Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Jokic-less Nuggets beating the Clippers.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-104 in LA without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Reggie Jackson (35 points, 13 assists) and DeAndre Jordan (21 points, 13 rebounds) led the Nuggets to victory against their former team.
Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the latest Clippers loss.
What lefty batters have the most home runs in MLB postseason history?
Various reports have mentioned the Los Angeles Clippers as a possible John Wall suitor this offseason, but would he accept a potential backup role behind Reggie Jackson?
Houston has a plethora of young guards on its roster for next season, which makes veteran point guard John Wall unlikely to return to action for the Rockets next season. Now I know that I am not telling most Rockets fans something they had not already prepared for, especially with Wall being held out of the entire 2021-22 NBA season.
Houston tried to make a move before the trade deadline to find Wall a new place to play, but potential deals fell through. A new team could acquire the five-time former All-Star from the Rockets this offseason.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently alluded to the Los Angeles Clippers being interested in Wall, who averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game in the 40 games he played in two seasons ago.
The Clippers’ current issue at the point guard position is they have no true backup for Reggie Jackson, who is under contract for one more season. If Wall is traded to Los Angeles, it will be interesting to see if he would buy into coming off the bench, something he was not interested in doing for Houston. Moreover, if the Clippers are unable to pull off a Wall trade due to the difficulty of matching salaries and choose to wait on a potential contract buyout, it’s possible that Wall could subsequently choose a destination with a more clear path to starting minutes.
Wall, 31, has a player option for the 2022-23 season at $47.4 million. If he is not traded and ultimately can agree to a buyout with the Rockets, he would immediately become an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any NBA team. Reportedly, Wall’s goal is to resolve his situation with Houston before the start of free agency in early July.
[lawrence-related id=101013,100713]
[mm-video type=video id=01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg/01g2zp11zveerb1jc6hg-77ebad4633c59c766eaba5b2f1f78a3a.jpg]
[listicle id=101352]
Enough about the future. Let’s focus on this weekend’s playoff picture.
Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
What’s good, family! Welcome to Layup Lines. It’s your boy Sykes here to lead you into tonight’s NBA action. But first a quick thought.
I know things have been this way for a while, but can we stop looking so far ahead into the future when it comes to the NBA?
ESPN’s Jay Williams did just that today when he made waves on the internet by saying LaMelo Ball is not long for Charlotte. He’s literally putting the kid on the Lakers already.
Never mind the fact that he’s just finished his 2nd season as an NBA player or the fact that there’s this whole restricted free agency thing that makes it all the more likely he’ll be in Charlotte until, at least, 2027.
Forget all that. The dude is just a Laker already.
This is a huge problem with NBA coverage. And it’s not just a Jay Williams thing or an ESPN thing. People everywhere are more obsessed with the transactions in the NBA than basketball itself. This is what Kevin Durant meant when he said NBA fans don’t like anything about the NBA last year— there’s plenty to talk about, but we never talk about it.
Instead of talking about Ball being the youngest player ever to make 200 3-pointers in a year, we’re shipping him to the Lakers. Before Giannis Antetokounmpo re-signed with the Bucks and won a title, we shipped him to the Warriors. You get the drift by now.
We’re way too focused on the future with the NBA and what will come as opposed to what’s happening right now. We just had 4 awesome play-in games. We’ve had a historic MVP race. There are plenty of awesome playoff matchups to talk about.
And instead? LaMelo to the Lakers dominated the online conversation. We need to do better. Much, much, much better.
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Don’t trick yourself when it comes to the Hawks vs. the Cavaliers tonight. We tend to get a bit too caught up in the regular season at times, my colleague Prince Grimes writes.
But the Hawks than the Cavaliers coming into the season. They certainly feel like the better team right now. Roll with that.
Atlanta has a bottom five defensive rating over the course of the season but ranks 11th in the last 15 games, better than the Cavs who are 24th in that time. Paired with a top 10 offense in that span, the Hawks have the league’s seventh-best net rating. As hard as it is to do, I’m ignoring what we’ve seen over the course of most of 82 games and taking the Hawks to ride this momentum and end up in the playoffs where they always belonged.
(All odds via Tipico.)
Clippers (-105) vs. Pelicans (-1.5, -115), O/U 215.5, 10 PM ET
The play-in game out west is probably going to be the most interesting one tonight with Paul George missing time in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. The Pelicans looked dominant against the Spurs and CJ McCollum can’t miss right now. I’m going Pels -1.5 tonight.
— Paul George (health and safety protocols) is out for Friday night’s game against the Pelicans
—Jarrett Allen (finger) is probable for the Cavaliers for Friday’s game against the Hawks.
—Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) is questionable for the Hawks for Friday’s action against the Cavs.
—Luka Doncic (calf strain) will miss game one against the Jazz on Saturday and will be day-to-day after that game.
—Steph Curry (foot) says he’ll be ready to go for game 1 against the Nuggets.
—The Clippers and Pelicans game will determine how the Trail Blazers’ rebuild goes this summer, our Cole Huff writes.
—Joel Embiid has some advice for James Harden ahead of the playoffs, from Ky Carlin Sixers Wire. Advice for the playoffs never feels great.
—The Rockets G-League affiliate just won its 4th NBA G-League title which is pretty incredible, per Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire.
—Brad Stevens just shut down the possibility of him coaching the Lakers, from Justin Quinn of Celtics Wire.
That’s all, folks! Have a great weekend.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. SeeTipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
Rockets rookie Jalen Green has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four outings, but it again wasn’t enough to stop the losing streak for the Rockets — which is now at 10 games.
Two nights after Ivica Zubac was the clear story with 15 rebounds and 6 blocks in a narrow win at Houston, the Los Angeles big man was even more efficient in Tuesday’s rematch and made sure it wasn’t as close.
Zubac had 22 points (66.7% FG) and 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes, leading his Clippers to a 113-100 win (box score) at Toyota Center over the young Rockets. Rookie guard Jalen Green heated up in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points on 9-of-21 shooting (42.9%), along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. However, it proved to be too little, too late.
Reggie Jackson added 17 points and 6 assists for the Clippers, while Marcus Morris Sr. scored 18 points and hit 4-of-6 on 3-pointers. (66.7%).
Christian Wood had 17 points (63.6% FG) and 8 rebounds for Houston, but he frequently struggled to match up defensively with the stronger Zubac. Jae’Sean Tate had 12 points (50.0% FG) and 9 rebounds.
With the loss, Houston (15-46) continues to own the Western Conference’s worst record. They have now lost 10 straight games, which is their second-longest skid this season. Meanwhile, the Clippers (33-31) have won four straight and are building on their lead for the No. 8 spot in the West playoff race. Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
Houston’s defense improved versus the Clippers and key reserves (Alperen Sengun, KJ Martin, Garrison Mathews) played well, but it wasn’t quite enough to avoid a ninth straight loss.
Rookie big man Alperen Sengun impressed with 15 points in only 16 minutes on 5-of-8 shooting (62.5%), but it wasn’t enough for Houston in Sunday’s 99-98 home loss (box score) to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The young and rebuilding Rockets (15-45), who have the NBA’s worst defense on the 2021-22 season to date, had their best defensive effort in some time. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome a cold-shooting night from the starting backcourt of Dennis Schroder and Jalen Green.
Schroder had 11 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, but he shot just 4-of-15 (26.7%) from the field. Green scored 10 points but shot just 4-of-18 (22.2%), and one of those misses was a 3-pointer in the closing seconds that would have tied the game at Toyota Center.
Kevin Porter Jr., Houston’s usual starter at point guard, did not play due to a sprained left ankle. He is considered day-to-day moving forward.
The Clippers were led by point guard Reggie Jackson (26 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) and big man Ivica Zubac (14 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks). Those blocks included a rejection of Houston’s Christian Wood in the final 20 seconds on a driving attempt to tie the game.
#Rockets Christian Wood was asked if he thought he was fouled on that late block by Zubac (16.1 left, Hou down 97-95, was called a PF, but overturned on replay challenge), "I did, but they saw it differently." Zubac had a career high 6 blocks tonight. pic.twitter.com/4AaNg5ZShv
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) February 28, 2022
Wood had 15 points (50.0% FG) and 7 rebounds in his 32 minutes, and he closed the game despite Sengun’s offense off the bench. The Rockets stayed competitive with defense and hot shooting from their second unit, with Sengun flanked by Garrison Mathews (17 points, 4-of-8 on 3-pointers) and Kenyon Martin (10 points, 3-of-3 on 3-pointers).
With the loss, Houston has lost nine straight games, which is their second-longest losing streak of the season. The Clippers (32-31) have won three straight. Scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction.
If Jackson’s next team continues the blueprint for how he was used on offense this postseason, “Mr. June” could become a man of all months.
This had to be a different Reggie Jackson.
It couldn’t have been the same guy who averaged all of five points per game in last season’s playoffs. It certainly couldn’t have been the same guy who was bought out by the Detroit Pistons earlier that same year. Right?
Wrong. Same Jackson. Different usage.
“That group revitalized me,” Jackson said of his move to the Clippers, via the LA Times’ Andrew Greif.
Revitalized, though, implies returning to the same standard. The version of Jackson that exploded in the 2020-21 playoffs for the LA Clippers not only coupled increased assertiveness with an improved shooting stroke, but also filled a notably different role in offensive sets than in previous seasons. As Jackson is set to earn a big payday this offseason after dropping nearly 18 points per game across his postseason run, his next employer should take note of how he was utilized by the Clippers and coach Tyronn Lue to ensure that “Mr. June” sticks around for good.
Jackson’s explosion might seem unfathomable. He was solid in the regular season for the Clippers, putting up 11 points a game on a career high 58% true shooting, but became the team’s legitimate third-best player – and second-best after Kawhi Leonard went down with an injury – once the calendar hit June. On a team that made the Western Conference Finals, no less! Reggie Jackson!
Clipper fans gave Reggie Jackson a lot of love during these playoffs. He went from a player fans didn't like last year, to arguably their favorite this year. Moved him to tears during his postgame press conference.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) July 1, 2021
Part of Jackson’s scoring barrage – dropping at least 20 in five of his last seven postseason games – certainly came out of an increased role with Leonard injured. Perhaps, then, “Mr. June” was simply lurking beneath the surface of the player we saw in the regular season. Yet the frequency of how his offensive possessions were spent was notably different, as he was put in more situations that enhanced his effectiveness.
Jackson was once a prolific ballhandler in the pick-and-roll in Detroit as a natural point guard. In his last full season with the Pistons, they comprised 36.6% of his offensive possessions, and he made decent use of them, ranking in the 65th percentile of players in scoring efficiency with that play type.
Yet whatever the reason – different system, role adjustment, etc. – Jackson didn’t have nearly the same success this season with the Clippers, ranking in about the 42nd percentile. He spent less time running pick-and-rolls, with frequency of 27.9%, but that still made up a large chunk of his offensive possessions.
Here’s the kicker – in the playoffs, Jackson’s frequency of orchestrating pick-and-rolls careened to about 18%. He still wasn’t generating much offense out of those, ranking in the 45th percentile, indicating this was pretty much the same Jackson we saw in the regular season. But his overall scoring erupted. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence.
Rather than working as a primary conductor of offense, Jackson saw his role expand in isolation. Just 10.6% of his possessions in the regular seasons ended in isolations, compared to about 20% in the playoffs. Again, this was basically the same player – he generated 1.09 points per possession (PPP) in the playoffs and 1.03 in the regular season in isolation, with a menial percentile difference – just one in a notably different role. It might seem odd to suggest to a future coach that a once-prolific point guard like Jackson should spend more time creating for himself than running the two-man game, but the basic concept this suggests is that he’ll find more success as a secondary ballhandler and shot-creator rather than a primary facilitator.
Where Jackson did seem to truly evolve was in transition. Those possessions took up about the same overall percentage both before and during the playoffs, but Jackson stepped up his efficiency from just the 27th percentile to the 61st. That was apparent in the eye test, too, as he tortured the Phoenix Suns with pull-up threes off the catch and…coast-to-coast breakaway dunks, apparently?
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do_NGNQ837c
That’s a 6’2 guard with eight total dunks in the regular season doing that, just to clarify.
Yet his success finishing plays in transition doesn’t invalidate the role his other stats suggest he should fill. Jackson is more than capable of pushing a fast break on or off the ball; he just seems more suited to play off a primary ballhandler in the halfcourt, as he did this postseason with Paul George. He’d fit in beautifully next to, say, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the Celtics, Luka Doncic on the Mavericks or, heck, just staying put and keeping the good vibes rolling in Los Angeles.
Reggie Jackson said he’s thankful for the team. Said he doesn’t know what the future holds but he’ll “forever be a Clipper.”
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) July 1, 2021
If Jackson’s next team continues the blueprint for how he was used on offense this postseason, “Mr. June” could become a man of all months.
All playtype stats as of June 29, 2021 via NBA.com.
[mm-video type=video id=01f9haym3twap2rx9vdw playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f9haym3twap2rx9vdw/01f9haym3twap2rx9vdw-dcbaf495e7160ed5cd590ef5cd130ecd.jpg]
[vertical-gallery id=26448]
You can’t help but be happy for Reggie Jackson
What makes the playoffs so tough is that somebody has to lose.
Every team goes out there and gives it their all to try and win a championship. 16 teams enter the playoffs. Only 1 team leaves with the trophy. That means there’s a lot more heartbreak than there is joy — especially after a deep playoff run.
But Reggie Jackson didn’t seem to feel any of that after the Clippers’ Game 6 loss to the Suns. Was he sad the Clippers lost? Absolutely. But he made it clear in his emotional postgame press conference, he wasn’t crying tears of sadness.
No. Instead, he was thankful. He showed his teammates and the organization so much love.
An emotional and tearful Reggie Jackson talks about how much this team and his best friend Paul George have meant to him and his career. pic.twitter.com/9esDrS3P1U
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) July 1, 2021
“It was the most challenging year. The most fun year. Not sure when you’re gonna play. Ups and downs. Guys getting injured. Still finding my way in this locker room. First thing I told those guys was ‘thank you for saving me.’ I appreciate it. I appreciate every guy in that locker room. I appreciate Paul [George] for getting on that phone last year and the end of the season as time went by in Detroit. I’m thankful for everything I’ve experienced here.”
There’s a bit of context to this. It was Paul George who had to convince Reggie Jackson to play basketball again. He was actually going to retire after the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets last postseason, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne.
Now, here he was in these playoffs less than a year later making big play after big play for the Clippers. He was phenomenal.
He continued in his presser just gushing about the Clippers and his team with tears in his eyes.
“This city makes me feel at home. This organization welcoming me. My quirks, my strengths, my weaknesses. I’m not here today without this team. I’m not still playing without this team. I thank them for everything. In my heart this will forever be a special year. Like I said, it sucks that we didn’t win it, but I ride with those guys. Those guys rode with me all year and I ride with those guys. That’s what makes this one tougher. That makes this one extremely tough. To be the ones that, not getting the win, to be the ones at the end of the season, not the ones hoisting the trophy. I think that group revitalized me.
They found ways to push me every day, to challenge me, ask me to be better, encourage me to be better. We became family. This has been an extremely special year under these extremely difficult circumstances that everybody’s been under with the pandemic, COVID. Last year at the half, the way this team took me in, the way this core group welcomed me, the way that they’ve allowed me to be myself, like I said, I’m forever thankful for this group.”
From almost being out of the NBA to being one of the breakout stars in the postseason. Shoutout to Reggie Jackson. What an incredible story and an incredible comeback.
I don’t know if he’ll be back with the Clippers next year — as Paul George said, he made himself some money in these playoffs. He’ll have plenty of offers to choose from.
But, man, it’d be nice to see him run this back.
[mm-video type=video id=01f9cs5pc2a2yn67snrm playlist_id=01f09p3bf720d8rg02 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f9cs5pc2a2yn67snrm/01f9cs5pc2a2yn67snrm-9b2be90a340bacbc41e4e80ff441460f.jpg]
Clippers star Paul George exploded in the third quarter and Reggie Jackson added important points in the fourth as LA beat the Suns in Game 5.
After the Phoenix Suns entered the fourth quarter of Game 5 trailing the Los Angeles Clippers by 14 points, it took just five minutes for them to cut the deficit to four.
But then former OKC Thunder players ice the win for the Clippers. LA went on a 14-2 run behind Reggie Jackson and Paul George, clinching the 116-102 Clippers win and forcing Game 6 at Staples Center.
To start the decisive stretch, Jackson hit a 3 and George hit a 2. After Suns forward Torrey Craig hit a layup, Jackson scored five points in a row. George scored the next four points.
If you’ve been waiting to break out the Playoff P moniker and have yet to do it during George’s playoff run, now is the time.
George scored 20 points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth.
He finished with 41 points on an incredible 15-for-20 shooting performance, and he made all eight free throws he attempted. George also had 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The wing was in his MVP-caliber form and has scored at least 20 points in every playoff game this season.
Jackson similarly continued his stellar play. With 23 points, Jackson has scored at least 20 points in six of the last seven games, and in that outlier, he posted 19. He has been a key part of the Clippers this offseason and is a big reason they’re still in contention.
On the Suns side, Chris Paul had 22 points on 8-for-19 shooting to go with eight assists. Fellow former Thunder guard Cam Payne had just five points for the second game in a row, and he has not looked good since the ankle injury that forced him out of Game 3 after only four minutes. Devin Booker had 31 points.
Game 6 will take place on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central Time (6 p.m. Pacific Time) and will be aired on ESPN.
Terance Mann and former Thunder players Paul George and Reggie Jackson led a comeback charge to lead the Clippers over the Jazz and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The Los Angeles Clippers are headed to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
On the back of second-year wing Terance Mann and former Oklahoma City Thunder players Reggie Jackson and Paul George, the Clippers overcame a 25-point deficit to take down the Utah Jazz in Game 6 and clinch the playoff series.
Mann was unbelievable, scoring 39 points on 15-for-21 shooting and making seven 3-pointers.
He had never scored 30 points in a game and broke 20 only four times in his career prior to Friday night. As a rookie, Mann scored a total of 99 points before earning a role this season.
Jackson has emerged in these playoffs as a threat, breaking 20 points for the third time in this series. He finished the game with 27 points and 10 assists, his first double-double since February 12, 2020.
The guard shot 10-for-16 from the field and had three steals.
George had 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while shooting 10-for-24 from the field. He has been phenomenal this series, averaging 29 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 41.6% from 3.
The Clippers trailed by 25 points before embarking on a comeback in which they put together separate runs of 11-0 and 17-0 in the third quarter to get back into it.
Los Angeles went 14-for-19 from 3 in the second half, including a pair late in the fourth quarter by Patrick Beverley, and outscored Utah 81-47 over those 24 minutes of play.
The Clippers overcame Donovan Mitchell’s 39 points and the enormous deficit to get the win.
With the victory, Los Angeles advances to the Western Conference Finals to face off against the Phoenix Suns. This this is the Clippers’ first ever appearance in the conference championships and the Suns’ first since 2010. Los Angeles has never been to the NBA Finals, while the Suns have not been there since 1993.
