and the Wolves are keen on building Garza’s game and keeping him around as a system fit for the future.

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Nets vs. Bucks preseason preview: How to watch, TV channel, start time

The Brooklyn Nets will be facing off against Eastern Conference power Milwaukee Bucks as they continue the preseason schedule.

The Brooklyn Nets look to face Eastern Conference powerhouse the Milwaukee Bucks in their upcoming NBA preseason matchup on Wednesday night, and if you’re interested in watching the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Both organizations understand that the beginning of the regular season is just around the corner, and the team really needs to figure out their game plan.

Head coach Steve Nash has already announced that sharpshooter Joe Harris wouldn’t be participating in the game as he’s still nursing a sore foot. Seth Curry also won’t be playing yet, as Nash is hopeful that he’ll return by the season opener. Nash also later announced that young talent Edmond Sumner didn’t practice due to a hip strain.

Here’s when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:

John Lucas on Rockets rookie Tari Eason: ‘Better Dennis Rodman’

John Lucas on #Rockets rookie Tari Eason: “He is a prime example of a better Dennis Rodman. You don’t have to run plays for him.” Jalen Green adds: “He’s a dog.”

HOUSTON — It’s hard to describe how this has happened with just two exhibition games played. Still, Rockets rookie forward Tari Eason is making media members, as well as his fellow players and coaches, run out of adjectives for how well he has played. And Houston still has two more preseason and 82 regular-season games left.

Eason, 21, led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 25 minutes of work in the Rockets’ 116-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Toyota Center. His performance was duly noted by Houston assistant coach John Lucas II, who has taken over the head coaching duties while Stephen Silas is in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol.

“Second night, not one play, not many plays (called for Eason), another 24 and nine,” Lucas said. “He missed the 3 and got the ball right back and laid it back up. Big momentum for us. I was on him early because he looks like he gets in a daze, but he’s really focused.”

The praises for the former 2021 Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year did not stop there. In the same week he compared rookie Jabari Smith Jr. to San Antonio legend David Robinson, Lucas tossed out another one-time Spurs comparison for Eason.

“He is a prime example of a better Dennis Rodman,” said Lucas, whose first NBA head coaching job was with the Spurs in the early 1990s. “That is a good fit for him. I have been trying to see who he plays like. You don’t have to run plays for him, but you can pencil in 16 to 18 points for him, and he is getting better. He is crashing the offensive glass. He is running the floor and getting steals.”

For those who have had the opportunity to be around Eason, you can tell that he is a basketball savant who studies the league, both past and present. So, it was no surprise he knew everything Rodman brought to the court every night during his 15 years in the NBA.

“That’s a super, super big honor to be compared to a legend, a Hall of Famer, someone like Dennis Rodman,” said Eason, who is averaging 22.5 points and 9 rebounds per game in the preseason. “Obviously, we both have a knack for finding the ball, playing defense, and bringing high energy. Any time you’re in talks with someone like that, it’s super, super special.”

One player who clearly recognizes that energy while feeding off it on the court is Eason’s teammate and 2021-22 NBA All-Rookie first-team selection, Jalen Green.

“We were just talking about that on the bench,” Green said in referencing a conversation (about Eason) with backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. “He’s a dog. He is giving us multiple efforts offensively and defensively. He just brings energy. That’s going to be super big for our team going into the season.”

Houston (2-0) is holding an open practice with fans on Saturday at Toyota Center before heading to Miami to play the Heat (2-1) in Monday’s third preseason game. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central.

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Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason have dazzling debuts as Rockets blast Spurs

Jabari Smith Jr. put on a show with 21 points (6-of-8 on 3-pointers) in 24 minutes as Houston crushed San Antonio in the preseason opener. Here’s a look at postgame interviews and analysis.

In their first appearances at Toyota Center, newly drafted rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason were outstanding in Sunday night’s preseason opener as the Houston Rockets crushed the visiting San Antonio Spurs, 134-96 (box score).

Smith, drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round out of Auburn, started and scored 21 points in 24 minutes on 8-of-15 shooting (53.8%), including 5-of-8 (62.5%) from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Eason — drafted at No. 17 overall out of LSU — added 21 points and 9 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, shooting 9-of-13 (69.2%).

But, as indicated by the 38-point margin, Smith and Eason had plenty of help in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Other Sunday standouts for the Rockets included:

  • Alperen Sengun: 13 points, 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 20 minutes
  • Eric Gordon: 13 points, 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), 2 assists in 16 minutes
  • Josh Christopher: 15 points, 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), 3-of-4 on 3-pointers (75.0%), 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 21 minutes

Houston’s starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggled to shoot against the Spurs, making just 6-of-21 shots (28.6%), combined. However, the Rockets were a team-high +24 and +23, respectively, in the minutes that Green and Porter played.

San Antonio was led by veteran big man Jakob Poeltl, who had 9 points (57.1% FG), 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in 17 minutes. Devin Vassell scored a team-high 13 points but shot just 4-of-13 from the field (30.8%) and 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%).

Scroll on for postgame interviews and analysis. The Rockets (1-0) will resume their preseason schedule on Friday at home versus Toronto, while the Spurs (0-1) host Orlando on Thursday.

Rockets working on new offensive sets to best utilize Alperen Sengun

“We are starting five-out, and then we are going into four-out and one-in,” Stephen Silas of Houston’s new-look offense, which aims to best utilize Alperen Sengun. “That is new for us.”

LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Rockets concluded their three-day training camp session on Thursday at the Legacy Center at McNeese State University and are headed back to Houston to prepare for their first preseason game on Sunday versus San Antonio.

One of the main focuses for head coach Stephen Silas was to implement a new offensive scheme that would help benefit rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. and second-year center Alperen Sengun.

With Smith’s ability to space the floor with his shooting and Sengun’s low-post presence, Silas is looking for a way to utilize and enhance both players’ skills in the frontcourt.

“We are starting five-out and then we are going into four-out and one-in,” Silas told reporters after practice. “That is new for us. Getting to those spots are new to us, so we are doing a lot of drilling (teaching) along those lines.”

The departure of sharpshooting big man Christian Wood, who was traded in the offseason to Dallas, allows Sengun to be inserted into the starting lineup. His unique skillset as a physical post presence and a strong passer will let the Rockets do different things on offense.

“I want him to roll on the pick-and-roll, and I want us to look for him when he rolls,” Silas said when asked about using Sengun in the new scheme. “He is such a good playmaker and being static when we are making plays, when he is making plays, isn’t great for our offense.”

“So, if he rolls and we can hit him on the short roll, and now he is attacking the rim or making a play for a teammate, or those look to the corner pass to the wing,” Silas added. “That is what we are trying to get him to do.”

Sengun followed in the footsteps of teammates Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green by playing some of his best basketball during a seven-game stretch to finish his rookie season, which occurred with Wood on the sidelines. The 20-year-old averaged 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game and shot 49% overall in that run, including back-to-back games with double digits in points and rebounds.

Having Sengun on the floor has proven very helpful, as he has excellent court vision, and the offense can be run through him once he pops to the top of the key. One focal point for Silas is to ensure that teammates continue to move when he has the ball in his hands.

“I don’t want him catching and everyone else standing around watching,” Silas said. “His basketball instincts are so good that him standing still takes away one of the advantages he has, as far as catching and making a play.”

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September Sports Betting Calendar: NFL and NCAAF Week 1, WNBA Finals and US Open Finals

Football is back.

It’s the time of year you’ve all been waiting for, so you don’t need this calendar to tell you football is back. There are so many intriguing debuts and matchups to look forward to in this first month of the season, but I simplified the calendar to give a quick glimpse of the prime-time matchups.

In addition to the NFL, we’ve got Week 1 of college football action with a few Top 25 matchups on the slate, though rankings are sure to change by the time some of these matchups roll around.

Finally, the WNBA will crown a champion, as will the US Open. And the MLB enters it final stretch of the season before the playoffs begin. Here’s your betting calendar for September.

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OKC Thunder partial 2022-23 preseason schedule update

Here is what we know so far about the Thunder preseason schedule.

While NBA schedules still haven’t been released, parts of the preseason schedule for the Oklahoma City Thunder have been leaked. Let’s take a look at which preseason games the team is reportedly set to play.

  • vs. the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 5 at Tulsa
  • at San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 13
  • vs. NBL’s Adelaide 36ers

The 36ers were also the NBL team for Josh Giddey and Ousmane Dieng before they joined the Thunder.

The Thunder are continuing their tradition of playing a preseason game two hours down the road at Tulsa’s BOK Center.

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Lakers will host Nets in first NBA preseason game of 2021-22

The Los Angeles Lakers will play host to the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA’s preseason opener in October.

The NBA announced the preseason schedule for all teams, and the first game starts off with a bang.

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 3 at 12:30 p.m. in what is automatically a highly anticipated matchup.

Both teams stacked their respective rosters with former All-Stars who can still contribute on any given night.

The Lakers, who have LeBron James and Anthony Davis, added Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo and more to the fold, including youngsters Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk.

Brooklyn, who have Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, brought in Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap and re-signed Blake Griffin.

Los Angeles also signed former Brooklyn Net DeAndre Jordan after the Nets wanted to move on, so that factor is involved as well.

The preseason kicks off in less than a month.

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Reaction, Stats: Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. combine for 70 points in Warriors preseason finale win over Kings, 113-109

During their final preseason game of 2020, Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. combined for 70 points against the Kings.

After Kyle Guy’s game-winning buzzer-beater spoiled their chances of a comeback on Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors got revenge against the Sacramento Kings in the 2020 preseason finale on Thursday.

Following a high-scoring first half, Steph Curry led a big third quarter to give the Warriors a 113-109 win against the Kings at Golden 1 Center. Thursday’s win over the Kings pushed the Warriors to a 2-1 record in the preseason.

The Warriors managed to win games against the Kings and the Denver Nuggets despite missing Draymond Green and James Wiseman. After reportedly testing positive for COVID-19 at the start of training camp, the frontcourt pair were sidelined for all of Golden State’s preseason campaign.

The Warriors will have four days before they travel to Brooklyn for the regular-season opener against the Nets on Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Here are four notable observations from Golden State’s preseason win against their Northern California rival.