NBA NEWS - Coaches & Rookies of the Month

Indiana Pacers’ Frank Vogel - NBA photo   Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers - NBA photo

The Indiana Pacers’ Frank Vogel and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in April - The Toronto Raptors’ Norman Powell and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NY USA

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Coaches of the Month

The Indiana Pacers’ Frank Vogel and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Vogel led the Pacers to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 6-1. The Pacers won their final three games and held off the Detroit Pistons for the seventh seed in the East playoffs. Indiana averaged 108 points per game and shot a conference-best 49.3 percent from the field in April. Four of the Pacers’ six wins came by double digits, and their +8.6 scoring differential led the conference.

Rivers guided the Clippers, the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, to a 6-1 record, tops in the West. The Clippers surrendered 100 or more points just twice in seven games and held opponents to an average of 94.1 points on a league-low 40.6 percent shooting from the field. L.A. posted back-to-back home wins over two West playoff teams, the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, on April 10 and 12, rounding out a 4-0 month at Staples Center.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Boston’s Brad Stevens, Charlotte’s Steve Clifford, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, Golden State’s Steve Kerr, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Portland’s Terry Stotts and Toronto’s Dwane Casey.

Rookies of the Month

The Toronto Raptors’ Norman Powell and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Powell helped the Raptors to a 6-2 record behind averages of 15.3 points (tops in the Eastern Conference), 4.4 rebounds (seventh), 2.5 assists (tied-fifth) and 1.4 steals (third). He scored in double figures in six of eight games and shot 54.8 percent from the field. In Toronto’s regular-season finale, Powell scored a career-high 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting (including 5-of-6 from three-point range) and added nine rebounds and five assists during the Raptors’ 103-96 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Towns becomes the first player to sweep a season of Kia NBA Rookie of the Month awards since the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard in 2012-13. In April, Towns helped the Timberwolves to a 4-3 mark as he led all rookies in scoring (18.9 ppg), rebounding ( 11.7 rpg), blocks (1.7 bpg) and minutes (35.6 mpg). Towns capped his first NBA season with his 51st double-double (third most in the NBA) when he tallied 28 points and 14 rebounds during Minnesota’s 144-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on April 13.

Here is a closer look at March for Powell and Towns:

Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors

April 1 @ Memphis: Scored 14 points and added five assists and four rebounds during a 99-95 win over the Grizzlies.

April 8 vs. Indiana: Posted 27 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 111-98 win over the Pacers.

April 13 @ Brooklyn: Recorded a career-high 30 points and added nine rebounds and five assists in a 103-96 win over the Nets.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

April 5 @ Golden State: Scored 20 points and added 12 rebounds and four assists in a 124-117 overtime win against the Warriors.

April 9 @ Portland: Posted 27 points, nine rebounds and two blocks during a 106-105 win over the Trail Blazers.

April 13 vs. New Orleans: Scored 28 points and added 14 rebounds and three assists during a 144-109 win against the Pelicans.

Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Denver’s Emmanuel Mudiay, New York’s Jerian Grant, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Utah’s Trey Lyles.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

April 17, 1966 The Los Angeles Lakers, getting 41 points from Jerry West, came back from a 34-20 deficit after one quarter to beat the Boston Celtics 133-129 in overtime in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Boston, however, won the series in seven games. The Lakers’ comeback from 14 points down in the first quarter of Game 1 is the largest first quarter deficit ever overcome in NBA Finals play.

April 17, 1977 The Boston Celtics converted 27-of-28 free throws in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against Philadelphia, beating the Sixers 113-111. April 17, 1982 The Denver Nuggets’ frontcourt of Alex English (25.4 ppg), Dan Issel (22.9 ppg) and Kiki Vandeweghe (21.5 ppg) became the first trio to each average more than 20 ppg since Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and Clyde Lovellette of St. Louis did so in 1961.

April 17, 1990 The Minnesota Timberwolves drew 49,551 fans to the Metrodome during a 99-89 loss to Denver. That attendance figure was the third highest total in league history, and it helped the team set an all-time single-season attendance mark, as the Timberwolves drew 1,072,572 fans for 41 games in the Metrodome.

April 17, 1993 Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins became the 11th player in NBA history to score 22,000 career points, after hitting for 41 in the Hawks’ 110-107 setback against Charlotte.

April 17, 1995 Buck Williams of Portland grabbed 12 rebounds during the Blazers’ 97-93 road win at Seattle, becoming the eighth NBA player to reach 12,000 rebounds and 15,000 points in a career.

April 17, 1999 Utah’s John Stockton records his 13,000th career assist when he passed to Karl Malone for a jumper in a 109-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.