Norman Powell set to return for Clippers

Per the OC Register:

The Clippers left the East Coast on Friday with a 2-2 record in NBA Cup group play and still a slim chance of moving forward. All good news for a team that was missing two of its biggest stars.

Norman Powell sat out all four games, six total, because of a sore left hamstring that he tweaked in a victory against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 18. He was upgraded to questionable on Friday but stayed on the bench for the Clippers’ 93-92 loss in Cup play to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Powell, however, is expected to play when the Clippers (12-9) come home for a four-game homestand, starting with Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets (10-7).

The biggest, and perhaps most anticipated news, was on Kawhi Leonard, who has not played at all this season because of lingering right knee issues. Coach Tyronn Lue offered a positive update on his status.

On the leadership skills of Anthony Edwards

Per the Pioneer Press:

This Timberwolves roster is different than the one from a year ago. That much is obvious in games, as Karl-Anthony Towns’ consistent scoring and general size is missed, as is the playmaking and ball security of guys like Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin.

But their absences have been felt in the locker room, as well. Towns was a consistent source of positivity for the team. Anderson was one of the loudest vocal leaders. The latter can be especially difficult to replace, especially because it can be uncomfortable to speak up when things are going poorly and something needs to change.

That was the position Anthony Edwards has found himself in early this season. Edwards has been praised for his leadership through his first four years on Minnesota’s roster. Mostly, that all came via positivity and example. Edwards can be coached hard, which gave the greenlight for the coaches to treat everyone else the same way.

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball out with calf strain

After undergoing additional evaluation, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been diagnosed with a left calf strain. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Hornets game vs. Miami on Nov. 27. Ball, who missed Friday’s game vs. New York due to left calf soreness, is listed as out tonight vs. Atlanta and will be reevaluated two weeks from the date the injury occurred.

Ball has averaged career highs this season in points (31.1) and 3-pointers (4.7), both of which rank second in the NBA, in addition to recording 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 contests (18 starts). He has appeared in 202 games (182 starts) in five seasons since being selected by the Hornets with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he holds career marks of 21.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals. Ball was named the 2020-21 Rookie of the Year and was selected as an All-Star in 2021-22, and he is the franchise’s all-time leader in triple-doubles (10).

Mikal Bridges continues to struggle for Knicks

Per the NY Post:

After another ride on the struggle bus for Mikal Bridges on Friday afternoon — which included the guard being benched for most of the fourth quarter of a nip-and-tuck Knicks victory — he pledged, “I’ll be better” as teammates and coach forcefully went to bat for the embattled guard.

“I’m not worried about [Bridges],” Josh Hart said. “I think the media and people are killing him. He’s in a new situation. He’s in a situation where he’s played 19 games in a different role that he’s played the last four years. So it’s our job to get him going. And all the other BS about what we gave up [the five first-round picks to the Nets], it means nothing.

“If we win, if we get a championship, ain’t nobody give a damn about how many picks we gave up. We could’ve given up 15 picks, it don’t matter. At the end of the day, we’re trying to win a championship. He’s going to be a key piece of that.”

Steph Curry set to return for Warriors

Per the Bay Area News Group:

As the team expected, Steph Curry’s runner’s knees likely won’t knock him out for multiple games, with the superstar on pace to play against the Suns on Saturday.

Curry, 36, practiced in full on Friday after missing Wednesday night’s game — a 105-101 loss to the Thunder. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the team plans to list him as questionable for Saturday’s game in Phoenix, but the tea leaves point to Curry returning.

“We’ll see how he holds up after today’s practice, but yeah, he’s doing better,” Kerr said after Friday’s practice.

Curry has missed four games this season — three with an ankle sprain and one with the knee issue. He’s playing a career-low 29.7 minutes per game in an effort to get him through the year healthy.

Kings sign Jae Crowder

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed forward Jae Crowder.

Crowder most recently appeared in 50 games (25 starts) with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023–24 season. Drafted 34th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Marquette, the former Big East Player of the Year has appeared in 803 games (434 starts) with Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Utah, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, and Milwaukee.

In 12 seasons, Crowder holds career averages of 9.3 points on 41.9% shooting from the floor, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. He has appeared in 115 playoff games (86 starts), two NBA Finals appearances (Miami, Phoenix), and has reached the postseason in 11 of his 12 seasons in the NBA. Crowder is one of 20 active players to have recorded at least 1,200 three-point field goals and 700 steals in the regular season for his career.

Joel Embiid out again, with swelling in left knee

It’s been an incredibly rough start to the Sixers’ season.

Per ESPN.com:

At the start of the third quarter of what ultimately became a 113-98 victory for the 76ers over Brooklyn, Philadelphia announced that star center Joel Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee and, in addition to missing the Nets game, will sit out Sunday against the LA Clippers.

“He was dealing with some swelling in his knee today, got to the arena and was ruled out,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after the win, one that snapped a five-game Sixers losing streak. “They’re gonna treat it all weekend, so he’ll be out for Sunday as well.

“Hopefully on Monday, we’ll give you an update on where we’re at, and hopefully he’ll be in good shape.”

Embiid originally wasn’t listed on the injury report Friday morning ahead of the Brooklyn game, after he played 35 minutes and scored 35 points with 11 rebounds in a loss at Memphis on Wednesday. He was then placed on the injury report with left knee injury management, with the team saying that he was present for shootaround but didn’t participate.

Through Friday, a night where they did enjoy a nice home win over the Nets, the Sixers are 3-12.

Kings injury update on Malik Monk, two others

Kings guard Devin Carter is progressing in his rehabilitation from successful left shoulder surgery on July 11. Carter recently completed his four-month follow-up appointment with Dr. Harlan Selesnick of Baptist Health Doctors Hospital and was cleared for unrestricted shooting. Additional medical updates will be provided in January.

Kings center Orlando Robinson continues to progress in his rehabilitation from a sprained left MCL that was sustained in practice on October 3. He has been cleared for contact and will be re-evaluated in the coming days.

Kings guard Malik Monk suffered a moderate right ankle sprain during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns on November 10. X-ray imaging revealed no structural damage. Monk will be listed as out and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Injury update on Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Ja Morant:

While attempting to catch a lob during the third quarter of the November 6 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant was destabilized midair by a Lakers player, causing him to fall into extreme right hip flexion. Imaging revealed a posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) along with multiple associated Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains.

Morant is considered week-to-week, and updates will be provided as appropriate.