Tag: Xavier Tillman Sr.

Xavier Tillman Sr., Desmond Bane: Grizzlies are coming back to Memphis for Game 7

After the Grizzlies won Game 5 versus the Lakers, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Desmond Bane seemed to guarantee a Game 7 back in Memphis.

The Memphis Grizzlies staved off elimination for at least one contest when they ran away with a 116-99 victory in Game 5 over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

They started fast, building a 17-point lead in the second quarter. Although Anthony Davis and company cut that advantage to one in the third quarter, the Grizzlies flexed and rebuilt it soon afterward, leaving the Lakers disappointed.

The Grizzlies are one of the feistiest and chippiest teams in the NBA, and they’re never shy about expressing their feelings. Big man Xavier Tillman Sr. said the team is going to “come back for Game 7 for sure,” referring to a winner-take-all contest that would take place in Memphis if necessary (h/t Lakers Daily).

Guard Desmond Bane, who led Memphis in scoring with 33 points and had his second straight 30-plus outing, backed Tillman’s bold statement.

The Lakers contributed to their own disappointment by going cold late in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter. They started settling for outside shots and finished the game shooting just 40.2% overall and 25.6% from 3-point range. LeBron James, in particular, struggled mightily, going just 5-of-17 from the field and turning the ball over five times.

Game 6 will be at Crypto.com Arena on Friday evening.

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Spartans in the NBA: End of season rankings

The 2020-21 NBA season has come to an end and with it gives us time to reflect on which former Spartans did the best in the NBA this season.

The 2020-21 NBA season has come to an end and with it we take time to reflect on which former Spartans did the best in the NBA this season. From Miles Bridges to Cassius Winston to Jaren Jackson Jr., let’s take a look at how the Spartans fared:

Spartans in NBA Playoffs: See who will be competing in 2021 postseason

Here’s a breakdown of the Spartans that’ll be in the NBA playoffs that begin later this week, with a schedule on when they’ll be playing.

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The NBA postseason is back, and once again Michigan State will be well represented with numerous alumni battling it out for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Six different former Spartans will be playing in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Here’s a breakdown of the Spartans that’ll be in the NBA playoffs that begin on Tuesday, with a schedule on when each player will be on the court:

Spartans in the NBA Update: Gary Harris on new team; JJJ makes season debut

The last time we did a Spartans in the NBA, Gary Harris was still a Denver Nugget, but has since been traded to the Orlando Magic.

The last time we did a Spartans in the NBA, Gary Harris was still a Denver Nugget, but has since been traded to the Orlando Magic. Miles Bridges was the sixth man on the Hornets, but has now cracked the starting rotation after an injury to Gordon Hayward. Also, Jaren Jackson Jr. finally made his season debut and has not disappointed.

Let’s see how other Spartans have done through the NBA as we near the end of the season:

Former Spartan Xavier Tillman Sr. records first career NBA double-double

Xavier Tillman Sr. recorded his first career double-double in the NBA on Monday night in a Memphis Grizzlies’ loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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Former Michigan State Spartan Xavier Tillman Sr. recorded his first career double-double in the NBA on Monday night in the Memphis Grizzlies’ overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Tillman finished with 18 points and a team-high 14 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Tillman had been averaging 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, so his Monday night performance was by far the best of his young career.

Tillman and the Grizzlies are in eighth place in the Western Conference and squarely in the playoff race. Hopefully Memphis can play its way into the playoffs so Michigan State fans will have a pair of Spartans — Jaren Jackson also plays for the Grizzlies — to watch in the postseason.

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Former Spartan Xavier Tillman Sr. records first career NBA double-double

Xavier Tillman Sr. recorded his first career double-double in the NBA on Monday night in a Memphis Grizzlies’ loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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Former Michigan State Spartan Xavier Tillman Sr. recorded his first career double-double in the NBA on Monday night in the Memphis Grizzlies’ overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Tillman finished with 18 points and a team-high 14 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Tillman had been averaging 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, so his Monday night performance was by far the best of his young career.

Tillman and the Grizzlies are in eighth place in the Western Conference and squarely in the playoff race. Hopefully Memphis can play its way into the playoffs so Michigan State fans will have a pair of Spartans — Jaren Jackson also plays for the Grizzlies — to watch in the postseason.

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Pair of former Spartans go head-to-head in NBA action tonight

Xavier Tillman Sr. and Miles Bridges will be in the same basketball game for the first time since March 18, 2018 against Syracuse.

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Xavier Tillman Sr. and Miles Bridges will be in the same basketball game for the first time since March 18, 2018 against Syracuse. But, this time it will be in a different landscape as it will be their first time going against each other in the NBA.

Bridges and the Charlotte Hornets will travel to Memphis to play Tillman Sr. and the Grizzlies in a matchup of fringe playoff teams. The Hornets come into the matchup with a record of 12-13 while the Grizzlies are 9-10.

Bridges has averaged 9.8 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game in 26 minutes per game. Bridges is also coming off back-to-back double-doubles and now has three double-doubles on the season.

Tillman Sr. has averaged 8.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 0.8 blocks per game and 1.1 steals per game so far this season. Tillman Sr. has had two games in which he came a rebound or point away from a double-double. Maybe tonight is the night Tillman Sr. gets his first career double-double.

Watch the Hornets and Grizzlies face-off as tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. tonight.

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WATCH: Xavier Tillman throws down poster dunk for Grizzlies

Along with almost getting his first career double-double, he also hammered down a ferocious poster dunk over Jakob Poeltl last night.

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Xavier Tillman has been making quite the name for himself early on in his NBA career. Tillman his quickly inserted himself as a key piece of the team after only playing 15 games this season. He’s even assumed starting duties after key injuries to the team and he has rewarded the Grizzlies belief in him. He came one rebound away from his first career double-double last night.ย Not only that, but he also made a highlight play on the offensive end.

He brought out his inner Miles Bridges for this big poster dunk on 7’1″ center Jakob Poeltl. Tillman takes the ball down the lane with a chasing Poeltl right beside him. Poeltl jumps up and takes a swipe at Tillman and the ball, but can’t block it. Tillman rises up and above and hammers it home to put Poeltl on a poster. The dunk got the Grizzlies to stand up in awe of Tillman’s athleticism.

Tillman has quickly put his name in the conversation as a potential rookie of the year candidate. Will Tillman be able to finish the season strong and become the first Spartan to win the illustrious award?

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Xavier Tillman Sr. to make first career NBA start vs. Suns

Xavier Tillman Sr. has made some big strides since making his NBA debut. Now he is being rewarded by making his first career NBA start.

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Xavier Tillman Sr. has made some big strides since making his NBA debut. Now he is being rewarded by making his first career NBA start tonight against the Phoenix Suns. This will be just his eighth career game in the NBA.

Tillman is averaging 8.1 points on 55.1% shooting; with 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season so far. Tillman is coming off a career best night in which he got 15 points on 7-13 shooting with four rebounds, two assists and four steals.

Tillman will join Gary Harris and Draymond Green as the only other Spartans to make an NBA start this season.

The game is on TNT at 5:00 p.m. EST.

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Spartans in the NBA: Cassius Winston debuts, Xavier Tillman sets new career highs

Cassius Winston was able to make his debut and Xavier Tillman set new career highs in a thrilling night for Spartans in the NBA.

The last time there was a Spartans in the NBA, two players had yet to make their NBA debuts. Well now that two weeks have passed, Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman were both able to make their NBA debuts! Draymond Green was also able to make his season debut and has had a few good performances in his return. Jaren Jackson Jr. has still not made his season debut, but should be returning within the next few weeks.

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Let’s see how other Spartans have done in the NBA in the past two weeks: