NBA NEWS - NBA PREVIEW for WEEK 9

Charles Barkley was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic Dream team BUT… he was never a member of an NBA title winning team ALL TIME NBA NEVER WON-NA TITLE TEAM

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner is free at last -- (Lorie Shaull - photo) BRITTNY GRINER is FREE AT LAST

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is averaging 30.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 66.9% from the field - Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: After a 53-point effort against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 11, Embiid is averaging 41.3 points in his last four games - Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: The five-time NBA All-Star is averaging 27.5 points in his last four games - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

NEW YORK, NEW YORK USA

Monday December 12, 2022

TAKING FLIGHT

Pelicans have surged into first place in the Western Conference. This is the first time since April 2008 that the Pelicans (18-8) hold the top spot in their conference at least 25 games into a season.

New Orleans has won seven consecutive games, with six of the victories coming at home. This marks the Pelicans’ longest winning streak in a season since a 10-game streak in March/April 2018.

During the winning streak, forward Zion Williamson is averaging 30.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 66.9% from the field.

For the season, New Orleans ranks fifth in the NBA in offensive rating and third in defensive rating. The Pelicans play all three of their Week 9 games on the road, meeting the Utah Jazz on Tuesday and Thursday and the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. NBA TV will televise Pelicans-Suns – the third matchup in nine days between the teams after New Orleans defeated Phoenix twice at Smoothie King Center in Week 8

IN THE ZONE

• Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: After a 53-point effort against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 11, Embiid is averaging 41.3 points in his last four games. He leads the 76ers vs. the Golden State Warriors on Friday (ESPN).

• New York Knicks: The Knicks bring a season-high four-game winning streak into their matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday (ESPN).

• Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: The five-time NBA All-Star is averaging 27.5 points in his last four games and begins Week 9 needing two three-pointers to become the 13th player to reach 2,000 in a career.

• Brooklyn Nets: The Nets have won seven of their last eight games.

• AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks: On Dec. 11 against the Chicago Bulls, the 19-year-old forward made his second game-winning buzzer beater of the season. He is the first rookie to make more than one such shot in a season since 1997-98 (the start of the play-by-play era).

• Orlando Magic: Orlando has won three straight games for the first time since February 2021.

LOOKING AHEAD

Rivalry Renewed: The Boston Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the second game of TNT’s doubleheader, which opens with a matchup of the last two NBA champions as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Golden State Warriors.

• NBA Jersey Day: On Wednesday, fans around the world will celebrate their favorite teams and players by wearing NBA, WNBA or NBA G League jerseys as part of the league’s third annual NBA Jersey Day.

• NBA Mexico City Game: The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs meet in The NBA Mexico City Game 2022 on Saturday (NBA TV).

• Dame’s Time: Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard needs 145 points to pass Clyde Drexler as the leading scorer in franchise history.

• Climbing the Charts: Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant needs 60 points to pass John Havlicek for 17th place and 62 points to pass Paul Pierce for 16th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

BRITTNEY GRINER

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s statement regarding Brittney Griner

December 8, 2022

NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today issued the following statement regarding Brittney Griner: “Brittney has had to endure an unimaginable situation and we’re thrilled that she is on her way home to her family and friends. We thank the members of the NBA and WNBA community who never wavered in their efforts to raise awareness of Brittney’s unjust circumstances.”

WNBA statement regarding Brittney Griner

December 8, 2022

NEW YORK – WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued the following statement regarding Brittney Griner: “There has not been a day over the past ten months where we all haven’t had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends. BG has shown extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of enormous adversity. The WNBA is grateful beyond measure to the Biden Administration, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and all those who played a role in bringing BG home today. Our hope is that Paul Whelan and every wrongfully detained American will be returned home safely and as soon as possible.”

OUTTA POCKET

Timberwolves’ D’Angelo Russell fined

December 5, 2022 NEW YORK – Minnesota Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell has been fined $20,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a game official, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred at the conclusion of the Timberwolves’ 135-128 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 3 at Target Center.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 12, 1932 Bob Pettit is born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

December 12, 1971 Los Angeles defeated Atlanta 104-95 at the Forum for the Lakers’ 21st consecutive victory, breaking the NBA record of 20 straight wins, previously shared by the Washington Capitols (over two seasons) and Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers went on to win 33 straight games, the longest winning streak in NBA history.

December 12, 1984 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 15 points to become the first player in NBA history to surpass 32,000 career points in the Lakers’ 131-107 victory over Golden State.

December 12, 1988 With a 110-94 loss to Utah at the Salt Palace, the Miami Heat set an NBA record for the most consecutive games lost at the start of a season with 17. The Los Angeles Clippers opened the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season with 17 straight defeats, tying the Heat’s mark.

December 12, 2001 Sacramento's Rick Adelman became the 22nd coach to register 500 victories as the Kings defeated Orlando 112-100 at ARCO Arena.