nba
Page: 10
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Elsa / Getty
After over a decade of disgust, despair, and disappointment, New York Knicks fans are finally able to celebrate a winning team as last night (April 26) the New York Knickerbockers advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs for only the second time this century.
Last night (April 26), New Yorkers celebrated like the Knicks had officially won the NBA title after Jalen Brunson led the team to a 106-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers—in the process advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time in a decade. The surprising win comes in the same year that Knicks fans were upset that the team failed to land Donovan Mitchell due to their reluctance to include RJ Barrett in a trade package for the superstar guard and instead signed Jalen Brunson to a 4-year/$104 million contract.
Related Stories
Fans and sports analysts clowned the move as Brunson was basically an unknown at the time living in the shadow of Luka Doncic. But not only did Brunson thrive in the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, he outplayed the Cavs superstar point guard, Donovan Mitchell for most of the first round. Speaking to ESPN, the Knicks point guard who fans now refer to as “HIM” knows just how special the moment is for the team and the city as his father, Rick Brunson, played a few seasons in the Garden himself.
“It’s a really cool experience knowing that my dad played here — he was on that team that got to the Finals,” Brunson said, referring to the 1998-99 team. “It’s special. The connection that me and my dad have, everything, all the full circle, it’s really special.”
While many Knick fans still feel RJ Barrett should’ve been shipped out for Donovan “Spider” Mitchell (especially after having the struggle year he had), the third year shooting guard finally found his footing in the playoffs and contributed to last night’s win with 21 points.
Now that the Knicks have made it out the first round they’ll be reigniting an old rivalry as the Miami Heat have pulled off a surprise of their own by eliminating the number 1 seed in the Milwaukee Bucks and punching their ticket to Madison Square Garden for a second round showdown this Sunday (April 30). While the team will no doubt be ready for Playoff Jimmy Butler and company, the team might be shorthanded as their All-Star Power Forward, Julius Randle re-injured the ankle that kept him off the floor in the final weeks of the NBA season.
Thibodeau said Randle will be reevaluated on Thursday. Randle was in the Knicks’ locker room icing his ankle after the win.
“It starts with holding each other accountable, from the coaching staff to the players,” Brunson said of the Knicks stepping up when a player goes down with an injury. “I think we all trust each other, most importantly, and we get to the point where we have situations like that and things aren’t going according to plan, and we find a way to tough it out and keep moving forward and try not to miss a beat.”
Prayers up for Julius Randle and the New York Knicks as they might need it with Playoff Jimmy looking like Jimmy Jordan out in Miami.
The Atlanta Hawks are still alive in the NBA Playoffs, and that will force fans planning to attend Janet Jackson’s concert in the city this week to wait a day to see the music star.
The Hawks rallied to beat the Boston Celtics 119-117 in Game 5 of their playoff matchup on Tuesday night, sending the series back to Atlanta for Game 6.
It means that State Farm Arena was double-booked for Thursday night. The casualty was Jackson’s concert, Live Nation said in a statement following the the team’s victory.
The concert was moved to Friday, and all tickets for Thursday’s show will be honored for Friday night. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase for those who are unable to change their plans.
State Farm Arena’s Twitter account posted this message late Tuesday: “SHOW UPDATE: Due to tonight’s @ATLHawks Game 5 win, we will host Game 6 on Thursday, moving Thursday’s Janet Jackson concert to Friday. If you have tickets to the original show date, they will be honored for Friday’s date.”
Doors for Jackson’s show Friday will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:45 p.m.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty / Stephen Curry
Unlike his teammate Draymond Green, Stephen Curry rarely makes a mistake on the court, until yesterday.
The best shooter in basketball, Stephen Curry, almost cost his Golden State Warriors the game, and they could have been down 3-1 heading back to Sacramento after making an egregious blunder.
With just 40 seconds left in the game, the Kings trapped Curry leaving him nowhere to go or pass the ball. So generally, in that situation, you will call a timeout, and that’s what he did.
But there was one issue, the Warriors didn’t have any timeouts left after head coach Steve Kerr lost the team’s final timeout in an unsuccessful challenge that even Draymond Green told him not to do.
“I didn’t realize when we lost the challenge that we didn’t have any timeouts left,” Curry said. Like a true leader, Steve Kerr took the blame for the moment, protecting his all-star player.
Curry still owned up to his mistake, adding, “[Coach] took the blame for it, but I ain’t going to lie: I thought it was the smartest play in the world. I looked at the bench, and everybody was shaking their head. It was an unfortunate situation.”
The Kings took advantage of what many call Steph’s “Chris Webber moment,” referencing retired hooper calling a timeout his team did not have during the 1993 National Championship game costing the Michigan Wolverines the chip.
[embedded content]
With a technical free throw and a three-pointer from the NBA’s most clutch player, De’Aron Fox, the Kings were only down one in a game that at one point looked like a sure win for the Warriors.
The Warriors did survive after Harrison Barnes missed a go-ahead three-pointer.
NBA Twitter Came With The Jokes
As you can imagine, NBA Twitter had plenty of reactions to Curry’s brain lapse and Harrison Barnes’s potential game-winning brick.
You can see those in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty
1. Accurate
2. Very true
7. Y’all aint right
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Steph Chambers / Getty / Draymond Green
The NBA sent a strong message to Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors.
In a move that really shouldn’t have surprised anyone, the NBA and Adam Silver said, “aight man, we have seen enough,” and hit Draymond Green with a one-game suspension.
The league’s decision came after Draymond Green decided to A-Town stomp Domantas Sabonis after the Kings’ forward/center grabbed his leg. In a statement, the NBA said, “The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.”
Speaking with ESPN, NBA Executive VP Joe Dumars further broke down the league’s decision. “Here’s what it came down to: Excessive and over-the-top actions, conduct detrimental, and a repeat offender. That’s what separates this where you end up with a suspension.”
Green will serve his suspension on Thursday in a pivotal game 3 for the Golden State Warriors, who are down 2-0 heading back to the Chase Center.
The incident occurred with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 114-106 Game 2 victory. While Sabonis was down on the floor in visible pain, Green was egging on the crowd as the referees deliberated before making their decision.
Sabonis got a technical foul, and Green a flagrant foul 2, an automatic ejection. Sabonis suffered a bruised sternum and is questionable for Game 3, the Kings said on Tuesday night.
Green has been hit with six flagrant fouls and 27 technical fouls in 147 career playoff games. He was famously suspended in the 2015 NBA Finals after hitting his buddy LeBron James in the groin.
That suspension, many believe, tilted the momentum in favor of the Cavaliers, but in the same breath, Draymond did come back, and the Cavs still handled business.
Damian Lillard & More React To Draymond Green’s Suspension
Anyway, the reactions and hot takes are pouring in. Damian Lillard put on his cape yesterday for his NBA brethren and continued his defense of Green.
In a retweet of the news, he dropped an smh emoji, and in response to a fan, he said, “A suspension is crazy.”
The Inside The NBA crew also had thoughts. Charles Barkley said he was surprised but was more “bothered” that the focus is on the incident and not “the fact that the Sacramento Kings are just kicking their ass.”
It’s looking like this could be the end of the Warriors’ dynasty if they can’t find a way to win without Draymond Green in game 3.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty
1. LOL, exactly
2. Well, you don’t make those decisions Skip
3. Of course Jay Williams doesn’t agree
4. No shock the Warriors are “livid”
6. Exactly
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty / Draymond Green
The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors first-round playoff series is already becoming an instant classic.
Draymond Green, who is no stranger to drama in the playoffs due to his behavior, is once again the subject of social media chatter.
Green was tossed from the game after he stomped on Sacramento’s forward/center Domantas Sabonis in the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Kings on Monday night.
The incident went down in the fourth quarter of a highly contentious game that the Kings wound up winning 114-106 to take a commanding 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
So what exactly happened?
Keeping that chippy energy, Sabonis fell to the ground and wrapped his arms around Green’s leg. As his Warriors teammates ran up the court, Green appeared to stomp on Sabonis, leaving the Lithuanian hooper in pain.
After a lengthy review, the refs handed Sabonis a technical foul for grabbing Green’s leg, and the Warriors’ superstar was given a flagrant two-foul for pulling off the Stone Cold stomp in an NBA game.
The Golden 1 Center was already on one as they sensed the beam was about to get lit again. Green, who lives for these moments, embraced the boos he received from Kings fans as he took himself off the court and ran to the Warriors’ locker room.
Draymond Green Defends Himself
During his press conference, Green defended his on-court actions adding that Kings’ guard Malik Monk made a similar move to him on Saturday.
“My leg got grabbed. The second time in two nights with the referees just watching,” he told reporters during his post-game press conference.
“I got to land my foot somewhere, and I am not the most flexible person, so it’s not stretching that far. I can only step so far and pulling my leg away, so it is what it is,” he continued.
Reporters asked Green what the referees told him he did he said: “The explanation was I stomped too hard. It was Monk last game so either you’re going to stop it.”
“(Referee) John Goble was looking at Monk hold my leg the last game, and he just let it go, and Zach (Zarba) was clearly watching my leg get held this game and let it go, so I guess ankle grabbing is okay.”
Green even took things further in his Instagram Stories by sharing a photo of Sabonis grabbing his ankle with the caption, “Nothing wrong here. Solid basketball play!!”
Sabonis downplayed the incident during a post-game interview on TNT, saying, “We fell on each other. Stuff happens. It’s basketball. We’ve got to move on to the next play.”
Was Draymond Green Out of Line?
Immediately following the incident, the reactions came in, with many calling for Green, who has a history of these kinds of theatrics, to be suspended.
But some fellow NBA hoopers did come to his defense. Inside The NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal put on his cape for Green.
“I’m not gonna sit up here and be a hypocrite. I would have done the same thing,” O’Neal said.
“Don’t be grabbing me because what am I gonna do? If I stay there and just try to run forward, I’ll fall. You gotta get him up off you. And if you up off me and you in the way, you might get stomped on. Was it a dirty play? Of course, it was a dirty play. But, hey, don’t grab me, and this won’t happen.”
Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley disagreed with him.
Portland TrailBlazers all-star Damian Lillard had an interesting take calling it a “take foul on Sabonis” and saying, “Dray tried to step down.”
Okay.
Draymond Green was doing too damn much. Now his team might pay for his actions once again, as they did in the 2016 NBA Finals.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty
1. Seriously
2. According to the NBA rules
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Loren Elliott / Getty
The Sacramento Kings have some explaining to do. Longtime Golden State Warriors fan, and Hip-Hop legend, E-40 was kicked out of his favorite team’s playoff game, and the rapper is saying racial bias is why he got booted.
There is footage of 40 Water, born Earl Stevens, talking to security before being escorted out of Saturday night’s (April 15) game.
Afterward, E-40 explained his side of story, and allegedly involved him addressing a heckler (a white woman), and potentially him being a Black man is what lead to him being asked to leave the venue, Golden 1 Center, in the 4th quarter of the game.
“On Saturday night, I was subjected to disrespectful heckling over the course of the Warriors-Kings game in Sacramento,” said E-40 in a statement. “During the fourth quarter, I finally turned around and addressed one heckler in an assertive but polite manner. Yet, shortly thereafter, Kings’ security approached me, assumed that I instigated the encounter and proceeded to kick me out of the arena.”
And from there, per 40, the Ops intervened. He added, “Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that—despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent. Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.
He continued, “I was absolutely humiliated by the Kings’ security team and I’m calling on the franchise to investigate the appalling conduct that transpired.”
Considering this is the first we have ever heard of E-40, a courtside staple at Golden State Warriors games, having a problem, you have to at least give him the benefit of a doubt. Balls in your court, Kings.
Social media observers are also calling out the jig, and you can see the reactions in the gallery, Twitter is standing with 40 Water. The Kings ended up winning Game 1 of the series.
After being kicked out of Game 1 of the Golden State Warriors versus Sacramento Kings first-round playoff game on Saturday night (April. 16), E-40 lambasted the Kings’ organization for “racial bias” when handling his confrontation with a female fan.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
40, known as a Golden State Warriors fan and frequent attendee, sent a statement to Billboard, recalling the incident involving him addressing the heckler in “an assertive but polite manner.”
“On Saturday night, I was subjected to disrespectful heckling over the course of the Warriors-Kings game in Sacramento. During the fourth quarter, I finally turned around and addressed one heckler in an assertive but polite manner. Yet, shortly thereafter, Kings’ security approached me, assumed that I instigated the encounter and proceeded to kick me out of the arena,” writes 40.
He also acknolwedges that despite his accomplishments as a musician and businessman, “racial bias” continued to be the norm and played an intergral role in his departure from the game.
“Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent. Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault,” he says.
At the end of his statement, 40 said that he hopes the Kings organization will do a thorough investigation on the matter and that those “involved are held accountable for their behavior.”
“I’ve attended countless NBA games throughout my lifetime and have always prided myself in my professionalism, so this experience has been jarring. I was absolutely humiliated by the Kings’ security team and I’m calling on the franchise to investigate the appalling conduct that transpired.”
He adds, “I’m truly grateful for my fans and supporters who have reached out to express their concern and disappointment regarding these disheartening circumstances and I hope those involved are held accountable for their behavior.”
Watch the clip below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Jim McIsaac / Getty / Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets fans don’t have to worry about Ben Simmons being a liability for the team when the playoffs begin.
ESPN reports the Brooklyn Nets are shutting down Ben Simmons for the remainder of the season; coach Jacque Vaughn told the press on Tuesday.
“Ben will not be joining us the rest of the year and through the playoffs,” Vaughn revealed after practice. “After consulting with our doctors, multiple specialists, he’s just going to begin a rehab program. Our doctors and the specialists feel and think that he’ll have a full recovery, so that starts now.”
The fragile hooper has not hit the court for the Nets since the team’s final game before the All-Star break because of a nerve issue in his back. Simmons has been beset with knee and back issues, but Vaughn says he does not expect the point guard to get surgery for this latest injury.
“That is not in sight,” Vaughn said. “That’s the recommendation right now.”
Before making his Nets debut following a trade that saw the Brooklyn franchise swap James Harden for him, Simmons underwent back surgery last summer.
When he did return, he was a mere shell of his former self, seeing a steep decline in his performance from his All-Star days with the Sixers.
During the small sample size with the Nets, Simmons posted career lows in minutes (26.3), points (6.9), rebounds (6.3), assists (6.1), and free throw percentage (43.9).
Jack Vaughn Still Believes In Ben Simmons
Still, his coach remains hopeful the 26-year-old professional hooper can return to his old form.
“That’s our goal,” Vaughn said. “And overall, you just think about, he’s 6-10, athletic, what he can do and bring to our team, how he can help our group on both ends of the floor. We want to be involved in that. We want to see that. I want to coach Ben, and I want to be able to push Ben to get back to all-defensive team and impact our team on both ends of the floor. So that’s definitely the goal going forward.”
The Nets Will Continue To Support Him & Remain Hopeful He Can Return Next Season
According to general manager Sean Marks, the Nets will also continue to support Simmons.
“Same thing we’ve done in the past is support him,” Marks told ESPN. “This is a young man that has been through a very traumatic and pretty arduous last couple years here. And this is not news that he wants to hear. He didn’t want specialists telling him, ‘Hey look, here’s the best thing for you.’ The good news, they were in unison in their plan for a full recovery. I worked hard with these doctors, all the different specialists as well as Bernie Lee, his new agent, to come up with a plan that’s hopefully going to get him back, and back to being the Ben we’ve all seen.”
Marks continues, “I do feel for him because I know he wants to be out here. I know he wants to be part of this team. Nobody likes being told, ‘You didn’t amount to what you should have, and it shouldn’t be this, you should have done this, and so forth’ I hope he uses all of this as whatever you want to call it, chalkboard fodder for motivation, and attack [his rehab]. But I think he would fit with these guys we’ve got, and he fits for multiple reasons. So we hope that he’s back — and that he’s healthy, ready to go.”
Twitter Believes It’s A Wrap For Ben Simmon’s Career
While Simmon’s current team still believes in him, NBA Twitter is saying it’s a wrap for N0.10, and he will probably end up playing professional basketball in China.
LOL.
Damn, you all are ruthless.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
—
Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty
2. Howling
HipHopWired Featured Video
Bradley Beal, the star guard for the Washington Wizards, is at the center of a police investigation after a reported confrontation with a fan in Florida. According to reports, a fan yelled at Beal over losing money in a bet which prompted the St. Louis native to confront the man.
ESPN reports that Bradley Beal, 29, was with the Wizards on March 21 taking on the Orlando Magic in a losing contest. While walking off the court, the fan in question yelled at Beal, using an expletive in the process. Beal reportedly walked over and smacked the hand of the man’s friend, which reportedly knocked off the heckler’s hat.
Video of the footage that was obtained by local police was said to feature beal telling the man that he didn’t care about his lost bet, with some choice adult language dispersed throughout. If the investigation of the footage goes forward, Beal has the potential of seeing a simple battery charge come his way.
The NBA is aware of the incident and is looking into the matter. The Washington Wizards have yet to release any statements related to Bradley Beal.
—
Photo: G Fiume / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Ja Morant gave his first interview after a video of him surfaced brandishing a gun inside a Colorado nightclub, which led to him being suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies. Sitting down with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, the basketball superstar expressed regret over his decisions and promises to deliver a better image going forward.
Ja Morant, 23, is one of the young faces of the league and clearly is a draw no matter what arena he’s playing in. His electrifying style of play and passion on the court became coupled with troubling allegations of violence and negative actions over the past year. Ahead of the interview, Rose, himself a product of humble beginnings during his rise in the NBA, issued a stern but brotherly warning to Morant.
More from ESPN:
“Honestly, I feel like we put ourselves in that situation with our past mistakes, and now it’s only right that we focus in and lock in on being smarter and more responsible, holding each other accountable for everything,” Morant said Wednesday during an interview with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, referring to his inner circle. “I feel like in the past we didn’t know what was at stake. And now finally me having that time to realize everything, have that time alone, I realize that now.
“I realize what I have to lose, and for us as a group, what we have to lose. It’s pretty much just that being more responsible, more smarter and staying away from all the bad decisions.”
Good on Ja Morant for realizing his mistakes and being willing to grow from them.
Morant will return to the Grizzlies at the conclusion of his eight-game suspension handed down from the NBA.
—
Photo: Justin Ford / Getty