Redick makes debut for Mavericks
DALLAS — JJ Redick is set for his Dallas debut after being sidelined by a sore right heel since being acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline.
The veteran shooting guard’s return comes Monday night against one of his former teams and former coaches in the Philadelphia 76ers and Doc Rivers, who had Redick for four of his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Mavericks added Redick just before the deadline March 25, looking for a boost at the 3point line as they try to climb into the top six in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in round for the playoffs.
The 36-year-old Redick’s last game for the Pelicans was March 3, when he scored 22 points despite going 1 of 5 from long range in a 128-124 loss to Chicago. The Mavericks also got Nicolo Melli in the deal, with Wesley Iwundu, James Johnson and a 2021 second-round pick going to New Orleans.
Redick has averaged 12.9 points on 42percent 3-point shooting over 15 seasons. He led the NBA
at 48percent shooting from long range in one of his seasons with the Clippers. This season Redick is averaging 8.7 points while shooting a careerlow 36percent from 3.
Irving out for personal reasons
Kyrie Irving missed Brooklyn’s game in Minnesota, leaving the Nets without two of their three All-stars.
The Nets said Sunday that Irving was out for personal reasons/family matter. The point guard has missed eight games this season for personal reasons, including a
three-game road trip last month.
Irving was ejected from the Nets’ 126-101 home loss to the Lakers on Saturday after verbally taunting Dennis Schroder.
The Nets are already without James Harden because of a right hamstring injury. Lamarcus Aldridge will also miss the game with a NON-COVID-19 illness.
Fox fined $20K for bashing refs
Sacramento guard De’aaron Fox was fined $20,000 on Monday for criticizing the officiating following the Kings’ 128-112 loss to the Utah Jazz over the weekend.
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell kept Fox from going after the officials after Saturday night’s game in Salt Lake City. The Kings guard had been bothered throughout the second half and Mitchell, who said he has known Fox since high school, wanted to save him from a potential fine.
“If you’re going to call something on one end, call it on the other end,” Fox said after the game. “And if somebody is trying to talk to you, you can’t get your feelings (hurt) so quick to where it’s not even a hostile conversation and you’re saying, ‘Don’t talk to (me)’ and this and this and that and that. I mean, you’re coming down guessing on plays.”
Sacramento coach Luke Walton said he shared Fox’s exasperation in his postgame interview as he pointed to Mitchell’s 17 free throw attempts to Fox’s six.
Fox scored 30 points during the loss. He’s averaging 24.7 points and 7.2 assists for the season.