MVP poll: Experts pick top five candidates, plus risers and sleepersMVP poll: Experts pick top five candidates, plus risers and sleepers
Who is leading the race? Whose stock is up? We ranked the top candidates and answered big questions.
Day: December 21, 2023
Ja Morant On First Career Game-Winning Buzzer Beater: ‘It Was The Perfect Ending’Ja Morant On First Career Game-Winning Buzzer Beater: ‘It Was The Perfect Ending’
Ja Morant scored the first game-winning buzzer beater of his career as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-113 on Tuesday night.
Morant, who made his season debut after getting suspended for the first 25 games of the year, finished with 34 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds.
“I feel like it was the perfect ending, perfect day,” said Morant after the game.
Morant scored 27 points in the second half, including 14 points in the final 7:15 of the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies came back from 24 points down in the game.
Morant admitted that he still had to work his way back into game shape.
“It’s nothing like NBA basketball, so that’s pretty much just doing the inhaler to try to get more oxygen in the body … when I got back in at that eight-minute mark, they pretty much told me, ‘You’re not coming out.’ I just had to lock in and just push through. [That is] pretty much my life — just continuing to push no matter what,” added Morant.
Torrey Craig Out 8-10 Weeks With Foot SprainTorrey Craig Out 8-10 Weeks With Foot Sprain
Torrey Craig will miss the next 8-10 weeks due to a sprained foot, the Chicago Bulls announced.
Craig, who underwent an MRI, suffered the injury on Saturday.
Craig will require four weeks of an immobilization period, then 4-6 weeks of rehab.
Nets’ Simmons (back) out at least 2 more weeksNets’ Simmons (back) out at least 2 more weeks
The Nets say Ben Simmons will be out at least two more weeks as he continues to deal with a back injury that’s sidelined him since early November.
Morant says winner in Grizz return ‘perfect ending’Morant says winner in Grizz return ‘perfect ending’
Ja Morant put up 34 points and carried the Grizzlies from a 24-point deficit to a buzzer-beating victory in his return from a 25-game NBA suspension.
Bucks’ Lillard drops 40, joins 20,000-point clubBucks’ Lillard drops 40, joins 20,000-point club
Bucks guard Damian Lillard scored a season-high 40 points Tuesday night against the Spurs to push his career total over 20,000, making him the 51st person in NBA history to reach the milestone.
Sources: WSU, OSU near affiliate deal with WCCSources: WSU, OSU near affiliate deal with WCC
Oregon State and Washington State are nearing an agreement to join the West Coast Conference as affiliate members next year in multiple sports, most notably men’s and women’s basketball, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.