Falcons

USA defeated Italy <a href="https://fiba.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7033084a6897e1c399b667eb5&amp;id=6d669a5050&amp;e=2fb0566584">129-88</a> to win the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 championship and complete their mission for a seventh consecutive title.
The USA did not waste any time taking over the game at the Sinan Erdem Dome with a 21-2 first-quarter run to go ahead by 18 points and it was clear sailing the rest of the way.
Koa Peat scored 26 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists and Cameron Boozer collected 24 points and 13 rebounds. The USA spent the entire tournament breaking records and they snapped their mark for most points scored in a Final, besting their 111-80 win over Poland in 2010.
USA has won all seven editions of the biennial championship, adding the trophy to the ones in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022. The 2024 team shattered several records throughout the tournament, including the most points in a single game, most assists, and most steals, and finished the tournament with an average winning margin of 64.3 points - another U17 World Cup record.
Cameron Boozer will take home another piece of hardware as he was named TISSOT Most Valuable Player of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 after guiding the United States to the championship.
Boozer collected 24 points and 13 rebounds in USA's<a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u17-basketball-world-cup-2024/games/122643-ITA-USA"> 129-88</a> victory over Italy in the Final. For the tournament, Boozer averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds 2.0 assists, and 2.7 steals.
Joining Boozer on the All-Star 5 were his USA teammate AJ Dybantsa, Maikcol Perez of Italy, Kaan Onat from T&uuml;rkiye, and New Zealand's Oscar Goodman.
Dybantsa tallied 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists against Italy and averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals in the title run. Perez had 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Final and picked up 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

USA defeated Italy 129-88 to win the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 championship to win their seventh consecutive title.

Team USA captures FIBA U17 World Cup title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) &mdash; Rodney Terry stopped on the way to the Texas locker room after his team knocked out Xavier for a spot in the Elite Eight, the interim coach fulfilling a fan&rsquo;s wish for a photograph by flashing that all-too-familiar &ldquo;Hook &rsquo;em Horns&rdquo; sign.
&ldquo;Go get that job, coach!&rdquo; the grateful fan hollered after him.
A couple more wins and the folks at Texas might not have a choice.
The longtime assistant made his boldest statement yet for the full-time gig, guiding the Longhorns without ailing big man Dylan Disu to an 83-71 win over the Musketeers on Friday night. Tyrese Hunter scored 19 points, and Marcus Carr and Christian Bishop added 18 apiece, to move second-seeded Texas within a game of the Final Four for the first time in 15 years.
&ldquo;I thought we played one of our better defensive games tonight that we played all year,&rdquo; said Terry, who stepped into the top job in December, when Chris Beard was suspended and ultimately fired following allegations of domestic violence.
&ldquo;Proud of my guys and the way they put their will on this game from the start to finish.&rdquo;
Disu, who had been dominant through the first two games of the tournament, hurt his foot in a second-round win over Penn State. He got treatment on it all week, and the Longhorns successfully kept it secret until tipoff, when the big man played just a couple of minutes and then limped off the floor and straight to the locker room.
When he returned to the bench, he was wearing a big walking boot, a black hoodie and a grim expression.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;ll be day-to-day right now at the moment,&rdquo; Terry said. &ldquo;We got the best in the business working with us.&rdquo;
Still, the Longhorns already had a tough task ahead in No. 5 seed Miami on Sunday night, especially given the way the Hurricanes roared to an 89-75 win over Houston. The possibility of playing without Disu, who led the Longhorns to a Big 12 Tournament title and earned MVP honors on the same floor just two weeks ago, only makes it harder.
&ldquo;We knew before the game that we wouldn&rsquo;t have Dylan for the whole game,&rdquo; Carr said. &ldquo;We just wanted to really play for him. We knew how much this would mean to him. We got emotional in there knowing he wouldn&rsquo;t be out there.&rdquo;
Relegated to a 6-foot-9 cheerleader Friday night, Disu at least had plenty to celebrate.
Sir&rsquo;Jabari Rice scored 16 points and Timmy Allen added 11 for the Longhorns (29-8). The best-seeded team left in the tournament kept Souley Boum and Xavier&rsquo;s perimeter threats in check while making life miserable for Jack Nunge down low.
Adam Kunkel hit five 3-pointers and led the third-seeded Musketeers (27-10) with 21 points. Nunge scored 15 but needed 19 shots to get there, while Colby Jones also had 15 points. Boum didn&rsquo;t hit a field goal until early in the second half and finished with 12.
&ldquo;They were better than us,&rdquo; Xavier coach Sean Miller said. &ldquo;We had a very difficult time running our offense and that&rsquo;s a testament to their defense, because we&rsquo;ve been able to score virtually every game we&rsquo;ve played this year.&rdquo;
It was Texas that scored at will, though, and Carr that got them going. He spun through the lane like a Tilt-A-Whirl for tough buckets at the rim, and even knocked down a spinning, desperation 3 as the shot clock expired. And when Miller traded out a man-to-man defense for a zone, the Longhorns began to pound the ball to Bishop in the paint.
With dozens of family and friends on hand, the Creighton transfer from the Kansas City suburb of Lee&rsquo;s Summit, Missouri, went to work. Bishop threw down one dunk on Carr&rsquo;s alley-oop lob, then slammed down another a few minutes later.
By the time Allen banked in a half-court heave, the Longhorns had established a 42-25 halftime advantage &mdash; and had to be redirected from the Xavier tunnel, where they were busy celebrating, toward their own locker room.
&ldquo;Their pressure is something you can&rsquo;t really simulate until you&rsquo;re in the game against them. Their toughness, their experience,&rdquo; Miller said. &ldquo;And then offensively they have great guard play, and you feel that as well.&rdquo;
Xavier tried to creep back a couple of times, but the Longhorns never let their lead sniff single digits. And that gave Terry, who returned to Texas after head jobs at Fresno State and UTEP, a chance to breathe deeply and enjoy the moment.
The 54-year-old from the small Texas town of Angleton was on Rick Barnes&rsquo; staff the last time the Longhorns reached the Elite Eight, back in 2008. He was on the 2003 staff that guided them all the way to the Final Four, too.
Now, he&rsquo;s one step away from taking Texas on a most improbable trip to college basketball&rsquo;s biggest stage.
&ldquo;Continue to want more. I mean, each round &mdash; don&rsquo;t be satisfied,&rdquo; Terry said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to enjoy this victory for one night, like we have all year long, and we&rsquo;ll be on to the next challenge and very quickly against a really good Miami team.&rdquo;

Tyrese Hunter scored 19, and Marcus Carr and Christian Bishop added 18 apiece, to move Texas within a game of the Final Four.

Texas blows out Xavier 83-71 for spot in NCAA Elite Eight

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) &mdash; Sir&rsquo;Jabari Rice, reflecting on the career-high seven 3-pointers he made for Texas, was asked by a reporter when he last felt that confident.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t necessarily feel hot, because I missed three,&rdquo; Rice said with a straight face as teammate Marcus Carr doubled over in laughter next to him at the podium. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;m just trying to keep it going.&rdquo;
The No. 2 seed Longhorns are off to a strong start.
Rice scored 23 points and Texas shut down sharpshooting Colgate for an 81-61 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament&nbsp;on Thursday night.
Carr finished with 17 points and Dylan Disu had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Longhorns (17-8), who shot 13 for 23 from 3-point range to beat the Raiders at their own game. Texas will play 10th-seeded Penn State in the second round on Saturday in the Midwest Region.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re fortunate to get a real game the first game of the tournament. Colgate is an elite, legit team. We won by 20, but it felt like we really won by five or seven,&rdquo; said Timmy Allen, who returned from a leg injury that kept him out of the Big 12 Tournament.
In another inspired performance under&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-terry-texas-b5a4abdc1dee50bb96dfd70920d0b798" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interim coach Rodney Terry</a>, his first NCAA Tournament win as a head coach, Rice and the Longhorns picked the perfect time to get hot on the perimeter against the nation&rsquo;s leading outside shooting team. They matched their season best for 3-pointers made.
&ldquo;I just feel every single guy that walked on the court today had a game plan,&rdquo; Carr said. &ldquo;The coaches had us prepared, and we executed.&rdquo;
The Raiders (26-9) went just 3 for 15 from deep against a relentless and long-armed Longhorns defense. Colgate shot better than 40% before the tournament. The leading individual 3-point shooter in the country, Oliver Lynch-Daniels, went 1 for 4. He was a 50% shooter from long range this season.
&ldquo;They could beat us with 3s, but they were going to have a hard time beating us with 2s,&rdquo; Terry said.
Keegan Records and Ryan Moffatt each scored 13 points for the 15th-seeded Raiders, who have not won an NCAA Tournament game in six appearances. Tucker Richardson, the Patriot League Player of the Year, had nine points on 4-for-11 shooting.
&ldquo;Especially those guards when they&rsquo;ve got Rice in there as a third guard, they&rsquo;re just really quick,&rdquo; Richardson said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of hard for us to get open.&rdquo;
With most of the fans in Wells Fargo Arena rooting for the upset, the Longhorns adjusted to Colgate&rsquo;s second-half zone defense and never let the lead get smaller than seven points.
About an hour before Texas took the court, No. 2 seed Arizona was&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-arizona-princeton-4b28e0acabe2b75ccdbac81d40a6fd66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ousted by Princeton</a>&nbsp;in the West Region. The Tigers became the 11th team seeded 15th to win a first-round game&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2022-03-17/history-2-seeds-vs-15-seeds-march-madness" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">in 149 tries</a>&nbsp;and the third in three years.
The Longhorns played hard enough &mdash; and shot well enough &mdash; to make sure they didn&rsquo;t land on that list.
After driving hard toward the block, Carr kicked the ball back out to the top of the key to set up&nbsp;Rice&rsquo;s fourth 3-pointer&nbsp;for a 29-17 lead. As the calm and deliberate Rice flashed a sheepish smile, Carr gave him an exaggerated hand slap as he jumped up and down on the retreat for defense.
Rice, the lanky super sub and graduate transfer from New Mexico State who is aiming to play in the Final Four in his native Houston, went 8 for 14 from the field.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s as good of an overall basketball player as I&rsquo;ve seen all year &mdash; his intelligence, his IQ, his poise, his defense, his recognition of his teammates, but his ability to step up,&rdquo; Colgate coach Matt Langel said.
The Longhorns have&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-midwest-texas-d2cf4f137d9cd1f2228b8bc9aa899942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">come a long way</a>&nbsp;since coach Chris Beard was arrested on a later-dropped domestic violence charge and fired soon after that.
They hit the NCAA Tournament in stride under Terry&rsquo;s even-keeled guidance with two decisive wins over Kansas, the regular-season Big 12 champion and No. 1 seed in the West Region, that included the conference championship.
These Longhorns have a strong bond that has carried them to the verge of a trip to the tournament&rsquo;s second weekend for the first time since 2008. The last Final Four for Texas was in 2003, when Terry was an assistant under coach Rick Barnes.
&ldquo;I think we prepare really well, better than a lot of teams in the country,&rdquo; Rice said. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re really locked into the details and locked into the things that we have to do to win.&rdquo;

Sir’Jabari Rice scored 23 points and Texas shut down sharpshooting Colgate for an 81-61 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

No. 2 seed Texas tops Colgate 81-61 behind Rice’s 7 made 3s

LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; UCLA came in way too cocky, according to coach Mick Cronin, and it nearly cost the Bruins.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 26 points and fourth-ranked UCLA rallied in the second half to beat Stanford 73-64 on Thursday night, improving to 14-0 at home this season.
&ldquo;We weren&rsquo;t ready for the fight,&rdquo; Cronin said, adding: &ldquo;They dug it out tonight.&rdquo;
The Bruins got outplayed in the first half, then built a lead in the second half only to fall behind again before closing out their 22nd consecutive home victory dating to last season &mdash; the nation&rsquo;s longest current streak.
&ldquo;We did come in a little overconfident. Sometimes that happens,&rdquo; Jaquez said. &ldquo;It was also good to get checked by Stanford in the first half and realize we&rsquo;ve got to stay humble and composed. This is the time of year anything can happen. I said in the huddle, &lsquo;We got an opportunity and let&rsquo;s not mess this up.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Jaylen Clark added 16 points for the first-place Bruins (22-4, 13-2 Pac-12), who have won five in a row overall.
Michael Jones scored 15 points to lead Stanford (11-15, 5-10), and Harrison Ingram added 13. Maxime Raynaud had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Spencer Jones, the Cardinal&rsquo;s leading scorer at 13.7 points per game, was held to six.
The Bruins burst out to start the second half, outscoring the Cardinal 16-4 to take a 43-36 lead. Clark stole the ball from Michael O&rsquo;Connell and dunked, then he hit a 3-pointer before Jaquez completed a three-point play to cap the spurt.
&ldquo;This is my last year and I realized I&rsquo;ve only got so many games left, so I&rsquo;m going down swinging,&rdquo; said Jaquez, who made 9 of 11 free throws and had nine rebounds and three assists.
Stanford responded with a 14-2 run, including 12 in a row, to go back in front, 50-45. Michael Jones scored seven straight points and Spencer Jones dunked.
The Cardinal had five players in foul trouble in the second half: O&rsquo;Connell, Michael Jones, Spencer Jones, Ingram and Raynaud. O&rsquo;Connell fouled out in the closing seconds.
Four times the Bruins clawed within one. Clark grabbed a defensive rebound and streaked down the court to dunk and put UCLA ahead, 58-57.
After Ingram&rsquo;s jumper cut the Bruins&rsquo; lead to one, Will McClendon hit a high-arcing 3-pointer in front of UCLA&rsquo;s bench that extended their lead to 63-59. UCLA made all eight of its free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Stanford controlled the first half and led 31-27. The Cardinal were better than the Bruins in shooting (48%), rebounding (22-15), bench points (10-5) and paint points (22-12). Stanford was in front for 17 1/2 minutes of the half, and its largest lead was eight points.
BIG PICTURE
Stanford: The Cardinal came into Pauley Pavilion full of confidence, having beaten then-No. 4 Arizona last week for their first win over a top-four team since 2007. But they couldn&rsquo;t make shots in the closing minutes against the Bruins&rsquo; defense.
UCLA: The Bruins have four games remaining until facing their last ranked opponent of the regular season, No. 8 Arizona at home on March 4. They figure to have no problem against last-place California before going on their final road trip.
SITTING TYGER
Cronin kept Tyger Campbell and Amari Bailey on the bench to start the second half.
&ldquo;It would have been bad coaching to start them,&rdquo; Cronin said. &ldquo;They didn&rsquo;t have a basket, deflection or rebound (in the first half).&rdquo;
Campbell re-entered with 16 1/2 minutes remaining. He hit a big 3-pointer that cut the Bruins&rsquo; deficit to one and also fed McClendon for his critical 3 when UCLA led 60-59. Dylan Andrews also got 13 minutes of playing time and scored three points.
&ldquo;It was amazing to see Will and Dylan coming off the bench to make plays for us,&rdquo; David Singleton said. &ldquo;For those guys to step up big in games like this, we really showed the depth of our team.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
Stanford: Visits Southern California on Saturday.
UCLA: Hosts California on Saturday.

“We weren’t ready for the fight,” Bruins head coach Mick Cronin said, adding: “They dug it out tonight.”

No. 4 UCLA rallies to beat Stanford 73-64 behind Jaquez

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Shahada Wells scored 17 points as No. 14 TCU beat No. 2 Kansas 83-60 on Saturday in one of the worst losses in Bill Self&rsquo;s 20-year coaching career with the Jayhawks.
The loss snapped a 16-game winning streak at home for Kansas and was the second-largest home loss under Self. The Jayhawks (15-3, 5-2 Big 12), who lost 83-82 in overtime at Kansas State on Tuesday, had not lost consecutive games in the state since 1989 &mdash; against K-State and Missouri.
Kansas trailed by 10 at halftime and never closed the gap within single digits. TCU extended the lead to as many as 24 points. The Jayhawks shot only 32.1% in the second half.
TCU (15-4, 4-3 Big 12), which shot 54.4% (31 of 57) from the field, got 15 points from Mike Miles Jr. and 11 from Damion Baugh.
NO. 4 ALABAMA 85, MISSOURI 64
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) &mdash; Noah Clowney and Mark Sears each scored 17 points, and Alabama remained undefeated against unranked teams this season.
Freshman Brandon Miller added 15 points and eight rebounds for Alabama (17-2, 7-0 Southeastern Conference), and reserve Jahvon Quinterly scored 13 points. Clowney also had 14 rebounds, and Sears finished with eight rebounds and three steals.
Isiaih Mosley led Missouri (14-5, 3-4) with 19 points. Mohamed Diarra had eight points and 12 rebounds.
NO. 11 ARIZONA 58, NO. 5 UCLA 52
TUSCON, Ariz. (AP) &mdash; Oumar Ballo scored 16 points, Azuolas Tubelis had a double-double and Arizona withstood a late rally to end UCLA&rsquo;s 14-game winning streak.
The Wildcats (17-3, 5-3 Pac-12) took a 56-44 lead on Ballo&rsquo;s alley-oop dunk with 2:07 left. But the Bruins (17-3, 8-1) fought back, creating four straight turnovers to pull within 56-52. UCLA then blocked consecutive shots but couldn&rsquo;t convert on two shots of its own. Arizona&rsquo;s Pelle Larsson hit two free throws with 0.9 seconds to close it out.
Tyger Campbell led the Bruins with 13 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 12 with 11 rebounds.
NO. 6 GONZAGA 99, PACIFIC 90
STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) &mdash; Drew Timme scored 24 of his career-high 38 points in the second half, including 18 straight points during one stretch, and Gonzaga pulled away in the closing minutes.
Timme made 17 of 23 shots and almost all of them within a couple feet of the rim. Anton Watson added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Gonzaga (17-4, 6-1 WCC). Rasir Bolton added 16 points for the Bulldogs, who had won their previous three road games in conference play by a combined eight points, and Julian Strawther had 15.
Jordan Ivy-Curry led five Pacific players in double figures with 17 points. Nick Blake scored 16 before fouling out. Keylan Boone finished with 15, Luke Avdalovic added 13 and Judson Martindale finished with 12. Pacific (10-12, 3-4) made eight 3-pointers in the first half and was tied at 47 at halftime, but the Tigers were just 1 of 8 from deep in the second half.
NO. 7 TEXAS 69, WEST VIRGINIA 61
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Marcus Carr scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead Texas.
Dylan Disu added 13 points before fouling out, and Christian Bishop and Tyrese Hunter scored 11 apiece for the Longhorns (16-3, 5-2 Big 12), who bounced back from a double-digit loss at No. 12 Iowa State on Wednesday.
The Mountaineers (11-8, 1-6) had several players in early foul trouble. Kedrian Johnson had a career-high 22 points, but his teammates fell flat in the second half against the Longhorns.
NO. 8 XAVIER 95, GEORGETOWN 82
CINCINNATI (AP) &mdash; Zach Freemantle tied a career-high with 30 points and Colby Jones had 20 as Xavier handed Georgetown its 29th straight Big East loss.
Adam Kunkel scored 14 points to help the Musketeers (16-4, 8-1 Big East) bounce back from a 73-72 loss at DePaul on Wednesday.
Primo Spears scored a career-high 37 points and Akok Akok had 14 for the Hoyas (5-15, 0-9 Big East), who have lost 10 straight. Spears&rsquo; previous high was 34 against LaSalle on March 5, 2022.
NO. 9 TENNESSEE 77, LSU 56
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) &mdash; Josiah-Jordan James scored a season-high 22 points and Tennessee defeated LSU, which has lost six straight.
James, who missed eight games in November and December due to injury, made his second straight start for the Volunteers (16-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference). Playing 31 minutes, James was 9-of-16 from the field and matched his career-high with four 3-pointers.
Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler had 12 points and 10 assists, which tied his career high. Julian Phillips and Tyreke Key each had 10 points.
KJ Williams led LSU (12-7, 1-6) with 16 points. Trae Hannibal added 10 points. The Tigers committed 19 turnovers which resulted in 33 Volunteers points.
NO. 10 VIRGINIA 76, WAKE FOREST 67
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Armaan Franklin scored 18 of his 25 points during the first half and Virginia survived blowing nearly all of a 19-point lead to beat Wake Forest.
Kihei Clark added 12 points despite getting into foul trouble for the Cavaliers (15-3, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). But it was a day of wild swings for Virginia, who went from missing its first eight shots to suddenly being unable to miss to go up 34-15 &mdash; only to see the Demon Deacons push back to within a single point with 8 1/2 minutes left.
Damari Monsanto had a career-high 25 points for the Demon Deacons (14-6, 6-3), highlighted by making 7 of 15 3-pointers.
OKLAHOMA STATE 61, NO. 12 IOWA STATE 59
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) &mdash; Avery Anderson scored 18 points, including the go-ahead free throws, and Oklahoma State defeated Iowa State for its first win over a ranked team this season.
Kalib Boone added 13 points for the Cowboys (11-8, 3-4 Big 12), who won their second straight game.
Osun Osunniyi scored 15 points and Gabe Kalscheur added 14 for Iowa State (14-4, 5-2), which had won seven of its last eight games. Cyclones sharpshooter Caleb Grill spent most of the second half on the bench wearing a back brace and wasn&rsquo;t in the game in the closing minutes.
NO. 13 KANSAS STATE 68, TEXAS TECH 58
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Markquis Nowell had 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Kansas State&rsquo;s win over Texas Tech.
Keyontae Johnson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (17-2, 6-1 Big 12), who won for the 11th time in 12 games. Ismael Massoud scored 12 points.
Pop Isaacs and De&rsquo;Vion Harmon each scored 13 points for Texas Tech (10-9, 0-7), which shot 32.4% (23 for 71) from the field.
NO. 16 AUBURN 81, SOUTH CAROLINA 66
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) &mdash; Johni Broome had a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds as Auburn took control late in the opening half to run past struggling South Carolina.
Broome&rsquo;s performance helped the Tigers to their fifth straight win and offset a career-best 30 points from Gamecocks&rsquo; freshman Gregory &ldquo;GG&rdquo; Jackson II.
The 6-foot-10 Broome took full advantage of South Carolina&rsquo;s undersized interior for the Tigers (16-3, 6-1 Southeastern Conference). He hit 12 of his 17 shots in 30 minutes for his sixth double-double this season and fifth against an SEC opponent.
Meechie Johnson was the only other player for South Carolina (8-11, 1-5) in double figures with 11 points.
DUKE 68, NO. 17 MIAMI
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Kyle Filipowski had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Jeremy Roach scored 14 points in his first game in more than two weeks to lift Duke over Miami.
Tyrese Proctor had 11 points and Dariq Whitehead added 10 points for the Blue Devils (15-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who played their first game of the season without a national ranking.
Jordan Miller&rsquo;s 19 points and Nijel Pack&rsquo;s 18 were tops for Miami (15-4, 6-3), which has lost three of its last five games.
NO. 18 CHARLESTON 87, NORTHEASTERN 61
BOSTON (AP) &mdash; Ben Burnham scored 15 points, Pat Robinson III added 14 and Ryan Larson had 12 to lead Charleston to its 20th win in a row.
The Cougars (21-1, 9-0 Colonial Athletic Association) scored 13 straight points in the first half to pull away and extend the longest active winning streak in the nation. They have not lost since the second game of the season, to then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 11, climbing to their highest ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 since 1999.
Chris Doherty had 11 points and 13 rebounds and Jared Turner also scored 11 for Northeastern (8-11, 4-4). The Huskies haven&rsquo;t beat a Top 25 team since 2015.
NO. 19 CLEMSON 51, VIRGINIA TECH 50
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) &mdash; Hunter Tyson&rsquo;s 3-pointer with 12 seconds left lifted Clemson to a dramatic victory over Virginia Tech.
Tyson caught a pass just left of the key, took a look at at the basket and let it fly. The crowd exploded as the ball went through and the Tigers (16-4, 8-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) continued their unexpected run atop the ACC.
PJ Hall led Clemson with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Grant Basile led the Hokies (11-8, 1-7) with 13 points.
NO. 20 MARQUETTE 74, SETON HALL 53
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) &mdash; Kam Jones scored 22 points, Oso Ighodaro had 18 on 7-for-7 shooting and Marquette beat Seton Hall.
Marquette (16-5, 8-2 Big East) shot 54% (29 for 54) from the field in its second straight win since an 80-76 loss to Xavier last weekend.
Kadary Richmond led Seton Hall (12-9, 5-5) with 10 points and five assists. The Pirates committed a season-high 26 turnovers.
NO. 21 BAYLOR 62, OKLAHOMA 60
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) &mdash; Jalen Bridges scored 11 points and hit a trio of game-turning 3-pointers in the final five minutes as Baylor rallied to hold off Oklahoma.
Adam Flagler had 16 points and five assists, and Keyonte George added 11 points as Baylor (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) won its fourth straight game after opening conference play with three straight losses and briefly dropping out of The Associated Press Top 25.
Jalen Hill had 17 points and nine rebounds, while Tanner Groves added 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots for the Sooners (12-7, 2-5).
NO. 22 PROVIDENCE 75, DEPAUL 64
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) &mdash; Noah Locke had a career-high 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, to help Providence fend off DePaul.
Bryce Hopkins added 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Friars (15-5, 7-2 Big East) snapped a two-game losing skid and improved to 11-0 at home. They are 2-2 without point guard Jared Bynum, who missed his fourth consecutive game with a torso injury.
The Blue Demons (9-11, 3-6) came in fresh off a home victory over eighth-ranked Xavier. But they dropped their sixth straight road game and are now 0-4 in conference games away from home. Umjoja Gibson had 16 points and five assists for DePaul and Da&rsquo;Sean Nelson added 13 points.
NO. 24 FLORIDA ATLANTIC 67, UTEP 59
EL PASO, Texas (AP) &mdash; Johnell Davis scored 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting and Florida Atlantic extended its program record for consecutive wins to 18.
Davis hit 2 of 3 attempts from 3-point distance and was perfect on six shots from the line for FAU (19-1, 9-0 Conference USA). Vladislav Goldin finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Owls.
Calvin Solomon finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Tae Hardy also scored 16 points for UTEP (11-9, 4-5). Mario McKinney Jr. added 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
NO. 25 ARKANSAS 69, OLE MISS 57
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) &mdash; Anthony Black scored 17 points, reserve Joseph Pinion had 13 and Arkansas snapped a four-game losing streak by topping Mississippi.
Only nine teams in Division I had made fewer 3-pointers than Arkansas (13-6, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) this season, but the Razorbacks tied a season high by making eight from beyond the arc. They led by as many as 21 points.
Pinion and Devo Davis each made three 3s. Davis had 16 points and Jordan Walsh finished with 13.
Ole Miss (9-10, 1-6) committed 17 turnovers. The Rebels had six giveaways in the first six minutes of the second half, helping Arkansas extend its three-point halftime lead to 11 at the first media timeout after the break.

A roundup of Saturday's top-25 action in men's college basketball includes a TCU rout of the second-ranked Jayhawks on the road.

No. 14 TCU blows out No. 2 Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) &mdash; Tyrese Hunter seemed to be getting farther and farther away every time he let another 3-pointer fly.
No distance seemed out of his range.
Hunter scored 26 points and a led a 3-point shooting spree that pushed No. 11 Texas to a dominant 93-74 win over No. 2 Gonzaga on Wednesday night.
Hunter, last season&rsquo;s Big 12 freshman of the year at Iowa State, was 9-of-14 shooting and made five of Texas&rsquo; 13 3-pointers. He made three from long range in the opening minutes of the second half as the Longhorns seized control.
&ldquo;Big shout-out to my teammates for finding me. I don&rsquo;t think I got one of them off the dribble,&rdquo; Hunter said.
Gonzaga couldn&rsquo;t push Hunter far enough away from the basket.
&ldquo;They hit a lot of deep, deep 3&rsquo;s,&rdquo; Bulldogs coach Mark Few said. &ldquo;We knew he could shoot them, but not from 30 feet or whatever. He was feeling it.&rdquo;
Texas was 3 of 22 from long range in its previous game against Houston Christian.
Defensively, Texas (3-0) shut down All-American forward Drew Timme for long stretches and rendered him mostly ineffective when the game was still close. Two of his first four shots were airballs against switching double-team defenses.
Marcus Carr added 16 points for Texas. Timme led Gonzaga (2-1) with 18 points.
Texas held Gonzaga to a single basket over the final five minutes of the first half and stretched a tight game into a 10-point halftime lead behind a rare scoring burst from defensive specialist Brock Cunningham. He made a 3-pointer and a reverse layup before tipping away a pass to Timme for his own layup that made it 47-37.
Texas broke it open with the flurry of 3-pointers to start the second half. Hunter struck first, then Dylan Disu was left wide open for another. Hunter then made two more before converting a three-point play on a steal and layup that pushed the Texas lead to 20.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pretty sure a lot of people were watching the game, saw who we are and what we&rsquo;re about,&rdquo; Hunter said.
BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs shot pretty well (49% overall with nine 3-pointers) but have a turnover problem. They finished with 20 turnovers, one game after they gave the ball away 18 times in a tight win over Michigan State on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Longhorns turned those turnovers into 27 points. Point guard Nolan Hickman had four turnovers and two assists.
&ldquo;Some of it was us, but a lot of it was their pressure,&rdquo; Few said. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t function if we turn the ball over like that.&rdquo;
Texas: Disu was a big part of Texas&rsquo; ability to lock down Timme from the jump. At 6-foot-9, he&rsquo;s the tallest Longhorn and a nagging leg injury kept him off the court for much of last season. His physical play around the rim will be key for a team that lacks overall size. He scored 12 points and hit two 3-pointers with his soft shooting touch, giving the Longhorns a critical piece on both ends of the court.
&ldquo;He had great poise against a great player in Timme,&rdquo; Texas coach Chris Beard said.
POLL POSITION
Texas doesn&rsquo;t play again until next week&rsquo;s rankings come out and the Longhorns can expect to make a big jump.
FAST-BREAK POINTS
All those turnovers have the Longhorns running a lot. Texas has outscored its first three opponents 55-3 on the fast break.
UP NEXT
Gonzaga continues its rough early-season schedule with a home matchup against No. 4 Kentucky on Sunday.
Texas plays Northern Arizona in Edinburg, Texas on Nov. 21.

Tyrese Hunter scored 26 points and a led a three-point spree that pushed No. 11 Texas to a dominant 93-74 win over No. 2 Gonzaga.

Hunter scores 26, No. 11 Texas dominates No. 2 Gonzaga 93-74

Grant Williams dubbed himself &ldquo;Batman&rdquo; after he helped the Boston Celtics neutralize Nuggets star Nikola &ldquo;Joker&rdquo; Jokic during a win in Denver late last season.
The Celtics relied on their offense to keep the reigning back-to-back MVP from getting his revenge. Jayson Tatum had 34 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Boston extended its season-best win streak to five games by beating Denver 131-112 on Friday night.
It was Tatum&rsquo;s third straight game with at least 30 points and seventh time with 30-plus this season. Boston had just seven turnovers and shot 57% from the field with 16 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown had 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
"It's just a lot of fun right now on the offensive end," said Al Horford, who had six 3-pointers and finished 21 points and seven rebounds. &ldquo;Guys are really conscious of understanding of what coach wants and what he expects. He wants good spacing and we're doing a good job of getting to those positions.
&ldquo;It's fun to see when it comes together like that."
Interim coach Joe Mazzulla said he likes the trust on the floor he sees between his players.
&ldquo;Our guys are bought into making each other better, whether they have the ball or not,&rdquo; Mazzulla said.
The loss snapped the Nuggets&rsquo; four-game win streak.
Jokic had 29 points and and eight rebounds but struggled with early foul trouble. Aaron Gordon added 17 points and eight rebounds.
The Nuggets stayed close despite its bench playing shorthanded after Bones Hyland was placed in the health and safety protocols prior to tipoff. Bruce Brown was the most productive, playing 37 minutes and finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists
Denver trailed 77-70 when Jokic went to the bench after his fourth foul with about seven minutes left in the third quarter.
The Nuggets kept chipping away without him, eventually cutting what had been an 18-point, first-half deficit to 87-85.
Jokic returned at the start of the fourth, but it didn&rsquo;t stop Boston from growing its lead to 111-95.
Things got a little chippy in the closing minutes.
Gordon was called for a Flagrant 1 foul after he scored on a dunk, then was deemed to have made a hostile act by running over Williams.
It did little to stifle the Celtics&rsquo; momentum.
Boston went on an 11-3 run after that, extending its lead to 127-109.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Coach Mike Malone won a challenge on what was originally called an offensive foul on Jokic with 9:37 left in the game. It was changed to a blocking foul on Boston&rsquo;s Marcus Smart. It would have been Jokic&rsquo;s fifth foul. &hellip; Ish Smith (calf) sat for the fifth straight game. &hellip; Closed the first half on a 17-6 run.
Celtics: Boston led 102-93 in the fourth when Michael Porter Jr. was called for a flagrant foul after he stepped into Tatum&rsquo;s landing area on a 3-point attempt. Tatum came down on Porter&rsquo;s foot and grabbed at his left ankle but was able to remain in the game. &hellip; Malcolm Brogdon sat out and is day to day with right hamstring tightness. ... Took a 66-57 lead into halftime. &hellip; Led 33-25 at the end of the first, shooting 61% from the field with no turnovers.
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I am at a loss. <a href="https://t.co/wMQbOSuQn6">pic.twitter.com/wMQbOSuQn6</a>
&mdash; Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1591230202688204800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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STICK WITH IT
Boston's Payton Pritchard had the&nbsp;hustle play of the game&nbsp;in the second quarter.
The Celtics missed fight straight shots on a single possession before the ball was corralled by Denver&rsquo;s DeAndre Jordan.
But just as he turned to push the ball up the court Pritchard &mdash; who had rebounded two of Boston&rsquo;s previous misses &mdash; snuck in from behind, ripped it away and dropped in a layup to conclude the wild series. The effort sent the Celtics bench into a frenzy and prompted a Nuggets timeout.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Chicago on Sunday.
Celtics: At Detroit on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum had 34 points and Boston extended its season-best win streak to five games by beating Denver 131-112 on Friday night.

Tatum, Celtics beat Nuggets for season-best 5th win in row

LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; A pair of five-star recruits are sure to turn heads at UCLA this season. In an era when freshmen burn brightest, however, it&rsquo;s two seniors who could prove invaluable to the eighth-ranked Bruins&rsquo; NCAA title hopes.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell are back for their fourth seasons in Westwood, a couple of battle-tested veterans who arrived at the same time as coach Mick Cronin to rebuild a program that owns a record 11 national championships.
The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the NCAA Tournament in 2020, when the Bruins were riding a hot streak in March. Jaquez and Campbell helped them to a Final Four appearance in 2021. UCLA lost to North Carolina by seven points in the regional semifinals last season.
The Bruins were 27-8 and finished second in the Pac-12 at 15-5 last season. They defended their home court well, winning 14 of 15 games.
Cronin is 68-30 entering his fourth season and boasts top-five recruits, guard Amari Bailey and forward Adem Bona.
UCLA opens the season at home against Sacramento State on Nov. 7. The Bruins play five of their first seven games at Pauley Pavilion in the first month of the season. They travel to Las Vegas for two games before playing their first Pac-12 game at Stanford on Dec. 1.
The Bruins&rsquo; nonconference schedule includes games at Maryland on Dec. 14 and against Kentucky at New York&rsquo;s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 17.
BACKCOURT DEPTH
Jaquez and Campbell anchor one of the best backcourts in the nation despite the losses of Johnny Juzang and Jules Bernard. Jaquez is back to full strength after late-season ankle injuries slowed him. Campbell finished in the top four in the Pac-12 in assists in each of his first three seasons and his 3-point shooting ticked up to 41% as a junior. Fifth-year senior David Singleton is also a threat from deep, shooting 45% last season. Jaylen Clark showed what he can do as a starter, averaging 14.8 points during a five-game stretch in the lineup. They&rsquo;re joined by Bailey, the Bruins&rsquo; highest-rated prospect since Lonzo Ball in 2016. Will McClendon finally makes his Westwood debut after a torn ACL kept him out of action last season.
UNPROVEN FRONTCOURT
The departures of Cody Riley and Myles Johnson leave the Bruins with an unproven frontcourt. As a result, Bona from Nigeria figures to join the starting rotation. He was a McDonald&rsquo;s All-American at his prep school in Napa, California, and has international playing experience. Mac Etienne returns after missing all last season with an ACL injury, having shown promise late in the 2020-21 season. Senior Kenneth Nwuba gives the Bruins a third player at 6-foot-10.
OTHER FRESHMEN TO WATCH
The Bruins added guard-forward Abramo Canka of Italy, who has played in the Russian Super League. Guard Dylan Andrews grew up in Los Angeles and was ranked among the top 10 by some recruiting services. Preferred walk-on Evan Manjikian is another LA native who played at Sierra Canyon High, alongside current Bruins teammate Bailey and Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James. Jack Seidler, also a preferred walk-on, was a two-time all-conference selection at Marlboro (New Jersey) High, where he finished as the career scoring leader.
TOASTING THE BRUINS
Beer and wine will be for sale to the public for the first time at Pauley Pavilion this season. Fans who are 21 and over can purchase two drinks per transaction until the 10-minute mark of the second half. Since the arena&rsquo;s renovation 10 years ago, alcohol had been available only to members of the Wooden Athletic Fund in a private room.&nbsp;

Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell are back for their fourth seasons in Westwood.

Vets Jaquez, Campbell anchor UCLA roster of star newcomers

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) &mdash; Arizona is a bit of an unknown quantity, with a key returning core surrounded by talented newcomers who hope to make up for the loss of NBA talent.
If it sounds familiar, that&rsquo;s just where the No. 17 Wildcats were heading into last season, Tommy Lloyd&rsquo;s first as a head coach.
That one turned out pretty well, so no reason to think it won&rsquo;t happen again.
Arizona enters its second season under Lloyd with several new players, but it&rsquo;s a mix that&rsquo;s expected to make the former longtime Gonzaga assistant two for two in NCAA Tournament opportunities.
&ldquo;We have some really good players,&rdquo; Lloyd said. &ldquo;As a team we still have to put everything together, but at the end of the day we&rsquo;re going to be really hard to beat.&rdquo;
Arizona proved that last season. Arizona lost three players to the NBA, but Lloyd added some key components to the players who opted to return. Arizona won 33 games, reached the Sweet 16 and Lloyd won multiple national coach of the year honors, including from The Associated Press.
The Wildcats have a similar feel this season.
Bennedict Mathurin, Christian Koloko and Dalen Terry are now in the NBA. Azuolas Tubelis, Kerr Kriisa, Pelle Larsson and Oumar Ballo are all back. The cast of new players Lloyd added are impressive.
Guard Courtney Ramey arrives after playing four seasons at Texas, most of the time as a starter. Cedric Henderson Jr. was a proven scorer at Campbell, averaging 13.7 points in three seasons.
Serbian forward Filip Borovicanin and Estonian forward Henri Veesaar have proven themselves against international competition. Arizona also added two highly touted freshmen, big man Dylan Anderson and point guard Kyland Boswell, who will be eased into the rotation after offseason foot surgery.
It may take the new crew time to gel, but the talent and pieces appear to be in place for another March run.
BAL&rsquo;S PROGRESS
Arizona could get a big boost from a player who was already on its roster: Adama Bal.
The 6-foot-6 French wing played a limited role last season, averaging 4.5 points in 23 games, but he played well for France in the FIBA under-20 championships this summer. Given a bigger role this season, Bal could be ready for a breakout season.
&ldquo;By the time November rolls around, I figure he&rsquo;s going to be a mainstay and have a chance to impact every single game,&rdquo; Lloyd said.
GETTING PHYSICAL
One of Lloyd&rsquo;s goals within his program is to add toughness after the Wildcats were manhandled by Houston in the Sweet 16.
Lloyd has pushed his players to be more physical in practice, particularly in the paint. He&rsquo;s also urged players like the 6-11, 245-pound Tubelis and 7-foot, 260-pound Ballo to use their size and leverage more to their advantage.
&ldquo;To me, there&rsquo;s nothing that bums me out more than physically being overmatched,&rdquo; Lloyd said. &ldquo;So what do we have to do to make sure when we tee it up we can physically bring the fight. To me, therein lies toughness. That&rsquo;s the price of entry: you&rsquo;ve got to be tough.&rdquo;
LARSSON&rsquo;S CLIMB
Larsson got a late start to his first season in Tucson due to offseason foot surgery. The Swedish transfer from Utah had a solid year, averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds, but Lloyd would like him to play with more confidence and ramp up his defense.
&ldquo;Pelle has to manifest a bit of his success and have more belief in himself,&rdquo; Lloyd said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a really good basketball player and definitely trending in the right direction.&rdquo;
SCHEDULE
Lloyd likes to schedule tough, something he learned from Gonzaga coach Mark Few. The Wildcats had a few games fall through for various reasons, but will still have some tough nonconference games.
Arizona&rsquo;s first big test will come at the Maui Invitational. The Wildcats open against Cincinnati, with potential games against No. 10 Arkansas, No. 25 Texas Tech, Louisville, Ohio State and No. 19 San Diego State later in the bracket.
Arizona also plays Indiana in Las Vegas and has a home game against No. 11 Tennessee.
&ldquo;I definitely think we scheduled well enough to give ourselves a chance to win an at-large bid, and if we perform well in our schedule, we probably have a chance to get a decent seed in the (NCAA) tournament,&rdquo; Lloyd said.

Ben Mathurin, Christian Koloko and Dalen Terry are in the NBA. Azuolas Tubelis, Kerr Kriisa, Pelle Larsson and Oumar Ballo are back.

No. 17 Arizona aims to keep momentum in Lloyd’s second season

It's always refreshing to see a good ol' fashioned players-for-players exchange.
The Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets didn't play games in their 2-for-2 trade on Wednesday. According to the reports, Washington sent Ish Smith and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Denver, and the Nuggets dealt Monte Morris and Will Barton to the Wizards.
That's it. No pick protections, no draft swaps, and not even a "cash considerations" cameo. Two proven NBA basketball players moved to a new team for two proven NBA basketball players of loosely the same position and stature, all ranging between 27 and 34 years old. Of course, we don't know the full intent of the deal from each side, and the Gordian Knot that is offseason transactions hasn't even come close to untying yet.
For now, though, Washington and Denver have signaled with this trade that they recognize a need for stylistic change in the rotation. These four players are not the biggest names we'll hear about over the next couple of days, but they've been acquired to impact winning on two squads that should feel pressure to win.
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Let's deconstruct the deal team-by-team and player-by-player.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Bradley Beal declined his $36.4 million player option on Wednesday, but as <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039985-espn-bradley-beal-very-likely-to-decline-option-sign-new-5-year-wizards-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday,</a> that was an expected move, as Beal can now sign a five-year supermax contract worth close to $248 million. So if his free agency plays out as expected, Beal is still entrenched as the steward of the Wizards, which means Washington is still trying to rebuild and contend on the fly.
The franchise has reenergized its pursuit of a stable backcourt surrounding Beal. The Wizards selected Johnny Davis with the No. 10 overall pick in last week's NBA Draft, and he projects as a seamless complement to Beal in time: a tough-as-nails defender at the point of attack and a scoring threat when attacking the basket.&nbsp;
Davis is not ready to be thrown into the fire as perhaps the second-leading touch-getter on the roster, though. Enter Monte Morris, who's quite a different player from Beal and Davis in all the right ways.&nbsp;
Morris is a career 39.4% three-point shooter from beyond the arc. Most of that clip comes from catch-and-shoot prowess, where Morris hit at 42.1% this season vs. just 32.4% on a much lower volume of pull-ups. There's been a fairly consistent gap in those categories for most of his career.
He also sported one of the better at-rim rates in the league last season, finishing 68% of his shots within 4 feet of the basket (90th percentile among point guards, per Cleaning the Glass). That percentage also comes with a caveat: Morris was assisted on a whopping 63% of his at-rim makes, which is by far the highest percentage among all point guards (and fifth among all guards who played at least 800 minutes this season).
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Having one of the world's best passers in Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets certainly changed Morris' role. He likely won't be in quite as many vertical cuts to the basket, waiting for a feed from a post-up big. The point is that Morris knows how to cut and space effectively, and next to a creator like Beal, should get his share of catch-and-convert looks.
He can still make some scoring plays happen on his own with his ability to change pace and direction quickly. Morris has also been lauded as an assist-to-turnover wizard, and it's true that his turnover rate is consistently among the best in the league. He doesn't exactly create assists, but Morris is at least a steady decision-maker you can trust as a secondary guard.&nbsp;
With that being said, Morris does not solve the creative playmaking gap that exists throughout this Wizards roster. Among the 10 players who logged at least 800 minutes in Washington, zero ranked in the top-25 percentile at their respective positions for assist-to-usage rate. Several were fairly close &mdash; Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija and Raul Neto were all above-average &mdash; but in the absence of a Tier 1 playmaker, it feels like this rotation could use one more person to open up the court.
Barton's assist rate (17.1%) and assist-to-usage rate (0.87) both slotted in the 87th percentile among wings last year, even as he played alongside Nikola Jokic and other great passers. I was personally suprised to find that Barton actually posted the highest adjusted assist-to-pass ratio on the Nuggets in 2021-22, even edging out Jokic. Amidst his streaky scoring and unfortunate injury history, Barton adds an underrated dimension as a passer.
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Barton adeptly keeps his eyes up when he drives and can hit popping players like Jokic, or finds the open man if his attack draws help. He's not a human highlight reel as a passer, but these are some quality finds for a player who makes his living as a scorer. Barton assisted on 12% of plays where he drove to the basket, per BBall Index, ranking in the 80th percentile at his position.
A trio of Beal, Kuzma and Barton threatening as drivers should open up options for Washington's array of complementary scorers.
Do Morris or Barton patch up the Wizards' 25th-ranked defense? Absolutely not. But as solid as Caldwell-Pope was, he was not holding together the defensive end, and parting with him makes sense for two well-fitting offensive pieces. Washington's guard rotation, long considered a weakness outside of Beal, now feels like an area of strength and relative upside.&nbsp;
DENVER NUGGETS
Let's get the financial incentive out of the way before looking on the court. According to the reports, this trade helps Denver sneak back under the luxury tax &mdash; not something to cheer about, but certainly beneficial for the future.&nbsp;
More importantly, the move showed Denver recognizes the limitations of its own roster, and has a plan to correct them.
Caldwell-Pope started all 77 games in his lone season with Washington, putting together a resurgent year by averaging 13.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game &mdash; all bests over the past four seasons.&nbsp;
Offensively, the fit is obvious: KCP should thrive as an outlet for Jokic. Caldwell-Pope canned 42.0% of his catch-and-shoot threes last season, and 14% of his halfcourt possessions involved cuts (97th percentile), per BBall Index. That was in Washington; imagine how he succeeds in some of those aforementioned scenarios in place of Morris.&nbsp;
The real kicker, though &mdash; Denver finally has a primary perimeter defender.&nbsp;
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Caldwell-Pope described <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-kentavious-caldwell-pope-explains-art-wing-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how he approaches defense</a> last fall, and you can see his work show up on film. He has to rotate over on this first play to cover Morris, and knowing that will open up a passing lane for a swing to Barton (how ironic is this first clip in hindsight), gets his arm in front of the ball for a steal.
Later in the reel: KCP knows Trae Young wants to get to his right hand to shoot or pass, and can poke away a steal before Young gets the ball there. He can make up for his smaller size by playing physically with larger wings like Jaylen Brown or Jonathan Kuminga. His foul rate of 2.5% is also surprisingly low for a player with such active hands.
Denver had the 15th-ranked defense in the regular season, but was 19th out of 20 Play-In and playoff teams in postseason Defensive Rating. KCP won't change that overnight, but he can be a spark where the Nuggets sorely need one.
At the same time, the Nuggets have Jamal Murray on his way back from a long ACL recovery, They also have Bones Hyland readying for a Year 2 leap after he averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game on a 63.8% True Shooting percentage post-All-Star break. Morris would have been crunched for minutes in the guard rotation, so it makes sense to replace him with a steady veteran in Ish Smith, who can hold down the remaining playing time.
And Smith is no throw-in, either. He's on his NBA-record 13th team and should provide a locker-room boost that cannot be quantified.&nbsp;
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When Ish Smith suits up for the Nuggets, he&rsquo;ll play for his 13th NBA team &mdash; the most ever by a single player 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/GcMA5yYhnY">pic.twitter.com/GcMA5yYhnY</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1542193390498054144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Smith doesn't project as quite the seamless fit as KCP should be. But this might actually force positive change from a player who has spent so much of his career trying to keep bench units afloat as an on-ball initiator.
Last season, 104 players played at least 50 games and averaged at least five drives per game, according to Second Spectrum. Smith passed the ball on 60.1% of his drives, more than any other player, and shot just 44.5% on his driving field goal attempts (ranked 84th).&nbsp;
Smith is a phenomenal passer and still one of the pure fastest players with the ball in his hands. But he also has had to rely so heavily on his own ability to create, and with Smith getting older (and the league getting longer and more switchable), the bar to clear goes up.
In this vein, I'd like to see if and how he is used off the ball in Denver. Smith is a capable shooter, and perhaps he can fit into some of the roles occupied by past Nuggets guards. At the minimum, he'll be a safer play at backup point guard than, say, Facundo Campazzo. But I think there's also some untapped room for growth.&nbsp;
The Nuggets have established themselves as contenders, but have gone backwards in the playoffs over the past three years. Caldwell-Pope and Smith won't drastically spring Denver's fortunes to crazy heights, but as we see every postseason, the complementary specialists can swing a game or series.
Sometimes, that's all a team needs to change.
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The Wizards and Nuggets helped each other by agreeing to a 2-for-2 trade on Wednesday.

NBA trade reaction: Breaking down the 4-player Nuggets-Wizards swap

DENVER (AP) &mdash; The Denver Nuggets aren't fazed.
They realize no team has ever won four elimination games in a single postseason series. They also know they're the only team in league history to overcome back-to-back 3-1 playoff deficits.
That's where they find themselves after avoiding a sweep by the Golden State Warriors with a 126-121 win Sunday to send the rough-and-tumble series back to San Francisco.
&ldquo;Can I say we want them right where we want them? No, but we're alive," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. &ldquo;We live to fight another day.&rdquo;
Game 5 is Wednesday night.
Although none of the 143 other teams who faced a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs ever bounced back to advance, the Nuggets became the league's first team ever to overcome 3-1 deficits in consecutive series two years ago when they bounced the Jazz and Clippers in the Orlando bubble.
&ldquo;The odds are against us,&rdquo; said MVP favorite Nikola Jokic. &ldquo;But we've beaten the odds a couple of times, so why not?&rdquo;
Jokic scored 37 points and fed Will Barton for a 3-pointer from the left corner with 8.3 seconds left after Monte Morris' short jumper broke a 121-all tie and Austin Rivers stole Otto Porter Jr.'s pass.
It was a reversal of final-minute fortunes for the Nuggets, who faltered down the stretch in a five-point loss in Game 3.
&ldquo;We felt like it could have been 2-2 if we didn't drop that last game,&rdquo; said Rivers, who noted the Nuggets finally matched the Warriors' physicality, especially down the stretch.
Morris finished with 24 points. He hit five 3-pointers in the third quarter, the most in a quarter by any player in these NBA playoffs.
Aaron Gordon chipped in 21 points and helped stifle Jordan Poole, who came in averaging 28.7 points this series but was held to 11.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 33 points despite missing 13 of 23 shots, going 3 for 11 from long range and missing four free throws for the first time in his career, whether in the playoffs or the regular season.
&ldquo;It's the worst feeling in the world, missed free throws,&rdquo; Curry said. &ldquo;It's what I do really well.&rdquo;
Klay Thompson scored 22 of his 32 points after picking up his fourth foul in the final second of the first half. He finished with five fouls.
Behind flexing rookie Bones Hyland's three consecutive 3s, the Nuggets opened a 40-23 lead in the second quarter and they still had a nine-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
Curry's jumper gave Golden State a 121-119 lead, but Jokic's finger-roll layup tied it back up and Andrew Wiggins missed a dunk at the other end as the Warriors went scoreless over the final 80 seconds.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was still a &ldquo;great experience&rdquo; for the players on his team who haven't been in close-out playoff situations after Golden State missed the playoffs the last two years.
&ldquo;We needed that,&rdquo; Kerr said. &ldquo;I felt like we got completely away from the game plan tonight in the first half, because I think we were almost too anxious to win the series.
&ldquo;But the focus now goes to heading home and the back in front of our fans&rdquo; with a chance to close it out at home, Kerr said.
&ldquo;So, we're right where we need to be."
Thompson said the Warriors need to be loose ones in Game 5, playing as though their season was on the line, not Denver's.
&ldquo;We got to go with the attitude like all right, it's a must-win,&rdquo; Thompson said. &ldquo;We'd like to have some rest before the next series.&rdquo;
Thompson said the Warriors don't want to come back to Denver until next season &ldquo;because a win by them and anything's possible.&rdquo;
The Jazz and Clippers can attest to that.
&ldquo;Out of all teams in the playoffs," Malone said, &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re probably the most comfortable being down 3-1.&rdquo;
BACKDOOR BACKFIRE
The Nuggets took a 63-52 halftime lead after a move by Kerr backfired with less than a second left in the second quarter.
Kerr sent Thompson back into the game with six-tenths of a second remaining and Thompson executed the play to perfection, coming off the screen for the layup &mdash; only, he pushed Rivers on his way to the rim, so the basket was waved off and Thompson was whistled for his fourth foul.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Thompson was 7 of 11 from beyond the arc but his teammates were just 5 of 23 on 3-pointers. ... Draymond Green picked up his first foul 40 seconds into the game when he poked Jokic in the right eye. In the ensuing tussle, Gordon and Thompson were assessed a double technical.
Nuggets: Rivers had five steals. ... Hyland finished with 15 points. His final 3 was a 33-footer that capped a 14-2 run with Jokic catching a breather on the bench after scoring or assisting on 20 of Denver's first 23 points. &ldquo;Those big shots don't faze me,&rdquo; Hyland said.

The Denver Nuggets staved off a sweep on Sunday, toppling the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 and staying alive in the series.

Jokic, Nuggets avoid sweep with Game 4 victory over Warriors

DENVER (AP) &mdash; Nikola Jokic made history on the night his Denver Nuggets clinched a fourth consecutive playoff berth with a 122-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jokic became the first player in NBA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season.
He had 35 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and five steals Thursday night.
&ldquo;Dude is really great at basketball,&rdquo; teammate Bones Hyland said.
Jokic's big night came after taking an inadvertent elbow from Jaren Jackson Jr. to the right forehead and temple that <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1512238860008263680?s=20&amp;t=Kft2-KJVkVHiG4YQh_Bs_w">drew blood</a> in the opening minute.
After having to retreat to the bench twice to stop the bleeding, Jokic donned a red headband for the remainder of the game as he helped the Nuggets (48-33) overcome a shaky start to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Grizzlies.
&ldquo;The MVP isn't even a competition,&rdquo; Nuggets coach Michael Malone declared afterward. &ldquo;There's other great players. I'm not saying they're not great players. But what Nikola Jokic has done this year &mdash; with this team &mdash; everything we've had to go through, is just incredible.
&ldquo;He was good last year and he's even better this year.&rdquo;
Despite missing stars Jamal Murray and Kevin Porter Jr., the Nuggets clinched a top-six spot in the Western Conference playoffs and avoided the four-team play-in thanks to another outstanding performance from the reigning MVP.
They can still win the Northwest Division with a victory Sunday night against the Lakers and two losses by the Utah Jazz (48-32), who finish up against Phoenix and Portland.
Aaron Gordon added 22 points for Denver and Desmond Bane had 14 points for the Grizzlies, who were coming off an overtime loss at Utah on Wednesday night, have already captured the first division title in their history along with securing the second seed in the West.
&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ve been playing good basketball, even the other night against Utah. Tonight, we just didn&rsquo;t have it,&rdquo; Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
Jokic was the biggest reason.
&ldquo;We threw a lot at him,&rdquo; Jenkins said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the MVP for a reason. He&rsquo;s nearly impossible to guard. He&rsquo;s going to beat you from inside, outside, playmaking. He played at a really high level tonight.&rdquo;
The Grizzlies are hopeful of getting All-Star guard Ja Morant back this weekend from a right knee injury that has sidelined him since March 18.
Jokic was hit in the head on the Grizzlies' first bucket, a drive by Jaren Jackson Jr., and retreated to the bench for treatment. He wasn't back on the court for long before returning to the sideline for more treatment and a <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets/status/1512251453842227202?s=20&amp;t=Kft2-KJVkVHiG4YQh_Bs_w">red headband</a>.
&ldquo;My first thought was Steve Nash in that playoff series and they couldn't stop the bleeding,&rdquo; Malone said. "And I'm saying, &lsquo;Of all games, Nikola gets a very non-malicious elbow, an inadvertent elbow to the head and he's bleeding.'
&ldquo;I'm saying, &lsquo;Not tonight."
Malone said he implored his trainers to do whatever they could to staunch the flow of blood.
&ldquo;Like, get a staple gun out here," Malone said. "And it finally stopped and Nikola put on another MVP performance."
While making NBA history.
Jokic said he's not going to keep wearing the headband, however. He'll leave that look to LeBron James.
&ldquo;No, I look great,&rdquo; Jokic said. &ldquo;I cannot let you guys see me twice like that."
Jokic agreed he's had a better season than last year but he said there's 20 superstars in this league and he's not himself lobbying for another MVP award.
&ldquo;If that's enough, it's enough," he said. "It not, you cannot control that.&rdquo;
Jokic got a game ball from the Nuggets as a keepsake of his historic night but he joked the trainers would probably sell his blood-soaked headband on eBay.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Memphis remains one win shy of tying the franchise record for wins in a single season (56-26 in 2012-13). ... Despite back-to-back losses to Utah and Denver, the Grizzlies finished 26-15 away from home, the NBA's second-best road record.
Nuggets: Murray missed his 81st game, but the Nuggets still haven't ruled out a return either Sunday in the regular season finale or in the playoffs. Murray tore his left ACL last April 12.
MORE MORANT
Morant is averaging 27.6 points. His return could make Memphis the darlings of the NBA playoffs.
Jenkins said they would like to have at least one game with their full contingent before the postseason. But health matters more.
&ldquo;If that&rsquo;s not what&rsquo;s the recommendation of the medical team, we don&rsquo;t feel like that&rsquo;s the smartest move, then we won&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; Jenkins said.
COURTSIDE VIPS
Among the VIPs at courtside was Broncos new QB Russell Wilson and his wife, R&amp;B singer-songwriter Ciara.
&ldquo;So, that was an added bonus,&rdquo; Malone said of seeing Ciara, who's also a model and dancer.
He didn't introduce himself to Ciara, &ldquo;but I talked to the guy she was with, but I didn't get his name,&rdquo; cracked Malone.
Wilson, who tossed an autographed football about 40 yards into the stands in the first half, also is set to throw out the first pitch at the Colorado Rockies' home opener Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Return home to face New Orleans on Saturday.
Nuggets: Wrap up the regular season at home Sunday night against the Lakers, who are sitting out these playoffs.
&nbsp;

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets clinched a fourth consecutive playoff berth with a 122-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nuggets clinch playoff berth with 122-109 rout of Grizzlies

MIAMI (AP) &mdash; The Miami Heat said 19,600 fans attended their home game Monday night.
At least two of them left happy.
Nikola Jokic &mdash; with his two brothers behind the Denver bench &mdash; returned and scored 24 points, Aaron Gordon added 20 and the Nuggets snapped their longest losing streak in nearly six years by beating the short-handed Heat 120-111 on Monday night.
&ldquo;That's behind us," Jokic said. &ldquo;We need to move on to the future. We won the game and that's the most important thing."
Bones Hyland returned from injury to score 19 and Will Barton added 14 for the Nuggets, who had dropped six straight. Jokic hadn&rsquo;t played in the last four of those because of a wrist injury but finished with 15 rebounds and seven assists.
&ldquo;I shot the lights out of the ball," Hyland said after going 5 for 8 from 3-point range.
Denver shot 58% on the day that it was revealed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-michael-porter-jr-jamal-murray-nikola-jokic-fe7764c78e82b3ee90e360cc6b0d5dba">Michael Porter Jr. will need back surgery.</a> Porter has been limited to only nine games this season.
Bam Adebayo finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which was without its two leading scorers &mdash; Jimmy Butler was out with a bruised tailbone, and Tyler Herro missed the game with what the Heat called general body soreness. Adebayo had 15 of his points in the third quarter.
&ldquo;Our defense is better than that," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. &ldquo;I think they played extremely well. And in those pivotal moments in the course of the game, it seemed like they made every shot, every play."
Max Strus scored 19 points and Caleb Martin added 18 for the Heat, which got 17 points and 14 assists from Kyle Lowry.
It was the first meeting of the teams since the dustup between Jokic and Miami&rsquo;s Markieff Morris on Nov. 8. Morris committed a hard take foul that the Nuggets felt was overzealous; Jokic responded with a shove into Morris&rsquo; back. Morris has now missed 11 games with what the Heat have described as a neck injury.
Jokic said he hasn't talked to Morris since. Heat fans booed Jokic every time he touched the ball, and the reigning MVP didn't seem to mind.
&ldquo;I played in Serbia, brother," Jokic said.
Jokic&rsquo;s brothers &mdash; Strahinja and Nemanja &mdash; got into a Twitter jousting with Markieff Morris&rsquo; twin brother, Marcus Morris. The Jokic brothers, who have drawn attention for their reactions to certain plays in the past, were in Miami for Monday&rsquo;s game, seated just behind the Denver bench.
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re coming down here because this is Miami and I know for a fact every year they&rsquo;ve been able to come, non-COVID, they&rsquo;ve been here,&rdquo; Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. &ldquo;And that&rsquo;s not to cause trouble. That&rsquo;s just to support their brother, which they always do.&rdquo;
There was no fight in this one. It was only basketball, and fairly one-sided for most of the night.
A 12-0 run by the Nuggets in the second quarter &mdash; with Miami missing 10 consecutive shots &mdash; put Denver up 50-35. The lead was 63-43 by halftime, the biggest deficit that the Heat faced at intermission so far this season.
The only time Denver's lead dipped into single figures after halftime came when 0.9 seconds left, when Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer on the game's final shot.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Malone used a challenge just 2:05 into the game, with good reason. It overturned an offensive foul, which would have been Barton&rsquo;s second personal, and got Denver two points. ... The Nuggets are 4-0 when Hyland scores in double figures.
Heat: Miami is 0-4 in games where it trails by double digits at halftime, 13-4 in all other games. ... Adebayo&rsquo;s high for a quarter is 19, set on Nov. 11 in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers.
TRIBUTE
Heat forward P.J. Tucker, a fashion aficionado and shoe collector, paid tribute to fashion designer Virgil Abloh with his sneakers on Monday. &ldquo;Virgil will always be with us,&rdquo; Tucker scrawled on his game sneakers in honor of Abloh, whose death was announced Sunday.
WEATHER QUIRK
Here&rsquo;s a meteorological oddity for late November: About 90 minutes before game time, it was 68 degrees in Denver &mdash; one degree warmer than it was in typically balmy Miami. Things should be closer to normal in both cities by week&rsquo;s end, with Saturday&rsquo;s high in Miami expected to be in the low 80s and the high in Denver likely to hover in the low 50s.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Visit Orlando on Wednesday.
Heat: Host Cleveland on Wednesday.

Nikola Jokic — with his two brothers behind the Denver bench — returned and scored 24 points to lead the Nuggets.

Jokic gets 24 in return, Nuggets top Heat to snap 6-game slide

The NBA uses player-tracking technology to find out interesting info like a player's total distance traveled, average speed and more.

Fred VanVleet leads NBA in miles run per game for second-straight year

Opening night of the NBA season is just 16 days away, which means this year's top rookies will soon see their dreams come true when they step onto a professional court.&nbsp;
Between the close-to-normal offseason, Las Vegas Summer League and upcoming preseason, we now have a decent grasp on who each player is and what skills they could bring to the court. And while it takes years (decades, arguably) to ultimately assess a career, some young talents can outshine their draft position in a single season.
I'm writing this week's Stats Notebook on the All-Rookie teams, and I'll end by making my predictions for the squads. But the train of thought left the station a few days ago with this stat:
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At least one non-top-20 draft pick has made an All-Rookie First Team in 7 of the last 8 seasons. Who could it be this year 🤔 <a href="https://t.co/5PkFWcaVov">pic.twitter.com/5PkFWcaVov</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1443983998343159842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Patterns exist in recent All-Rookie history; some are obvious, while others are more subtle. I'm going to put them to work to create my teams. First off, let's start with the top picks: Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green. I would consider them both locks to be on the All-Rookie First Team in spring.
Since 2008-09, No. 1 overall draft picks have appeared on all but three All-Rookie First Teams. The exceptions: 2009-10 (when Blake Griffin missed the season due to injury), 2013-14 (Anthony Bennett... didn't work out) and 2016-17 (Ben Simmons did not play due to injury). Griffin and Simmons both were awarded the following season; only Bennett and Markelle Fultz never made an All-Rookie first team. So unless you have an extremely negative view on Cunningham, I'd pencil him in.
Green is perhaps the best scorer in this rookie class. Since 2008-09, 30 qualifying rookies have averaged at least 15 points per game, according to Sportradar. Only three &mdash; Eric Gordon (2008-09), Dennis Smith Jr. (2017-18) and Collin Sexton (2018-19) &mdash; did not make the All-Rookie First Team, and they all landed on the Second Team. If you buy Green as a day-one bucket, which I do, he'll make it.
Jalen Suggs may be another score-first addition to the list. He's not nearly as polished as Jalen counterpart, but the Orlando Magic are a rebuilding team that should prioritize his development. Suggs might be the leading scorer on the team as a rookie, even with a crowded backcourt.&nbsp;
Here's another noteworthy factor: age. At least one player over 21 years old (as of Feb. 1 of that season) has made all but two First Teams since 2008, with the outliers being 2018-19 and 2015-16. I'm a firm nonbeliever of the "age equals NBA-readiness" agenda. But a statistic is a statistic.
The top-five picks who will clear age-21 by February are: Davion Mitchell, James Bouknight, Chris Duarte, Corey Kispert and Trey Murphy III. Depending on your thoughts regarding each player's available minutes, I'd consider them as the primary options to check this box.&nbsp;
Finally, we'll return to the Twitter stat, and spell out those surprise players who made the All-Rookie First Team:
<ul>
<li>2020-21: Jae'Sean Tate (undrafted)</li>
<li>2019-20: Brandon Clarke (No. 21), Eric Paschall (No. 41) and Kendrick Nunn (undrafted)</li>
<li>2018-19: None (The All-Rookie First Team was literally the top five draft picks)</li>
<li>2017-18: Kyle Kuzma (No. 27)</li>
<li>2016-17: Malcolm Brogdon (No. 36), Willy Hernangomez (No. 35)</li>
<li>2015-16: Nikola Jokic (No. 41 in 2014)</li>
<li>2014-15: Jordan Clarkson (No. 46)</li>
<li>2013-14: Mason Plumlee (No. 22), Tim Hardaway Jr. (No. 24)</li>
<li>2012-13: None (lowest was No. 7 pick Harrison Barnes)</li>
<li>2011-12: Kenneth Faried (No. 24)</li>
</ul>
So in eight of the last 10 seasons, a player selected after pick No. 20 cracked the All-Rookie First Team. That's a pretty large pool, but we can try to narrow it.&nbsp;
Four of these honorees made the list on playoff teams: Kenneth Faried with the Denver Nuggets, Mason Plumlee with the Brooklyn Nets, and Kendrick Nunn with the Miami Heat. Also, only Plumlee and Willy Hernangomez averaged less than 20 minutes per game. So following the trend, this selection would have to have a clear path to playing time, and that probably happens with a franchise unlikely to make the postseason.
It's still a bit of a wild-card selection, but Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher immediately stand out as potential options on the Houston Rockets. Second-round picks Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins could receive opportunities with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Logical fallacies exist with this layout &mdash; some "qualifiers" could overlap with each other. But given all of this, here's how my All-Rookie First Team looks:
Preseason All-Rookie First Team: Cade Cunningham (G), Jalen Suggs (G), Jalen Green (G), Trey Murphy III (F), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (F)
For the Second Team, I'll only add one additional note. Four of the last five eligible (2018-19 doesn't work for obvious reasons) lists included at least one top-five pick on an All-Rookie Second Team. Given that Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley should both have rotation roles with their respective squads, I feel good about marking them down. Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland makes the cut because he could be an electric microwave scorer in Denver with the absence of Jamal Murray.
Preseason All-Rookie Second Team: Davion Mitchell (G), Bones Hyland (G), Scottie Barnes (F), Evan Mobley (F), Alperen Sengun (C)
As always, remember that these are just All-Rookie teams and not career projections. Based on some of the earlier names I mentioned, it's pretty clear that making an All-Rookie team isn't exactly a ticket to Springfield. But with such a deep rookie class, I think the races this year could be extremely fun to track.

Ethan Fuller looks at past All-Rookie honorees to predict this year's teams.

Stats Notebook: Predicting the NBA All-Rookie teams from past trends

It&rsquo;s not often that the team who has the defending MVP on its roster is flying well-under the radar heading into the following season &mdash; but that&rsquo;s exactly what is happening with the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic epitomizes the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-the-nba-top-10-unicorns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unicorn mold</a> that is so valuable and transcendent within the modern NBA. As a 7-footer who can operate the offense and score efficiently from all three levels, Jokic manipulates defenses with rare savvy. Jokic is like Peyton Manning, thinking two or three moves ahead and putting defenders exactly where he pleases. The end result? Easy baskets for optimum offensive output. After averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists on an outstanding 64.7% True Shooting percentage, Jokic is just now reaching his top form on the basketball court.
Denver has magnificently built a team to strengthen his incredible gifts.
Jamal Murray is the perfect 1B to Jokic&rsquo;s 1A, a flamethrowing scorer who can erupt at will. In addition, Michael Porter Jr.&rsquo;s development as a scorer adds another wrinkle to the Nuggets&rsquo; long-term ceiling. Looking back on it, Porter dropping to No. 14 overall because of back concerns was a gamble that could have changed the fortunes of Denver&rsquo;s window with Jokic. Aaron Gordon is a bulky, uber-athletic big who can guard three positions and move effectively without the ball, capitalizing on easy cuts to the rim. To top it off, Will Barton and 2021 first-round pick <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/qa-nba-draft-prospect-nahshon-bones-hyland-demands-your-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nah&rsquo;Shon &ldquo;Bones&rdquo; Hyland</a> provide microwave scoring off the bench and can further supplement a continuous wave of offensive firepower.
Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, how does Denver stack up? With Murray&rsquo;s rehab moving forward from a torn ACL &mdash; a setback that really dampened Denver&rsquo;s high-end outcome last season &mdash; a potentially slow start could be in store. Murray&rsquo;s projected timetable for a return could last until around the All-Star break or later, which means Jokic and Porter will have to buoy the Nuggets&rsquo; output every night. We know what to expect from Jokic, but Porter having the opportunities to further his talented rise is a great scenario for Denver. From April 6 and on, Porter averaged 21.4 points while shooting 42.7% on three-pointers in 32 games. This was a preview of Porter&rsquo;s upcoming role as the top secondary option behind Jokic, one that will play such a critical factor to Denver maintaining its elite status without Murray.
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Porter has flashed immense potential as a scorer, but he still needs work as a defender and playmaker. During the Western Conference semifinals, Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams told his star backcourt duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker to continuously hunt Porter in switch opportunities. Once Phoenix figured this formula out, the team made Porter nearly unplayable while Denver was swept with emphatic fashion. If Porter is able to take strides forward as a passable defender &mdash; similar to the development we&rsquo;ve actually seen from Booker in Phoenix, actually &mdash; it will go a long way toward him reaching a potential star-level profile within the Association.
When you look outside of the Nuggets&rsquo; trio of Jokic, Porter and Gordon, it&rsquo;s an unproven bunch that will need to supplement well-rounded play in Murray&rsquo;s absence. Until the "Blue Arrow" returns to play Robin to Jokic&rsquo;s Batman, Denver will need more development from its young core. Hyland shined in the summer league, further hammering home the case that he should play an immediate role off the bench to alleviate the pressure off Jokic and Porter. However, question marks loom over the big-man duo behind Jokic: Bol Bol and Zeke Nnaji. Bol is a true wildcard, but he&rsquo;s never been utilized within the Nuggets&rsquo; rotation as he enters the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Nnaji had a rough summer-league outing where he looked lost at points. If neither can step up, Jokic is in line to lead the NBA in minutes played this season.
Let&rsquo;s take a look at the Nuggets rotation without Murray for the 2021-22 campaign:
Starters: Monte Morris, Will Barton, Michael Porter, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Second Unit: Facundo Campazzo, Bones Hyland, Austin Rivers, P.J. Dozier, JaMychal Green, Bol Bol
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It&rsquo;s a lot of question marks and unproven depth behind a solid starting lineup, which maybe caps where Denver can go this season without a fully healthy Murray providing scoring fireworks. The Suns exposed the Nuggets in the playoffs, and surely many teams will test that theory to further extends early on. If Denver stumbles out of the gate, the team's ceiling could be a No. 4 seed. However, as we saw once Murray went down, Jokic can carry a roster single-handedly. If Jokic maintains MVP-level production, which should be a near-lock, Denver can stay afloat near the elite tier of the West. Are they better than Phoenix, Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers and potentially even a Dallas team with a forthcoming superstar leap again from Luka Doncic? Probably not.
Denver will need Porter to produce Murray-esque levels of offensive production, while Gordon needs to be more assertive within the streamline of the Nuggets' free-flowing offense that runs through their jumbo-sized playmaker.
Once Murray returns, Denver has already shown how lethal it can be. If you add another dynamic scorer to the mix in Porter &mdash; whose confidence should reach all-time highs in Murray's absence &mdash; this team can go on a run. Murray&rsquo;s wildcard factor late into the regular season and playoffs will be the top factor to watch with Denver.
If Murray is back to Murray &mdash; soul-snatching, back-breaking moments as a deadly scorer &mdash; the Nuggets are ready to pounce as a dark-horse contender who can make a deep run. Jokic and Porter will need to keep the Nuggets afloat and within a solid positioning, and the Nuggets hope to have Murray provide the much-needed jolt of stability and star-power back into the equation.
We don&rsquo;t talk enough about the Nuggets heading into the 2021-22 season. But it&rsquo;s the Nuggets&rsquo; 1B to their MVP who truly holds the trump card for where they can go upon Murray's eventual return.

The Nuggets are flying under the radar. Will they be able to maintain elite status in the West as Jamal Murray rehabs from an injury?

Will Nuggets stay afloat in West without Jamal Murray?

Over half of the NBA played its final summer league contest on Monday.
Though many games were missing top prospects as franchises prioritized risk management, viewers who tuned in still witnessed some exciting matchups. In many cases, perceived NBA longshots got their chances to break out and many made the most of the opportunity.
With just one more afternoon remaining on the schedule, here are my observations from Day 9:
STUDS
Brandon Boston Jr., guard/forward, Los Angeles Clippers
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Brandon Boston showing off the range 👀 <a href="https://t.co/EcLfIOajEk">pic.twitter.com/EcLfIOajEk</a>
&mdash; Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1427457865107742754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 8-for-14 FG, 2-for-4 3PT
Boston Jr. thoroughly impressed me with his second half. The former five-star high school recruit attacked the basket with strength well beyond his wiry frame. Boston Jr. was unafraid of contact and didn't hesitate to fire away from deep &ndash; both areas of emphasis for him as a prospect. He took over in the later stages and helped the Clippers keep a high-scoring game competitive.
Toss in some promising defensive possessions as well, and you have a tantalizing effort from a player with one of the highest upsides among second-round picks. It's a good way to end a promising summer league showing all-around by Boston Jr.&nbsp;
Luka Garza, center, Detroit Pistons
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Luka Garza showed out tonight in the Summer League 🔥 + 21 points + 15 rebounds + 8/16 FG In case you were wondering, his ROY odds are 150-1 👀 <a href="https://t.co/uMWEKea9ea">pic.twitter.com/uMWEKea9ea</a>
&mdash; NBABet (@nbabet) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbabet/status/1427458783576563719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 21 points, 15 rebounds, 8-for-16 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Detroit signed Garza to a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pistons-sign-luka-garza-to-twoway-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-way contract today</a>. The Naismith Player of the Year is certainly earning that opportunity with his summer-league showcase. Garza went to work on the interior, corralling four offensive rebounds and finishing strong at the rim. He also canned two three-pointers, flashed a mid-range stepback, and made smart passes out of the high post. Garza was clearly gassed by the fourth quarter and his mobility is still a major question mark. But he did show a few bankable skills in this outing.
Kyle Alexander, forward, Phoenix Suns
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🇨🇦🍁Kyle Alexander with the chase down swat. 🛑 Cleveland <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavaliers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavaliers</a> | Phoenix <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suns</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummerLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummerLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheValley?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheValley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeTheFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeTheFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/S6yDKN461C">pic.twitter.com/S6yDKN461C</a>
&mdash; BasketballBuzz.ca 🇨🇦🏀🍁 (@basketballbuzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketballbuzz/status/1427413244721893379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 18 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8-for-12 FG
What a phenomenal game from Alexander, who joins the Suns' summer league squad after spending the 2020-21 season overseas in the Spanish ACB league. The 24-year-old center was a menace as a roller, outmuscling a physical opponent in Mfiondu Kabengele.
Alexander registered a killer chasedown block (shown above) and was an active presence throughout the close game. Phoenix is assessing its options for reserve bigs behind Deandre Ayton, and while Alexander is likely low on the totem pole, this effort surely opened some eyes.
Isaiah Jackson, center, Indiana Pacers
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Isaiah Jackson... wow. Blocks a 3, runs out for a dunk, then switches on to Corey Kispert and blocks his attack. Wonderful defense from the 22nd overall pick all summer league long: <a href="https://t.co/tuclmlTFIi">pic.twitter.com/tuclmlTFIi</a>
&mdash; Tony East (@TEastNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TEastNBA/status/1427361645131702275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 blocks, 2 steals, 4-for-14 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Jackson tied the summer-league record for blocked shots in a single game, and he did so in just under 21 minutes of action. The athletic big man was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive end. He guarded on the perimeter and swatted attempts from Corey Kispert, and then battled inside and neutralized screen actions.
Offensively, Jackson didn't have his shot falling today. But he got open consistently on the perimeter and as a roll man. The No. 22 pick made quality passes out of the high post to corner shooters as well.
Quentin Grimes, guard, New York Knicks
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Quentin Grimes (<a href="https://twitter.com/qdotgrimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@qdotgrimes</a>) heats up for 26 points &amp; 6 threes in the <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyknicks</a> win! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/xUz8N11OVx">pic.twitter.com/xUz8N11OVx</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1427433692629278725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 10-for-17 FG, 6-for-12 3PT
The No. 25 overall pick appeared to teleport all around the half-court for the Knicks in their 105-94 rout of Atlanta. Grimes knocked in three-pointers off the catch and off pull-ups, and he did a better job attacking as a cutter as well. Those three assists don't accurately state his impact as a passer, either. Grimes is more than a connector for New York; he can operate as a playmaker off the dribble in short spurts. This was a really fun offensive game overall.
Other notable performers: D'Mitrik Trice (Bucks), Sandro Mamukelashvili (Bucks), Bones Hyland (Nuggets), Miles McBride (Knicks), Javin DeLaurier (Hawks), Rob Edwards (Thunder), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Thunder), Hassani Gravett (Magic), Saben Lee (Pistons), Olivier Sarr (Grizzlies)
DUDS
Corey Kispert, forward, Washington Wizards
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 4 rebounds, 1-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Washington went a blizzard-like 7-for-34 from beyond the arc in Monday's loss to the Pacers. But Kispert specifically struggled because he could not gain enough separation for open looks. The first-round pick had multiple shots blocked and had to get his attempts up through some significant contests. In fairness to Kispert, having to play creator without a lead scorer to draw defenses isn't his strength and won't be his role in the NBA. It's hard to run complex plays for Kispert off the ball with limited time in Las Vegas.
Mfiondu Kabengele, center, Cleveland Cavaliers
Box Score Stats: 11 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 2-for-7 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Kabengele was the opposing force against Kyle Alexander's breakout game, and while he certainly battled, he ultimately came out on the wrong end. He struggled to beat Alexander inside and settled for tough face-ups in the latter stages. Alexander also destroyed in the pick-and-roll, although that was partially due to a lack of weak-side help. Kabengele still played with good physicality, had a double-double and made six of seven free throws.
Immanuel Quickley, guard, New York Knicks
Box Score Stats: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3-for-18 FG, 3-for-14 3PT
This was a "dud" performance incarnate. Quickley just couldn't buy a bucket for most of the afternoon, though he did settle for a few too many long perimeter heaves. But the second-year star continued to demonstrate improvement as a passer with <a href="been%20with%20the%20team%20since%20it%20selected%20him%20sixth%20overall%20in%20the%202014%20NBA%20Draft." target="_blank" rel="noopener">dishes such as this</a>. There's no reason to draw any meaningful takeaway from this game &ndash; it was just a sour ending to an otherwise dominant summer league.
Sharife Cooper, guard, Atlanta Hawks
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Cooper had a tough time handling the constant pressure from Miles McBride and the rest of the Knicks defense. The rookie point guard also did not have his lob mate in Jalen Johnson, who was held out of the final contest. Cooper continues to show a somewhat awkward step-back that didn't fall on Monday, and he also was challenged frequently on his way to the rim. Without consistent rolling rim pressure, the second-round selection had fewer chances to highlight his passing wizardry.

As summer league winds down, some more NBA hopefuls delivered breakout performances and tried to make a strong impression.

Studs and duds from the ninth day of NBA Summer League

Seven days into NBA Summer League, we continue to see young talents and NBA hopefuls make names for themselves in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
More and more teams are shutting down their top prospects due to rest or minor injuries. That means others are getting the chance to shine in featured roles. Only one or two games remain on the schedule for each team, so players have just a few more opportunities to make an impression before training camp.
As always, here are my individual observations from Saturday's slate.&nbsp;
STUDS
Bones Hyland, guard, Denver Nuggets
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BONES BUCKETS 🦴 No. 26 pick Nah'Shon Hyland drops 28 PTS (5 3PM) to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> to their first win of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Sh9Gd6bU8T">pic.twitter.com/Sh9Gd6bU8T</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1426657381795045378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
The No. 26 overall pick had his breakout summer-league game in an 89-85 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Hyland is an absolute microwave, with a solid handle and an ability to get into his shot form quickly. Though he struggled finishing at the rim early, Hyland showed he could get defenders on his hip, get low and blow by them, and use his length to get to the backboard. When he gets hot, his confidence is extremely fun to watch.
Skylar Mays, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Skylar Mays: Smooth. 📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Og8f8lGMcW">pic.twitter.com/Og8f8lGMcW</a>
&mdash; LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LSUBasketball/status/1426658762434166788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 7-for-17 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Mays relentlessly attacked the basket and made his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame feel like a freight train. The 23-year-old helped the Hawks get back into the game in the second quarter and led them to a 94-90 victory. In the absence of Sharife Cooper, he served as the floor general and had an excellent rapport with Jalen Johnson. Mays also did a great job of getting into passing lanes and pressuring the ball as a defender.&nbsp;
Jalen Johnson, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Jalen Johnson corner 3 then shows the on ball defense, forcing the miss from Okpala <a href="https://t.co/aNnQx5vHW1">pic.twitter.com/aNnQx5vHW1</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1426661390538919938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-15 FG, 3-for-6 FG
Johnson looked smooth as silk in this contest, splashing face-up attempts and catch-and-shoot threes. He facilitated a really neat play to end the half for Atlanta; Johnson held the ball at the top of the key as Skylar Mays ran behind him, drawing defenders, and then Johnson hit Admiral Schofield off a flare screen for a three-pointer. Of course, the No. 20 overall selection also served as a highlight-reel lob threat.
Scottie Barnes, forward, Toronto Raptors
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Scottie Barnes showed out with 23 PTS against the Hornets ♨️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/6NQ5VGTpL9">pic.twitter.com/6NQ5VGTpL9</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1426718576719798278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 10-for-18 FG, 1-for-3 3PT
Barnes' defense was awesome. He legitimately guarded 1-through-5 with success, clamping opponents from James Bouknight to Kai Jones. On offense, the fourth overall pick detonated in transition to propel him to those 23 points. But Barnes also took guys off the dribble and finished acrobatically at the rim. He still needs to find a rhythm mid-range shot, but Barnes already contributes in so many areas for Toronto.
Miles McBride, guard, New York Knicks
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Miles McBride : 23 points (9-14 shooting &amp; 5-8 from 3), 4 rebounds, 5 assists &amp; 2 steals in 33 minutes <a href="https://t.co/BSXvgofksL">pic.twitter.com/BSXvgofksL</a>
&mdash; Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/AyeThatsLee/status/1426772246459211776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-14 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
Quentin Grimes led the team with 28 points, but I thought McBride was the best and most impressive player on the court in New York's 103-94 victory over Cleveland. The second-round guard took on more of a lead role with Immanuel Quickley out. Though he gave up four turnovers, McBride was fearless as a passer and creator. He frequently pulled up for long two-pointers and threes, which is a critical area to watch for him as a scoring guard. And McBride's hounding defense was present as always.
Other notable performers: Saben Lee (Pistons), Luka Garza (Pistons), Max Strus (Heat), Nate Hinton (Mavericks), Chris Duarte (Pacers), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Obi Toppin (Knicks), Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers)
DUDS
Jaden Springer, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Thursday's 100-80 loss to the Celtics was partially frustrating because the Sixers, despite sitting Tyrese Maxey, scarcely gave Springer time on the ball. They instead went with Isaiah Joe and Frank Mason as the lead guards. Springer had to do most of his work off movement and off the catch, and was unsuccessful. He also continues to struggle with gaining separation, though he has been adept at finding pockets in the defense.
Theo Maledon, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
Box Score Stats: 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Like Springer, Maledon was held back due to a cold touch and lack of burst. He still facilitated well as the point guard for OKC, but missed a few attempts at the rim as well as all of his three-point attempts. The 20-year-old is 7-for-25 from deep in summer league, but five of those makes came in a single game. He canned 33.5% of his long-range looks as a rookie.
Nick Richards, center, Charlotte Hornets
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 8 rebounds, 1-for-5 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Richards came in for Vernon Carey Jr. and played 24 minutes for Charlotte. But the seven-footer was ineffective as an interior presence. He missed some easy buckets inside and was lost when Toronto pushed the pace late in the game. It was a strange fit with fellow paint finisher Kai Jones, and the two did not mesh particularly well.&nbsp;

Two Atlanta Hawks players showed out on the seventh day of NBA Summer League.

Studs and duds from the seventh day of NBA Summer League

Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland can light up a room with ease.&nbsp;
The 20-year-old is confident that he has the best personality of any player in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has tried to display this during the pre-draft process. When he interviewed with teams at the NBA Combine, he kicked off some of his meetings with a rap performance. Hyland is extremely personable, treating complete strangers like close friends that he&rsquo;s known for years.
On the court, he has drawn comparisons to Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson, among others. As a sophomore at VCU, Hyland averaged 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 threes, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals on 53.9/37.1/86.2 shooting splits. BasketballNews.com recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/behind-the-scenes-with-2021-nba-draft-prospect-nahshon-bones-hyland-vcu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spent time in the gym with Hyland to get a behind-the-scenes look</a> at his pre-draft training.
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In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft</a>, our Matt Babcock has Hyland going No. 27 overall to the Brooklyn Nets. Babcock&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/nah-shon-hyland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scouting profile of Hyland</a> reads: 
&ldquo;Nah'shon &lsquo;Bones&rsquo; Hyland is a skilled guard who easily has legitimate NBA range as a three-point shooter. In two seasons at VCU, he hit 39.9% of his 331 three-point attempts. He broke out as a sophomore, averaging 19.5 points per game. He lacks the ability to play as a true point guard, but he's a good playmaker who can create looks for both himself and others. If he cleans up his shot selection and defensive discipline, he projects nicely at the next level.&rdquo;
Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Hyland, and he opened up about his game, why he feels he&rsquo;s the top point guard in this draft, his outgoing personality, how he can help an NBA team, his off-court interests, how a childhood tragedy changed his life and much more.
I love your confidence. Early on in this process, you talked about how you were going to shine at the Combine and dominate workouts, and then you did exactly that. Have you always been like that? And where does that confidence come from?
Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland: &ldquo;Yeah, honestly, that confidence really came from, first of all, the man above &ndash; God gave it to me &ndash; but also it came from me trusting in my work. I&rsquo;ve always lived by: 'Nobody works harder than me.' So, it came from that as well. I&rsquo;m always ready for the moment. I&rsquo;m never a step or two behind, I&rsquo;m always three steps forward.&rdquo;
After the Combine, there was a lot of buzz about your performance. What did it mean to you to make the most of that opportunity and shine on that stage?
Hyland: &ldquo;It just shows them how much I&rsquo;ve been working and how much I&rsquo;ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. March Madness was taken away from me, so I came into that Combine like, &lsquo;This is my March Madness; this is my coming-out party. I&rsquo;m about to show the world that I&rsquo;m the top point guard in this draft class.&rsquo; I wanted to show them that, and I feel as though I displayed a lot of my talents. I definitely put them on notice, and I turned a lot of heads toward me, for sure.&rdquo;
Over the years, I&rsquo;ve seen a number of scorers who really helped their stock during the pre-draft process because they were able to get hot and dominate their workouts. I feel like this process is perfect for someone with your skill set. Would you agree with that?
Hyland: &ldquo;Exactly. Yeah! (laughs) -- It almost feels like all of these teams are playing catch-up with me, honestly. I say that because I feel as though they was [high] on a lot of other players and now they&rsquo;re [high] on me, and it feels great. I really showed these teams that I could&rsquo;ve helped them during this playoff run, or that I can help them go from a losing team to a winning team with my attributes. I feel as though I put them on notice, in a lot of ways.&rdquo;
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Another thing I like about you is that you really seem to love the game. I&rsquo;ve heard that a lot of today&rsquo;s younger players don&rsquo;t really play pick-up or 21 or anything &ndash; they just do their drills and then only play the games on their team&rsquo;s schedule.&nbsp;
Hyland: &ldquo;Yup! Exactly.&rdquo;
But with you, I&rsquo;ve seen videos of you playing streetball and pick-up. I feel like you&rsquo;d be playing basketball every day even if you weren&rsquo;t trying to make it to the NBA. Is that rare nowadays? And if so, why do you think that is?
Hyland: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very rare. It just shows you that the love of the game has gone away from a lot of players, honestly. They just want to work out and they don&rsquo;t want to play as much. They don&rsquo;t want to get no bump in; they just want to work out and then leave the gym. And, man, I get mad. I get frustrated because I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;What are you coming to the gym for if you only want to work out? You aren&rsquo;t gonna play?! You don&rsquo;t want to get better by playing?&rsquo; I&rsquo;m the type of kid where I want to play basketball! Basketball is so fun! First, I want to dominate everybody in the gym, but I want to have fun in the gym as well. It don&rsquo;t matter if it&rsquo;s 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 -- I can play [a] mad [amount of] games in one day and then have a game the next day and still kill, because that&rsquo;s just the type of player that I am.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I just have a different love of the game. You can speak to anyone about that, and they&rsquo;ll tell you the same thing: I get mad at people who don&rsquo;t like to play basketball. Even in college, when a lot of the players just wanted to sit out and nobody wanted to come have runs in the gym at night or during the day, I was like, &lsquo;What are we here for?! You all just want to sit in your rooms?&rsquo; It made me frustrated, but I can only control what I can control. Whether we had the runs or not, I still got my work in. And I&rsquo;d always try to get at least a little bump in here and there.&rdquo;&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve talked to some older players about that and they were confused by it. I remember Jamal Crawford was confused by it, like, &ldquo;Playing pick-up is the fun part! What do you mean you don&rsquo;t want to play?!&rdquo;&nbsp;
Hyland: &ldquo;Exactly! (laughs) Like, I look forward to that type of stuff! I&rsquo;m gon&rsquo; go at them guys! It&rsquo;s sort of like why I should be that No. 1 guy, for sure. [I] just have them vibes on the court, you know? For a lot of people, the love of the game went away.&rdquo;
Speaking of which, when did you first fall in love with basketball?
Hyland: &ldquo;When I was about 2 years old, honestly. My brother installed basketball into my life. We went to the park and he just gave me a basketball, and I just fell in love with how the ball bounces, how it sounds, how the ball goes into the net&hellip; And ever since then, I just ran with it and it&rsquo;s been my passion.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Who are some players that you&rsquo;ve modeled your game after or studied?
Hyland: &ldquo;None, honestly. I do like to watch players like Jamal Crawford. I like to watch Ja [Morant]. I like to watch Trae [Young]. But nah, I don&rsquo;t try to model my game after anybody. I feel I have a very unique game. But I definitely like those players, though.&rdquo;
You love to get out in transition and pull up for deep threes and things like that. Do you think your game is a perfect fit for today&rsquo;s NBA?
Hyland: &ldquo;Most definitely. Like I said, a lot of teams are starting to inch toward me because they&rsquo;ve seen how much my game translates to the next level &ndash; more than a lot of these players in this draft class, honestly. I&rsquo;m the type of kid who has the kind of scoring ability that a lot of teams need. I&rsquo;m that spark. You see guys like J.C. (Jordan Clarkson) of the Jazz and a lot of guys like that; I have that kind of scoring ability, but I can score in many more ways and I can do many more things than just the things that he does. I feel as though I&rsquo;m that guy that teams should invest in, for sure.&rdquo;
What are some aspects of your game that you&rsquo;re focused on improving?
Hyland: &ldquo;All areas. I feel as though I&rsquo;m a very solid defender, but I&rsquo;m working on my defense. I want to just keep improving on everything, honestly.&rdquo;
You got the nickname &ldquo;Bones&rdquo; because you were so skinny. When did that nickname first come about and who gave it to you?
Hyland: &ldquo;When I was younger. Her name is Chicken. She&rsquo;s a female, and she was my best friend. She gave me that name and it was probably when we were, like, 10. It just stuck with me. Ever since then, I was like, &lsquo;Man, that&rsquo;s a nice name, I&rsquo;m gonna run with that!&rsquo; And ever since then, it&rsquo;s just been legendary.&rdquo;&nbsp;
So since you were best friends, you two were &ldquo;Chicken Bones&rdquo; then?
Hyland: &ldquo;Yes! (laughs) And everyone would always say both names because we would always be with each other. So, it was like, &lsquo;Chicken and Bones,&rsquo; &lsquo;Chicken and Bones,&rsquo; &lsquo;Chicken and Bones,&rsquo; and then it just went from there. (laughs) That just shows those names are legendary, for sure. Like, those are some nice names!&rdquo;
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Are there any misconceptions about you or your game that you&rsquo;re trying to disprove throughout this process?&nbsp;
Hyland: &ldquo;Uh, no, not at all. I&rsquo;m the same man, and I don&rsquo;t want to change nothing about me. I don&rsquo;t have no regrets. I just want the world to know: I&rsquo;m that guy who got the best personality. No matter what, I can light up a room. I can light up a locker room. I just want the world to know that.&rdquo;
You&rsquo;re very personable and easy to talk to, which I&rsquo;m sure helps you when you&rsquo;re interviewing with teams.
Hyland: &ldquo;Yeah, they love me. Every single one! In every interview, they love me. (laughs) Just my confidence, my personality... I rap for some of the teams. I&rsquo;m just so outgoing, and when I step into a room, it [feels] like I&rsquo;ve known them for so long. It&rsquo;s like we knew each other already. That&rsquo;s the level of confidence that I have and that&rsquo;s also the personality that I have. I can light up a room in seconds.&rdquo;
You rapped when you interviewed with some teams? That&rsquo;s incredible!
Hyland: &ldquo;Yeah, I have some songs that I&rsquo;ve made and I did a little snippet of those for them, and they loved it! Just right off the bat, from the rip, I was rapping. I ain&rsquo;t shy, I ain&rsquo;t nothing. They just loved me, honestly.&rdquo;
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I found some of your tracks on YouTube. When did you start rapping?
Hyland: &ldquo;Back in 2018, I started rapping because I faced the house tragedy. I just found a different passion and love, and it was rapping &ndash; releasing my thoughts through the mic, and it would help me. It was very therapeutic for me.&rdquo;&nbsp;
[Editor&rsquo;s Note: In 2018, when Hyland was 17, his house caught on fire, killing his grandmother, Fay, and his 11-month-old brother, Maurice. He escaped through a second-story window, tearing his patella when he landed on the ground.]
I <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/06/nba-draft-bones-hyland-nahshon-vcu-top-prospects-sleepers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read about the tragedy</a>, and I&rsquo;m so sorry you had to go through that. I didn&rsquo;t realize that you turned to rap as a way to cope with that.
Hyland: &ldquo;It was more so, like... I couldn&rsquo;t hoop, so I had to find something else or I was gonna go crazy.&rdquo;
I&rsquo;m glad you found music. How did that life-changing tragedy change you?&nbsp;
Hyland: &ldquo;It shaped me into a wise young man, honestly. I just showed a lot of people how tough I really am. And no matter how much adversity is coming my way, I won&rsquo;t ever give up. God kept his palm on me, and I&rsquo;m just blessed to be here. I wake up with a smile every day. That changed my life forever.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s a great way of looking at it. You mentioned having the best personality. Do you try to be that glue guy in the locker room who is friendly with everyone? And do you think your personality allows you to make an impact off the court as well?&nbsp;
Hyland: &ldquo;Yeah. You know how on some teams, they&rsquo;re with each other a little bit, but you can tell that there&rsquo;s a little bit of animosity within them? I feel as though I can come in and be that middle man and make everyone get on the same page and get everyone to respect me. Even if I&rsquo;m young, I&rsquo;m wise beyond my years. They will listen to me and hear where I&rsquo;m coming from, and I can help solve their problems. Honestly, that&rsquo;s why I think I can help a losing team become a winning team. I&rsquo;m big on building relationships.&rdquo;
You mentioned being the best point guard in this class. What are some of your long-term goals for your NBA career?
Hyland: &ldquo;Just being the best person that I can be, controlling what I can control day-in and day-out. I don&rsquo;t ever like to look too far ahead; I like to stay in the moment, honestly. But whoever misses out on me, they&rsquo;re gonna regret it in the next few years &ndash; because I&rsquo;m that golden child, I&rsquo;m that gem that you need, honestly.&rdquo;&nbsp;
What will it mean to you to hear your name called on draft night? Has it sunk in yet?
Hyland: &ldquo;Yeah, I like to dream about that a lot and look forward to that a lot. That&rsquo;s the only thing I look ahead to. (laughs) It&rsquo;s going to be a dream come true. It&rsquo;s going to be like, &lsquo;Wow, I really did it. I really overcame so much and accomplished my goal.&rsquo; I can show the kids back home that no matter how much adversity you face, you can do it as well.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Keep God first, keep your faith, keep working and keep your love for the game. Never let nobody steer you wrong. Stay on your path and just show everyone that you can do it. That&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;m doing. That&rsquo;s what I feel I&rsquo;m on this earth for: to display my story and showcase my talents to the world.&rdquo;
Let&rsquo;s say you run into an NBA executive and they ask you, &ldquo;Why should I draft you? Why should I want you on my roster?&rdquo; What would you tell them?
Hyland: &ldquo;I have the best personality. I&rsquo;m a kid that you&rsquo;re gonna fall in love with. I&rsquo;m a kid that&rsquo;s going to change your program around, or I&rsquo;m a kid that can keep your program at a high level. I can help in many ways, with my scoring abilities, my shooting abilities, my playmaking abilities and also on the defensive end. I&rsquo;m a great kid to invest in. I&rsquo;m a kid who has his head on straight. On and off the court, I&rsquo;m a great kid and I&rsquo;m definitely the best investment that you&rsquo;ll make.&rdquo;
What&rsquo;s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Hyland: &ldquo;Never give up. From my mom. No matter how tough life gets, never give up.&rdquo;

In this Q&A, Nah'Shon "Bones" Hyland opens up about his game, his personality, how he can help an NBA team and much more.

Q&A: Draft prospect Nah'Shon 'Bones' Hyland demands your attention

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