NBA Player News
-
Rudy Gobert C | MIN
Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert: Gets one-game ban for flagrant foul
Gobert will be suspended for Tuesday's game against the Bucks after he triggered a one-game ban by accruing his fifth flagrant foul of the season in Sunday's 104-103 win over the Spurs, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.
The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year drew the flagrant foul with 7:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, when he was deemed to have recklessly closed out on a Victor Wembanyama three-point attempt. Gobert was then handed a technical after bumping a referee while protesting the flagrant call, but he wasn't ejected from the game and finished the contest with two points (1-4 FG, 0-2 FT), 14 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes. Naz Reid now appears poised to start at center for the Timberwolves on Tuesday, but Gobert should be back in action Friday in Houston upon serving his one-game ban. Any future flagrant fouls that Gobert accrues over the rest of the season will result in a two-game suspension for the veteran center.
-
Alperen Sengun C | HOU
Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Returns with 19 points
Sengun (ankle) chipped in 19 points (8-20 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-6 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block across 35 minutes during Sunday's 111-98 loss to the Kings.
Sengun returned to action without any restrictions after missing the Rockets' previous three games due to a right ankle sprain. Though he delivered a rather standard stat line in his return and didn't seem to be compromised by the ankle injury, Sengun may nonetheless be a candidate to sit out one half of the Rockets' upcoming back-to-back set this week. After hosting the Bulls on Tuesday, the Rockets have home games Thursday and Friday versus the Thunder and Timberwolves, respectively.
-
Maxime Raynaud C | SAC
Kings' Maxime Raynaud: Flirts with double-double in win
Raynaud registered 12 points (6-10 FG), nine rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes during Sunday's 111-98 win over the Rockets.
Raynaud came achingly close to snapping a four-game double-double drought during the decisive win. He recorded double-digit shot attempts for the first time in two weeks, and while his rebound totals have been good, the scoring gap left by Domantas Sabonis (knee) is still a glaring deficiency in the Kings' frontcourt.
-
Onyeka Okongwu C | ATL
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Flirts with triple-double in win
Okongwu posted 18 points (6-14 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals across 34 minutes during Sunday's 124-111 victory over Golden State.
Okongwu filled the stat sheet Sunday with a double-double and fell two assists shy of his first career triple-double, though the eight dimes still marked a career high. Long praised for his interior presence, the 25-year-old has taken a noticeable step forward offensively this season, averaging 16.3 points and 3.4 assists through 39 games (28 starts) after posting 13.4 points and 2.3 assists across 74 regular-season contests last year. While prolific scoring may never be his calling card, Okongwu's expanded offensive impact has been a welcome development for Atlanta.
-
Karl-Anthony Towns C | NY
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns: Double-double in win
Towns contributed 20 points (9-13 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 0-1 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 28 minutes during Sunday's 123-114 victory over the Trail Blazers.
Towns briefly exited Sunday's contest late in the second quarter due to an apparent knee injury but returned after halftime and finished with a 20-point double-double in the Knicks' win. The veteran big man is on pace to average a double-double for the eighth time in his career, having logged 28 through 36 appearances this season.
-
Alex Sarr C | WAS
Wizards' Alex Sarr: Strong numbers in Sunday's loss
Sarr finished Sunday's 112-93 loss to the Suns with 19 points (7-15 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 15 rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal over 28 minutes.
Sarr was arguably the lone bright spot during the Wizards' blowout loss Sunday, leading the Wizards in blocks and rebounds while co-leading the team in points with Tre Johnson. Sarr posted his 10th double-double of the season and first since Dec. 31 against the Bucks. Over his last five outings, Sarr has averaged 15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals over 27.3 minutes per game.
-
Santi Aldama C | MEM
Grizzlies' Santi Aldama: Three rejections in Sunday's win
Aldama racked up 15 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt), eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal in 33 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 103-98 victory over the Nets.
The fifth-year big has multiple blocks in three of the last seven games since shifting back to the second unit, but he failed to record one at all in the other four contests. Over that seven-game stretch, Aldama is averaging 12.7 points, 7.1 boards, 3.4 assists, 1.4 threes and 1.3 blocks in 29.3 minutes.
-
Jock Landale C | ATL
Grizzlies' Jock Landale: Just misses another double-double
Landale finished with 16 points (6-11 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, one assist and two steals in 28 minutes during Sunday's 103-98 victory over the Nets.
Making his fifth straight start in the Grizzlies' injury-depleted frontcourt, Landale nearly recorded his third double-double during that stretch. The fifth-year center is averaging 12.2 points, 9.2 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.4 threes in 26.0 minutes since his return to the starting five.
-
Victor Wembanyama C | SA
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama: Game-high 29 points Sunday
Wembanyama logged 29 points (8-18 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 10-10 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and three steals over 27 minutes during the Spurs' 104-103 loss to Timberwolves on Sunday.
Wembanyama returned to the starting lineup Sunday for the first time since Dec. 31. He continues to have his minutes restricted while playing through a knee injury, but that didn't seem to bother him all that much as he finished as the game's leading scorer while tying a season high in made free throws. Wembanyama has scored at least 20 points in six of his last seven outings, and over that span he has averaged 26.4 points on 52.1 percent shooting, along with 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 threes, 2.1 blocks and 1.0 steals over 25.6 minutes per game.
-
Steven Adams C | HOU
Rockets' Steven Adams: Reverting to bench role Sunday
Adams won't start against the Kings on Sunday, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
With Alperen Sengun back in action following a three-game absence due to a sprained ankle, Adams will slide to the second unit. Over 18 appearances off the bench so far this season, the veteran center has averaged 5.7 points and 8.2 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per contest.