Karl-Anthony Towns was confirmed to return Wednesday night for the Minnesota Timberwolves after sitting out 51 games following a right calf strain. The three-time All-Star has been absent since November 28. He was averaging 20.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 21 games before the injury. “Expectations are that he just kind of settles into the flow of the game, not try to do too much at this point in time,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said before Minnesota hosted the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. “Most importantly, knock the rust off. Certainly want him to be himself but not at the expense of what we’re trying to do out there. And I think that’s pretty easy ask for him.” Finch did say Towns will face limitations, but there were no specifics. He had an update on Anthony Edwards too, who was listed as questionable after missing two games due to a right ankle sprain. Related: NBA Expert Picks: Brooklyn Nets VS Cleveland Cavaliers Predictions Tonight The Minnesota Timberwolves were 10-11 when Karl-Anthony Towns had his injury and did well since he had been out, going 26-26 that period. But, they have been 20-16 since the beginning of 2023, but have faltered lately, going 2-3 in their past five games. Minnesota is No.9 in the West, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunders (36-36) and Dallas Mavericks (36-36) by ½ game for the No.7 and 8 seeds, respectively, and are one game behind the Golden State Warriors (37-36) for the No.6 seed. Towns, after playing 82 games in his first three seasons in the NBA, lost a significant time to injuries and illnesses since then. The Wolves big man is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, winning Kia Rookie of the Year honours in 2016. Related News: Willis Reed Two-time NBA champion and Knicks legend dies at 80

Willis Reed, the player who emerged from the locker room some minutes before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to give the New York Knicks their first championship and deliver one of the most inspiring examples of playing through pain, died on Tuesday at the age of 80. The National Basketball Retired Players Association announced Reed’s death, which was later confirmed by his family. The cause of death was not released, but Reed had been sick recently and could not travel to New York for the Knicks’ celebration of the 50th anniversary of their 1973 NBA championship team during their game against New Orleans on February 25th. Read: LeBron James increases stake in Liverpool owners FSG following ‘lifetime deal’ after Nike agreement New York posted a photograph of Reed walking onto the court as his teammates warmed up for the 1970 finale, one of the most memorable moments the NBA and Madison Square Garden have ever witnessed. “As we mourn, we will always strive to uphold the standards he left behind — the unmatched leadership, sacrifice and work ethic that personified him as a champion among champions,” the New York Knicks wrote. “His is a legacy that will live forever.” Dubbed “The Captain’’, Reed played the role of a centre and emotional leader during the Knicks’ two NBA championship teams, he had a soft shooting touch from the outside and a toughness to tussle with the era’s superstar big men on the inside. He was remembered at his death, maybe for the way he captained the Knicks more than how he played for them. “Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader. My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks championship teams in the early 1970s,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of the sports.” Willis Reed’s achievements – seven All-Star selections, and two NBA Finals MVP awards amongst others, would have gotten him a Hall of Fame induction. In the 1969-70 season, Reed became the first player to gather the MVP awards for the regular season, All-Star Game and NBA Finals. Related: Milwaukee Bucks defeat Phoenix Suns to become first team in play-off place However, this legend secured his place in history by merely walking onto the floor on the final night of the season. Reed injured a thigh muscle in Game 5 of the series between the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, stumbling out on the court in pain. He sat out Game 6 as Wilt Chamberlain had 45 points and 27 rebounds in a Lakers’ spree that caused a deciding game at Madison Square Garden. His Knicks teammates didn’t know his status as he was still getting treatment shortly before Game 7. The Lakers and Knicks were warming up when Reed showed up, fans rose and roared when they saw him coming out of the tunnel leading to the locker room. “And here comes Willis and the crowd is going wild,” radio announcer Marv Albert said. Los Angeles stopped to watch Reed, who did two quick jump shots in the early minutes of the game and ran back down the court with a noticeable limp after two of them. He would not score again, but the Knicks did not need him to. With their captain coming back and Walt Frazier’s 36 points and 19 assists spurring them to a 113-99 romp and their first NBA title. Frazier for his team delivered one of the most impressive performances ever in a deciding game, but it remains a footnote to Reed’s return. In 2006, in line with the NBA’s 60th anniversary, it finished third in voting for the league’s 60 greatest playoff moments, after Michael Jordan’s championship-winning jumper for his sixth title in 1998 and Magic Johnson ending his rookie season by stepping in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at centre in Game 6 of the 1980 finals to lead the Lakers to a championship. In subsequent moments, what Reed did at Game 7 during Knicks VS Lakers, became a point of reference sometimes when a player came back from injury. One instance is when the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce was lifted off the floor with a knee injury in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals against Los Angeles before returning. But Phil Jackson, Reed’s teammate and then Lakers coach has dismissed that comparison because of the severity of Reed’s injury. “If I’m not mistaken, I think Willis Reed missed a whole half and three-quarters almost of a game and literally had to have a shot — a horse shot, three or four of them — in his thigh to come back out and play,” Jackson said. Reed could not recover that fast from injuries in the years to come. He was restricted to only 11 games in 1971-22 but came back stronger the next season to lead the Knicks to their second title in what was the last full season he played. Although his comeback made the ‘70 title the more celebrated one, it was the ‘72-73 squad, who were fortified by Hall of Famers Earl Monroe and Jerry Lucas that stood out to Reed. “That, to me, in my mind was the best team,” he said during its 40th-anniversary celebration. Willis Reed will go on to play 19 more games in 1973-74 before retiring due to a knee injury after only 10 seasons. This 10 season was enough time for The Captain to collect over 12,000 points and 8,400 rebounds, two of which still rank top three on the Knicks’ career lists. Reed had a successful post-playing career as a coach and executive with 76ers coach Doc Rivers remember playing for the Atlanta Hawks when Reed was an assistant coach. “He was simply a great person, A man!!! A leader!!!

The NBA announced on Wednesday that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. Ja Morant was suspended in regards to a live stream video by an intoxicated Morant on March 4 in which he was holding a firearm while visiting a Denver area nightclub. He will be cleared to return for the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20. See similar story: Ja Morant suspended from 2 games by the Memphis Grizzlies after gun video Ja Morant and the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had a meeting in the NBA’s New York offices to discuss Morant’s conduct. The meeting was attended by NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, and NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, among others. An investigation was conducted on the incident that took place on March 4. Based on the information that was obtained, the league did not affirm that the gun at issue was Morant’s, was brought to him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period.  They also did not confirm that Morant had the gun with him while travelling with the team or in any NBA facility. The Colorado Authorities did not find enough cause to charge him with a crime. “Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” said Silver.  “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him.  He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behaviour.  Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.” Related News: Milwaukee Bucks defeat Phoenix Suns to become first team in play-off place

Giannis Anetokounmpo scored 36 points to aid the Milwaukee Bucks to beat the Phoenix Suns and become the first team to secure their spot in the NBA playoffs. Milwaukee’s 116-104 victory was the team’s 50th win of the regular season. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Anetokounmpo reminded everyone why he got that title in the first place by contributing 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks stretched out their lead over the Boston Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference. “Making the play-offs in this league is hard,” Bucks’ coach Mike Budenholzer said. “You should never take anything for granted. We have a special team. Our focus, effort and desire is to just keep getting better.” Brooke Lopez supported Anetokunmpo with 21 points, and three other Milwaukee Bucks players finished with double figures as the team fought back in the final quarter to get themselves a 50-19 record. Denver Nuggets the leaders of the Western Conference, dropped to a fourth straight defeat as Fred VanVleet preserved the playoff hopes of the Toronto Raptors with 36 points in their 125-110 victory. The Los Angeles Lakers on their own part came back from Saturday’s defeat by the New York Knicks with a clean 123-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis of the Lakers led the scoring for his team with 35 points and 17 rebounds, placing them in firm competition for a play-off place with only four weeks of the regular season left. Related News: Ja Morant suspended for 8 games without pay for detrimental conduct to league

LeBron James has raised his equity in FSG – owners of the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins and Liverpool, after a ‘lifetime deal’ owning to his long-term partnership with Nike was announced. James previously shared a minor stake in Liverpool for a decade but changed his two per cent share in 2022 for a one per cent share in FSG. Now, he had boosted his ownership in FSG, with an official confirmation from the Liverpool owners stating this. According to a report by Sportico a business outlet in the USA, Nike athlete LeBron will solidify his partnerships as “part of a lifetime marketing deal’’ which was recently signed. FSG released a statement on Friday (through Business Wire), which affirmed the details. “FSM [Fenway Sports Management] and LRMR Ventures have extended their longstanding strategic partnership into a lifetime deal that will allow FSM to continue to secure exclusive global marketing and sponsorship opportunities for four-time NBA Champion LeBron James. “As part of the agreement, James, and co-founder of LRMR Ventures Maverick Carter will receive additional equity in FSM’s parent company FSG. James and Carter became members of FSG’s ownership group in 2021.” James is still involved in Liverpool, even if he is no more a direct owner, with his LFC LeBron 9 Low’ trainers being released, the most recent in a series of crossover merchandise that went on sale this season. LeBron previously accepted another ‘lifetime deal’ with Nike, who are LiverPool’s Kit manufacturers. More NBA News: Ja Morant suspended from 2 games by the Memphis Grizzlies after gun video

Ja Morant the Grizzlies guard has been suspended and will miss at least two games, the Memphis Grizzlies announced on Saturday. This news came after Morant posted a video of him to Instagram Live which seemed to show him holding a gun at the nightclub.  “We are aware of a social media post involving Ja Morant and are investigating.’’ Mike Bass the NBA spokesman told Adrian Wojnarowski earlier on Saturday. This story is coming up days after Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post reported that Morant was mentioned in a police report for punching a 17-year-old repeatedly at a pickup basketball game last summer and then brandishing a gun at the teenager. TMZ Sports said the 17-year-old filed a lawsuit against Ja Morant in September.  In another case, Morant allegedly “threatened’’ a security guard at Memphis mall in an altercation which took place over the summer, although nobody was arrested.  Bob Kravitz and Sam Amick of The Athletic, report that the NBA also investigated a January situation where friends of Morant got into an argument with members of the Indiana Pacers travelling party.  The Pacer travelling group recounted that someone in a car carrying Morant and others flashed a laser on them as it drove past them outside the arena. They believed the laser was attached to a gun. The NBA said it could not prove the alleged use of a weapon to threaten the group.  Ja Morant has been one of the top young players in the league throughout his four seasons with the Grizzlies, receiving two All-Star selections, a Rookie of the Year award and last year’s Most Improved Player award. Morant is averaging 27.1 points, 8.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game this season, making him a shoo-in for MVP candidate for the second-best team in the Western Conference going into Saturday. The Memphis Grizzlies should be facing the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in a couple of road games at Crypto.com Arena. If Morant comes back after his two-game absence, he will play the Golden State Warriors at home on Thursday, March 9.

This Tuesday, the Atlanta Hawks fired Nate McMillan after a heart-wrenching 29-30 start to the season. The change was needed, but fans will do well to remember that McMillan is the second coach, Trae Young has failed to get along with. Young also clashed with former HC Lloyd Pierce. Amidst their struggles and Young’s refusal to work closely with coaching, there is a chance that Trae Young will ask for a trade this off-season or the organization chooses to part ways with the star guard. If Atlanta does let go of Young, the Miami Heat (+400), Chicago Bulls (+500), and the Dallas Mavericks (+600) are the favourites who might get the player in a trade. These are the top 10 teams below: Miami Heat (+400) Chicago Bulls (+500) Dallas Mavericks (+600) Los Angeles Clippers (+700) Los Angeles Lakers (+700) Boston Celtics (+800) Washington Wizards (+800) Denver Nuggets (+900) Minnesota Timberwolves (+900) New Orleans Pelicans (+1200) Currently, there are no signs that Trae Young will be traded off. After all, Atlanta has a shot at making the playoffs, presently sitting in a play-in spot and just 3.5 games behind the sixth-place New York Knicks. All hope isn’t lost yet. However, it is apparent that the Heat’s offense is far from being efficient. Their ball movement is sub-par. They struggle to shoot a triple. Young and Dejounte Murray are not building the chemistry Atlanta hoped for. The plan is to bring in an HC who will be on the same page with Trae. But, if he gets into arguments with this one too, then the Hawks will likely trade him. If the trade for Young goes through, the Atlanta Hawks will get a haul in return. Trae is averaging 26.7 points, 10.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds a game. His moving to Miami is also a thrilling move because of the Heat’s lack of a franchise point guard. Kyle Lowry is up to his neck and quite unreliable these days. In the case of the Bulls, London Ball’s future is bleak after he got shut down for the remainder of the season, due to a knee injury. It is uncertain what will happen to him. Bringing Young into the Chicago backcourt beside Zach LaVine will be pure magic. It will be good to see if Trae Young will stay out of trouble or not in the months to come. Related News: Kevin Love and Bam Adebayo stoke beef in Miami Heat after heated IG exchange