Bruno Manrique Articles - Page 105

The San Antonio Spurs gutted out a crucial 120-103 win over the Denver Nuggets at home to force a Game 7. LaMarcus Aldridge, who led the way with a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, noted the team needed no other motivation than to keep hopes alive for a potential Game 7. “It was a […]

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl stressed he’s not setting illegal screens, after claims of a dirty play on Denver Nuggets point man Jamal Murray ran rampant after Game 6. Poeltl set a tough screen on Murray after flipping the side on an outlet pass to Derrick White, quickly getting in position, though extending part […]

The Golden State Warriors lost Game 5 of their series against the LA Clippers after looking past them and into the upcoming series, where a rematch with the Houston Rockets is awaiting them. The Rockets have chosen to fly to the Bay Area, expecting to be ready for Game 1 of their second-round series, according […]

The Orlando Magic plan to make Nikola Vucevic’s return to the team their top priority during the offseason. The eighth-year center had his best season yet, averaging a studly 20.8 points and 12 rebounds per game this past season: “Bringing Vooch back is a priority,” said president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, according to Roy […]

There’s a wide belief that Kevin Durant potentially signing with the New York Knicks is just a matter of putting pen to paper, as the Golden State Warriors star looks bound for the move this offseason. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, Durant’s reasoning for leaving an All-Star laden roster for one in much need of […]

The New York Knicks have plenty of potential targets for this upcoming free agency period. Among them is Kemba Walker, a Bronx native with plenty of fans within the organization, but not one they would take over their top priority at the point guard position — Kyrie Irving. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, multiple executives […]

The New York Knicks could land a potential star this offseason by means of the NBA Draft, sporting an equal 14-percent chance to muster the No. 1 overall pick along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns. However, there isn’t a clear consensus that the franchise would be willing to trade their top selection […]

Some of Kevin Durant’s former and current teammates believe he will sign with the New York Knicks at the start of free agency, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley. “Some of Durant’s former teammates think it’s going to happen, per ESPN sources. Several of his current teammates have told friends that they think it’s going to […]

Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West gave a few candid words on the late John Havlicek, who died on Thursday at the age of 79 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Havlicek played all his 16 years of NBA service with the Boston Celtics, enduring many a battle with his fellow Hall of Famer. […]

The San Antonio Spurs forced a Game 7 with the Denver Nuggets after some bright performances from DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, their two best players on Thursday. DeRozan’s 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting and Aldridge’s 26 points were a masterclass around the perimeter, combining deft shots from mid-range with a sneaky ability to get […]

Following his second quick exit from the first round of the playoffs, once again in sweep fashion, Damian Lillard was open to suggestions as to how to reach the next level as an NBA player. The Portland Trail Blazers had been swept by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in 2017 and then by the […]

Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was unsure if San Antonio Spurs set an illegal screen on point guard Jamal Murray with ill intent. Though one thing is sure — he was not happy about it. As seen in the video below, after screening for the outlet to Derrick White, Poeltl flips the screen, but […]

Following a quick 4-1 exit at the hands of the Houston Rockets, the road ahead is still unclear for Utah Jazz sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who could ponder retiring during the offseason. The longtime 3-point specialist was noncommittal when talking about his future in the league, noting that after many years of service, it might be […]

Russell Westbrook was posed with a question about his series-long duel with Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard after the latter capped a 4-1 first-round win with a game-winning 37-footer and a 50-point performance to boot, putting the Oklahoma City Thunder away in five games: “It doesn’t change much, man, honestly. If you want […]

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George spoke about his connection with Russell Westbrook as the two leaders of this team, giving a small window into how his personality is often misperceived in front of the media: “I think Russ is honestly just as normal as anybody else. I think anything he does is just amplified, […]

Russell Westbrook has received an onslaught of criticism following (and during) a 4-1 first-round series loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is well aware it exists, and narrowed it down to being just a part of what comes with fame and success: “No, I don’t, man. When you do so […]

Russell Westbrook was open and forthcoming during a 17-minute exit interview with the media after the Oklahoma City Thunder were eliminated 4-1 in a first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Asked if there is anything he’d be looking to refine beyond his jump shot, the Thunder star was thorough: “Everything. I always tell you […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ season has come to a close, but the franchise has only begun taking the right steps to become the Eastern Conference mainstay they hope to be. Asked of the potential of acquiring a max-level player in the summer, general manager Sean Marks took on the challenge head on. “I think that’s the […]

Amid rumors of a potential fallout after three one-and-done results in the last three postseasons, Oklahoma City Thunder point man Russell Westbrook was asked about his relationship with head coach Billy Donovan: “It’s been good,” said Westbrook during an end-of-season press conference, according to ESPN’s Royce Young. “Me personally, I’ve never had a problem with […]

The NBA, along with the Sacramento Kings will conduct a joint investigation into the sexual assault allegations made against newly-signed head coach Luke Walton, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Walton, 39, is being accused of sexually assaulting former TV reporter Kelli Tennant, which the suit alleges started during his time as an assistant […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder were once again eliminated from the playoffs in the first round and had nothing more to show for it than a massive war of words with the Portland Trail Blazers, as well as a visible rift with the local media. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the Thunder have grown […]

The Golden State Warriors were plenty disappointed after a Game 5 loss to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night, yet shooting guard Klay Thompson said his team should come out refocused for Game 6 on the road: “Shoot, ain’t no building. Just go do what we do,” said Thompson. “Build from this game? This game […]

Lou Williams shined bright once again, leading the LA Clippers with 33 points in a rousing Game 5 win. Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, who led all scorers with 45 on the night, noted it’s not easy to just stop Williams from going off: “You can’t just say I’m gonna stop Lou Williams tonight,” […]

Despite a combined 91 points from Kevin Durant (45), Stephen Curry (24) and Klay Thompson (22), the Golden State Warriors fell short of a Game 5 win over the L.A. Clippers, instead taking a 129-121 loss in their home court of Oracle Arena once again. Durant shined, but others struggled, especially on defense, where this […]

There has been no love lost between the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Clippers from the days of Lob City and the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin tandem that once popularized them. Forward Kevon Looney was told early on in his career, even as a rookie: “You don’t lose to the Clippers” — a warning he’s […]

Paul George wouldn’t tip his hat to Damian Lillard after the Portland Trail Blazers star sealed the Oklahoma City Thunder’s doom in the last seconds of Game 5, burying a 37-foot 3-pointer to wrap up the series. George, who took on the task of defending Lillard as the end of regulation neared, called it “a […]

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut revealed he will return to his native Sydney, Australia after the postseason, returning to play with the Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League. Bogut is fresh off an MVP season in his home country, but the 7-footer wouldn’t turn down potentially coming back to join the Warriors late in […]

Damian Lillard made use of an old Chinese proverb to roast his fallen opponents after leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder in his wake after dropping a 50-point bomb and an iconic game-winning 3-pointer to win the series 4-1. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard was the recipient of vast trash talking in this series, from […]

CJ McCollum took to Twitter in efforts to relive the whirlwind that was Game 5 at the Moda Center, as the Portland Trail Blazers dispatched the Oklahoma City Thunder after coming back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, capped by Damian Lillard’s late-game heroics. Lillard, who had 34 points at the half, ultimately put the finishing […]

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has gotten a feel for the playoff atmosphere, as his eighth-seeded L.A. Clippers have spent more than a week exchanging blows with the Golden State Warriors. Clippers coach Doc Rivers had hoped two of his rookie guards has seen the intensity of high-pressure games after taking part in the NCAA Tournament, the next-best […]

Much like former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert is still motivated by falling to the 27th slot in the 2013 NBA Draft. Like Green, the Utah Jazz center can recite each of the players that went before him that day. “I got drafted 27th, I was a little frustrated to be […]

Damian Lillard was able to have his shining moment in this first-round series, despite the constant trash talking thrown his way throughout five games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Portland Trail Blazers guard gave them a 50-piece, dolloped with a 37-foot 3-pointer at the end of regulation to bury the Thunder in Game 5 […]

Damian Lillard hasn’t been known to be much of a talker, but the Portland Trail Blazers guard made the loudest statement of this series, dropping a 50-point bomb over the Oklahoma City Thunder, along with the game-winning trey to seal it all in Game 5. The star point guard drilled a 37-foot side-step jumper over […]

Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts was wildly impressed with his point guard’s performance, as Damian Lillard dropped a 50-point bomb and a game-winning shot to bring his team back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit. The Blazers collectively pulled off a 13-2 run to close out the game, but it was Lillard that provided […]

Damian Lillard put the finishing touches in a spectacular series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 50-point masterpiece and a game-winning shot from 37 feet out at the end of regulation, a jumper he considered the last word in a trash talk war between his Portland Trail Blazers and a rowdy Thunder team. “There’s […]

LA Clippers rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been taking a page from the Golden State Warriors during this first-round series, learning from the backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson: “Those are my covers, I’m studying them a lot this series. I definitely learned a few things, but they’re obviously really good players and anyone can […]

The recent firing of Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov was a matter of more than wins and losses, according to Arizona Sports 98.7 radio host John Gambadoro. While it’s true that the organization took a step back from the 2017-18 season in which it won an NBA-worst 21 games, Kokoskov inherited a much different […]

Boston Celtics center Al Horford is keenly aware that the Milwaukee Bucks team they will face this team is vastly different from the 2018 version they were able to beat out in the first round of the postseason. “The way that they’re playing, it’s night and day from last year,” said Al Horford, according to […]

Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder now find themselves in the brink of elimination, as the Portland Trail Blazers lead the series 3-1 after a Game 4 win on Sunday night. However, fans can expect Westbrook to come out swinging, as he’s put up scorching numbers in his last three elimination games. Last three […]