It was back to business-KD

Kevin Durant spent the past three days doing all he could to hide his emotions and downplay the significance of facing his former team.

Even when the ball tipped off for Warriors-Thunder on Thursday night, Durant’s face was as blank as a blue sky.

Kevin Durant

Beneath the calm exterior, though, there was a lot of emotion.

“It was before the tip,” Durant said. “As soon as the game started, it brought back some memories.
“But after that, it was back to business.”

Business was good for Durant. He opened the scoring for the Warriors, draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key 41 seconds into the game. He then went silent for a while, taking a brief rest midway through the quarter, and then returning with 3:37 left in the quarter.

That’s when Durant woke up – and spent the rest of the night torturing Oklahoma City, pouring in a season-high 39 points in a 122-96 thrashing of the Thunder.

There was a visible change in Durant’s demeanor after he was dunked on by OKC forward Jerami Grant with three minutes left in the quarter. Grant then made the unwise decision to get noisy while glaring at his victim.

“That’s not a good idea,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Grant’s bold move. “I think that did get him going a little bit.”

Durant’s expression changed into a mask of intensity and he proceeded to go off. He found another gear, scoring 15 points in less than four minutes. The Warriors during that time went from 10 points down to a six-point lead. They never trailed again.

This was the furious Durant, and he was on a mission to destroy his former teammates, from his longtime friend and teammate Russell Westbrook to Enes Kanter – who did plenty of yakking from the bench – to Grant.

“When you get dunked on like that, you want to come back,” Durant said. “As a competitor, you just want to come back at him and try to make a play, try to ignite the team. He ignited his team with that dunk, and I just tried to do the same throughout the whole game.

“Over the course of the game, I try to make plays throughout the whole game . . . and try to get them back that way. It definitely sparked us a bit.”

Asked what Grant said, Durant said the chatter actually came from Grant’s Thunder teammates.
“He just stared me down,” Durant said of Grant. “Everybody else was talking.”

Durant’s final line: 39 points (15-of-24 from the field, 7-of-11 beyond the arc), seven rebounds, one block and one assist. He played 31 minutes and finished plus-21 for the night.

Moreover, he made it clear he has moved beyond his OKC days and wishes others would follow his lead.

“I’ve been in the zone where I’ve just tried to look forward and think about the team I’m on and trying to be better and trying to work hard for this team and my teammates,” Durant said. “Everybody else has been stuck on the past, and is trying to bring me back with them.

“It’s hard when you get questions about it and you hear about it and friends and family ask you about it,” he added. “But I’ve been trying to look forward since I got here. Everybody else on the outside has been trying ot pull me back. I’ve just got to stay focused.”


Source:CSN.com

Will LeBron pass MJ, Kobe and Kareem for most points ever?

A big game Thursday against the Boston Celtics would help Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James pass Hakeem Olajuwon and move into the top 10 on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

How high will LeBron James climb on the NBA's all-time scoring list?

 Given he's still playing at an elite level, James can pass many more of the game's greats in years to come.

Can he get all the way to the top of the leaderboard, passing Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and even breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points?

"I play every game like it's my last,"-Westbrook on Warriors matchup

LOS ANGELES -- The Oklahoma City Thunder are the last unbeaten team in the Western Conference after taking down the Clippers 85-83 on Wednesday to improve to 4-0.

Russell Westbrook

Awaiting the Thunder next: a trip to Oracle Arena in Oakland to take on the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

The upcoming matchup carries heavy amounts of hype and anticipation, with Russell Westbrook and the Thunder meeting former teammate Kevin Durant for the
first time since he joined the Warriors over the summer. Asked if there's any extra level of excitement going into Thursday's game, Westbrook said it's just another game on the schedule.

"I play every game like it's my last," Westbrook said. "I play every game the same, always. Like I've been saying for years. And regardless of who we play, I'm going to play the same way."
Thunder coach Billy Donovan offered his take on the matchup.

"It's not just Kevin. We're playing the Warriors," Donovan said. "He's part of that. That's Klay Thompson. Steph Curry. Draymond Green. It's Kevin. It's all those guys. It's their whole team we have to prepare for."

Durant was asked in an interview on Tuesday if there was any "beef" with Westbrook but downplayed any kind of animosity. After being teammates for eight years in Oklahoma City, the two have not spoken since Durant sent a text to Westbrook informing him of his decision. In the interview, Durant expressed some regret about how he handled that situation.

Asked if he saw the comments, Westbrook declined to answer.

"Like I said in Oklahoma City, I don't know if you guys know, but I'm not answering any more Kevin questions," he said. "If you want to talk about basketball, I'm more than welcome to talk about that. But other than that."

Following Durant's departure, there was expectation from many that the Thunder would drop off as a contender. Westbrook scoffed at that notion.

"Who said that?" Westbrook responded. Informed it was a lot of people, Westbrook said, "That's where they went wrong."

On Wednesday, Westbrook scored 35 points on 14 of 30 shooting and posted six rebounds, five assists and 10 turnovers in the win over the Clippers. He scored eight of the Thunder's final 11 points and set up the other three -- a 3-pointer by rookie Domantas Sabonis. Westbrook is averaging 37.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.0 assists through the first four games of the season.

Source:ESPN.com

Draymond: Warriors want to beat Thunder 'really bad' for Durant

Not since the 2000s, when Kobe and Shaq were squabbling members of the Lakers, has a relationship between NBA teammates been analyzed and scrutinized as much Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City.

 

The examination – and insinuation – continues even now, four months after Durant left the Thunder to join the Warriors.

The subject can at least begin to be put to rest Thursday night, when Durant and Westbrook meet on the court as OKC comes to Oakland to face the Warriors at Oracle Arena.


Because of his eight seasons alongside Westbrook and also his nine years with the organization, Durant acknowledges his emotions will run high.

“It’s just the way it is,” he said last Tuesday night, after a 127-104 victory over the Trail Blazers. “I’ve got a job to do. At the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and do it.
“But it’ll be good to see some people I haven’t seen in a while.”

Durant’s July 4 decision as a free agent to leave OKC and join the Warriors broke hearts and some of the spirit in the heartland. Once a beloved icon of the Sooner State, Durant in the eyes of many became a traitor. Fans of the Thunder were, and still are, angry that Durant made a choice that not only weakened their team but also left them feeling abandoned.

Westbrook has said and done precious little to distance himself from those who remain bitter over Durant’s departure.

That Durant has continued to speak highly of Westbrook and also expressed a modicum of regret over not personally speaking to his ex-teammate about his decision speaks to the personality differences between the two men.

Whereas Westbrook is a hard-charging competitor who approaches every game, every season, with an us-or-them mentality, Durant takes a broader view. Suns coach Earl Watson, a friend to both, recently explained that an in-season meeting with Durant would result in an embrace but such niceties with Westbrook would more likely be put on hold until the offseason.

That hardly means Westbrook hates Durant, and it surely does not imply Durant detests Westbrook.

“We’re boys,” Durant told Bay Area News Group this week. “My interest went this way, his went that way. He got married, I didn’t. He hung with his wife. What you want me to do? I love Russ. I don’t care what nobody say. I don’t care what he say or what the fans say. Like, this is a tough time right now in our relationship. But I love Russ. I love his family.”

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, the rage continues. Some fans burned Durant jerseys, while others vented on talk radio. Durant’s popular restaurant, KD’s, was forced to undergo a change in management and, moreover, get renamed.

That Westbrook, now the clear franchise player, has started in such spectacular fashion – he leads the league in scoring and through three games is averaging a triple-double – the fans may be on the verge of getting over Durant.

Whereas Westbrook is a hard-charging competitor who approaches every game, every season, with an us-or-them mentality, Durant takes a broader view. Suns coach Earl Watson, a friend to both, recently explained that an in-season meeting with Durant would result in an embrace but such niceties with Westbrook would more likely be put on hold until the offseason.

That hardly means Westbrook hates Durant, and it surely does not imply Durant detests Westbrook.

“We’re boys,” Durant told Bay Area News Group this week. “My interest went this way, his went that way. He got married, I didn’t. He hung with his wife. What you want me to do? I love Russ. I don’t care what nobody say. I don’t care what he say or what the fans say. Like, this is a tough time right now in our relationship. But I love Russ. I love his family.”

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, the rage continues. Some fans burned Durant jerseys, while others vented on talk radio. Durant’s popular restaurant, KD’s, was forced to undergo a change in management and, moreover, get renamed.

That Westbrook, now the clear franchise player, has started in such spectacular fashion – he leads the league in scoring and through three games is averaging a triple-double – the fans may be on the verge of getting over Durant.

Source:CSN.com

NEWS:Hornets With The First Win.

Result The Hornets picked up their first first win ever at Spectrum Center and pushed their record to 3-1 overall with a 109-93 victory over Philadelphia on Nov. 2 in Charlotte. Kemba Walker led the way with 22 points – his third-straight 20+ point performance – and Nicolas Batum added 20 points as the Hornets cruised to victory in the second half.

Turning Point The Hornets woke up in the second half after falling behind by as many as 13 points in the second quarter. Trailing 53-46 coming out of the locker rooms at the break, Charlotte caught fire to start the third, hitting four of its first five shots leading to a 13-0 run that turned a seven-point deficit into a six point lead just four minutes into the frame. Led by 17 points from Nicolas Batum in the quarter on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from long range, The Hornets torched the 76ers, 39-20, in the third. Charlotte shot an astonishing 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the field and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from the field, compared to 36.8 percent (7-of-19) and 37.5 percent (3-of-8), respectively for Philadelphia.

Hornets Player of the Game Nicolas Batum played arguably his best basketball of the young season in the third quarter, scoring 17 points on 75.0 percent (6-of-8) shooting from the field and 60.0 percent (3-of-5) shooting from distance while also grabbing two rebounds and dishing out two assists. Batum’s 17 third-quarter points marked the most scored in a quarter by a Hornets player this season. He finished with 20 points, seven boards, four assists and one steal.

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:Kings sign Jordan Farmar

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.

Farmar averaged 6.5 points (.471 FG%, 5-11 3pt, .833 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four preseason contests with Sacramento, including 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-5 3pt), one rebound and five assists against the L.A. Lakers on Oct. 13. A 10-year NBA veteran, Farmar has tallied career averages of 7.7 points (.423 FG%, .374 3pt%, .739 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 19.5 minutes per game in 502 contests.

NEWS:Michael Carter-Williams out 4-6 weeks with knee and wrist injuries

Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams underwent an MRI Tuesday morning on his left knee and left wrist. The results of the MRI showed that he sustained a bone bruise with no ligament damage to his knee, as well as a left wrist sprain. His recovery time is estimated to be between four and six weeks.

Carter-Williams suffered the injury in the second quarter of last night’s win at Brooklyn. Acquired in a trade with Milwaukee on Oct. 17, Carter-Williams has appeared in three games with Chicago and averaged 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.67 steals in 15.0 minutes.

NEWS:Sixers waive Elton Brand, who is retiring

Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand previously announced his intention to retire following the team’s final preseason game at Miami on Friday evening. Accordingly, as a matter of procedure, the Sixers have requested waivers on Brand.

Over 17 NBA seasons, Brand appeared in 1,058 career games with 868 starts for Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, Dallas and Atlanta. The 6’ 8” Brand posted career averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game. His 1,828 blocks rank him 20th all-time in NBA history. He played 34,910 career minutes, which ranks him 67th all-time. Brand was also the recipient of the 2005-06 Joe Dumars Trophy, presented each season to the player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

Source:insidehoops.com

KERR SEES SHADES OF IGUODALA, LIVINGSTON IN ROOKIE MCCAW

While Kevin Durant is understandably the talk of the Warriors after shaking up the NBA landscape in his free agency decision, the player garnering the closest amount of hype going in the regular season was bought with the No. 38 pick in this year's draft.

"The young kid Patrick McCaw, who's a second-round pick from Vegas, he's picked up everything so easy," head coach Steve Kerr said on KNBR's Tolbert & Lund on Friday.

"He reminds me a lot of Andre (Iguodala) and Shaun Livingston, and not only with his build, but with his feel for the game."

The Warriors used $2.4 million to buy the Milwaukee Bucks' second-round pick and make McCaw their new diamond in the rough, just three picks later than Draymond Green in the 2012 draft.

For McCaw, there can't be a much higher compliment from Kerr with himeself being such a big fan of Livingston.

"Definitely I watch a lot of Shaun Livingston too, a big point guard who can make plays with the ball, can defend, and that's just where I see my game going," McCaw said at his introductory press conference for the Warriors in June.

From summer league through the preseason, McCaw only continues to impress

Shining in the Las Vegas Summer League, the versatile McCaw averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals over 33.8 minutes per game. Playing in all seven of the Warriors' preseason games, the 20-year-old guard poured in 8.4 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game while averaging 20.1 minutes

Source:CSN.com

WARRIORS TO EXERCISE LOONEY'S THIRD-YEAR OPTION

With less than 10 days to make a decision on Kevon Looney's contract for the 2017-18 season, it appears the Warriors are set to exercise his third-year option.

According to ESPN, the the Warriors will pick up the option, thus keeping Looney from becoming an unrestricted free agent following the upcoming 2016-17 season.

Taken with the No. 30 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Looney dealt with a hip injury during his rookie season and played in just five games. In 21 total minutes, he scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

In six preseason games, Looney averaged 12.2 minutes, 3.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Looney made $1,131,960 last season. This season, he's scheduled to make $1,182,840. His option for the 2017-18 season is slated to be $1,233,840.

Limited minutes won't affect MVP bid-LeBron James

Even with his coach vowing to limit his minutes during the regular season, LeBron James thinks he can win a fifth MVP this year and only has to look to the guy that beat him out for the award the past two seasons, Stephen Curry, for evidence.

LeBron James has finished third in NBA MVP voting the past two seasons despite playing more minutes per game than Stephen Curry, who has won the award for two straight years. 

“No,” James said Saturday when asked if he was concerned that planned rest could affect his MVP case. “Because Steph played 31 minutes a game and he won the MVP.”

James was a little off in his stats -- Curry averaged 32.7 minutes per game in 2014-15 and 34.2 minutes last season en route to back-to-back MVPs -- but his point was clear: Even at age 31 and playing his 14^th season, with Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue hoping to keep him fresh for the postseason, it’s possible to add another MVP award to his collection.

James is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most MVPs in league history with four.
A reporter suggested that James could enter into even more elite company with a fifth.

“So, I’m not elite?” James quipped.

Another reporter gave it back to James, arguing that of course he knows the names of the people who have won five.

“I do,” James admitted.

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five) and Bill Russell (five) have won more MVPs than the Cavs superstar.

While Lue wouldn’t target a specific number of minutes for James after he averaged a career-low 35.6 minutes per game last year -- “I’m not telling you,” Lue said -- he admitted that he and James have discussed how they can juggle rest with still being able to sufficiently showcase his abilities during the regular season.

“We’ve talked about it,” Lue said. “He understands that we want to keep his minutes down, and when there’s games where it makes sense to take off, we’re going to take those games off. We’re being smart about the situation. We have one goal in mind, and that’s winning a championship. So, accolades, personal accolades, they come later.”

James -- who finished third in MVP voting each of the past two seasons -- echoed Lue’s stance, stressing that he is prioritizing the Cavs’ team success over anything else.

“Well, I’ve never set into a season saying I want to win MVP,” he said. “I’ve always thought of the season saying I want to be MVP for my team and it’s resulted in me getting four of them. So I’ve been available, for the most part, every night and I’ve been available on both sides of the floor. I’ve been healthy.

“So the simple fact that I’ve been able to win four has been an honor, and it’s been a tribute to what I’ve been able to accomplish in my career, but more importantly being able to be on the floor with my teammates. So, it will be great if I’m able to accomplish another one by doing what I need to do to help this team win. Because we got to win to get one. No matter how great your individual numbers are or your play is, your team has to be successful, and I’ve been able to be a part of some successful teams so far.”

There is also the question of how James’ MVP chances affect Kyrie Irving’s. The sixth-year guard said Saturday he “absolutely” has thought about winning the award, but isn’t sure if it will come as a teammate of James.

“Following that path of the greats that have come before me, putting myself in a great position to be up for that award would be a tremendous honor,” Irving said. “But I’m obviously realistic. I’m obviously living in a moment when we have the best player playing the game right now, and as well as other great pieces around us. So, whatever my role is here on this team, then I’m willing to do.

Whatever I need to do in order to raise the level of my play as well as my teammates around me, I will do as well. And the rest will follow. Good things will happen when you do and you just prepare and give everything to this game, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

It was James, a reporter reminded Irving, who just last season said that the point guard was destined to win a MVP in his career. So doesn’t that make the chance of him winning it alongside James more realistic than he’s letting on?

“You never know what can happen,” Irving said. “You never know. Like I said, I’m just going to continue to put the work in.”

While not looking for any of his players to win individual accolades, Lue said that an MVP campaign from James would be evidence of his team at its best.

“If he wins an MVP, that means we’re winning,” Lue said. “So, I’ll take that.”

Source: ESPN.com

NEWS:Miami Heat waive FIVE!!!

The Miami HEAT have waived Vashil Fernandez, Luis Montero, Beno Udrih, Brianté Weber and Okaro White.

Fernandez, who was signed as a free on October 17, appeared in two preseason games with the HEAT totaling three points, one rebound and a steal in 14:38 minutes of action.

Montero, who was signed as a free agent on October 18, appeared in two preseason games with Miami, totaling nine points, three rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block in 18:48 minutes of action.

Udrih, who re-signed with the HEAT as a free agent on August 17, appeared in four preseason games (one start), and averaged 3.3 points and 2.0 assists in 13.6 minutes per game. He also played in 36 games (five starts) for the HEAT last season.

Weber, a free agent who signed with the HEAT on April 10, played in all eight of the HEAT’s preseason games (one start), and averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

White, who played on the HEAT’s summer league team this year and was signed as a free agent on July 15, appeared in six preseason games with Miami and averaged 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.5 minutes while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line.
The HEAT’s roster now stands at 15.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:Spurs exercise contract option on Kyle Anderson

Kyle Anderson

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday (Saturday) exercised their fourth-year option on forward Kyle Anderson for the 2017-18 season.

Anderson is entering his third season with the Spurs after being selected by San Antonio in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft (30th overall). Last season, Anderson averaged 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.0 minutes over 78 games, including 11 starts. In 111 career games with the Silver and Black, the former UCLA Bruin is averaging 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14.4 minutes.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:DeMarcus Cousins' younger brother waived by Mavericks

he Dallas Mavericks waived Jaleel Cousins, the younger brother of Sacramento All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, and four others Saturday to get their roster to the regular-season limit of 15.

Kyle Collinsworth, Keith Hornsby, Jonathan Gibson and CJ Williams also were waived.

Cousins didn't appear in a preseason game after signing Monday. The 6-foot-11 center was undrafted out of South Florida.

Gibson, a guard, played in all seven preseason games, averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 assists. Williams averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in five games, and Hornsby scored 3.2 points per game in five appearances.

Collinsworth averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 assists in five games.

Source:CSN.com

NEWS:Pistons sign Mamadou N`Diaye

The Detroit Pistons have signed center Mamadou N’Diaye to a contract.

Our guess is that N’Diaye probably won’t wind up playing for the Pistons, but for their D-League team, the Grand Rapids Drive. At first, at least.

N’Diaye, at 7-foot-6 and 300 pounds, averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks during the 2015-16 season at UC Irvine. Following three years of collegiate basketball with the Anteaters, the Dakar, Senegal native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. N’Diaye played summer league basketball this past July with the Golden State Warriors.

NEWS:Derrick Rose rejoins Knicks, "I'm very confident"

Rose was with the team for the first time since Oct. 4, when he left for his trial in Los Angeles after a preseason game in Houston.

Derick Rose

Rose and two friends were found not liable in a civil lawsuit that accused them of gang-raping Rose's ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol. Rose and his friends were being sued for $21.5 million.

"The issue was a huge issue. I took it very serious," Rose said after Saturday's practice. "I'm a grown man. I put myself in this situation and I had to get myself out. I was focused the entire time.
"Out of all of this, the only thing that really hurt me was missing my son's birthday party, missing his birthday. Those were the two things that I was worried about the most. Not being there with my family ... it hurt. And being there for my son. That was the only thing."

Rose was asked whether he felt vindicated after maintaining his innocence.

"A little bit," he said. "But at the same time, there was another person that was involved in this. So, if anything, I've just been praying for myself and praying for her because the issue is very big in the States and everywhere. So just praying for everyone that was involved and knowing that all this is out of my control.
"The only thing I could work on is being a better person, being a better dad, brother, cousin, uncle. Being the best I could be so I could help others."

Saying it felt "like heaven" to be back on the basketball court, Rose enters his first season with the Knicks motivated and excited about a fresh start, both on and off the court.

"It would change anyone," Rose said of the civil lawsuit. "But I spoke on it and this is all behind me now. The only thing I can focus on is worrying about the future. I love being around my teammates. I love the way that we are coming together as a team."

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Rose looked good physically and did not have trouble with the team's schemes.

"He did his homework," said Hornacek, who sent Rose plays to study during the two-week trial and went over some of the offense with his point guard Friday.

Hornacek said "we'll find out," when asked whether Rose can play starter's minutes during Tuesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He looks in pretty good shape," Hornacek said. "It may be a situation where we put him in. If he looks like he's tired, we'll get him out and then get him back quickly. Maybe the rotation is a little different as he first comes back."

Rose says he's refocused after being traded from Chicago this summer. The former MVP is entering the final year of his contract and says he wants to prove he is healthy after having three knee surgeries.

"I'm very confident, man," Rose said. "I really believe this why I'm here, to hoop. I still have a lot of confidence in my ability. The confidence never left. If anything [the trial] made me focus a little more, like having time to myself in the gym and just working on things that I think I need to work on.
"We didn't make the playoffs last year. I'm still chasing something right now. I just want to hoop and just let my game speak for itself."

NEWS:Wizards release Jarell Eddie, Casper Ware and Johnny O’Bryant

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived guards Jarell Eddie and Casper Ware and forward Johnny O’Bryant. The Wizards’ roster now stands at 15 players.

Eddie tallied three points in three appearances during the 2016 preseason, while Ware played in one game and scored eight points and O’Bryant averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in four contests.

NEWS:Chicago Bulls waive Spencer Dinwiddie

The Chicago Bulls waived guard Spencer Dinwiddie today.

Dinwiddie (6-6, 200) appeared in five preseason games and averaged 6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 14.9 minutes. He was originally acquired in a trade with the Detroit Pistons on June 17, 2016, was waived on July 7, and signed a contract with the Bulls on July 28.

Dinwiddie was also a member of the Bulls’ 2016 NBA Summer League squad, and he averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 24.6 minutes through seven games during the team’s successful tournament run in Las Vegas.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14,

This is why no other player has been named an NBA MVP since 2013

If that was the preseason, there’s no telling how wild a ride the regular season will be. The Dubs closed out their exhibition slate with a 107-96 thrill-a-minute victory over the visiting Trail Blazers on Friday, and the packed house at Oracle Arena loved every minute of it.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant offered plenty of evidence defending why no other player has been named an NBA MVP since 2013, and the result was a showcase of highlights that can be looped over and over on Vine.

Curry owned the first half, particularly the second quarter when he knocked down four of his eight 3-pointers. The Dubs guard tallied 35 points in 28 minutes on the night, and Durant took over where Curry left off in the third quarter. The first-year Warriors forward connected on 14 of his 28 points in the third period

NBA.com

NEWS:Danny Green out 3 weeks

Danny Green will miss Friday's preseason finale at home against the Houston Rockets because of a strained left quadriceps that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for three weeks, including Tuesday's season opener at Golden State.

Danny Green

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Green's latest setback is the same injury to his high thigh that he suffered during pickup games before the start of training camp.

"Knowing Pop, it won't affect them at all," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He will figure it out."

Coming off a 2015-16 campaign in which he finished with the second-lowest 3-point shooting percentage of his career (33.2), Green missed the first week of training camp and the club's exhibition opener against the Phoenix Suns because of the injury.

Green said he reinjured the thigh in Tuesday's scrimmage, and he underwent an MRI afterward, which revealed the injury. He also said he hopes to return before the team's official timetable of approximately three weeks.

Source:ESPN.com