nba news

LeBron James Gets Awful Injury Update

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LeBron James is the heart of the Los Angeles Lakers right now. Overall, the Lakers are a team that is desperately trying to get themselves into the NBA playoffs. However, they are struggling to get any of that done. While they are just a few games back from a postseason birth, they still have to worry about the performance of other teams. Their struggles early in the season have put them in a precarious position, and although the roster is improved, there is no guarantee they can things done in the clutch.

Moreover, on Sunday night, they got a huge scare as it pertains to the health of LeBron. During the game against the Mavericks, James went down with what appeared to be a right ankle injury. In fact, James could be heard saying “I heard it pop” while on the ground. Overall, it was a very scary moment that fans were very worried about. However, James went right back into the game and finished it out. Now, James has received an official diagnosis, and it is not looking good for the Lakers, whatsoever.

LeBron Update

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, it is very likely that LeBron will now have to miss a few weeks with this injury. While he will not need any sort of surgery, it is clear that he is out for an indefinite period. This is the worst thing that could have happened to the Lakers as they need all hands on deck for this playoff push. Although, with Anthony Davis and a young crop of hungry players, perhaps the Lakers could actually turn heads and surprise some people. Either way, this is definitely disappointing news for everyone involved.

Over the past two years, James has had an increase in injury-related issues. This makes sense when you consider how he is now 38 years old. Although we are used to Iron Man LeBron, it is clear that he is no longer that player. It is a sad reality, albeit one that we had to expect after a while. Stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates on this developing story.

The Injury

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Stephen A. Smith Delivers The Ultimate Praise To Damian Lillard

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Stephen A. Smith was like many others in the NBA world last night. Overall, we were all left mesmerized by the likes of Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers superstar came out and scored a total of 71 points against the Houston Rockets. Although the Rockets are horrible this year, it was still an impressive performance that was truly hard to believe. Now, Dame is just the eighth player in NBA history to score over 70 points in a game. At this point, one would have to assume that 80 is in range for some of these three-point shooters.

Subsequently, Dame’s greatness is being debated by various pundits right now. After all, he is known for his incredible shooting ability. Moreover, he has had plenty of games where he has gone for an obscene amount of points. His offense has carried the Blazers for years, and they will need him if they ever want to main their success. On First Take this morning, Stephen A. was especially excited about Dame’s performance. In fact, Smith came out and offered some incredible praise to the point guard.

Stephen A. Reacts

As you can see in the video clip above, Smith calls Lillard one of the greats. Additionally, Smith noted that aside from Steph Curry, Lillard truly is the best guard out there. It was some amazing praise from Smith, who has seen a lot of guys come and go throughout the league. “Damian Lillard is one of the greatest guards to have ever played in NBA history,” Smith said. “… In today’s game … tell me one guard you want, other than Steph Curry … more than Damian Lillard? I can’t think of anybody.”

At this point, you cannot understate just how good Lillard is at the game of basketball. Pundits like Stephen A. are well aware of this, and they will continue to give Dame his flowers, moving forward. Hopefully, the Blazers will finally surround Lillard with some premium talent. He is a guy who deserves to win a title, and it would be a shame if he never got it done. For Dame, the grind continues no matter what.

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Charles Barkley Gets Brutally Honest About Load Management

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Charles Barkley is easily one of the most opinionated people out there in the basketball world. Overall, he is seen as one of those oldheads who will never respect the young generation. However, is a legend of the game of basketball, which means he has earned the right to have these sorts of opinions. Even if you don’t like him, you kind of have to admit that he is very entertaining. He and Shaq are a riot on TNT and we hope to hear their banter for years to come.

One of the topics that Barkley has been faced with as of late is none other than “Load Management.” Load Management is something that a lot of NBA critics have hated over the years. This is the process in which players take nights off as a way to save themselves for the playoffs. Although it is a fact of life in today’s game, a lot of people despise it. As you can imagine, the older generation is part of that hate train. Ultimately, they just want the players to give it their all for 82 games per season.

Charles Barkley Speaks

Today, Barkley made an appearance on First Take where he got to speak on this issue. This was part of a one-on-one conversation with Stephen A. Smith, and overall, it was quite interesting. Barkley got brutally honest about his thoughts on the matter and did not pull any punches. Overall, Chuck believes it is a matter of respect that players should have for the game and the fans. “You can’t make $30, $40, $50 million and then sit out games,” Barkley said. “I think it’s disrespectful to the game, I think it’s disrespectful to the fans.”

Load Management is one of those things that are absolutely not going to go away. Although commissioner Adam Silver has had to speak on it, we can still expect it to be a thing, moving forward. Whether you like that or not, simply does not matter to the league, its trainers, and its players. Give us your take on all of this, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

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Damian Lillard Drug-Tested After Dropping 71 Points

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Damian Lillard is among the best players in the entire NBA. Overall, he is the only reason why the Portland Trail Blazers are worth watching. He is always coming through with some massive performances, and the fanbase loves to have him there. On Sunday, Dame had the best game of his life against the Portland Trail Blazers. Although the Rockets are bad, he still had a more than impressive outing as he dropped a cool 71 points. It is a total that matched Donovan Mitchell’s from earlier this season.

Moreover, Lillard is now only the eighth player in the history of the league to reach the 70-point mark. It is an amazing achievement to add to one’s resume. However, the NBA definitely felt like something could have been going on here. Immediately after the game, Lillard was drug tested by the league. In the end, nothing came of it, although you can tell that the point guard was annoyed about the whole thing.

Damian Lillard Scared Of Needles

“I mean, honestly, I was like, ‘are y’all serious?’ I did the urine test yesterday and they backed it up with the blood draw tonight after the game,” Lillard said. “That was actually the first time in my career being tested after a game. Aside from that, they know that I’m scared of needles. I know I got a lot of tattoos but when you’re doing a blood draw, it’s different from tattoos. It brought me down from here [up high] to the floor.” It is easy to see how something like this would take you away from your achievement. After all, shooting well has nothing to do with taking steroids. Clearly, the NBA feels differently.

Hopefully, Lillard will be able to take the day off and think about his recent accomplishment. He certainly deserves that, especially after carrying the same franchise for 10 years now. Blazers fans appreciate everything he provides to the game, and that will never change. Let us know what you thought of his performance, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

Dame Highlights

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Russell Westbrook Inexplicably Benched In 4th Quarter

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Russell Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz recently where he was eventually bought out. Subsequently, Russ went to the Los Angeles Clippers where he will get to engage in some playoff basketball. In his first game with the Clippers, the team engaged in a classic shootout with the Sacramento Kings. Although they lost by a score of 176-175, there is no doubt that Russ was great in the match. The Clippers appear to be a much better fit for Russ, and you can tell that he is already much happier.

Last night, the Clippers took on the Denver Nuggets, who are the top team in the Western Conference. Overall, Russ had another great game as he had a total of 17 points after three quarters. However, Russ was inexplicably left on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. Moreover, once the game went to overtime, he didn’t see any minutes there either. What makes this decision so interesting is the fact that Russ had done nothing wrong. He was great during the game, and the Clippers could have won with him in the lineup.

Russell Westbrook Benched

Consequently, Ty Lue was questioned about his decision following the game. For Lue, it was simply a matter of momentum. He felt as though the lineup that finished the game was gaining steam and he didn’t want to mess up the chemistry. Overall, his decision turned out to be a bad one as the Clippers lost yet another game. It also elicited a ton of comments from fans on social media. For the most part, fans are upset, and they want Russ to get a fair shake on his new team.

“Minutes limited Paul George played 36 minutes tonight. Russell Westbrook played 25 minutes…didn’t play in the 4th quarter or overtime. No injury news given. Tyronn Lue is a suspect and I hope you’re searching your name to see this,” One user wrote. Many other comments were very similar to this, as they could not believe Ty Lue’s decision-making. Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Twitter Reacts

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Kyrie Irving’s Rumored Plans For The Offseason Revealed

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Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the entire NBA. Although some people don’t find his antics to be worth it, there is no doubt that a lot of teams could use him. The Dallas Mavericks certainly thought so as they traded for the former Nets star. Overall, Kyrie has only played a handful of games with the Mavericks, leading to a record of 2-3. He and Luka Doncic have a lot of work to do, although they could certainly cause some damage in the postseason.

This is a very interesting experiment for the Dallas Mavericks. Kyrie is going to be a free agent in the summer, which means he can go anywhere he wants. Overall, this means that Irving could simply be a rental for the Mavericks. Aside from Luka, who they drafted, the team has not been good at attracting other superstars. That being said, there has been speculation that Irving would walk for a team like the Lakers. However, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, it seems like executives around the league believe Kyrie will stay put.

Kyrie Has A Choice

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket as Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the second half at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

“Kyrie will be on his best behavior until he gets paid; after is a different story,” one higher-up said. “Unless he and Luka actively despise each other, I don’t see Dallas letting him go.” This was subsequently followed by the words of another executive who is thinking the exact same way. “Kyrie’s goal in pushing out of Brooklyn was to get his rights with a team willing to pay him,” they explained. “Dallas is where he’ll want to be.”

This is definitely an interesting scenario. It seemed like Kyrie and the Lakers were a sure thing. Now, however, Irving could experience some stability in Dallas. That said, it is hard to imagine him and Luka co-existing for more than just a postseason. Only time will tell whether or not we are wrong. Let us know where you want to see Kyrie play, down in the comments below.

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LeBron James & Kyrie Irving Reunite: Watch

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LeBron James is in his 20th season of NBA basketball. Overall, he is still playing at an incredibly high level. However, this has not put the Lakers into a playoff position, at least not yet. The team is currently battling for a play-in spot, and they even have a chance at getting the sixth seed. Although, it is not going to be easy. They have to play some pretty good teams to get there, and last night, they had to take on the latest dynamic duo in the league. Of course, we are talking about Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Luka and Kyrie have had some struggles together. That said, they are incredibly talented and can definitely take down a team like the Lakers. Instead, on Sunday, the Lakers came out victorious. At one point in the first half, the Lakers were down by 27 points. Despite this, they were able to make an impressive comeback that featured some heroics from LeBron and Anthony Davis down the stretch. It was a horrible loss for the Mavs, but a massive win for the Lakers.

LeBron x Kyrie

Subsequently, after the game, LeBron was able to greet players from the Mavs. In the clip above, you can see that this included Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Overall, Luka and Kyrie didn’t seem to be too upset about the loss. They simply dapped up LeBron with huge smiles on their faces. In fact, Irving looked incredibly happy to see James as they executed what seemed to be a pretty involved handshake. It is just another example of how much these two love each other.

Unfortunately, for the Mavericks, this could very well spark some rumors about what Kyrie will do in the offseason. He is going to become a free agent which means he is free to do as he pleases. The Lakers are a team that would love to have Kyrie, although who knows what will happen at this point? Let us know what you thought of yesterday’s Lakers Vs. Mavericks game, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Full Highlights

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Damian Lillard Drops 71 Points During Epic Performance

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Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the league, however, he isn’t talked about enough. Overall, it is easy to see why this is the case. He plays for the Portland Trail Blazers who are largely irrelevant right now. They do not have the pieces to be playoff contenders, and ultimately, Lillard has been loyal to them, to a fault. He wants to win a championship in Portland, but at this point, it remains to be seen if that is possible. Although most fans just want him to go elsewhere, namely the Lakers, it doesn’t seem like a real possibility right now.

That said, Lillard is known for exploding on offense. There have been multiple occasions in which he has popped off for a grand total of 60 points. However, he has never gone for 70. On Sunday, that changed in front of our very eyes as Lillard started out his game against the Rockets with 41 points in the first half alone. Subsequently, he went off for 30 more points in the second half. If you are counting properly at home, you will know that he dropped a grand total of 71 points, which is wild.

Damian Lillard Goes Off

This is the second 71-point game of the NBA season. Back in early January, Donovan Mitchell went for 71. It was an incredible match for Mitchell, who became the 7th player to score over 70 in a game. Consequently, Lillard is the eighth. Thankfully for the Blazers, they were able to secure the win thanks to Lillard’s performance. Had the team lost, it would have been embarrassing for the bench and all of the other starters. Although, the Blazers were playing the Houston Rockets which definitely helps.

For the Blazers, they are in a fight with teams like the Lakers for that final play-in spot. It is going to be a very difficult fight, but if Lillard keeps playing like this, then the team should be fine. As always, let us know what you thought of this performance, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

More Highlights

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Clippers Reportedly Didn’t Want Russell Westbrook At First

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Russell Westbrook had a very difficult time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, his skill set did not fit what that team needed. Although he eventually became a bench player for the team, he still wasn’t playing how they were hoping him to. He was a turnover machine and had some of the worst shooting numbers in the league. Moreover, he was not the triple-double machine he used to be. Having said that, it should come as absolutely no surprise that he was traded at the deadline.

Russ was sent to the Utah Jazz, who made it clear that they wanted to buy out his deal. That is exactly what they did, making Russ a free agent. From there, Westbrook spoke to numerous teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and even the Miami Heat. However, he ultimately chose the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, he will get to play with his former Thunder teammate Paul George, as well as Kawhi Leonard.

Russell Westbrook Co-Signed

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball as Naji Marshall #8 of the New Orleans Pelicans defends during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 04, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

According to Brian Windhorst via RealGM, the Los Angeles Clippers actually needed to be convinced in order to sign Russ. They had no interest in doing it until Paul George stepped in. From there, the rest was history as Westbrook looks to make his Clippers debut soon. “The Clippers are pretty much admitting Paul George drove this decision,” Windhorst said. “And from what I understand, they were internally against it at the start. Paul pushed for it publicly and privately. Kawhi {Leonard} supported it. And they looked more into it, and they were like ‘Well, you know, there are some things he can potentially help us with.’”

Needless to say, Westbrook got a very lucky break here. Overall, this could prove to be a great fit for him. However, if this goes bad, then his future is going to be up in the air. Hopefully, he can change the narratives that are now being cast on him. Let us know how you think Westbrook will fit in, down in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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James Harden Rumored To Be Eyeing A Rockets Reunion

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James Harden is a player who has bounced around the league quite a bit since 2020. After starting the 2020-2021 season with the Houston Rockets, Harden was subsequently traded to the Brooklyn Nets. From there, he lasted about a season and a half before going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Overall, Harden was going through a transitional period in his career. Having said that, it only made sense that he would want to explore a variety of teams.

At this point, Harden seems to be at home with the Sixers. He has been playing exceptionally well, and overall, the team is now third in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, they have a real chance to make some noise in the playoffs. Harden is older and wiser, meaning he could be able to shake off those demons from the playoffs’ past. At the end of the day, there are fewer expectations on him now, which could very well make it easier for him to get it done under pressure.

James Harden Moving On?

James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Wells Fargo Center on February 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Moreover, this is also a big year for Harden because he can become a free agent at the end of the season. Now, reports are circulating that Harden may actually go back to the team where he had the most success. Yes, that’s right, a Harden-Rockets reunion may be on the horizon. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, even Houston is preparing for it to happen. “James Harden still spends a lot of time in Houston,” MacMahon said. “Spends his summers in Houston. Works out at the Rockets’ facility on a regular basis. It’s a very real possibility. And Harden, by the way, never shot it down. He just said ‘I don’t know where that came from.’”

These rumors have been circulating since around Christmas time. However, it is hard to see why Harden would want to go back there given the fact that the Rockets are terrible right now. Their young stars are playing losing basketball and they are the worst team in the league. That said, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the NBA world. Additionally, let us know what you think Harden should do, in the comments down below.

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