San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Irving sits after requesting trade
NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving didn’t play for the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night, a day after he told the team he would like to be traded.
The Nets said Irving’s absence was because of right calf soreness, adding him to the injury report for their game against Washington. Irving hadn’t been listed on the report Friday night or Saturday morning.
Irving asked the Nets for a trade Friday, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press. The All-Star has been frustrated that the Nets have thus far refused to give him an extension on his contact that expires after this season.
The Nets, still playing without Kevin Durant because of a sprained knee ligament, have two more games after Saturday before the trade deadline Thursday afternoon.
Ben Simmons also missed a fourth straight game with left knee soreness.
Brooks suspended; Mitchell is fined
Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks has
been suspended one game without pay by the NBA, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell fined $20,000 for their roles in an on-court incident on Thursday night.
Brooks swung and struck Mitchell in the groin area during the third quarter after the Grizzlies guard had fallen to the floor. Mitchell retaliated by throwing the ball at Brooks and then shoving him.
Both players were ejected in Cleveland’s 128-113 win.
Afterward, Mitchell accused Brooks of being a dirty player.
“That’s just who he is,”
Mitchell said. “We’ve seen it a bunch in this league with him. Him and I have had our personal battles for years. There’s no place for that in the game. This has been brewing for years with me and other guys in the league. This isn’t new.”
The league said Brooks will serve his suspension on Sunday, when the Grizzlies host the Toronto Raptors.
Edwards not irked over All-Star snub
The Minnesota Timberwolves were predictably irked when Anthony Edwards wasn’t picked for the NBA All-Star Game, a belief in his worthiness that had plenty of backing around the league.
As for Edwards, well, he said he wasn’t surprised or disappointed. His laid-back, aw-shucks vibe — one of many reasons why the third-year guard has endeared himself to the Timberwolves and their fans — was in full effect after the reserves were announced Thursday night.
“I’m just happy for the guys that got in,” Edwards said Friday at the team’s shootaround before playing Orlando. “I didn’t even watch it. I knew I wasn’t going to get in.”
Edwards mentioned De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento as one peer he thought should’ve made it. Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver’s Aaron Gordon were other strong Western Conference candidates for the reserve pool selected by the coaches who didn’t make the cut.
“I’m just never the one that’s selected for things like that, I feel like,” said Edwards, who’s averaging 24.9 points per game. “I’ve got to go above and beyond. I will next year, so I ain’t tripping.”