Ex-spur Mills joins Heat for playoff push
Former Spurs guard Patty Mills is ready to chase another ring. The 2014 NBA champion on Tuesday signed with the Miami Heat and will be eligible to play in the postseason after being waived by the Hawks on Feb. 29 ahead of the March 1 buyout deadline. ESPN’S Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the signing.
The reigning Eastern Conference champions have been beset by injuries this season with Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin and Josh Richardson all missing chunks of time. Mills can provide backcourt depth and reliable shooting while boasting a wealth of postseason experience from his decadelong tenure with the Spurs.
Mills, 35, averaged just 2.7 points and 0.7 3s in 19 games with the Hawks this season. But the 6foot-2 Aussie is a career 38.9% shooter from deep and has made 95 playoff appearances, including 85 with the Spurs, which made him a valuable target as the Heat look to return to the NBA Finals for the third time in five years.
Though his run with the Spurs ended in 2019, Mills remains a beloved figure in San Antonio. He ranks second in franchise history in 3-pointers (1,171), sixth in postseason 3-pointers (114), seventh in regular-season games (665) and ninth in postseason games (85). Most notably, Mills helped extinguish Lebron James’ would-be Heat dynasty with 17 points and six 3s in the Spurs’ 104-87, championship-clinching
win in the 2014 Finals.
Nick Moyle
Westbrook has surgery on hand
Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook underwent surgery on his fractured left hand Monday, and the team describes his status as week to week.
Westbrook broke his hand Friday in the Clippers’ 140-115 victory over the Washington Wizards.
“He’ll start rehab, and we’re just going to check on him weekly just to kind of see how he feels once he starts his rehab,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
The 35-year-old Westbrook had played in every game for the Clippers this season before breaking his hand. He now has missed Los Angeles’ last two games.
76ers’ Maxey out due to head injury
All-star guard Tyrese Maxey is being evaluated for a concussion and will miss Philadelphia’s game in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Maxey lost his balance on a drive Sunday in the third quarter of a game at Dallas and banged his head on another player’s knee. He left the game but was able to return and finish, scoring 24 points in the 76ers’ 120-116 victory.
However, he was added to the injury report Tuesday afternoon, leaving the 76ers without both of their All-stars. Joel Embiid remains out after left knee surgery.
Grizzlies add pair to long injured list
Memphis Gri’ injury list keeps growing longer with
wing Ziaire Williams out for at least the rest of March and guard Derrick Rose sidelined a minimum of three weeks.
The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that Williams has a Grade 2 strain of a hip flexor and his lower back.
Rose left the second quarter of a loss last week at Minnesota with soreness in his groin and low back.
Monday’s highlights
Damian Lillard scored 41 points as the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to rally past the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 for their sixth straight victory.… Rudy Gobert had 25 points and 16 rebounds for his 43rd double-double of the season as the host Minnesota
Timberwolves completed a four-game season sweep of Portland, beating the Trail Blazers 119-114. … D’angelo Russell hit five 3-pointers while scoring 26 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-104 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.