Ashish Mathur Articles - Page 113

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, but All-Star point guard Damian Lillard says nobody really won because of the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. LA honored Bryant, his daughter Gigi and the other victims of the helicopter crash before the game on Friday and players on both teams […]

With a few simple words, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant lifted the spirits of Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the 2014 All-Star game. The 2014 All-Star game was Lillard’s first All-Star selection. He was really looking forward to playing in the game, but he wasn’t getting too many minutes since there were […]

Following the Portland Trail Blazers’ 127-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Damian Lillard said he was playing the best basketball of his career. Lillard put up 48 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists against the Lakers. The Blazers star is now averaging 48.4 points, 9.8 assists and 8.2 rebounds over his last […]

NBA executives could see the Oklahoma City Thunder trading injured forward Andre Roberson and his expiring $10.7 million contract at the trade deadline, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. Roberson last played in a game for the Thunder during the 2017-18 season. OKC has said multiple times this season that Roberson will continue his […]

Many around the league have wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies just don’t buy out Andre Iguodala so he can play for the team of his choice. Now, they have an answer to that. According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, the Grizzlies are not eager to do any favors for Iguodala since he did not […]

Los Angeles Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season ends and he figures to get a huge payday in the offseason. Whether that payday comes from Steve Ballmer and LA is another discussion, however. One NBA scout who spoke to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report believes the Clippers have […]

Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Robert Covington has received trade interest from the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. The Timberwolves are expected to drive a hard bargain for Covington, who is a sound two-way player. In fact, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, Minnesota wants two first-round picks for RoCo: The Minnesota Timberwolves, several […]

Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose is garnering trade interest from a few teams with the trade deadline looming, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. However, it looks like the Pistons are going to keep the former MVP in The Motor City, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report: Another potential backcourt target for both L.A. teams is Detroit […]

The Detroit Pistons are believed to want to trade center Andre Drummond before the February trade deadline, but they aren’t receiving any offers they like. Part of the reason is that Drummond can become an unrestricted free agent after this season ends if he declines his 2020-21 player option, so teams aren’t willing to give up draft capital and […]

At the beginning of January, former NBA forward and current ESPN analyst Matt Barnes said he doesn’t think Darren Collison should sign with Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Collison is considering a February return to the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are emerging as his two preferred destinations. Barnes, though, said when […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly not aggressively shopping forward Kyle Kuzma, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. Kuzma’s status with the Lakers has been in question ever since his trainer called out Lakers superstar LeBron James: A source familiar with the team’s thinking disputes that the Lakers are aggressively shopping Kyle Kuzma after […]

Mike Conley will return to the Utah Jazz’s starting lineup on Saturday against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Conley will replace small forward Royce O’Neale in the Jazz’s starting five: Filed to ESPN — Per league sources, Mike Conley will return to the Jazz’s starting lineup tonight […]

The Los Angeles Clippers have the third-best record in the Western Conference, but they may be aggressive at the February trade deadline. NBA execs are convinced the Clippers are committed to making several upgrades before the trade deadline, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report: Several opposing league executives are convinced that the Clippers, despite […]

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and Atlanta Hawks youngster John Collins are both reportedly on the trading block, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 6: If the current trade buzz is accurate, the general market for young frontcourt players is robust, with league executives saying both the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly offered small forward Andre Iguodala to the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2020 protected first-round pick, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. With the NBA trade deadline coming up, the Grizzlies remain confident they will get value by flipping Iguodala and don’t have any plans to buy him out: And one league source […]

Houston Rockets center Clint Capela will miss his second straight game on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Capela didn’t play on Friday versus the Dallas Mavericks. His nagging heel contusion will likely keep him out of the lineup for a few games. Capela has appeared in 39 games for the Rockets this season, averaging 13.9 […]

The Mavs will be without Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis on Saturday when they take on the Atlanta Hawks. Doncic is out for the next few games after spraining his ankle in practice, while the Mavs are just resting Porzingis since he played 36 minutes on Friday against the Houston Rockets: Mavs game notes for […]

Los Angeles Clippers star small forward Kawhi Leonard will play on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He didn’t play on Thursday versus the Sacramento Kings because of lower back tightness, a game the Clippers lost at home: Kawhi Leonard is good to go tonight. #Clippers — Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 1, 2020 The Clippers are 33-15 […]

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers believes his team can pay tribute to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant by winning the 2020 Finals. Bryant’s only connection with the Clippers was when he considered signing with the team in 2004, but he also had a close relationship with Rivers, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and […]

The Los Angeles Clippers are listing superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard as questionable to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Leonard has lower back tightness, per the Clippers: Kawhi Leonard is questionable to play tomorrow against the Timberwolves. #Clippers — Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 1, 2020 The Clippers are 33-15 on the season. They are […]

Staples Center has debuted its on-court decals honoring Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Bryant tragically passed away on Sunday in a terrible helicopter crash. Eight other people died in the crash, including Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Staples Center court decals honoring Lakers legend Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/9rV138ZDHa — Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 1, 2020 Lakers […]

Safe to say New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jaxson Hayes is upset about not making the Rising Stars game. Need proof? Take a look: Jaxson Hayes is not happy he got left off the rising stars roster “NBA can really suck my d**k for all I care.” (🎥 @TheRenderNBA2) https://t.co/R7hsdCyaEr — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 1, 2020 […]

Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. sees a lot of Allen Iverson in rookie point guard Ja Morant. Jackson says Morant “has that kind of swag” that Iverson had during his Hall of Fame days. “I tell him he be fallin’ like Allen Iverson,” Jackson said, via ESPN. “He has that kind of swag […]

Memphis Grizzlies rookie point guard Ja Morant plays with an aggression and chip on his shoulder every single night he’s on the floor. Morant went from an overlooked recruit out of high school to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft. He’s viewed by many as the front runner to win the 2020 […]

Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey is still looking out for Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry despite not being his coach anymore. Casey told Raptors reporters on Friday he voted for Lowry as an All-Star reserve: Dwane Casey said he voted for Lowry as an All-Star reserve. Gasol and RHJ still out tonight — […]

The Dallas Mavericks have already made one big move this season, but they may not be done yet. According to reports, the Mavs have “kicked tires” on possibly trading for Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Toronto Raptors swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Recently, the Mavs acquired Willie Cauley-Stein from the Golden State Warriors after losing Dwight […]

Boston Celtics legend and ESPN NBA analyst Paul Pierce believes the New York Knicks will only improve if James Dolan sells the team. Pierce says the Knicks can get turned around by a change in ownership, citing the Los Angeles Clippers as an example of it working in the past. “I’ve been talking about this […]

Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine didn’t make the All-Star team as a reserve when the selections were announced on Thursday. On Friday, LaVine spoke to Bulls reporters about his All-Star snub and if Orlando Magic big man Aaron Gordon’s dunk contest entry will motivate him to participate in the contest as well. Zach LaVine […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni addressed Clint Capela’s nagging heel contusion with reporters on Friday ahead of their showdown with the Dallas Mavericks. For D’Antoni, Capela “shouldn’t come back until he’s pain free.” Mike D’Antoni on Clint Capela’s nagging heel contusion: “He shouldn’t come back until he’s pain free.” Capela has been in and […]

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle says Mavs star Luka Doncic is out for at least the next six games. Doncic sprained his ankle during practice on Thursday. Rick Carlisle says on @1033fmESPN that Luka Doncic is out at least for the next six games… — Tim Cowlishaw (@TimCowlishaw) January 31, 2020 The Mavs will […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo believes the Milwaukee Bucks can win 70 games this season. Entering Friday, the Bucks are 41-6. They have the best record in the NBA, just like last season. “We’re not done,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’re on pace, we can probably win […]

Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard knows Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center is going to be emotional. After all, it is the first game the Purple and Gold are playing since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. Like he was to so many players […]

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Matisse Thybulle wasn’t picked to play in the Rising Stars Challenge, and his agent isn’t happy about it. Eric Goodwin sent out a statement to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports where he basically ripped the assistant coaches for snubbing Thybulle: Matisse Thybulle’s agent Eric Goodwin submits statement to @YahooSports on behalf of […]

Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson will wear a tribute mask for Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant on Friday. The mask also honors Bryant’s daughter, Gigi: Kobe Bryant tribute mask. @AnaheimDucks Goalie John Gibson will wear it tonight. pic.twitter.com/UiEHSWUSWv — Liz Habib (@LizHabib) January 31, 2020 The Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, […]

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal bought a fan, Patrick Martin, a laptop after Martin offered his sympathies to Shaq for the recent deaths of Kobe Bryant and O’Neal’s sister, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, who died in October after a battle with cancer. O’Neal and Bryant won three titles together with the Lakers. They are one of […]

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, has posted a heartfelt post on Instagram about the tragic death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Bryant and Gianna tragically passed away on Sunday in a terrible helicopter crash. Six other people died in the crash as well: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_3wtql4hs/?igshid=1mswp6cbr2q43&fbclid=IwAR1q461hX4RXO5oDY5ViVyCsap2TE4pxRPxgvft4rbKccohP0fvqBpP7FEw […]

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. It’s the first game the Lakers are playing since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. The L.A. Live campus outside Staples Center has become a large Kobe memorial ever since he died this past Sunday in a helicopter accident. Hundreds of thousands of people […]

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a calf strain last week, according to Dwight Jaynes of NBC Sports Northwest. The strain is considered mild and is in Nurkic’s right leg, not the left one, which was broken last season: Jusuf Nurkic is walking normally and the injury is not considered serious, particularly in light […]

Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo’s return game against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday was pretty emotional. Not only was Oladipo playing in his first basketball game in over a year, but the All-Star hit the game-tying shot with just seconds left in regulation, which helped send the game into overtime, where Indiana wound up winning. […]